http://www.sajim.co.za/news.main.4nr3.asp?print=1 Technical news Vol.4(3) September 2002 Obsessively mobile Margaret van Steenderen margsvs@ananzi.co.za WAP aside, mobile services are adding more and more convenience to information access. This column focuses on the interplay between your cell phone and e-mail. A useful service is being able to send e-mail from your cell phone (no, it does not have to be WAP enabled) as an SMS. With Vodacom you can also e-mail a SMS to a cell phone. With certain Internet Service Providers you can even now dial in and listen to your e-mails. There are also some great sites that will keep you updated with the latest services the various cellular providers are offering. Sending e-mail from you cell phone Not at your computer and you suddenly remember an e-mail you just have to send? Well, you can send e-mails via your cell phone's SMS service. Here is how: Vodacom The phone number that the message goes to is 4004 (rather than the usual cell phone number you enter). In the message enter the recipients e-mail address, for example, test@ananzi.co.za followed by a space and then enter the message that you wish to send. The receiver of the e-mail can reply to the e-mail, which will send an SMS back to your phone. MTN The phone number that the messages goes to is 0831236245. In the message, enter the recipient's e-mail address followed by a space and then just enter the message. Again, the recipient can reply, which will send an SMS back to your phone. Cell C According to their customer service department, this service is not yet available. Sending SMS via e-mail If you know that someone is not at his or her desk and you want to get a message to them, you can send an SMS via e-mail. Here is how: Vodacom In the 'To' field enter [cellphonenumber]@voda.co.za (for example, 0821000234@voda.co.za). Don't enter anything in the 'Subject' field and write the message in the body. You can send 140 characters. If you have a signature file you might want to remove it out of the e-mail. Picking up your e-mail via voice If you are waiting for an urgent e-mail, you can dial in and retrieve it via any phone or cell phone. I tested World Online's speech mail – for further information go to http://speechmail.worldon-line.co.za/. Speechmail is available to World Online, Yebo, Icon and GIA subscribers. However, corporate users can contact speechmail@worldon-line.co.za with their company name, contact person and type of e-mail server for further information. You can sign up for speech mail at http://speechmail.worldon-line.co.za/terms_choose.html – an e-mail is sent with your account number, pin number and the phone number to call to pick up your e-mail. Once you have phoned in, the voice on the other side does take a little getting used to, but full details are provided, such as who the message came from, the time sent and so on. You can even reply to a mail message. You can leave a 60 second message, which is sent as a sound file (.wav) to that e-mail address. SMS services There are many SMS services available to turn your cell phone into a handy information tool or just to use for fun. Just a few examples: Send a talking SMS to a landline (for further details go to http://www.smartcom.co.za/standard_products/talking_sms.asp) Send pictures via SMS (as long as the recipients phone can display the pictures) Subscribe to various services that will SMS information to your cell phone. Useful sites Vodacom's home page: http://www.vodacom.co.za MTN's home page: http://www.mtn.co.za/ Cell C's home page: http://www.cellc.co.za MTNice: http://www.mtnice.co.za/ (MTN's Web site providing a newsletter, services and games for your MTN cell phone.) Vodacom4me: http://www.vodacom4me.co.za/ (Vodacom's Web site offering a host of services, advice and the latest news for your Vodacom cell phone). VodaWorld: http://www.vodaworld.co.za/ (Vodacom's on-line magazine which will keep you up to date on the latest developments). SmartCom: http://www.smartcom.co.za/ (a cellular provider, with useful information on the latest cellular services available). Disclaimer Articles published in SAJIM are the opinions of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Editor, Board, Publisher, Webmaster or the Rand Afrikaans University. The user hereby waives any claim he/she/they may have or acquire against the publisher, its suppliers, licensees and sub licensees and indemnifies all said persons from any claims, lawsuits, proceedings, costs, special, incidental, consequential or indirect damages, including damages for loss of profits, loss of business or downtime arising out of or relating to the user’s use of the Website. ISSN 1560-683X Published by InterWord Communications for the Centre for Research in Web-based Applications, Rand Afrikaans University