August 16th, 2007 — Voice SMS
Voice SMS seems like Old wine in New bottle. Voice SMS Services launched by various companies are almost similar to voice mail, just that the packaging if different.
The voice message from the user is recorded via the normal calling handling mechanism, and an alert is provided to the recipient. The recipient is gets a playback of the message when he responds to the alert. Sounds very similar to voice mail.
Some providers use IVR to handle the user interface for voice SMS. Some use USSD infra to handle the user interface. SMS also can be used. BSNL calcutta is using IVR. Most of the other providers are using USSD.
Voice SMS is useful when sending voice alerts to a group of people. Almost like a bulk call facility on your mobile. Check out our bulk call service at www.fastalerts.in
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June 19th, 2007 — GSM/CDMA
Finally the picture is mine. Took me 30 mins.
BTS - Base Transceiver Station (Antenna)
BSC - Base Station Controller
MSC - Mobile Switching center
HLR- Home Location Register
VLR - Visitor Location Register
SMSC - Short Message Service Center
When a user sends an SMS, the request is placed via the MSC. The MSC forwards the SMS to the SMSC where it gets stored. The SMSC queries the HLR to find out where the destination mobile is and forwards the message to the destination MSC if the destination mobile is available. If the mobile is not available the message gets stored in the current SMSC itself. In most installations If a mobile is not available for SMS delivery the SMSC will not retry. Instead the destination MSC will inform the SMSC when the mobile comes back in range.
SMS handling is a store and forward operation unlike USSD.
SMS has got a validity period, for which it will wait for the destination mobile to the available. After that time the SMSC will delete the message. The validity period can be set by the user. Normal validity is 1 day.
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June 12th, 2007 — GSM/CDMA
Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (USSD) is a GSM service that allows high speed interactive communication between the subscribers and applications across a GSM Network. A sample USSD service is the bill status service accessed by dialing *141# or similar numbers in between * and #. USSD applications can be thought of as an IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System) with out voice.
Some of the USSD applications that we use regularly are
- Alerts About special offers, services and news
- Balance enquiry
- Changing tariff plan and subscribing to various VAS services.
- Recharging using prepaid vouchers
Other than these many interesting services can be given using the USSD platform. One such service is the “call back” service. The user will use USSD to send a USSD message to his friend asking him to call back. This is done by pressing the USSD service number and the number to which the alert needs to be send. Assume 14 is the service number and you want me to call you back. Press this on your mobile and press dial.
*14*9846831128#
I will receive a message, “XXXXXXXXXX wants you to call him back” where XXXXXXXXXX will be your number.
USSD supports interactive sessions where a service can be provided by using a menu. Micro payment market gets a real boom with the USSD technology in place. Users can transfer money from their mobile prepaid and post paid account to other mobile accounts. There will be a service number associated with it. When the user presses the number and dials, he will be presented with menus where he has to enter the amount and the mobile number to which the money needs to be transferred.
USSD is a session oriented technology and hence it supports menus and transactions. The state of the interaction between the user is tracked by the USSD server. Response times for USSD messages are shorter than SMS because SMS is a store and forward technology. All USSD services are accessed by dialing numbers between * and #. The handset recognizes those numbers and forwards the request to the USSD server instead of initializing a normal call or a data call. No additional application, phone menu or sim menu is needed for USSD to function as USSD is supported by every GSM handset.
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