Press Releases

Budapest, September 2, 2002

On September 1, 2002 Matáv introduced the Fixed SMS service allowing users to send and receive short text messages (SMS) on their fixed telephone. For the time being, Fixed SMS can be exchanged within the Matáv network and between the Matáv and the Westel network. One SMS within the Matáv network costs only HUF 11 gross.

With the fixed SMS service launched on September 1, 2002, short messages can be sent simultaneously to up to 10 recipients to fixed telephone, fax and Voice Mail within the Matáv network, and to mobile telephones in the Westel network. With this service, you can also send SMS from Westel mobile phones to Matáv subscribers. In order to send an SMS from your fixed telephone, you need a special telephone set and also have to subscribe for the Calling Line Identification Presentation (CLIP) service, while all Matáv subscribers can receive SMS with their existing equipment. At the start of the service the gross fee of one SMS sent within the Matáv network is HUF 11. Short text messages sent to a fax or to the Westel mobile network cost HUF 24 gross.

If the recipient of a Fixed SMS does not have a set suitable for receiving the message, the SMS will be transmitted as a voice message. With the help of the text-to-speech technology, the written SMS can reach all Matáv customers regardless of whether the message was sent from a Matáv or a Westel telephone.

Fixed telephone sets suitable for sending and receiving SMS messages are already available in the Matáv Pont shops and in the Matáv Internet store, the Matáv ePont (www.epont.matav.hu). The discount price of the Ascom Avena 235 analog cordless set is HUF 24 900 gross, while the analog cordless Ascom Avena 265 answerphone set costs HUF 29 900 gross. As an SMS-compatible ISDN desk set, Matáv offers the Ascom Eurit 25 model for the discount price of HUF 24 900 gross.

Matáv's SMS system has been developed by T-Systems Nova company, a member of the Deutsche Telekom Group.

For more information on the service dial the free Fixed SMS Customer Service number (06 80 53 53 53).

The SMS service is not available from RLL, GSM RLL stations, public payphone stations and from stations subscribing to the Kontroll tariff package. Similarly, no fixed SMS can be sent into and from the following call directions: 06-20, 06-40, 06-51, 06-60, 06-70, 06-80, 06-81, 06-90, and fixed networks other than Matáv's own.