2-way I SMS

2-way I SMS

The iSMS® is a patented next generation interactive version of the traditional SMS text message and a trademark, which enables iSMS–powered solutions to perform interactive iSMS-dialogues between sender and receiver, for example between organizations and their customers or employees. For the customer, it’s very easy to reply to iSMS messages by selecting among predefined choices, which can be answered by using the “single button” principle.

In these iSMS powered solutions and applications the iSMS technology establishes a session with the user and manages the flow of SMS messages between the application and users so that right responses are linked to the right application even if several simultaneous sessions are established. The authentication of users is secured so customers do not need to remember user names, passwords or special authentication procedures.

The iSMS powered solutions also work on all mobile phones and all networks without installing software or configurations to the phone because the iSMS messages are delivered as standard SMS messages.

The iSMS technology has been developed and patented by a Finnish high tech company called BookIT. The iSMS has become very popular in BookIT’s home country Finland, where people are using the iSMS for different types of easy to use bookings.

For example, in 2004 Finnair was the first airline in the world to enable passengers to check-in in advance for flights with iSMS text messages. In 2008 more than half of the Finnair’s airline passengers do their check-in with iSMS. The service is very easy to use since the user automatically receives a check-in request from the iSMS service and can then do the check-in simply by one-button-reply with his/her mobile phone. The passengers are extremely satisfied since they avoid queuing and can proceed directly to the gate because the iSMS service completes the dialogue by sending an iSMS boarding pass directly to the screen of a mobile phone. This Finnair's service is called Check-in via text message -service .