The launching of an SMS text message service by the Tonga Communications Corporation on July 11,was a milestone in the development of mobile telecommunications in Tonga, according to the Acting General Manager of TCC Timote Katoanga.

In launching the new service, Timote said that it was the beginning of UCall's text messaging service overseas, "in the near future we are looking to expand and connect the SMS text message service with other big Telecom companies in New Zealand such as Vodafone and Telstra," he said.

Currently, the new service could be used only by U-Call mobile subscribers in Tonga to text only customers of Telecom New Zealand. Users first punch the plus sign on theirmobile, then 64 the country code of New Zealand, then the Telecom New Zealand number which begins with 25 or 27.

Timote said that to mark the launching of their new service they were awarding a $5 pa'anga credit to the first 100 UCall customers using the new SMS text messaging .

With regards to rumors that their competitor Tonfön was trying to strike a deal and buy out the UCall mobile service of TCC. Timote shrugged it off as a rumour and said that they had neither met nor discussed such a deal with representatives of Tonfön.