Pinger
{{Short description|American telecom provider}}
{{other uses}}
{{Infobox company
| logo = Pinger_logo_2024.png
| name = Pinger
| type = Corporation
| foundation = {{start date and age|2005|4}}
| hq_location = San Jose, California, U.S.
| key_people = Greg Woock (CEO)
| founders = {{unbulleted list|Greg Woock|Joe Sipher}}
| products = Textfree, Sideline, Index
| website = {{URL|www.pinger.com}}
}}
Pinger, Inc. is a US telecom provider for free texts, pictures, calls, and voicemails.[https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicoleperlroth/2011/07/13/pingers-polite-plans-for-world-domination/ Pinger's Polite Plans For World Domination], Forbes, 13 July 2011 Pinger was founded in 2005 by former Palm, Inc. managers Greg Woock (CEO of Pinger, Inc) and Joe Sipher. The company is headquartered in San Jose, California.{{cn|date=July 2021}}
History
Pinger was founded in 2005 by Greg Woock and Joe Sipher.{{cite web | last=Saint | first=Nick | title=Free Texting App Textfree Is Disrupting AT&T With Over A Billion Messages Handled | website=Business Insider | date=February 17, 2010 | url=https://www.businessinsider.com/texting-app-textfree-over-a-billion-messages-2010-2 | access-date=May 27, 2024}} At first, the company created the Pinger Phone in 2008, which consolidated phone, email, and messaging contacts and communications.{{cite web | last=Meyers | first=Michelle | title=How To Text Without a Cell Phone | website=CNET | date=August 6, 2010 | url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/how-to-text-without-a-cell-phone/ | access-date=July 2, 2024}} The free texting features were converted into a separate iPhone app called Textfree. Pinger was initially focused exclusively on mobile messaging, but started developing other smartphone apps after Apple released the iPhone software development kit (SDK).{{cite web | last=Trimble | first=Aron | title=Pinger's Textfree Delivers Billionth Free Text Message | website=Engadget | date=February 17, 2010 | url=https://www.engadget.com/2010-02-17-pingers-textfree-delivers-billionth-free-text-message.html | access-date=May 27, 2024}}
Products
The company has released several apps, mostly being available on iOS, Android, Microsoft Windows and Macintosh.
= Textfree =
{{main|Textfree}}
Textfree is an app that allows user to call and text using a real phone number for free. The app has a free ad-supported version and a paid version. The app allows you to text anyone in the world.{{cite web|url=http://pinger.com/tfw/|title=Textfree Web for Free Unlimited Texting From Your Computer|date=29 July 2015}}
= Sideline =
Sideline is an app that adds a second phone number to your phone using technology similar to Textfree. It's available for iOS, Android, Microsoft Windows and Macintosh.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pinger.com/#apps|title=Developer of Sideline and Textfree {{!}} Pinger|website=Pinger|language=en-US|access-date=2018-09-13}} Their official website is [https://www.sideline.com/ sideline.com].
= Index =
Index is an app that provides a designated business phone number with voice and text capabilities. Index also provides automated text messaging for businesses.{{Cite web|url=https://getindex.com/|title=Index|website=Index|language=en-US|access-date=2024-08-06}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.pinger.com/ }}
- March 27, 2013 The Wall Street Journal. [https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323466204578382733261211950 The Messaging Apps Taking on Facebook, Phone Giants]
- March 19, 2013 CNN Money [https://money.cnn.com/video/technology/2013/03/19/t-pinger-smartphones-texting.cnnmoney/index.html Turn your iPad into a free phone]
- March 17, 2011 Biz Journals [http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2011/03/17/pinger-aims-to-dominate-texting-world.html?page=all Pinger aims to dominate texting world]
Company products
- Sideline - second phone number
- Textfree - free texting and calling
{{Instant messaging}}