GeoChat

GeoChat is a collaboration tool that allows users to chat, report, and get alerts on their phone. "GeoChat is a[n]...open source group communications technology that lets team members interact to maintain shared geospatial awareness of who is doing what where - over any device, on any platform, over any network....It is designed to enable self-organizing group communications by allowing users to link the field, headquarters, and the local community in a real-time, interactive conversation visualized on the surface of a map. GeoChat is a tool for group communications based on SMS [text messaging], email, and Twitter. People use GeoChat to simplify team communications, logistics and data reporting, and they can extend their own software applications using the open APIs [Application Programming Interface (API)]."

The tool requires registration on the GeoChat site online, by email, or by SMS. The user then creates a GeoChat group and invites users who may join and send messages to one user or the entire group of users.

According to its creator InSTEDD, features include:

• "Create, join and participate in chat groups by SMS, email, or web browser.
• Translates location names sent by users to a position on a map.
• Supports a variety of explicit location formats, as well as other user-defined tags.
• Subscribe a group to one or more RSS [(Rich Site Summary)]/ATOM [Atom Syndication Format] feeds, and each new item will be broadcast to mobile users via SMS .
• Groups may be set as public or private.
• GeoChat Server is available both as a free download and as a hosted service.
• Twitter access via 'geochat', and domestic US gateway service via 44911.
• Dedicated international SMS gateway supported by 96% of the world's mobile carriers.
• Optional 'local gateway' mini-client that allows you to plug a local cell phone into your laptop, connect to the Internet, and allow users to send and receive text messages through the service via the local cell network, rather than using the international gateway."

And InSTEDD-listed benefits include:

• "Lets you see, at a glance, who said what, when, and where.
• Allows geospatial ground-truthing, as your mobile team works to confirm, refute, or update data on your map.
• Allows mobile users to verify, refute, or update information live from the field.
• Allows highly-connected users to share the benefits of their geospatial “big picture” view and push out relevant RSS/ATOM feeds to a barely connected users via SMS.
• Ensure that your teammates know where you are and what you are doing.
• Visualize your remote team on the surface of a map and interact with them.
• Works on any PC, Mac, or Linux PC capable of running Mozilla Firefox.
• Works using any cell phone capable of sending and receiving SMS messages."