Essar Telecom has partnered with VAS company Kirusa to bring a voice SMS platform to its subscribers in Kenya. Consumers on Essars yu network can send and reply to messages with their voice, without the need to type. 

To use the new service yu subscribers must dial * followed by the number of the person they wish to send the message to, and speak a short message for up to 30 seconds in any language. The recipient gets a notification message from the sender and can dial *0* to hear new voice messages. Previously received voice messages can be listened to by dialing *1*. 

Users can listen to the message for free at first, while subsequent listens cost 50 cents. It costs 1KES (£0.01) to send, reply to, or forward a voice SMS. 

Dr. Inderpal Singh Mumick, CEO and founder of Kirusa, says: “We are very pleased to have been selected by yu for the launch of value-added services for their subscribers. This win and the subsequent launch are testimony to our positioning in the marketplace as an eminent and trusted VAS partner to mobile carriers worldwide.

yu country manager Madhur Taneja says: “We are excited to be presenting our subscribers with this innovative means of communication. This revolutionary service will be very handy for certain people with disabilities who might find it difficult to type on phones.”