Billing and communications software firm Comverse has launched a new hosted instant SMS service.

The Comverse Hosted Instant SMS Solution is designed to improve speed-to-market and better optimize use of wireless carrier resources when using instant SMS. A few undisclosed carriers in the United States and Europe are already testing the service.

"We're offering carriers an easy way to launch the service with minimum investment from their side," said Ofer Razon, director of product marketing for converged imaging at Comverse.

Per the Wakefield, MA-based company, Instant SMS will incorporate emoticons, color and icons as part of the service.

Included in the upgraded experience is an integrated address book with presence attributes for social connections and spontaneity.

Also, a new display with conversational threading will enable picture, voice and video messaging as part of the service.

A subsidiary of Comverse Technology Inc., Comverse's hosted facilities currently serve hundreds of millions of messaging transactions each month to carriers around the world, the company claims.

U.S. customers of Comverse include Verizon Wireless, U.S. Cellular and Alltel Wireless, along with Rogers Wireless in Canada.

Comverse will charge carriers based on the performance of its Hosted Instant SMS Solution.

"It's a traffic-based model," Mr. Razon said. "Again, the idea is to reduce the risk from their side. So no traffic, no payment."