Categories: AlertGoogleMobilinkNews

Mobilink and Google collaborated: Brings free SMS chat between Gmail and Mobilink

Google Pakistan and Mobilink have partnered to bring free Web-to-SMS chat service. That means a Gmail user now can send SMS to any Mobilink subscriber to initiate a chat session. Of course that Mobilink number will have option to reply back to the Gmail user while this will cost Rs. 1+Tax for each SMS to the phone user if he/she replies back.

Note 1: The service is free for Gmail user while he/she will be limited to send a specific amount of Text messages (credit 50 initially and maximum) – More detail after the break.

Note 2: The service will cost phone user (Mobilink subscriber) for each text message he/she sends to reply back – More detail after the break.

It is noteworthy that in order to initiate chat; first (1st) message has to be sent by a Gmail user via Gmail client on www.gmail.com. This means that Mobilink subscriber cannot initiate chat himself with his Gmail contacts from mobile phone. Spam Protection Policy & Quota System (as defined by Google) will be applicable to curb abuse of Gmail SMS service.

Instructions for Mobile Subscriber:

Commands from Phone

Mobilink subscriber can use below commands while chatting via Gmail SMS service through his mobile phone. Please note that these commands can be sent in response to SMS received from the Gmail user only.

HELP: Command can be used to get list of useful commands.
BLOCK: Command can be used to block messages from a specific Gmail user. This command should be sent in response to the SMS from that Gmail user whom you want to block.
UNBLOCK: Command can be used to un-block Gmail user. After the execution of this command, mobile subscriber will be able to receive messages from the Gmail user he has previously blocked

Following commands can be sent at 2434000.

STOP: To block all messages from all Gmail users.
START: To enables receiving SMS messages from Gmail if you’re currently blocking these.

Service Charges

SMS sent by Gmail users to Mobilink subscribers will be free of cost.
SMS sent by Mobilink subscribers to Gmail users will be charged @ Rs. 1+Tax/SMS.
No subscription is required to avail Gmail SMS service.

For more detail visit the official page.

Instructions for Gmail User:

SMS credit in Chat

SMS credit is an allocation of SMS (text messages) that you’re able to send to a mobile phone:

Initially, you’re granted a credit of fifty messages.
Every time you send a message, your credit decreases by one.
Every time you receive an SMS message in Chat (for example when a phone user replies to one of your messages) your credit increases by five, up to a maximum of 50.

If your SMS credit goes down to zero at any point, it will increase back up to one 24 hours later. So, you won’t ever be locked out of the system.

“Buying” additional messages

Keep in mind that if you’d like a higher message credit, you can always send an SMS to your own phone, and then reply to that message multiple times. Every time you send a reply message, your SMS credit is increased by five. Effectively, you’re buying more messages by paying your phone company for these outgoing messages.

http://support.google.com/chat//bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=140366&rd=1

Khurram Ali

Founder at Tech Prolonged Software Engineer by profession - Independent Tech/Gadget Blogger. Writes and reviews at Tech Prolonged for new gadgets/smartphones. @Twitter Facebook Google Plus