Ufone (News - Alert), a mobile carrier in Pakistan, has launched the 'Awaz SMS' service based upon Voice SMS technology from Kirusa.

The Awaz SMS service is available nationwide to all Ufone's prepaid and postpaid subscribers.

Kirusa's (News - Alert) Voice SMS technology allows its clients to offer a seamless Voice SMS experience to their mobile subscribers. The company's KV.SMS offering allows mobile subscribers to send and reply to SMS messages with their voice, and works on all handsets and on all networks.

Kirusa has deployed the Voice SMS application and multimodal platform, integrated with HP open call media platform, in the Ufone network in Islamabad.

The service makes it possible for users to send SMS messages without having to type a message on the mobile phone's keypad. Instead, the user simply dials "99" followed by the recipient's phone number, and records a short 30 second message in the language of their choice.

"We have always believed in maintaining a strong focus on high quality of service and providing innovative solutions to add value to the lives of our subscribers. We believe that Awaz SMS will be just the right market initiative to fulfill the need of the masses. We are happy that we worked with Kirusa to bring this service to the market mainly because of their proactive stance and industry leading technology platforms," Asher Yaqoob, CMO, Ufone said. 

"Awaz SMS will have tremendous appeal to youth along with servicing the messaging needs of the low literacy market segment. It will have all the colors of emotion and will allow our subscribers to give a personalized touch when they communicate," said Ali Ikram, Head of VAS, Ufone Pakistan. 

Anil Sharma is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To see more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.

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