KT in Korea has started to provide text-message-based real time consulting services from April 20 to handicapped people for whom telephone services pose various difficulties in a bid to practice customer-oriented "wonder" management.

The sent messages are received in real time by KT’s Customer Service Center, and the company’s consultants will send replies to Megapass broadband service applications and after-sales inquiries via text messages.

In particular, this service is expected to become popular with both people with impaired hearing and language abilities and young customers who are skilled users of text messages.

All KT customers can access this service without any further subscription procedures or extra charges. When using fixed-line phones such as "Ann" phones, the text message service is free. However, when using a mobile phone service, the related mobile service fee will be charged.

Park Yong-hwa, KT’s vice-president, said, "The text message-based consulting service is very useful, and is expected to gain popularity with the nation's 170,000 estranged citizens suffering from impaired hearing and language ability, as well as with young people who are very familiar with text messages rather than voice phone services."