Zipwhip Unveils Cloud Texting Desktop App for Android Phone Users

SEATTLE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Zipwhip today announced the launch of its desktop app, which enables Android phone users to text message from PC, Mac and Linux operating systems using their existing mobile number. Zipwhip, a cloud texting provider, frees SMS from the mobile device, empowering Android phone users to text whenever and wherever it’s convenient — on a desktop at work, tablet during a meeting or laptop in class.

“Everyone loves their phone, but we found that after installing Zipwhip our users read 42 percent of messages on their desktop”

“Everyone loves their phone, but we found that after installing Zipwhip our users read 42 percent of messages on their desktop,” said Lauer. “We could never have predicted such a huge shift in behavior.”

Zipwhip attributes this shift to two factors: demand for a device-agnostic SMS experience and giving incoming messages priority positioning on a user’s desktop. Texting is moving in a similar direction as email, which is available across all devices. Consumers are beginning to realize that they want this same freedom with SMS. Upon downloading the desktop app, received messages appear over other applications, making it easy for users to stay connected to those that matter most.

SMS is a ubiquitous medium. Eighty-three percent of American adults own cell phones, and nearly three-quarters of them text message.* According to CTIA, there were more than 2.3 trillion text messages processed in 2011, a 12 percent increase over 2010.** John Lauer, Zipwhip CEO, identified text messaging’s untapped potential early on. Lauer is a familiar name in the SMS industry as he helped bring text messaging short code to the U.S. market in 2001 as a founder of Simplewire. Companies, including Twitter, relied on Lauer’s company for SMS connectivity. He sold Simplewire to Qpass/Amdocs in 2006. During his tenure, Lauer recognized the limitations of having SMS locked to the mobile phone and vowed to introduce a solution for consumers. In response, Zipwhip was born.

Historically, Zipwhip has only been available via carriers. Zipwhip began its initial product rollout with Sprint Web Texter in February 2009 and added partnerships with T-Mobile, US Cellular and C Spire, enabling a range of cloud texting services. In response to the popularity of Web Texter, Sprint recently launched an enhanced version, Web Texter Plus, in February 2012. Over the past two months, Web Texter Plus has seen an eightfold increase in the number of monthly signups, speaking to consumer demand for a more flexible SMS solution.

In addition to carrier partnerships, the company also enables a Web-based and Android tablet application that allows customers to text anywhere, anytime. In the past year, Zipwhip has more than doubled its user base to 6.4 million and now processes over half a billion messages per month. Zipwhip users have a combined 61 million contacts and have formed over 1 million groups among those individuals. With today’s announcement of the desktop application, Zipwhip continues to complement its carrier, Web and tablet offerings by providing consumers with an all-encompassing and seamless SMS solution.

Availability

Zipwhip’s direct to consumer applications are made available for free at http://www.zipwhip.com. Standard messaging rates apply.

About Zipwhip

Zipwhip is a global cloud texting provider that enables mobile subscribers to text message from virtually any connected device with a fully synchronized experience using their existing mobile number. Unlike other messaging applications, Zipwhip is focused on helping mobile carriers modernize the text messaging medium beyond the mobile phone via both the SMS and IP channels. Zipwhip is recognized for its carrier grade cloud texting platform and suite of consumer-facing applications for the desktop, Web and tablet. Its technology introduces trailblazing functionality while holding true to the distinct culture of texting that consumers have grown to love. Zipwhip is headquartered in Seattle, Wash. For more information, please visit www.zipwhip.com.

*How Americans Use Text Messaging, Pew Internet, Sept. 19, 2011
**Semi-Annual Wireless Industry Survey, CTIA –The Wireless Association, Dec. 2011