Broca, a spin-off from mobile technology company 2ergo, has announced the launch of what it claims is the worlds first Secure Advanced Messaging Service, (SAMS) application. SAMS opens up the mobile phone as an entirely new sales and marketing channel, says Broca, enabling businesses to create additional revenue streams from SMS through secure communication of financial information and greatly improved usability.
Broca says the technology will enable businesses to complete transactions and communicate with customers via advanced, form-based SMS messaging. Message formats can be designed via a simple API, allowing customers to simply tick boxes to buy goods or services. By allowing the customer to register a PIN or password, personal details such as credit card data can be easily communicated, with the knowledge that the customer has authenticated themselves. The data is encrypted using a patented cyclical encryption technology, and cannot be derived from the handset or over the air.
SAMS is a product rooted in simplicity, both for the business customer and the end-user says Broca MD Ian Price. Because it uses traditional SMS functionality, it overcomes many of the obstacles that have frustrated the growth of other mobile channels; and because it works with the large majority of handsets, it truly unlocks the potential of the mobile phone as a new route to market.
SAMS form-based functionality provides even more intuitive use of SMS through drop-down response options. This form factor communication also allows companies to gain greater control over the interaction and responses with their customers, providing cleaner customer data and greater market knowledge.