Indiatimes SMS 8888, the pioneering messaging-based infotainment service, hitherto available only through GSM service providers will now be made available to Tata Indicom subscribers also.

As part of Tata Tele and Times Internet tie-up, Indiatimes will provide Tata Indicom customers all services available under 8888 umbrella, including ring tones, dating service, games and cricket. For the first time such a service is being made available to CDMA mobile subscribers.

"We are pleased to tie up with Indiatimes to offer our mobile customers swift, interactive SMS-based content to meet their entertainment and information needs through Indiatimes’ 8888 service," says Tata Tele-Services president Amit Bose.

"Our customers now have access to ‘infotainment on the move’ as they can use the 8888 service to get exciting new ring tones, pictures, news, dating services, jokes, astro and a whole lot of fun contests," Amit says.

"Success of Indiatimes 8888 has proved that an innovative idea has ever-lasting value for customers. The service is adding invaluable revenues as part of the value-added services for almost every operator. We are now bridging the technology barrier so that 8888 can be made available to Tata Indicom customers as well," says Times Internet CEO Mahendra Swarup.

Indiatimes 8888 receives 1.8 million requests every day for astro, dating, cricket, jokes, mail, ringtones, logos, picture messages and other branded content such as Archies m-cards and Airgames’ Java games.