Zipit adds unlimited text messaging

[Jeff]

There are a number of portable alternate IM devices on the market. Zipit provides a small, handheld device that connects to most IM services via your home WiFi connection, providing a nice, portable alternative to a computer for families with teens. They can IM from pretty much anywhere in the house without tying up a PC.

Now Zipit has added unlimited free text messaging for one year with their newest portable messenger, Zipit Wireless Messenger 2. According to Zipit Wireless, "The addition of this feature offers new Z2 users truly free and unlimited text and instant messaging with no contracts or commitments."

“We are thrilled to give teens and their parents a true alternative to high cell phone texting plans,” said Frank Greer, CEO and President, Zipit Wireless. “To kick off our new partnerships with Bestbuy.com and Target.com we’re offering consumers a great way to keep in touch with friends for free.”

To qualify for the free texting offer, the Z2 must be purchased and activated by July 31, 2008. Consumers who do not purchase their unit during the promotional period will still receive 10 free text messages per month and can take advantage of one of the best values for texting in the industry – unlimited texts for one year for $29.99, compatible with more than 20 cellular carriers.

Reading the fine print, unlimited may be a slight exaggeration, as it appears to be capped at about 5,000 text messages per month--or about one text message every 8-1/2 minutes, 24/7. Hopefully enough for even the most active text messager.

Zipit also provides parental controls that limit use to certain days and hours, and who their kids can receive messages from.

Although instant messaging is already free with Zipit, the addition of text messaging could be a godsend to families with kids racking up big data bills on their cell phones.

Zipit costs about $149 and is available at Target, Best Buy or online.

Link: http://www.zipitwireless.com/

[David]

5,000 is actually a bit low for an unlimited plan, I knew girls that'd text in excess of 15k. $30 for 5k/mo texts for a year is still a great deal though. Not really sure how that works without a cell number though?

[Gandalf]

Maybe they get a number, but it only works for texting? My friend has one of these (don't know if it's the newer one) and it doesn't have any voice or cell phone capabilities at all. It's a wifi device. So maybe they have some trick way of routing the text message through their server, via the internet??