Archived News - November 2003

A Ramadan campaign in Jordan raises money for cancer treatment

30/11/19

In Jordan, the countries two mobile operators have launched a Ramadan campaign in cooperation with Jordan's only cancer treatment centre, Al-Hussein, to raise funds for cancer patients.

"By sending an SMS, one dinar goes directly to cancer patients," read an ad portraying one of the many children stricken by the disease".

Any Jordanian can take part by texting 'LIFE' to short code 2222 with one dinar for each SMS going directly to the Al-Hussein Centre. Or listen to useful information about the earnest efforts made to combat cancer, for one dinar per minute.

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Political Alerts

30/11/19

The Guardian is offering its UK political alerts by SMS.

Guardian journalists will text subscribers the latest political news at 5pm each day when the Commons is sitting.

Users can sign up by texting GU POLITICS ON to short code 82222.

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BUS TRAVELLERS CAN SMS COMPLAINTS TO AUTHORITIES

30/11/19

In Malaysia, travellers unhappy with the services of express bus operators can now lodge complaints with the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board by text messaging.

"The new avenues for complaints were aimed at curbing unhealthy practices among express bus operators, especially during the balik kampung exodus - the annual pilgrimage of city folk to their respective hometowns during festive seasons.

Some passengers may not be able to board their buses simply because there are no buses picking them up although they had bought tickets for the journey".

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Smirnoff launches SMS campaign for new drink "Twist"

30/11/19

A recent text messaging campaign by Smirnoff helped to increase awareness of their new drink "Twist" in a fun and interactive manner and it also helped to break through the marketing clutter.

Consumers were given a twisted word and they were supposed to untwist it and SMS the right answer, and the winners were entitled to various merchandise items.

In 2002, Smirnoff was credited with launching the largest-ever SMS opt-in marketing campaign, which incorporated a 'text and win' game where consumers receiving an immediate response telling them if they had won a prize.

Smirnoff sent out 175,000 text messages to young people signed up in nightclubs throughout the UK and on their Website.

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SMS text plan to combat truancy

30/11/19

Parents of absent South Australian students could receive SMS text messages informing them of their child's absence under a $1 million package to reduce truancy.

South Australian Premier Mike Rann outlined the package - aimed at lowering the state's student absenteeism rate.

Student absenteeism rate was currently 7.9 per cent, compared to 8.9 per cent last year.

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Text hope for New Year murders

30/11/19

Police investigating the murder of two teenage friends who were gunned down outside a New Year party are turning to text messaging in the hunt for their killers.

Charlene Ellis and Letisha Shakespeare are believed to have been caught in the crossfire of a gunfight between rival gangs in Aston in Birmingham on 2 January. The girls were killed in an attack in which police say more than 30 shots were fired and at least two weapons, including a sub-machine gun, were used.

West Midlands Police will launch the text message service on Tuesday in an attempt to encourage witnesses with information to come forward, without fears for their own anonymity and safety.

The number - 078 999 335 44 - is also designed for people in Aston and the surrounding area to report other gun crime, a problem that has escalated locally over the last 12 months.

Pressure on witnesses

If the scheme proves successful it is likely to be expanded to the rest of the West Midlands force area.

Detective Inspector Adrian Atherley said: "The new text messaging service means witnesses can simply key in any information they want to tell us about and press a button. We appreciate the pressure that witnesses often face in coming forward to the police, especially those involved in serious cases.

"Texting is a discreet, simple way of getting in touch with us to provide information."

He said the service could also prove useful in cases where victims or witnesses may feel vulnerable, such as domestic violence cases or missing persons.

A text messaging service was used in the West Midlands in April when officers issued photographs of alleged football hooligans. On that occasion they received two messages giving details of suspects.

Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Hyde said: "We hope this pilot text messaging will be valuable, especially to witnesses who may feel vulnerable and reluctant to contact us in any other way."

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Text messaging cabbies fight crime

30/11/19

Police and cab drivers are teaming up to use text messaging in an innovative project to fight crime.

The system allows officers to get details such as, descriptions of suspects or getaway vehicles, to cabbies soon after the crime.

Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir John Stevens said: "This will put dozens of extra pairs of eyes and ears on the streets."

The scheme involving the police and council, in Bromley, south-east London, and the Licensed Taxi Drivers Association (LTDA), will also allow drivers to report any conversations they overhear in their vehicles regarding criminal activity.

The system works by an officer, attending a scene of a crime for the first time, sending the details to a central messaging bureau. This centre will then send a text message to the fleet of taxi drivers. If one of the cabbies has any relevant information he can then contact the investigating officer directly.

Sir John said: "This is an excellent scheme which will provide the police with a valuable source of information."

Tony Ellis, from the LTDA, said: "Cab drivers are just pleased to be able to help. We hope that if it's successful we'll be able to roll it out to neighbouring boroughs."

The scheme was launched by Sir John on Monday after he opened the new Bromley Police Station.

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NEW SNOW TEXT ALERT

30/11/19

A service now offers skiers and snowboarders up-to-the-minute snow conditions on mountains within the New England region, delivered directly to cell phones by text message.

They need only sign up for free on Rubber Snow's website and select a suitable option: "the Thursday Report, essentially a weekend report delivering information on the mountain(s) subscribers have chosen, and/or the New Snow Alert, which alerts subscribers when new snow falls at the mountains of their choice".

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STANDARD BANK FALLS IN WITH SMS SECURITY

30/11/19

Standard Bank South Africa has become the last major commercial bank to introduce SMS security for its Internet banking clients.

Most banks now use the short message service to either inform clients that their accounts are being accessed, or to confirm that certain payments are being made, or that there has been a change in beneficiaries.

Standard Bank Internet banking customers will now be able to receive an SMS notification for logon, profile amendments, addition of new beneficiaries and amending of existing beneficiaries.

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CNN to use mobile polling

30/11/19

CNN is about to start using mobile phones to enable viewers to send in opinions and vote on questions using text messages.

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Showtime launches SMS text service for ordering Home Cinema pay-per-view movies

30/11/19

Television uses text messaging in more ways than one, and not just for viewer voting.

Leading digital pay-television network Showtime for the Middle East, has just launched Home Cinema Text, an SMS text service that enables subscribers to order their personal selection of pay-per-view movies via text messaging.

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TV Show Reminders by SMS

30/11/19

Multicultural broadcaster SBS Television Australia has just started a SMS service to remind viewers when their favourite programs are about to go to air.

Each program has a four-digit SMS alert code which are available on the TV schedule page.

The reminder will be sent an hour before the show is screened.

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Philippino soldiers can "text-a-complaint"

30/11/19

Filipino soldiers can now be assured that someone would be there to attend to their grievances.

A presidential adviser has been appointed to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the Feliciano Commission, which investigated the July 27 Oakwood mutiny.

Appointed Carolina Hernandez said she will establish a "text-a-complaint" brigade for soldiers to inform her office of their problems in the service and corruption-related issues in the military.

"We need to feel the pulse of the soldiers in the field and consult with them. They could inform us of the problems or dishonesty by their superiors they are encountering and keep their anonymity by just texting us," Hernandez said.

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