The Hindu : New Delhi News : MTNL launches new voice SMS service

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
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New Delhi

MTNL launches new voice SMS service

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: The Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) on Tuesday launched a unique voice SMS service for its fixed and mobile subscribers that allows subscribers to send a voice message which the recipient can pick up as per his convenience.

The new service is based upon the patented "Voice SMS" technology from Kirusa, a US-based mobile value-added service provider. MTNL fixed-line and mobile subscribers in Delhi can now send personalised voice SMS messages across MTNL's mobile and fixed networks within Delhi. The service would soon be introduced in Mumbai also.To send a message, a user has to dial 1* followed by the recipient's phone number and record a short message in the language of his choice. If the recipient is a mobile user, he gets an SMS message, and can dial 1*0* to retrieve the message. If the recipient is a fixed-line user, he receives a call, and the message is spoken to him. Old messages can be retrieved by dialing 1*1*.

MTNL subscribers will have to pay Re.1 per minute to send, forward or reply to a voice SMS message. They will be able to listen to a message free of charge for the first time, while Re.1 per minute will be charged for listening the message again.

Launching the service, MTNL Executive Director (Delhi) A. K. Arora said, for the first time fixed-line subscribers will be able to benefit from a voice SMS service that would benefit subscribers.

Kirusa's founder and CEO I. S. Mumick hoped that the new service would help MTNL to further consolidate its position.

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