Etisalat has launched its new cutting-edge messaging service, Etisalat Messenger, that allows subscribers to exchange instant messages between Etisalat mobile phones, and between phones and personal computers.

It also allows multicast services between personal computers, said a statement from the Emirates telecom company.

Etisalat Messenger is similar to the leading Internet chatting applications, such as Yahoo Messenger, MSN, Google Talk and others.

The main feature of Etisalat Messenger is that it enables family and friends to discover each others’ status and availability and accordingly decide when and how to communicate.

Dialogues can include multimedia (e.g. pictures, video and sound clips), offline IM delivered as SMS/MMS, support multi-languages: Arabic and English.

The other features include personal phone directory customization, which allows for and one-to-one and one-to-many messaging communication.

Messages support sending emoticons, images and nudges, and the user will be able to view last 50 messages received while being online.

'Instant messaging is one of the most popular mediums that connect the youth today and with this value added service, Etisalat aims to target the young generation in the UAE.'

'This service will be available through the mobiles now, making it far easier for our customers to connect with their friends and families,' said Essa Al Haddad, Etisalat CMO.

'There are a number of important elements that go into a first-class messaging service. Foremost among these, of course, are reliability and reach, followed by value for money.'

'But today’s subscriber also demands a number of features that enhance social networking and messaging, and increase the fun, ease and speed of sending messages. In this regard, for instance, Etisalat allows subscribers to communicate their mood to other users, or their availability,' he added.

The new service, Al Haddad added, falls into Etisalat’s drive to provide innovative and best in class products and services to our customers.

In order to meet the varying needs of subscribers, he said, Etisalat Messenger comes in two packages: the first one (Chat Plus Package) provides unlimited use for a flat rate Dh25 per month; the other package (chat Package) allows users to send and receive unlimited instant messages for a fixed period of 15 minutes, at a cost of Dh2 per session.

Customers can register to Etisalat messenger services by calling 125 or by sending an SMS “r em chatplus“ to 1010 for chat plus package and “r em chat“ to 1010 for the chat package, the statement added.-TradeArabia News Service