Premium SMS

Premium SMS is a simple yet versatile way of charging customers for mobile content and services. End users pay by sending a text message that is charged at a higher rate than a normal SMS to a conventional mobile phone number or, alternatively, a more memorable 4 or 5 digit short code (Mobile Originated/MO).  Alternatively they pay to receive a text message via a reverse charged SMS (Mobile Terminated/MT).
 
Premium SMS services are easy to set up and run.  A connection to Vodafone is required using either an IP Sec or leased line connection (using the SMPP protocol) or, an X25 connection (using the Schlumberger SEMA OIS protocol.)  There is an annual fee for the connection and a monthly charge for accessing the Vodafone gateway.  Revenue share out-payments are linked to the volume of traffic and the price point.