VAS-Value Added Services

A value-added service (VAS) is popular as a telecommunications industry term for non-core services or, in short, all services beyond standard voice calls and fax transmissions but, it can be used in ANY service industry (eg. Web 2.0) for the services providers provide for no cost to promote their main service business. In telecommunication industry on a conceptual level, value-added services add value to the standard service offering, spurring the subscriber to use their phone more and allowing the operator to drive up their ARPU. For mobile phones, while technologies like SMS, MMS and GPRS are usually considered value-added services, a distinction may also be made between standard (peer-to-peer) content and premium-charged content.
Mobile value-added services (VAS) are those services that offer differentiation and the ability for mobile operators to charge a premium price. Mobile VAS include non-voice advanced messaging services such as SMS, MMS, MIM, and UM and wireless data services based on wireless data bearer technologies such as WLAN, GPRS, 1xRTT, WAP with VAS applications including mobile gaming. Mobile VAS also includes voice-based services such as PTT and WDA.