Seiko uses Kapow! SMS gateway to keep in contact with customers and sales team (PRWEB) January 9, 2006 — KAPOW! (www.kapow.co.uk), the UK’s first SMS text gateway, today announced that its technology is being used by Seiko UK, the UK subsidiary of the world-famous watch and clockmaker, to provide a SMS text-alert service that enables fast and efficient contact with customers and Seiko’s UK sales team. Previously, when Seiko carried out a repair or service on watch or clock, the item was posted back to the customer but it was not feasible for Seiko to let customers know that this had been done. Using Kapow!’s SMS database and gateway customers are now automatically notified via SMS that their watch or clock is on its way as part of the repair process. This ensures that the customer knows when the work has been carried out and that they only need to contact Seiko if the package doesn’t arrive within a few days of the SMS notification. This also relieves Seiko’s call centre of calls from customers enquiring after devices that are already on their way back to their owners. Seiko will also be using Kapow!’s SMS gateway to maintain contact with its UK sales team. Messages can be sent individually, for example, to advise a sales person to contact a particular customer; broadcast to groups within the team, such as managers or specific regions; or even the entire team simultaneously. Richard Whitbread, financial controller at Seiko UK, said: “Providing important information to customers and its people on a proactive basis, but in a feasible manner, is a challenge for any organisation. Seiko UK believes that SMS is the most flexible, practical and cost-effective way to do this. “Just about all our customers have mobile phones and all our sales people do so SMS as a broadcast or individual communication managed seamlessly through Kapow!’s gateway immediately struck us an extremely effective business tool. Its simplicity and our obvious determination to keep customers in the picture also help enhance our reputation for innovation and good customer service.” Andrew Cowles, technical director at KAPOW!, said: “SMS is still not being used enough as a business tool. Companies like Seiko are breaking the mould though and its use of SMS will pleasantly surprise customers and others when they receive something as simple as a SMS letting them know succinctly exactly what is going on in a simple-to-keep and digest format.” About KAPOW! (www.kapow.co.uk) Launched in 1995 KAPOW! is the UK’;s first SMS gateway. It provides cost-effective, reliable, high-speed messaging services to meet the broadcast and individual SMS demands of both small and large clients. Its SMS Gateway enables the sending and receipt of text messages between the Internet and mobile phones; using web browsers, email or a simple HTTP interface/API. KAPOW! is operated by Cygnet Internet Services Ltd and represents the strongest corporate SMS messaging solution on the market today, offering an average UK delivery time of under 5 seconds. KAPOW! clients include Seiko, Barclays Bank, Volvo IT, KPMG, Reuters, NHS and the London School of Economics. About Seiko Since its establishment in 1881, Seiko Corporation has continuously built a reputation for precision, reliability and excellence in advancing technology. Within the UK, Seiko UK Limited distributes Seiko, Pulsar and Lorus watches, Seiko clocks and Seiko electronic reference products – dictionaries, spellcheckers and thesauruses using the Oxford University Press database – and Seiko guitar tuners and metronomes. In addition, we are pleased to be the UK watch distributors for Nike, D&G, Disney, Breil Watches, Breil Jewels, Franklin electronic reference products and the UK distributor for Morellato watch straps and bracelets. Further information Kapow! Please contact David Pincott on 07866 261198. ### Related News Releases ( What’s this? ) Know More Media Hires Technology Expert Colbert Low to Write for New ITechTips.com – Online publisher Know More Media has hired technology expert Colbert Low to write content for their new blog on information technology, ITechTips.com. [2006-01-04]

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Mobile content consists of ring tones, logos, pictures, wallpapers and other content offered on web sites for download. Just surf the web and you will find many web sites offering services – some topic specific, other country specific. Frequenting forums recently, I found disgruntled clients in South Africa that wanted to download mobile content, but the ring tone or logo failed to download. As a result the “networks” and Mobile phone companies are blamed for this failure of delivery.

The actual post I refer to started off with a warning about a scam where people received “Please call me” SMS. In response to the “please call me”, the customer was kept online having to answer senseless surveys with the call charges running up on their phone bills. The South African networks issued a warning against this scam that was doing the rounds.

Reading the posts I was quite astounded with the level of ignorance from the public side. Immediately legitimate SMS competitions (premium rated SMS) were drawn into the conversation with clear customer dissatisfaction being expressed. The following accusations were made in the particular post:

1. Networks were blamed for delivering the 072 “Please call me” SMS and supporting such practice.

2. Companies offering SMS competitions were blamed of not stating the cost per SMS clearly.

3. Mobile content companies were blamed for false advertising and clear anger was evident where customers submitted and paid for a download, but did not receive it.

