LinkedIn and SMS Blaster

The two tools I decided to research were LinkedIn and SMS Blaster. LinkedIn is considered to be a professional networking site while SMS Blaster, an application that allows for bulk text messaging. Both tools enable online communication and the sharing of ideas and information.

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 120 million members (linkedin.com, 2010). According to Danah M. Boyd and Nicole B. Ellison, most social networking sites “support the maintenance of preexisting social networks”, such as Facebook, but others “help strangers connect based on shared interests, political views, or activities.” This is what LinkedIn is for: professionals to connect with other professionals, strangers or not, either to learn about a company or find a job. As most of us in class are graduating this year, creating a LinkedIn account seems important for our professional future. Many potential employers will ask for your LinkedIn account to find out more about you/see who else you may be connected with. Now, almost all of us are Facebook members for social networking and personal reasons. LinkedIn allows for you to post your resume, personal information, and professional experience, something you would never put on Facebook. LinkedIn also only allows for private messaging while Facebook and other sites provide a wall to post on right on the user profile. However, it is similar to Facebook in that you can search for friends, employers, or professional groups/companies. I compare LinkedIn to Facebook in some ways because most of us are more familiar with Facebook.

SMS Blaster is an application, that can be installed on a lap top, desk top, or mobile phone (Bluetooth connection), that is capable of sending thousands of messages in bulk, with a specified task and numerous features (smsblaster.in). We are not capable of doing this on AIM (AOL Instant Messaging) or mobile phone text messaging. SMS Blaster can be used in professional companies, as well as for personal purposes. According to the SMS Blaster website, there are various sectors that benefit from this application, including colleges, hospitals, hotels, schools, banks, clubs, associations, and political parties. An example of what a college might use SMS Blaster for includes sending fees collections, sending activity alert messages, sending summer vacation notices, or sending staff notification messages. The University at Albany doesn’t use SMS Blaster, instead we receive emails that are sent out to all of the students and staff for these purposes. In the future, maybe the University should look into SMS Blaster as a form of communication, instead of emails because I know most of us delete the emails before we even read them.

Both of these tools in computer mediated communication are useful in different situations. Both can be used on the professional level, but SMS Blaster can also be used on a more personal/informal level. I would like to learn even more about LinkedIn because it seems to be very useful as I am graduating in May. I have created an account and have already made connections with previous employers. SMS Blaster is also something I would like to look into even more considering I had never even heard about it until now. Both tools are interesting and useful in today’s times.