Telstra releases Facebook updates via SMS

Telecommunications giant Telstra has released a new feature allowing its mobile customers to receive Facebook notifications via text messages.

“From today, our mobile customers can sign up to receive free SMS notifications every time a friend updates Facebook, including news on wall posts, comments, invites and messages,” Telstra consumer executive director Jenny Young said in a statement.

“People don’t need to wait until they get to work now to find out if their Facebook has been updated; they can be alerted on their mobile while they are out and about, and send an update straight back,” she said.

The notifications are free, but apparently Telstra hopes to gain new revenue from replies to the notifications charged at normal rates.

Users can control the number of messages they receive, along with their regularity and timing.