Celltrust launches SecureSMS Gateway for airlines

By Giselle Abramovich

April 11, 2008

No flighty transactions

As mobile devices evolve and offer consumers options such as managing business and personal transactions, industries like air travel may find value in providing mobile payment options to customers.

Celltrust Corp.’s SecureSMS Gateway, for example, claims to allow businesses to exchange critical information with customers in a trusted environment on the mobile device. CellTrust’s SecureSMS Gateway gives the message sender the ability to confirm when text messages are delivered and read through encrypted code.

“So far people have different avenues of getting airline tickets and mobile is just another avenue,” said Sean Moshir, CEO of Celltrust. “Using their mobile phones, users can pay for and find flights and get themselves on the next available flight.

“Typically, people go on the Web site and now airlines can link your profile on the site to your mobile phone so if you text then the airline knows who you are and what your preferences are,” he said. "It’s a way of bringing the consumer closer and it’s a branding thing.” 

The service allows for no size limitations along with remote wipe functionality that ensures users can wipe the handset if it is lost or stolen.

CellTrust’s SecureSMS Gateway manages and exchanges messages via a Secure Mobile Information Management platform, giving businesses and government the ability to confirm that the recipient's mobile device is able to receive secure SMS messages.

“This opens a new way people can transfer money and you're making people use their phone,” Mr. Moshir said. “There’s no risk, either. Cell phones provide you with two forms of verification and that is the difference between doing it over the Web, which only asks you to login.”