Messaging system that works on older text phones, PCs, in addition to feature and smart phones

[Steve G.]

The question:

Is there a messaging platform that is either open source or free (I know of
Viber and WhatsApp), BUT which can work on PC's AND cheap phones (either
feature phones, or text only phones) in addition to smart phones. I believe
that Viber runs on some tablet, but not generally. Whatsapp is limited, I
think, to cell phones.

I am not sure if they can be used for older phones.

Any ideas?

The background:

This is for a project proposal for an online course (MOOC), and it poses an
interesting challenge with (possible) real life consequences.

I want to reach a rural, poor, community (in a developing country) with
health messages. These can be reminders to take a malaria pill, spray
against dengue vectors (some type of mosquitoes), wash hands, watch a
video, or come to a health fair (for free check-up or immunization, etc.).

I want to reach two levels of people - community health workers (CHW), and
the people who receive their services. So there are two 'target audiences'.
I can possibly provide CHW's with feature phones, but not expensive smart
phones. Regular people will only, or mostly, have text phones, not smart
phones. So I need a program that can send messages to groups of 10-200, on
text only cell phones.

I can use Viber or WhatsApp to send audio, video and links, but on the
receiving end it is not practical to watch a video or read web pages or PDF
documents. So I need a program that can receive the messages on a PC, where
the screen is larger.

The challenge:

If there isn't such a program (that works on PCs, smart phones, feature
phones, text phones), how do I go about using one of the current open
source projects to get it adapted? Is it even possible?
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