What are short text messages (SMS) anyway?
Probably everyone who uses a mobile phone has noticed that not only numbers are displayed on the keypad but also all the characters of the alphabet. That's because text messages of up to 160 characters can be sent from a GSM mobile phone to another mobile phone. That represents one or two sentences, but you'll find that if you want to get something across quickly and clearly, you won't exhaust the 160 characters in most cases.
For many customers, their mobile phone's ability to send SMS messages seems to be useless since it is thanks to their "mobile" phone that they can place a call anytime. Do you think you'd be able to convince these customers of the advantages and usefulness of short text messages?
I have already hinted that text messages have certain replaceable features that you'll never get just by calling. Aside from the fact that sending text messages costs you nearly nothing even those it's to the other end of the republic or even across the ocean, SMS´s characteristic feature is its quickness and reliability. In the EuroTel network, you get your message from the sender in 3-10 seconds! Under normal circumstances, you can't even dial the number you'd normally call in such a short time. Or an example situation comes to mind when SMS´s are priceless. If one of your colleagues is at a meeting and doesn't wish to be disturbed, it's obvious that he will forward all his calls to voice mail. What if you need to decide on something with him immediately? Then nothing is more simple than sending him an SMS message since it will be delivered to the addressee's mobile phone despite the active call forwarding, which means that the addressee will get the text message practically anytime, anywhere, and immediately!
Let's assume that you've just convinced me that activating the text service can be not only handy for me, but sometimes even necessary. Can I take advantage of SMS messages other than for merely sending messages from telephone to telephone?
Yes, of course. At EuroTel, we realize that short text messages are an amazingly powerful tool for improving and mainly for simplifying communication between mobile phone users. That is why we have been developing for more than a year now a collection of GSM InfoText information services and services which, thanks to SMS messages, are able to upgrade a mobile phone to a fax, e-mail, pager or planner. Without the assistance of any other equipment, the mobile phone itself is capable thanks to the SMS Plus services to send a fax with your company's letterhead, an e-mail or even a message to a pager! Thanks to SMS Reminder, you can set when the text message should notify you of a meeting, deadline for submitting a project, or of your wife's birthday. Personally, these services seem fantastic to me!
On what principle do GSM InfoText services operate?
For clarity's sake, GSM InfoText is a collection of information services which can intermediate the delivery of information to a mobile phone using short text messages. Starting with advise on how to mix a delicious cocktail, to on-line ETK news headlines, to the current price of stocks on the Prague Stock Exchange. In short, the quantity of information that GSM InfoText provides is huge. This information is currently summarized into approximately 30 services which operate according to how you "command" them, which means on the GSM InfoText command-answer principle. Command in this context means a text message of three characters, e.g. POC for the weather forecast, and any other supplementary parameters to specify the requested information. For example, POC SC means the weather forecast for Central Bohemia. As soon as you send the command to the GSM InfoText number (999 111), you'll get an answer through a text message. It's similar for other services, too.
So what kind of information can I get using GSM InfoText? Let's say that my television breaks down tomorrow evening, cutting me off from the evening news, weather forecast, and information on the current exchange rate of the German mark, that I needed to find out since I'm leaving on a business trip abroad. I already have enough worries just to find lodging in a foreign country. Not even to mention trying to get hold of a TV repairman at this hour...
Maybe we have mentioned the GSM InfoText services for the very reason that something similar happens to everyone now and again or that someone may have a job that doesn't allow him to read the newspaper in peace or to catch the evening news reports. For EuroTel mobile telephone users, it's not a problem to search for even TV repairmen using one of the services of this collection, the Company Database. In this case, the user would send a text message like "EDB TELEVIS REPAIR PRAGUE" and would immediately receive a contact for tens of television repairmen in Prague. I have already mentioned the weather forecast, but if you're asking about the exchange rate of the mark, even that's not a problem for GSM InfoText. What's more, a service with information on the current exchange rates-CNB-will regularly offer exchange comparisons between various banks, allowing you comfortably to go exchange money where it's best for you. You mentioned problems with lodging in a foreign aboard. We don't yet offer such a service, but what I can recommend are accommodations in the Czech Republic. Send a HOT command, region and hotel category, and then all you have to do is choose the best one for you from the incoming replies. One more nice service is connected to traveling-waiting times at border crossings. Just send the HRA command and the D parameter for Germany and you'll instantly get the waiting times at border crossings for both consumer and freight vehicles.
It seems that the GSM InfoText service may be the only reliable partner for getting the information I need immediately. But how will I learn how to control this service easily and quickly? I don't think I'm going to remember all the needed words and parameters for getting information. It's possible that at the beginning someone won't remember all the key words (commands) for various services or how to inquire about certain services. Of course, for cases like these, we have prepared help for each service. If you don't remember anything, all you have to do is send "? key word" and detailed instructions will come to you in a text message for the given service. I personally recommend trying the services out from the beginning in a more entertaining way, like by using the riddle service. Send the key word (command) HAD and you'll get a riddle. You'll find out in 20 seconds if you guessed right or not when the correct answer is delivered to your mobile phone. It doesn't cost you anything and you'll get a clear picture of how GSM InfoText works. If you're a music or movie buff, send the key word DRB and you'll get the hottest gossip from the music and film world. It's simple. And what do you think you'll get if you send the key word VTI? A joke, of course!
It occurs to me that EuroTel surely has among its clientele foreign citizens who are residing long-term in our republic for employment reasons or who come here as tourists and take advantage of the chance to lease a mobile phone for a certain time. Do they too have the chance to utilize the great GSM InfoText services without knowing Czech?
Yes, GSM InfoText can also help English-speaking foreigners. For instance, we have the ETK information service in English as well, so everyone living long-term in the Czech Republic has the chance to appreciate the up-to-date news not only from the world of finance, but from the domestic and sports scene as well. Naturally, they can also take advantage of many, many other services. If they need help with the services, then they of course have complete help available in English.
In your opinion, what does SMS´s future look like?
Great. I can't even imagine my life without text messages. For instance, how could you simply give someone the name and address of your French colleague over the phone when you can barely pronounce his name? I'd just write and send a short text message. Use of the SMS service in practice is broad and it is assumed that it will continue to expand. In Finland, you can start the car wash while sitting in the car by using a mobile phone and SMS. And that's not uncommon. I think that speaks for everything. Our company is continuing to develop more and more great services for regular mobile phone users and even for professionals, but we can talk about that later.
Thanks for the interview.
Questions by Irena Kováříková