To be clear, the technique of messaging in a special code to a number to "subscribe" to a service has been around for many, many years before edtech companies started using it recently. But it's a good approach.
And there's one big difference: services like Remind101 offer broadcasting, but they don't allow the students to reply.
We're out to open up and optimize the communication between teachers and students. Over time, each side will get the tools that serve them best. That's why the UX is web-based for teachers and SMS-based for students.
For what it's worth... I sent your site to my sister who teaches highschool biology and she replied:
I've been using remind101.com. Looks like the same thing except with mine I can have as many classes as I want for free. I can't do the questioning thing, but the kids aren't allowed to have their phones out so I can't use it anyways.
Hmm, thanks. We'll have to work on the front page copy.
Do her students never reply to the text messages she sends out? That's the core of the value-add -- whether inside or outside of class, students can reply to ClassPager and we show it to the teacher on the web site.
If she doesn't want students to be able to reply at all (i.e. she wants it to be totally 1-way communication) then I'm actually inclined to agree -- Remind101 is definitely the best and most cost-effective choice there.
I'd love to talk to them, if you think they'd be interested in a conversation. We're headed in a bit of a different direction (message analytics and eventually generating questions), though I agree it looks pretty similar right now.
My friend does the same thing http://www.tophatmonocle.com/