Warid Telecom Launches Kirusa Voice SMS Service in Pakistan
NEW PROVIDENCE, N.J. - Warid Telecom launched the Talky Voice SMS service based upon the Voice SMS technology from Kirusa, a mobile value-added services provider based in New Jersey, USA.
Warid Telecom mobile subscribers across Pakistan are now able to send personalized Talky Voice SMS messages to friends, family, and colleagues across mobile networks. The Voice SMS service is available nationwide, to all of Warid's prepaid and postpaid subscribers, on all mobile handsets, as of the first day of launch. To support the launch, Kirusa has deployed and integrated the Kirusa Voice SMS platform, bundled with the HP OpenCall Media Platform, into Warid Telecom's nationwide mobile network.
Kirusa's Voice SMS technology allows its clients to offer the Voice SMS experience to their mobile subscribers. The Voice SMS service allows a user to leave a voice message without having the phone ring (RingFree Messaging). The recipient is not disturbed, and can pick up the message at his leisure. The service also provides for sending SMS messages without typing the messages on mobile keypads. A user dials "*" followed by the recipient's phone number, and speaks a short message, in the language of his choice. The recipient gets an SMS message, and can dial *0* or a long number to retrieve the voice message. The recipient can also reply, forward, save, or delete the Voice SMS message. Several other enhanced features are available and will be deployed shortly.
Warid Telecom subscribers will pay PKR 0.60 to send a Talky Voice SMS message. They will be able to listen to the message free of charge for the first time, and will pay PKR 0.60 for subsequent listens. International messages are priced at a premium.
Warid Telecom plans to have a nationwide campaign for launching the Talky Voice SMS with large scale advertising and promotional activities featuring Ms. Anushe, a famous MTV compere.
Hamid Farooq, CEO of Warid Telecom Pakistan, said, "Warid Telecom is committed to provide the most cost effective and innovative value added services to our subscribers. The convenience of sending a Talky Voice SMS without the need to type or disturb the recipients, at less than the cost of a voice call, will make the Talky Voice SMS an extremely popular mode of communication, and further extend our lead in the Pakistan market". He further added, "We were impressed with the industry leading capabilities, scalability, and robustness of the Kirusa Voice SMS solution. The knowledge and experience of Kirusa's team coupled with the superiority of their Voice SMS solution made the decision of selecting Kirusa very easy for us."
Kashif Raheem, senior manager products and services, Warid Telecom Pakistan said, "The Talky Voice SMS has tremendous appeal amongst several segments of our subscriber base. A Talky Voice SMS conveys more impact, emotion, personality, intent and honesty than a Text SMS can ever hope to achieve. Starting with person to person Talkies today, we expect several new services and applications built over time leveraging the emotional touch of a Talky Voice SMS, and we are working with Kirusa to bring these to the market."