India's AirTel has announced the launch of a new public messaging service-Airtel ExpresSMS, the first of its kind in the country, heralding Bangaloreans to experience a new breakthrough in SMS services. AirTel will set up around 500 SMS kiosks branded "Airtel ExpresSMS" at key locations across the city, which will enable the masses to experience the art of messaging without owning a mobile phone. With these kiosks, the world of messaging has now been thrown open to 6.7 million people in Bangalore as against the base of one million mobile customers who were using SMS on their mobiles only.
These SMS kiosks will serve as public points for people, including non - mobile users, to send messages to mobiles across India and many other networks across the globe.
This new service will provide customers the option of sending a local or national SMS to any mobile phone in the country at just Re. 1. The usage of the AirTel ExpresSMS is similar to that of a coin operated PCO telephone. On sending a message, the customer will receive a delivery report, which will confirm delivery of the message. In case the message is undelivered, the Re.1 coin is refunded to the customer. To send an international SMS to any network that Airtel has tied up with or for value added services the customer will have to put in 3 one-rupee coins and avail the facility.
What's more, the customer can also wait and receive a reply SMS from the mobile number to whom they had sent a message. Upto 25 messages will be stored in the inbox at any given point in time.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Jagdish Kini, CEO South Central Region & Director Mobility, Bharti Mobile Limited, said, "Airtel has been spearheading innovations in the telecom arena with the intention of touching more and more lives with communication solutions. This concept is yet another revolution that will empower the masses that have still not gone mobile, with the power of SMS. We are delighted to announce the introduction of the 'AirTel ExpresSMS', which is bound to be popular with customers in Karnataka."
This solution has been powered by a Bangalore-based company called Webstar."
Posted to the site on 19th January 2004
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