USSD Menu Application

Features:

  • USSD is faster and better way for interactive transactions and call-related            messaging compared to SMS.
  • Unlike SMS, which is store-and-forward functionality, USSD is session-oriented.
  • When a user accesses a USSD service, a session is established and the radio connection stays open until the user, application releases it or time-out happens. Response times for interactive applications are therefore shorter than with          SMS,because there is no channel reservation time per message and there
    Is no store and forward.     
  • USSD messages are simple to form and easy to send. There is no need to configure any settings as in SMS or WAP. A typical USSD message starts with a * or # followed by digits which indicate an action to be performed or are parameters. Each group of numbers is separated by a * and, the message is terminated with a #.The user simply dials a string, which automatically connects to the USSD Gateway. The USSD gateway in turn can interact with external applications based on USSD command. This allows access to a number of value added services via USSD.  

    • Benefits to the Client::

  • USSD is session oriented, unlike SMS, which is a store-and-forward, transaction-oriented technology.
  • Turnaround response times for interactive applications are shorter for USSD than SMS because of the session-based feature of USSD, and because it is NOT a store and forward service.
  • Users do not need to access any particular phone menu to access services with USSD- they can enter the Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (USSD) command direct from the initial mobile phone screen.
  • USSD commands are routed back to the home mobile network’s Home Location Register (HLR), allowing for the virtual home environment concept – the ability for services (based on USSD in this case) to work just as well and in exactly the same way when users are roaming.
  • Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (USSD) works on all existing GSM mobile phones.



    • Shorter Response times

    Turnaround response times for interactive applications are shorter for USSD than SMS because of the session-based feature of USSD, and because it is NOT a store and forward service

    Easy at user front

    Users do not need to access any particular phone menu to access services with USSD- they can enter the Unstructured Supplementary Services Data (USSD) command direct from the initial mobile phone screen

    One CB message can contain up to 15 pages of 93 symbols each, i.e., 1 395 characters all in all.