India | Fone Arena

Hutch rolls out Rs 10 recharge coupons

Hutchison Essar has launched a new recharge voucher that enables subscribers to top-up pre-paid connections with denominations as low as Rs 10

Hutchison Essar has launched a new recharge voucher that enables subscribers to top-up pre-paid connections with denominations as low as Rs 10.

“The new coupon will help make pre-paid usage even more affordable to both ‘Hutch’ and ‘Orange’ users, and offers more talktime at the same cost, therefore more value for money,” said Naveen Chopra, corporate vice-present, group marketing of Hutchison Essar at a press conference.

Earlier, the voucher could be used only as an ‘add-on card’. This meant that the card can be used to make calls when the recharged value of a coupon expires, but the validity period continues.

The customer can then recharge using a Chota Recharge again after buying a Rs 199 card within the 30-day validity period. Even though, the customer gets additional talktime for the amount recharged, it does not extend his validity period.

A user can recharge any number of times within the validity period without paying any extra fee. This will bring in a significant change in the pre-paid industry and going mobile will become more affordable, he said.

With this launch, Chota Recharge becomes the lowest recharge voucher available in the country.

Prior to this launch, the add-on recharge card available with the Rs 199 voucher was of Rs 55 and Rs 60. These cards also had access fees. Earlier, Airtel had also rolled out recharge vouchers in low denominations of Rs 60 and Rs 120.

Source:business-standard

MTV Loveline On Mobile Phones

Coruscant Tec, a leading mobile solutions company that specialises in mobile content and commerce, today announced the launch of a new mobile social software called MTV Loveline in association with MTV India. The MTV Loveline will be available to subscribers on the Airtel, Hutch, RPG Cellular, BSNL, BPL and Tata Tele networks

Mumbai : Coruscant Tec, a leading mobile solutions company that specialises in mobile content and commerce, today announced the launch of a new mobile social software called MTV Loveline in association with MTV India. The MTV Loveline will be available to subscribers on the Airtel, Hutch, RPG Cellular, BSNL, BPL and Tata Tele networks.

The MTV Loveline platform is currently available over SMS and as a JAVA download over GPRS. All users need to do is SMS "love" to 6882 to access the MTV Loveline. The JAVA download version also allows the user to create and choose between different mobile chatrooms along with several other interactive features.

The company has ensured that elaborate security filters which include up to four levels of auto-monitoring and keyword searches filtering objectionable content are available.

In the words of Ajay Adiseshann, managing director, Coruscant Tec, "Social Software is the next killer enabler that everyone has been waiting for. MTV Loveline will set a trend in itself and Coruscant is proud to be a pioneer in this space".

On the future on mobile data applications, he added, "With voice being commoditised, the need for newer data applications is being increasingly felt. Coruscant’s vision is to identify these areas and empower users by empowering their mobiles." (See: Shop till your cell drops!)

Industry insiders predict that by 2008 there will be 16.3 million users of mobile chat and entertainment services, with a cumulative annual growth rate to 76.3 percent. Social software on mobiles is set to become one of the pillars in the mobile entertainment space alongside ringtones, wall papers etc.

Source:http://www.domain-b.com/infotech/itnews/2005/20050928_launches.html

Data cards enhance mobile Net access

As India Inc rushes towards increasing productivity per employee, IT and communication products enabling wireless connectivity are rapidly flooding the marketplace. Data cards — which deliver broadband wireless capability to laptops and other computing devices — currently offered by telecom service operators like Reliance Infocomm, Tata Teleservices and Airtel, among others, are empowering the mobile professional to access the internet anytime, anywhere.

source:http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=102214

God now just an SMS away

Mauj Telecom launches a spiritual service that will enable users to offer prayers using a code

Mauj Telecom launches a spiritual service that will enable users to offer prayers using a code 7077.

God is now just an SMS away. For those who have no time to visit temples, here’s an opportunity to be in touch with Him. Silent prayers are passe. You can offer flowers, light incense sticks and more while on the move.

Mauj Telecom, a wireless content provider, launched a spiritual channel early this week that will enable mobile users to perform elaborate prayers using a short code 7077.

The company claims having 500 downloads on the first day of the launch early this week.

If a user wants to perform, say a Ganesh puja, all he has to do is download the relevant application from the short code.

At the next stage, he will be able to say a prayer in the following manner: Key 1 — light the lamp; key 2 — offer durva (grass); key 3 — offer garland; key 4 — offer modaks (sweet); key 5 — ring bells; and finally, key 6 — rendition of the aarti.

