Facebook Application: Alpha Launch

What's up everybody! I know it's been a quite a while since our last post. We have been incredibly busy with final exams and papers (as I'm sure all of you student readers are as well). Also, alongside our Facebook Application Developer Ari Rubinstein, Alex and I have been hard at work putting the finishing touches on the Textworks Facebook Application "Mobile Groups." We are very excited to let you all know that we will be officially launching the alpha stage version of Mobile Groups next week!

For those of you who don't know, when an application is in the "alpha stage" of the software release cycle, it typically means that it is up and running, but the developers are actively monitoring and fixing any bugs or kinks. In our case, it will also mean that we are including only the core features of the application to make sure that they are running smoothly. We encourage you all to post suggestions/comments so we know your feedback. After the application is clearly running well, we will continue adding new features to make Mobile Groups an even better application for you!

Here are the main features that will be included in the alpha stage version:

-Create a Mobile Group. Create a group for campus organizations, teams, groups of friends, parties or just for fun! You will be able to specify the Group Name, Short Name (displayed on text messages), category, description and public/private.

-Join public Mobile Groups. Just like Facebook Groups, private Mobile Groups will be invite only, but you will be able to Browse all public mobile groups by various search criteria.

-Assign Admins and Message Senders.

-Invite Friends. Send them invites to join groups and add the application (Spread the word!)

-Events. Schedule an event that appears on the group profile for everyone to see and add SMS reminders to remind them wherever they are.

-Scheduled messages. Schedule a message to be sent out at a specified future date/time.

-Instant Texts. Send a mass text to your group members instantly at any time.

-Opt-in/Opt-out. Members can opt-in or opt-out of any event reminder or scheduled message listed on the profile.

In the very near future (Beta stage):

-Home page. Landing page with a Mobile Group News Feed, Recent activity, application news, etc.

-Friends' Mobile Groups. View the groups that only your friends belong to and join!

-Campus Mobile Groups. View the groups that only people at your school create/admin.

-2-way Messaging. Respond or RSVP to event reminders, scheduled messages and instant texts.

Tell us if you have any suggestions for additional features...they may already be in the works, but we'd love to hear your thoughts. Otherwise look out for Mobile Groups next week!