Vodacom said today that its 3 million users sent over 520 000 SMS (Short Message Service) text messages from their cellphones on Valentine`s Day 2000.
"This indicates that cellphone users viewed the text message service as an ideal way to express their feelings on Valentine`s Day," said Joan Joffe, Group Executive - Corporate Affairs of Vodacom.
"It is also possible to send anonymous text messages from Vodacom`s website or using email and this obviously also proved very popular since anonymous messages of affection are what Valentine`s Day is all about," said Ms Joffe.
Vodacom users are also able to save up to 15 received text messages on their cellphones, meaning there is no need to delete those pearls of passion just yet.
Ms Joffe said that the large number of SMS messages being sent was also helped by the introduction last year of a facility enabling Vodago prepaid users to send SMS messages. Previously, Vodago prepaid users could only receive SMS messages.
"The SMS service is a real cost saver. At just 68c per SMS send, all Vodacom users are able to send text messages of up to 160 characters to any other GSM cellphone user in South Africa. For the same charge they can also send an SMS from South Africa to anywhere in the world.
"Other features of the innovative service are that users can store up to 15 text messages on their cellphone and that messages can be received even if the cellphone is engaged or switched off," said Ms Joffe.
Typically, to send an SMS users would do the following: select "messages", choose the "write" option and write the message using the keypad of the cellphone. On completion, choose the "send" option. The user will then be asked to enter the cellphone number of the recipient.
Users should note, however, that different cellphones have different ways of sending SMS messages and users should check their cellphone manuals.
Any person can also go to www.vodacom.net and select the SMS dialogue box, where they will be able to type in their message as well as the desired cellphone number.
To activate the SMS function, Vodacom contract subscribers can call Vodacom Customer Care on 111 from a Vodacom cellphone, or 082 111 from a Telkom line. Vodago prepaid users can call Vodago Customer Care on 114 from a Vodacom cellphone, or 082 114 from a Telkom line.
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