Posted: Monday, October 11th, 2010 at 5:06 pm. Filed in New Features, Upgrade, WordPress.com.
Tags: Mobile, SMS, Text Messaging
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
October 11th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
Nice… Hope to see it in more countries
October 11th, 2010 at 6:51 pm
If the feature proves useful for our users, we’ll definitely look into expanding it to other countries as well.
October 11th, 2010 at 5:17 pm
This sounds useful, so long as you don’t all start text talking! I really h8 that!
October 11th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
Quite interesting!
October 11th, 2010 at 5:31 pm
This is supercool!
October 11th, 2010 at 5:46 pm
It’s a long time coming! Woot woot!
October 11th, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Very Good…. I love being able to handle business on the go
October 11th, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Yes, hope this will be available in countries like the Philippines. Great job WP team. You keep on impressing us!
October 11th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
Very interesting innovation for WP users. Keeps getting better the longer I blog.
October 11th, 2010 at 6:21 pm
YES! I text and blog. Now I can have the best of two worlds!
October 11th, 2010 at 6:23 pm
Cool feature! Will give it a shot.
October 11th, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Need this in the UK!
October 11th, 2010 at 6:49 pm
Sounds like a good feature!
October 11th, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Not bad, but I like the iPhone app! This would be handy for people without smartphones I think.
October 11th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
ABSOLUTE need for WordPress in Australia – that’s all I’m going to say. Lucky Americans.
October 11th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
I hope it will be at germany too! this would be soo cool! *____*
October 11th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Too bad the cake is a lie…
But really, nice feature for people without smart phones.
October 11th, 2010 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.
October 11th, 2010 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.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:18 pm
This will be great. Problem is I just dont like typing on my phone.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:56 pm
Hope that this feature is not going to transform the wordpress blogs into another micro-blogging technology like twitter
October 11th, 2010 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
October 11th, 2010 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.
October 11th, 2010 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!!
October 11th, 2010 at 10:47 pm
Just don’t use this feature while driving!
October 12th, 2010 at 12:21 am
This is great for those of us without smartphones yet.
October 12th, 2010 at 12:37 am
It’s not useful for me, but I can see how other bloggers might want this feature.
October 12th, 2010 at 12:44 am
That’s very cool!!
October 12th, 2010 at 1:49 am
Thanks for the new update. Appreciate it.
October 12th, 2010 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?
October 12th, 2010 at 5:52 am
You don’t have to.
October 12th, 2010 at 2:10 am
Nice Features!!
October 12th, 2010 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.
October 12th, 2010 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.
October 12th, 2010 at 3:05 am
Wow. I hope this will be available in other countries soon
October 12th, 2010 at 3:15 am
This sounds like a new feature that will be fun and resourceful! Thanks much!
October 12th, 2010 at 3:48 am
Wow, very fantastic feature, great.
October 12th, 2010 at 4:11 am
To me, send an email via cell phone is enough. Besides, text message has limitation characters
October 12th, 2010 at 4:13 am
Great feature! But why the US only for now?
October 12th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
We need to test the waters a bit.
October 12th, 2010 at 4:17 am
Hey thanks for this cool feature! Need this feature in India. Is it available yet?
October 12th, 2010 at 6:21 am
Awesome!! I hope this will be available in Indonesia
October 12th, 2010 at 7:21 am
Make it available in India.
October 12th, 2010 at 8:07 am
Such a pity it is only for USA bloggers
We’re waiting for other countries 
October 12th, 2010 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.
October 12th, 2010 at 9:18 am
We want this facility in India. Hope you would help us.
October 12th, 2010 at 9:27 am
Nice feature! ^^ I hope this feature available soon in Indonesia.. Thank you!
October 12th, 2010 at 10:25 am
Hmm another great innovation!
October 12th, 2010 at 10:27 am
Will it be ever available for India??
October 12th, 2010 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.
October 12th, 2010 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.
October 12th, 2010 at 10:59 am
I hope this feature will be available in Indonesia.
October 12th, 2010 at 11:03 am
Would it be available for Pakistan as well in future?
October 12th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Too bad it’s only in US.
October 12th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
New cool feature
October 12th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
It’s good but, it should have been all over the world.
October 12th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
Could you use this with TracFone too?
October 12th, 2010 at 4:10 pm
It should definitely work, however if your’re in doubt don’t hesitate to ask your provider.
October 12th, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Good news! Looking forward to it’s arrival to this part of the world (Asia).
October 12th, 2010 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!
October 12th, 2010 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.
October 12th, 2010 at 2:46 pm
I really wish that this would come to Canada! Great for those times I’m not at my computer!
October 12th, 2010 at 7:16 pm
So is this like calling your blog?
October 12th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Very cool, great job WordPress!
October 12th, 2010 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.
October 13th, 2010 at 2:41 am
Very good move…
It would be nice, if we can get SMS if someone posts a comment on a blog…
October 13th, 2010 at 3:55 am
Sure hope I can start using this in Canada soon!
October 13th, 2010 at 4:05 am
REALLY COOL! Now if it was only available in Canada.
October 13th, 2010 at 4:32 am
Quite interesting!
October 13th, 2010 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!
October 13th, 2010 at 6:33 am
Looking forward to have this option globally.
October 13th, 2010 at 6:42 am
Great. I will now be addicted. Thanks, WordPress!
October 13th, 2010 at 8:35 am
Yeah it’s right… Texting and blogging are almost the same
October 13th, 2010 at 9:33 am
Not keen in imperialist Amerikkka inventions.
October 13th, 2010 at 9:39 am
WOW! Exciting. It’s nice to update my blog in my iPhone. Thank you. And regards.
October 13th, 2010 at 10:54 am
Yes nice… Interesting this idea…
October 13th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
I like this. Should start using WordPress on my iPhone
October 13th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Nice! Very useful for me!
October 13th, 2010 at 9:45 pm
Why currently available in the USA only?
October 13th, 2010 at 11:54 pm
Wow how we all think that this should be all around the world.
October 14th, 2010 at 4:52 am
Now I need to get a cool phone
October 14th, 2010 at 8:24 am
Very nice…when do you think this might be available in Europe?!
October 14th, 2010 at 10:42 am
Wow, great! I hope it will come soon to Indonesia.
October 14th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
Now I have to buy my iPhone… rs
October 14th, 2010 at 1:54 pm
Now it will be like in Twitter? =)