vvinayakpai

They have put up hoarding all around the place, but the exact details have not been mentioned.

Tata Tele, Airtel, RCom and & others face penalty of Rs 136 cr PTI 18 September 2009, 05:24pm IST NEW DELHI: The government has proposed a penalty of over Rs 41 crore on Tatas, Rs 31 crore on Airtel and Rs 19.65 crore on RCom and others, totalling Rs 135.60 crore, for not rolling out network on time. The Department of Telecom (DoT) has lowered the total quantum of penalty from Rs 477 crore decided earlier to Rs 135.60 crore after repeated representations by the operators, giving a major benefit to all big private telecom players. As per the latest calculation sheet, the revised liquidated damages is Rs 135.60 crore and almost all private players except Vodafone-Essar face penalties. Other than Tatas, Airtel and RCom, Aircel faces a penalty of Rs 28.85 crore, HFCL has a liquidated damages of Rs seven crore and the two PSUs -- BSNL and MTNL along with Vodafone-Essar face no penalty. "The cases for imposition of liquidated damages were processed since 2005 and show-cause notices for imposition of liquidated damages (amounting to Rs 477.15 crore) were issued in 96 cases to 10 operators," highly placed sources said. There were representations from industry pointing out delays in statutory clearances, grant of spectrum for access, among other factors, for delayed rollouts. Thus, it was decided to revisit the subject and DoT has arrived at revised lower penalty for these operators. Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/news/business/india-business/Tata-Tele-Airtel-RCom-and-others-face-penalty-of-Rs-136-cr/articleshow/5027441.cms

IDEA CELLULAR INTRODUCES LOCAL AND STD CALLS AT 48 PAISA IN TAMILNADU September 17th, 2009 IDEA Cellular today announced the launch of new special tariff voucher for its subscribers in TamilNadu and Chennai Telecom circle offering STD and local call 48 paisa per minute. To avail this offer new prepaid subscribers of IDEA CELLULAR has to purchase any of the two new tariff vouchers priced at Rs. 37 and Rs. 95 offering a talk time of Rs. 15 and 70, respectively. Both these vouchers come with lifetime validity and offer local and STD rate of just 48 paisa per minute for calls made on all mobile and fixed line networks in the country. This special tariff benefit is applicable for a period of six months from the activation date. IDEA subscribers availing the Rs. 95 voucher will get an additional benefit of 100 free local SMS per day. The first two local SMS of the day will be charged at 48 paisa per SMS, for the subscriber to avail 100 free SMS of the day. Beyond the daily quota of free SMS, subscriber will be charged 48 paisa for every local SMS. National SMS will be charged at Re. 1.50 and international SMS at Rs. 5 on the new tariff vouchers. Existing customers can upgrade to 48p tariff by recharging with Rs.12 value voucher and get the new tariff for 6 months. M. Srinivas Circle Head Chennai & Tamil Nadu -IDEA Cellular quoted “IDEA’s new tariff vouchers offer the lowest call rate in the market, besides lifetime validity and free SMS. The new initiative is aimed at offering more value to our subscribers who can now call their family and friends in and outside of Tamil Nadu at affordable rates and for longer duration of time. We are confident that our new initiative will drive usage amongst subscribers. The new vouchers will be available at all retail outlets, My IDEA showrooms, and IDEA Points across Chennai and other towns and villages in Tamil Nadu. Source: http://telecomtalk.info/idea-cellular-introduces-local-and-std-calls-at-48-paisa-in-tamilnadu/9624/

Chinese handset co ZTE enters India 15 Sep 2009, 0011 hrs IST, ET Bureau NEW DELHI/MUMBAI: Chinese network and handset major ZTE has entered the retail space in India and will sell handsets under its own brand here from this week, its chairman and managing director DK Ghosh told ET. So far, ZTE has sold over 25 million handsets in India through telecom service providers such as RCOM, BSNL, Tata Teleservices & Vodafone Essar. Mr Gosh also said that the company had crossed the $1-billion mark in revenues from India for the first time in the year-ended March 2009. India is ZTE’s second-largest market after China and generates a little over 10% of the company’s global revenues. At present, India accounts for about 16% of ZTE’s global handset sales and its entry into the retail space could see this going up to 20%. Mr Gosh said that ZTE has appointed Overseas Mobiles as its national distributor for mobile and data devices. “Overseas Mobiles will appoint 80 regional distributors across India and manage relationships with distributors and corporate customers on behalf of ZTE as we are targeting to have a presence in 1 lakh retail outlsets in India by this year-end,” he added. With global sales of over 100 million handsets last year, ZTE is currently the sixth-largest handset manufacturer in the world.

