Contents
Help for publishers
What is it?
DOTGO is a brand new way to send and receive information to and from any individual, company, or organization with an internet domain name by using cell-phone text messaging.
How does it work?
DOTGO replicates the organizational structure of the internet by allocating "keywords" in exact correspondence with internet domain names under the short code (or phone number) DOTCOM (or 368266) and the related short codes DOTEDU (or 368338), DOTGOV (or 368468), DOTNET (or 368638), and DOTORG (or 368674). Looking for weather.com? Send a text message starting with the word "weather" to DOTCOM. Or starbucks.com? Send a text message starting with the word "starbucks" to DOTCOM.
The obvious advantage of the DOTGO approach is that it carries over brand-name recognition from the internet. You have already invested in promoting brand-name recognition of your internet domain name. Now offer mobile services under exactly the same brand name. With DOTGO, mobile users already know how to find you and your content---they just send a text message starting with your internet domain name to the short code DOTCOM or one of the other short codes. Why acquire and promote a specialized short code when you can offer mobile services under your existing internet domain name?
What can I do with it?
As a publisher, you can use DOTGO to send information to and receive information from mobile users via cell-phone text messaging. The system implements both interactive and subscription services. An interactive service provides content on demand. For example, a public transportation network might use the system to provide its bus and train schedules, and a fast-food restaurant chain might use the system to provide nutrition information about its menu items. A subscription service provides content on a regular, semi-regular, or occasional schedule. For example, a news service might use the system to provide breaking news alerts, and a college sports team might use the system to provide score updates.
Does it work with all mobile phones?
Yes. DOTGO works using SMS cell-phone text messaging, which is supported by virtually all mobile phones and is an extremely popular and rapidly-growing form of communication. You do not need a special "smart" phone, and you do not need to download or install a custom application program.
How do I participate?
Own an internet domain name? Then you already participate! By default, all internet domain names are configured to return simple content under DOTGO. Try it now: just send a text message starting with your internet domain name to the short code (or phone number) DOTCOM (or 368266). For example, for the internet domain name cnn.com, text "cnn" to the phone number 368266. And play around with other internet domain names. For example, try texting "weather," "msnbc," or "google" to the phone number 368266.
But can I customize the content returned under my internet domain name?
Of course---that's the point of DOTGO. If you own an internet domain name, then you (and only you) have the authority to customize the content returned under that internet domain name by DOTGO.
Familiar with web sites? Now think "SMS sites." An SMS site a set of instructions that describes how to distribute content via cell-phone text messaging, much as a web site is a set of instructions that describes how to distribute content via the web. An SMS site can be as simple or as sophisticated as you like. Return static or dynamic content. Provide information. Collect information. Sell products. Conduct opinion polls. With the powerful yet easy-to-use tools provided by DOTGO, you can be building and maintaining an SMS site within minutes.
Because it is designed for mobile users, an SMS site is not just a copy of a web site. Rather, an SMS site is specifically designed to provide concise responses to concise requests. In this sense, an SMS site complements a web site. DOTGO is purposefully built to handle the exchange of concise messages.
How much does it cost?
Nothing. In particular, DOTGO charges no setup fees, no monthly fees, and no per-message fees. There is simply no quicker, easier, or cheaper way for you to provide your content to mobile users.
How much would it cost to replicate this on my own?
Plenty. Owning and maintaining a short code is a difficult and expensive proposition. Set-up fees run typically $2000 or more, and ongoing fees run typically $1000 or more per month and $0.10 or more per message. Then there are costs associated with maintaining the required computer server (needed to respond to incoming requests) and with developing and maintaining the required computer software. DOTGO handles all of this and more, allowing you to concentrate on your content.
How do I get started?
If you are a publisher seeking to take advantage of DOTGO, contact us now to get started straight away. Send "contact@dotgo" + your message by text message to the phone number DOTCOM (368266), or send your message by email to contact@dotgo.com, and we will be in touch with you promptly.