British Telecom launches two SMS capable landline phones

BT announced the launch of the UK's first corded phone capable of sending and receiving text messages. Priced at £29.99 (inc VAT), the BT Relate SMS sees BT as the first in the field to offer such mobile functionality on a corded phone. As an alternative users can choose a cordless phone, the BT Diverse 5410. Featuring a large LCD display, the BT Diverse 5410, priced at £99.99 (incl. VAT), is the UK's first enhanced messaging service home phone.

Text has been one of the most unexpected success stories of the 1990s. Originating as a service for mobile handsets only, BT was the first to introduce texting to fixed line phones in November 2001. Since then, approximately 1,107,784 text messages have been sent from fixed line handsets alone, and the launch of the BT Relate SMS is set to see this number increase further.

In addition the phone features the BT Relate includes the following features:

Stores up to 100 names and numbers in the phone's memory.

Five last number redial.

Choice of ringer melodies and volume levels.

The BT Diverse features are:

Voice-announced caller ID

Voice-activated dialling

Ring tone assignment to specified numbers

Emoticons for text messaging

Three personalised text message inboxes with protected access to each via a PIN code

Two-way radio between handsets

Room monitor facility

Diary date alert for birthdays, important meetings and anniversaries

200 name and number memory

Three party conference function (two internal and one external)

Saves numbers from SMS messages into the directory

Handsfree function