What is Communicate?

Cell-Life uses cell-phones to strengthen the HIV sector. We offer a wide range of cell-phone functions to provide information and communication services that are useful to both organizations involved in the HIV/AIDS sector, as well as people living with HIV. The Communicate platform allows organisations to send news alerts, scheduled reminders, run opinion polls and hold competitions. We also provide MXIT and USSD services to support HIV counselling and VCT.

Cell-Life’s strength lies in our knowledge of the health sector. We determine the best way in which organisations can use the various functions of cell-phones in their communication campaigns. We can also assist in working out how best to approach the intended audience, set project goals, and measure how successful each project was.

Functionality

There are a number of cell-phone functions that form part of the Cell-Life mobile communications product offering. Any number of these functions can be used in combination with one another, depending on the requirements of the project. Our team at Cell-Life is highly experienced at putting together communication campaigns designed to raise awareness and alter people’s perceptions of HIV/AIDS and other medical & social issues.

Below is a brief description of each cell-phone function and how they can be used. The costs mentioned exclude any extra costs such as training and implementation, covering only the cost of data, and are subject to change. The accompanying cell-phones illustrate examples of our previous work, and are an indication of what each module can be used for. Whilst the phones shown are more advanced than the average cell-phone, bear in mind that most of our solutions work on all cell-phone types.

Broadcast SMS

What is it?

• Organisations can send out an SMS to a list of known numbers. These SMSs can be scheduled (e.g. send at 9.00am on Monday).

Positives: Everyone can use it; no advanced phone required.

Negatives: 160 character limit per SMS.

Data Costs: Free to user, cost of 20c ex VAT to organisation sending.

Handset: Any & all.

Uses: Any short message, notice or update.

Interactive SMS

What is it?

• People can SMS a keyword and receive information in an SMS automatically sent by the organization.

Positives: Everyone can use it; No advanced phone required.

Negatives: 160 character limit per SMS; keyword must be exact.

Data Costs: Free to user, cost of 20c to organisation sending.

Handset: Any & all.

Uses: SMS to find date, time & venue of next meeting; where the nearest ‘facility’ is; or any other specified piece of information.

“Please Call Me” messages

What is it?

• People can send a ‘Please Call Me’ (PCM) message as a signal to an organisation. This is done on Vodacom by typing *140*number# or on MTN by typing *121*number#.

Positives: Everyone can use it; No advanced phone required.

Negatives: No content can be entered in the PCM message by the user.

Data Costs: Free to user.

Handset: Any & all.

Uses: Can be used to signal various things – joining a subscription list, finding local services etc. It can also be used to trigger a response (e.g. “Send a Please Call Me to this number to find out more” then an SMS containing the relevant information is then sent back).

Text menus (USSD)

What is it?

• Basic text menus; Users can make selections from menus to go to different pages.

Positives: Everyone can use it; No advanced phone required.

Negatives: 150 character limit/screen; bit tricky to use (three key-presses for each selection). 2-min session timeout then content disappears – a USSD selection can trigger an SMS being sent to the user.

Data Costs: 20 cents per 20 second second. Some providers including Cell-C and 8ta do not currently charge for USSD calls

Handset: Any & all.

Examples: *111# (Vodacom customers); *120*555# (Look for a service); *120*8221# (Eng only, 822 = TAC); *120*78573# (78573 = PULSE).

Uses: Access limited information; Select one of many choices (then sent an SMS of the info, or can read further); or enter a few questions – try *120*57573#.

Location Based Services (LBS)