Let’s take a look at this situation:

1. Networks being blamed for delivering “please call me” SMS:

For those that are not familiar with the “Please call me SMS” system here is a simple explanation. The system works on the old land line “collect call” basis where the mobile phone user send a SMS to someone they know to phone them. The person responding to the “Please call me” returns the call and foots the bill for the call.

I think the initial intention for the service was to render assistance to people that could not afford the call or run into trouble without prepaid airtime to phone for help in a crises situation. It was not long, however before the opportunity was grabbed by abusers of the system.

What the scammers do, is to send out “Please call me” SMS to random mobile phone numbers. The recipient unknowingly returns the call as they do think that it is from someone they know and requires assistance. The bad thing about the “Please call me” SMS is that the recipient has no way of knowing who sent the SMS as it does not support sender ID.

Upon answering the call, it turns out to be a call center doing a survey. The caller is kept online for as long as possible as each minute is charged to his/her phone bill at ridiculous rates – as much as ZAR 50-00 per minute. 10 Minutes online, results in ZAR 500-00 mobile phone bill of which the scammer in question get revenue share from the networks.

Issues at stake that we should question:

SHOULD THE NETWORKS BE BLAMED FOR THIS PRACTISE?

1. Working with the networks myself, I find it hard to believe that they will support such practice. Normally with any promotion the client has to state the nature of the promotion, as the Networks have to check whether or not the promotion is anti-sp@m policy compliant. Should the networks not investigate complaints like these and send out a Press release stating their position towards these sort of scams? Where are the network public relations officers?

2. Isn’t it the mobile phone user’s responsibility to NOT return any suspicious calls or SMS they receive?

3. Where does supplier responsibility end and customer responsibility start?

SMS warehouse is a division of E-SPECTATIONS.COM and has been involved with mobile technologies since 2000.

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TxtLocal.com today announced that all UK businesses – large or small – are to be offered their own totally free mobile number and keyword. These can then be published to enable rapid collection of opt-in customers eager to hear about news and promotions. Worcester, UK (PRWEB) August 25, 2005 — TxtLocal (www.txtlocal.com) has extended its SMS text messaging service to offer free inbound telephone numbers and keywords to all UK businesses and services. This number/keyword combination can then be printed anywhere to enable the rapid collection of opt-in customers who have requested to hear about latest special offers and promotions on their mobile phones. The existing TxtLocal functionality allowed businesses to send text messages to their customers at a fraction of the cost of sending messages through a mobile phone. Messages could be scheduled for delivery at any time up to one year in advance. “SMS has already become a very important business communication and promotional tool for many businesses in the UK,” said TxtLocal Managing Director, Al Shortland. “TxtLocal offers all UK businesses, large and small, the ability to quickly and inexpensively harness the power of SMS messaging in their day-to-day operations. Our new offer of a totally free mobile number and keyword will make the collection of opt-in customer mobile numbers a breeze.” Applications of TxtLocal * Sending SMS offers (pubs, night clubs, 2 for one Chinese meals etc.); * Sending appointment reminders (particularly suitable for dentists, mechanics, doctors, etc.); * News updates; * SMS competitions; * Internal company communications (for example, contacting engineers on the road); and many others. “We believe that we offer the most accessible and easy to use SMS solution in the UK. The aim of TxtLocal free inbound numbers is to revolutionize the SMS industry and enable anyone to set up their own campaigns. We plan to do for SMS what Google did for Internet search. We already have many thousands of satisfied customers, many reporting response rates of 40% and increased sales of 240%. The free number offer will make the TxtLocal service even more powerful”. Messages can be purchased from as little as 5p each. Key Features Of TxtLocal * Send SMS from any Internet enabled PC * All accounts provided free of charge. * All new users receive 3 free SMS messages. * All new users receive a free inbound number and keyword, which can be published anywhere and everywhere to collect opt-in customers. * Import contacts from your phone, Outlook, Excel, anywhere! * Store your contacts in our database for easy access. About TxtLocal: TxtLocal develops, implements and manages mobile marketing campaign solutions for businesses across the UK, large and small. Contact: Alastair Shortland TxtLocal.com +44 (0) 1242 257989 www.txtlocal.com e-mail protected from spam bots

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A friend is the one who forgives before you say sorry, understands you when you say I forget, waits for you when you say 1 minute, stays with you when you say leave me alone and accepts you just the way you are.

