Driver-to-Driver text messaging hits UK roads.
Added: (Thu Mar 07 2002)
Pressbox (Press Release) -
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
Driver-to-driver text messaging hits UK roads.
A new service, developed in the UK allows drivers to send sms text messages to other drivers without knowing their mobile number. Car number plates are about to become a driver’s new contact number.
Have you ever pulled up at a set of lights, noticed the driver next to you and wished you could contact them somehow? Or how about driving behind someone whose rear lights don’t work, you want to inform him or her, but how?
TEXTJAM will, on Monday 31st March, launch a service that effectively, is an opt-in directory for drivers. It allows vehicle owners to contact one another via their mobile phones, using their vehicles’ number plate as the contact number. Drivers can choose the method of communication; either sms text for instant impact or e-mail for less urgent messages.
The concept has been in development and testing stage for the past 12 months & according to research and development manager, Mike Andrews, it’s “the first time a service like this has been launched in the UK”.
Drivers can simply log on to the website at www.textjam.com, listing their cars’ number plate and mobile phone number. “As well as being free, we have made the registration process as simple as possible” says Andrews, “ we link the car number plate to a drivers mobile number and e-mail address, we won’t disclose anyone’s details, they are all hidden behind the number plate in our directory”.
Initial response to the service, according to Andrews, has been ‘very encouraging’ and he expects word of mouth to spread the word across the UK. “We are in discussions with a number of media and telecom companies who seem keen to get on board and we are also talking to potential advertisers in related telecom and motor sectors who are interested in sponsorship and advertising deals with us” stated Andrews.
The service is accessible worldwide, but the UK is the first target market for TEXTJAM. Andrews continued, “Sms is a massive growth market in the UK. Not surprisingly, technology and new applications for it are moving at lightening speed. For years drivers have acted like lunatics trying to get one another’s attention, so this seems like an obvious solution. We have been as thorough as we can in terms of complying with privacy issues and indeed we do have a ‘block’ feature which allows users to prevent certain drivers contacting them”
An obvious question that comes to mind is that of safety and the whole subject of the use of mobile phones whilst driving.
“If you click onto the site, you will see that safety is of paramount importance to us and in no way do we encourage users to send or read messages as they are driving. In fact many of the potential applications for the service occur when vehicles are in a stationary position or parked up. We advise drivers to pull over or hand the phone to a passenger, just as they would in normal circumstances” claims Andrews.
Only time will tell if the UK is ready to be driven TEXTJAM crazy!
---ENDS---
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---NOTES FOR EDITORS---
The TEXTJAM team is a collection of people with a wide variety of experience, who over the last year have devoted most of their efforts into ensuring that this new service is robust & scaleable.
Their experience stretches back over 15 years in media, telecoms, web solutions, datbase intergration, sales & marketing.
Over the coming months the worldwide roll out of TEXTJAM’s service will take in Europe, America and Australia. In addition, the team will be launching other sms based services for both the consumer & commercial world.
---CONTACT---
Mike Andrews
PO Box 59,
Cleveland,
TS16 0HX,
UK.
Phone. +44 (0)7973 505194
Email. info@textjam.com
WEB ADDRESS. http://www.textjam.com