Dear Matzav Inbox,
GroupMe, owned by Microsoft, has announced that it is shutting down its free SMS messaging service, a feature that has been available since GroupMe launched in 2010. Users who rely on SMS will receive a notice and have seven days before they lose access, although their chats will remain available through the GroupMe app.
For many people, the solution is simple: download the app. But for many frum Jews, it isn’t.
GroupMe’s SMS option has become an important tool for family, neighborhood, school, shul and community chats. Many frum Jews do not have smartphones, and many kosher phones cannot receive MMS messages, which are generally required for standard group texting. GroupMe provided a unique solution by allowing people with basic phones to participate in the same groups through ordinary SMS.
Ending this service means that many people who have deliberately chosen not to own smartphones will suddenly be excluded from groups they have participated in for years.
A Change.org petition has been created asking Microsoft and GroupMe to reconsider and continue supporting SMS messaging. It can be found at the GroupMe SMS petition or through the shortened petition link.
Hopefully, if enough people make their voices heard, GroupMe will recognize that while SMS may seem outdated to some, for many frum families it remains an essential way to stay connected.
A Matzav Reader
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