Sadly, the website does not mention about the CDMA handsets even in the coming soon section. Looks like it would be a long wait!!!!!!!!!

^^^^^^^^^ The 501 offer was termed as "the Monsoon Hngama" Offer and was a super hit for Reliance

OVERSEAS MOBILES Overseas Mobile Private Limited 175, Patpadganj Industrial Area. New Delhi - 110092 Ph : +91-11-22149193 Fax : +91-11-22162165 Website : www.overseasmobiles.in

ZTE forays into Indian retail handset market Press Trust Of India / New Delhi September 15, 2009, 0:53 IST Chinese telecom firm ZTE Corporation has entered the Indian retail market as a standalone player, hoping that the contribution of the Indian market to its global handset sales would go up to 20 per cent from the existing 16 per cent. “India is a key focus market for us and we are delighted to launch ZTE branded handsets in the retail market as this would play a critical role in furthering our existing market-share in the country,” ZTE India Chairman & Managing Director D K Ghosh said. The company has launched a range of low-cost GSM handsets — S315, A261, R220, R230 and R230BT at price points ranging from Rs 1,100 to Rs 3,800, it added. It further said it has sold over 20 million handsets in India through partnerships with various telecom operators. It is targeting a network of 100,000 retail outlets in India by this year-end. The company has appointed Overseas Mobiles as its national distributor for mobile and data devices. Overseas Mobiles will be appointing 80 regional distributors across India and manage relationships with distributors and corporate customers on behalf of ZTE. They will also be responsible for ensuring nationwide distribution coverage for ZTE’s range of GSM and CDMA handsets and data products. With global sales of over 100 million handsets last year, ZTE is currently the sixth-largest handset manufacturer in the world. It has established partnerships with telcos like Vodafone, Hutchison Whampoa and Telefonica globally and BSNL, Reliance Communications, Tata, Vodafone, Spice Telecom and Aircel in India. Source: http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/zte-forays-into-indian-retail-handset-market/370149/

Why is Reliance so obsessed with the CHinese???????????

RCom GSM launches 999 offer for upcoming festive season TT Correspondent | Mumbai | 10 Sep 2009 Reliance Communications announced the launch of a new promotional Pack 999 as part of the company’s promotion for Navrati, Durga Pooja and Dassera. The scheme is mainly designed for subscribers with high usage of local calls, STD calls and SMSes. The voucher offers 999 local minutes on Reliance network as well as outside network, 999 STD minutes on Reliance Network as well as outside network and 999 SMS for local as well as national SMS. The operators says that at a price of Rs 999 the subscriber effectively gets value worth Rs 4000. The scheme comes with 30 days validity. It will be available till September 30, 2009 for GSM prepaid subscribers in TN, Chennai, Kerala, Karnataka, AP, Mumbai, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, J&K, UP-East and UP-West SOURCE: http://www.telecomtiger.com/Wireless_fullstory.aspx?passfrom=Wireless&storyid=7109&section=S216

Earlier even I subscribed to the view that per second billing was an introductory offer and would be phased out automatically as and when the newer operators gain subscriber base and improve their networks. But MTS has totally changed my view. MTS is offering per second tariff with lifetime tariff validity. Now even Aircel has joined the bandwagon. BSNL's entry was a surprise. I agree that Aircel and BSNL are not offering per second tariff validity for lifetime. This only makes me think that either termination costs are significanty lower than the maximum prescribed by TRAI, or operators have got into agreements with each other on "per second" basis and looting customers in the process by charging per minute.

