SMS Interconnection Agreed in the Americas

Wireless Services Corporation (WSC) and CMG Wireless Data Solutions announced today the launch of the first inter-carrier messaging service that allows mobile customers to send SMS's between wireless phone users in Canada, the United States and Latin America.

The new service will be available on SMS-capable mobile phones on WSC's and CMG's inter-carrier networks. CMG previously announced inter-carrier messaging agreements with Bell Mobility, Microcell PCS (Fido), Rogers AT&T Wireless, and TELUS Mobility, while WSC previously announced partnerships with the iDEN network operators, Nextel Communications, Nextel Partners, and Nextel International.

The companies expect substantial usage increases for participating carriers. While a Yankee Group study indicates an average 40 percent increase in SMS volume growth with interoperability, WSC has seen as high as 100 percent message traffic increases immediately following the introduction of inter-carrier messaging. Furthermore, Latin America has long been heralded as a ripe market for mobile Internet services like SMS, with a population of 500 million and one of the highest online growth rates in the world.

WSC is one of three designated U.S. inter-carrier vendors (ICV) working with the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA) inter-carrier messaging forum. CMG is the sole inter-carrier SMS provider of Canada's four wireless communications providers including Bell Mobility, Microcell PCS (Fido), Rogers AT&T Wireless and TELUS Mobility."

Posted to the site on 28th October 2002