Mobile Messaging Takes Wings in Russia
As
mobile operators are looking seriously at mobile messaging services to
offset their dwindling average revenue per user (ARPU) levels, Russia's
mobile operator MTS will use Acision’s instant messaging solution to
offer an enhanced messaging experience to its subscribers.
Messaging company Acision says that its solution for Mobile TeleSystems
(MTS) will combine the Acision person-to-person gateway with core
elements from Colibria's (a messaging and social networking solutions
company) product portfolio. This will include the Instant Messaging and
Presence Service (IMPS) while Acision's IM solution provides integration
between mobile instant messaging and SMS.
Today,
mobile operators are heavily dependent on messaging services. This is
evident from the findings of the tech research firm In-Stat, which says
over 2 trillion mobile messages are
being sent per day globally as of the end of 2008, and messaging is a
big revenue source for mobile operators.
Its
research reveals that as mobile operators have seen the ARPU decrease,
they have sought to boost revenue via new value-added services. However,
the most profitable data service is still text messaging, reports
In-Stat.
As
mobile messaging use is growing in Russia too, MTS will extend the SMS
experience, adding conversational messaging, as well as the ability to
share pictures, voice and video – within the same application. Acision's
IM solution integrates seamlessly with MTS' existing SMS services.
MTS has
been operating quite aggressively to tap the emerging markets in Russia
and the CIS. It had recently joined hands with Vodafone and signed a
non-equity partnership to provide customers with better communications
services.
While
Vodafone will support MTS for
developing 3G networks and mobile broadband products, the Russian
operator will have an exclusive access to a range of products, services
and devices from Vodafone for its markets of operation in Russia,
Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Armenia.
