It’s called SMS (text) messaging with attachments and is the latest revenue-generating service built using Open Access media processing boards from telecommunications services platform provider NMS Communications. The service, developed by ChannelSoft, is available to nearly 96 million China Unicom (News - Alert) and China Mobile subscribers, and has already been adopted by more than 18 million subscribers.

 

“Messaging continues to drive revenues in the mobile industry, and SMS with attachments is a new frontier for subscribers to share content,” said Wang Wenyuan, assistant chief engineer of ChannelSoft. “The NMS Open Access media processing boards provide the flexibility, reliability, scalability and performance in an affordable board to enable us to deliver these types of breakthrough services.”

 

SMS with attachments allows users to send external multimedia content to friends and family. Callers can subscribe to the service and select attachments, such as music, ringback tones, jokes, other audio files and other forms of entertainment that they want to share with friends. The operator sends the message with the attachment to the recipient, who could then forward the message to other friends. ChannelSoft expects the service to continue to grow, increasing average revenue per user, with estimates topping $44 million for 2008.

 

ChannelSoft chose Open Access products because they are open, high-density, affordable carrier-grade building blocks that give developers the processing power and capacity needed to quickly develop a fast-growing set of current and next-generation services. The boards’ scalability will enable ChannelSoft and its customers to accommodate rapid adoption of SMS with attachments.

 

“While text messaging still enjoys the lion’s share of mobile messaging revenues, operators are expanding their menus to give subscribers more options that will, in turn, drive revenues,” said Jamie Warter (News - Alert), vice president of marketing at NMS. “SMS with attachments is another great example of a creative service developed by an innovative company like ChannelSoft using NMS Open Access media processing boards.”

 

ChannelSoft Technologies Co., Ltd. is a leading provider of communications software products and services in Mainland China, dedicated to the research and development of technologies and products for the converging networks of communications, computer and cable TV.

 

NMS Communications provides enabling technology and tools for the rapid development and deployment of value-added services on mobile and converged networks. From traditional voice mail and interactive voice response systems to ringback tones, voice SMS, and interactive mobile video, NMS platforms are used around the world as the foundation for a wide range of revenue-generating video, voice and data applications.