Texting: It’s Now For Blogging, Too
Sometimes, you can’t always get to your computer, but you may really need to handle something important on your blog. That’s when a new feature we’re launching today — WordPress.com Text Messaging — steps in to help. Through our shiny new 77377 (PRESS) shortcode, you can manage your blog using SMS messages. No computer? No problem.
Note: Currently available in the USA only. Standard text message and data rates apply.
We’ve added great free and paid upgrade features to Text Messaging that make it easy to blog while on the go:
Free Features
Here's what a text message would look like if your blog's theme was changed.
For no additional cost, you can receive text notifications when the following changes occur on your blog:
- Users are added or removed
- The theme changes
- The privacy settings change
Upgrade Features
And here's an example of a text message indicating a comment needs to be moderated.
For ultimate control over your blog while on the go, check out the features you get with the Text Messaging upgrade:
- Protect your blog by using a two-step login process. A text message will be sent to your phone upon login with a passcode that must be entered in order to access your Dashboard.
- Get notified of new comments and moderate them on the spot with a simple text reply. You can also send in a reply to comments you receive.
- Get a notification when a post is published on your blog.
- Need to post something short and sweet right away? You can fire off a text and a new post will be added to your blog instantly.
The upgrade is available for just $20 per year. To purchase, select “Upgrades” while on your blog Dashboard and then select “Text Messaging”.
Get Going
Ready to get started? From your dashboard, click the “Text Messaging” link under the “Settings” tab to register your phone number with the service. After activating, you can select the Text Messaging features that you would like to use for your blog.
Full instructions for using the Text Messaging service are available at
http://en.support.wordpress.com/text-messaging
Posted: Monday, October 11th, 2010 at 5:06 pm. Filed in New Features, Upgrade, WordPress.com.
Tags: Mobile, SMS, Text Messaging
Oct 11th at 5:12 pm
Nice… Hope to see it in more countries
Oct 11th at 6:51 pm
If the feature proves useful for our users, we’ll definitely look into expanding it to other countries as well.
Oct 11th at 5:17 pm
This sounds useful, so long as you don’t all start text talking! I really h8 that!
Oct 11th at 5:19 pm
Quite interesting!
Oct 11th at 5:31 pm
This is supercool!
Oct 11th at 5:46 pm
It’s a long time coming! Woot woot!
Oct 11th at 6:07 pm
Very Good…. I love being able to handle business on the go
Oct 11th at 6:07 pm
Yes, hope this will be available in countries like the Philippines. Great job WP team. You keep on impressing us!
Oct 11th at 6:19 pm
Very interesting innovation for WP users. Keeps getting better the longer I blog.
Oct 11th at 6:21 pm
YES! I text and blog. Now I can have the best of two worlds!
Oct 11th at 6:23 pm
Cool feature! Will give it a shot.
Oct 11th at 6:37 pm
Need this in the UK!
Oct 11th at 6:49 pm
Sounds like a good feature!
Oct 11th at 7:00 pm
Not bad, but I like the iPhone app! This would be handy for people without smartphones I think.
Oct 11th at 7:39 pm
ABSOLUTE need for WordPress in Australia – that’s all I’m going to say. Lucky Americans.
Oct 11th at 7:45 pm
I hope it will be at germany too! this would be soo cool! *____*
Oct 11th at 8:01 pm
Too bad the cake is a lie…
But really, nice feature for people without smart phones.
Oct 11th at 8:17 pm
Great idea, especially for those who have remote access to their blog blocked by the corporate BlackBerry people! Good work WordPress.
Oct 11th at 9:05 pm
The WordPress App is much better. I would like to see more usability built into the App platforms, like making it easier to grab shortcode and instant notification of comments.
Oct 11th at 9:18 pm
This will be great. Problem is I just dont like typing on my phone.
Oct 11th at 9:56 pm
Hope that this feature is not going to transform the wordpress blogs into another micro-blogging technology like twitter
Oct 11th at 9:57 pm
Cool thats a wicked idea!!.. And I have a BlackBerry too so typing is really easy!! Live on and live strong QWERTY !!! lol
Oct 11th at 10:18 pm
It’s a great feature, but I do prefer the classic computer-keyboard thingy.
We could try it and see it how it goes, but isn’t available in my country.
Oct 11th at 10:40 pm
Sounds really cool! I always love when websites I love can be accessed and used through my phone.
Haha. That’s why I barely get on facebook on the actual computer. =D Thanks!!
Oct 11th at 10:47 pm
Just don’t use this feature while driving!
Oct 12th at 12:21 am
This is great for those of us without smartphones yet.
Oct 12th at 12:37 am
It’s not useful for me, but I can see how other bloggers might want this feature.
Oct 12th at 12:44 am
That’s very cool!!
Oct 12th at 1:49 am
Thanks for the new update. Appreciate it.
Oct 12th at 2:05 am
What?? You wanna charge me $20 for a service that others have free? Facebook and Twitter and others allow you to post free. Why should I pay $20 for the service?
Oct 12th at 5:52 am
You don’t have to.
Oct 12th at 2:10 am
Nice Features!!
Oct 12th at 2:22 am
Lots of great innovations recently, BUT, when will you provide for a direct cross/up load of word files INCLUDING pictures… The present process to feature pictures is cumbersome and wastes time.
Oct 12th at 2:30 am
Right now I am using the WordPress App on my iPhone with much success… But still I wonder…
Why is it so hard to pilot something in both the USA and Canada… We are practically the same place in terms of this type of thing. I find apps, codes, streaming and the like (not just WordPress) to be all sorts of bias against us tasty northern neighbors.
