Google Plus, Google’s social networking site was launched in June last year. Since its launch, Google is continuously including new features to this social networking platform. Every 15 days, a new feature is added in Google Plus which makes it more and more tempting to users. Google+ was not accepted much by people initially, but users are gradually initiating to use Google+ platform. It is anticipated that Google Plus will boast 400 million users by the end of 2012! This social networking platform from Google enables you to share the right stuff with the right people when you are connected to the Internet. But, what about the time when you are not online???
A team of inspired Indian engineers realized the significance of connecting you with the right people on Google Plus, no matter where you are or what sort of device you have; therefore, they have launched Google Plus SMS features. Google Plus SMS feature lets the people to share the status and updates even when they are offline, by using SMS service of their mobile phone. There is absolutely no need of having Internet at all.
Up till now, Google Plus SMS service has been available to the US and Indian users only. But recently, Google has declared that it has extended its new Google Plus SMS service to forty-one new countries including Afghanistan, Angola, Algeria, Benin, Bahrain, Cameroon, Cambodia, Cote D’Ivoire, Congo (DRC), Egypt, Guinea, Ghana, Iraq, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Kenya, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Kuwait, Liberia, Malaysia, Malawi, Maldives, Mozambique, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Philippines, Pakistan, Senegal, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Sierra Leone, Thailand, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia.
This service enables users to communicate with their Google+ user friends of their own Circles by means of SMS. Google+ SMS service does not allow people to post updates to the social network only, but it also enables them to receive SMS notifications and even allows them to reply directly using their mobile device. To sign up for Google+ SMS service, go to the setting page of your Google+ profile and add your phone number and you will get a verification code on your phone via SMS. Enter this verification code into the verification box and submit.
Here, you are also able to choose which SMS notifications you want to receive. Notifications include messages sent to you on Google+ itself and the comments you got on your posts on Google+. Moreover, you can respond to +1 posts or comments directly using your phone by means of SMS. Standard message and data rates might be applicable.
The ability of sharing status updates to selected circles is a one of the most important features of Google Plus and Google+ SMS service also integrates it. To update the status on the go, Google+ users just have to type out message and send it to +919222222222. If you don’t point out the circle to which you want to share your message, then your update will be shared with everyone in your circle. Nevertheless, Google+ SMS service provides some modifiers: 1) you can share your update with selected circles by means of @ [circle name]; 2) you can share your post with your extended circles by means of @ extended circles; 3) you can make your update visible to everyone by means of @ public; 4) you can share your update with a particular person by means of @ [email address].
Google+ has clarified that there is a risk of security with this feature and your SMS can be spoofed. However, you can make your account safe by creating an alphanumeric PIN in your notification delivery settings. Use your alphanumeric pin before your SMS postings and Circles.
One other popular social networking site, Twitter, also provides similar service, using which consumers can update their status message by means of a short code but this service supports only limited telecom carriers such as Reliance, Tata DoCoMo, Bharti Airtel, etc. On the other hand, the Google+ SMS service supports all telecom carriers.