How SMS will stay relevant in SA

[Hanno Labuschagne]

How SMS will stay relevant in SA

While the use of Short Message Service (SMS) for personal communication has declined, the technology will remain relevant in South Africa.

This is the view of Flickswitch MD and founder Kees Snijders, who explained that the key strength of SMS remains that it works independently of Internet connectivity.

 

[Swa]

The networks killed sms with their ridiculous pricing. In America it's still the norm.

 

[dualmeister]

This is the view of Flickswitch MD and founder Kees Snijders

I bet he uses a fax machine as well.

 

[epah]

The networks killed sms with their ridiculous pricing. In America it's still the norm.

I thought they used imessage in Murica, 99% of them use iphones.

 

[PaulGherkin]

Ja but how many times have I seen in my lifetime that SMS messages are not received? Yet another CEO bragging about stuff he knows jack shyte about.

My company send OTP via SMS when I log on (I am a remote worker) and it takes 2-3 attempts every Monday when I have to log on for my shift to get the bloody SMS

 

[Jan van Riebeeckstad]

Please call me

 

[Dimpie (COMPUTEK)]

This is the view of Flickswitch MD and founder Kees Snijders, who explained that the key strength of SMS remains that it works independently of Internet connectivity.

How does he dare use that word

 

[system32]

Telegram FTW

 

[G.A.S]

I think the only SMSs I receive are spam...

 

[Bernoldus Niemand]

I think the only SMSs I receive are spam...

Many local companies use SMS for 2FA instead of the vastly superior TOTP codes for some reason.

 

[PaulGherkin]

Many local companies use SMS for 2FA instead of the vastly superior TOTP codes for some reason.

Oh that's because of one company having a monopoly on interfacing backends to the cellular networks to send SMS messages

 

[Swa]

I thought they used imessage in Murica, 99% of them use iphones.

SMS is still the default. Tell someone to use Whatsapp and you get strange looks. Where do you get your 99% stat from?

 

[epah]

SMS is still the default. Tell someone to use Whatsapp and you get strange looks. Where do you get your 99% stat from?

I made it up.

 

[mypetcow]

Aren’t we turning off 2G and then 3G at some point? Won’t these SMSs then become obsolete if at all still functional by then?

 

[Ϲhristopher]

Aren’t we turning off 2G and then 3G at some point? Won’t these SMSs then become obsolete if at all still functional by then?

Standalone 5G networks still support SMS.

 

[KoosPanty]

Many local companies use SMS for 2FA instead of the vastly superior TOTP codes for some reason.

In my environment, as an example, I went with the SMS option as the default for 2FA because some staff have very old devices. Another problem is that they change or lose their phones regularly. Then it becomes my responsibility to recover their Gmail accounts, download the app again, and set everything up once more.

 

[elf_lord_ZC5]

SMS is so reliable - really. My Bank is supposed to send me SMS'es when transactions are made on my account. Usually the arrive 7-10 minutes after the transaction, takes place. Sometimes never.

Not sure if that is the Banks fault, or Vodacoms - tho I think Vodacom is the likely culprit.

 

[Swa]

Aren’t we turning off 2G and then 3G at some point? Won’t these SMSs then become obsolete if at all still functional by then?

SMS can be sent as a data connection. It's been the case since 3G even. Before that it was basically a call to a message centre.

 

[NarrowBandFtw]

the key strength of SMS remains that it works independently of Internet connectivity

so the key strength vanishes in a puff of smoke the millisecond a mobile network gives a preferential data rate to something like Whatsapp just as they do with banking apps?

... not very compelling I reckon

 

[elf_lord_ZC5]

so the key strength vanishes in a puff of smoke the millisecond a mobile network gives a preferential data rate to something like Whatsapp just as they do with banking apps?

... not very compelling I reckon

Probably why I get bank transaction SMS'es 10 - 15 minutes later. Not useful, but yeah - Africa Rules