BT gets into converged messaging

UK carrier British Telecom today revealed that it has enlisted mobile messaging and content platform provider, fastmobile, to trial mobile messaging services.

Later this month, fastmobile will deploy its “fmX” suite of technologies within BT’s core network. The suite will allow BT to pilot a fixed mobile convergence-based instant messaging system via its mobile virtual network operation (MVNO), BT Mobile.

The instant messaging service will integrate SMS, MMS, email, presence, instant messaging and push services on a client that will be installed on handsets.

BT has been driving its fixed mobile convergence strategy with the launch of BT Fusion, introduced last year. Fusion delivers converged services over Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA), with users able to make fixed line calls from their cellular phone at home using a Bluetooth-enabled hub, and cellular calls outside the home using Vodafone’s GSM/GPRS network.

A wifi version of Fusion is expected later this year when handsets become readily available.

The operator has said that Weekly customer connections for BT Fusion reached over 2,000 for the week ending February 3, 2006, bringing the total number of Fusion customers to over 13,000.