OXFORD, United Kingdom-Airflash, a wireless location technology developer, unveiled an interactive short message service location service that it claims is the first within the wireless industry. The firm said that, given the majority of GSM/personal communications service cell phones can support SMS, compared with the less than 15 percent of users with Wireless Application Protocol phones, the potential market for its SmartSMS location-based service is much greater than WAP.
The company confirmed that SmartSMS would be tariffed as a two-way service that integrates AirFlash’s location-based applications with conventional SMS text messaging systems. This, the firm said, allows existing mobile users to query and access location-relevant information, such as Yellow Pages, driving and walking directions and mobile notes, from any SMS-capable cell phone or pager.
Rama Aysola, AirFlash’s chief executive officer, said the company created SMS-based technology that offers operators a feature-rich service plugged into what has been considered a feature-less environment.