Sending SMS With Java

A Java application that uses the mobile internet to send and receive cheap rate text messages with added message features has been launched in the UK.

Apart from pre-pay 02 and 3, Hotxt claims to work on most Java enabled phones across all UK networks and offers unlimited text messages to other Hotxt users for Р?1 per week plus mobile operator data charges.

SMS text messaging typically costs 5-12p per message and Hotxt calculate that for someone sending seven texts a day their bill will be reduced by 75%, a saving of over Р?210 per year.

Once downloaded and installed the application is auto-loaded when the phone is switched on and a PIN is entered. The phone then automatically connects to the Hotxt server periodically to check messages and to send messages.

Added Messaging Features

There are several new features not available with ordinary SMS. For example messages can be up to 400 characters in length. More useful is that all of the messages are stored online in your account and can also be sent free to other users through the web site. Messages from unwanted senders can be blocked at the click of a button.

The service is not restricted to just Hotxt users. There is also the ability to send messages to non-Hotxt SMS numbers for between 6 and 7.5p depending on the number of messages pre-purchased. SMS messages can also be sent to a Hotxt user from any phone by adding the text ‘User’s Tag your message’ in an SMS to 80468.

Useful For Users?

Although the memory capability has expanded in phones, Hotxt limits the number of messages that can be saved to just 50 messages, automatically deleting the oldest message when a new message arrives when the capacity has been reached.

Hotxt has calculated that there are nine million potential customers in the target age group in the UK and of those 4.5 million had Java handsets in 2005. Rather ambitiously Doug Richard Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Hotxt claims that “Hotxt will change the way UK mobile phone users text in much the same way that Internet use has changed since it moved from a pay as you use to an unlimited model”.

However it is likely to be a challenge to persuade enough users that the lower pricing and limited additional features offered will be enough to lure many users to install and use the application.

Tags: Entertainment, Premium Services, SMS

This entry was posted on March 28th, 2006 and is filed under Technology. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or Trackback from your own site.