Cashing on the phenomenal growth of Twitter since a year, Airtel is launching a third-party application that allows you to receive Twitter SMS updates directly onto your phone called “tweetSMS”.

Initially when Twitter was launched, they had SMS updates option and they were sending the users their replies and their friends updates via SMS but somewhere in 2008 Twitter stopped sending free SMS updates to users, and instead started teaming up with different service providers around the world to create an economical and easy way to get SMS updates on your phone. In India, Twitter has teamed up exclusively with Airtel to offer the SMS service for an unknown period of time.

Atul Bindal, President, Airtel Mobile Services added that this is one of their consumer-connect initiative to help retain high-end customers and also bring in more subscribers, especially the youth brigrade onto their network. Kunal Bajaj, MD of consulting firm BDA Connect. agreed to Mr. Bindal’s Statement and added that the launch of tweetSMS is clearly intended as a retention and brand image play rather than a revenue play. However, after mobile number portability is introduced, it could help attract other subscribers to the Airtel network.

To signup for tweetSMS, An Airtel subscriber simply has to SMS Signup to 53000 and then follow the instructions that comes via SMS to complete the registration process and start tweeting. This application allows you to stay in touch with your twitter friends and also update your status without needing any internet connection on your phone. However note that the cost would be Rs 1/SMS sent.

(via)

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After the immense success of Tata Docomo’s per second pulse plan which made it the top operator in terms of user additions, TRAI is now considering the idea of introducing the same throughout all the operators now.

According to TRAI, all the telecom operators may be soon forced to give the option of paying based on the usage per second pulse instead of the current per minute pulse.

JS Sarma, Chairman of TRAI said that they will soon come out with a paper on this subject and invite suggestions on making this plan mandatory or not.

TRAI is also reconsidering the clause in current regulations which allow the mobile phone operators decide the tariffs and plans.

Some of the major Mobile Operators like BSNL and Aircel have already started offering per second pulse in select states like Karnataka, AP, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal etc and other operators like Airtel, Vodafone and Idea are expected to follow suit soon.

What do you think? Would you prefer to pay by the new per second pulse or are you happy with your existent per minute pulse rates? Do Pass on your comments.

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The Hero is pretty solid in specs and looks like the most complete handset from HTC (if the battery life does not disappoint) The heart of the the phone is the 528 MHz CPU with 512 MB ROM and 288 MB RAM which runs the Android Operating System . The phone was unveiled at London in July and we have got the the handset in India pretty soon considering the delayed launches of most major brands in the country.

Features

• 3.2-inch 320×480 HVGA display
• GPS, gravity-sensor
• 3.5mm stereo headset jack
• 5 mega-pixel autofocus camera
• expandable MicroSD memory
• dedicated Search button -search through Twitter, locate people in your contact list, find emails
• in your inbox or search in any other area in Hero.
• Bluetooth,Wi-Fi
• Audio supported formats – MP3, AAC,AMR-NB, WAV, MIDI and Windows Media Audio 9
• Video supported formats – MPEG-4, H.263, H.264 and Windows Media Video 9

Also some improvements by HTC include the 3.5 mm audio jack in place of the proprietary port , G-Sensor.Another feature worth a mention is the search feature which takes on the spotlight search of the iPhone.The Hero goes one step further with a dedicated search button. And for the first time we have got a separate pricing for Maharashtra (Rs.34,600) considering the increased VAT. There is a special offer for Airtel users in India who get free data download of 100 MB per month for six months and six customized utility based applications.  The Handset is not locked or exclusive to Airtel but you get freebies for being loyal to the largest mobile operator in the country.

While we wait for our review unit to arrive . Check out these pics and video of the phone in action.

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Airtel and RIM bring the BlackBerry Curve 8520 Smartphone a.ka. Gemini to India. And whats the most incredible thing about this phone is the price. Blackberry phones are usually known for their expensive price tag. But the Gemini breaks the myth and is priced at Rs.15990. The phone is aimed at youth and consumers looking for messaging / email , social networking , music and entertainment.

