Twitter enable full SMS for Vodafone UK customers
Micro-blogging service Twitter reaches agreement with Vodafone UK
Popular micro-blogging service
Twitter has announced a successful negotiation with mobile operator Vodafone in the UK; enabling Twitter users to send and receive updates via SMS again.
Whilst many UK users have still been able to send outbound SMS updates to Twitter, inbound tweets were blocked in
August 2008 due to spiralling costs placed on the start-up. Co-founder Biz Stone said at the time that fees for an individual user receiving updates could cost the company over $1,000 USD per year. This was due to SMS being routed via The Isle of Mann, where text costs are unregulated.
The agreement with
Vodafone in the UK means Twitter users on the Vodafone network can receive updates for free and update for the cost of a normal SMS via shortcode 86444. With SMS sent to 86444 to cost the normal SMS price, means that tweets can come out of a users text bundle. With many Vodafone plans offering unlimited text message bundles, this means many Twitter users can tweet away to their hearts content for free.
Announced on the
official Twitter blog, Stone comments, ?Sending tweets from your mobile will be part of your normal text messaging bundle with Vodafone?there will be no extra fees. In fact, for the first few weeks, sending tweets won't even affect your bundle. Receiving tweets via SMS on your mobile is totally free. Vodafone loves Twitter!?
Stone concluded the announcement by affirming that Twitter are making progress in restoring full SMS functionality for other countries and networks, with all users in the United States and Tweeters on Bell Mobility network in Canada able to send and receive tweets at no additional cost.
The announcement follows news in
UK trade media this week that Twitter is soon to unveil monetisation plans by launching enhanced capabilities for commercial users.
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