SMS ban: Telcos told to exempt banks, airlines

Mumbai/New Delhi: The government has asked cellphone companies to exempt alerts from services, such as banks and airlines, from an extended ban on bulk text messages as it looks to limit inconvenience to users, but operators have expressed their inability to comply with the request.
The government on Friday extended Wednesday’s ban on bulk text and picture messages until September 30 after the Supreme Court deferred judgement in the 60-year-old case relating to ownership of the disputed site at Ayodhya to September 28. The verdict was due on Friday.
But the government’s attempt to correct a piquant situation it failed to foresee may not yield results because telecom operators said they are unable to filter messages.
The ban has affected a host of services, including alerts from banks, brokerages, radio taxis, entertainment portals and multiplex chains that confirm transactions and bookings through text messages. Likewise, airlines are unable to alert customers about delays, cancellations and rescheduling of flights.
A top Jet Airways executive said the airline has asked customers to dial its call centres to get information on flights. SpiceJet executives said the company was using alternatives such as emails and phones to update customers about flights.
25/09/10 Deepali Gupta & Joji Thomas Philip/Economic Times

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Sep 2010