The ODTR has announced details of a new SMS service, which will allow for a range of new mobile services to be offered by both mobile operators and service providers.
Ireland is likely to be the first country in Europe with a fully comprehensive framework developed for the provision of such services, according to the Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation.
The ODTR said it had decided to open up dedicated 5 digit codes, which will improve the services mobile operators offer to their customers. They will be available from mid February 2002.
According to the regulator, the new services could include: event-driven content, such as goal-by-goal football alert for a favourite team, personalised stock information, industry sector news alerts.
It could also include travel information, such as traffic news, flight/ferry information; business and commerce applications; ringtone downloads, or other applications, such as gaming and competitions.
The Regulator, Ms Doyle said: 'These new services will initially be offered on existing SMS systems but are likely to advance into enhanced SMS services and then 2.5G and 3G systems. These new services will be accessible by dialing a short 5-digit code. The choice of what the operator is offering may be further refined by including a selected keyword at the start of the text message.'
She said that in the interest of fairness, all codes will be allocated on a lottery basis as there is likely to be competition for easily remembered numbers.
