Business texting is hot. And with new desktop and browser-based business texting apps, Zipwhip aims to make it a lot easier.
Before 2014, it was impossible to text a landline, VoIP or toll-free phone number. That’s when the then-startup company Zipwhip introduced carrier connection technology that bridged the texting gap between mobile, landline and VoIP numbers.
Now as the decade closes, the Seattle based company boasts over 4 million landlines, 300+ employees, and a large new headquarters. Driving this growth is that more and more people dislike phone calls, more people have email overload, and up to 75% of people prefer that businesses use texting over calls.
In the US, that may be partly due to regulations that make it easier for network operators to block texting spam. So with texts, people get relatively little to no spam compared to email. Texts are more trusted and personal, so most people read their texts. In its 2019 State of Texting report, Zipwhip reveals that 74% of people report having zero unread texts, while only 17% said they have zero unread emails. (And even 17% still sounds impressive to us.)
With texting now our new preferred means of communication, it’s no wonder that more businesses now use texts and messaging chatbots to connect with customers. And like with consumer MMS, in business texting apps the new trend is rich communications services (RCS), which packs along more features than plain SMS texting.
Texting and chatbots benefit both customers and businesses. For one, they cultivate more engaging, trusting interactions between businesses and customers. This in turn can lead to higher response rates, new sales prospects, more sales, greater revenue, and repeat customers.
First desktop business texting apps
Zipwhip’s growth has largely been from its web-based business texting service, but the company now also has new desktop business texting apps for Mac and Windows PCs. The company says its desktop apps are the first in the business texting world, and deliver the same full experience of its web-based app.
When you boot up your Mac or PC, the Zipwhip desktop app auto-launches by default, so you can immediately see new messages without having to log in again. With the Mac desktop app, you view and manage your texts and contacts in your dock, and with the Windows app, they’re in your task bar.
And whenever you get a new customer message, you’ll get an instant push notification along with a numerical badge indicator that tallies unread messages on the Zipwhip app icon.
(more after the image)
New browser extension features
Also this year, Zipwhip added major updates to its browser extension for Chrome, Firefox and Edge Chromium. The extension puts Zipwhip’s business texting right within your customer relationship management (CRM) system or other web app.
With the browser extension, you’ll save time in finding and typing out your saved Zipwhip contacts with auto-fill. The extension lets you send group text messages to up to 50 BCC’d contacts at a time.
Major industry support coming in 2020
While Rich Communication Services texting has grown quickly in Europe and some other areas, in the US it’s been hindered by carrier participation. Since RCS has so many features, it’s important for carriers to agree on its implementation so that it can be used across networks.
On October 24, 2019, the four top US carriers AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon announced a joint venture to deliver RCS to consumers and businesses. They call it the Cross Carrier Messaging Initiative (CCMI).
The CCMI plans to develop and deploy RCS in 2020, starting with Android phones. Meanwhile for iPhones, Apple has already been developing its iOS Business Chat service.
What sets Zipwhip apart from others
Zipwhip built its business texting apps on the idea that customers needed to tailor and integrate texting into their existing systems of record: CRMs. With that in mind, the company created an easier plug and play experience in its integration network and API developer portal. For businesses, this means that they can use any computer or mobile device to securely and reliably reach customers.
But unlike most business texting services that rely solely on chatbots and AI, Zipwhip says its RCS texting services are driven mainly by human interaction. That’s because for customers, that human interaction can mean more meaningful and engaging conversations. And for more engagement, Zipwhip also packs in language personalization tools, picture messaging, and an emoji keyboard.
Companies that employ RCS texting can still easily provide location sharing, typing indicators, read receipts and payments. On top of that, Zipwhip’s RCS features also include efficient message templates, scheduled texts, group texting, contact details, unlimited contact import for streamlined information management, a “Mark as Unread” function, and conversation filters.
For more about RCS business texting, see our previous story about Zipwhip, or connect with the company below.
Zipping to the top
Zipwhip now claims a customer base of over 35,000 businesses and more than 12,000 direct customers. The company says its customers span the spectrum, including small shops, Fortune 500 corporations, over 2,000 insurance agencies, nearly 1,000 staffing agencies, about 150 professional sports teams, and 125 major franchise brands.
So far, Zipwhip says it’s the only business texting provider connected to all of the Tier 1 and Tier 2 wireless operators in the US. For businesses, that means they can receive up to 1,000 customer messages per second on their existing landlines, VoIP numbers, or toll-free phone numbers.
Zipwhip is a 2018 and 2019 Mobile Star Awards Winner. You can follow or connect with Zipwhip below:
Best of 2019 Mobile Star Awards Winner:
Innovative Mobile Customer Service & Sales — Zipwhip
New Mobile Business Innovator — Zipwhip
Connect & Follow:
Zipwhip
300 Elliott Ave W, Suite 500
Seattle, WA, 98119
(+1) 855-947-9447
Facebook: /Zipwhip
LinkedIn: /Zipwhip
Twitter: @Zipwhip
YouTube: /ZipwhipInc
Email: Zipwhip.com/contact-us
Website: Zipwhip.com
Blog: Zipwhip.com/blog
Company News: Zipwhip.com/press
Structure: Private company, est. in 2007
Employee Count: 300+
OS Supported: All web browsers
