SMS messages remind Bangkok resident to vote

BANGKOK: -- The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) plans to use SMS messages to remind the city’s residents to vote in the forthcoming elections for the Bangkok governor.

Mobile phones operators will send various SMS messages to remind their customers about the schedule of election-related activities.

The messages will also inform voters on how to cast their ballots.

These reminder messages will be sent with increased frequency as the election day – 29th August --gets closer.

The scheme aims to raise the political awareness of Bangkok’s residents and persuade them to vote.

The Bangkok authorities have pledged to get more electors to vote in this year’s poll, than voted in the last election for the governor, four years ago.

The SMS reminder scheme is being supported by Thailand’s leading telecommunications companies, including Advance Info Service (AIS), Total Access Communications (TAC), Asia Wireless Communications, TA Orange, and Hutchison CAT Wireless Multimedia.

So far there are twenty-two candidates contesting the election.

The final list of approved candidates will be posted at all district administration offices, BMA city clerk, Khun Ying Nathanon Thavisin, told TNA on Thursday.

-- TNA 2004-08-06

04:30am SMS example at a farang mobile:

*** THIS IS AIS POLITICAL DEPT *** GO AND VOTE. NOW! IF NOT THEN ... ***

I wonder whether these SMS messages are being sent gratis is whether certain un-named mobile phone operators are charging the government for urging people to exercise their civic duty?