OVERVIEW

The 'can't-live-without-my-cell-phone' generation has opened new vistas for operators, constantly on the lookout for increasing usage and driving revenues. With USSD, operators can capitalize on the demand for session-based value added services. Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) is a technology unique to the GSM network. Like SMS, it is a bearer, but unlike the store and forward nature of SMS that needs a reserved channel for each message, USSD is session-oriented. When a user accesses the USSD application, the session is established and remains open over the radio connection until the user explicitly terminates the session. This facilitates real-time interactive communication between applications and subscribers.

TECTONICS ADVANTAGE

Tectonics USSD Center enables subscribers to establish interactive, menu-driven sessions where they can request text/data from the system. Through the USSD center, requests/commands can be sent under full operator control, to numerous sources of information: operator internal systems, corporate ERP system or to Internet.

Tectonics USSD Center helps GSM operators push their messaging services to the next level. Absence of store and forward, transaction-oriented technology ensures that USSD is seven times faster than SMS and significantly reduces turn-around response time for dialogue-based responsive services like customer care, banking and information services. Accessing USSD based services is simple - end-users can request USSD-based services from the phonebooks in their mobile phones. Tectonics USSD Center uses the same application programming interface that the Short Message Service Center does, making it easier to port services based on SMS, to utilize USSD as the bearer.