Cola Messenger, a new iOS app that launched on Thursday, gets this. Its aim is to introduce a slew of convenient features to the texting experience, transforming how you're able to communicate without, you know, having to call anyone.
Advertisement
"The devices we call 'phones' are, in reality, messaging devices," David Temkin, Cola Messenger's CEO, told The Huffington Post.
Here's how the app works: When you're in a text conversation with an individual or group, you can use functions like "When Can We Meet?" "Where Are You Now?" and "Quick Poll" to generate an interactive experience for your contacts.
For example, If you're trying to set up a movie date, use the "When Can We Meet?" function, and anyone involved in your conversation will be able to select a time that works for them. When you send the invitation, you'll be able to mark up to five times that work for you, to give your friends options.
Advertisement
If you send a "Where Are You Now?" message, the recipient will be able to share their location for a certain amount of time, basically giving you permission to track them for, say, 30 minutes. You won't get notifications about their movements, but you'll be able to pull up the map at will and see where your contacts are. That'll help if you're freaking out about missing a reservation or what have you.
Here's what that feature looks like:
All this is neat but kind of useless if everyone has to download Cola Messenger -- because even if you do, there's no guarantee your friends will. Fortunately, they don't have to.
If you send a Cola message to somebody who doesn't have the app, they'll receive it like a normal text message with a short URL that will take them to an external website, where they'll be able to interact with Cola functions.
For example, we tried to send a Cola message to an Android user, since the app is currently iOS only. It wasn't super elegant, but this is what happened:
Advertisement
The Android user was able to click the link and share his location. While the original Cola Messenger user wasn't notified when the new location was added, the map did update -- so it basically worked as promised.
Temkin said his team wanted to "make it possible for someone to see the value in the product without asking them to download the app."
Note that you'll want to be a little careful about sharing your location in this way. As mentioned, you have to tap on a URL to share this data if you're not using the app. In theory, you could copy and paste that URL to anyone, and they would be able to track you and your friends via any web browser.
That seems a little paranoid, but just remember that you shouldn't share any information with people you don't trust. If you're very anxious about having this type of data online, don't share it, period.
Advertisement
Cola's limited right now, but there's more coming. In the near future, Cola Messenger will open up its software development kit, so others will be able to create new functionalities. And Temkin said an Android version is coming soon.
To be clear, this isn't the only messaging app out there with cool interactive features. There are plenty of competitors. But it's got a pretty serious pedigree: Temkin came from AOL and, before that, Apple, where he worked on the Newton. Other members of the Cola team helped develop the iPhone and Adobe Photoshop.
AOL is The Huffington Post's parent company. HuffPost continues to operate and report independently on all things technology.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.