A new brand of social networking sites which focus on using SMS messaging as the tool for connecting its members are starting to appear in the mobile social network area. In this sense, the mobile side of these communities is not necessarily accessing the site through a mobile phone - it's more about letting members connect with each other through their mobile phones using text messaging.

All Social network sites offer the chance to chat with other members. This new breed of social network also allows members to send messages straight to other members' mobile phones. It's completely safe because members mobile numbers are never revealed - everything is done through a secure messaging system. Not only can members chat with other members using a secure one to one chat system, members can also create and join SMS clubs, which are great for announcing to a group of friends where you're meeting for the party or for announcing to all your team mates that the match has been called off.

The biggest obstacle to this type of social network will be the uncertainty consumers have regarding premium rate services and the bad press that has recently surrounded some well know names with regards to SMS voting. It's going to be hard to overcome this air of suspicion and it will take both time and ingenuity. Some communites, such as Text Heaven, are removing this uncertainty by not using Premium rate services. In an attempt to reassure it's userbase, everything on offer from Text Heaven site comes at zero cost and with no "in your face" advertising! Whilst this model clearly cannot be sustained when the site becomes more popular, it provides a solid base in these early days on which consumers can gain confidence.

In the future additional features of these types of sites may become chargeable, but in order to provide reassurance, these charges will need to be bought in advance and used on as a "pay as you go" basis. The principle being that the site will remain completely free for the majority of users with a small segment of users paying for the additional services. The members are in total control of how their pre bought credits are spent and do not have to worry about receiving unexpected text messages, which are costing a premium rate each time.

For additional information visit www.textheaven.co.uk