Plus SMS text messaging access throughout China

21 April 2006

Agreement gives plus SMS text messaging access throughout China

Plus SMS Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of NZAX listed Plus SMS Holdings Limited, has entered an agreement for the provision of international messaging services with Hong Kong based Citic Telecom 1616 Ltd, China’s leading provider of such services. As a result, Plus SMS’s text messaging services will be accessible to customers of mobile operators throughout Greater China, as well as those of mobile operators in other parts of Asia and around the globe.

Making the announcement, Plus SMS chairman, Jim Bracknell, said the agreement represented a significant breakthrough for the company as Citic’s interconnection or ‘hub’ based structure would support cross network text message (SMS) traffic. Plus SMS routes SMS and MMS messages over existing telecommunications infrastructure worldwide, using the existing settlement processes that are in place for payment.

“Plus SMS, and those companies marketing our products, will now be able to reach massive audiences easily and quickly on their mobile phones throughout Greater China mainly, as well as Europe, the United States and other parts of Asia, because of Citic’s global reach,” said Mr Bracknell.

Steven Yap, director of mobile services with Citic, said: “We are excited to be partnering with Plus SMS on this initiative, which will increase the value of our current business and help us maintain our leadership position in the messaging exchange market.”

Thousands of international short codes licensed by Plus SMS can be used for marketing product brands, sports and special and events such as rugby and football to achieve mass market penetration. Providing immediate international access, these single dedicated short codes also cover a wide range of generic codes in the transportation, entertainment and hospitality industries.

The Gartner Group estimates there are presently some 670 million mobile phone users in the Asia-Pacific region, with about 53 per cent on pre-paid cards for whom text messaging is the preferred method of communication. At least 200 million text or SMS messages are sent every day in the Philippines alone.

The Citic agreement follows hard on the signing of the first two commercial short code number agreements on the Sub Continent and Australasia by Singapore based International Sports Television Pte Ltd (ISTV) which markets a range of Plus SMS products.

The ISTV deals involve the use of short code numbers in a Bollywood style quiz show for national and digital television in India, and a service in Australia and New Zealand to enable parents to track the whereabouts of their children via satellite tracking technology.

ENDS

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