Sky has launched a service allowing customers to text their Sky+ boxes from anywhere in the world, instructing it to record programmes.To instruct a Sky+ box to record a show, users must text the name of the show, followed by the channel it is aired on, and the date and the time of the programme.

For example: Holby City. BBC1. 06/06. 20:00.

To activate the service, which launched this morning at 10am, Sky + users must register their mobile phone numbers on My Sky, a new section on the Sky Active menu. Up to eight numbers per box can be registered.

In approximately a months time customers will also be able to access their Sky+ menus and scroll through options online and via on their 3G handsets.

The move is part of an aggressive move by Sky to expand its customer base.