IFind, an SMS-enabled directory enquiry service, was launched in South Africa (SA) last week. According to iFind MD, Fanie Venter, iFind is different from other directory enquiry services, in that it works across all three local cellular networks.

"Also unlike other directory services available in SA, iFind lets the user access information via USSD, SMS, Internet and through our call center," he says.

According to the company, the service is location-specific, so a user can specify in which city or town the search should be concentrated. All a user needs to do is SMS a keyword such as "pizza", along with a location such as "Gauteng" to iFind"s service number (34600). An SMS will then be returned with information on pizza restaurants in the Gauteng area. The user is charged Rand 2 (US$0.32) or the enquiry.

"Users can also access our directory via USSD," says Venter. "However, this menu-driven system is far more expensive, costing about R2 per minute, and our whole aim is to make the service as cheap as possible for the customer."

According to the company, its main source of income will come from companies wanting to advertise their services and products on the iFind directory. "We already have over a million products and services listed, and plan to grow that exponentially in the near future," says Venter. Companies wanting to list will need to pay R171 per month, and have the option of submitting up to ten keywords that they think best describe their service or product.

"We hope that eventually we will be able to bring the service to the user at no cost at all," concludes Venter.