BlueSkyFrog
BlueSkyFrog operates three different Web sites: business.blueskyfrog.com for business customers, www.wapmebaby.com for WAP users, and www.blueskyfrog.com.au for consumer SMS functionality.
BlueSkyFrog for business is designed to allow you to send text messages directly to the mobile phones of your customers, staff, or friends, on any network, to destinations within Australia or internationally. Access is available from the Web site, e-mail client, or by installing the SMS Access messaging gateway onto your own server.
Prices range from AU$12.50/month for a single user to AU$5.00/month/user for from 100 to 999 users with 10 free messages per user, per month (this assumes a 12-month commitment). There is an Easy Start package that gives three months' access and 30 messages for a starter price of AU$50. Extra messages are available at prices from AU$22 for 100 messages up to and beyond AU$7,750 for 50,000 messages.
SMS Access provides a framework and software developer's kit for developers to incorporate SMS facilities into their server and Web applications. Licence fees range up to $19,888 per month for unlimited messages, but if you only have up to 120 messages per month, no SMS Access licence fee is required. You will, however, be required to prominently display the Powered by BlueSkyFrog click-through logo on your site.
The Consumer BlueSkyFrog site is fun, bright, and user friendly. Once you create a login profile using your mobile number and a password (plus other details), you can access all the site's features. According to the description on the site, "BlueSkyFrog brings the Internet to your mobile". SMS services include sports results, stock prices, news headlines, quotes, and much more. You can also schedule reminder messages to be automatically sent at certain times.
Through the service, besides being able to receive e-mail messages on your mobile, you can also send messages from your mobile directly to an e-mail address. From your PC, BlueSkyFrog also makes it possible to send messages to multiple mobile phones.
Other services include ringtone download and an editor that lets you create your own custom ringtones.
How much does all this cost? BlueSkyFrog services are charged in its own currency: bugz. When you first register you are given 10 free bugz, and you can build your account in the following ways:
- You can use BPAY and buy bugz direct from your own bank account;
- You can buy bugz using your credit card;
- You can accrue bugz by recommending friends to BlueSkyFrog.
Bugz cost between 17.28 and 20 cents each, depending on the quantity you purchase. Service costs vary from 1 bug (for sending an SMS from the Web) to 5 bugz for an icon or budget ring tone. Premium ringtones cost 11 bugz because BlueSkyFrog must pay licensing fees.
One feature we found on this site that we did not find on any other was the ability to design your own logos. You can either draw them using the online editor, or upload a 72 x 14 black-and-white bitmap.
This site has all the basic SMS features and a whole lot more. You can have many different types of news, sport, finance and entertainment delivered to your phone, and you can even have all the latest Slashdot articles delivered (see the geek news site).
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