Nice to see WP reaching out to non smart phone using USA residents tho… I guess.
Oct 12th at 3:05 am
Wow. I hope this will be available in other countries soon
Oct 12th at 3:15 am
This sounds like a new feature that will be fun and resourceful! Thanks much!
Oct 12th at 3:48 am
Wow, very fantastic feature, great.
Oct 12th at 4:11 am
To me, send an email via cell phone is enough. Besides, text message has limitation characters
Oct 12th at 4:13 am
Great feature! But why the US only for now?
Oct 12th at 3:58 pm
We need to test the waters a bit.
Oct 12th at 4:17 am
Hey thanks for this cool feature! Need this feature in India. Is it available yet?
Oct 12th at 6:21 am
Awesome!! I hope this will be available in Indonesia
Oct 12th at 7:21 am
Make it available in India.
Oct 12th at 8:07 am
Such a pity it is only for USA bloggers
We’re waiting for other countries 
Oct 12th at 8:08 am
When I first saw the title I accidentally read “Taxing: It’s Now For Blogging, Too!” and nearly had a heart attack.
Oct 12th at 9:18 am
We want this facility in India. Hope you would help us.
Oct 12th at 9:27 am
Nice feature! ^^ I hope this feature available soon in Indonesia.. Thank you!
Oct 12th at 10:25 am
Hmm another great innovation!
Oct 12th at 10:27 am
Will it be ever available for India??
Oct 12th at 10:39 am
I usually LOVE new WP features, but I can’t see the point of this one. The free features seem utterly useless, and the pay features seem pretty bare bones for $20/yr. The pay features of WordPress.com are reasonably priced. And no one begrudges WP the right to make some money of a totally awesome product, but I would most likely move to a self-hosted WP install than pay for something like text messaging. Especially when WP for smart phones is completely free.
Oct 12th at 4:06 pm
The Text Messaging feature is perhaps not for everyone. It’s useful if you need to stay updated with what’s going on on your high profile blog – if there are more than 1 editor for instance. It’s great if you’re concerned about security, as the new two-step authentication process makes your account even more secure. It’s awesome if you’re in a no-3G coverage area but still want to post something small and nifty. And if you don’t have a smartphone, you can now moderate and manage your blog on the go.
Oct 12th at 10:59 am
I hope this feature will be available in Indonesia.
Oct 12th at 11:03 am
Would it be available for Pakistan as well in future?
Oct 12th at 12:47 pm
Too bad it’s only in US.
Oct 12th at 1:10 pm
New cool feature
Oct 12th at 1:40 pm
It’s good but, it should have been all over the world.
Oct 12th at 1:46 pm
Could you use this with TracFone too?
Oct 12th at 4:10 pm
It should definitely work, however if your’re in doubt don’t hesitate to ask your provider.
Oct 12th at 2:14 pm
Good news! Looking forward to it’s arrival to this part of the world (Asia).
Oct 12th at 2:46 pm
This is great! I hope it will be available here in the Philippines soon. So that if we don’t have an Internet connection or shall we say a PC, we can blog through the use of WP text msg. =D
Nice. Great job. You get the job done!
Oct 12th at 2:46 pm
Seems like a good idea. Makes sure you never miss anything, or miss a chance to update, on your blog. However i think the $20 service charge is a bit steep as other social networking sites make this service available for free.
Oct 12th at 2:46 pm
I really wish that this would come to Canada! Great for those times I’m not at my computer!
Oct 12th at 7:16 pm
So is this like calling your blog?
Oct 12th at 7:50 pm
Very cool, great job WordPress!
Oct 12th at 11:15 pm
Texting is killing the English language. I prefer when people take the time to compose a well thought-out email or comment.
Oct 13th at 2:41 am
Very good move…
It would be nice, if we can get SMS if someone posts a comment on a blog…
Oct 13th at 3:55 am
Sure hope I can start using this in Canada soon!
Oct 13th at 4:05 am
REALLY COOL! Now if it was only available in Canada.
Oct 13th at 4:32 am
Quite interesting!
Oct 13th at 6:05 am
Great to know! I like how something new and interesting is always coming out. I think blogging can be a great career starter!
Oct 13th at 6:33 am
Looking forward to have this option globally.
Oct 13th at 6:42 am
Great. I will now be addicted. Thanks, WordPress!
Oct 13th at 8:35 am
Yeah it’s right… Texting and blogging are almost the same
Oct 13th at 9:33 am
Not keen in imperialist Amerikkka inventions.
Oct 13th at 9:39 am
WOW! Exciting. It’s nice to update my blog in my iPhone. Thank you. And regards.
Oct 13th at 10:54 am
Yes nice… Interesting this idea…
Oct 13th at 4:51 pm
I like this. Should start using WordPress on my iPhone
Oct 13th at 5:30 pm
Nice! Very useful for me!
Oct 13th at 9:45 pm
Why currently available in the USA only?
Oct 13th at 11:54 pm
Wow how we all think that this should be all around the world.
Oct 14th at 4:52 am
Now I need to get a cool phone
Oct 14th at 8:24 am
Very nice…when do you think this might be available in Europe?!
Oct 14th at 10:42 am
Wow, great! I hope it will come soon to Indonesia.
Oct 14th at 12:57 pm
Now I have to buy my iPhone… rs
Oct 14th at 1:54 pm
Now it will be like in Twitter? =)