GroupMe

GroupMe is a cross-platform phone number-based chat and SMS with push notifications

Actually, it works quite similar to other well-known phone number-based chats like Kakaotalk, Whatsapp or Pingchat!. However, it has specific features that should be taken into account. Let's zoom in it.

First off, you need to introduce your country (code) and your phone number, and then create an GroupMe account (it isn't optional). Then you get full access to the app. The first that catches your attention is the layout, which is even better than others. Actually its interface is more user-friendly, understandable and good-looking. A searching bar on the top to look for contacts and messages. A bottom bar with five tabs: Home, where you can see the open conversations.

From Contacts tab, you can see all your contacts or the ones who are already using GroupMe. You can invite friends that are not using GroupMe via SMS. Actually, from the contacts site you can send a SMS, add contacts to the a group, call them or send them a GroupMe message. What's more, you can call the "group" and start a conference (every group gets a unique virtual phone number). You can add your location and media file to other contacts. You can see all members location to any message you send.

The third tab is the "+". From there you can create a new group to talk about a specific issue, ask a question and share it or send a direct GroupMe message). Ask even through the social networks (Facebook and Twitter). People who answer don't need to join the group. From the tab "Specials" you can create groups to talk about given issues and get deals related to them. Finally, news is like a Feed or Wall where you can see things that your contacts are publishing.

One feature that we really liked is that when you have poor connection, the app can switch you to SMS. This way you'll never miss a message.

GroupMe has been developed by GroupMe, a developer who has reached great success with this app. Actually, it recently has been acquired by Skype for more than $85 million what's a proof of its reliability.

GroupMe overtakes other phone number-based chat services in many ways. It should be said that it comes up later, so it integrated all their features and added new ones. However, the questions, the promoted groups, the "news feed" and the conference calling are really good ideas that others don't even have thought. The only flaw is that GroupMe will be a choice to take into account if your group of friends are already using it. That's it, it depends of the amount of people that uses it. In this sense, it doesn't overtake so far the competitors.