Slow message: Do the work now, reap the rewards later

Do you want to let that special someone know you care without having to do it every single day? Don't fret! Slow Message allows you to create messages now and define a 'loose' period of time that you want the recipient to receive your email. It can be sent in days, weeks, months or years, depending on what you choose. It sounds romantic to some. Unless it's someone that you know you're going to care about months down the road, though (a child, a parent), it smells like a recipe for disaster.

Using the app is pretty straightforward. After you download it, enter your name and email address. A four digit verification code will be sent to your email, which you'll enter into the app. You're then taken to a screen where you can send a message to someone else or to yourself. After you create your message, decide how slowly you'd like your message to arrive. You can choose the next day, week, month or year or in a few days, weeks, months or years. After you 'send' your message, you'll receive a notification that tells you, loosely, when the message will arrive. Unless you select the next day option, you don't know the exact day the recipient will receive the message.

The app is recommended for use to send yourself reminders (though how useful is a reminder when you can't specify a date) and to reveal secrets, among other things. If you choose to go the route of revealing secrets, be aware that there's no way to cancel these messages.

Although it has its drawbacks, I do think it's a cute idea. You can craft several messages at once for your mom on Mother's Day or her birthday (one message for each year) and have them sent throughout the year to remind her that you love her. Sure, you can do the same with a boyfriend or girlfriend, too, but it would be awkward if the relationship ends before all those messages are sent.

Slow Messages is available for iOS FREE for the month of May.

Have you used Slow Messages or a similar app? Did it work out well or end in disaster?

Photo courtesy skalas2, via Flickr.