Vodafone Connect to Friends: SMS from Facebook

I love it when companies get together to create a combined service, and being the Facebook addict that I am, I’m particularly excited about this. The new Vodafone Connect to Friends service will let you send texts and picture messages directly from Facebook. To get started, all you need to do is install the ‘Vodafone Connect to Friends’ application to your Facebook profile (don’t lie, I know you’ve got one) and you’re ready to arrange catch-ups with mates to your heart’s content.

This application is far more useful than all of those pointless quizzes that let you discover what kind of colour you are. Vodafone Connect to Friends allows users to send messages not only to their online Facebook friends but also to non-Facebook users and groups.

Fear not if you’re an Orange or O2 fan, this application can be used by anyone regardless of their choice of UK mobile operator. An added advantage of this service is that if you decide to head off to Mumbai, New York, or anywhere else in the world for a holiday, you can still text your mates from overseas at UK rates.

Once you subscribe, Vodafone provides a handy 25 free text credits to get you started. When you’ve run out of credit after arguing about which Pizza Express to meet at, you can top up again through their online payment system Pay4it.

If you’re already a Vodafone prepaid user, you can get any additional credits deducted straight away from your topup account. Alternatively if you’ve not feared a long-term relationship with your phone company and have a contract, you will see additional credits on your monthly bill.

If we’ve wetted your appetite enough for Vodafone Connect to Friends, check out the new application at Facebook or Vodafone. Or for more information, check out the Press Release below.

September 8th 2008

VODAFONE PILOTS NEW MESSAGING APPLICATION ON FACEBOOK: VODAFONE CONNECT TO FRIENDS

Vodafone UK is trialling a unique service that enables all UK mobile users to send text messages from their Facebook profile to friends. The pilot service will be extended later this month to also include picture messages.

Vodafone Connect to Friends lets Facebook users send texts and picture messages without having to switch from PC to mobile simply by installing the ‘Vodafone Connect to Friends’ application to their Facebook profile. The application allows users to send messages not only to their online Facebook friends but also to non-Facebook users and groups. Vodafone Connect to Friends can be used by anyone regardless of their choice of UK mobile operator.

Once people subscribe, Vodafone provides 25 free text credits to get customers started. Further messaging credits can be bought securely via the online payment system Pay4it.

Prepay customers will get any additional credits deducted straight away from their topup accounts. Contract customers will see additional credits on their monthly bill highlighted as “Vodafone Connect to Friends.” An added advantage of this service is that travellers can also text their friends from overseas at UK rates.

“With more than 20 million social network users the UK alone it is the perfect market in which to test a Vodafone service that allows all mobile users to send texts and picture messages via the Facebook experience,” says Pieter Knook Vodafone Group Internet Services Director. “Through this partnership Vodafone aims to continue its commitment to provide easy access to communication services and communities by bringing the worlds of mobile and PC Internet together. This is a ground breaking social networking opportunity for all UK mobile users.”