SAN DIEGO, May 23, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- A wireless bottle just washed ashore. This wireless "message in a bottle" materialized today as an online poll solicited by wireless technology company SMS.ac, Inc., whose growing global wireless community (www.sms.ac) is comprised of more than 5 million registered users in over 220 countries.
The message received is a distress call of sorts from mobile consumers that are seeking more SMS (Short Message Service) connectivity and a broader range of SMS/MMS-related products and services. MMS is another form of communication between wireless devices that enables the transmission of images such as pictures and voice, together with text messages.
The one-day poll attracted more than 29,000 respondents who were surveyed on a variety of issues relating to their wireless world. Of those participating, 88.9% claim to be sending more text messages than they did three months ago. And 74.2% say they are sending at least five SMS per day. Approximately 5% of respondents say they are sending more than 40 daily text messages.
A majority of survey participants (54.8%) say they would pay for increased text messaging outreach, or the ability to connect with mobile phone users across global networks.
And what about consumer demand for MMS, or next-generation wireless data services? In an earlier SMS.ac poll, more than 67% of those surveyed by SMS.ac said they would pay up to $1 U.S. per picture for the ability to take photographs utilizing their mobile phones and then transfer those pictures to other wireless devices. A follow-up question revealed that at $1 per picture, 17.4% of these respondents would be likely to take and transmit 5 or more pictures per week. A majority of those same poll participants (51%) felt that they would snap and send between one and five pictures per week.
Poll respondents communicated a willingness to pay for SMS and MMS services that broadened the function and user experience of their mobile phones. 68.2% of those surveyed want to listen to CD-quality music from their mobile phone, but they cringe at the notion of paying on a per song basis. Nearly 90% of music lovers in the SMS.ac survey said they would use this service only if it were offered as part of a premium listening service that costs $5 per month, or less.
"Consumers have demonstrated their readiness to purchase SMS and MMS-related products and services," said Michael Pousti, chairman and chief executive officer of SMS.ac. "It is evident from consumer input that the WAP model of levying per-minute charges for services is ludicrous and doomed for failure. What's being asked for are competitive prices that give consumers on-demand, easy-to-understand, a la carte and all-you-can-eat servings of their favorite content."
SMS.ac technology enables the exchange of SMS and MMS (Multimedia Message Service) communications across all existing networks and platforms and this technology is showcased as a youth-oriented, communication-focused offering at www.sms.ac.
To receive a complete copy of the SMS.ac survey referenced above, please send an email with your request to prcomm@sms.ac.
SMS.ac is host to more than 5 million wireless customers from over 220 countries that have registered to utilize the communication-focused wireless products and services offered at www.sms.ac.
To learn more about SMS.ac and to discover how this brandable technology can be integrated into your company's existing infrastructure, visit www.sms.ac and contact bizdev@sms.ac.
To receive SMS.ac press releases via email, register at prsubscribe@sms.ac. You may unsubscribe from this service by sending an email to prunsubscribe@sms.ac.
About SMS.ac
With more than 5 million registered members, SMS.ac is a truly global mobile community with connectivity to more than 400 networks in over 170 countries. Through its core MMSbox(tm) technologies, SMS.ac, Inc. enables worldwide wireless interaction between network operators, technology standards, the Internet, consumers and application/content developers. The result is interaction not previously possible amongst a critical mass of developers, consumers and businesses -- igniting the widespread adoption and use of wireless data for network operators.
SMS.ac drives revenues through technology licensing, subscriptions, sponsorships and shared revenue opportunities. SMS.ac's consumer site (www.sms.ac) is an example of the brandable Web interfaces to MMSbox(tm) technologies available for licensing. The community of wireless enthusiasts at SMS.ac represents one of the fastest growing consumer properties on the Internet. SMS.ac and MMSbox are trademarks of SMS.ac, Incorporated. Other trademarks or service marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. To view the SMS.ac corporate Web site, visit www.sms.ac/corporate.
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