BEDMINSTER, N.J.-Verizon Wireless and minority interest parent company Vodafone Group plc said they plan to launch transatlantic text messaging capabilities between Verizon Wireless’ CDMA network and 10 Vodafone GSM networks beginning early next year.
The inter-carrier and transatlantic service, which will be processed and converted by U.S. vendor InphoMatch, will allow customers from Verizon Wireless’ CDMA network in the United States to send and receive text messages to Vodafone GSM customers in Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Vodafone said it plans to extend the service to a wider footprint next year.
Both carriers noted testing has shown the conversion process and message delivery occurs within seconds. Pricing for the service was not released. A number of North American GSM carriers provide similar transatlantic text-messaging capabilities including T-Mobile USA Inc., which is owned by German telecom giant Deutsche Telekom AG, and AT&T Wireless Services Inc.