Interesting Features

• Cheapest multimedia Blackberry Handset in the Indian market till now.
• Touch sensitive trackpad which replaces the usual trackball.
• Dedicated media keys ( Ever BB users need some Entertainment on the go .. Im not going to checking my email all the time)
• Wi-Fi , EDGE , Bluetooth 2.0
• Kinda thin at 13.99 mm and weighs 109g
• 2.46 inch (320×240) display
• 2.0 MP Camera with Video Recording
• 4.5 hrs of talk time and 17 days of standby time
• BIS support as usual with support of 10 email accounts.
• 256MB Inbuilt memory
• Expandable microSD memory ( no idea if there is a card in the box)

Prepaid Users can get Blackberry Power too !

We must say Blackyberry is a clear leader when it comes to Mobile Email and no 2nd thoughts about that. IPhone is still far away. Nokia Messaging is still betaish.  So looks like RIM wants mass market adoption of their device rather than just White collared CEOs . So you can get a Blackberry Email Service plan from Airtel at a monthly rental of Rs.299 only.

Availability and Price

The BlackBerry Curve 8520 will be available nationally from Airtel’s authorised outlets through Bharti Teletech Limited across India on August 7th. The Price would be Rs.15990

Airtel customers can sms ‘BB’ to 543210 to register to purchase the BlackBerry Curve 8520 and to get more information about the plans offered with the smartphone.

This BB was the first handset to support mac os out of the box. No word about the support in India. And No word about the App World launch date in India.

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We will contact Vodafone and Airtel this week and get more info about the india launch for sure

thx to folks at Gizmodo for the shot

But its sad that this new iphone is shipping on June 19th in USA and its shipping only in August in India.(no exact date known)

Hope Apple will get the pricing right atleast this time

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Recently, it was speculated, by many mobile experts that roll out of new service providers and the upcoming mobile number portability (MNP) may lower the mobile tariffs further.

But in a press release, top officials of Bharti Airtel, India’s top mobile service provider said “does not expect the entry of new players in an already competitive market to drastically push down mobile tariffs”.

Sanjay Kapoor, the Deputy CEO of Bharti Airtel added

Tariffs as low as 1 U.S. cent a minute have helped Indian mobile operators add close to 15 million subscribers a month in the world’s fastest-growing mobile market, but analysts are becoming cautious on the mobile firms’ outlook as more low-paying rural users are straining their balance sheets.
These tariffs are already down to the (lowest) in the world, the propensity to drop any further should be limited

So, its just matter of time, that will enlighten whether mobile customers will witness further price cuts in mobile tariffs.

Image credits

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The unit was the black one , and we have exclusive pics for your viewing pleasure !

Everything from the chrome trim to the slide mechanism for the keyboard was fantastic. It truly felt like a phone worthy of it’s price tag.

You’ll notice the Facebook widget. We also had a chance to view the Mapping program (was slightly buggy when we used it).

Check below for more pictures. Also note: This was a prototype device and we were told that the keyboard on this model was quite different from the production model.

5 MP Camera with Shutter and Dual LED Flash.

We could not click photos using the camera , so refer to the n97 camera samples.

The phone is expected to hit stores in June.  Its the most anticipated Nokia handset according to the specs and the buzz

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For Rs. 199, your first 200 SMS, national or local, are free and all calls to your CUG is absolutely free. Local Airtel to Airtel mobile calls would cost you just 20 paisa and calls to other local mobiles and landlines 40 paisa and 60 paisa!

Catch?

Yes sadly, you need to be employed (or have a friend?) in a large organization like Infosys or Oracle to be eligible for this plan.
Questions? Call 121 from Airtel mobile or ask us.

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Since long there were no new offers by Airtel. But now, Bharti Airtel have announced a new STD voucher for its customers in Delhi-NCR region.

This new voucher has been launched keeping in mind, customers making much STD calls. The voucher costing Rs. 47 will let an Airtel customer make STD calls for just 75 paisa reducing the call rates to half the actual rates. The voucher will be valid for 30 days from the date of recharge.

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