Source:Business Standardvisit mauj

Calls b/w Chennai-TN, Mumbai-Maha, Kolkata-WB made local

In a major benefit to mobile subscribers, Government today said that calls between Chennai and rest of the Tamil Nadu and likewise between Mumbai and Maharashtra, Kolkata and West Bengal, and in the whole of Uttar Pradesh would be treated as local calls.

New Delhi, May 21 (PTI) In a major benefit to mobile subscribers, Government today said that calls between Chennai and rest of the Tamil Nadu and likewise between Mumbai and Maharashtra, Kolkata and West Bengal, and in the whole of Uttar Pradesh would be treated as local calls. This would result in saving roaming and long distance (STD) charges for consumers, Communication and IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran said, adding that service providers would continue to operate in the same manner based on telecom circles. The minister said the facility would be only for calls terminating in the mobile network. This means calls from mobile to mobile and fixed to mobile within the states would be considered local. Till now the three metros — Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai and the rest of Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Maharashtra — were treated as two separate telecom circles. Similarly in Uttar Pradesh, which has been bifurcated into two telecom circles for licence purposes, the consumers in UP (East) and UP (West) would be able to connect as local calls now. The new policy comes into effect from May 25, the minister said. PTI

Guy sends 182,689 SMS in one month

A gentleman from Ludhiana (India) found a unique way for getting his name registered in the Guinness Book of World Records. He sent 182,689 SMS in one month.
That makes 6000 text messages a day.

It looks like we have a new record here, close to 200’000 text messages sent in a single month.

A gentleman from Ludhiana (India) found a unique way for getting his name registered in the Guinness Book of World Records. He sent 182,689 SMS in one month.

That makes 6000 text messages a day.

Deepak Sharma aims to increase the number to 300,000 in the coming month.

Deepak sends messages to all his relatives and friends, who fortunately, fully support in his endeavour.

His wireless operator, Airtel, sent him a 1,411 page bill.

Source:Webindia

Kolkata, mobile phones in buses

In a major technical achievement, the Calcutta State Transport Corporation has launched mobile phone facility in buses in collaboration with…

In a major technical achievement, the Calcutta State Transport Corporation has launched mobile phone facility in buses in collaboration with India s telecom service provider Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), according to the Hindustan Times.

"Through this facility, first of its kind in India, commuters can now make local calls within the city range while travelling."

Bharti to spend $1 bn on 3G rollout

Bharti Televentures on Monday said it will invest one billion dollars on the rollout of third generation (3G) mobile phone networks across India. “We have committed one billion dollars for roll out of 3G networks across the country,” Bharti Televentures Managing Director Akhil Gupta said at a seminar on 3G technology.

NEW DELHI: Bharti Televentures on Monday said it will invest one billion dollars on the rollout of third generation (3G) mobile phone networks across India. "We have committed one billion dollars for roll out of 3G networks across the country," Bharti Televentures Managing Director Akhil Gupta said at a seminar on 3G technology. The company is already running tests of 3G technology at some places. "We have to ensure that 3G does not remain a niche technology. It must not be confined to a particular section or geography," he said adding it should be rolled out in each and every state so that it makes commercial sense. Gupta said when the frequency is allotted to operators for 3G services, they should come with stringent rollout obligations.

"It (the frequency) must not remain an asset in the locker (of operator). Strict rollout obligations backed by bank guarantees should be set for operators so that the technology spreads," he added.

Government-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited is also gearing up to rollout 3G networks.

"Our next rollout will have provision of 3G services throughout the country. We have the equipment and are waiting for the spectrum to start the tests," BSNL Chairman and Managing Director A K Sinha said.

He said by late 2005 or early 2006 the country would see the commercial rollout of 3G services.

SOURCE PTI

Indian GSM body sets up 200 mln target by 2007

India’s GSM mobile user base is expected to touch 200 million customers by 2007 as firms ramp up networks in rural areas and slash rates to woo customers in the hotly competitive market, a leading industry body said on Tuesday

With more than 52 million users, India’s fast maturing mobile services sector is already the world’s fastest growing wireless market as cut-rate tariffs are pulling in some 1.7 million new customers each month.

“The Indian GSM cellular industry has matured with most GSM networks making profits and are well positioned to reach the 200-million mark by 2007,” a joint statement by the Cellular Operators’ Association of India (COAI) and consulting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers said.

