Largest Russian carriers offer IM-service «Chat» - the first joint product of «the great three»
VimpelCom (which operates under the Beeline trademark), MTS, the largest cellular network operator in Russia and CIS and MegaFon have announced the launch of their joint service «Chat» in all regions of Russia. The service allows subscribers of «the three great» with almost any handset model to send and receive instant text messages unlimitedly.
Incoming messages appear in the application window in a dialogue mode, so users can track the history of conversation and feel more comfortable while communicating. Subscribers can also use special icons (emoticons) and manage their status in the chat that allows invite those who are free for chat, and leave alone those who are busy.
After singing up to «Chat» the user can add to his «Chat» contact list subscribers of any carrier (VimpelCom, MTS or MegaFon) and communicate with them without time, cost or data limits.
The service is available on the whole territory of Russia for all data plans of VimpelCom, MTS and MegaFon, and is supported on more than 200 phones with pre-installed chat client.
Also, the service launch includes joint promotion of the service by the three operators.
«Chat» allows searching subscribers by their nickname and telephone number, as well as blocking unwanted incoming messages. If the subscriber's phone is switched off, he or she will receive alert about sent messages after switching the phone on by SMS. The messages themselves will come when «Chat» application is on.
«Chat» service is available for all subscribers of «the three great» in international and national roaming. The service is paid in accordance with the carrier's roaming GPRS data plan.
Till July 1, 2009 the service operates in trial mode and is free for all subscribers of the three carriers.
В© Oxana Vassilyeva
