Tech Shout!

MTN South Africa has just launched i-MAIL, its new Web Portal-based Unified Messaging Service, which will allows millions of MTN’s mobile users in South Africa to have greater control of their messaging and mailbox facilities by using a web-based management service. The new MTN South Africa Web portal is powered by IP Unity Glenayre.

The software called i-MAIL enables users to control their voicemail, faxmail and videomail from one portal. This increases the flexibility and personalization of messaging services. Via the MTN Web portal, MTN mobile subscribers can now manage and receive their voice, video and fax messages.

Using the newly launched i-MAIL service, MTN mobile subscribers can set up and manage their own messaging services and options, including blocking callers from leaving voice or video messages, establishing group messaging lists, and setting up message forwarding options. The Portal’s MessageMe facility enables users to forward voice, video and fax messages to an email address or MMS-enabled handset, while the Personal Operator option allows users to transfer their calls to any other phone.

According to Ashraff Park, General Manager, Business Strategy and Product and Innovation, MTN South Africa, “With more and more methods of communication available - voice calls, SMS, MMS, video mail, fax, email, etc - it is increasingly important that users are able to manage the means by which they receive communications. Our service allows customers to access their mailbox from anywhere in the world, similar to how you would use 100 or 111 to listen to messages. Once again, we are happy that our innovations offer our customers relevant and practical solutions for everyday life. We encourage customers to sign up for the service and stay in touch with the world, everywhere they go.”

As a web-based service, i-MAIL removes the need for subscribers to call their mailbox to receive messages: instead, customers can access their mailbox from anywhere in the world, significantly reducing international roaming charges levied for retrieving messages. With the message forwarding facility, users can arrange for their messages to be pushed to them, wherever they are.

“Operators around the world are looking for ’sticky’ features that excite their customers and attract new subscribers,” explained Andy Minnaar, Sales Director of IP Unity Glenayre in Africa. “i-MAIL offers MTN’s customers’ convenience, control, practicality and ease of use. It also reduces operator costs by lessening call centre volumes and increases the visibility of other services available on the MTN website.”