SAN DIEGO, Jan. 9, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Less than one month after SMS.ac, Inc. launched a web interface to showcase its MMSbox(tm) text and data messaging technologies, the company today announced that it has already registered more than 1 million users on its consumer-focused site (www.sms.ac). SMS.ac surpassed the 100,000-user milestone only one week after the site's launch (www.sms.ac/corporate).
SMS.ac's MMSbox technology was originally conceived and created with input from executives working at various companies within the wireless industry in efforts to establish SMS (short message service) data and text message interoperability between network carriers. MMSbox technologies enable these messages to be exchanged mobile-to-mobile, via the Internet and from web-enabled portable devices.
"We expected a strong response to SMS.ac web site offerings from our core 13-29 demographic, because they are traditionally the early adopters of new technologies," said Michael Pousti, chairman and chief executive officer of SMS.ac. "It is a validation of our technology and online offerings that we are also seeing a significant mass of registrations from users over the age of 30. I believe we can attribute this broad demographics skew, in part, to the attractive content on our site and to the ease and accessibility of SMS messaging through www.sms.ac.
"Aside from its youth appeal, SMS messaging is being widely utilized internationally for business applications -- for meeting reminders, financial and email alerts, and discreet one-to-one communications. The hearing-impaired are also finding SMS text and data messaging useful as an alternative mode of communication," continued Pousti.
SMS messaging is in extensive use throughout Asia and Europe, where mobile phone customers are able to exchange text and data messages across multiple network carriers. In 2001, an average of more than 20 billion SMS messages were sent monthly by a growing worldwide community of mobile phone users that is currently estimated to be in excess of 700 million.
However, a lack of network interoperability has slowed SMS adoption in the U.S., but the introduction of SMS.ac's MMSbox technologies removes existing communication barriers and offers network carriers the opportunity to generate billions of dollars in potential new revenues.
By attracting 1 million unique registered users within a one-month time frame, www.sms.ac is now one of the fastest growing web site destinations.
To learn more about SMS.ac and to discover how this brandable technology can be seamlessly and transparently integrated into your company's offerings, visit www.sms.ac and contact bizdev@sms.ac.
To receive SMS.ac press releases via email, register at prsubscribe@sms.ac. You may unsubscribe from this service by sending an email to prunsubscribe@sma.ac.
About SMS.ac:
Through its core technologies, SMS.ac enables network operators, technology standards, consumers and application/content developers to interact worldwide. SMS.ac's MMSbox(tm) technologies unify GSM, CDMA, TDMA, the Internet and next-generation standards for the first time. The result is interaction not previously possible amongst a critical mass of developers, consumers and businesses -- igniting the widespread adoption and use of wireless data for network operators.
SMS.ac drives revenues through technology licensing, subscriptions, sponsorships and shared revenue opportunities. SMS.ac's consumer site (www.sms.ac) is an example of the brandable web interfaces to MMSbox(tm) technologies available for licensing. The community of wireless enthusiasts at SMS.ac represents one of the fastest growing consumer properties on the Internet. SMS.ac and MMSbox are trademarks of SMS.ac, Incorporated. Other trademarks or service marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. To view the SMS.ac corporate web site, visit www.sms.ac/corporate.