Next 2 us

Next2.us is finalist in OpenIDEO maternal health challenge

 

OpenIDEO is fabulous platform for collaborating new crowd-source ideas to address some of the world's most troubling problems.  Next2.us has been participating in challenge to come up with new ways to improve maternal health.  The 285 initial inspirations where reduced to 182 concepts.  Community members, OpenIDEO and challenge sponsors Oxfam and Nokia then voted on the top 20.

We are very pleased and want to thank the community and sponsors for selecting Next2.us Global Village Supporting New Mothers concept as one of the top 20.  We are looking forward to working with all finalists, community members, sponsors and OpenIDEO to further refine our concepts for possibly implementation by the sponsors.

Congratulations to all finalists!  Looking foward to working with you.

Thanks to http://www.flickr.com/photos/frerieke/3130489707/ for use of image under Creative Commons license

Help us help the millions of people in Kenya that have mobile phones but do not use the internet.

UPDATE: Next2.us is now at STANDARD TEXT MESSAGE rates in Kenya.  This means it is no ore expensive to send a text message using Next 2's Kenya short code then to text your family of friend(s)

PLEASE VISIT NEW CORPORATE WEB SITE: http://www.next2.us  FOR MORE INFO

 

Send a text message to help your friends and neighbors

Take a moment  and send a text message that may make a difference in someone's life.

Send the following text message to Kenya short code 5557

(Ksh 1 send, ksh 0 to receive)

reg name Nairobi Kenya

to 5557

 

Substitute your name (or a name you want to use) 

Example

 reg brip Nairobi Kenya  

(http://m.next2.us/brip)

 

This tells the service to start your account with the name and location you provide.  You can always change your location, add content, match messages with other users by text messaging and use all of Next 2 great features without revealing your mobile phone number.

Do not forget to start your text message with the SMS command   reg   

I, as well as the millions of people in Kenya that have a mobile phone but do not connect to the Interent, could use your help.  It will only take a minute of your time but it may a difference to your fellow Kenyans who have never used social networks like Twitter or Facebook.

You see, the company I built, Next 2, connects people together around place and topics of interest using only simple SMS text messaging.  It allows people to discover, connect, share and act with people that are near them so they can find local solutions to local problems.

Next 2 is very simple to use. But, before we release Next 2 in Kenya we really need your help testing the software.   We are asking you to please take a moment out of your busy day and send a text message.

Text - reg name Nairobi Kenya - to 5557

Replace <name> with any word or name you want.  The name acts like an account name when using Next 2.  Choose a short name (must be at least 4 characters in length ) so it is easy for others to remember and type.

That is it!  

To start; just register a name with the Next 2 SMS service so we can text you the next step.

There is a KSH 1 cost to send a text message.  There is NO FEE to receive text messages using Next 2.  You can unregister your mobile phone at anytime by texting - unreg - to 5557.  

Once you register your mobile phone you will receive a reply that confirms your account name and password that works at http://m.next2.us

When we have enough people registered we will send you a text message on your mobile phone asking your to send another text message to 5557.  We will ask you to either text;

• addp want tea (+ message) or 
• addp have tea (+ message)

When we have enough messages we will run a process that will match the messages based on location and topics and exchange them.  If you message matches with another user it will be exchanged with that user.   Your privacy is protected.  Your mobile number is private.  Only your Next 2 name is exchanged with other users.  And, you can choose to communicate with other users using a Next 2 name.

Of course if you like Next 2 you can continue to use all its great features using the Next 2 SMS commands 

So register a name you may want to use that is easy to remember and type.

We want to thank you for helping us test Next 2 SMS-powered, place-based, topic-driven social network in Kenya.

We are working on reducing our SMS rates to standard text messaging rates in the near future,

Discover, share, act by place/topics of interest. Please reg Kenyan mobile phone to help test new Kenya socnet

From Kenyan mobile phone;

Text; reg name location to 5557  

It cost ksh 5 to send a text (hoping to lower to standard text rates next month)

It cost ksh 0 to receive text message using Next 2.

At anytime text unreg to remove your mobile phone and delete your data.

About

Next2.us lets people automatically connect around place and common topics of interest.  The software is accessible via a mobile version and via SMS in Kenya and  the United States.  The software is easy to use.  You just register with a name and location and then post messages about what you have, want or would like to talk about followed by a keyword or keyphrase.  

The software then at future point in time (typically midnight) gathers all the messages together and exchanges them based on user's location, proximity between user and keywords.

Why help test?

