Israel Trials Satellite SMS

JERUSALEM -- The Israeli Ministry of Communications has granted DBS Satellite Services a license to conduct an experiment in transmitting short message service (SMS) messages to e-mail. The advanced services will be provided via the existing satellite broadcasting infrastructure through television set, converters and remote controls, which serve as satellite terminal equipment, with the addition of domestic phone lines for re-sent messages. Transmitting messages through SMS to a television instead of to a cellular phone will be possible with a special code. Transmitting text messages in an e-mail format will be possible during the first phase of the experiment only among DBS subscribers. The new service will enable viewers to communicate over a television screen while instantaneously watching television.