NEW DELHI – India’s GSM mobile user base is expected to touch 200 million customers by 2007 as firms ramp up networks in rural areas and slash rates to woo customers in the hotly competitive market, a leading industry body said on Tuesday

Bharti plans to begin 3G trial runs by month-end

BHARTI Tele-Ventures is set to begin trial runs of 3G mobile services by April-end. The company has sought spectrum from the Department of Telecom (DoT) to conduct the trial runs.

The company has told the DoT that it has set in place the equipment and the network required to conduct trial runs but is awaiting the release of spectrum in the 1900 Mhz, which has been earmarked for 3G services.

New Delhi: Bharti Tele-Ventures is set to begin trial runs of 3G mobile services by April-end. The company has sought spectrum from the Department of Telecom (DoT) to conduct the trial runs.

In a letter to the DoT Secretary, Brijesh Kumar, the company has said, “Bharti Cellular has planned actively to start the trials of 3G networks in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad. It is also relevant to mention that the vendors have also been identified for trials and had many rounds of detailed discussions to carry out the trails by April-end, 2005.”

The company had earlier said that it was lining up investments of $1 billion for rolling out 3G mobile services across the country.

Hutch flags off `mobile’ shops in Hyderabad

HUTCH, the cellular service provider, has flagged off the first in the series of three `Mobile Hutch Shops’ here on Monday.

Addressing a press conference after launching the mobile shop, Mr Samuel Selvakumar, Operations Director of Hutchison Essar South, said customers would get access to all the Hutch services, available at the regular shops, at the mobile units.

HUTCH, the cellular service provider, has flagged off the first in the series of three `Mobile Hutch Shops’ here on Monday.

Based in Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam, the three vans would reach 150 towns covering a length of 100-200 km and two towns a day.

Customers in the respective areas would get an SMS, giving details of the scheduled arrival and stay of the van.

The company believed that the service provided the customers with flexibility to access the Hutch services.

These vans would have pre-determined geographical areas and routes to cover.

These were equipped with Global Packet Radio Service to provide online connectivity to facilitate billing services.

Mr Hamir Bakshi, Chief Operating Officer (AP), said the company had a subscriber base of four lakh in Andhra Pradesh.

The total market size was about 28 lakh.

SOURCE:thehindubusinessline.com

Maran asks cellular industry to reduce mobile roaming charges

The Communication and IT Minister, Mr Dayanidhi Maran, on Tuesday said the roaming charges of private cellular operators are ‘very high’ and the industry must look into it to bring them down.

NEW DELHI: The Communication and IT Minister, Mr Dayanidhi Maran, on Tuesday said the roaming charges of private cellular operators are ‘very high’ and the industry must look into it to bring them down.

“Mobile charges for roaming are very, very high… I think they should be much lower than the existing rates. BSNL does not charge roaming, why can’t the private operators also take this initiative to bring them down,” Mr Maran said at the cellular summ it organised by Cellular Operators Association of India.

The Government, on its part, will do everything to remove all the hurdles coming in the way of growth of telecommunication, the Minister said adding ‘but the operators also must reciprocate from their side.’

Replying to industry’s demand that the Government should reduce the licence fee and allow BSNL to share the infrastructure especially for the rural areas, Mr Maran said, “Don’t waste your time in Delhi making rounds to the ministry… Go to the rural are as and connect India. We, on our part, will do everything to see that all hurdles are removed one by one.”

Maran also launched low price cellular handset of Motorola costing about Rs 1,500. – PTI

BPL Mobile in talks to sell up to 40% stake

India’s privately owned BPL Mobile Communications Ltd. is negotiating to sell up to 40 percent stake to a strategic partner to help boost its business in the world’s fastest growing cellular market, the company said, reports Reuters. India’s mobile services industry, with more than 50 million users and growing rapidly helped by rock-bottom call rates of about 2 U.S. cents a minute, has attracted investors from funds to large global service providers. “We have identified a few partners with whom we are in dialogue,” Chief Executive Officer Sandip Basu told a news conference. “The deal can happen any time.” BPL, which aims to invest $143 million on expansion this year, was in talks with at least three possible partners, including a foreign company, another official said.

