Not all short codes will be available in Island

Tuesday 11th July 2006, 12:00AM BST.

ISLANDERS still won’t be able to text in to all their favourite television and radio programmes following the launch of short code texting.

Text voting using a five-digit number was introduced in the UK some years ago and was used by Jersey Telecom for television show Big Brother and the Sport Relief celebrity programme Only Fools on Horses.

However, the short code will not be available to use for JT’s customers every time a text number appears on television or is read out on the radio.

Because each contract has to be negotiated with a third party, only certain vote lines will be open to Islanders.

Jersey Telecom head of marketing David Vieira said they wanted to introduce more short code numbers, but were not able to do so in the same way as big providers like Vodafone or BT.

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