Manx Telecom customers can now make donations to the BBC Children In Need appeal using short text codes on their mobile phones. This is the first time customers have been able to use short code text numbers to help the appeal. There are three codes - 70701, 70705 and 70710 - and these allow donations of ?1, ?5 and ?10 respectively. All three numbers can be used by Manx Telecom pay as you go and pay monthly mobile customers. Should someone choose to donate by this method they will send a text with a valid donation keyword to one of the numbers and their pay as you go or pay monthly account will be debited with the donation amount. The full amount of every donation made will go to Children In Need, there will be no deductions due to VAT or other charges. Ian Quiggin, Manx Telecom Product Co-ordinator, said: “We are delighted to offer our mobile customers the opportunity to help support Children In Need for the duration of this year’s appeal. Using the short codes is a simple way of making a donation and we are certain that many customers will welcome this service.” He added that a lot of work had gone on behind the scenes to allow the short codes to be used. The short code text service was introduced in response to feedback from customers who wished to use this method to support Children In Need. As well as technical work, Manx Telecom also had to set up agreements with companies, known in the telecoms business as ‘aggregators’, which co-ordinate the short code system by liaising with different network providers and charities. The Manx Telecom short codes are already available to use for Children In Need donations. Customers can use the 70705 number to vote for one of The One Show presenters to go down a sewer as part of the fundraising campaign. The Children In Need appeal culminates with an evening of programmes on BBC1 on Friday November 19. - ENDS -