If you've ever wanted to log in to your Ez Texting account when you're on the go you know that our full app can take a while to load on a smartphone. Today we're speeding things up, a lot. If you login to Ez Texting using any smartphone we'll automatically deliver a mobile optimized version of our application.

You can't do everything yet but all of our most popular features (aside from voice broadcasting and Keyword editing) are available in our mobile optimized site. In the next few weeks we'll be improving and adding to mobile version of our app, so if you have feedback, please be in touch.

If you’ve ever talked to us about mobile video you know that cross carrier multimedia messaging services (MMS) just aren’t there yet. Today we’re excited to let you know about a great service called MyBrainshark. MyBrainshark is a free online service that enables you to easily create, share and track online and mobile video presentations using your PowerPoint documents and your voice. If you have a plain old video file, that works as well.

So here’s how it works. Sign up for MyBrainshark – basic usage is free but the paid plans are well worth the upgrade, starting at only $9.99/month. Once you’ve created your account you can upload videos (or presentations – we’ll get to that in a minute) and they’ll automatically convert them into a mobile-ready format. They’ll give you a short link that you can add to your text messaging campaigns. MyBrainshark supports pretty much every smartphone. If you’ve been waiting for a way to enhance your mobile campaigns with video, the solution is here.

About the Powerpoints. MyBrainshark is guided by two philosophies. ‘Create once, share anywhere,’ is the first. Everything you upload to MyBrainshark is available on the web, can be exported to YouTube, and of course is available on mobile devices. The second philosophy is ‘Video Presentations…Anytime, Anywhere.’ Thousands of companies and organizations use MyBrainshark to share eLearning presentations and marketing materials. After you’ve uploaded your Powerpoint you can record a voiceover using your telephone, mic, or by uploading mp3’s and add background music for a multimedia viewing experience. If you’re one of the hundreds of trade shows or conference presenters who run at-event Keyword campaigns, MyBrainshark can take your campaign to the next level:

• If you’re giving a presentation you can encourage your audience to text in your Keyword. Add a MyBrainshark link to your autoresponder and provide attendees with a copy of your presentation – including an audio narration track.
• If you’re organizing the event you can do the same, providing everyone at the conference with keynotes, promotional videos and more.
• myBrainshark also works with QR codes, so you can use one video solution for your entire campaign.

For $9.95/month you can upgrade to MyBrainshark Pro, but if you use the promo code –JPLRPKGPDJ, they’ll knock 15% off that price. Among MyBrainshark Pro’s added features there are three we want to highlight:

• Remove myBrainshark site branding with the stand-alone player. This is perfect for a link inserted into your text message campaigns.
• Lead capturing and viewer identification are exactly what they sound like – and are great for business customers.
• Detailed reporting and alerts allow you to analyze usage and gauge the effectiveness of your video/presentations.

If you want to learn more about MyBrainshark for mobile, check out their blog post that covers all of their mobile tools – including their iPhone and iPad apps. Even better, if you want to see what you can do with MyBrainshark, watch their mobile presentation!

Ready to go? Try MyBrainshark now and start adding mobile video and presentations to your text messaging campaigns.  The promo code again is:  JPLRPKGPDJ

When the FCC issued its network neutrality ruling in December they declared mobile data providers exempt from the principal of network neutrality. But apparently this wasn’t enough for some parties; Verizon and MetroPCS promptly sued the FCC in an attempt to force a repeal of the fresh regulations. The FCC responded, noting that regulations need to be published in the Federal Register before you can challenge them. The opponents of net neutrality clearly are not trigger shy.

The FCC expected a court challenge, but another troubling development may preempt the need for a legal fight. On February 17^th the House Energy and Commerce committee will hold a hearing regarding net neutrality. Following the hearing they will hold a Congressional Review Act vote – which if passed would both overturn the regulation and prevent the FCC from ruling on the issue in the future. If the Congress overturns the FCC’s ruling in this manner it will truly be the end of net neutrality.

So what does this have to do with mobile marketing? If the wireless carriers have the right to degrade, throttle and block services on their networks, they have the right to degrade, throttle and block mobile marketing campaigns. Anything would be fair game – restrictions on in-App advertising, mobile search and display ads blocked unless delivered by preferred networks, and mobile commerce forced through carrier platforms instead of neutral parties such as PayPal. The point is not to ponder every possible hypothetical; you either understand what is at stake or you do not. Thankfully, Public Knowledge, a Washington, D.C.-based public interest group has worked tirelessly to educate Americans about what is at stake.

On Monday they launched ‘The Internet Strikes Back,’ a new campaign to encourage national day of action: 

The Internet Strikes Back is a day - February 17th - where we are asking the Internet to call your Representative and tell them how important Net Neutrality is.

Go to www.TheInternetStrikesBack.org to find out more, get a button for your website, and even sign up to participate in advance.  If you sign up in advance, you will get a text message on the 17th that will automatically connect you with your Representative.

In January, President Obama declared in his State of the Union address how important it is to bring high speed wireless access to nearly all Americans. On Thursday, Obama declared that “we can’t expect tomorrow’s economy to take root using yesterday’s infrastructure.” We can’t expect to see the innovation that will drive tomorrow’s growth if we allow a handful of corporations to cripple that infrastructure.

I urge you to visit www.TheInternetStrikesBack.org and stand up for net neutrality.

Public Knowledge is one of our favorite public advocacy groups at Ez Texting. Their self-described mission:

Public Knowledge is a Washington DC based public interest group working to defend your rights in the emerging digital culture.

We want to share an email we received from them this morning. Please consider:

Two weeks from now, Congress will hold a hearing on Net Neutrality where Members will make known their intentions to repeal the FCC's recently introduced Net Neutrality rules. If passed, this repeal wouldn't just scrap the rules--it would also prevent the agency from taking action on this important issue in the future. While the FCC's rules are far from perfect, they do provide a framework under which the agency can protect consumers and punish bad actors. Without this framework, internet service providers will be free to discriminate against users, services and types of traffic at will.

Make no mistake: this will be a decisive vote. This is the only time that Congress will vote "yes or no" on Net Neutrality, so it's crucial that they vote the right way. Help us send a clear message to Congress: a vote for the repeal act is a vote against Internet users.

So what can you do to help? First, head over to Public Knowledge's website and read up on their efforts. If you want to stay up to date, you can sign up for their text-message Mobile Action Alerts. We also encourage you to take a look at their petitions to the FCC.