Tanzania, Malawi and Uganda have signed on for a new innovative service from Google that will allegedly allow users to send SMS messages from their computer to friends without having to change their services. The service also will allow those away from the computer to maintain conversations via their mobile phone. According to the official Google Africa blog, the company said they envisioned this service to be successful in helping technology and mobile industries improve on their services. The company said in the statement that the new service “is to create a way for Gmail users to carry on chatting with friends, even when they're away from their computers.” It continued to say that “in the past few weeks, we have added functionality to Gmail that allows users to chat over SMS with phone subscribers in Uganda (MTN, Uganda Telecom and Orange), Tanzania (Vodacom), and Malawi (Airtel, TNM).” The idea has Ugandans excited about the possibility of getting more from their phone. “I am definitely going to try it out and it will help make my life easier and better in the short and long run. Very exciting,” said one Ugandan who was shopping for a new device that would give them the opportunity to test out the Google service. Already in the past year, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and Zambia have signed on to the feature. “As a Gmail user, you can send SMSs to your friends for free, and when your friends reply, they will be charged the same as a regular SMS,” the Google blog added. BM
