SMS fine alert system is in demand

By Bontle Moeng, ITWeb trainee journalist

Johannesburg, 25 Jan 2006

2Big Mobile, the mobile applications software company that developed the Johannesburg Metro Police Department (JMPD) traffic fine SMS service, says it has been approached by other municipalities to deploy similar systems.

"The SMS system is only available to Johannesburg residents," says Mokgatle Maesela, 2Big Mobile director. "Currently the public cannot pick up fines from other provinces. Part of our plan is to expand the system to other regions in the country.

"The Tshwane Metro Police Department has also shown an interest and liked the idea, but the Tshwane City Council has not yet made a final decision on the deployment of the system. We will deliver the system as soon as a formal decision is made and a contract is signed.

"Our business development unit is also in discussion with other municipalities, including Durban and Cape Town," says Maesela.

The service, launched last week, allows motorists to check their traffic fines, summons and warrants from their mobile phones. Motorists SMS their ID number to 36997 from any cellphone network provider; each SMS costs R5.

The JMPD partnered with 2Big Mobile Applications and Vodacom to introduce the service.

Since the launch, about 90 000 SMSes have been sent to the database system. "We have managed to respond to 87 000 enquiries. Close to 50 000 users have subscribed to the SMS system."

The system is able to pick up a 'live fine` for subscribed users only, says Maesela. "The system is only used to check warrants and summons - and not live fines. The live fine service is only available to subscribed users. If an unsubscribed user gets a fine today and tries to check for the outstanding fine, it will not show on their mobile handsets."

Maesela says the revenue made from the SMS system is split in three ways: the City of Johannesburg, Vodacom and 2Big Mobile.

He says his company will use the revenue for growth purposes and to employ more young black IT technicians, while the City of Johannesburg will use the funds to improve its public service facilities.

"In a few months` time, we plan to launch a fully fledged online payment system to offer motorists an easier payment system," says Maesela.