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The University of Manchester SMS Text Service

(IMPORTANT - Please read the Guidelines for using SMS Text Service if you are planning to use this service)

The University has recently begun installing a new service that provides users with the ability to send text messages directly from a PC to a mobile phone.

The majority of students have mobile phones and increasingly these mobile phones are being used to provide other services. The Short Message Service (SMS) or 'texting' as it is now called has become ubiquitous.

The package sourced by the University makes it possible to provide a far higher degree of message tailoring. The following examples outline how faculties, schools or administrative divisions might wish to use the service.

The key point about this facility is its flexibility, messages can be sent to individual students or groups of students. It does not use the mass marketing approach of an advertising agency but allows the management of faculties, schools or administrative divisions to provide timely, relevant and targeted information for their students.

Reduce Postage Costs

Sending a text is cheaper than the cost of a printed communication. The postage costs for stationary, envelope stamp and time. Compare that to the cost of sending a text message at 3.5p.

Publish Schedule Changes

It's simple to set up groups of students so that should a lecture venue be changed or cancelled then students can be notified almost immediately. Much more professional than the note on the door and certainly more cost effective than phoning individually to let people know.

Awards

Targeting and reminding students of the types of financial awards that they are eligible for.

Reminders

For example: Direct Debit payment or Graduation

Alpha Tagging (Sender ID)

Messages can be tagged with the University, faculty, school or administrative division's name so that on arrival on the student's phone it is immediately obvious where it originated.

Use it to advertise

If your department/school is running an event then use the service to advertise it.