Globatel Media has launched two new SMS messaging services to provide two-way text dialogs from any PC to any mobile phone regardless of device, platform, carrier or wireless plan.

The new systems, Mobile Campaign Manager and Alirti, are designed to help companies, brands and agencies extend market reach and engage in a dialog with partners, customers and prospects. The services will also allow for couponing, weekly specials, product announcements, contests and sweepstakes, as well as ticket and event promotions.

"We use the Globaltel platform to schedule all of our campaigns, create our entire messaging flow and integrate databases of numbers," said Scott Yoneyama, CEO of Mobile Dirt, Sammamish, WA. "Messages just flat out get delivered."

Alirti delivers rich electronic content via SMS, such as audio, video and images, offering customized content ranging from product images and lifesaving medical information to live video clips via an embedded and hosted URL within the body of a text message.

Mobile Dirt is a mobile messaging aggregator.

Globaltel's first platform, Mobile Campaign Manager, will allow users to set up, manage, track and measure targeted two-way text message campaigns via a centralized Web interface.

It will enable text messages to be sent from computers to mobile phones and back.

The platform also allows for mobile-originated interactive chat and provide feedback about user interaction, response, delivery and receipt rates.

"Mobile ought to be a line-item for big brands -- it should be a leg in the stool of any marketing plan, and many brands are waking up to that," Mr. Yomeyama said. "Lack of standardization across handsets is a significant challenge.

"With more handsets becoming browser-enabled, that's starting to push the marketplace forward," he said.

However, some challenges still remain.

"The restrictions and the process of approving short codes, while they do have merit, make it challenging to do business," Mr. Yomeyama said. "If the short code approval process could be streamlined so we could deploy more rapidly, with the submission of a checklist and here we go, that would help tremendously."

The systems will also have many healthcare applications, including creating public awareness regarding swine flu, urgent requests to mobile physicians and surgeons for emergency services, as well as secure and discreet patient information.

Additionally, the enriched text of the SMS messaging systems will allow physicians to send X-rays, EKGs, scans, images and lab test results to a patient's mobile device.

"Two-way texting is going to take over the marketplace," said Robert Sanchez, CEO at Globaltel Media, San Diego, CA.

According to CTIA, U.S. wireless subscribers alone sent over one trillion SMS messages in 2008, tripling the 2007 number.

"Our solution enables organizations to leverage this popular method to interactively communicate while gaining comprehensive feedback regarding effectiveness and results," Mr. Sanchez said. "It works with every carrier and every cell phone on the planet."