Text Message Service SMS GupShup Opens App Store

  • March 2, 2010
Can a text-messaging service get its app store? It can now. SMS GupShup, which runs a popular text-based social networking service in India, has launched a companion storefront for SMS apps. The company promises the new AppShup platform will allow developers to create and distribute apps quickly and easily via its open API. They can also connect their apps to other sites and blogs.

So far there are more than 100 titles offered through AppShup spanning simple games, quizzes, astrology, movie and dictionary programs. The new app store is the latest wrinkle for Mumbai-based GupShup, which has raised $37 million to date from investors including Globespan Capital Partners and Charles River Ventures.

The company, which has a partnership in India with Facebook, says it now accounts for 5% of all text messages sent in India, which has about 500 million cell users. To help stock its new app outlet, GupShup is sponsoring a contest for the most innovative SMS app with the winner awarded a $5,000 cash prize. -- Mark Walsh

Next story loading loading..