SMS and Ringtone Blog

4INFO adds TV Guide listing data to SMS service

2006-08-23T19:19:00.000-07:00

Mobile search provider 4INFO has added TV Guide data to its service. Accessible through both WAP and SMS, 4INFO covers several consumer search verticals such as sports scores, weather, flight tracking and more. USA Today's parent company, Gannett, invested in 4INFO and promotes the company in USA Today.

The new TV search feature allows users to search TV listings for specific shows, times or just see what's on. Test it out by sending a text message to 4INFO (44636) starting with the keyword TV and including your ZIP code. Example: 'tv prison break ZIP'. 4INFO will ask and then save your TV provider for future searches.

4INFO provides a list of keywords to access its different search verticals.

SMS cuts price of ADSL2+ modem by 25%

2006-08-22T19:23:00.000-07:00

ADSL2+ connectivity is less expensive for service providers and end users that use modems by SMC.

LAN hardware and broadband connectivity device provider SMC Networks has introduced ADSL2+ Barricade Wireless 4-Port modem and router, a modem delivering support for ADSL2+ technology at a price that is 25 per cent lower than that of the previous model.

The ADSL2+ Barricade consists of an ADSL2/2+ modem, router, 4-port 10/100 LAN switch, 802.11g wireless access and SPI Firewall. Service providers can use the modem to transmit upstream data at up to 3.5MB. End users can use the device to optimize voice and video applications in real time. Hackers are kept away using a security system that features a NAT firewall with stateful packet inspection (SPI), intrusion detection system (IDS) and denial-of-service (DoS) modules. VPN pass-through is also provided for securely connecting to an office or corporate network.

The ADSL2+ Barricade meets all requirements set by the EU’s regulation of hazardous substances. It is available at a suggested retail price of €78, a 25 per cent reduction from the previous price of €103.

Bluetooth Biosensor Fits Within Wristwatch

2006-07-19T19:17:00.000-07:00

Exmovere LLC has unveiled a Web-based Bluetooth-enabled biosensor wristwatch dubbed "Exmocare," which is designed to help provide elderly care assistance for individuals 65 years of age and older.

Exmocare allows family and other caregivers to monitor an elderly individual's physiological and emotional health status in from afar [and in real-time!]. The "wearable sensor system" offers automated reports on the elderly individuals' vital signs including pulse, heart rate and motion. It can also assess up to ten different emotions including relaxed, worried and agitated.

Each Exmocare wristwatch runs on Windows, Windows Mobile, and/or Windows Pocket PC software. The device collects information on the wearer every 30 minutes and automatically alerts caregivers of any abnormal activity. Data is transmitted wirelessly via home PC, GSM Bluetooth-enabled cell phone or GPS car kit, which keeps tabs on the wearer's location and vehicle speed. Family and friends can opt to receive alerts via e-mail, SMS or Instant Message.

For caregivers who place higher priority on work and play than on face-to-face interaction with Grandma and Grandpa, Exmocare offers an "Exmonitor" program for Windows PCs. The program "allows you to effortlessly monitor your loved one from your Windows taskbar at home or at work," according to the company Web site.

On a related note, the Exmocare service could potentially be implemented in a hospital setting in order to help nurses and doctors monitor their patients more efficiently. It's food for thought, anyway.

SMS Continues to Gain Credibility with the Internet Industry

2006-07-19T19:14:00.000-07:00

Internet Facilitators Limited (IFL) one of the top UK companies offering secure hosting for Internet Service Providers and Telecoms companies has contracted with Simply Mail Solutions for the hosting of Microsoft Exchange mailboxes.

IFL was set up in 1997 and they provide carrier neutral data centre space to internet service providers, web hosting companies and other IT service businesses. Part of the service provided is 24 / 7 support for which they use on call engineers. Ensuring that those engineers have access to email whilst they are out of the office was critical.

Having identified a requirement to improve mobile access to email they looked at the alternatives of hosted solutions compared to in house. The decision to use a hosted solution was based on a combination of cost and simplicity. For a small team cost of the hosted solution was much lower since any hardware or expensive software licenses were not needed. Also as a small team they could just hand over the responsibility for setting up and managing the service to a third party.

Marcus Hopwood, Services Director for IFL commented: “We selected Microsoft Exchange in order to maintain the familiar MS Outlook mail client. The Outlook Mobile Access solution meant that we could also get that same interface from any where in the world that we had access to a web browser. Finally by using Windows Mobile 5 handsets we were able take advantage of push email technology giving us access to email when out of the office.”

Marcus Hopwood further commented: “Having decided to use a hosted mail service we looked a number of different providers. SMS were very responsive to our needs, provided expert advice in helping us select the right service and the cost compared favourably with other providers. Being based in the UK gave us the confidence that the service would perform well with no lengthy transit delays.”

IFL have a number of accounts, and whilst the original requirement was based on a need to provide remote email access to support engineers they have found the business benefits to be huge. They can now respond to sales enquiries faster and keep in touch with every day email wherever they are. As more and more corporate communications move on to email the ability to access that email wherever people are is critical.

