Acision has launched Acision Fusion, a consolidated messaging platform bringing together SMS, MMS, RCS and voice messaging.

The launch is intended to provide operators with a single converged option for deploying VAS (Value Add Service) systems. Functionality, including real-time charging, service triggering, message routing, volumetric message rate control,  carries across all message formats.

Fusion will also enable MMS interworking, meaning RCS users can share pictures and videos to non-RCS users.

“Market trends have shown that there is a high degree of fragmentation in the use of messaging services by consumers,” said Jorgen Nilsson, chief executive at Acision. “According to Acision’s research earlier this year, over 77 per cent of Smartphone users in the UK and 72 per cent of those in the US are now utilising a combination of OTT, MMS and SMS to send and receive messages with three-quarters of UK consumers using multiple messaging services simultaneously each day.”

“With this in mind, operators are in a unique situation to exploit their market position and tap into this growth.  This can be done by consolidating their messaging platforms, and launching a singular cross network, cross device, IP messaging experience for rich services which breaks the OTT service fragmentation barrier while increasing profitability.”