Sequoia-backed voice messaging company Bubble Motion is getting into the microblogging space today, that is the voice-based microblogging space. The startup is launching Bubbly, a voice-blogging social network built for mobile phones.
With Bubbly, you can record and broadcast messages from any mobile device. When a users records audio messages and updates, followers can listen in whenever they want. To start voice-blogging, you enter a short code onto your phone, and start recording your messages. To follow another voice-blogger, users dial the phone number for whomever they want to follow. Whenever there’s a new audio update, followers are notified via SMS with instructions on how to listen. Bubblers can also control who can listen to their messages, and have the option of masking their actual phone number to prevent followers from calling them directly. Deployed through partnerships with mobile operators, Bubbly is an extension of BubbleTalk, a click, talk, and send’ messaging service that doesn’t require any calling.
The idea is slightly wacky, but has already been released in markets in Asia and has accumulated 150,000 users in India over the past week. I could see Bubble being used in markets where mobile device usage is higher than internet usage on a computer. And Bubbly could be used for celebs to stay close to fans. Bubbly is currently partnering with mobile operators in India and has launched with regional and national Indian celebrities using voice-blogging using Bubbly. India seems like a perfect market for Bubbly, especially considering the success and rapid growth of the Indian Twitter-like SMS microblogging network, SMS GupShup.
Bubble Motion, which is based in Mountain View, Calif., has raised a total of $35 million in funding since the company’s launch in 2003.
Tiananmen Square
Overthrow China
Free Tibet
There. That should get their attention.
Why would anyone want audio tweets?
We are moving towards making voicemail obsolete. Humans read text faster than audio and at their own control.
You can’t scan audio or skip ads in the way you would with text.
Is this service works fine with Nokia S40 phones??
“Slightly Wacky” is an understatement. Here’s a novel idea – When you want to speak with somebody, why not call them. If they are not home, leave them a message. Can I have my $35 million in funding now?
Exactly what I was thinking based on the premise to their introduction video.
http://www.bubblemotion.com/products-bubbletalk.html
Seriously Jack, just CALL Jill. You are both holding phones!
If Jill isnt there, you leave a vmail. Same thing.
Nitwits. I’ll take my 35M now.
Well, this service is not about p2p calling or messaging but a voice message broadcasting. It also might work in the US when people can instantly notify a group of people at once.
Considering the fact that most people HATE to leave voicemail messages, I can’t see this taking off here stateside.
http://bit.ly/TNied
Voice broadcasting and listen in – calls never work. Even in India.
Considering the fact that most people HATE to leave voicemail messages, I can’t really see this taking off here stateside.
It’s funny I was talking to my sister about this yesterday. Very cool indeed. something more people need to research and really make it count.
Onward & Upward
JoshDruck
Follow me I follow back twitter.com/joshdruck
The thing is that this product still use the voice. I prefer a solution like Pana.ma that is based on data only, and enable conversations between more than 2 people. My 2 cents
what’s Gowalla?
It Looks interesting. Need to check out the service as yet.