Simply Mail Solutions is a dedicated email hosting company based in Warrington, Cheshire. It offers a range of email hosting options from POP3 mailboxes to enhanced email solutions such as MS Exchange and Zimbra Collaboration Suite.

Regarding the service provided by SMS Marcus commented: “The support we have received from SMS has been superb. They provided expert advice when we were selecting a provider and they got us up and running with the service on the same day we placed our order. Teething problems were ironed out promptly and without any fuss. Since then the service has been 100% reliable.”

Commented Colin Smith Managing Director of SMS: “A lot of SME’s are starting to realise that with the new enhanced email packages such as MS Exchange and Zimbra there is a whole lot more they can do to enhance productivity than just get emails to their desk. Mobile access to email is becoming very important now that devices using Microsoft Mobile 5 are coming onto the market and with Zimbra (and MSE) there are very nice tools for collaboration such as shared calendars, contacts and notes”

Source: Simply Mail Solutions

SMS.ac CEO Predicts Mobile Data Market Will Exceed $200 Billion by 2010

2005-03-15T21:37:00.000-08:00

Projection Made During Special Wireless Wonk Segment at CTIA Wireless 2005

NEW ORLEANS, March 15, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- SMS.ac: The world's leader in mobile data communications is predicting that revenues from mobile data will reach $200 billion by 2010. This announcement came as SMS.ac's chief executive officer, Michael Pousti, addressed leaders from the mobile industry in New Orleans, on the opening day of CTIA Wireless 2005 (www.ctiawireless.com).

This announcement and other breaking wireless news can be seen today by viewing a special segment of the Wireless Wonk, a weekly webcast that has become the insider's guide to the latest industry developments. Today's Wireless Wonk webcast features an interview with SMS.ac EVP, Greg Wilfahrt. To watch the Wireless Wonk webcast, go to www.wirelesswonk.net

SMS.ac's Pousti based the 2010 projection on the accelerating global consumption of mobile data, partially as a byproduct of pent-up consumer demand for mobile data that he says is just now beginning to be satisfied by a myriad of new entries into the market. Pousti reiterated that mobile operators are the key to fueling industry growth and that integrated billing with third parties must happen for his projection to become a reality.

"Out of necessity, mobile operators are looking to increase the percentage of revenues they derive from mobile data," said Pousti. "With that objective in mind, the operators are recognizing that opening their billing systems to third parties can be a fast-track to boosting their mobile data profits.

"Using SMS.ac as an example, when operators open their billing systems to us, they are instantly leveraging the world's largest mobile community," Pousti added. "The lesson here is that partnering with third parties can mean significant and incremental mobile data revenue toward their bottom line. As operators allow integrated billing to occur on a larger scale, the industry will grow and exceed $200 billion by 2010."

Andrew Roscoe is an industry analyst and partner with ForceNine Consulting (www.forcenine.net). Roscoe is also know in mobile circles as "The Wireless Wonk," and he says that he agrees with Pousti's assertion that mobile operators are the key to growing the mobile data space.

"The (mobile data) growth we've seen thus far in the U.S. alone within the last three years has been staggering," said Roscoe. "As more applications become available on mobile handsets, as data consumption continues to rise and as mobile operators become the preferred micro-billers on a global scale, revenues could indeed exceed previous expectations. SMS.ac's global footprint and their billing relationships with operators make today's revenue prediction worth watching."

To receive SMS.ac press releases via email, register at prsubscribe@corp.sms.ac. You may unsubscribe from this service by sending an email to prunsubscribe@corp.sms.ac.

About SMS.ac

SMS.ac, Inc. is a mobile data communications company whose proprietary MMSbox(TM) platform enables the interoperable exchange of mobile multimedia (MMS and SMS) and micro-transaction billing across all mobile standards, protocols and the Internet. A demonstration of the MMSbox platform is available at www.sms.ac

With more than 30 million registered members in 170+ countries, and connectivity to more than 400 mobile operators worldwide, SMS.ac is host to the largest community of mobile phone users in the world. Through its global initiatives, SMS.ac is igniting the widespread adoption and use of wireless data. To view the SMS.ac corporate web site, visit http://corporate.sms.ac/.

About ForceNine Consulting

ForceNine Consulting is a high-level consulting firm providing financial, management, technical and strategic planning services to the telecommunications industry. With a focus on the $15 billion wireless broadband sector, particularly WiFi and 2.5G/3G, ForceNine Consulting provides market research, due diligence, strategic planning, industry intelligence, technology support and publications. The firm's financial service offerings include valuations, mergers and acquisitions support, and turn-around assistance. With more than 20 years experience in the telecom industry, ForceNine Consulting's analyst and sector experts' skill sets include certified appraisers, former industry CEOs, Ph.D.s, engineers, research analysts and entrepreneurs.

CONTACT:
SMS.ac
Greg Wilfahrt
Executive Vice President
+1 (619) 696-7300
prcomm@corp.sms.ac