The Short Messaging Service (SMS) is being ‘cut to size' with the unlimited messages option reduced to just 100 SMSes per day per SIM from September 27.
The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has recently asked the service providers to limit the message service to just 100 per day to the normal customers. However, the companies dealing with tele-calling or bulk messages have to register separately for seeking the bulk message services, according to sources.
As per the guidelines, not more than 100 SMSes can be sent from one SIM in a single day. The 101 {+s} {+t} text message will stay put in the outbox. The guidelines also say that not more than 3,000 SMSes can be sent from a SIM in a month. If the service providers want to give access to more than 100 SMSes per day, they have to obtain an undertaking that it will not be used for commercial purpose. A registry of such customers has to be updated every Monday. Security reasons and containing rumours in sensitive issues and sensitive times could also be the reasons for limiting the number, said a senior officer in a private telecom company. “It will be applicable to all kinds of SMS packs.”
New regulations have been laid out for telemarketers like giving a new number so that the customer can easily identify whether the message is a commercial one or from an acquaintance.
A note from the TRAI has also said that the number series to be provided to the telemarketer should be from the number series ‘140' allocated by Department of Telecommunications for voice calls and SMS header as specified by the Authority. Moreover, messages have to be sent between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. only. However, the restrictions will not apply to government agencies. The new guidelines give more freedom to customers to choose from the kind of messages they wish to receive. The customers can either opt for not receiving any commercial message by registering in “Do Not Disturb” service or give preferences related to services like education, real estate, health, consumer goods, automobiles, tourism and leisure, entertainment, and IT apart from helpful services like banking, insurance, financial products, and credit cards.
From: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/article2454399.ece