txtNation, leaders in global premium rate billing services, are pleased to announce that they are now offering Voice Short Codes otherwise known as a VSC in the UK market. Available across all UK mobile operators, these new short codes have proven to be a very successful marketing tool due to their convenience.

Voice Short Codes are compatible with SMS Short Codes, this means that they are an ideal complement to existing SMS or Premium Rate services, and an provide an effective marketing vehicle to allow you to combine voice and data components for any campaign or application. This means that the same 5-digit short code number can therefore be used for both voice calls and SMS messaging, keeping costs to the business to a minimum.

The revenue generated from the charge to customers for Voice ShortCode services is shared by txtNation, the network operators and their clients. Customers pay for these premium rate calls in the normal way; either on their mobile phone bill or out of their pre-paid credit.

Michael Whelan, Director txtNation “I predict that in 2010, shows like the X-Factor, Deal or No Deal and other high grossing interactive TV shows will be using VSC’s for enhanced user participation. If you look at the issues with premium rate numbers and how difficult they are to advertise when compared to Voice Short Codes, this alone will result in better acceptance.”

The major advantage that txtNation see for Voice Short Codes over other types of customer engagement and billing types, is that with a VSC end users only have to call a 5-digit number, which is much more memorable than a standard phone number or premium rate number. This means that users are more likely to remember the short code and therefore re-use the service. The overall experience is that much better, resulting in improved revenues and less customer service incidents.

txtNation will continue to work closely with many of the world’s most powerful consumer brands to build and evolve such Premium Rate SMS and Audio text solutions that enable enhanced services.

txtNation state that this service is backed and approved by Pay Phone Plus (the UK’s regulatory body) and will look to launch in other markets in the coming year.

txtNation are betting on Voice Short Codes.

You can find out more about txtNation and SMS Premium Short Codes or Voice Codes at www.txtnation.com, by emailing [email protected] or calling +44 (0)1752273491.