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Chikka Powers SMS Collect service in India
February 28, 2008
For
the first time
in India, you
can send out
a free SMS; only
if you are a
BSNL subscriber.
This has been made
possible by Indiatimes
Mobile technology
and partner Chikka
Asia Inc. BSNL
is launching SMS
Collect service
called FMS (Free
Message Service)
with technical
support from
M/s Indiatimes.
This service
for the first
time would make
it possible for
a person to send
message for free.
The receiver receives
the message and
pays for it and
also replies
back - All at
a cost of Re 1 with
LSA and Rs. 2 outside
LSA.
FMS allows any BSNL subscriber pan India to send message for free by just requesting a fellow BSNL subscriber, their relatives, friends and loved ones, to pay for their messages. The short code for this service is 58899. The receiving subscriber only needs to accept via an easy, single-step reply to pay for and receive their friend′s message. Also now, no top-up would not hinder their being in touch since, with SMS Collect; they can still message their loved ones and just ask them to "gift" or pay for their messages.
BSNL is one of the largest Telecom operator in the country with more than 65 million customers in Landline and Mobile. BSNL has been striving to offer latest VAS to its mobile and Collect SMS is one of the many proposed new services on VAS front.
Indiatimes Mobile thru its popular short code 58888 is today one of the largest content creator, aggregator and distributor specializing in information, utilities and entertainment, has already offered many first of its kind services to mobile subscribers. The company claims to have the highest brand recall among telecom content providers in the country and boasts of a total customer base of nearly 25 million. Also, being operator-agnostic, it is accessible to the entire mobile subscribers of 175 million mobile users across the country. This innovative service is yet another first from Indiatimes Mobile. On the launch of FMS, Mr. Dinesh Wadhawan, CEO &MD, Times Internet Ltd. said "Indiatimes Mobile has to its credit various firsts and carrying on with the spirit, we are really delighted to have partnered with BSNL for this innovative service which is going to prove beneficial for many."
Mr. Kuldeep Goyal, CMD BSNL added "BSNL is always committed to provide new and meaningful Value added services to its Mobile customers and I see FMS as a positive step in that direction. I appreciate the efforts put in by BSNL VAS team & Indiatimes Mobile in pioneering this service in India for BSNL.
Since the service is based on Chikka′s patented suffixing system, subscribers can message just like a normal person-to-person SMS. It also keeps the subscribers spam free by giving power to choose exactly whose messages they accept and pay for.
This service will prove to be a boon for all dependants especially non-earning children whose parents would want their kids to keep them informed of their whereabouts without the worry of mobile expenditure. Not only that, imagine running out of top-up on the road, or in the middle of the night, while messaging with your girlfriend, a close friend or worse, your boss! BSNL SMS Collect will be there for you.
Source: The Hindustan Times, December 1, 2007
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