Messaging services
June 2002

Over the past two years. fixed and mobile operators, ISPs and telecom service providers in general have launched new, or expanded existing, messaging services. These services are usually meant to bring together services or features which have so far been separate: voice and faxes on fixed networks, voice and SMS (Short Message Service) on mobile networks and e-mail (with its multimedia attachments) on PCs. Mobile operators in particular are looking at ways to generate more revenues in the face of declining ARPU (Average Revenue Per User).
The present article will look at the following developments in messaging services: extension of SMS to fixed networks, Instant Mobile Messaging (IMM) services, Unified Messaging (UM) services, and multimedia SMS (MMS). More...

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