Vodacom has partnered with SMSweb to introduce a free SMS service to help schools communicate important messages to parents.
The service allows any school registered with the Department of Education and with Internet access, to send 1 000 free SMS messages per month to parents who are Vodacom customers. Parents who are not Vodacom subscribers can pay an annual fee of R20 to receive the school`s SMSes. This money is refunded should parents become Vodacom customers during the year.
SMSweb initially piloted the service in Western Cape schools in October last year, says SMSweb MD Salah Elbaba.
"The idea was presented to the three local network providers and Vodacom responded and approved the partnership in April," says Tim Cruise, SMSweb marketing director.
"There are close to 50 schools in SA that are already benefiting from this service," he adds.
The service can be used to send a variety of messages to parents, including reminders about school activities and parent-teacher evenings.
SMSweb also offers schools the opportunity to raise funds through the sale of Vodacom airtime, SMS bundles and SIM cards. "Schools without an Internet connection can use the airtime fund raising initiative and in return Vodacom uses a strategic directive to organise Internet connection for those schools," says Cruise.
The service will be promoted by countrywide roadshows that get under way in Cape Town today.
Roadshows will be staged at:
* Cape Town Vodacom offices in Century City on 4 August
* Johannesburg from 10 to 11 August at Vodaworld, Midrand
* Port Elizabeth Vodacom office on 16 August
* Durban Vodacom office on 18 August
For more information on the roadshows, contact SMSweb or call Cruise on (021) 418 4005.
Share