Smart ties up with Youphoric Labs for free SMS-based app

MANILA, Philippines - Smart Communications Inc. has tied up with content provider Youphoric Labs for the launch of a free SMS-based application to help arrest the decline of the P2 billion mobile value-added services (VAS) business.

Jim Ayson, Smart senior manager for partner management and developer relations, said the Youphoric SMS API (application programming interface) would allow businesses and other entities to launch SMS-based promos or contests in minutes.

“We are happy to partner with Youphoric to introduce the Youphoric SMS API platform, the first such service to be launched commercially in the country. Startups, bloggers, and even students who don’t have much budget can now connect with their target market via the ubiquitous mobile phones,” Ayson said.

He pointed out that the partnership aims to encourage traditional content providers to move forward the API economy by encouraging them to develop APIs for the platforms to allow more third-party developers to create mobile services for the customers of Smart, Talk ‘N Text and Sun.

Ayson said, the new platform would help stop the continued decline of the mobile VAS that was earlier valued at P2 billion.

 â€œThe VAS business has been steadily declining over the years and this partnership will hopefully arrest that,” he said.

He said the partner API program would be rolling out more APIs from partners this year and next year.

“Smart DevNet will be promoting these and other APIs through developer events and our hackathons. Expect a richer developer ecosystem in 2014,” he said.

For her part, Youphoric Labs founder Ann Jacobe said the new platform would allow developers and even non-programmers to quickly launch SMS-based apps on the Smart, Talk ‘N Text and Sun networks.

Jacobe said these apps could include trivia contests, subscriptions, notifications, customer service, information on demand, polling, coupon subscriptions, coupon pulls and promos.

 â€œWe are pleased to inform everyone that Youphoric Labs is the first content provider to offer this service. We’ve taken the bite out of setting up and running SMS service, making it accessible to everyone,” she explained.