Canadian wireless provider Rogers Wireless Communications Inc. launched its TXT 2 Landline service, which will allow customers to send text messages to landline phones anywhere in Canada and the United States. The messages are then converted to voice and can be delivered in English or French.
Rogers Wireless noted that when a TXT 2 Landline call is answered, an automated voice system delivers the message and provides the wireless phone number for the message sender. If the recipient has a caller identification service, the wireless phone number of the message sender will appear. The recipient is then able to replay the message, send a voice message reply to the original sender or terminate the call.
“Text messaging is a non-intrusive method of communications which has exploded in popularity. But not everyone has access to a text messaging device or is able to communicate in text,” said Raj Doshi, vice president of product and hardware management for Rogers Wireless. Doshi added that in addition to traditional text message customer segments, the new service would appeal to visually impaired customers.
Rogers Wireless said the service, which is provided by TeleMessage, is available until April 1 at the same price as a traditional text message. The service then will be charged at an additional 21 cents per message.
Rogers Wireless also announced jointly with parent company, Rogers Communications Inc., that wholly owned subsidiary Rogers Wireless Inc. had completed a private placement of $2.356 billion. The placement, which was originally announced Nov. 12, consisted of $387.2 million in 7.625-percent senior secured notes due 2011, $550 million in floating rate senior secured notes due 2010, $470 million in 7.25-percent senior notes due 2012, $550 million in 7.5-percent senior secured notes due 2015, and $400 million in 8 percent senior subordinated notes due 2012.
Rogers Wireless said it planned to use proceeds from the offering to make a $1.5 billion distribution as a return of capital to RWCI, to repay $715 million of inter-company subordinated debt owing to RCI incurred in connection with its acquisition of Microcell Telecommunications Inc., and to repay a portion of the outstanding advances under its amended bank credit facility incurred in connection with the Microcell acquisition.
