Phillipine network Bayan Telecommunications has launched a Voice SMS service in the country, using a platform supplied by Voice SMS specialist, Kirusa. Voice SMS enables subscribers to send messages by voice, eliminating the need to type. 
Bayan Telecommunications is offering its subscribers a Voice SMS-based application called Boto Mo I-Patrol Mo which means Take Care of Your Vote. The service will enable both Bayan subscribers, and subscribers to other networks in the Philippines, to voice their opinions on various subjects in time for the elections, due to be held in May. Selected Voice SMS messages sent by subscribers will also be showcased on national television.
Bayan subscribers pay a price of PHP 1.50 (approximately $0.03/0.02) to send a Voice SMS to on-net and off-net subscribers within the Philippines. To compose a Voice SMS, a bayanWIRELESS landline subscriber dials * followed by the area code and the number of the person they wish to send the message to, the speaks a short message for up to 30 seconds in any language and sends. If the recipient is a bayanWIRELESS landline subscriber, the recipient will receive a text SMS notification and can dial *0* to hear the new Voice SMS. Old Voice SMSs can be retrieved by dialing *1*. A bayanPHONE or bayan fixed line subscriber will get an outbound call for delivery of Voice SMS. They also have the option of replying, forwarding, saving or deleting the Voice SMS messages. Replies and forwards are charged at PHP 1.50 per message.
Subscribers of other carriers in Philippines can also use the Bayan Voice SMS service, by dialing 02-412-9621, and following the prompts to send a Voice SMS to any other subscriber in Philippines. Standard call charges will apply.
The response to the Boto Mo I-Patrol Mo campaign has been phenomenal, and we see several other Voice SMS based applications being introduced in the market, says Joevel E. Rivera, Vice President – Product Development & Management at Bayan Telecommunications. We chose Kirusa for this launch as it has a large number of deployments across the world with a good reach in the market. Their Voice SMS is very robust, can support applications, and will be useful in increasing our ARPU.