Smart arse Indian Operators turned off delivery reports last year to ease load

By on December 31, 2006 in News, Operators, Services

Link: Trouble-free network, cell firms promise-India-NEWS-The Times of India

The Times of India has had quite a lot of mobile related stories on it recently. Here’s another, ostensibly it’s reporting that Indian mobile operators are promising a ‘trouble free’ New Year’s Eve in terms of traffic. (These are the same operators who recently decided to revoke all reduced-cost SMS deals on high traffic periods.)

What really interested me was the following paragraphs discussing the appalling service last year:

In past years, mobile users have often complained that their New Year wishes did not reach friends on January 1.

The fact that networks did not send customers delivery reports on New Year’s day in order to ease the load only added to people’s anxiety;. therefore they kept texting the same person again and again.

The result: many reported a flood of identical messages from the same person, resulting in waste of money and adding to further congestion in the network.

What bright spark reckoned that switching off delivery reports would ease the load?

That is an absolutely 100% typical response from a techie not living in the real world and understanding that to many, the delivery report is an integral part of sending a text message.

Duh.

About Ewan

Ewan is Founder and Editor of Mobile Industry Review. He writes about a wide variety of industry issues and is usually active on Twitter most days. You can read more about him or reach him with these details.
View all posts by Ewan →

,

  • http://www.unpluggedmarketing.com Dave G

    You say that, but why wont someone tell O2 that the reports are so important to texting. On O2, you only get a report if you put *0# at the start of your message. Very lame and very annoying.

  • http://www.sendmytxt.co.uk Alex

    There was me thinking if you had delivery reports enabled on your mobile it would just work. More fool me..

    Anyway, that aside. Are delivery reports important to texting from handsets? Do you put read receipts on emails you send out? Do you send birthday cards by recorded delivery?

    If so, then maybe they are. I can see the point for business and marketing purposes (when you’re sending out zillions of texts you want to see how many got there), but personally I never use them from my mobile – even more so now that Orange charge, apparently.

  • http://www.unpluggedmarketing.com Dave G

    Well with emails, you kind of send and wait, they get it when they get it. With mobile SMS you are looking for a more instant reply, the next few mins, perhaps asking a quick question that you need a rapid answer to without the rubbish that clutters up an actual phone call. Getting the report lets you know if you should even be hanging around waiting for a reply any time soon.

    Additionally, if you get the “failed” reports back it can help you know if a number is no longer in use with a friend, co-worker etc, and as such you can chase up a new one from someone. With the rate that people change mobiles these days it can happen quite often.

    Anywho, O2, get your arse in gear!

  • Amit G

    the importance of delivery reports just depends on how you use it. i dont hang around waiting for people to receive the messages. And if people have changed their mobile nos and they want to stay in touch with you, they will make sure you have their number…. If they dont, then who cares!

  • http://www.datahawk.com cell directory

    “Indian mobile operators are promising a ‘trouble free’ New Year’s Eve in terms of traffic”

    LOL, I think that “trouble-free”, and “Indian mobile operators” should never be used together again in the same sentance!

  • tony

    i’m all for read receipts, since fundamentally you want to know if the receipients phone is actually turned on / in coverage, so you don’t need to periodically call the 2nd party. i switched to o2 without knowing about the read receipt issue, had i known, i would have probably thought twice about it, since its a fucking pain in the arse! shame on you o2!!

Switch to our mobile site