BSNL Karnataka launches “Pay per Second” plan Posted at September 10th, 2009 under BSNL, After Tata DoCoMo, Aircel and MTS, now its BSNL’s turn. Stateowned BSNL has launched “Pay per second” plan for its subscribers in the Karnataka region. Bindas – 54 customers can opt for the special tariff vocher “STV 45″ and avail local calls at 1 paise/second and STD calls at 2 paise per second. This tariff is applicable for calls to all BSNL and Other network phones. Local SMS will be charged at 60 paise/SMS, National and International SMS will be charged at Rs. 1.20 and Rs. 5 respectively. ISD calls will be charged as per the plan. SOURCE: http://www.cellbharat.com/blog/2940/bsnl-karnataka-launches-pay-per-second-plan/

RCOM is making merry as of now. Let them have all the fun in the world. After MNP is implemented, I am sure the subscribers would have the last laugh and RCOM would be left gaping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RCOM has calculated the savings ob the highest tariff prevalent in the country to arrive at the total benifit number of Rs. 4000. Local calls- Rs. 999*1= Rs. 999 STD calls- Rs. 999*1.5= Rs. 1498.5 National SMS- Rs. 999*1.5= Rs. 1498.5 Hence the total of Rs. 4000. Also, the validity of 30days is too less a period for such a huge offer. Seems like this time the festive season is applicable only to the GSM subscribers.

September 08, 2009 Department of Telecommunications allots 8055 series to Reliance Communications for Maharashtra & Goa Reliance's first mobile series beginning with '8' Reliance rolls out the new number as 'BOSS' series BOSS series to be launched on Reliance GSM network Customers will have the option to select their preferred BOSS number by sending an sms Pune, September 8th, 2009: Department of Telecommunications has allotted Reliance Communication a brand new number series 8055 in the Rest of Maharashtra (including Goa) circle. The company is rolling out these numbers in the Rest of Maharastra circle under the unique name of "BOSS". This is for the first time that Reliance Communications is rolling out the mobile series beginning with 8. Announcing the roll-out of its BOSS series at a press conference in Pune, Mr Ravi Santhanam, Circle CEO - Wireless Business, Maharashtra & Goa, Reliance Communications, said, "Reliance Communications has launched its GSM services across Mahrastra & Goa and has received a tremendous response from the subscribers in the circle. Our new BOSS series reflects the unique success of Reliance Mobile brand in this circle. As part of the roll-out of '8055' Boss series, we will offer our customers in Maharastra and Goa an equal opportunity to purchase their choice of number by sending an SMS. This is the first time we are offering our customers an option to choose their preferred number. This is in line with our company's thrust to offer best-in-class mobile services to its customers across the country." Reliance Communications is offering the BOSS series on both its pre-paid and post-paid platforms across its GSM network. Customers across Maharastra and Goa can purchase unique numbers from the BOSS series by sending an sms as "BOSS" followed by the remaining 6 digits of their choice to 567678. Depending on the availability; the selected number of choice will be blocked and a reference code will be provided to the customer. A new customer has to purchase a new Reliance Mobile GSM number along with Rs 80 National Calling Card (NCC) recharge and SMS back their reference number to activate their preferred choice of number. An existing Reliance GSM customer can avail this unique opportunity of having a preferred number in the BOSS series by following this process but without requiring to buy a new connection. About Reliance Communications Reliance Communications Limited founded by the late Shri Dhirubhai H Ambani (1932-2002) is the flagship company of the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group currently has a net worth in excess of Rs. 64,000 crore (US$ 13.6 billion), cash flows of Rs. 13,000 crore (US$ 2.8 billion), net profit of Rs. 8,400 crore (US$ 1.8 billion). Reliance Communications is India's foremost and truly integrated telecommunications service provider. The Company, with a customer base of over 85 million including over 2.2 million individual overseas retail customers, ranks among the Top 10 Telecom companies in the world by number of customers in a single country. Reliance Communications corporate clientele includes 2,100 Indian and multinational corporations, and over 800 global, regional and domestic carriers. Reliance Communications has established a pan-India, next generation, integrated (wireless and wireline), convergent (voice, data and video) digital network that is capable of supporting best-of-class services spanning the entire communications value chain, covering over 24,000 towns and 600,000 villages. Reliance Communications owns and operates the world's largest next generation IP enabled connectivity infrastructure, directly connecting 40 countries from the East coast of the United States, to Europe, the Middle East, India, South and East Asia, through to Japan. The network seamlessly interconnects with its 190,000 route Kilometres fibre optic cables within India. SOURCE: http://www.rcom.co.in/webapp/Communications/rcom/Media/press_release_detail.jsp?id=350

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Thanks for the correction Ravi

Excellent!!!!!!!! After Missed calls we can have Blank sms also.......... In most probability, the network would not send sms without any characters. It might give an error message. This is my guess. Please verify!!!!!!!!

