The service will be offered free of charge during the trial period, which runs until the end of February.
The service is part of Telkom`s strategy to offer customer value-added services at competitive prices and continue to establish itself as the data solution provider of choice.
``Telkom continues to adapt its go-to-market strategy by offering customers and their families products and services that enhance their lifestyles,`` says Steven White, Product Development Executive.
To send and receive SMS text messages, customers need to subscribe to Telkom`s Identicall service, and have an SMS-capable telephone instrument. Identicall is a CLI (Calling Line Identification) system that displays the number of the line that is calling.
The SMS service does not require a subscription fee. The monthly Identicall charge is R9.85, offering the added advantage that callers are identified. To order Identicall, call 10219 toll-free. Customers who already have Identicall will be SMS-enabled automatically.
Telkom has a range of SMS capable phones available to support the service. Telkom has introduced two SMS terminals that can be used in conjunction with any telephone instrument. Smessage 100 retails at R199 and a semi-cordless model Smessage200 sells at R299. The semi-cordless model allows one to read and record messages away from the base. This is ideal when privacy is required. Messages are sent once the handheld is replaced on its home base.
The Telkom Home SMS service can handle 160 characters. Senders will receive notification upon delivery of the message. Telkom will not offer a Web/Internet SMS facility at this stage.
Telkom also offers an option for customers who don`t have an SMS-capable telephone. These customers will receive a voice SMS. Currently only English is supported. The system will try to deliver the voice message for two days after which it is deleted.
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