Geneva Software Technologies Ltd. (GSTL) has launched multi-lingual ‘short messaging services’ to BSNL-mobile subscribers in Andhra Pradesh.

The Telugu language services was launched by AP Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy here on Saturday. The service is available to BSNL subscribers having Java MODP 2.0 compatible handsets.

Speaking to the media on the occasion, GSTL managing director T. Murali Krishna Reddy said that the subscribers can send messages in 14 Indian languages to anywhere in the country. BSNL will charge Re. 1 per message while GSTL will get between Rs. 0.12 ps and Rs. 0.20 ps per message depending on the volume, he added.

The service can be activated by the subscriber by downloading the language specific application on the handset from BSNL mobile internet home page. It requires a GPRS-enabled handset with Bluetooth, IR or Cable facility. Interestingly, the receiver need not have any particular software.

The company has about 93,792 GPRS enabled handset costumers out if 16.26 lakh subscribers in the State.

At present, GSTL offers Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu and Urdu.

“This service will break the language barrier for data communication and help over 80% of India’s rural population to communicate on par with the English SMS user,” PSR Krishna, Chief general manager, AP Telecom said.

Elaborating on the new scheme, Krishna said that shortly BSNL will offer SMS packages charging Rs. 0.01 ps per local messages as against the usual charge of Rs. 0.60 ps per message. However, the subscriber has to pay a service charge of Rs. 50 per month.