People are asking why ArrivedOK Beta (which official launch is scheduled for 23 March) is not currently available in the US. Ten countries around the world but not USA. Here’s why.

First, we’re in the process of making it happen. Sending arrival alerts by SMS to US recipients requires obtaining a US mobile short code from some authorized organization. That includes doing some paper work, submitting the service proposal to that office, followed by its approval from ALL mobile operators in the country. After that, having a short code we have to integrate with one of the SMS gateways. Only then US recipients will be able to receive text notifications from ArrivedOK. It’s hopefully going to happen in June or July.

Why so difficult, you may ask? Perhaps because mobile operators in the US charge their subscribers for incoming messages (which is, in our view, somewhat draconian practice. Normally, Texting/Calling Party Pays, isn’t it? We know that MNO’s are greedy everywhere, but not to that extent. People are unhappy), and they don’t want service providers from outside to ‘bother’ their users with text messages.

There’s an option though. ArrivedOK can notify not only by SMS, but also by email, via weblogs and Twitter. Launching ArrivedOK with that a bit restricted functionality (blogs, email, Twitter, but no SMS) for US subscribers can be quicker. We optimistically reckon 3 weeks.

Singapore’s leading operator, SingTel, has recently announced its $2.3 million Partner Programme which aim is to bring new applications for mobile market.
Mon, Jan 14, 2008
The Straits Times

“Developers will get access to the latest software tools, mobile phones and even preferential cellphone charges as part of plan to market more homegrown applications.
If they are deemed good enough by SingTel, their software may also be marketed to the region with the help of the telco. Altogether, SingTel and its partner telcos in the region have 158 million mobile subcriptions, dwarfing the 5.4 million subscriptions here.

< ...>Such projects are common with cellphone operators the world over as they seek the next big game or application that companies and consumers will use on their small screens”.

The project supported by Infocomm Development Authority and industry vendors like Nokia and Microsoft