Twilio looks interesting. I like the concept.  Not playing with it at
all, but this bit caught my eye:

"Twilio lets you use standard web languages to build SMS and voice
applications. We’re connected to carrier networks globally and expose
them to you via a clean, powerful web API. So bring your favorite
programming language, a web server, and build the next generation of
communications with us."

Obviously in sales talk here, but the concept is nifty.  Ta for the
heads-up

Andrew

Andrew Lewis
Acting Head of Digital Media
Digital Media Team
Victoria and Albert Museum
South Kensington
London SW7 2RL

020 7942 2373
[log in to unmask] 
www.vam.ac.uk/digitalmedia
linkd.in/andrewlewis ( www.vam.ac.uk/digitalmedia )
@rosemarybeetle ( https://twitter.com/rosemarybeetle )



>>> MCG automatic digest system <[log in to unmask]> 29/09/2013
00:00 >>>
There are 2 messages totaling 150 lines in this issue.

Topics of the day:

  1. Twilio (2)

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Date:    Sat, 28 Sep 2013 12:07:00 +0100
From:    Mike Ellis <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Twilio

Hey all

I've just been fiddling with Twilio - https://www.twilio.com - which
enables you to do exciting things with phone numbers…(!)

You can do stuff like "if user calls this number then read out this
text" or "route this number through to this extension" or "ask user to
choose from the menu" or even "send this data to an API" or…

And - I thought that this would potentially be a pretty amazing
platform to build audio tours on. You could purchase a toll-free number
and then have a web-based backend where you uploaded recordings of
curators or whatever. I'm still playing but I'm pretty sure sending the
user a web link via SMS or email or whatever is all going to be possible
too..

Anyway - wondering if anyone has played with this or similar?

cheers!

Mike

_____________________________


Mike Ellis 

Thirty8 Digital: a small but perfectly formed digital agency:
http://thirty8.co.uk  

* My book: http://heritageweb.co.uk *





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Date:    Sat, 28 Sep 2013 12:49:45 +0100
From:    Peter Pavement <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Re: Twilio

Hi Mike

I just had a good rummage around and there looks like there's loads of
potential there.

We did some interesting work with SMS gateways before - stringing
together social interaction and UGC type things for pre-smartphone
phones. The most successful was a mobile "book group" hub where
participants were discussing their reads wherever they might be -
something we take for granted now with smartphones! SMS gateways are
really simple to run though, just a simple server side script (usually
php), a simple database (often just one table) and a phone number and
off you go. We've also used them for verifying sign ups and for things
like charity pledges at events. The biggest overhead cost was usually
renting the number, but it looks like Twilio (and no doubt their
competitors) have got this down to minimal charges.

The prospect of being able to do the same thing with calls looks pretty
exciting. I could also see the integration of everyday "interfaces" like
phone and sms being used to encourage more takeup of higher powered
functionality in native apps so you can get around the commonly woeful
data connectivity in cultural venues but still have access to the juicy
stuff.

All the best

Peter


Peter Pavement
Surface Impression Ltd
01273 958600
[log in to unmask] 
www.surfaceimpression.com 



On 28 Sep 2013, at 12:07, Mike Ellis <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

> Hey all
> 
> I've just been fiddling with Twilio - https://www.twilio.com - which
enables you to do exciting things with phone numbers…(!)
> 
> You can do stuff like "if user calls this number then read out this
text" or "route this number through to this extension" or "ask user to
choose from the menu" or even "send this data to an API" or…
> 
> And - I thought that this would potentially be a pretty amazing
platform to build audio tours on. You could purchase a toll-free number
and then have a web-based backend where you uploaded recordings of
curators or whatever. I'm still playing but I'm pretty sure sending the
user a web link via SMS or email or whatever is all going to be possible
too..
> 
> Anyway - wondering if anyone has played with this or similar?
> 
> cheers!
> 
> Mike
> 
> _____________________________
> 
> 
> Mike Ellis 
> 
> Thirty8 Digital: a small but perfectly formed digital agency:
http://thirty8.co.uk  
> 
> * My book: http://heritageweb.co.uk *
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ****************************************************************
>       website:  http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/ 
>       Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/ukmcg 
>      Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/museumscomputergroup 
> [un]subscribe:  http://museumscomputergroup.org.uk/email-list/ 
> ****************************************************************


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------------------------------

End of MCG Digest - 27 Sep 2013 to 28 Sep 2013 (#2013-200)
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