The following instructions show you how to set up a distribution group on the most commonly used smartphones among MMU staff.

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1 Creating Text Message Distribution Groups Sending the same text to a number of contacts simultaneously can be really useful. Usually, the Group Messaging feature, particularly on the iphone, is dependent on the carrier and the contract you have with them. Instead of typing in multiple recipients manually, you can create a group of contacts to save time and enable to you respond more efficiently when the need arises. The following instructions show you how to set up a distribution group on the most commonly used smartphones among MMU staff. IPhone (ios 5) The iphone is capable of sending and receiving group s. The directions below are based on ios 5 but this feature has been around for a while and is not ios 5 specific. Enabling this feature is simple: Go to Settings > Messages > Group Messaging and turn it on. Now, when you send a group, if the other user has the feature enabled, they will be able to see everyone in the conversation as well as send a back to everyone. 1- Tap on Settings 2- Tap on Messages option 3. Find the Group Messaging, if it does exist then switch it to ON.

2 When you check your history you should now see Group MMS, instead of New Message. When you check your history, it displays Group MMS instead of New Message Workaround If Group Messaging is not available on your iphone, this is likely to be due to carrier restrictions. You can use the following workaround, which whilst not ideal, will get you similar results and potentially save you time in the long run. Tap on the s application from the iphone start screen. Create an outgoing by tapping on the pencil icon, located in the upper right corner of the screen. Tap on Messages icon to create new Click on the pencil icon to create new

3 Tap the To field and then enter the first phone number, or tap on the + icon and select the recipient phone number from Contacts page. Enter the recipient names or phone numbers Type your here Alternatively, click on the plus to select the recipient from phone contact list Click on Send button to send your Tap the return button on the on-screen keyboard and enter the next recipient phone number or tab on the + button again Repeat the previous step to add all the phones numbers you want to include. All the phone numbers in the recipient area will be included in the distribution group list Tap on the box and type in your Tap on the send button to send When you want to send to the same group again, from the home screen tap on the s icon and then select the previous sent. Tap on the Message field and type your new The new will delivered to the same previous group contact number as in the previous. Blackberry devices From the Blackberry home page go to address book then press on the menu key and then Select New Group

4 The new BBM Group page will display. Enter the group name Give a group description Select the appropriate option In the Group Name field type in the name you would like to use for this new group In the Description field, add the information you want recipients to see when they receive the invitation to this group You can change the Group icon if you like, to make it more easily recognised For the next field, select o NO if you would like to prevent the members of group from inviting other people to the group o Otherwise, leave it on default option YES. Select Create Group To populate the group, Press down on the menu key Scroll down and select the Add Member. To add members to the group that you have created, Scroll down to Add Member Add members to your group until it populates with all the contacts that you want to be in this group Then click Save.

5 Windows phone Think about what kind of group you need to create, then choose from a selection of categories such as family, friends or a group of co-workers. From the start screen Tap on the People Hub. This will display the people page Tap on the People hub This will display the people page In the people page tap on the plus icon, this will open the NEW GROUP page In the Group name use the screen keyboard to type in a name for the contact group that you would like create After you picked a group name, click on the add a contact The add contact button allows you to search and add contacts as you wish. 1. Enter the group name 2. Add contact to the group 3. Then tap on the save icon to save the group After you have chosen the group members, tap on the save icon at the bottom of the screen You have now created the Group.