SMS marketing company TxtLocal has launched a tool that enables event organisers to send group text messages without the use of a computer, and at a fraction of the cost of messaging individuals directly from a mobile. 
The message is sent directly to TxtLocal, who then bounces it out to a predefined group, enabling everyone to be kept informed, while only having to send one message. It has particular benefits for event organisers who often need to keep people up to speed in a quickly changing environment. The cost is 8p per text for up to 100 recipients, falling to 6.5p for 500 – 1,000 recipients and 5.5p per text for over 5,000 recipients. Prices are available on application for more than 10,000 recipients.
The service was trialled at The Greatkit Musto Skiff UK National Championships, organised by Filey Sailing Club on the Yorkshire coast, and held over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Rick Perkins, of Force5Marketing in Canterbury, was a competitor, and also helped to organise and promote the Championships.
It was great. Id send a message and Id hear all these message alerts going off all over the site, says Perkins. The system was a piece of cake to use and worked a treat. The competitors were very impressed, as was Filey Sailing Club. Traditionally, we used to sound a hooter and everyone had to run to a board to find out the latest information not the most efficient method. With the TxtLocal service, the whole operation was made so much smoother everyone was always in the right place at the right time. We will definitely be using this SMS package at next years Championships.
For TxtLocal, Managing Director Darren Daws adds:
We are the first to market with this new option. One of the restrictions placed on event organisers is the constant need to be in contact with large groups of people. With this new tool you dont need to worry about having access to the Internet at the event. No other equipment is needed apart from a mobile phone. The service is cost-effective and easy to use and messages are delivered quickly enabling the event to run smoothly and efficiently.