Text messages cut revenue of PT Pos Indonesia<\/p>\n
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Many people will experience the information revolution firsthand
\nthis Idul Fitri by sending a text message to their loved ones
\ninstead of doing it the old way: sending a greeting card or
\nletter through the post.<\/p>\n
This new technology can instantly connect us with our loved
\nones, and is cheaper, faster and more practical than the post.<\/p>\n
But it has a victim, the state-owned post office, PT Pos
\nIndonesia.<\/p>\n
\"We have suffered a drop of 40 percent in mailed greeting
\ncards and letters during the peak season thanks to texting and e-
\nmail services,\" the company's Greater Jakarta Division secretary
\nBaharuddin told The Jakarta Post on Monday.<\/p>\n
Indonesian cellular telephone operators interconnected their
\ntext services last May, which lead to a surge in text messages.<\/p>\n
Telecommunications data shows that more people are expected to
\nuse the service this year as the total number of cellular
\nsubscribers is expected to increase to around nine million
\ncompared to 5.3 million last year and about 3.2 million in 2000.<\/p>\n
But despite the losses caused by texting, Baharuddin said the
\nGreater Jakarta Division still expected a surge in mail for Idul
\nFitri.<\/p>\n
\"Mail will increase by some 7 percent to 10 percent while
\nmoney order and parcel services are expected to go up by 15
\npercent each,\" he explained.<\/p>\n
Baharuddin said that last year the Greater Jakarta Division
\ndelivered an average of 600,000 items and received some 700,000
\nitems per normal day.<\/p>\n
The figures soared during the peak season, when the division
\ndelivered about 1 million items and received some 1.3 million
\nitems daily.<\/p>\n
During last year's peak season, the division delivered 4,000
\nparcels and received 750 parcels compared to 2,500 and 800
\noutside the peak season.<\/p>\n
The division also transmitted Rp 1.8 billion and received Rp
\n250 million in money orders compared to Rp 1.4 billion and Rp 400
\nmillion outside the peak season.<\/p>\n
\"The 7 percent to 15 percent increase, however, is still an
\nearly prediction as we are still at the beginning of the fasting
\nmonth,\" said Baharuddin.<\/p>\n
\"Currently, the volume of mail posted has only reached some 70
\npercent of the volume sent during last year's peak season. The
\namount of mail will increase during the second half of the
\nRamadhan fasting month,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Despite the competition from e-mail, text message services and
\ncourier companies, Baharuddin was still optimistic that the
\npostal service possessed particular advantages that would ensure
\nits survival.<\/p>\n
\"We have a vast and long experience. PT Pos Indonesia also has
\nthe largest coverage nationwide with low charges. You can send a
\npostcard to anywhere in the country for only Rp 1,000,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Baharuddin emphasized that most of Indonesians still
\nconsidered it better to receive mail in their hands instead of
\nelectronically.<\/p>\n
Deddy, an architect, echoed Baharuddin's view, saying that he
\nhad sent text messages last year and would also use the service
\nthis year to send Idul Fitri greetings to his friends.<\/p>\n
\"But I still send greeting cards to special people such as my
\nfamily members and my clients.\" Deddy told the Post. \"I guess
\nnothing can really replace the mail.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/text-messages-cut-revenue-of-pt-pos-indonesia-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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