bpl
India’s privately owned BPL Mobile Communications Ltd. is negotiating to sell up to 40 percent stake to a strategic partner to help boost its business in the world’s fastest growing cellular market, the company said, reports Reuters. India’s mobile services industry, with more than 50 million users and growing rapidly helped by rock-bottom call rates of about 2 U.S. cents a minute, has attracted investors from funds to large global service providers. “We have identified a few partners with whom we are in dialogue,” Chief Executive Officer Sandip Basu told a news conference. “The deal can happen any time.” BPL, which aims to invest $143 million on expansion this year, was in talks with at least three possible partners, including a foreign company, another official said. Basu said the strategic partner can buy a stake in BPL Cellular Holdings, the founder, or in BPL Mobile Communications that provides cellular services in Bombay, or in BPL Mobile Cellular Ltd., which operates in three other telecoms circles.
“Ideally the strategic partner could pick up stake in the holding company, but it could be in the operating companies as well,” Basu said. Indian founders own 60 percent of the holding company, with the remaining 40 percent held by funds such as Commonwealth Development Corp. and American International Group.
SOURCE:Telecompaper

Motorola to offer Mobile phone under Rs 2000

The phone has a stand by battery time of two weeks, in case you have forgotten to recharge it. And you can buy it at a store near you or from your mobile service company at the low price of under Rs 2,000 a piece, making it one of the cheapest mobile phones ever to hit the Indian market…

Motorola
The phone has a stand by battery time of two weeks, in case you have forgotten to recharge it. And you can buy it at a store near you or from your mobile service company at the low price of under Rs 2,000 a piece, making it one of the cheapest mobile phones ever to hit the Indian market.

The sub-$40 (Rs 1,657, at last week’s exchange rate) phones will be unveiled in emerging markets across the globe in April. Motorola’s big stop will be India. With three entry level models (C 115, 116 and 117), the GSMA expects the US telecom company to hawk 2 million to 3 million sets in India in the first six months of the launch.

Says Percy Batlivala, general manager, east south Asia, at Motorola’s personal communications business: “Over 70 per cent of global system for mobile customers use phones which cost below $65 (Rs 2,732). The low cost phone will help to open a new market.”

The demand for the phone here has been overwhelming — and not enough handsets may be rolled out at Motorola’s plant in China.

Chinese media firm eyes Indian market

The company is interested in expanding into India’s film, publishing and online markets after a foray into the mobile gaming arena.

BOMBAY: China-focused media firm Tom Group Ltd. is interested in expanding into India’s film, publishing and online markets after a foray into mobile gaming, its chief executive said.

Tom, backed by Hong Kong’s richest businessman Li Ka-Shing, hopes to leverage off its Chinese experience to pursue a range of possible businesses in its southern neighbor from Internet portals to publishing magazines.

“Everyone talks about India and China across industries, and firms from both countries have set up operations in each other’s markets, but we haven’t had such ventures in media,” Sing Wang, Tom’s chief executive officer, said in a interview.

He said cultural and language differences, as well as the regulatory framework in both countries may be hurdles, but were not insurmountable.

The firm is eyeing India’s fast-growing online market.

“I think we’re at the tip of a very large potential market,” added Wang, who was in Bombay for an entertainment conference.

“India’s online market is still very small, with only 30 million registered Internet users — China has twice as many users — and I know mobile phones are taking off very quickly in India,” he said.

The firm, which owns 65 magazine titles, will also look at the publishing market in India, he said.

Film was another area with potential, he said, despite China only permitting 20 foreign films to be imported every year.

“I understand kung fu movies are very popular in India, and I believe Indian films can be popular in China, too,” said Wang.

Tom Group recently acquired a stake in a private Chinese film maker, one of a string of investments the firm has made in Chinese firms after the government introduced new rules to open up China’s growing media business.

“While China has some of the best hardware, it lags behind in software, or content, which is not as sophisticated as India’s”, he added.

Tom’s gaming partner Indiagames, founded in 1999, is the market leader in mobile gaming and provides content for all major Indian mobile operators as well as several global brands. It derives more than 80 percent of its revenues from exports.

“It is a small company, but it is profitable and it’s growing, and we’re very happy with our investment,” said Wang.

Tom Online Games, a subsidiary of Tom Online Inc., is due to complete buying an 80.6 percent stake in Bombay-based Indiagames for US$17.7 million by the end of April.

Tom Online Inc. is a unit of the Tom Group.

Tom Group, a former Internet startup and an associate of Hutchison Whampoa Ltd., posted a net profit of HK$860 million (US$110 million) last year. It is targeting a doubling of revenue by 2007, largely on the back of China’s fast-growing media market.

� Reuters