We've built Next2.us for a number of applicatons but our initial target are overlooked and undersvalued communities in Kenya that are not on the internet but have access to a mobile phone.  We hope by using Next2.us neighbors that may live near each other but not know about their common interest or needs can discover each other, connect and communicate via SMS messaging.

Even though you may already be on the internet please help us test the software before we release it to radio stations, NGOs and religious organizations in Kenya.

How can I help?

From Kenyan mobile phone;

Text; reg name location to 5557

That all you need to do to start.  Once you are registered we will send you instructions by text message on how to help us test the service.

There is a KSH 5 charge to send a message using Next 2.  (We are hoping to lower the rates to standard text rates next month).

The is NO FEE to receive messages using Next 2

Here are some things to consider when choosing a name for your Next 2 account.

Your name must be at least four (4) characters in lenght.

Keep you name short and easy to remember cause it acts like a SMS address and a web page that you can share with others.  

Examples.  http://m.next2.us/steve  http://m.next2.us/nicholas  htttp://m.next2.us/kach

Thanks! The Next 2 SMS testing 3/9/2011: Success!

Thanks. It's best when you have good help.Image source. under license Creative Commons

Thanks to everyone that helped test Next 2 SMS commands in Kenya and USA.  The testing was a success and we confirmed that all seven (7) Next sms commands work in Kenya.  Due to your help we were able to discover and fix a small bug in the "loc" command.   This was introduced when we removed the need for the word "Kenya" at the beginning of every text message sent to our Kenya short code 5557.  Remember: you no longer need to begin your Kenyan text messages with "Kenya."  Just start your text with the Next 2 SMS command you want to use followed by your message.

Next step is to integrate Next 2 message match technology into the Kenya service.  We hope to begin testing the message match feature very soon.  We will post a testing request to our blog when we are ready to test message match.

Again thank you to all our testers. You are fabulous!

Remember we are always looking for people to help test the service in Kenya and the United States. Please refer them to this blog or on Twitter to @hungrygarden

Innovating with Meaning: What is the Incentive?

wow, these people get it!  i am coming to the end of long day.  its been a long 6 weeks getting our premium short code set-up and working and now the service has gone into early alpha release.  here i am spending months and months designing and working, pivoting and weaving, targeting a population that lives in a country thousands of miles from my own. 

sure, its been exhilirating.  it always is when you get positive feedback.  it's what keeps you going.  but, there is so much more to do.  it's been a great ride.  now, almost too good.  cause when you are in development, it's clean.  the clutter and chaos, is in its own way simple because you can plan.  you have control over your time and efforts.  

but once you start having testers and users they soon turn into customers and they bring their own demands for time and attention.  it's never the same.  it is never so simple again.  it changes from an idea into a project and before you know it's a product. and  products need company.

on this journey i have been very lucky to met tremendous people that have help lift me up. twitter is the single best invention for international business and development since Lindberg crossed the atlantic.  i have been able to sit in a room within shadow of the blue ridge mountains and by tweets fly my project to the foothills of Mt Kenya.

but twitter has brought me to the intelligentia, the movers, the shakers, great people all and to all i am eternally indebted but those are not the people i have come for.  those are not the customers for which i have spent over a year and thousands of dollars building a new product for.

these are the people i have come to meet.  wow.  thick value.  i can almost taste it.  and i am hungry.

From "Innovating with Meaning: What's the Incentive?

"We need to find ways of encouraging innovators in Africa to create thick value for the BoP consumer even if it means ‘subordinating [their] individual interest and pride’ for a cause bigger than themselves.

Any ideas on how the government and/or the private sector can help do this?"

YES!  i have an idea and it's called Next2.us

SMS in Kenya Testing Request for Wednesday 3/8/2011

Today, if possible, we would like testers to run through ALL the Nx2 SMS commands using Kenya short code 5557.

If you have not already registered, text - reg name location - to 5557

If you are already register please send these sms commands and report any errors or problems.

1. Change location, 
   •  text - loc location - to 5557. 
   •  It can be your current location or new location
2. Increase/decrease the size of your sharing circle.
   • text - srad x - to 5557
   • Substitute a number for x (example 3000) this would increase the size of your sharing circle around you location to 3,000 miles.  It also increases the size of people that can see your Nx2 web page.
3. Post public data
   • text - addp purpose + keyword + message - to 5557
   • addp  command means add post
   • text must start with word have want or discuss
   • purpose word is followed by keyword or phrase of you choice
   • you can include text with your post
   • Example - addp have bike for sale nice used bike KSH 5000
     • addp is the Nx2 sms command
     • have is (1) or (3) purpose words that all post start with
     • bike is the subject of the post and works with the purpose word when matching text messages.
   • Addp SMS command post content to your Nx2 web page at http://m.next2.us/name
4. Add Private Post
   1. Follow the same logic but use replace addp with addpp sms command at start of text message include keyword(s) and text.
   2. Addpp SMS command works exactly the same as addp but does NOT appear at your Nx2 web address.

