A Closer Peek into Peekamo

I've been spending some time on Peekamo, a mobile social-networking service that, like other texting services, has web-based tools as well as mobile applications. My aim is to see if a service like this can help teens and parents save some money if some of the texting is done via the web.

If you've already signed on for your cell carrier's unlimited texting package in addition to your regular monthly service plan at the urging of your texting teen, then using a web-based SMS service may not hold any appeal. But even some "unlimited" plans only refer to text messages and photos sent in the same network, though that's slowly changing. Gizmodo reports that one of the largest carriers, Verizon, plans to expand its unlimited text, photos, and video package to out-of-network messages. 

So, back to Peekamo. It is more about social networking from your phone than straight texting or saving money. The benefits seem to be some nice features for keeping in touch with friends via phone with text and status messages, much like away messages in instant-messaging programs. It works very much like online social networks: You sign up, set up a profile, but only friends you invite can see your profile or check your status. You can also create and join groups. (The service is free but regular text message fees apply depending on your carrier.) 

Here's what I think parents would like about this service. If your kids are going over text-message limits, then Peekamo provides the option of text-messaging from a computer. You can log on and go to the inbox and send and receive messages without incurring text-sending fees. Of course, for this to work, your teen's friends have to join Peekamo, too, and if they are receiving the messages on their phones, they will still pay texting fees.

Another parent-friendly feature (which lots of kids would like, too) is the ability to filter bad language. If the member is 16 or younger, the filter is automatically in place; anyone older can manually check off "filter bad language," says Peekamo co-founder Al Sajoo. He says the site filters "keywords that are regulated by the FCC and also some that we feel we see a lot on blogs, forums, and chats."

Here's what I think parents may not like about this service. If you've ascribed to keeping computers in a central place in the house and talk regularly with your kids about whom they are IMing, then you probably think you've got a handle on their online lives. Joining a social network via cell phones means kids may be communicating with a whole other set of people they and you don't know. Something to think about. But the fact is social networks are going mobile, and Peekamo has some nice features in place to make it a safe place to stay in touch with friends.

Related:

Free Text Messaging—Via the Web