Openmind app brings SMS text messaging to Android tablet computers

2 Apr 2013

Dublin software company Openmind, whose technology transmits more than 1bn SMS messages a day across 120 operator networks, has brought out its first consumer-facing app Dinamotxt, which allows Android tablet owners to send and receive SMS messages via their devices.

The new app promises a level of security that is unavailable on similar apps, which Openmind has dismissed as unreliable and often designed to lock users into their apps.

The new Dinamotxt app is built on a carrier-grade platform and is free to download from the Google Play app store.

The app connects to users’ smartphones via Bluetooth, internet or Wi-Fi, and can be secured by PIN.

Android is beginning to dominate the tablet computer space

dinamotxt

Openmind CEO Alex Duncan told Siliconrepublic.com that tablet sales are booming while PC sales are shrinking and that crossover is predicted by the end of 2013. He also pointed out that Android tablet sales will overtake iPad tablet sales this year.

“We’re primarily a mobile operator business and our systems help 120 mobile operators around the world to carry 1bn SMS messages a day.

“Our app, if anything, helps the mobile messaging business by allowing users to send their SMS from their tablet computers via their smartphones.”

I asked Duncan if an iOS version of the app is in the works and he said that while it is a possibility it made sense to target the fast-growing Android ecosystem first.

“We have been working with the mobile operators since 2003 and this is the first time we have done a consumer-facing app. Our plan is to bring out a few more similar apps and make them available for consumers.”

Duncan’s colleague Lorraine Fahy, marketing manager with Openmind, explained that a key reason for producing a consumer-facing app was to help provide the company’s mobile operators with diagnostic information about the performance of their mobile networks.

“It provides great data for mobile operators to boost the performance of their networks and it also enables them to increase the levels of SMS chat on their networks.

“A key attraction for users would be the user interface and the range of themes and animations in the app,” Fahy said.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com