Aircel Special Rate cutter: Local & STD calls to any mobiles at 50 paise Posted at September 7th, 2009 under Aircel, Mobile Service Providers | Leading service provider, Aircel has introduced four special rate cutter plans for its subscribers, which offers STD and Local calls to any mobiles at 50 paise or below. As per the offer, All local and STD calls to Aircel phones will be charged between 10paise to 50 paise per minute and STD and Local calls to other mobiles will be charged at flat 50 paise / min. * The Special Tariff Vocher (STV) Rs.45 allows Local and STD calls to any mobile phones including Aircel at 50 paise Flat. * The Special Tariff Vocher (STV) Rs.69 allows Local and STD calls to Aircel phones at 30 paise and any other mobile phones at 50 paise . * The Special Tariff Vocher (STV) Rs.108 allows Local and STD calls to Aircel phones at 10 paise and any other mobile phones at 50 paise . * The Special Tariff Vocher (STV) Rs. 151 allows Local and STD calls to Aircel phones at 10 paise and any other mobile phones at 50 paise . This plan has added ISD benefits too. Source: http://www.cellbharat.com/blog/2916/aircel-special-rate-cutter-local-std-calls-to-any-mobiles-at-50-paise/

Excellent!!!!!!!! Lets see how the Italians position themselves in the highly competitive Indian Telecom Market......

Excellent!!!!!!!!

Tata Indicom (Karnataka) announces Non Stop Chat Plan with life time validity Puneet Jain August 13, 2009 Tata Indicom has announced the ‘Non Stop Chat Plan’ for existing as well as potential pre-paid subscribers across Karnataka. The plan offers Life Time Validity to potential customers through a start up kit priced at Rs. 99 whereas, the existing prepaid subscribers can avail the same tariff benefits while recharging with Recharge Voucher (RCV) priced at Rs. 48. Non Stop Chat Plan offers all local calls at just 30 paise per minute along with life time validity. All STD calls will be charged at Re 1.50 per minute. Along with call rate benefits, the subscribers can also send national/local SMS at just 30 paise. 70p will be charged daily with the 1st call/ sms SOURCE: http://mobigyaan.com/tata-indicom-karnataka-announces-non-stop-chat-plan-with-life-time-validity

I think Reliance and also all the exisiting operators would adopt a wait and watch strategy. Only once MNP is implemented, will bether large scale consolidation. I feel that Bharti Airtel and RCOM cannot take chances by reducing call rates significantly as this would increase congestion. Now they would rather focus on network upgradation and once MNP is implemented, I am sure they would be forced to match the offers offered by the bewer operators.

