Think of the last time you took a train: how many people were texting in your coach? My guess is many.
Americans, especially young adults, like text-based communications. A 2011 report from Pew Research Center states that cell owners between the ages of 18 and 24 exchange an average of 109.5 messages on a normal day. More recently, Business Insider reported that WhatsApp is steady replacing SMS: 30 billion messages are sent over WhatsApp each day — 10 billion more than the global SMS system.
The texting tools may have changed, but the trend remains. Messaging is still one of the most powerful ways to gain readers' attention. That's why a handful of Boston-based companies have decided to use SMS to provide their services, which range from building baby journals to dating counseling.
Here's the list of the companies we know about:
1. Qeepsake
Launched by a married couple living in Waltham, this SMS-based service helps customers keep track of memories related to their children. By sending SMS to Qeepsake, users build an archive of texts and photos they can decide to print as a baby journal. The first paid membership level starts at $23 per year.
Read more about Qeepsake in the following profile:
2. Icebrkr
Based in North Attleboro, MA, Icebrkr is currently running a service that aims at helping online daters by providing them with real-time counseling via SMS. A subscription costs $19.95 per month.
Read more about Icebrkr in the following profile:
3. The Silver Post
Boston-based startup The Silver Post is offering a really simple service: printing photos and messages on behalf of the sender, and mailing them on a postcard to their grandma. Users send their messages via SMS, the company takes from there and grandmothers find a postcard in their mailbox. The service costs $5 a month.
Read more about The Silver Post in the following profile:
If you think there’s a startup missing from this list, email me at lmaffei@americaninno.com
