SMS For Business

ValueFirst launched SMS For Business banners for the web marketers for them to touch-base with their prospects over the mobile phone.

Imagine a scenario, where a person visiting a website wants to know more about a product/service being shown as an ads on the web and clicks on it.

The moment he clicks on the banner, a popup box opens up on the screen which seeks a mobile number from the prospect. The prospect can then enter his mobile number and additional information about the ads is send to the prospect on his mobile number. The service has dual benefits for the marketer. Firstly, marketer can choose to have a small banner size and give additional details only to serious users, thus having cost benefits. Secondly, marketer also gets an opportunity to speak with the prospect over the phone.

For more details about the SMS For Business login: http://www.vfirst.com

ValueFirst launch new solutions for Customer Service in UK

“This era would belong to companies who would be able to create a better customer experience with a marginal addition to their cost base”

Why create a mobile service channel?

No company can afford to ignore the customer in today’s world. Increased competition demands organizations to maintain a relationship with the customer through multiple service channels – both using offline channels and electronic channels.

Today with a huge percentage of the population carrying mobile phones, mobile channel is the best medium to engage the customer and in the process improve the customer stickiness.

Why use SMS over voice?

SMS is gaining the acceptability as the preferred mode of customer service because it has two-way capabilities; it is fast and cheap and is less time-consuming for the service staff.

SMS from PC offers the following advantages as a channel of customer service:-

• Instant: No delay even if phone is busy/switched-off
• Automated: Automatic relay of critical information
• Two-way: Instant processing of customer queries
• Targeted: Specific message can be conveyed based on the consumer profile
• Cost: Significantly cheaper than other medium
• Anywhere/Anytime: Mobile is always in the pocket
• Personal: Highly effective as communication to an individual

Bouquet of mobile messaging Services:

Alerts/Information: Automatic pushing of relevant and/or critical information to the customer based on configurable business rules

Queries/Complaints: Customers can log in their complaints/queries by messaging at a short-code or long-code, upon which they receive an automated reply or a phone call

Order Booking/Tracking: Customers can book the orders and track the delivery of orders using Pull based services

Service: Customers can be sent birthday greetings etc. and informed about new schemes, discounts and service renewal

About ValueFirst:

ValueFirst provides end-to-end mobile data services from back-end integration to application hosting to dedicated connectivity with the SMSC's of multiple GSM/CDMA operators in host of countries. Its mobile data service offering includes "plug and play" application licensing and hosting. Employing a partnership with Mobile operators, ValueFirst acts as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO), with a clear focus on SMS mobile messaging, SMS from PC and SMS business Service.ValueFirst's Mobile Messaging Platform is capable of delivering SMS services to virtually any CDMA/GSM mobile handset across the globe.

SMS, IMS, and email

Email is by far still the most popular messaging service. Although both email and SMS are "store and forward" systems that utilize a gateway to pass messages from senders to recipients, the most obvious difference between the two are the length and complexity of the messages. SMS messages are limited up to 160 characters (although it depends on the service provider). However, SMS is anywhere anytime service and email cannot be anywhere anytime, you need to access it.

Mobile phone has been in use as a part of the body these days. People tend to forget things but mobile phone. The least you would expect any person to carry is a cell phone. It is an anywhere anytime, on the move technology.

While email lets you attach files, imbed images, and make use of HTML, SMS messages are limited to text and numeral display. However, there are a few exceptions. The Nextel SMS service lets you automatically make calls from phone numbers appearing in the message text much like a hypertext link in an email. Also, on European GSM cellular networks, SMS messages delivered to Nokia phones may have distinct ring tones or graphics attached.

On the other hand, Instant Messaging Service (IMS), made popular by AOL Instant Messenger, allows you to have virtual realtime text conversations (or chat) with people who are simultaneously connected to the Internet. SMS messages are immediate, but not simultaneous. SMS messages are sent to and processed by a Short Message Service Center (SMSC), which then delivers the message to the intended recipient's cell phone. If a message is sent to a phone that is turned off, the service center will store it and try to redeliver it for a period of 3 to 7 days, depending on the service provider.