SMS is thriving: 5 unique SMS applications from around the world

Photo credit: FirmBee

It’s hard to believe but the ubiquitous SMS was first used 24 years ago. We’ve been sending billions of texts to each other ever since, and even with the rise of apps like WhatsApp and WeChat, SMS still remains relevant and easy to use.

It’s why Clickatell’s “101 business uses for SMS” reports make for such fascinating reading. Businesses are using SMS in original and creative ways, many times cutting out the middleman, or just making life easier for their customers. For example, Go-Jek is using Clickatell’s SMS service to authenticate users when signing up. Users who download the Go Jek app receive an SMS for authentication, helping to protect the identity of individual users.

But SMS can be used for so much more. Here are a few more unique examples from around the world:

1. Afghanistan: Find out how much your goat is worth

Photo credit: stux

For a country that has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, Afghanistan has leap-frogged wired infrastructure and moved directly to wireless. And they’re integrating it into daily life. Sheep and goat herders can now find out how much their livestock is worth in the market, all via SMS.

It’s access to crucial information like this that is mobilizing people and generating wealth. Previously, such details were only available to middlemen with connections. Now, they’ve been replaced by texts.

2. Navigate Bangalore’s traffic through easy SMS alerts

Bangalore traffic police joined with local telecom provider Airtel to provide timely traffic SMS updates. Motorists can receive all kinds of traffic-related information, including updates on jams, bus locations, travel routes, and travel times. It’s a great way to keep an eye on traffic hotspots around the city, especially since a service like Google Maps requires expensive and slow data.

3. Missed a call in Dubai? Get an SMS

Etisalat, the largest telecom provider in the UAE, introduced its Missed Call Notification (MCN) service. Subscribers who miss calls are sent a day and time stamped SMS with the phone number of the person whose call they missed. While all phones have this ability already built-in, this service also works when subscribers are either outside the coverage area, or when their phones are switched off. A particularly crucial service, especially considering the notoriously fickle life of smartphone batteries. Several other telcos around the world now offer this service to their subscribers.

4. Get customer service from Singapore Airlines

Photo credit: skeeze

Flying on the city-state’s flag carrier? Need to contact customer service? Singapore Airlines Club allows members to contact a customer service representative via SMS. The service, called PPS Connect, allows members to SMS their membership number to the club, and receive a phone call within 30 minutes. It’s a nice option to have, especially if you’re low on talk time and have lots of free SMS remaining on your monthly plan.

5. In Malaysia: Is this halal? Answer is an SMS away

Muslim dietary laws prohibit the eating of products that are not “halal.” To help with this, the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia now offers an SMS service to help consumers confirm whether what they’re buying conforms to Muslim dietary laws. All they need to do is text the word “halal” along with the bar code on the product packaging to find out.

There are really no limits to how you can put SMS to work for your business. Whether it’s an alert, getting information or a quick clarification. With its wide reach and high open rates, SMS is an invaluable channel to connect with mobile audiences worldwide.

Get started with Clickatell’s SMS service today by signing up for a free account, and start using SMS to improve your company’s profitability. Click here.