Two-way text messaging possible via payphones

Not many people may realize it, but digital technology in telecommunications is also applicable to the ubiquitous public payphone, especially valued by those who cannot afford to pay their own telephones.

With the idea of enabling the lower C and D market segments to be part of the text messaging phenomenon, Smart Communications Inc. has upgraded its SMARTalk Payphones to adopt some functions similar to the features of a GSM cellular phone.

With the innovation, users of SMARTalk Payphones can send and receive text messages with their Txt Box card, which comes free for every purchase of the SMARTalk Payphone card worth P150.

The Txt Box card gives the user his own mailbox account number and personal identification number (PIN). Using the SMARTalk Payphone, those with Txt Box accounts can send text messages to all cellular subscribers, even those of the competitors and fellow Txt Box users, receive text messages from Smart, Talk ’n’ Text and Txt Box users, and change the assigned PIN.

Two-way text messaging using the SMARTalk Payphone is a first in the country. At present, it is the only payphone that operates on a GSM wireless environment.

Joselito Pacolor, technical manager for GSM Payphones at Smart’s Public Access Department, said the SMARTalk Payphones are equipped with Ericsson F151s fixed cellular terminals along with FD10 fax and data adapter used as the radio part of the GSM payphone. These allow the payphone to support not only the traditional voice but also the popular SMS (Short Messaging Service) or text-messaging service.

Pacolor said the incoming text message retrieval (ITMR) feature of the SMARTalk Payphone enables end-users to send and receive text messages.

The SMARTalk Payphones ride on Smart’s GSM network, which operates on both the 900 and 1800 megahertz bandwidths.

"Our payphones are intelligent. Even the tariffs, deductions on the SMARTalk Payphone prepaid cards are being done by the payphone itself. The payphones are self-tariffing and there is no need for advice of charge from the GSM network," said Pacolor.

Pacolor added it is also possible to "enhance" the SMARTalk Payphone’s intelligence to offer more features in the future.

The Philippines has been dubbed as the text messaging capital of the world with more than 100 million text messages processed everyday.

The Txt Box card is expected to further boost text messaging with even those who don’t own cellular phones able to participate.

Initially launched in April, the Txt Box card can be used nationwide within the year. More than 4,600 SMARTalk Payphones are located in strategic areas such as schools, hospitals, business establishments, malls, airports, seaports and bus stations all over the country.

Smart’s Txt Box service is easy-to-use. There are also step-by-step instructions on the payphone itself. Instructions are in English, Filipino and Visayan, with pictoguides.

The user is charged P2 for every message sent and when he changes his PIN. The same amount is charged when the user reads messages from his Txt Box, which can store a maximum of 20 messages. The P2 charge is a flat rate, regardless of the number of messages in the Txt Box.

Txt Box users already enjoy extensive coverage in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao, as well as Pangasinan, Bulacan, parts of Cavite, Batangas, Lucena City in Quezon, Naga City in Camarines Sur, Tagbilaran City in Bohol, Iloilo, Bacolod City in Negros Occidental, Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental, Cagayan de Oro, Butuan and Zamboanga.

SMARTalk Payphones are installed in 7-11 and other convenience stores, Good-Ah! Restaurants, Robinsons, Gaisano and other malls, Philippine Rabbit and Victory Liner buses and Cebu Ferries and Negros Navigation ships.

In the provinces, SMARTalk Payphones are also found at the Ateneo de Davao Grade School, De La Salle Grade School in Bacolod, Davao International Airport, Davao Doctors’ Hospital and Bethel Guest House in Dumaguete City.