Startup focuses on smart SMS

The startup Microfountain aims to deliver interactive and multimedia-based short messages covering bank notifications, package information and online shopping promotions, the company said during the sixth World Internet Conference, held in Wuzhen, Zhejiang Province.

The company's services utilize artificial-intelligence and 5G network technologies which help turn texts into interactive messages, Ryan Duan, chief executive of Zhuhai-based Microfountain, told Shanghai Daily in Wuzhen.

Short messages are a dwindling business for mobile carriers thanks to applications like WeChat and Alipay. But people still need text messages to verify identification and access other services.

So far, Microfountain has cooperated with 40 smartphone brands including Huawei, Samsung and Xiaomi.

The service helps clients such as banks, delivery firms and e-commerce websites provide efficient, accurate and interactive smart SMS services for users.

The company, along with mobile carriers, is also involved in setting up new 5G short message standards both nationwide and globally.