Use 'Bulk' SMS to send positive messages

The Internet and Mobile Association of India has welcomed the government’s correct move to keep transactional and information messages sent out by aggregators on behalf of institutions and companies out of the purview of the current ban on SMSes.

 

However, the association strongly feels that the current ban on commercial or promotional messages sent by registered telemarketers should be lifted immediately. Such commercial messages are sent on behalf of recognized entities, by registered telemarketers through authorized telecom resources and there is no scope of spreading mischief or rumors through these messages. In addition, these messages are duly monitored and filtered by aggregators before they are sent out.

 

At present there are more than 100,000 enterprises, mainly SMEs that are dependent on this media for customer outreach which are sent out by over 3,000 registered telemarketers based on rules set by TRAI. In addition, they are most firmly controlled and monitored and hence have no room for misuse. The association feels that lifting of the ban with immediate effect will help the flow of essential messages and communication unabated.

 

Rather than imposing bans or restriction, the government should use the services of bulk sms providers in order to send out positive messages during normal as well as during times of crisis. In a statement today, Subho Ray, president of the association, said, ‘if we are approached by the government, our members would be more than willing to send out free bulk messages to spread correct information and general goodwill across the country”.