BPL Extends Voice SMS

MUMBAI, India and NEW PROVIDENCE, N.J. -- BPL Mobile, a leading cellular service provider from Mumbai, India with more than 1.2 million subscribers across Mumbai, has launched International Voice SMS service, allowing BPL Mobile subscribers to send Voice SMS messages to Mobile users across the world. To launch the service, BPL Mobile has chosen Kirusa, inventor of Voice SMS and a leading provider of Mobile value added services, as its vendor. The two companies had partnered in 2007 to provide Voice SMS service to BPL Mobile subscribers within India.

The international Voice SMS service built upon Kirusa's patented Voice SMS platform allows BPL Mobile subscribers to send a Voice SMS to people across the globe whenever convenient, without having to worry about time zone differences or the high cost of international voice calling. The recipient is able to retrieve the Voice SMS with a local call, and reply to it easily. With this launch, sending Voice SMS messages internationally will become as simple and timely as delivering a Voice SMS message within India. No special user training is required for either the sender or recipient. A BPL Mobile subscriber dials *00 and the international number; records a voice message; and then hangs-up to send the message. The recipient gets an SMS from the BPL Mobile subscriber, with an embedded DirectListen(TM) link, which is a local number in the country of the recipient. Kirusa's patented technology enables the recipient to click on the Direct Listen link to directly listen to the message.

Coinciding with the International Voice SMS launch and to take the Voice SMS success story forward, BPL today also announced the launch of an excellent value-for-money offer for all its mobile subscribers. They can now send unlimited Voice SMS messages to anyone in India for a flat fee of INR 50 (USD 1.26) per month.

The international Voice SMS service will allow BPL Mobile subscribers to connect with more than 68% of the world's mobile subscribers at launch. Expansion to additional countries and subscribers is planned in the future.

"We have always believed in innovation and have set benchmarks in value added services offerings to our subscribers. Users today are demanding compelling services that make their lives easier and their work more productive. This service is another leap we are taking in that direction," said Mr. S. Subramaniam, Director & CEO of BPL Mobile.

BPL Mobile