14. A computer system, comprising: a processor; and a memory, wherein the memory has stored thereon instructions that are executable by the processor to cause the computer system to perform operations comprising: receiving, via a web page submission, a subscription preference relating to one or more message topics and a telephone number corresponding to a portable communication device; in response to receiving the telephone number, generating an authorization code and causing a text message including the authorization code to be sent to the telephone number; receiving, via another web page submission, input that includes the authorization code; and in response to authenticating the authorization code, storing the subscription preference, wherein the stored subscription preference indicates the computer system has permission to cause one or more text messages corresponding to the one or more message topics to be sent to the telephone number corresponding to the portable communication device.
15. The computer system of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise: receiving a first message from an authorized third party, wherein the first message is based on at least a first one of the one or more message topics; and causing the first message to be selectively transmitted as a text message to a group of one or more telephone numbers corresponding to one or more subscribing portable communication devices.