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July 28, 2005
SMS.ac
Based in San Diego, California, SMS.ac, Inc. is a wireless communications company whose proprietary MMSbox technology enables the exchange of text (SMS) and multimedia (MMS) mobile communications across any technology platform and deliverable to any enabled wireless device.
SMS.ac is host to the largest wireless community in the world, offering connectivity to more than 400 mobile networks worldwide. Through its core MMSbox™ technologies, SMS.ac, Inc. enables interoperable, worldwide wireless interaction between network operators, technology standards, the Internet, enterprises, consumers and application/content developers. Through its global initiatives, SMS.ac is igniting the widespread adoption and use of wireless data.
SMS.ac uses it’s proprietary and interoperable technology platform to unify consumers, mobile carriers, application developers, handset manufacturers, enterprises, content and service providers, and virtually anyone in the world interested in communicating via text and multimedia messaging.
SMS.ac partners with mobile carriers around the world to offer its members connectivity to the most mobile data networks, resulting in anytime, anywhere access to people, information and entertainment that are important to them.
Technology
SMS.ac’s technology MMSbox™ has many messaging tools and services that provide consumer SMS (and later, MMS) connectivity across any operating system or platform, from anywhere in the world, using mobile and web-enabled devices.
Business Model
SMS.ac is partnering with mobile operators around the world and integrates the billing systems of mobile operators, so that consumer activity through SMS.ac's systems appears on the users' monthly statements. SMS.ac partners include: Verizon Wireless, the joint venture of Verizon Communication (nyse: VZ - news - people ) and Vodaphone (nyse: VOD - news - people ); T-Mobile, a unit of Deutsche Telekom; Sprint (nyse: FON - news - people ); Nextel (nasdaq: NXTL - news - people ); South Africa's MTN Group and Globe Telecommunications of the Philippines. The largest revenue pool of embers living in the U.K., and spend an average $20 a month on short messaging. No matter the locale, wireless carrier partners of SMS.ac receive 50% of revenue in exchange for the billing arrangement. Revenues are also realized from mobile advertisements, technology licensing, subscriptions, sponsorships.
Products (subscribe to SMS.ac, and you can have the following features allowing you accessibility to a social and interactive network):
• Profile: How would you like to be famous? Completing your SMS.ac member profile means that people are far more likely to communicate with you, especially when you upload photographs. Member profiles make it easier to search for and find people around the world that share your interests. And you get Reward Points when you complete your profile!
• Flirt: Are you in search of your perfect soul mate, a passionate date, or just someone with whom you can share your thoughts? The smsFlirt "Enhanced Search" is the perfect way to instantly meet people that share your interests and attractions! Your next love affair might be as close as your mobile phone, so give smsFlirt a try... you never know where it may lead!
• Channels: Stay current on your favorite topics by receiving news, information and entertainment--directly on your mobile phone! Choose from Horoscopes, Weird News, Pick-up line of the day and lots more. Add or remove smsChannels anytime you want--the choice is yours!
• Clubs: Find people anywhere in the world that share your specific interests and exchange messages with them, using your mobile phone! Join a Club, or start your own. Some Clubs have thousands of people in them, so you'll be always connected with plenty of people that like the same things you do!
• Interactive: Welcome to Interactive! This is where you’ll find a variety of exciting games and services that you can enjoy with people around town, or around the world! Test your knowledge and skill with our interactive trivia games. Look to your horoscope for answers to your future. If you like Fun & Games, check out our cool new games like “Choose Your Own Adventure,” “Hot 21” and “Word Jumble.”
• Email: Spam-FREE email! You'll never miss another important email again, because you can have all, or part of your email messages sent directly to your mobile phone! You can choose to forward only the emails that are sent from pre-approved sources, making your email spam-free!
• Rewards: SMS.ac rewards you for using SMS.ac products and services. As you receive points, you can participate in auctions to receive fantastic prizes, such as digital cameras, iPods and more. The more you use SMS.ac, the more points you receive!
• Ringtones: Get all the latest ringtones, wallpaper, screen savers and more... everything you'd ever want to make your mobile phone super-sweet! Downloading is easy!
(taken from sms.ac)
Statistics:
SMS.ac launched its consumer suite of MMSbox-based wireless applications with significant advantages over would-be competition:
• SMS.ac applications are created specifically for mobile deployment. The Company's original applications are a result of more than $70 million spent in research, development and gauged consumer (Youth) adoption.
• SMS.ac products and services were designed to attract and retain Youth. Proof of concept is that SMS.ac remains the largest product launch of any company in history, as well as the largest community of mobile phone users in the world (35 million).
Why is it so important for SMS.ac to focus on Youth? Youth (ages 13-24) are perceived as being a vital demographic segment for a wide variety of industries. According to a recent mobile Youth report authored in the U.K., Youth disposable income globally rose to $1.14 trillion. The report indicates that as examples, Youth in the USA and Switzerland annually spend $4,903 and $4,798 in disposable income per head, respectively.
According to the same report compiled by Wireless World Forum, worldwide adoption of mobile phones is accelerating. In the U.S., there is an estimated 44.9 million mobile phone owners in this Youth segment, while that number is projected to jump to 52.2 million in 2006.
The numbers being tallied from mobile data are impressive-- and increasing:
• SMS currently generates around 18% of total mobile operator revenue in Europe.
• Mobile email generates 80% of data revenues for operators in Japan. With revenues realized from "voice" on the decline, mobile data is viewed as the avenue by which operator profits can be taken to new heights.
What is the possible impact on Youth within the mobile marketplace? Wireless World Forum states that Youth spent $11 billion globally on music in 2003. They spent eight times (8x) more on mobile phones than they did on music in that same time period. Worldwide, Youth mobile products now outsell Youth music products by 800%.
WHAT DISTINGUISHES SMS.ac
• Largest mobile community
• Most premium billing arrangements with mobile carriers
• Most data collectivity to more mobile data networks in more countries than anyone else
RANDOM but INTERESTING FACTS
• Number of wireless handsets in service around the world is approaching 2 billion and revenue from mobile services is projected to exceed $126 billion in a few years
• 1.5 billion mobile users worldwide
• Average mobile phone users sends in excess 40 SMS messages per month
• Nearly 5 billion text messages get sent and received via mobile phones each month in the U.S., according to the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association.
• The global mobile data market will exceed $200 billion by 2010, predict technology analysts at Frost & Sullivan.
• SMS.ac has 35 million subscribers.
Posted by adriana at July 28, 2005 04:22 PM
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