Lessons learnt from the Short Message Service (SMS)
 
 
The Short Message Service (SMS) has been in the Hong Kong marketplace for some time. But so far, short messages (text only) can still not be exchanged between mobile phone terminals belonging to different network operators, i.e. both the sender and the receiver of a short message have to be subscribers of the same network operator. Technical compatibility could be a reason for such communications barrier. Competitive strategy could be another--forbidding the 'intrusion' of competitors. Such strategy does not seem to be wise nor logical, when we think about the main objective of communications technology is to help people communicate, whoever and wherever they are.

In recent meetings of UCAC (Telecom Users and Consumers Advisory Committee), such problem was discussed. After many dialogues between network operators (which should have been taken BEFORE launching SMS), mediated by OFTA, cross-networks SMS should be available by May/June 2001.
 
 
The following are some suggested critical questions for reflection:

-why has not the relevant issues be explored before SMS was launched?

-if there are communications problems within the telecommunications industry (which supposedly is to help humans communicate), what can be done to improve the situation?

-what has been done to ensure that emerging terminals (e.g. 3G, PDA for wireless communications), will not encounter the same cross-networks communications problem, realising that not only text, but multimedia messages need to be conveyed, which will involve a lot more complexity?
 
 
Although Hong Kong cannot do much in the standards warfare amongst multinational suppliers, there must be something the regulators can do to make communications terminals in Hong Kong more user-friendly, and a better tool for human communications.
One possible way to improve is to let potential users through pro-user mechanisms (UCAC being one) to participate in the planning of a major telecom service before it is launched to the marketplace. This can create more all-win situations in the long run, rather than only win-lose situations.
 
 
Dr Charles Lam
April 2001

You are welcome to respond to the above via email address: clam@kamching.com