Release Notes 2025

November 19, 2025 v2 5.0 and v2.10.0

Enhancements 

Long SMS Support: This update provides accurate billing, simplified logs, and a true single-message experience for long SMS. 

• Messages over 160 characters will be sent out as one message, with one alert ID.

• The preview now shows how the message will be sent.

• The credit deduction will follow the vendors rules automatically.

• The maximum character limit is 612 characters per message.

• This character limit also applies to the both legacy Cast system and Mobile Experience.

Mobile Experience Escalation Level Update: This update allows for users to choose the escalation level for the message on the new Mobile Experience.

• "Specific Level" now enables the Level dropdown and clears other options.

• "Emergency Alert" changes the alert from Non-Emergency to Emergency, as well as choosing "All Groups", "All Methods".

• Each message type and combinations has different escalation levels applied.

• A selection is required before continuing is enabled.

September 23, 2025 v2.09.01

Enhancements 

SMS Segment – Preview Screen: This update makes it easier to plan and format your SMS messages before sending.

• Messages over 160 characters will automatically split into multiple parts.

• The preview now shows how the message will be sent.

• Each part is numbered (e.g., 1/1, 1/2) so recipients can follow the order.

• The maximum character limit is 624 characters per message.

• This character limit also applies to the legacy Cast system.
   

Download HGS Banner – Mobile Only (PWA) This feature gives mobile users a quicker way to access HGS right from their home screen.

• A Download HGS banner has been added to the login page.

• The banner appears only on mobile devices.

• Includes a Download button to install the PWA app.

• Includes a close (X) option to dismiss the banner.

• Banner will not appear on desktop or tablet devices.
   

September 8, 2025 v2.9.0

Enhancements 

Introducing the Mobile Experience, this provides an optimized mobile system interface for seamless use on mobile and tablet devices. Users will login at https://messaging.highgroundsolutions.com.

My Dashboard 

• Overview Panel: Shows user details (avatar, name and organization) and quick stats. A small banner indicates the number of text/voice messages left this month. 
• New Message dropdown: Lets you start a Text, Email or Voice message. Each choice opens a stepbystep wizard: pick message type, select recipients (groups), compose the message, then preview & send. Buttons at the bottom allow Save Draft, Schedule or Send (disabled until required fields are completed). 
• Emergency Message: Opens a similar wizard dedicated to emergency messages. 
• Help & Profile: A questionmark icon opens a Help Centre or “Contact Us” page. The user avatar in the topright only offers a Log Out option. 
• Recent Messages: Displays latest messages sent/received with tabs for All and Unread. Messages are labelled by type (SMS, Email, Voice) and status. Clicking a message shows details and attachments such as audio clips. “Go to Messages” jumps into the main Messages page. 
• My Groups: Lists groups the user belongs to, with number of members. A Go to Groups link opens the full Groups page. 

Messages 

• Tabs: The Messages page contains tabs for All, Sent, Received, Scheduled and Drafts. Each tab lists messages with icons indicating type (text, email, voice), recipients and date. 
• Search & Filter: A search bar and Filter panel (opened via funnel icon) allow filtering by message type, sender, groups or date range. 
• Message Detail: Clicking a message opens a detail panel with subject, creation date and recipients' details, preview text. Options such as Edit, Delete, Close, use as draft appear. 
• New/Scheduled Messages: The New Message button replicates the wizard from the dashboard. Scheduled and draft messages can be edited later via the tabs. 
• Emergency Message: A red button creates emergency alerts (similar wizard with emergency label). 

 

People 

• List View: Shows users in a table with columns for Name (with avatar), Email, Cell Phone and User Type. An airplane icon on each row opens a quick send message wizard. 
• Search & Filter: A search bar helps find users. Filter By dropdown filters by User Type, Group or other criteria. 
• Edit Multiple: After selecting one or more users via checkboxes, the Edit Multiple drop down provides options to Add Users to Group, Delete Users, Send Message to Users, Make/Remove High Priority and Export. 
• Row Options: The ellipsis (…) on each row opens actions: Add User to Group, Send Message, Make High Priority, Edit and Delete. 
• Edit User: Opens a personal dashboard for that user. You can edit profile details (first/last name, user type, primary contact), manage contact methods, adjust notification preferences and view groups they belong to. 
• Contact Methods: Adding/editing a contact opens a side panel where you select contact type (Home/Work/Cell, email etc.), input phone number and extension, enable voice messages, choose preferred language and mark as valid/invalid. 
• Preferences: A panel allows toggling email notifications for text replies and selecting a voice for texttospeech messages. 
• Add User: The blue + Add button opens a multistep wizard. The User Information step requires first/last name, user type, email, username and password. Subsequent steps capture contact information and group membership.  

Groups 

• List View: Displays groups with columns for Group Name, School, Type and number of messages. Use Search and Filter By (Location, Group Type) to narrow the list. 
• Edit Multiple: After selecting groups via checkboxes, the Edit Multiple menus offer to Merge Groups or Delete Groups. 
• + Group button: Opens a Create Group modal. Fields include Group Name, Description, Group ID, Group Type (custom, grade, school, etc.), School (location), and checkboxes to allow users to optin or include the group on all messages.  
• Row Options: Clicking the ellipses on a group row presents Send Message, Export, Edit and Delete. 
• Edit Group: Opens a modal where you can modify group name/ID, type, reply-to email, email send name, reporting email, caller ID and emergency caller ID. There’s also a checkbox to include the group on all messages. 
• Send Message: Launches the messaging wizard with the group preselected as recipients. 
• Group Detail Page: Clicking a group name takes you to its member list. You can search members, filter, edit multiple members, and Message Group. Each member row has options to add or remove from the group, send message, etc. 

Admin Reports 

• Tabs: 
• Communication Report: Shows messages sent within a specified date range and by communication type (text, email, voice). Includes an Export button. 
• Recent Activity: Lists recently added users or updated contacts, with date filters and counts for “Added Users” and “Updated Contacts”. 
• Invalid Contacts: Provides a list of users with invalid contact details. You can select rows and Remove Contacts (button disabled unless at least one invalid contact exists). 
• Opt Out Report: Displays users who opted out of text or email communications. Shows optout type, contact method and date. Summary counts for text, email and both are displayed, and there’s an Export option. 
•  

Additional Notes 

• Help & Support: The question mark icon in the top right opens the help center or contact page for assistance. 
• Collapsible Menu: The left navigation can be collapsed to icons using the “Collapse” link. 
• Permissions/Role: User roles (Admin, Student, Faculty, etc.) are displayed and used to filter lists or assign permissions. The current release only handles permissions for admins. Login permissions are restricted for non admin users like Staff/Members/Student etc.  
• Safety Nets: Many actions (sending messages, updating profiles, creating/deleting users/groups) require confirmation or rely on disabled buttons until mandatory fields are completed, helping prevent accidental changes. 

Updated November 19, 2025 16:49