From December 1 it will be possible for some Telkom users to send and receive SMS messages from their landlines.
In addition to the spoken message that already can be received through a landline, where a text message is converted into a computer voice, Telkom will offer a service that will enable customers to send and receive text messages.
This service will only be available for postpaid users who subscribe to Telkom’s Identical service. Identical, which costs almost R10 a month, means that the receiver can see who is calling. Apart from that, the customer will need to buy a new phone or SMS terminal.
To publicise the new service and educate people to use their landline for SMS, Telkom will run a free trial period from December 1 to February 28, after which it will charge for the service.
“We cannot say how much it will cost, that depends a bit on how many people will use this service. But we can say that we will price this service aggressively and that we will offer competing prices to our customers,” said Steven White, of the new product development division of Telkom.
“When it comes to SMS it all boils down to the costs and that means that we will have to make this service compatible because otherwise it will not be used,” White said.
For now, only Vodacom subscribers will be able to receive SMS messages sent from a landline.
“Cell C has also agreed to join us in this project but is not yet technically ready,” White said. “But a few weeks after the launch … Cell C subscribers will also be able to receive messages from landlines.
“We are also talking to MTN, but can only say that we think that they will join us, we are not yet certain of that.”
Although Telkom might be secretive about the price of the service, the company is very clear on what customers will have to pay for the necessary additional equipment.
“We will introduce into the market three phones and two SMS terminals.” One phone will cost R1 399, two will cost R1 199 and the SMS terminals R200 or R300 respectively.
The terminals have a small keyboard and display and can be connected to the landline dock. The phones look like ordinary cordless phones, but have an extra button through which the SMS menu can be entered.
Telkom says it will keep the SMS service running regardless of the success of the project.
“But we are convinced this will be a success. Especially for households with teenagers, this option will be very attractive,” White said.
A SMS message sent through a landline can contain 160 characters. Privacy is guaranteed because messages can be sent to different inboxes on the phone.