Vernacular SMS service launched by MTNL, BSNL

Mumbai, June 1: Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh today launched the first of its kind multi-lingual message service of MTNL and BSNL targetted towards the rural mobile suscribers.

The new messaging service will be available to 14.5 lakh MTNL and BSNL subscribers. The technology of vernacular SMS will enable most of the basic handset model users to send SMS in their own language. General Messaging Service has been evolved by Indian software solution company Geneva Software Technologies and patented in the US.

After launching the service, Mr Deshmukh said, ''This vernacular SMS service has come at the opportune time. This technology will break the language barrier and will help the rural population to communicate in an easier way.'' At present, this messaging service is available in eleven Indian languages which can be dowloaded from the MTNL and the BSNL mobile internet page to any handset having EMS compatability.

Executive Director M S Rana (MTNL), said the vernacular messaging service was of utmost importance as ''majority of our rural suscribers feel more convenient to communicate in their regional language''.

UNI