Summer 2006

A breakthrough that could allow increasing numbers of shoppers to make purchases via text messages has been proclaimed by numŽro, a UK-based technology company. If it takes off, it is seen as adding further impetus to the already massive growth in home shopping.

The company says its new SMS technology can understand unstructured text messages - or "plain English", as the company puts it. But it can also be programmed to understand "text speak", it says.

It is calling its new system SmartAgŽnt ŽSMS. It uses natural language programming to read, understand and intelligently respond to text messages without human interaction.

To illustrate the potential, it cites the example of a customer who sends a text message reading "Find stores in Manchester that sell DVDs." It says the system will read and understand this message and send back the required information - and can also give consumers a choice of reserving or ordering the product or service they want, and organising a home delivery.

numŽro says the system draws on the same technology it has already deployed for use with customer emails received in the customer service centres of some high street retailers such as Tesco, Argos, Lakeland and JD Williams. It claims this has improved both the speed and quality of email responses by a minimum of 50 per cent.