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Voice SMS. Merging VoIP & Mobile to Create A Compelling Service. Brough Turner, SVP & CTO, NMS Communications. Why should I care?. Voice short message service (SMS) is a highly successful new service Leading solutions built on NMS technology Broad lessons for any new mobile service. *0*.
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Voice SMS Merging VoIP & Mobile to Create A Compelling Service Brough Turner, SVP & CTO, NMS Communications
Why should I care? • Voice short message service (SMS) is a highly successful new service • Leading solutions built on NMS technology • Broad lessons for any new mobile service
*0* ERIC LEE 28/08/05 23:30 Hi, I Have sent U a BUBBLE dial *0* to hear it (FREE) *0* What is Voice SMS? • Similar to SMS text messages, except with voice • Sender records a short voice message • Recipient gets a text alert: “You have a Voice SMS from … ” • Recipient clicks and hears the voice message Source: Bubble Motion Pte Ltd
Not “Multi-Media Messaging” • MMS a fully specified 3G service • Includes voice messaging • Ovum forecasts US$3.8B in 2005; $13.8B in 2010 • $2.9B to $9.5B picture mail (all kinds – MMS & otherwise) • $0.8B to $3.8B video messages • $94M to $496M audio messages • But MMS slow to take off • Awaiting ubiquitous handset support and interoperability • MMS-based “Voice SMS” also starting slowly • Example: Sprint’s “Voice SMS” in US – only MMS handsets can send messages, few deployed, few messages sent
Voice SMS Unique Advantages • Over text messages • Easier to use • Voice conveys more emotion • Don’t have to be literate • Versus Push-to-Talk • Works when recipient is unavailable • Good when you just want a message, not live conversation • Compared with voice mail • Easier, more immediate; not a live conversation • Compared with MMS • Works with any handset, any network (2G, 2.5G, 3G)
Subscriber Benefits • New, highly personal way to communicate • Costs less than a voice call • Easy to use • Overcomes text usability issues • Available in all languages • Does not require literacy • Works with current handset • Send messages to any handset
Operator Benefits • No handset software — target entire subscriber base • Application overlay — no changes to existing infrastructure, works on 2G, 2.5G, and 3G • No capital investment; extremely rapid deployment • Little customer education • Popular — rapidly adopted • Commands 50 to 100 percent premium over SMS • Proven money maker
Advertising Jokes Premium content: Celebrity messages Audio clips Ask an expert Voice alerts: Sports News Weather Voice Reply to Text Voice Blogs Dating Voice information services Ringtones Ringback tones Contests International Voice SMS New Voice SMS Revenues
Voice SMS History • Ideas date back at least a decade • Jan. 2005: Digi (Malaysia) launches “BubbleTalk” by Bubble Motion • Sept. 2005: GrameenPhone (Bangladesh) launches “Voice SMS” by Kirusa • Widely adopted today: • Over a dozen vendors with announced platforms • 15+ networks offer Voice SMS service • >300 million mobile subs have access
Digi (Malaysia) Case Study • GSM network with 5.6 M subscribers (9/2006) • Bubble Talk launched late January 2005 • Two month promotion: subscribers offered 10 free messages per day • 50 percent premium over text messages • Greater than 35% penetration in six months • Over 200,000 messages per day by 8/2005 • All other operators in Malaysia forced to react within first year
#1 mobile operator in Bangladesh • 5 M subscribers (9/05) to 10 M subs (11/06) • Voice SMS launched September 2005 • Based on Kirusa platform • Supported with newspaper & TV advertising • Priced 25%-66% over text messages • Rapid adoption • 6% first week; 16% first month • Over 40% (3.6 million users) by August 2006
How does it work? • Dial short code & then normal mobile number • Typical handsets support prefixing numbers in your contacts directory • Prefix causes call to be routed to IVR system • IVR receives call with caller & called numbers • Beep, record message (& optionally other options) • Bill caller • Send SMS to called party saying“You have a Voice SMS from <calling party>. Press green “send” key to hear your message. <IVR system phone number embedded here> ”
Receiving a Voice SMS • Called party receives text message • Presses green or “send” key • Phone dials IVR system • IVR system sees caller ID, looks up messages for that party • IVR plays message(s) immediately • No prompts or dialog required • At end, offer options • “To listen again press one, to reply press two, otherwise just hang up”
Billing System Issues • One Voice SMS needs two voice calls! • Price point needs to be more than text SMS but less than a voice call • “Cost” not an issue except during busy hour • Focus is maximizing revenue! • All billing systems support special billing numbers (premium rate and free numbers) • IVR assigned short code or other special number
Not Restricted to Operators • Mobile network integration • Facilitates recruiting and enrolling subscribers • Dial codes facilitate sending messages • Not essential • Only need PSTN voice and SMS connectivity • US example: Pinger • PSTN & SMS connectivity purchased wholesale • Speech technology overcomes lack of dial codes • Import friends names/numbers to Pinger • Dial Pinger • Speak name of person to receive Voice SMS
Administrator Voice SMSPlatform Mobile Network Billing prepaid Event based billing Billing & Mediation postpaid Admin SMSC Operator Help Desk MMSC MessageProcessing OA&M Firewall MSC Voice Platform Subscriber Voice SMS Integration Source: Kirusa Inc.
Voice SMS Platform IP Connectivity Content Server Application Server PSTN Alternative HTTP VoiceXML Vision VoiceXML Server SMS SMSC Vision Signaling Server Voice MSC MRCP, RTP SS7 Mobile Network Speech Resource Servers
Any Handset, Any Network • A prime application success model • Worth consideration by any application developer • Don’t need critical mass for service to take off • No wait for “network effects” • Other services with comparable characteristics: • Voice mail — takes messages from any caller • Ringback — ringback tones heard by all callers
Conclusions • Winning Applications • Ideal: work with any handset, any network • If not: provide bridge – partial functionality with any handset • NMS Vision VoiceXML Server • Complete deployment platform for Voice and Video applications (VoIP or PSTN) • Carrier grade Signaling Services (SIP, SS7, ISUP, ISDN) • VoiceXML extension APIs for outbound dialing, authorization, and SMS voice messaging
PDF version to be posted today Recorded version to be posted tomorrow Questions? Brough Turner rbt @ nmss.com Blog: http://blogs/nmss.com/communications/