SMS tsunami donations reach £1m

British mobile phone users have donated over £1m to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) tsunami appeal fund using text messages.

After the disaster 3, Fresh, O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Tesco Mobile, Virgin Mobile and Vodafone clubbed together to provide a single, no-fee text number to accept donations.

By texting DONATE to 83321 £1.50 is automatically deducted from the phone bill and goes straight to DEC.

"Text has proven to be a straightforward and accessible way to demonstrate support for tsunami aid relief, and we are immensely grateful for this huge effort by a new group of donors," said Brendon Gormley, chief executive at DEC.

Customers of all the networks can donate via the 83321 shortcode until 31 March 2005.

Text messaging is increasingly being used to raise money for charities. The GSM Association will be holding a text message auction in February to raise money for Unicef.

Participants will text in bids for prizes including VIP trips to the Cannes Film Festival or the British Grand Prix. Winners will be announced at the end of the 3GSM World Congress.