ACL’s SMS chat service generates over 6 million chat messages in one month
Nigeria, April 03, 2008

ACL’s SMS Chat service received an overwhelming response by the subscribers of Nigeria’s GLO network with more than 350,000 registrations and traffic of over 6 million chat messages within first month of launch. The service was launched in March by Nigeria’s national telecom operator Glo Mobile under the brand name of ‘AfriChat’.

This user-friendly SMS-based service makes search for new friends, add to buddy-list, manage presence status, and access to several interesting chatrooms possible via a simple short code (20805). By hiding the user’s mobile numbers and allowing them to exchange instant messages using unique buddy-number, the service ensures complete anonymity for the users. That's not all – users can also log into their Yahoo, MSN or ICQ accounts simultaneously and catch up with their IM network friends anywhere in the world. Being priced at as low as 3 naira per message, the service claims to offer value for money to its fun-loving users.

“Chat and Instant Messenger services are quite famous in the Internet world. SMS is a ubiquitous medium and is the perfect medium for offering Chat & IM services to the Mobile Users. Glo is happy to introduce AfriChat on SMS - a complete SMS based Chat and IM service. The initial off take has been fantastic with more than 350,000 users having opted to use the service in the first month of launch.” said Tayo Ashiru – Marketing Manager - Data and VAS at Globacom Limited.

Talking about the success Sanjay Goyal, CEO, ACL Wireless, said, "The quick initial uptake and high usage of the service in such a short time exemplifies the intuitive user experience of our products. This also marks our foray into the African market and strengthens our leadership position in the Community & Messaging Space in emerging markets.”

About Glo Mobile

Glo Mobile has the fastest growing GSM network in Nigeria with a subscriber base of over 17 million customers. The company has been into operations for last 4.5 years and extends its coverage to over 45,000 cities, towns and communities. It offers wide variety of innovative packages and is the first operator in Nigeria to commercially launch the 3G Plus technology.

While vigorously pursuing its expansion strategy, Glo Mobile has earned the identity of the Nigerian innovator because of its constant endeavour to provide its customers the benefits of telecommunication technology with affordable value-added services.

About ACL Wireless

ACL Wireless Limited is a leading India-based provider of mobile value added services to operators, enterprises and consumers. It provides solutions in the field of mobile communities, instant messaging, carrier agnostic connectivity, billing and content aggregation. ACL’s robust and unique solutions have benefited more than 27 mobile operators in several emerging markets across the globe as well as over 200 tier-one enterprises, media companies and content providers in India.

ACL was declared a Red Herring 100 Asia winner for 2006 and has also been ranked amongst India's fastest growing technology companies by Deloitte, three years in a row. Founded in 2000, the company employs over 220 people and operates from its offices in Noida, New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata & Dubai.