Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) is a protocol used by GSM phones to communicate with service providers. It allows for real-time two-way communication without needing a internet connection, making it more responsive than SMS. USSD is used for services like mobile banking, social media access, and checking account balances through short cryptic messages.

1. Unstructured
Supplementary Service
Data (USSD)
Prepared by: Somashekhar Sajjan
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2. Contents
Introduction
Advantages
Examples
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3. Introduction
Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) is a protocol used by GSM
cellular telephones to communicate with the service provider's computers.
USSD can be used for WAP browsing, prepaid callback service, mobile-money
services, location-based content services, menu-based information services,
and as part of configuring the phone on the network.
USSD messages are up to 182 alphanumeric characters in length.
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4. Advantages
Unlike Short Message Service (SMS) messages, USSD messages create a real-
time connection during a USSD session. The connection remains open,
allowing a two-way exchange of a sequence of data. This makes USSD more
responsive than services that use SMS.
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5. How it works
The user composes a message—usually rather cryptic—on the phone
keyboard. The phone sends it to the phone company network, where it is
received by a computer dedicated to USSD. The answer from this computer
is sent back to the phone. The answer could be seen on the phone screen.
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6. Examples
Airtel Money in India
SharEpay
WING in Cambodia
SWAP Mobile in South Africa
Mobipay in Spain
M-Pesa in Tanzania
mPay in Poland use USSD
Facebook can be accessed through Airtel, Docomo without any GPRS using
USSD (http://www.fonetwish.com/)
http://teck.in/sbi-ussd-mobile-banking-services-for-low-end-non-java-
phones.html
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7. Short Message Peer-to-Peer (SMPP)
Introduction
Advantages
Technology
Examples
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8. Introduction
The Short Message Peer-to-Peer (SMPP) protocol is a telecommunications
industry protocol for exchanging SMS messages between SMS peer entities
such as short message service centers and/or
External Short Messaging Entities
It is often used to allow third parties (e.g. value-added service providers like
news organizations) to submit messages, often in bulk.
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