Interesting approach to cross service contact. We've taken a different tact with our app - http://tray.io.
Interested to see how it develops!
E-mail anyone via their phone number
11–20 of 31 posts
Re: E-mail anyone via their phone number
#12My biggest concern is seeing an "email" where my text messages. I get text messages all the time, and they're usually pretty high on my list of important messages because I know that 100% of my text messages are definitely not spam and that i should at least read them. Using email to send me a text only makes me think i got spam and i'll just delete the message, i probably won't even read it.
But really, why email their number when you can just message them for their email (or using gvoice or something similar)?
Re: E-mail anyone via their phone number
#13Ultimately, our plan for Thinbox is that the number mapping will be connected to more information than just an e-mail address.
A path we're considering that might have some more obvious use cases: a mapping of phone numbers -> mailing addresses. That way in your mobile postcard app, you can choose a friend to mail a card to, even if you don't have their mailing address in your phone. The first-time recipient would automatically get a text message along the lines of: "Steve would like to send you something. What is your mailing address?"
Re: E-mail anyone via their phone number
#14So, does this actually do anything? I've tried twice and not seen anything on the phone end . . . .
Re: E-mail anyone via their phone number
#15So, does this actually do anything? I've tried twice and not seen anything on the phone end . . . .
It only works with U.S. mobile phone numbers right now, sorry!
Re: E-mail anyone via their phone number
#16So, does this actually do anything? I've tried twice and not seen anything on the phone end . . . .
It only works with U.S. mobile phone numbers right now, sorry!
Umm, I'm in the U.S. Texas to be specific with a U.S. Phone number.
Just sent an email to the connect email address with more details.
Re: E-mail anyone via their phone number
#17If I have their phone number why can't I just call/txt them and ask for their email address?
Re: E-mail anyone via their phone number
#18Ultimately, our plan for Thinbox is that the number mapping will be connected to more information than just an e-mail address. A path we're considering that might have some more obvious use cases: a mapping of phone numbers -> mailing addresses. That way in your mobile postcard app, you can choose a friend to mail a card to, even if you don't have their mailing address in your phone. The first-time recipient would au…
You do know that this has been standard functionality on all the US carriers for years anyway, right? There is absolutely nothing useful about this service. One quick Google search can get you the specific domain to email to for any carrier. They all follow the same format, [number]@carrier.com. This service is about 5 years behind the times. I've been emailing to SMS since before the iPhone.
Re: E-mail anyone via their phone number
#19Ultimately, our plan for Thinbox is that the number mapping will be connected to more information than just an e-mail address. A path we're considering that might have some more obvious use cases: a mapping of phone numbers -> mailing addresses. That way in your mobile postcard app, you can choose a friend to mail a card to, even if you don't have their mailing address in your phone. The first-time recipient would au…
You do know that this has been standard functionality on all the US carriers for years anyway, right? There is absolutely nothing useful about this service. One quick Google search can get you the specific domain to email to for any carrier. They all follow the same format, [number]@carrier.com. This service is about 5 years behind the times. I've been emailing to SMS since before the iPhone.
For sending text messages that is correct. It may not be clear enough that the purpose of e-mailing a [NUMBER]@thinbox.com address is not to send an SMS to someone's phone. The initial SMS is just a way to ASK for the recipient's e-mail address and create a mapping that works for future e-mails. So essentially it just couples two separate types of "addresses" for a person into a single address.
Re: E-mail anyone via their phone number
#20Earlier quoted context omitted.
You do know that this has been standard functionality on all the US carriers for years anyway, right? There is absolutely nothing useful about this service. One quick Google search can get you the specific domain to email to for any carrier. They all follow the same format, [number]@carrier.com. This service is about 5 years behind the times. I've been emailing to SMS since before the iPhone.
For sending text messages that is correct. It may not be clear enough that the purpose of e-mailing a [NUMBER]@thinbox.com address is not to send an SMS to someone's phone. The initial SMS is just a way to ASK for the recipient's e-mail address and create a mapping that works for future e-mails. So essentially it just couples two separate types of "addresses" for a person into a single address.
Also, after your number is coupled with an e-mail address, you will not receive any more SMS messages. E-mails sent to [NUMBER]@thinbox.com will automatically be sent to the e-mail address provided