Windows Phone App of the Day: GroupMe
Do you have as many friends as I do? Probably. I’m not very cool. Either way, I am trying to plan a party for this Sunday, and it’s getting a little tedious coordinating with everyone through separate texts, gChat, and EMail, so I bit the bullet and downloaded Microsoft Corporation’s Group Me app. Now, I boycotted downloading this app for iOS since it started, but it’s actually really useful. Advertised as the best way to chat with everyone you know, GroupMe made planning my secret Sunday Funday party a lot easier.
Pros
- Free!
- Latest version fixed bugs based on user reviews
- Works on virtually every phone via push and SMS notifications
- Acts a fast, better reply all email
- Connected with Skype
- Start groups with people in your contact list (No PINs necessary)
- Every member of the group receives it via SMS or Push notification
- Messages sent via SMS when no data connection is available
- Chat online at http://groupme.com
- Share photos from your photo library or take photos in real time
- Send direct messages to any GroupMe user
Cons
- SMS text only available in the US
How It Works
- Download from the “Social” category of your Marketplace
- Open from your App list
- Select “Get Started” on the start screen when opening the app for the first time
- Enter your telephone number; GroupMe will text you a PIN
- Enter your EMail address
- Group chats will automatically load in the “Chats” pivot
- Contacts you’ve held group texts with will automatically load to your contacts list
- Scroll through the pivots to view pre-loaded groups or select “Start a Group” to create a new chat group
- Scroll right again to view featured group chats
Conclusion
OK, GroupMe, you win. This is pretty cool. The “Featured” chat pivot kind of threw me for a loop though. Is this supposed to be like a 2012 chat room? Hello, dial up AOL. I think the last time a joined a chat room was, well…nevermind. GroupMe is a great way to communicate with a bunch of people at once. If you’re like me and tend to move from place to place but want to keep up to date with your friends from all over the country, GroupMe is definitely a good option.