MTS INTRODUCES MTALK, THE BEST ‘TOTAL-VALUE’ SERVICE Press Releases September 7th, 2009 No more Processing Fee for a lifetime! – India can save over Rs.3500 crores if all mobile operators waive off processing fee! · Get full talk time for a lifetime, even on a recharge of Rs.10/- · 1-second billing – Gives 25% more talk time than per minute pulse charge · Simple Re.1 a day Msaver’s – Customers can get 50% savings on local calls, 50% savings on STD calls, 100 SMSes every day New Delhi, September 7, 2009: In a move that will delight its customers, and revolutionize the Indian telecom market, Sistema Shyam TeleServices Limited (SSTL) today announced its MTalk plan that offers local calls at just 1 paisa per second, with 1-second billing, plus full talk-time for lifetime! STD calls are charged at 2 paisa per second. At nominal Msaver rentals of just Rs.1 per day each, customers can also choose to get 50% off on local calls, 50% off on STD calls, and 100 SMSes every day. MTS have coined this simple concept “The Power of 1”. Says Mr. Vsevolod Rozanov, president and CEO of Sistema Shyam TeleServices Limited, “MTS is committed to setting new benchmarks for Indian telecom industry in terms of quality and pricing. While aggressively expanding in various telecom circles all over India, we have also been providing excellent quality network and services to our customers at unbeatable prices, which has helped us garner a base of over 1.7 million happy subscribers in such a short time. MTS also boasts of a robust high capacity and uncongested network based on superior CDMA technology.” “Our MTalk plan provides the simplest and best total-value service available in the market today that offers great value in call charges, talk time and discount vouchers. MTalk is an honest and true-value plan with all tariff vouchers at one price point, so that there is no ambiguity for the customers. To be convinced of its advantages, customers only need to ask themselves this one question – Does any other mobile service offer them all of these in the same package – one-second charging, full talk time on every top-up for a lifetime, and fabulous Re.1 per day Msavers for half price calling”, he adds. Highlighting the key turnaround this MTalk plan brings for the Indian telecom industry, Mr. Rozanov said, “There are over 400 million prepaid subscribers in India. Assuming that each prepaid subscriber recharges 4 times in a month, and pays a processing fee of Rs.2/- on each recharge, it implies an additional national cost of Rs.320 crores per month. If all operators follow MTS India’s model of waiving off their processing fee and providing full talk time for a lifetime, Indian consumers can save over Rs.3500 crores every year.” New customers can opt for MTalk plan by buying a SIM for Rs.49/- which includes a talk time of Rs.10/-. Existing MTS customers can also migrate to the MTalk plan without any additional charges. The plan will be available across India in all telecom circles where MTS is present, including Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Kolkata, Rest of West Bengal and Bihar. 25% EXTRA TALK TIME due to 1-second charging All calls to anywhere in the world will be charged by the second on MTS, adding another 25% to the value of your recharge compared to per minute charging. Additional 28% EXTRA TALK TIME due to no processing fees For subscribers who recharge for Rs.10/- and Rs.20/- with talk-time, which constitute about 70% of all recharges across India, MTalk plan will provide 28% extra talk-time for Rs.10/- recharge, and 12% more talk-time for Rs.20/ recharge. About Sistema Shyam TeleServices Sistema Shyam TeleServices (SSTL) is a joint venture company between Sistema {LSE: SSA} of Russia and Shyam Group of India. Sistema is the majority share holder in this joint venture with a 73.71% equity stake, along with the Shyam Group, holding a 23.79% stake and the rest 2.5% being public partake. SSTL has spectrum to provide mobile telephony services in all the 22 circles across the country. In a recent development, SSTL tied up with Mobile TeleSystems OJSC of Russia to bring the globally acclaimed telecom brand-MTS-to India. MTS is the 8th largest telecom brand in the world and has recently been voted as the 71st ranked brand out of 100 top global brands in the world by Millward Brown. For further details visit: www.mtsindia.in Source: http://press-releases.techwhack.com/40539-mts-mtalk

MTS LAUNCHES 1 PAISA 1 SECOND BILLING PLUS September 7th, 2009 Gagan Randhawa Leave a comment Go to comments MTS India the CDMA mobile operator today announced its MTalk plan that offers local calls at just 1 paisa per second, with 1-second billing, plus full talk-time for lifetime! STD calls are charged at 2 paisa per second. At nominal Msaver rentals of just Rs.1 per day each, customers can also choose to get 50% off on local calls, 50% off on STD calls, and 100 SMSes every day. MTS is also launching its service tomorrow in Jharkhand new customers can opt for MTalk plan by buying a SIM for Rs.49/- which includes a talk time of Rs.10/-. Existing MTS customers can also migrate to the MTalk plan without any additional charges. The plan will be available across India in all telecom circles where MTS is present, including Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Kolkata, Rest of West Bengal and Bihar. 25% EXTRA TALK TIME due to 1-second charging All calls to anywhere in the world will be charged by the second on MTS, adding another 25% to the value of your recharge compared to per minute charging. Additional 28% EXTRA TALK TIME due to no processing fees For subscribers who recharge for Rs.10/- and Rs.20/- with talk-time, which constitute about 70% of all recharges across India, MTalk plan will provide 28% extra talk-time for Rs.10/- recharge, and 12% more talk-time for Rs.20/ recharge. There is a table which clearly explains the reduced tariff which I am unable to copy. Please click on the source link to view the table Source: http://telecomtalk.info/mts-launches-1-paisa-1-second-billing-plus/9006/

Tamil Nadu Circle