The texting service, launched in February, allows PAYE customers to request information such as PAYE leaflets and forms by sending text messages to a dedicated short-code -- 51829 -- from their mobile phones. Users are also able to claim PAYE tax credits through the service. Saadian Technologies, the firm behind the SMS technology, won the contract to provide the Revenue Commissioners with the service in November 2004. No figure has been provided on the value of deal, although Herbie Ellis, director of key accounts with Saadian Technologies, said that the contract is worth a "significant amount."
The automated system responds immediately to all text messages and requested forms are put in the post and sent to the recipient straight away. To date, users have been able to apply for only the most popular revenue forms, such as tax relief forms, but the Revenue Commissioners has been so surprised by the popularity of the service that it has decided to extend the service to all documentation during the coming year, according to Ellis.
During the first two weeks of the launch, the level of text messages was equal to that of telephone requests, according to Paddy Collins, head of business solutions in Vodafone Ireland who also worked on the project. Texts to the revenue service cost just EUR0.15 each at any time of the day.
"This service helps the Revenue to be more efficient in its dealings with the public by speeding up the whole form-requesting process, which ordinarily takes up a lot of time," said Ellis. " Revenue should receive as much kudos for this service as the Department of the Environment did for its motor tax online service; it's another example of a great e-government initiative."
Recognising the potential of the mobile phone as a way to communicate with the public, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Irish Blood Transfusion Board and Glanbia have all signed up for Saadian's mobile business applications, and Ellis said that the firm has most recently signed a deal with the Local Government Computer Services Board (LGCSB).
Under the LGCSB deal local authorities will be able to use the Saadian service for distributing automated update notifications to citizens on the processing of documentation such as planning applications and driving license renewals for example.
Saadian is currently in negotiations with a number of government departments in Ireland to offer a similar type of service, according to Ellis, who said that the company is also targeting utility companies such as ESB who would be able to use the service to notify customers of power outages in certain areas by text message for example.
Autor: Deirdre McArdle
Quelle: ElectricNews, 07.03.2005
