MTNL, the Government owned fixed line and mobile operator in India, with operations in Delhi and Mumbai, today launched the world's first "Convergent" Voice SMS service for its fixed and mobile subscribers. The Convergent Voice SMS Service is based upon the patented "Voice SMS" technology from Kirusa, a leading mobile value added services provider based in New Jersey, USA.  

MTNL fixed line and mobile subscribers in Delhi can now send personalized Voice SMS messages to friends, family and colleagues across MTNL's mobile and fixed networks within Delhi. This service would also be available to MTNL subscribers in Mumbai shortly.

A truly convergent service, the Voice SMS application allows an MTNL fixed or mobile subscriber to send a voice message without having the phone ring (RingFree Messaging ^SM). The recipient is not disturbed, and can pick up the message at his leisure.  To send a Voice SMS message, a user simply dials "1*" followed by the recipient's phone number, and speaks a short message, in the language of his choice.  If the recipient is a mobile user, the recipient gets an SMS message, and can dial 1*0* to retrieve new Voice SMS messages, and 1*1* to retrieve old Voice SMS messages.    If the recipient is a fixed line user, he receives a call, and the message is spoken to him.   The fixed line user can also retrieve Voice SMS messages at any time by dialing 1*0* to retrieve new Voice SMS messages, or dialing 1*1* to retrieve old Voice SMS messages from his fixed line phone.  The recipient can also reply, forward, save, or delete the Voice SMS message.

To support the launch, Kirusa has deployed and integrated the Kirusa Voice SMS platform into MTNL's fixed line and mobile networks.  This is a first ever deployment of Voice SMS across the world by a convergent carrier, wherein fixed line and mobile subscribers have an option of sending Voice SMS messages to other fixed line or mobile subscribers.

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