What is Mobile SMS/ Test Messaging?

Mobile writing Messaging, or Short Message Service (SMS), as we all know it, is the ability to send and receive writing messages to and from mobile telephones. The writing may comprise words or numbers or an alphanumeric combination. SMS was created as part of the GSM Phase 1 standard. The first short communication is believed to have been sent in December 1992 from a Personal Computer (PC) to a mobile phone on the Vodafone GSM network in the UK. Each short communication could be up to 160 characters is length when Latin alphabets are used.

Customer Usage and Market Growth

There is no doubting the success of the Short Message Service - the market in India alone has reached over one billion messages despite little proactive promoting by network operators and phone manufacturers. Key sell drivers over the next two months such as the access of cheaper mobile technology to the masses will continue this growth roadway .

Mobile Messaging: How may your business benefit?

Enterprise Messaging

Enterprise uptake of mobile applications is set for phenomenal growth. By 2005, Gartner anticipates that 65 percent of enterprises will be harnessing the power of wireless applications to efficiently automate the existing business processes and make use of wireless connectivity for one or more user groups.

Statistics are already showing a considerable growth in the enterprise messaging, within the last seven quarters.

Where does enterprise messaging fit into your business

No matter what the nature or model of your business is, you might effectively exploit the potential of Mobile Messaging. Following are some examples of the application areas where Mobile Messaging is excelling:

1. B2B Messaging

Mobile terminated and mobile originated SMS and MMS via UCP, XML and PHP interface

Benefits: Using industry standard protocols provide elegant integration with existing systems as well as a robust and scalable model for future technologies.

2. B2B Campaigns and list processing

Permission-based mobile advertising campaign of consumer goods, advertisement campaign, promotions etc.

Benefits: Mobile advertising provides unparallel advantage of effectively targeting distinctive audience level.

3. B2B Applications

Customized mobile applications conforming to a business rule and addressing a distingguished target audience. Example: MIS reports to mobile sales force, critical data to mobile technical work force. The possibilities are unlimited and the flexibility is enormous!

How to choose a high quality and reliable accomadation provider for SMS/Text Messaging for your enterprise messaging needs?

The first option that comes to ones mind is mobile operators. However, though they have complete control over network infrastructure, they are commonly not too keen to service customer for meeting their messaging needs. The prime reasons for this are:

 Enterprise messaging involves complex integration with backend database/applications

 The volume of messages is typically not high (except in large B2C companies)

 The criticality of communication delivery is extremely high

 Operators largely cross subsidise voice with data services.

 It a targeted network is down, then the accomadation suffers.

 The accomadation absolutely need more attention in terms of providing high service levels

There are many independent providers of mobile data services focussed in the domain of enterprise messaging that provide end-to-end SMS/writing messaging accomadation . For example, ValueFirst (http://www.vfirst.com) provides SMS/Text messaging services to enterprises.

There are several advantages of working with an operator neutral accomadation provider:

 Easy and quick integration with back-end application/databases

 Connections with multiple operators ensure better service quality (i.e. service is continued even if the network of a targeted operator fails)

 Single entry point into the mobile networks.

 Uniform application access no duplicate efforts required

 Reliability and timeliness - Acknowledged mobile messaging with guaranteed communication delivery experience available

 Integrated payment one stop shop for all billing aspects and

 Seamless and secure messaging environment.

This article has been contributed by (Mr.) Vijay Shukla, Country Head, ValueFirst Messaging India (http://www.vfirst.com). Vijay has over 8 years of industry acquired skill management consulting and mobile data services. He might be contacted at vijayshukla@yahoo.com.