Problems with Google SMS Channels!

In my last post about Google SMS channels, I discussed its usefulness and also brought into light some of its pros andΒ  cons. If you have already read the post, you can surely recall that, even after working hard we were unable to locate any disadvantages in this group messaging service. As a result more and more people started creating their own channels hastily.

Later on, it was discovered that many flaws and bugs were present in Google’s SMS service as well. In the Google help group, Sriganesh expressed how this service may be exploited and misused. He explained that, as Google SMS Channels are now opened only for Indian users, anyone can use the RSS feeds of foreign nation’s blogs like TechCrunch, lifehacker, etc and publish their contents via SMS, ultimately affecting the credibility of such web-sites. In response to this Google said someone can report the channels that are using others contents and stringent action would be taken.

Finally I was disappointed because this is not the only drawback, there are many others as well, some of them are listed below:

  • There is a cap to the number of channels that can be created, subscribed to and the number of customized SMS that can be sent per day.
  • Messages sent by channel owner will not be sent to his/her own mobile.
  • On the first day of its launch, the messages tend to get delivered within seconds but this is not the case now.
  • And the biggest drawback that Manoj Fracis suggested was, there is no option for channel owner to view the details of people subscribed to their channel. πŸ™

So all these disadvantages are the basis of my disappointment, specially because the service is provided by Google. Can you ever imagine that the Internet giant like Google could come up with a service with so many flaws?

Thanks Deepesh for the tip… πŸ™‚

21 Comments

Pavan Kumar October 8, 2008

Hey, I dont have any comments on the first n second point, but as far as third point is concerned… Almost all gateways face the same problem. MyToday was 50% lost [during day, no group sms chat considering only night – 50% of the whole day] after their upgrade [I call it downgrade], and even vakow will now have around 5-20 mins of delay… But I guess Google will upgrade their service soon as it is going to be a rock hit here…

And dude, the 4th point has no meaning at all. Google is right that it does not allow the admin to access member numbers. Check out my review on MyToday [http://www.techpavan.com/2008/09/01/review-mytoday-india-sms-service/], that is the main point I have commented MyToday for, admin can view all numbers and member privacy is affected. Who can believe the admins of each group… Also go through the comment section in my review where a MyToday techie had a good discussion with me.

And one more thing, you can change your nick name as and when needed. So, there is no wonder I change my nick name to Rahul Bansal and publish devil’s workshop feeds, what say?

Deepak October 8, 2008

@Pavan Kumar
Yea.. You are right. Their server gets loaded ‘cos of a good response. But, as discussed earlier could you imagine such kind of faulty service from Google?

About the disclosure of channel subscribers’ contact number, it is discussed as a disadvantage by many channel owners in help group. And Google have replied that they have considered to support such feature in the coming days..

Manpreet Singh October 8, 2008

See the points are very right as said above..But there is much more to it..I recently analysed Google’ Business Plan to capture market..Google want to take up all internet based service and be the king…And with reliability they have developed they can easily relish over it and publicise literally any product..Its more Monopoly of Google now my friend πŸ™‚

Gaurav October 16, 2008

You do get Messages on self created Channels I think.. because I am getting πŸ˜›

Deepak October 16, 2008

@Manpreet Singh
Yea I do agree that Google is the King.. (The ruler of internet) πŸ™‚
And, as mentioned above, that is the only reason I was disappointed about. Such flaws are not expected from Google πŸ™

@Gaurav
I guess, as of now there is nothing consistent with Google’s services relating to SMS channels. In help group, some one from Google accepted that SMS won’t get delivered to channel owner, but now even I am getting SMSs from channels that I own πŸ™‚

Sriganesh October 17, 2008

@above

“Much of the content in this directory was developed by other companies or by Google’s users, not by Google. Google makes no promises or representations about its performance, quality, or content. Google doesn’t charge for inclusion in this directory or accept payment for better placement”

This is the quote from google.
And moreover this service is still in labs, so i think
this would get better soon.

Rahul Bansal November 25, 2008

@Sriganesh
Yep I agree with you…
Google is experimenting a lot… πŸ™‚

Moonis October 7, 2009

Yes, we are facing all these problems,
Another thing is that they have put limit to the number of characters per post. Any sort of JUGARD in this matter. Plz Help

sanjay October 12, 2009

HEY DUDE ANY BODY KNOW HOW CAN I MALE A CHANNEL IN GOOGLE IF ANY KNOWS PLZ TELL ME
PLZZZZZ GUYSS PLZZZZZZ

sathish kumar December 5, 2009

Not yet receive sms channel services like news, words quickly… Please arrange fast services

amit January 4, 2010

i have create a channel ,,but after a some days..when i post a msg it do not post and reply msg is ‘”invalid channel name”
i try to post many times but same msg came from +9198708*****.
does any one know the solution of this problem..

Raj Khicher January 8, 2010

sir,
i made a google sms channel named CUTESHAYARI….but after few days someone hacker has deleted by channel or something like that. now it is not visible to me

but if i try to make new channel by CUTESHAYARI than your system shows a message dat this channel already exists

now tell me what sud i do?

Raj Khicher
Sagra

Maaz February 2, 2011

hey if you get a solution please let me know too

prince January 26, 2010

i m not able to subscribe more then 20 channels how can i increase the limit plz reply

Aamir July 27, 2010

My phone no. not allow to recieve google sms channel msg pls help me how to resubscribe.

Sinoj August 9, 2010

Hello all, I created some SMS channels in Google. But, Last few days I can’t see my one channel named “TechnoLive” under my channels. I tried direct link of my channel “http://labs.google.co.in/smschannels/channel/technolive” It says “Invalid channel name”. While sending sms to that channel the reply was same. Please help me to solve this problem.
Thanks

samir July 15, 2011

sir
i am not receving sms from last 3 days why?

devil September 25, 2011

how can increase my google sms channel subscribers