Following others on Utterz: all or none Jun11 '08

Utterz is great for posting voice notes while on the go. Trouble is, it works more like a traditional blog, than a status update tool. To follow a user on Utterz, you have two choices: RSS, or dial into the universal Utterz phone number and cycle through the automated menu options.

Neither of these options come to you. You have to go out and check for updates yourself. In other words, I'd have to open my RSS reader on my mobile device and check for updates to that feed. Or, I could call the Utterz phone number and cycle through until I find only the updates I want to hear. Both of these options are time-consuming and not worth the effort.

I'd prefer an "alert" mechanism, such as SMS or email. When someone posts a voice-only Utter, I should get an SMS or email with a link or callback number to immediately hear the Utter.

This is exactly how Pinger works. You leave a message, and your message is "broadcasted" to all followers.

It's also how services like Twitter and Brightkite work. You are able to follow users on an individual alert basis, using SMS or email.

The only way to follow an individual user on Utterz is with RSS. This is bad because RSS is server delayed, meaning the updates won't come across in real-time. Also, as far as I know, there are currently no nifty RSS applications for mobile devices that treat RSS updates as "alerts" to you.

In a sense, to follow others on Utterz, it's all or none. You have to follow your entire circle, or no one.

I'd like a service that combines Utterz ability to post voice, notes, photos, etc - with something like Pinger, which provides immediate SMS or email alerts, a callback number for voice notes, and the ability to fine-tune alerts on an individual user basis.

Of course, in an ideal world, all the services I use could be merged into one, super-blogging service.

Categories: Ideas , Social Networks , Utterz

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You can toggle your Utterz settings to email or sms you when a particular user creates an utterz. See the My Circle tab when you're logged in. But ... Read more.

Hi Matt- I work with Utterz in a community management/customer service and marketing capacity and really, really enjoyed reading your feedi ... Read more.

Thanks Mark. I hadn't noticed the SMS and email notification options. They kind of blend in. ... Read more.

matthom is published and produced by Matt Thommes - an independent publishing enthusiast, mobile blogger, content creator, informative writer, web developer from Chicago. Never one to conform, Matt intends to promote the effect the web has on our lives, in an effort to intensify, instruct, and clarify all that is happening around us.