Service sends messages from the tube

Sky Digital and U.K. telecom company Thus have launched an SMS (short message service) that will enable users to send and receive text messages via their television sets. Sky customers can already send text messages from their digital set top boxes, but the new service will enable cell phone users to reply to the messages and viewers to receive SMS via their television.

Hinting at the La-Z-Boy-friendly benefits offered by the service, Phil Male, chief operating officer of Thus, said: "TV viewers who send text messages will no longer be having a one-way conversation. They can get a reply without getting out of their chair. The functionality we've added is designed to encourage increased use of the text messaging service."

Silicon.com's Will Sturgeon reported from London.

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