FrontlineSMS allows you to text message with large groups of people anywhere there is a mobile signal.

Why the download request?

Why does FrontlineSMS require us to "request a download"? Why not just a download link like other software sites?

Permalink Reply by saikyo on July 6, 2009 at 1:21am: I second that motion!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by kiwanja on July 6, 2009 at 2:30am: Hi Aaron

There are a couple of reasons for this.

Firstly, from our perspective, we are only able to continue to get donor support for the project, and to monitor progress, if we can provide information on where FrontlineSMS is being used, and the kinds of things it is being used for. Organisations like the MacArthur and Hewlett Foundations would find it harder to fund us if we didn't have this kind of data, and it's unlikely enough users and downloaders would voluntarily provide it.

From your perspective, we prefer to be able to keep in touch with users when we release new versions, detect bugs, or get offers from the media (or researchers) who are interested in speaking with people working with mobile (and FrontlineSMS). If we didn't capture this information then we wouldn't be able to do that.

We are constantly reviewing how we provide access to the software, so it may not stay as it is now forever. I hope that answers your question.

Cheers.

Ken; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Aaron Simmons on July 6, 2009 at 1:02pm: Going through a page where you have to fill out a form is fine (I understand that you need to keep statistics). But having to get 'approved' and then having to wait several days to get a download definitely slows down the community's ability to evaluate FrontlineSMS. This can really be a problem if internet access is only a once-in-a-while sort of thing.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by kiwanja on July 6, 2009 at 1:17pm: Hi Aaron

95% of requests are approved same day, and the rest the following day if they come in at night, so this hasn't been a problem and users don't seem to mind. I think yours was approved the day after, i.e. first thing next day, for example.

As I mentioned, we're always looking at ways of making this easier for people, so it may well change at some stage. Almost all of our developer time has been spent on the core product rather than the website, which is where the work would need to be done.

Ken; ▶ Reply to This