Live share prices by SMS

Johannesburg, 29 Jul 2004

A new service launched nationally by iTouch will allow mobile users to receive live share prices via a short code SMS.

According to iTouch SA`s CEO, Greg Brophy, there is no longer a need for users to go online or call in to a voice recognition service to receive this information.

"To check a share price, a mobile user simply sends an SMS with the word 'share`, followed by the company name or JSE code, to our 35151 number, and they will be sent a live update on that particular share," says Brophy.

"Even if the company`s name is not accurate, the service is designed to recognise what the most probable name is, making it possible to obtain instant and accurate information anytime and anywhere."

He says the return SMS will provide both the bid and ask price, as well as the most recently traded price, along with the time that trade took place.

" It will also include the volume traded, high and low movement, the earnings and dividend yield, the price earning and the daily move," he says.

"Thanks to our previous share price service, we know that shares and forex are by far the most popular financial market data requests, so we will also be providing real-time information on forex, unit trusts, commodities, bonds, JSE indices and international indices."

According to Brophy, premium rated short codes like the 35151 are proving to be popular and are experiencing rapid growth globally. He says the service will cost R3 per SMS.