The overwhelming global demand for mobile data services such as SMS (Short Message Service) has prompted cellular network operator Vodacom to launch a new product called Messenger. The service is being offered to the public with effect from 1 September.
"Messenger offers users of SMS a rate of 15 cents per message, while still enabling them to make voice calls. This is by far the cheapest SMS rate available in South Africa," said Andrew Mthembu, Managing Director of Vodacom (Pty) Ltd.
Messenger is a stand-alone product with its own SIM card and users will be required to sign a 24-month contract with their service providers.
"Messenger will also benefit a variety of bulk SMS users such as telemetry and vehicle tracking organisations and paging companies. In addition, Messenger will find favour with the teenage market which is above all most receptive and willing to use new technology such as SMS, especially at the reduced rates," said Mr Mthembu.
Messenger is also likely to be attractive to the hearing impaired sector of the population, which comprises some 4 million people.
Mr Mthembu noted that Messenger subscribers will be allowed to roam in foreign countries. "For a subscription of just R34.20 per month, Messenger subscribers can take their cellphones overseas and stay in touch on their usual cellphone numbers," said Mr Mthembu.
Messenger subscribers will pay a fixed monthly charge of R34.20 and all SMS messages they send will charged at 15 cents per message, while voice calls on this tariff are charged at R3.99 per minute at all times. In addition, Messenger subscribers have free access to voicemail retrieval (121) and the 112 emergency service. Messenger subscribers will not pay for voice unless they use it.
"In the month of July, Vodacom subscribers sent 25 million text messages, surpassing the 20 million text messages sent by GSM users in the entire North American continent. The GSM industry association predicts that by December 2000, more than 10 billion SMS messages per month will be sent globally."
The large number of SMS messages being sent in SA was boosted by the introduction last year of a facility enabling prepaid cellular users to send SMS messages. Vodacom now also offers 15 free SMS messages per month to all contract and prepaid users (prepaid users are required to have positive balance) until the end of December 2000, as a means of familiarising the company`s customers with the convenience of SMS.
Product tariff details:
Description VAT incl. amount (R)
Connection Fee 95.00 Replacement SIM (16K) 95.00 Monthly Subscription 34.20 Standard Voice, Fax and Data Calls (Peak and Off-Peak calls) 3.99 Long Distance Voice, Fax and Data Calls (Peak and Off-Peak calls) 3.99
Cell to Cell (Peak and Off-Peak calls) 3.99 Value Added Service Calls (Peak and Off-Peak) 3.99 SMS-MO (Peak and Off-Peak) 0.15 National Fax Printing (per minute) 0.91 Voicemail Retrieval Free International Calls plus Telkom Peak Rate 3.99
All prices include VAT.
What is SMS?
For the same charge, Vodacom users are able to send text messages of up to 160 characters to any other GSM cellphone user in South Africa and the world
Typically, to send an SMS users would do the following: select "messages", choose the "write" option and write the message using the keypad of the cellphone. On completion, choose the "send" option. The user will then be asked to enter the cellphone number of the recipient. The message is then sent. Users should note, however, that different cellphones have different ways of sending SMS messages and users should check their cellphone manuals.
For more information, Vodacom contract subscribers can call Vodacom Customer Care on 111 from a Vodacom cellphone, or 082 111 from a Telkom line. Vodago prepaid users can call Vodago Customer Care on 114 from a Vodacom cellphone, or 082 114 from a Telkom line.
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