Empowering the largest knowledge workforce on Earth.
What is txteagle?
txteagle is a service that enables mobile phone subscribers to earn money and accumulate savings by completing simple micro-tasks for large corporate clients. Examples of the types of tasks our platform can be used for can be found under Services.
How does txteagle work?
Customers like Nokia and Google come to txteagle with an outsourcing project consisting of many tasks that must be completed with a high degree of accuracy. These tasks can include anything from phrase translation to market surveys to software localization. Additional information regarding tasks can be found under Services.
Through partnership agreements with mobile phone operators, txteagle distributes these tasks directly to workers and then tabulates and analyzes the responses. Users are compensated for their correct answers, but are not compensated for incorrect responses.
How can txteagle guarantee the accuracy of responses?
By strategically deconstructing tasks into distinct micro-assignments, txteagle’s Accuracy Inference Engine (AIE) is able to monitor user performance. The system delivers different tasks to workers who are verified to be working independently of one another. Complex mathematical algorithms developed in-house then automatically evaluate accuracy levels. txteagle guarantees the final results, which can be independently sampled and verified to be correct.
What is the difference between txteagle and a service like Amazon’s Mechanical Turk?
In contrast to most crowd-sourcing services such as Mechanical Turk, txteagle is an active service. There are two key differences:
txteagle does much more than connect a corporate client to a crowd of workers; we moderate the exchange and intercede as needed to guarantee quality responses.
What types of tasks can be accomplished using txteagle?
By deconstructing tasks into micro-tasks and differentially sending work to users depending on their abilities, the txteagle platform is able to accomplish a wide variety of work. Examples include software localization, translation, transcription, image sorting, image tagging, and content analysis. The txteagle platform is also used for gathering information for surveys, and for organizing local groups of individuals. More information can be found under Services.
In cases where the txteagle platform cannot be used to complete 100% of a task your organization may have, we can often still increase your efficiency by completing part of the work for you or by pre-processing your data in some way.
My company has complex tasks. Is txteagle limited to only simple tasks?
No. By first deconstructing a single complex task into a series of simpler tasks, we can often use multiple workers using the txteagle platform to accomplish tasks that a single individual might find difficult to complete using only their phone. Furthermore, in cases where the txteagle platform cannot be used to complete the entire complex task your company faces, we can often integrate into your existing process for completing the task in order to improve your efficiency and reduce your cost.
Please contact us with a description of the complex task you are trying to complete to learn how we can assist you.
My company has tasks which require security/privacy. Can I still use txteagle?
We are very sensitive to our clients’ needs for keeping data secure. txteagle will deconstruct sensitive information and create discrete and unassociated tasks that individually cannot be reconciled by a user or group of users. In cases where employees and data must remain in a controlled setting, we have found ways to increase the efficiency of in-house employees without compromising the security of the data being processed.
Please contact us with a description of the secure task you are trying to complete to learn how we can assist you.
I have an idea for a new use of the txteagle platform. Whom do I contact?
Please send an e-mail describing the use you have in mind to info @ txteagle.com .
Isn’t txteagle just an SMS service?
No. While txteagle’s origins began with SMS (Short Message Service) text messages, our platform is now multichannel. We are able to communicate with our workers using a variety of protocols, including USSD and WAP.
What is USSD and why is it important?
Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) is a protocol common to all GSM phones that enables services such as checking airtime balances or topping up with airtime scratch cards. With the vast majority of mobile phone subscribers in the developing world having prepaid accounts, subscribers are extremely familiar with USSD applications. Unlike SMS, there is no fee associated with its use.
USSD is sessions-based, and it is faster than SMS, which is a store-and-forward service. There is very little latency with interactive USSD-based services, making it an ideal platform for menu-driven applications like surveys. txteagle has had tremendous success deploying USSD applications in both East Africa and Mexico. It continues to be an important channel for communicating with our workers.
What is WAP and why is it important?
Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) is an open international standard for communication. WAP-enabled phones can receive compressed image files and compressed audio in the form of MP3s. txteagle integrates with a mobile phone operators WAP service to send image- or audio-based tasks to its workers. While not all handsets in the developing world can communicate using WAP, the number of handsets which can is steadily rising. As an example, approximately 30% of Kenyan mobile phone subscribers presently own a WAP-enabled phone.
Where is the txteagle service available? Where is it expanding next?
At present, the txteagle service is live in Kenya. It will soon expand to other countries in Africa and to parts of Latin America.
I am an operator and am interested in becoming a txteagle partner. How can I learn more?
Please send an inquiry by e-mail to providers @ txteagle.com .
How do workers get paid?
In countries such as Kenya, where mobile payment platforms are available, payment is made directly to a worker’s phone after their work has been evaluated. Money can be withdrawn at mobile phone operator-run kiosks present in virtually every major village in the country. In other countries without mobile payment platforms, txteagle compensates users with airtime credit transfers. Workers who can successfully complete tasks are rewarded; users who are unable to complete a given task will be redirected to other work until a suitable task can be found for them.