Tim King appointed Non Exec Director of Investcope

Tim King, 2sms CEO, as been appointed a Non Executive Director of Investcope Capital. www.investcope.com. Tim joins CEO Trevor Fernandez. Investcope Capital buys and develops SME businesses.

Tim will continue his full time Directorships of 2sms.com Limited (UK) and 2sms LLC (USA).

SMS Software Add-ins Compatibility

Following requests from customers, 2sms has updated its Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Outlook software add-ins. The new version is now compatible with the most recent operating systems including Vista and Windows 7. It also allows users to install the add-in in a single as well as all users mode. The new version is available to download on the 2sms website under Software Add-Ins.

Test Two Way SMS for Free!

Two Way SMS allows companies to receive inbound messages. Now you can trial it for free. Call us at 0800 65 222 77 or email support@2sms.com. We will provide you with a Virtual Two Way Number and you can start testing straight away. Received Two Way SMS can be viewed under the reports section, or alternatively we can forward them to Email, Mobile or directly to your system using XML.
For more info on Two Way SMS go to http://www.2sms.com/products.aspx?section=twoWay

UK pricing enhancements

In response to customer feedback, 2sms has introduced some new pricing models.

1. Monthly direct debit billing, with pricing benefits over our one time purchase option.

2. Option to purchase messages with Full Service / No Frills.

Our prices compare favourably with our competitors, backed by our ISO270001 certification for information security. Don't forget, we will match any like for like competitive offer.

2sms upgrades to Avaya IP Office v5.0

To further enhance our phone support for customers, 2sms has rolled out Avaya IP Office v5 across its sites. The upgrade allows better flow of calls between our UK and US offices, and overflow to our offsite support centres. We are pleased to announce this service enhancement that will benefit our customers who enjoy 24/7 toll free support.

v5 also allows 2sms to log customer support calls into our CRM system, so that we are more accurately track our interactions with customers from a single system.

Send SMS from Microsoft SharePoint

Following requests from customers, 2sms has updated the SMS Microsoft SharePoint application. The SMS Web Part allows customers to make use of company's existing SharePoint portal server and contact information drawn from an LDAP accessible directory, such as the Microsoft Windows Server Active Directory, to make SMS available throughout the organisation in a consistent and easy to use manner. You can download the new version of 2sms SMS application for Microsoft SharePoint from http://www.2sms.com/software.aspx?section=SharePoint

Send SMS from Lotus Notes

2sms customers can send SMS from Lotus Notes.

Video tutorial - Send SMS from Excel using 2sms software add-in

2sms appoint Victoria Roberts to the 2sms board

2sms have appointed 2sms LLC Chief Operating Officer, Victoria Roberts to the board of the parent company 2sms.com Limited. Victoria joined 2sms in 2008, and is responsible for the US operation.

2sms and RelayStation Enter a Joint Marketing Initiative


Amesbury, London and Washington DC, Schaumburg, IL, 21st September 2009 - 2sms and RelayStation today announce a joint marketing initiative combining the product offerings of both companies, and the joint marketing of these solutions to business and government customers.

“Adding RelayStation’s message delivery to voicemail and fax is a natural extension of our product set," states Tim King, managing director, 2sms. "Customers using SMS for Emergency planning and business resumption want to communicate to their staff in as many ways as possible. Joining forces with RelayStation makes this possible.”

“2sms has a comprehensive set of SMS tools that adds value to our communications hub and allows RelayStation to extend the SMS options we offer to our customers,” says Sharon Maslyn, RelayStation’s managing director. “We look forward to marketing the strengthened product range to both sets of customers, and working with distribution partners to provide enhanced benefits to their customers using mobile communications for productivity and workflow gains."

About 2sms
2sms is a customer centric, business communications solution provider, with offices in the UK and US. Its 2,500 business customers send mission critical information securely, simply and reliably using SMS. For more information contact Oliwia Wolf at marketing@2sms.com, or visit www.2sms.com. Read the 2sms Blog at http://2sms.blogspot.com or follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/2smscom.

About Relay Station
RelayStation is a leading communications provider to government, banks, enterprises, SMEs, charities, professional organisations, sports clubs, and many other types of operations with large audiences. Its web-based products enable them to better engage and interact with their publics. For more information on RelayStation's best-practice communications solutions, contact Hugh Paterson on +44 (0)845 862 0766, email hugh.paterson@relaystation.co.uk, or visit www.relaystation.co.uk.

