| Mobile messaging applications (2002-2003) |
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More messaging (2004)
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  SMS
for "Short Marriage Service" in India (Yahoo
India, November 2003): Matchmaking via SMS has joined Internet
matchmaking to give neighbourhood matchmakers and matchmaking
organisations a run for their money. New York-based matrimony web
portal BharatMatrimony.com has ventured into the area through its
'Matrimony on Mobile' service in India. The portal claims that
anyone looking to get married can find a match for herself or
himself in just five minutes via SMS!
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 South
African party launches SMS link to voters (Mail and
Guardian, November 2003): The leader of the Independent Democrats in
South Africa, has launched an SMS-based service to keep in contact
with voters. The public can send
messages or queries to 33811 on topical national issues. SMS polls
will also be conducted whereby South Africans can vote on
controversial subjects.
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Parking
violators in Iowa get helpful reminders via SMS (Iowa City
Press Citizen, November 2003): The Parking Day text service in Iowa
sends text messages to drivers reminding them to move their cars on
street-cleaning days and 'opposite side of the street' days.
Motorists can take advantage of this service by logging onto www.parkingday.com
and indicating the days and time they want a reminder.
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 Activating
Wi-Fi connections via SMS in Singapore (CNET Asia, September
2003): Foreign visitors roaming on the Singapore Telecommunications
(SingTel) mobile network can send an SMS to SingTel to request a
temporary user ID and password to access the wireless hotspots.
Those wishing to use the service call *186 on their mobile phones,
and receive an SMS with the user ID and password within seconds
after the call is disconnected and is vaild until 12 midnight on the
same day.
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Childlocate.co.uk
- help keep track of your child via SMS: A new web and
mobile phone service called ChildLocate.co.uk has been launched to
help parents keep an eye on kids from a distance. The
subscription-based service, which claims to be the first of its kind
in the UK, allows parents to monitor the whereabouts of their
children without needing to constantly pester them with phone calls.
Parents can access information via the childlocate website and the
system uses SMS signals to determine the child's location.
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 Ski
and Text in the US (Unstrung, October 2003): The first ever
wireless network of its kind has been installed at a US ski resort,
at Squaw Valley USA. Future expansion of service will allow skiers
(or parents with skiing children) carrying a PDA to see others'
locations at the resort, send them voice or text messages, get
real-time ski area information (like lifts reporting short lines),
report emergencies and happy hour notifications etc.
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Dictate
your soap's plot by SMS in the UK (Guardian Unlimited,
September 2003): A new soap opera in the UK called 'InYrShoes' will
have its storylines decided by viewers using SMS. Followers of the
soap will be informed of its developement through traditional
method, via text-message updates or through photostrip multimedia
messages sent direct to their mobiles. At the end of each episode
there will be a cliffhanger or dilemma - and that's where the
audience takes control...
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 UK's
3 launches phone guide to restaurants, pubs and bars (3G
newsroom, Sept 2003): Hutchison's video mobile network 3 has
launched a comprehensive guide to restaurants, pubs and bars for its
mobile phones. 3 also helps users get to their chosen hang-out
through their mobile mapping service.
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Australian
radio listeners get more for their music by SMS (B&T
Marketing and Media, Sept 2003): Austereo, the largest radio
broadcaster in Australia, has launched an SMS initiative that lets
listeners get more information about the songs they like on various
stations. Listeners can now send in a text message with the word
"figjam" to the station and receive a return message with
the name of the song currently playing and other relevant details.
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 London's
famous Notting Hill Carnival goes digital with MMS (BBC,
September 2003): In 2003, festival goers could experience
famous UK Notting Hill Carnival on your mobile phone by MMS.
Subscribers can sign up to receive pictures of the carnival free of
charge and participants to the festival have the chance to make
their digital pictures available to subscribers.
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An
interactive SMS TV game will be launched in the Asian market
(Inq7.net, Sept 2003): An interactive game that allows viewers to
use their mobile phones to play games on television by sending
commands via text messages is set to be launched in the Asian market
after successful runs across Europe.
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 Messaging
is in the air (Vnunet, Sept 2003): After a year-long trial of
one-way SMS onboard Singapore Airlines flights, airline technology
provider SITA is to launch a commercial two-way service, to be
introduced by the end of 2003. Passengers will be able to send and
receive SMS or email using their in-seat telephone handset. Users
will be able to pay for the service by credit card or by using
SITA's Aircom prepaid calling card.
