The Hindu Business Line : Mobile Instant messaging soon

Forget short messaging and think instant messaging. Cellular operators in India are making plans to set up a central hub that will enable the 100-million GSM mobile subscribers to use an interoperable instant messaging service.

At present, subscribers use messenger services like those provided by Yahoo or MSN, which enables them to remain connected to their contacts within the same network. The new product being developed globally by GSM Association will enable all cellular users irrespective of the operator or the platform, to remain connected.

The mobile operators are aiming to have achieved interoperability at a technical level by February 2007. Mr Manoj Kohli, President, Bharti Airtel, "We in Bharti Airtel are greatly excited about the potential for Mobile IM in India. We are actively participating in the COAI's special committee on IM, which comprises all Indian GSM operators, and is working for an interconnect hub solution to ensure seamless IM interoperability between all mobile networks. Our common goal is to launch mobile IM in India by early 2007."

In Malaysia, all three GSM operators, Celcom, DiGi Telecommunications and Maxis, have agreed to launch interoperable IM services during 2007, while M1, SingTel Mobile and StarHub in Singapore will start to plan the development of interoperable IM services.

"The IM services in India, Malaysia and Singapore will all be based on a technical and commercial framework designed by the GSMA to maximise ease-of-use, interoperability and reliability, while minimising spam and viruses," said Mr Rob Conway, CEO, GSMA.