GOGII recently launched version 2.1 of the textPlus application for iPhones and iPod touch devices.  What does the update bring to the table, you ask?  How about unlimited group texting.  Not flashy enough?  OK, fine.  How about Free Unlimited Group texting. That’s right, you can ditch the SMS text plan from your wireless carrier and go the free route with textPlus.  The application lets users create groups of up to 50 people and use a single broadcast text message to instantly communicate back and forth with all participants at once (think a “reply all” feature for SMS). This is an application that would work great for sports teams, families, students, businesses, and just about any organization that needs to be able to send out a broadcast message to a large group of people.

Any downsides to textPlus?  The ad-supported application will display an incoming SMS from an unknown number (60611) to any contacts that don’t have textPlus installed on their iPhone/iPod touch (you know, not everyone has an iPhone   — so make sure to tell your friends to add your textPlus address “60611″ for sending SMS messages). You can opt to use your own mobile number.  The problem with that is that standard text messaging fees will be applied by your carrier for outgoing messages — and any incoming replies — sent using your mobile number.  So, if using textPlus, you may want to add your name or another identifier so folks in your group don’t think it’s text SPAM.  All messages sent/received using textPlus will reside in that application — and not show up in your “regular” SMS messages on your iPhone/iPod touch.

All things considered, though, free unlimited SMS is certainly an attractive feature for any consumer that wants to keep a little coin in their pocket at the end of the month.

[textPlus via Mashable]