You might have recently heard about the need for all websites to have the HTTPS in their address for security, or you may have seen in your Chrome browser URL Address Bar a "Not Secure" notice for unsecured websites. We're happy to let you know all OCS websites come with HTTPS, keeping you secure even if you don't handle sensitive data or monetary transactions through your website. You can find the option to enable SSL in the OCS Menu on the left, near the top labeled SSL Settings.

Why have this extra protection? Google sums it up best that HTTPS:

• protects the integrity of your website
• protects the privacy and security of your users
• is the future of the web

To understand more about each of those points, head over to the Google Developers article, "Why HTTPS Matters."

HTTPS means your site has an SSL Certificate, which usually must be purchased. We're able to provide you this service for no additional charge. And don't forget that, if you use the Membership Portal in our Membership Database, your members' login is also protected.

Our new Mobile Web Texting App connects our Membership Database, Group Texting, Keyword Texting, and Visitor Follow-Up tools with a new combined communication tool that will allow you to continue your church text conversations right from your phone. 

When you use the "Text From a Number" feature in those tools, any responses to your texts can now be forwarded to the cell phone number of your choice (currently you're notified via email). Those texts sent to you will include a link that will open our new web app and allows you to view the name and info of who sent the text (retrieved from your Membership Database or Visitor Follow-Up records), then respond and keep the conversation going. 

When someone texts one of your keywords, not only will they get the automated response you have defined in Keyword Texting, but you will be notified so you can choose to interact via text.

If you're using the Group Texting in the US using an email address, this will continue to be no cost. To use this new feature, sending from a phone number instead of an email address, a Plivo.com account is required at a cost of $0.80 per month for the number, and $0.005 per text. Example: 200 texts would cost the monthly 80 cents and $1.00 in texting charges to send.

You can view your text conversation histories in the new Mobile Web Texting App or in the Membership Database, continuing the connection of all of our Tools together together in one place. To get the new app, just look for the link when you log in to either Group Texting or Keyword Texting, and be sure to add it to your phone's homescreen.