OPTUS REWARDS MOBILE CUSTOMERS WITH FREE SMS ON VALENTINE'S DAY

In an unprecedented move, Optus Mobile has decided to assist the love struck, by giving it's customers the ability to send SMS messages free for three hours between 7.00am and 10.00am (eastern daylight savings time) this Valentines Day.

Paul Kitchin, Director Mobile Marketing Optus said, "Australians won't just be calling to say 'I love you' this Valentines Day - they'll be SMSing current and potential partners their Valentine message."

"We've decided to give the love lorn a chance to start the day on the right foot for free."

"Our customer's usually send over 16 million SMS a week and we expect them to send around four million SMS on Valentines Day alone," Mr Kitchin said.

Optus expects it's customers will prove to be quite inventive with SMS and will use the characters on their handset to develop small graphics and animations including kisses and roses or download special picture message graphics from the Optus website.

SMS short code for St Valentines Day and sample picture messages

Optus SMS normally costs 25 cents per message sent of up to 160 characters. Picture messages cost $1.99 each to download. Before downloading, consumers should check the website to ensure they have a compatible handset. For example; ringtones and logos can be downloaded onto most Nokia digital mobile phones. For full terms and conditions of this Free SMS Valentine Day offer see www.info2you.com.au.

For more information contact:
Simone Bergholcs
Optus Public Affairs
Tel: 02 9342 7846

Optus SMS normally costs 25 cents per message sent of up to 160 characters. Picture messages cost $1.99 each to download. Before downloading, consumers should check the website to ensure they have a compatible handset. For example; ringtones and logos can be downloaded onto most Nokia digital mobile phones. For full terms and conditions of this Free SMS Valentine Day offer see www.info2you.com.au.

For more information contact:
Simone Bergholcs
Optus Public Affairs
Tel: 02 9342 7846