Optus today became the first Australian mobile network to launch Push to Talk Group SMS, enabling customers to send an SMS to a group of people from their Push to Talk (PTT) handsets.

More than 40 per cent of handsets sold on the Optus network are now PTT enabled and PTT Group SMS provides another reason for consumers to use this service.

"PTT is the most innovative development to happen to the mobile phone in two years. While SMS is great for one-on-one communication, PTT has been extremely successful when trying to organise a social event or a sporting commitment amongst a group of people," Michael Smith, Group Marketing Director, Optus Consumer said.

"Optus PTT Group SMS takes this service a step further. It ropes in all the benefits of a PTT voice call and gives consumers the option to receive group messages immediately and discreetly."

With an average of more than 6.5 million SMS sent daily over the Optus network, the company is confident that PTT Group SMS, unique to Optus, will take off and influence the way consumers communicate.

"Our 18-34 year old customers tell us they want interactive, instantaneous contact and PTT appeals to the tribal way young people communicate," Mr Smith said.

Priced at the standard SMS rate of 25 cents per group message, PTT Group SMS is an affordable way to keep in contact as up to five recipients will receive the message for the price of one SMS.

PTT Group SMS works in the same way as a PTT group voice call. Groups of one to six people are simply set up using the PTT Add Group menu option in the phone. It is then just three easy steps to send a PTT Group SMS:

1. Use the SMS function on the phone
2. Type in the PTT group name, leave a space and then type the SMS message
3. Type the SMS shortcode number of 6788 and send!

Optus Push to Talk is widely available, working across the Optus GSM network that reaches 96 per cent of the Australian population.

For more information:
Sheila Dhillon / Sarah Turner
Optus Corporate Affairs
Phone: 02 9342 5042 / 02 9342 8432