Cotap is the new mobile messaging app for workplace communication. Unlike consumer mobile messaging apps like WhatsApp that requires you to add contacts, Cotap scans your phone’s address book for anyone with the same work email domain as you and uses those addresses to automatically populate your company’s address book inside Cotap.
Cotap aims to make SMS the medium of choice for everything from quick updates to groups.
How it works
Download the app, register with your employer’s email address, and you will be immediately connected to others in your company network.
Cotap users receive push notifications on their iPhone’s lock screen every time a Cotap message comes in and also see all the messages associated with groups they’re included in within the app.
Those who don’t have the Cotap app will see the messages as an email thread. Unlike WhatsApp, co-workers can message each other’s phones without needing their cell phone numbers, which not everyone wants to share with office mates.
Key Features of Cotap
● One-to-One and Group Messaging – Start a conversation with any colleague or quickly create ad-hoc groups and include multiple colleagues.
● Crowd-sourced Company Address Book – Co-workers are automatically added to a single shared company address book. No need to ‘friend’ your co-workers or add them to your phone’s contact list.
● Email interoperability – Send a message to anyone in your company. Users without the Cotap app on their phone can participate in conversations via email.
● Message a Meeting – Easily send a message to everyone in an upcoming meeting to let them know, even people outside your company.
Users can download Cotap for free on iOS devices. An Android version is in the works.
Cotap has raised $5.5 million earlier this year from Charles River Ventures and Emergence Capital. The app is free, but Cotap plans to roll out a premium offering at some point for companies.
The company was co-founded by Yammer ex-chief product officer Jim Patterson and ex-senior director of engineering Zack Parker.
