BPL Mobile, a leading cellular service provider from Mumbai, India with more than 1.2 million subscribers, has launched International Voice SMS service, allowing BPL Mobile subscribers to send Voice SMS messages to Mobile users across the world. To launch the service, BPL Mobile has chosen Kirusa, inventor of Voice SMS and a leading provider of Mobile value added services, as its vendor. The two companies had partnered in 2007 to provide Voice SMS service to BPL Mobile subscribers within India.

The international Voice SMS service built upon Kirusa’s patented Voice SMS platform allows BPL Mobile subscribers to send a Voice SMS to people across the globe whenever convenient, without having to worry about time zone differences or the high cost of international voice calling. The recipient is able to retrieve the Voice SMS with a local call, and reply to it easily. With this launch, sending Voice SMS messages internationally will become as simple and timely as delivering a Voice SMS message within India. No special user training is required for either the sender or recipient. A BPL Mobile subscriber dials *00 and the international number; records a voice message; and then hangs-up to send the message. The recipient gets an SMS from the BPL Mobile subscriber, with an embedded Direct Listen™ link, which is a local number in the country of the recipient. Kirusa's patented technology enables the recipient to click on the Direct Listen link to directly listen to the message.

Coinciding with the International Voice SMS launch and to take the Voice SMS success story forward, BPL today also announced the launch of an excellent value-for-money offer for all its mobile subscribers. They can now send unlimited Voice SMS messages to anyone in India for a flat fee of INR 50 (USD 1.26) per month.

The international Voice SMS service will allow BPL Mobile subscribers to connect with more than 68% of the world’s mobile subscribers at launch. Expansion to additional countries and subscribers is planned in the future.

“We have always believed in innovation and have set benchmarks in value added services offerings to our subscribers. Users today are demanding compelling services that make their lives easier and their work more productive. This service is another leap we are taking in that direction,” said Mr. S. Subramaniam, Director & CEO of BPL Mobile.

Commenting on the development, Mr. Sunzay Passari, VP-VAS and Devices at BPL Mobile, said, “Our sustained effort towards customer delight had initially prompted us to offer Kirusa’s Voice SMS to our customers. The growing use of voice messaging services, and the feedback from our customers led us to offer the convenience and flexibility of Voice SMS on a global basis.”

Mr. Jaikishan Rajaraman, Director of Product and Service Development for the GSM Association, noted that, “The success of innovative messaging solutions such as Voice SMS depends on seamless interconnectivity and the ability to deliver the messages without regard to where the recipient might be. The launch of international Voice SMS is going to increase usage and acceptability of Voice SMS worldwide."

The Kirusa International Voice SMS Solution is available to Mobile carriers across the world with immediate effect. Any Mobile carrier can use the Kirusa solution to allow their Mobile subscribers to send Voice SMS messages internationally.

Mr. Taranjit Singh Batra, VP-Sales, Kirusa, added, “For our current and prospective customers, this unique international offering increases their overall value proposition in offering voice messaging. Our customers can be confident in our ability to help them deliver a world class service today and in the future. The international messaging is especially relevant for the people in South Asia, where many families are dispersed around the world and business communication occurs on a global basis. We are pleased to partner with BPL Mobile in offering a unique yet extremely useful service to their subscribers.”