Very few people get such friends in their life time. Do you have one?

Don’t ever make a mistake to loose such friends in your life time. If you have some true friends, let them know how much they worth to you.

There are hundreds of ways to express your strong feeling towards your friends. But the easiest and the most reliable way is sending friendship sms.

You have a mobile in your hand and you are remembering your friend then don’t waste a single minute to send friendship sms to your friend.SMS not only signifies that you are remembering your friend but also helps to enhance your friendship relation.
It is a great idea to send Friendship sms. Because it makes your friend feel that someone is there for them who really miss them a lot.

You can reach out to your friends with your heartfelt love and gratitude for their love through the lovely friendship sms. Express all your emotions and feelings of missing them by this.
———————–

My heart’s like an open book.

It depends on how U read me.

Don’t judge me by my cover.

Look in and discover….

I will be ur True Friend forever…

———————–

Old Friends are Gold,

New Friends are Diamond,

If you get Diamond,

Don’t forget the Gold,

B’coz Gold only hold Diamond.

———————–

You just have to copy and send these friendship sms
to your friends.

This article was written by Rahul Roy of http://www.SMSFunOnline.com, you can find more hindi sms friendship messages at http://www.smsfunonline.com/category/friendship-sms/

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email-to-SMS Mobile SMS Text Messaging Service for IT Services and BPO Companies www.vfirst.com Gurgaon, India (PRWEB) May 25, 2005 — ValueFirst AirMail – email-to-SMS mobile text messaging SMS service – helps enterprises receive SMS alerts to maintain mission critical servers by outsourced 24X7 maintenance teams. The typical enterprises using ValueFirst AirMail services remotely manage high performance, servers in the US running critical processes. Due to the critical nature of tasks undertaken by such servers, time to know any system failure and recovery thereof is of the paramount importance. Many such companies earlier relied on paging networks to communicate such system failures wherein a message was paged to the service engineer/system administrator in case of a system failure. A big limitation of paging solution was that once sent, the message did not carry any acknowledgement. In addition, there was no way the system could know that the SOS message has reached the intended system administrator/service engineer. Further, every service engineer had to be equipped with a paging device. The area coverage of the paging network also posed potential bottleneck within the scheme. ValueFirst AirMail, a pioneering service, is designed to deliver SMS efficiently from servers to mobile phones anywhere in the world. ValueFirst AirMail overcomes all the limitations of paging networks and provided unmatched value to enterprises. It is developed to meet the mobile messaging needs of the enterprise segment. “After carefully analysing the mobile messaging requirement of enterprising and model employed by IT services and BPO companies, ValueFirst developed an innovative solution called ValueFirst AirMail. ValueFirst AirMail is an email-to-SMS gateway service. ValueFirst Airmail can convert normal email messages into SMS and forward them to virtually any GSM/CDMA mobile subscriber around the world” said Mr. Vijay Shukla, Country Head, India, ValueFirst Messaging Private Limited. Once integrated with the customers’ server, the SOS messages generated in the event of a system failure are directed to ValueFirst AirMail servers in form of email. The ValueFirst AirMail servers forward the incoming email messages to the intended recipients in the form of SMS messages. This whole process gives the customers of ValueFirst a distinct advantage of using a robust and cost effective messaging framework. ValueFirst AirMail can be deployed within minutes. All one needs to start the service is to provide mobile phones to system administrators/service engineers. ValueFirst AirMail has significantly increased the manpower utilization at some of the large IT services, maintenance and BPO companies in India. About ValueFirst Messaging Pvt. Ltd ValueFirst empowers its customers to communicate between varied IT back-end systems and mobile phones. ValueFirst provides a unique, end-to-end, global carrier-grade mobile data service. Its mobile data service offering includes “plug and play” application licensing and hosting. Employing a partnership with Mobile operators, ValueFirst acts as a virtual Mobile operator, with a clear focus on SMS messaging. ValueFirst’s Mobile Messaging Platform is capable of delivering SMS services to virtually any CDMA/GSM mobile handset. ValueFirst combines signalling information from the mobile world with innovative applications running concurrently on its own IT applications platform and thereby pave the way for mission-critical international messaging services Contact Details: ValueFirst Messaging Pvt. Ltd Mr. Vijay Shukla – Country Head C-071 B, DLF Supermart I, DLF City Phase IV, Gurgaon, Haryana, 122 002 India Phone: +91 9810330659 Fax: +91 124 5042539 www.vfirst.com

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