A new Web site allows both students and Gainesville residents to choose coupons from about 35 local restaurants and businesses and immediately receive them as text messages. Users redeem the coupon by showing the message on their phone as they would with a paper coupon.
The site, www.mobilecoups.com, is up and running, but the grand opening is scheduled for Monday, said UF graduate and service developer Dan Doromal.
Doromal developed the site with his brother, UF student Raphael Doromal, and UF graduate Nick Hu. Raphael Doromal said users will have full control over what is sent to them and when it is sent, which distinguishes MobileCoups from other text-messaging-coupon services.
Hu said one of the site's features is allowing people to decide when they want to view sales promotions so they aren't bombarded with ads.
MobileCoups can replace the process of flipping through several coupon books, Hu said. The developers hope the Web site will be a bridge between local businesses and their customers.