Depending on how quickly you can type on your mobile phone it should only take about 10 minutes to test the commands.

Couple things.

1. make sure the sms commands are lower case reg, loc, srad and not capitalized.
2. You do not need to post a lot of text with the command
3. You will receive a reply from Nx2 confirming the change with every successful command
4. If you make a mistake Nx2 will send "Command not known please try again" reply.

If you have any problems or errors you can direct text 4 sms command followed by brip to text us a message or use twitter, this blog or email to report problems, etc

If you successfully test without problems or errors please let us know that you have tested Nx2.

Thank you and we really appreciate your time and effort in testing Nx2

Looking for people interested in testing software. Please help by signing up and/or retweeting

Next2.us has just released our SMS service in Kenya. Over the next few weeks we have a need for people in Kenya to test the software.  We are looking for a few individuals that may have an from a couple minutes to 1/2 hour a day to run though that days test procedures and report any problems or errors.

We need at a minimum of at least three (3) testers but it would be better to have five (5) to ten (10).

Most of the testing will involve sending and receiving SMS text messages.  Some of the testing may involve confirming the posting of text messages at a web address.  Someone with a simple handset that can send and receive text messages will qualify as a tester.  (For those without internet access, we can confirm the posting of data to their web address using Next2 for them).  You can receive instructions regarding that day testing by us sending you a daily text message to your mobile phone.

The testing period should run for about the next two (2) weeks.

Generally, testing involves;

1. Registering and unregistering your mobile phone number with the Next2.us SMS service.
2. Changing your location
3. Changing the size of your sharing circle around your location.
4. Sending Next2.us SMS commands to post content or direct text other user(s).
5. Confirming proper receipt of SMS replies to commands.
6. Checking to see that content posted to your Next2.us/name web address.
7. Sending and receive messages using the mobile version (http://m.next2.us), for users with internet connectivity.

Currently all Next2.us SMS commands work with Kenya short code 5557.  Matching of messages is not yet implemented.  Once we confirm that all commands work we will release the match text message feature and ask testers to test the feature.

Next2.us will be implementing SMS commands in Swahili.  The Swahili commands are not yet integrated into the service.

To start testing, register by texting - reg name location - to 5557.  Then text - 4 brip + message - to 5557.  This message will be received on our mobile phone in the USA.  We will reply and send instructions.

There is a cost of KSH 5 to send a text to 5557.  There is no fee to receive a text message from us or other users.

We are happy to reimburse you by topping up your mobile account or sending a small m-pesa payment to you for your time and text message fees.

There are muliple ways to enroll by;

Text - 4 brip - to 5557 or http://m.next2.us/brip (select message at bottom)

Twitter: @hungrygarden

Email: help@hungrygarden.com

Skype: next2us

The more testers the better the service will be so please feel free to tell your family and friends to sign -up and start using Next2.us SMS service.  The service also works in the USA and allows USA2Kenya text messaging from mobile phones.

Next2.us SMS Short Code is now working in Kenya. Please help us test this new service.

Next2.us geosocial network is now working on Kenya short code 5557.  We are looking for people in Kenya to help test the service.  

The cost to use the Kenya premium short code is;

• KSH 5 to send text message to short code 5557
• KSH 0 to receive text message from short code 5557

To start your service text - reg name location  - to 5557. An example is "kenya reg brip nairobi kenya"  That is all you need to do to start using Next2.us geosocial SMS network in Kenya

1. reg tells the service to register your mobile phone number and start your service.
2. name is the name you want to use.  It must be at least 4 characters.  The name also works as a web page address at http://m.next2.us/name.   We suggest you choose a short name so it is easy for others to type your name when sending you a direct text message using Next2.us.
3. location is the location where you want to register your account.  You can change your location using the loc command.  You location can be street, city, state/province, or just city state province or any combination.

To unregister your mobile phone and stop receiving new text messages text - unreg - to 5557.  Next2.us will immediately unregister you mobile phone and delete any content posted to your Next2.us web page.

For complete list of Next2.us SMS commands please see here