Kwiry puts Netflix, Amazon in your pocket

This morning, SMS reminder service Kwiry is adding a new tool to its repertoire called shortcuts. It goes beyond the original implementation of adding keywords and photos to look up later, and turns it into a tool that links up with various Web services you might be using.

The first implementation of that is with Netflix. If you're a subscriber of the DVD-by-mail service, you're now able to simply send an SMS to the service with "Netflix" and the movie title and it will automatically be added to your queue. This is one of those things that's just genius--if you overhear someone talking about a movie you can simply send a quick text message and have it show up on your doorstep. There's no need to log in to Netflix from your phone (which only works on a few handsets) or scribble it down somewhere for later.

Amazon.com users also have their own shortcut that's not nearly as sexy as the one for Netflix, but still useful. Texting "Amazon" with a product name will add it to your wish list. Like the Netflix implementation, this has been set up to let you track it down later just like you would a search query, but with the eventual intent to buy. As part of a promotion, the company will be buying a Kwiry'd item someone's put on their wish list each week for the next few months.

Besides Netflix and Amazon, Kwiry has also added some GTD tasking utilities, including support for writing a to-do list and adding events to your Web calendar using the same shortcode. It will convert things like days of the week into the proper date and time in whatever calendaring tool you're using. Likewise, the to-do list you put together can be edited and rearranged back in Kwiry. I think these two items are going to be used less than the Netflix and Amazon look-up, but it's a sign of other things to come from this search look-up tool.

As I've said before, I think Kwiry is a fun little tool if you don't have the time to fire up your phone's Web browser, or if you're one of the millions of folks with an older handset. The only crux here is that SMS fees continue to go up, and using this a few times a day can really add up unless you've got a good texting plan from your carrier.

Kwiry users can now add Netflix movies to their queue and items from Amazon onto their Amazon wish lists with shortcode messages.

(Credit: Kwiry)

[swiggins]

how lazy can you get.

[Josh.Lowensohn]

Heh, I don't think it's an issue of being lazy. More like convenience if you've got a 6-year old phone and want extra utility.

[ak352]

I love this. This will definitely save me all those scraps of tissues and napkins that I use to remember things. The features with amazon and netflix is great. I don't think it's laziness; I think this is for people who have better thing to do with their time and their brains so as to not satiate it with trivial things. Being one of those who has a lesser fancy pants phone, this feature fits right in.

[poloballs]

Not lazy enough in my book.

I am still waiting for my personal robot, so I can text "get popcorn microwave" or "chores trash empty".