Google SMS Channels is Google’s solution to SMS groups message broadcasting and subscription. This service enables you to get content from Google, Google partners, and all other websites and blogs with RSS support.
You can create your own channel and publish content that other users can subscribe to. You can also create groups over SMS to communicate with your friends, family, and co-workers.
This is a free service. You don’t pay anything to send or receive messages using Google SMS Channels website. When you post a message to your channel, all the members of your channel get the message forwarded for free. Any Indian mobile number will work with this service.
Google SMS Channel uses the normal number 9870807070, and not the premium short codes. So any SMS charge you incur is as low as you sending an SMS to your friend. There is no charge for receiving the updates.
SMS tariff charges may apply when you configure the service or publish to a channel using a mobile phone. Most of you don’t do this unless you want to start a new channel.
You can use the service on the website or via your mobile phone.
How Do I Use SMS Channel from Mobile Phones?
Create a Channel
To create a channel using phone, send the following SMS to 9870807070:
CREATE <channel name> <description>
The Channel name should be at least 8 characters long.
Modify Channel
You can change the properties by using the MODIFY command as below:
- To make the channel “private” (only allow people to subscribe by invitation by the owner) send the following SMS to 9870807070: MODIFY <channel name> PRI
- To make a channel “public“, send the following SMS to 9870807070: MODIFY <channel name> PUB
- To make channel publish privilege limited (only the owner can publish), send the following SMS to 9870807070: MODIFY <channel name> PRISEND
- To allow all subscribers to publish to a channel send the following SMS to 9870807070: MODIFY <channel name> PUBSEND
Search
To search for a channel SMS SEARCH <keyword(s)> to 9870807070. You’ll be sent up to 3 channels matching your keyword(s) over SMS. To see more channels, you can reply MORE <keyword(s)>
Subscribe to a Channel
Send an SMS ON <channel name> to 9870807070. <channel name> is the name of the channel.
Control Maximum Alerts and Timing
To specify the maximum number of messages along with the time interval when you wish to receive the alerts in a day, send an SMS PREF <maximum number of messages per day> <start time> <end time> to 9870807070. <start time> <end time> to be specified in hh:mm:am(or pm)format.
Unsubscribe
To unsubscribe using your phone, SMS OFF <channel name> to 9870807070.
