SMS Now Available

1

Hi Everyone. 

A few weeks ago we announced we were working on a true SMS solution to replace the email-to-SMS solution we previously supported. I am happy to announce that this new feature is now available. For only $20 per year, your unit can send up to 500 SMS messages each month. 

To get started, just go to Communicate -> Send a text message.

Happy New Year!

Dave

2 Likes
2

We are no longer seeing the cell phone provider field, is it no longer needed with the new SMS Features?

3

That is correct, that was required previously because of the e-mail to text option that was being used, TT needed to know what carrier to know what address to send to. Now it is just a straight SMS message, no need for carrier.

4

Hi. We are excited to have the SMS function and just subscribed to it. When we did a test text, everyone received the messages twice. Please advise on how to fix this before we roll this out everyone. Thank you in advance.

Happy 2025!

Warmest regards
Jai

5

Thanks for getting the texting option back. A couple questions.
1- If texting a group does each phone number count as a text or sending to a group count as 1 text? Ex: texting a Tiger den with 20 kids, each with 2 parents attached and phones - does that count as 40 text messages against the 200 monthy total?
2- What happens when you reach the 200 monthly limit? Does it cut off the feature until next month or charge you more automatically? Depending on the answer to #1 above, some larger groups could max out quickly after sending a text message out each week.
3- Is the only option to pay for this with a credit card? I dont think we pay for TroopTrack with one is the only reason I ask and my committe chair said that was the only payment option he saw.
Thanks again!

6

Good Evening,

I just sent a text message and it said that one text I sent out took 84 of the 500 available messages. How do we change that? Also, how do I change the number that the text message is coming through? It is showing an 844 number.

Mike-Troop 278

7

Hi All

How SMS Texts Are Counted
For example, sending the same text to a group of 50 people will count as 50 individual texts. If your monthly limit is 500 texts, this will use up 50 messages, leaving you with a remaining balance of 450 texts.

What Happens When You Reach the 500 Monthly Limit
Once you reach the limit of 500 texts, you will no longer be able to send messages until the next month. If you need additional texts, you can increase your monthly quota to 1,000 by paying an extra $20.

Payment Options for SMS Subscription
You can pay using a credit card or by mailing a check for $20 to:
TroopTrack
51 E 3900 N
Provo, UT 84604

Please include your troop ID in the memo section of the check.

8

Is that an additional $20 a year?

Also is there a way to change the phone number the messages are coming from ?

Mike

9

Hi @JaiHuynh - I haven’t had that happen in my tests, but I will try it again.

10

Yes, it is $20/year. Unfortunately, changing the phone number the messages are coming from is quite expensive. I am hoping to get a dedicated number soon, but providing a custom number to each unit would be cost prohibitive as far as I can tell so far.

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I signed up for the subsciption a couple days ago, but it still say text messaging not available.

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@Pack1597, make sure you have the admin Privilege Send Text Messages,.

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Is there still an option to Send a Text Message to individuals who RSVPed to an event based on who is coming / not coming / no response? This feature from the old SMS functionality was extremely helpful when communicating important information about an event to only those individuals who needed to see it.

While I’m thinking about it, a few questions / comments about that feature:

  • Do the emails / text messages sent about an event only send based on the RSVP response or does it factor in attendance as well. (e.g., Scout A didn’t RSVP but showed up for a campout. I marked the Scouts as attending the event. Would they/their parent get the email/text even though they didn’t RSVP?)
  • It would also be nice to be able to be able to only send messages to adults (or adults in the same household of Scouts who RSVPed / attended an event). This could help keep the Text message usage lower and means we wouldn’t also be texting Scouts who are on the trip. I’d use this to message adults an ETA when we’re returning from a campout.
14

No, there is no text message option directly from an event. I do agree that would be a great feature.
Please create a new post in the Ideas category with these suggestions.

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