Read the Fine Text

It's true: not all mass messages are teeth-grindingly annoying. Take for instance ekSMS (www.eksms.com), a location-based deals service that operates on both email and phone, passing along coupons for active discounts in different neighbourhoods.With this, we can deal!

All you have to do is text ekSMS your location and what meal you're looking for - lunch, dinner or drinks -  and they send you back four options: we recently received fun breaks at Suzette, Nariman Point; Hard Rock Cafe; Lemongrass, Bandra; and Veda, Lower Parel. To redeem the discount, visit the establishment and show them your coupon on your phone. Easy as pie.

Cyber Cafes

For those of you on the DND cell number list, they offer the same service through their website as well, and send you a coupon via email. We found this method more convenient, as it allowed us to browse deals active at different times of the day for multiple areas, but it hampers mobility; at best, ekSMS works as a tool you whip out  when you're on the road already, done with work or an afternoon of shopping, and want to cop a good deal at your current location.

Early Days and  Early Birds

 Just having launched, ekSMS is currently rather limited, operating in three Mumbai neighborhoods - Colaba, Lower Parel and Bandra - with only  a handful of deals  for each area. Also, the Bandra section often shows discounts in Worli (Cool Chef Cafe, for instance), which is a long distance to travel. There are technical glitches as well - twice we didn't receive the text coupons, but their email is consistently reliable.

Despite this,  ekSMS is a cool, convenient concept, one that plans to expand geographically and to more businesses -  we suggest you keep an eye on this fledgling service. You know what they say about early birds. 

Getting there: Visit www.eksms.com or text 9845898458, free service.