Arun 795 Report post Posted January 6, 2008 Times News Network 6 Jan 2008, 0352 hrs IST Here's some good news: Those numerous SMSes that you paid for may well become free in future. No, it isn't because the mobile service providers have had an attack of altruism, but rather a new technology allows advertisements to be tagged along SMSes and, hence, the advertisers are willing to pick up the tab. Everyday about 5.5 crore SMSes are estimated to be moving across the network in the country. And by 2010, it is expected to go beyond 18,000 crore per annum, allowing advertisers to reach a huge audience. "Every message is personal to the user and he pays great attention while reading it. This presents advertisers an opportunity to send across their message too," an industry source said. Mobile service providers are also game for free SMSes and see in it a means to make a kill - they could charge advertisers higher for SMSes. Moreover, free SMSes would make users send more messages. "We are evaluating various options for free SMS. While mobile advertisement potential is huge, it depends on right content and relevance. Else, subscribers may not take to the service even if it is free," Reliance Communications spokesperson Krishna Durbha said. Another industry source who heads the value-added services segment, however, said: "There are still some gaps in the technology. For instance, while appending the advertisement to a message there is a chance of the message being tampered. This is a typical security flaw if the technology provider is not competent. It might take some time to sort this out." Several technology companies, including a few from the city, are working on helping the advertisers tap this area. "The nascent free SMS service segment would see a huge growth in the next couple of years as advertisers are increasingly shifting from online to mobile space," SMS Country Networks CEO Satyam Yerramsetti said. In the free SMS model, the original message would come in the existing format but it would have an advertisement at the end. The technology companies are already in talks with mobile service providers for working out the model for sending messages and revenue sharing. In the free SMS model, once the message is sent, it would go to the service provider's server first and then to the content aggregator's server for tagging on the advertisement. Then it would be sent to the receiver. The technology companies would monitor the advertisement tags using specially-designed softwares and the advertisers would be charged based on the number of sponsored messages. According to another technopreneur, Vebtel MD Kusumba S, mobile-to-mobile free SMSes could become a reality soon as declining average revenue per user (ARPU) in voice mode and increasing competition are forcing telecom players to look at value-added services like SMS. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jatin_the_great2003 0 Report post Posted January 6, 2008 I think it would be really great if this would happen in near future... And moreover wats teh harm in putting up adds in ou sms if we are able to do sms free of cost.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ramchi 0 Report post Posted January 6, 2008 No need for free SMS but I feel there is a need for affordable Email services (unlike Expensive blackberry services) which can be linked to your Mobile Number instead of separate email-id, will be more attracting. SMS are useful but if it is funded by ad industry, it will be counterproductive. You may keep getting unwanted spam messages and finally end up paying more to stop the scam! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
santhoshavanoor 7 Report post Posted January 6, 2008 Nice idea, but is it will not harming personal messages? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
imshyam 0 Report post Posted January 6, 2008 Opps it can Harm Our Personal massage ?????? and one more thing for that temparing of massage solution for that attach ad when it's reaches at server of sms provider its easy like stick stamp online like Post office ! Regards Shyam Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chirag Thakkar 4 Report post Posted January 6, 2008 I am already using similar service for free. I send messages to groups, which is free. These messages carry a 20-30 characters ad with it. But still doesnt matter as you can communicate to a single number or a group in fraction of seconds and that too free of charge. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
situ1962 21 Report post Posted January 6, 2008 Dear chirag bhai what free sms software do you use?why not please post for the benefit of all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Arun 795 Report post Posted January 7, 2008 Dear chirag bhai what free sms software do you use?why not please post for the benefit of all. Maybe he was referring to this service. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
phonegeek 588 Report post Posted January 7, 2008 I am already using www.160by2.com U guys check it out and enjoy !!!!!!!!!!! As the name suggests, 80 characters for your use and 80 characters for ad !!!!(160by2) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Chirag Thakkar 4 Report post Posted January 12, 2008 Dear chirag bhai what free sms software do you use?why not please post for the benefit of all. Maybe he was referring to this service. Thats right Arun. The service is quick and i use it often. Also you cant have group's with similar names. Which means once you create a group the name is exclusive like an email address. I own few groups. Maybe m lucky to have a group Named "Mumbai" as it was not registered that time and now I own it, also NewDelhi,Proudindian,Discounts....etc... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
