eTXT booms as text messaging goes mainstream

MEDIA RELEASE
3 August 2006

Telecom's eTXT service hit a major milestone last month, four years after the service launched.

The 10 millionth eTXT was sent in July, following a period of rapid growth over the last 12 months. 

eTXT is a messaging product that allows companies to keep in touch with employees or customers by sending out multiple text messages from a PC or another mobile phone. 

The service is currently used primarily by organisations to communicate with their own staff, but there's a growing trend of companies using it to communicate with customers.

Telecom Mobile's Head of Product and Service development, Shane Ohlin, says the eTXT boom is a case of the time being right for the product. 

"Text messaging has become a socially acceptable form of communication across all demographics, with over 90% of the population now having a mobile phone.  Businesses are tapping into this as a communication method that is both cost-effective and innovative," he says.  

"It took two years to reach one million eTXT's sent – but only two years later, our customers have sent the ten millionth eTXT message."

"Companies as diverse as warehousing operations and outdoor recreation organisations are using it with great results."

eTXT was developed for Telecom by Bulletin Wireless, which is now in the process of taking the technology to other telcos around the world.

eTXT uses Bulletin Wireless' patented two-way message threading technology. This lets a recipient of an eTXT message reply from their handset and have the message correctly threaded to the sender's email inbox.

Bulletin Wireless President Bruce Herbert says there is strong interest in the product from overseas telcos, as businesses look for new ways of keeping in touch with their own staff and customers in a cost effective way.

"Businesses are increasingly using eTXT to remind customers of appointments, their latest in-store specials, or special events," he says.

"They like the service because it's immediate, cost-effective, and simple to use."