TelePassport lends a helping hand

TelePassport recently extended its community involvement by installing its market-leading Telepathy SMS solution at three of Lifeline/Childline`s Western Cape offices.

Telepathy is TelePassport`s proprietary SMS software that allows users to securely send batches of customised SMSs to thousands of individuals using TelePassport`s own SMS Gateway. Says Fundraising Manager, Ruth Martin: "This technology will enhance our ability to communicate with our stakeholders, and we thank TelePassport for this kindness."

TelePassport has donated TelePathy and all SMSs sent to Lifeline/Childline and will provide continuous support and technical assistance.

TelePassport`s Sales and Staff Director, David Saul, comments: "We are proud of our new association with Lifeline/Childline, and that we can make a positive contribution here by using our extensive communications expertise."

TelePathy is ideal for interactive communications management within an enterprise, organisation or even club and Lifeline/Childline sites are able to effectively use TelePathy in a number of ways: for communication with potential sponsors and donors regarding fundraising events; for vital and regular communication with their counsellors who are involved in facilitating and training at all centres throughout the year; and for ongoing communication with their counsellors and supervisors regarding shift and roster changes.

The TelePassport SMS Gateway offers clients a full house of SMS message controls, including full accounting, delivery reports, status reports, message progress tracking, scheduled sending, message validity timeouts, and alternate message formats such as flash SMS. Lifeline/Childline is making extensive use of this software at its three sites and according to Martin, Telepathy "...will be very helpful in all of our core endeavours".

"The bulk SMS concept is widely known," comments Greg Moollan, TelePassport`s SMS Product Manager. "However, the unique value proposition offered by TelePathy is the ability to store and reference SMS batches as campaigns, with accurate statistics on delivery and replies, as well as to route feedback directly to a call centre. Crucial to this management function is secure message delivery and TelePathy`s ability to receive, catalogue and route replies to messages."

Moollan adds: "The gateway contains unique proprietary reply routing technology developed by TelePassport, which allows replies to be matched exactly to the original SMS sent, even in the case where the same recipient has been sent multiple SMS messages. Considering that some gateway services do not even support replies, this functionality is a real winner."

TelePathy stores standard contact data locally, with the capability to import and export contacts in various formats. It offers full group management and group-of-group functionality, and an advanced contact search facility to create and save custom send groups.

TelePathy runs on Windows platforms and is a software-only solution - no hardware is needed other than a standard PC and Internet connection. There are no software costs or licensing fees and like all TelePassport products billing is online with full Web access.

This November, TelePassport will further extend its helping hand by co-hosting the 8th Annual Childline Golf Day with McDonald`s. "Last year over R65 000 was raised and we`re expecting to do even better this year," says Saul.

Interested companies can lend their support by entering a 4-ball, sponsoring a hole or by donating branded items for use as prizes. The day is being professionally organised by specialists Contact Golf and further information can be obtained from Yvonne Jackman on (021) 683 1503.

TelePassport supplies market-leading cost saving corporate telecommunications solutions, including least-cost routing, SMS solutions and call cost management. TelePassport has offices throughout SA - more information on TelePassport products and services can be found at www.telepassport.co.za.