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Text
messages play games with TV (BBC News, August 2003): Interaction
between text messaging and television programming is set to grow.
Voting via SMS is already immensely popular in programmes such as
Pop Idol, Fame Academy and Big Brother.But soon you could be
shooting, kicking or punching other people on screen over a mobile
handset.
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 Protesting
against VAT in India (Express India, March 2003): Trade
associations in India decided to protest against VAT by launching an
SMS campaign. The campaign was by 100-odd trade association members
and the strategy seems to be to start a campaign through the age-old
''chain-letter'' system. Each trader has been asked to send at least
10 messages from their mobile phones to other numbers, telling the
recipients about VAT and how it affects both traders and consumers.
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Baggage
Info via SMS - Scandinavian Airlines (Eye for Travel, March
2003): Five thousand regular Scandinavian Airlines' customers
are being invited to test a new information service: receiving an
SMS text message on arrival if baggage has been delayed for some
reason. The SMS also states when the baggage is expected to arrive.
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 SMS
for chocolate (Business Standard, March 2003): India's BPL
Mobile has tied up with Cadbury's to set up 100 machines dispensing
chocolates to its cellular subscribers. The subscriber has to send
an SMS specifying what he wants. The machine confirms the
transaction on SMS. The subscriber accepts the confirmation and the
machine dispenses. The chocolates are charged for in the telephone
bill and passed on to Cadbury.
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Mobile
mapping in Ireland: The
Irish ISP IOL has started charging users to access maps and aerial
photographs. Users must text 'MAP' to a special number, then enter
the code received on their mobile phone into the on-screen box. Each
50c payment enables them to gain unrestricted access to the service
for one hour. Go to the IOL
site.
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 Ready,
steady, FIRE ...or is it TEXT? (Guardian Unlimited, August
2002): Botfighters is one of the most sophisticated games emerging
on what is a new platform for play: the mobile phone. The mobile
version uses positioning technology to turn the user into a virtual
assassin.
... MORE MESSAGING (2004)
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| Mobile messaging applications (2002-2003) |
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More messaging (2004)
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Order
your pay-per-view via SMS in the UAE (AME Info, November
2003): The PAY TV network Showtime has launched an SMS text service
for ordering Home Cinema pay-per-view movies. Home Cinema Text is an
SMS text service that enables subscribers to order their personal
selection of pay-per-view movies via their mobile phone using the
short message service.
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 Text
alerts for school closures (BBC, December 2003): A
Scottish council has set up a mobile text alert service to let
residents know about disruption to schools because of bad weather.
Although the first snow of winter has yet to fall in Fife, the
council is already planning for possible gridlock. Just under 400
mobile phone users in the area have already registered for the
"winter centre" service.
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New
Zealand Labour Party uses
SMS to chat with youth
(Geekzone, November 2003): A new website launched by the
New Zealand Labour Party promotes chats
with MPs, including SMS options. The site publishes a
schedule with next appearances.
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 Exchanging
a Belgian "I do" by SMS (Ananova, October 2003) :
A Belgian couple are to get married by SMS because text messaging
has played such a big part in their relationship. The wedding will
take place on the 14th of November and the couple will exchange vows
by SMS but then sign the registry in the traditional way to make
sure the wedding is legal.
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The
morning after mobile - UK pilot scheme (BBC, October 2003):
Teenage girls will be able to use their mobile phones to access the
morning after pill when a controversial pilot scheme gets underway
on Tyneside (UK) in December. The scheme, will provide a help line
number to girls who suspect they are pregnant. After leaving their
mobile phone number, they will receive a text message detailing an
appointment - within 24 hours if necessary - with a doctor or nurse,
who will supply them with the pill and offer advice on sexual
health.
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 Texting
to reduce delays and congestion on bus routes in the UK (ZDNet
UK, October 2003):A mobile tracking system aims to cut passenger
waiting times for London buses by stopping the 'bunching' pattern
that sees several turning up at once and then a long gap until the
next one. Bus operator Metroline will send text message alerts to
its drivers that will allow them to speed up or slow down to
maintain more even intervals between buses.
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Always
messaging: Coca-Cola SMS promotion in the US (Business Wire,
October 2003): Coca-Cola consumers in the U.S. can now redeem cap
codes from 20-oz. bottles via Short Message Service (SMS).
