Operators | Fone Arena

Nokia Siemens Networks bags multi-million Euro IVR deal from Bharti Airtel

If your on Airtel Network , You can expect a lot of Voice Based services from Bharti Airtel in the coming years

Nokia Siemens has just bagged a multi-million euro deal from Bharti Airtel for deployment of a single Interactive Voice Response (IVR) . Bharti Airtel awarded this pan India contract to Nokia Siemens Networks for deployment of a single Interactive Voice Response (IVR) platform across all 23 circles. The three year turnkey and multi-million Euro contract includes designing, planning, systems integration and optimization services to enhance overall customer experience. The new IVR solution will enable Airtel to deliver Services such as Voice SMS, Televoting, Call Management Services (Reach-me service / Missed Call Advisor), Caller Ring back Tone (CRBT) and Voice Portal among others on a faster time-to-market basis, reduce OPEX costs due to optimized network utilization, and increase security by creation of a layered architecture towards Interactive Voice applications.

Nokia Siemens Networks will deploy and integrate the latest state-of-the-art platforms to provide a multi-technology, multi-vendor integrated solution that includes systems integration services. The platforms are HP OCMP (Open Call Management Platform), Video Gateway, Televoting Application and ASR/TTS (Automatic Speech Recognition / Text-to-Speech Engine. The solution will be ready for commercial operation by April 2008 and is expected to scale up to one billion minutes of usage per month in three years for Bharti Airtel. Continue reading “Nokia Siemens Networks bags multi-million Euro IVR deal from Bharti Airtel”

Local Content might be key to increase VAS adoption

The opportunities for VAS services are growing in India. Reliance Communication recently sponsored a seminar called “Opportunities for mobile VAS in Rural India.” The 4 participants in this seminar represented telecom service providers and rural application providers. Continue reading “Local Content might be key to increase VAS adoption”

India added a whooping 8.3 million mobile users in November 2007

The no of mobile users in India is increasing again month after month. A TRAI report suggests that India added a whooping 8.3 million mobile users in November 2007 compared to the 8 million odd added in October.

Land line usage is declining due to the portability factor and Mobility is playing a vital part in India’s growth story.Total telephone user base is expected Continue reading “India added a whooping 8.3 million mobile users in November 2007”

Now the Idiot box on your Mobile courtesy Spice

Spice Telecom, One of Karnataka’s oldest mobile operators now plans to launch TV on mobile within the state. The service was test launched in Chandigarh, and is expected to be in operation in Karnataka shortly.

The service is part of Spice’ future plans to provide innovative products to its subscribers, Navin Kaul, CEO Spice Telecom, told reporters.

There would be about 12 channels available on Spice Mobile. The clarity and uninterrupted ness of the service remains to be seen.
Continue reading “Now the Idiot box on your Mobile courtesy Spice”

SPICE up your messages in your mother tongue

After Hinglish messages in T9 was launched, Spice Telecom has now launched a new service called the ‘Spice Local Lingo’.

With ‘Spice Local Lingo’ one can send SMS in twelve Indian languages that include Hindi, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Tamil, Malayalam, Marathi, Assamese, Gujarati, Bengali and Urdu, in their script.

Continue reading “SPICE up your messages in your mother tongue”

Samsung Max to CDMA rescue

Choosing a CDMA operator for low call costs is fine. But if you are seriously unhappy about the handsets you are restricted to choose from, Samsung launched Samsung Max, the first open market CDMA handset in India.

“The availability of CDMA phones in the open market will provide Indian consumers freedom to choose network operator’s of their choice,” said Hyundai Kim, Vice President and Head – CDMA Division, Samsung Telecommunications India.

So you can not only choose to upgrade to the Samsung Max, availability of the handset in the open market will empower you to choose the operator too!

The Max is a slider multimedia phone that includes customised “Indian” features such as an Indian Calendar, a ‘panchang’, mobile prayer, a Cricket scorer and Hinglish SMS.

Continue reading “Samsung Max to CDMA rescue”

Vodafone India plans JV to expand operations in India

Vodafone is currently in expansion mode in India. According to a Wall Street Journal report

Vodafone is planning Joint Venture to speed Indian Expansion.

Theres a lot of rivalry between telecom operators in India but when it comes to cutting costs they seem to be joining hands. Setting up towers is a very costly deal for the tel cos.

Continue reading “Vodafone India plans JV to expand operations in India”

Reliance launches Rural Mobile Application Contest

If you are a mobile application developer and want to win up to Rs.13 lacs in prizes checkout the

Reliance Rural Mobile Application Contest

Applications can be developed for both CDMA and GSM technologies.

