3jam is a totally new way to communicate

Posted by andy, February 2nd, 2006

A very interesting observation from watching people use 3jam is that it really is a completely new way to communicate and fills a void that no other mechanism really addresses. Here’s some thoughts on why 3jam is different and when it makes more sense to 3jam rather than use some more traditional communications mechanism…

Why not just call people?

  • People are busy. Phone calls are more intrusive than text messages. People are not always available to have a conversation at exactly the same time.
  • It’s not always easy to engage a group of people to make a decision over the phone. It requires multiple phone calls and can result in a less than ideal outcome where only the caller is party to the entire conversation.

Why not use email?

  • Email only works when people have access to it (are sitting behind a computer). Most people don’t use mobile email.
  • Even if people have mobile email, there is too much noise in everyday email. I don’t want my phone to buzz every time I get an email events newsletter, an email notice that my credit card statement is online, or worst of all spam. But I do want my phone to buzz if a friend is sending me a message.
  • It doesn’t work well for conversations that need to take place in near real-time

Why not use mobile instant messaging?

  • Only works when I’m signed in
  • Not all of my friends are on the same IM network
  • Not all phones have IM, and even if they do I have to learn how to do it. Text messaging is much easier and ubiquitous.
  • Friends on computers will send long responses and clog my inbox

Why not use Push-to-Talk?

  • It’s less intrusive and easier to receive and respond to a short text message than a voice message in loud crowded places.
  • I can read and respond to the messages later if I’m busy at the moment it’s sent. There is no store and forward for PTT messages

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