BT introduced a new service that enables mobile phone users with Vodafone, T Mobile, BT Mobile and 3 to send text messages to more than 20 million fixed lines in the UK. Home phone owners without a special SMS enabled phone will get the text converted to automated speech and delivered as a voice message. O2 is expected to introduce the service in the next few weeks with other mobile operators following later in the year.
BT estimates that about 59 million text messages are sent each day in the UK.
SMS enabled phones are available in BT Retail shops with prices starting at £29.99. The company has announced a special offer of free fixed-line to fixed-line SMS messaging until 30-November-2004. http://www.bt.com