Eligibility

The contest is open to those who are registered with the Reliance Developer Program and includes:

Software Professionals
Self- employed Professionals
Students
Companies
Content vendors/ aggregators

Contest registration ends on 25th December 2007

Verizon Wireless – Use any app and any device from 2008

Some good news for Verizon wireless users. You might no longer need to stick to the devices offered by Verizon.

Come 2008 , you might be able to use Any App Any Device according to a company press release.

This is a seen as move to tackle the Android – gphone launch and also Apple’s 3G iPhone plans.

But wait there’s a catch. These devices need to be tested and approved in a 20 million facility.

Any device that meets the minimum technical standard will be activated on the network.

More information is expected in early 2008.

Interesting note : Verizon is not part of the Google open handset alliance

Spice up your life with Spice S7

If you are a music buff and cannot do without hooking on a pair of ear plugs, the Spice S7 is just for you.

The latest addition to the Music Spice Series, this handset targets the mid segment buyer and is ideal for young college goers.

Features:

• Bluetooth
• Wireless Music (A2DP)
• 1.3 mega pixel camera with flash
• 2.0-inches screen in 262 Colour
• Video and Photo caller ID
• Expandable memory up to 1 GB with T-Flash card

Continue reading “Spice up your life with Spice S7”

Vodafone brings 2 new blackberry handsets to India

Vodafone India (Hutch) has introduced the Blackberry 8310 and Blackberry 8820 priced at Rs.24,990 and Rs.31,990
Vodafone acquired Hong Kong-based Hutchison International’s Indian telecom arm Hutch’…

Vodafone India (Hutch) has introduced the Blackberry 8310 and Blackberry 8820 priced at Rs.24,990 and Rs.31,990

Vodafone acquired Hong Kong-based Hutchison International’s Indian telecom arm Hutch’s stake for $11.1 billion in May this year. The company earlier said it would be investing $2 billion in consolidating and expanding its business in the country.

Vodafone Essar, India’s second largest mobile service operator after Airtel, has a subscriber base of 34.11 million and a market share of 20.11 percent as on Aug 31, 2007, according to data released by the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).

It would be great to see the premium offerrings from Vodafone

Vodafone India sports the Global Red branding

The Global Mobile Service Providers starts operations in India, the 2nd largest mobile market in the world. The Vodafone logo is synonymous with the Global Red Branding strategy of Vodafone.

As an Indian Mobile user, I have never seen Vodafone as a Mobile brand. I relate it to the Ferrari Formula 1 Team ( Vodafone is a sponsor for the team)

But now all of a sudden, Vodafone is a Mobile Operator in India. Vodafone is known worldwide for its Value Added Services. Will be interesting to see what Vodafone does in India considering the nature of the market.

Vodafone-pug

The Hutch pug in the new Vodafone TV AD

Vodafone-hutch-operator

My Vodafone number phone was showing the Hutch operator text till yesterday

but changed to Vodafone suddenly . A really fast re-branding excercise I must say.

Now the hutch website hutch.in points to vodafone.in

Vodafone India will replace Hutch from September 20

The Hutch pug and the Hutch pink will soon not be seen on Indian screens and hoardings as Vodafone is going to roll out its Global branding in India from September.

Arun Sarin, CEO of Vodafone will unleash the Vodafone logo later this week in India

Vodafone has made bulk bookings on Star and Sony Television for airing the new Ads.

Hutch logo will be replaced by Vodafone soon

We had hinted earlier the Hutch might change colors again in What will Vodafone do with Hutch

Looks like Vodafone wants to spread its brand image in India soon. So its going to be the the Battle of the Reds (Vodafone vs Airtel) as Hutch and Airtel are the largest mobile operators in India. Hutch has always been seen as an elite brand in the country as it is present only in a few circles. Vodafone is known for its Premium services around the world. Vodafone cannot use the same global pricing strategy in India for sure due to the nature of the market here. Lets wait and watch Till then it may may bid good bye to the Hutch Pug

Hutchison Essar rechristens as Vodafone Essar

Vodafone Essar will be the new name of the old Hutch venture in India. This move comes after Vodafone’s acquistion of HTIL.

Asim Ghosh, Hutchison Essar’s current chief executive, will be chairman and chief executive officer.

Arun Sarin will be the Vice Chairman.

Ravi Ruia will non-executive chairman