Want a deal? Just SMS Mkhoj

What does it do? Shoppers looking for a particular product in any locality can send an SMS to a number which will then throw up the best three or four deals available in the area.

For example, if a person is looking for the best deals on shoes in the Colaba locality of Mumbai, all he has to do is type “deal shoes colaba” to 6767777. That will throw up the three top places in Colaba to shop and provide details of the deal.

What’s the business model? The shopper just pays the normal tariff for the SMS. But the shops that are advertised have to pay Mkhoj for each enquiry that throws their name up.

How many shops are covered as a part of the mkhoj network? Currently, there are 15,000 retailers who are part of Mkhoj, including 25 organised chains. Examples: Inorbit, Subhiksha, Café Coffee Day, McDonald’s, Lakme, Tata Sky and Provogue, among many others.

Where is the service available? Currently, the service is available only in Mumbai but Mkhoj plans to extend the service to other metros and tier-II cities over the next year.