'Nudge' your Facebook friends

2007-08-01 12:38

Cape Town - Local company Fontera has launched an application that allows Facebook users to send free SMS messages to their friends all over the world, according to a press release.

Called Nudgemii, the application reportedly integrates Facebook's existing "poke" functionality with text messaging by allowing users to send short text messages (of up to 50 characters) as a "nudge" to their Facebook friends worldwide.

"For something to be considered a true form of social networking, it needs to go beyond your computer. Creating an application that links to your cellphone therefore seems like the logical next step," said Fontera CEO Simon Leps.

Users can install the Nudgemii application on Facebook as they would any of the applications ranging from virtual fortune cookies to horoscopes. Once installed, a Nudgemii button appears as part of the user's Facebook profile. From here the user can send "nudges" together with short text messages to their Facebook friends.

Recipients receive an SMS on their phone, containing the "nudge" as well as their friend's short message. To receive a "nudge", recipients need to have the Nudgemii application installed on their Facebook profiles as well.

To install the application, click on Applications in your Facebook profile, click browse applications and search for "Nudgemii".

Fontera is currently in the process of developing more cellphone applications for Facebook.

According to the press release, Facebook is the first social networking site to open its system to outside developers. It currently has a growing menu of 1 400 applications ranging from virtual food fights to applications that compare friends' taste in movies.

Fontera develops and manages mobile products and services for leading companies across the globe and the development team is based in Cape Town.

- News24