Reliance’s Message: There’s A Way Around Interconnect
Mamuni Das & Krishna Gopalan
New Delhi/Mumbai: While at one end, there’s huge confusion on the interconnect agreement issue (interconnect enables telecom networks of different players to talk to each other) between the code division multiple access (CDMA)-based private limited mobility and private global system for mobile communication (GSM) - based cellular player goes, Reliance Infocomm is busy finding ways and means to bypass the efforts of cellular players to block calls and messages from its end.
The company has devised a way by which its CDMA phones are able to send text messages to GSM phones, even in the absence of an interconnect agreement.
This correspondent received a text message (SMS or short messaging service) from a Reliance CDMA phone in Delhi, on her GSM-based mobile late last week. But it was not possible to send a text reply back to the same number, which is quite natural, given the fact that the limited mobility service of Reliance is yet to reach an interconnect agreement with the private cellular players.
Although Reliance’s CDMA wireless in local loop (WLL) limited mobility service is yet to be launched commercially, some of its officials have been given CDMA-based handsets and are using them.
Another interesting point that deserves a mention is that the number from which the message originated was displayed as the CDMA Reliance number — +11 3xxxxxxx.
So how does Reliance get past the SMS (short messaging service) switching centres of the cellular players, which are programmed in a way so as to identify and block the numbers of those players with whom the interconnect agreements are not in place?
All that an official from Reliance Infocomm revealed was that the company was routing its text messages through the Internet. There are many websites through which people send text messages to mobile phones, and these websites don’t need interconnect agreements.
Another company official revealed that the site that is employed is sms.ac, which is basically an US-based company. He added Reliance has created a protocol which will allow them to use the Internet to send messages to CDMA and GSM supported handsets. It will also offer caller line identification facility.
Thus, in all probability this is how it works. Reliance has an arrangement with sms.ac as per which the text messages originating from the Reliance CDMA phones are routed to the Web server of sms.ac, which sends it to the GSM- based cellular operators in India, an industry expert explained. As per the sms.ac website, it has tie-ups with most of the cellular operators in India, which enables it to send the text messages to their subscribers. As for the caller line identification part, the Reliance number is pushed along with the message.
Despite repeated attempts, eFE could not contact the company spokespersons for comments.
A top official from a leading cellular service provider explained, “Our SMS centres have different interfaces, some of which are meant for receiving text messages from different telecom players. There is another interface for receiving messages that come from the Internet, all of which are passed on to the user.”
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