UK Wireless Nets To Intro Inter-Network SMS Fees By Steve Gold, Newsbytes LONDON, ENGLAND, 25 Jan 2001, 7:59 AM CST The UK's five wireless carriers are bracing themselves for a barrage of criticism from mobile users after agreeing to charge each other around 3 pence (4.5 cents) per text message routed between their networks. While the carriers expect that the inter-system SMS (short message system) text message fees will balance themselves out, much as public switched telephone network (PSTN) switching fees also average out between carriers, the move is not good news for text message-using members of the public. This is because many UK Web sites use free Web-to-SMS messaging facilities to entice users to their pages. Already, one Internet service provider (ISP), Totalise (http://www.totalise.net ) has suspended its Web-to-SMS gateway in anticipation of the inter-network fees, which are expected to kick in on Feb 1. Another Web-to-SMS gateway, meanwhile, SMSBoy (http://www.smsboy.com ) said it is reviewing the situation. However, the UK wireless networks may have shot themselves in the foot over the whole issue, as several European and global carriers are already in discussions with some UK portal providers about routing Web-to-SMS text messages via their networks. International inter-network SMS text messages do not generally generate inter-network fees because of the low costs involved. One company, Xtempus, has already announced it is offering European-wide connectivity for SMS text messaging, using a multi-operator SMS connectivity center. The firm said that while carriers are seeking to maximize revenues from SMS-based services the ability to have a single point of distribution will enables its customers - including large companies and systems integrators - to send high volume two-way messages across Europe easily and cost-effectively. Geoffrey Baird, Xtempus' CEO, said that although WAP (wireless application protocol) has provided the news behind m-commerce, SMS is delivering services today. "For example, our SMS message center could be used to send drug information to doctors, or traffic updates to taxi drivers. It's about delivering time critical information to groups of people in the most effective and immediate way possible," he said. Xtempus said that its center is now operational for UK customers and will be rolled out in France, Germany, Spain and Italy within the next few months. Baird said that as the UK wireless carriers introduce inter-network charges for SMS the cost of traffic will increase, the Xtempus service saves companies from paying these additional charges. "This means that companies can now deliver services to a European market instantly and cheaply," he said. Xtempus said it is already working with several leading companies who are keen to exploit the the SMS center's facilities. Xtempus is at http://www.xtempus.com . Reported by Newsbytes.com, http://www.newsbytes.com .