Vodafone gives away free desktop text software

Vodafone is hoping to tap the success of text messaging for business, taking the wraps off software designed to let businesspeople send SMS from their desktop.

With the UK sending over two billion texts every month, according to the Mobile Data Association, Big Red is giving the software away free to encourage companies to make more use of the messaging service.

The desktop texting package, Vodafone Text Centre, is compatible with Microsoft Outlook and IBM Lotus Notes, with the texting facility sitting in a user's email inbox menu. Vodafone is hoping the tool will encourage its customers to use SMS as CRM, as well as inspiring bosses to use text messaging to set up alerts for impending appointments and or new emails.

Text messages sent using the software will cost the standard 10p, with replies being either sent to a nominated phone or straight back to the user's inbox.

While SMS is still proving to be mobile operators' cash cow in terms of data services, which brought in over 16 per cent of Vodafone's revenue in the last financial year, service providers are still hoping to squeeze more money out of the messaging medium.

Like Vodafone, other operators including BT have turned their attention to static texting. Analyst group Frost and Sullivan predicts the market in landline texting alone will grow between 15 and 20 per cent per month, with a similar increase in subscriber numbers.