Participants can enter cap codes using their mobile phones to accrue
points, or 'Decibels,' in their Decibel Central account on
Cokemusic.com. Consumers build their virtual account of 'Decibels'
by submitting unique cap codes from specially marked bottles by
texting ''2653' (COKE). They can then visit Cokemusic.com to enter
for chances to win prizes.
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 Mobile
Parking in Austria (BWCS, October 2003): The m-parking
system allows users to pay for parking via their mobile handsets. By
Day 7, a total of 20,604 m-parking applications had been received, a
milestone which had not been expected to be reached until April
2004. Similar teleparking schemes have had successful trials in
Singapore and Australia.
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Texting
to help combat car thefts (Evening Times UK, Sept 2003): A car can
now phone its user to tell them it's being broken into! This recently
launched Advanced Theft System is installed beneath the car's dashboard.
It uses US military satellites to track the car, then gives directions
relative to landmarks, restaurants and bars. Drivers can then send a text
message to order the alarm to shut down the car's engine the next time it
stops.
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 Malta
launches "M-government" education initiative (Di-ve.com,
July 2003): The government of Malta has launched an
"M-government" initiative and is providing examination results
by SMS. Other applications include notifications of court deferrals to
clients and their lawyers, and sending renewal notifications for trade
licences.
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Praying
by SMS? (Reuters Asia, May 2003): Busy Indians are jumping
the temple queues during one of Bombay's biggest Hindu festivals by making
their offerings through SMS. For 51 rupees, plus the message charge,
devotees can SMS "PUJA" (word meaning prayer) to the BPL Mobile
cellular operator to have prayers said for them at the city's most popular
temple. After the prayer, the temple sends the BPL customer a receipt,
special offerings and a portrait of Ganesh.
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 Schools
turn text messaging against truants (Ananova, May 2003): Two schools
in Dublin, Ireland are operating a pilot scheme to alert parents by text
message when their children are playing truant. The schools are using a
computerised database to record students who fail to turn up for lessons.
The system automatically sends out a message to parents when children miss
the morning roll-call.
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SMS
used to allay fears about SARS (Guardian Unlimited, April 2003): The
Hong Kong government sent a blanket text message to 6m mobile phones in a
bid to scotch a spoof internet story spreading fears about Asia's mystery
bug. The hoax story about Hong Kong being being an "infected
city" was allegedly posted on the net by a 14-year-old boy. The
government resorted to text messaging after the report appeared,
prompting panic among some residents.
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 Texting
late payers in Scotland (Ananova, January 2003): A council in Scotland is sending
text messages to tenants who fall behind with their rent. Fife Council has
launched the scheme to chase slow payers by mobile phone. They get a text
reading "Please contact our officer regarding your rent arrears"
and quoting a local office number. Half of the people contacted by text
responded, compared to just one in four sent reminders by post.
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Texting
motorists to ensure highway safety (Gulf News, October 2002): Dubai
police have started sending short messages to mobile phones of drivers
urging them to observe lane discipline on highways. The move is part of an
awareness campaign under the theme 'Safety on Highways' organized by the
Traffic Department in cooperation with the Moral Guidance Department.
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 More
are paying bus fares in Finland by SMS (Europemedia, August 2002):
During the summer months of 2002, sales of SMS tickets for Helsinki's
public transport system (Finland) increased dramatically, by 30%. SMS
Tickets can be ordered by sending a text message and the user is billed
through his or her regular mobile phone bill. The public transport ticket
is also delivered to the commuter by SMS.
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UK
government
turns to Text (BBC, May 2002) The UK Government is considering using
mobile communications as part of its drive to make all public services
available electronically by 2005. It is in talks with mobile phone network
operators and handset makers to use SMS to exchange information and
support secure transactions.
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 Text
messaging tests China's freedom (CNET News.com, March 2002): Mobile users in China--the world's largest mobile market--can now
send SMS to the 2,987 deputies of the National People's Congress.
The new service lets people test the bounds of a new freedom of expression
in China, where politically charged jokes have begun to spread like
wildfire from the Internet onto cell phones.
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Hungarian
SMS Elections (Europemedia, March 2002): In March 2002, two of the
leading Hungarian portal operators invited Hungarian mobile subscribers to
vote via SMS three weeks before real parliamentary elections.
... MORE MESSAGING (2004)
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