How much does it cost to send a SMS?

http://blogs.sybase.com/wdudley/?p=581

With thanks to Diarmuid Mallon

Operators waive SMS fees for Comic Relief

For the first time this year, members of the public can text a £1 or £5 donation to Comic Relief, knowing that every penny will go to the charity. The new initiative has been made possible by a generous gesture by the mobile industry and the support of the Treasury. The UK’s mobile network operators have agreed to waive their usual charges to ensure that a £1 or £5 text means a £1 or £5 donation to Comic Relief, while the Treasury has confirmed that, because of this, no VAT will be charged on these donations.

http://bit.ly/RGeH0

2sms extends 24/7 support to both UK and US offices

Investing in Avaya IP home office, 2sms is now able to pass calls between it's UK and US teams, in call, seemlessly. Customers pay only to dial into 2sms support, which is freephone in the UK on 0800 65 222 77 and Toll Free in the USA on 977 276 7266.

Both UK and US teams have access to our support system, so customer calls can be handled more of the time during normal office hours. Our Duty manager will then take the call outside office hours to compete our genuine 24/7 support.

Both teams are subject to ISO27001 Information Security, EU Safe Harbor and our Privacy policy licensed by TRUSTe.

2sms adds YouTube videos

2sms has added information videos to the YouTube platform. These are designed to help new customers learn how SMS text messaging can help their business. Visit the 2sms YouTube video channel to learn more.

Redesigning USCIS.gov : US Presidential statement

Redesigning USCIS.gov
"In the next 90 days, USCIS will launch a vastly improved Web site that will, for the first time ever, allow applicants to get updates on their status of their applications via e-mail and text message and online."
-President Obama, June 25th, 2009

On September 22nd a redesigned USCIS.gov web site will be launched to help customers navigate the immigration system and remain up-to-date regarding their case status.
In response to customer feedback, from March to June 2009, USCIS conducted focus group discussions, usability tests, and surveys regarding general functionality of the website with a broad cross-section of users. Participants ranged from national & local stakeholders to customers and visitors to USCIS.gov.

Based on the findings, a design has been approved and is currently in development. The improved design of USCIS.gov follows four core principles:

• A customer-centric homepage that provides applicants with a “one-stop shop” of immigration services information.
• Simplified navigation and improved search capability.
• Enhanced customer service tools including expanded Case Status Online with both email and text functionality.
• Information that is written clearly and meets the needs of our customers.

USCIS wants to help prepare customers for the redesigned website, so we are providing a mock-up of the new homepage reflecting these core principles. Between now and September 22nd, USCIS will continue to provide updates on the progress we make toward this goal. Please check our web site for future progress updates and to get answers to your questions.

If you have any questions about the website redesign, we want to hear them. Please send all questions to uscis.webmaster@dhs.gov. We will post the answers to your most frequently asked questions.

Become 2sms Affiliate Partner

Recommend 2sms services to your clients, associates and friends and receive commission on their purchases. Our Affiliate program allows existing customers to earn an ongoing commission on SMS services sales for referred businesses. Contact us on support@2sms.com and we will provide you with an affiliate name and set you up as an Affiliate Partner in minutes.

Change / Cancel scheduled messages

A recurring request from customers was to be able to cancel or change scheduled messages. This is now possible on the 2sms web site.

Scheduled messages allows customers to set up SMS messages to distribution groups for future transmission. Messages can be set up to send once only, or on a repeating schedule, e.g. weekly. Great for the 'Remember to send your timesheets in on time' type message.

Email Productivity

2sms provides 50Fold - a customisable software toolkit that helps organisations to manage email.

50Fold's key insight is that changing email practice at a network level rather than at an individual level drives performance improvement. 50Fold's software improves productivity by 20%, reduces costs and lowers risk.

For more information go to:
http://www.2sms.com/products.aspx?section=fiftyfold

Discussion : FEMA report on delivering evacuation notices

A new independent report prepared for FEMA showed telephone notification systems to be the preferred means for delivering evacuation notices during the 2007 San Diego wildfires.

2sms on Microsoft Pinpoint

2sms is listed on Microsoft Pinpoint.

Pinpoint is a technology marketplace that helps customers easily find the experts, products and services they need. In the process, the site also supports the ongoing business success of Microsoft vendor companies.

100% Clean Software

2sms Desktop SMS Client and 2sms Desktop DB edition have been granted 100% clean award by Softpedia. “Softpedia guarantees that Desktop SMS 1.6.3 and Desktop SMS (Database Edition) 1.6.3 is 100% Clean, which means it does not contain any form of malware, including but not limited to: spyware, viruses, trojans and backdoors”. This product therefore, can be installed with no concern by any computer user.

Network Monitoring Services

2sms has teamed up with our Business Partner, Emnico, to provide Network Monitoring Services. EmNOC R2.0 Portal Edition enables IT service providers to remotely monitor their customers’ networks 24/7 from a single location. Easy to use web interface, extensive alerts, report generation and data mining are just few of the features included. Learn more...

2sms Price Promise

2sms offers all customers our price promise as we are confident that we won’t be beaten on value. We will match any competitor offer on a like for like basis as long as it is commercially viable. More info...