Ril Working On Gsm Parity For Cdma

[Puneet 0]

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/928846.cms

MUMBAI: CDMA subscribers can now change their handsets like their GSM counterparts. Currently, there is no active market for second hands as handsets have to be activated by the operator.

But CDMA operator Reliance Infocomm is working on changing this. The company has set up a special team to spearhead the development of a second-hand market and is planning initiatives to boost the sales of second- hand handsets.

The first initiative is being kicked off on November 22 with the launch of a ‘virtual sim card’. This card is available in a kit which is nothing but a scratch card with a unique activation code. Subscribers can activate any Reliance network compliant handset with the code and get a new phone number. Similarly, the handset can be deactivated.

“Suppose a subscriber has moved to Delhi and wants to change his number, he can buy a new kit and get a new number, just as he would do if he were a GSM subscriber,” said S P Shukla, president (wireless products & services), Reliance Infocomm. The Reliance Get Started Kit costs Rs 220 and is pre-loaded with Rs 50 worth of talktime.

The absence of a `sim-based’ activation system was one reason that CDMA handsets couldn’t be bought/sold off the shelf. Globally, there have been efforts to develop an alternative to the GSM sim card — RUIM.

Reliance has chosen to go for a simpler system of ‘over-the-air activation’. Previously, GSM users have used this principle to activate the GPRS subscribers or download other applications directly onto mobile phones.

CDMA growth has been hampered by the lack of an effective second-hand market. Unlike the GSM space where handsets are available for Rs 1,500-2,500, CDMA handsets could be bought from the operator only.

Though new handsets are available for Rs 2,000-10,000, the second-hand handsets will be available for Rs 1,000. With the pre-paid option available to CDMA users, Reliance can now target the price-sensitive section of the market.

[Basant 0]

RIL working on GSM parity for CDMA

RAJESHWARI ADAPPA THAKUR

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2004 01:59:50 AM]MUMBAI: CDMA subscribers can now change their handsets like their GSM counterparts. Currently, there is no active market for second hands as handsets have to be activated by the operator.

But CDMA operator Reliance Infocomm is working on changing this. The company has set up a special team to spearhead the development of a second-hand market and is planning initiatives to boost the sales of second- hand handsets.

The first initiative is being kicked off on November 22 with the launch of a ‘virtual sim card’. This card is available in a kit which is nothing but a scratch card with a unique activation code. Subscribers can activate any Reliance network compliant handset with the code and get a new phone number. Similarly, the handset can be deactivated.

“Suppose a subscriber has moved to Delhi and wants to change his number, he can buy a new kit and get a new number, just as he would do if he were a GSM subscriber,” said S P Shukla, president (wireless products & services), Reliance Infocomm. The Reliance Get Started Kit costs Rs 220 and is pre-loaded with Rs 50 worth of talktime.

The absence of a `sim-based’ activation system was one reason that CDMA handsets couldn’t be bought/sold off the shelf. Globally, there have been efforts to develop an alternative to the GSM sim card — RUIM.

Reliance has chosen to go for a simpler system of ‘over-the-air activation’. Previously, GSM users have used this principle to activate the GPRS subscribers or download other applications directly onto mobile phones.

CDMA growth has been hampered by the lack of an effective second-hand market. Unlike the GSM space where handsets are available for Rs 1,500-2,500, CDMA handsets could be bought from the operator only.

Though new handsets are available for Rs 2,000-10,000, the second-hand handsets will be available for Rs 1,000. With the pre-paid option available to CDMA users, Reliance can now target the price-sensitive section of the market.

Hi.......seems to be gr8 news for CDMA handsets.

[Basant 0]

Can one use Reliance virtual sim card on a TATA Indicom CDMA handset? I guess, there is no benefit if the use is limited to RIM handsets. of course, this may enable us to sell our used handsets to others who can use legally.

is there any thing more?

[raccoon 53]

Basant, how can that be possible? Can one use a RIM recharge voucher to refill a Tata Indicom mobile?

And Id think there would be a lot of "benifit" cus as of now, Reliance is very, very inflexible with its policies. This new system should certainly make things more flexible.

Edited November 20, 2004 by raccoon

[Ashokjp 15]

Anyone got more info ?

What should we do exactly..

Should we call any no and type that unique code.

If so, how can calls be placed unless the phone is authorised on a network?

Else how is it done ?

[Shabz 8]

It will be simple dial *228 and it will ask for a 9 digit code which might be written on the virtual sim card and then the handset will be activated I have one handset which seems to have be disconnected from reliance I can only call *333 from it and on dialling *228 it asks for a 9 digit code written on the reliance starter kit

I think by this way people who might be having okd handsets bought under 501 scheme may be able to reactivate their dead handsets

[Ashokjp 15]

But will this *228 work on the new cdma handsets

or for eg.. TATA handsets ?

They arent on Reliance network, then will this *228 no work ?

[Ganesh 0]

yeah it is common for all networks i suppose

[AmanJ 1]

Can one use a RIM recharge voucher to refill a Tata Indicom mobile?

no its not possible,

till now no operator interoperable recharge voucher is available, and not even in GSM service.

[anujit 0]

So I can buy a nice fancy CDMA 2000 1x mobile from the US (which doesn't have a operator lock of course) and use it here?

[Saurav 22]

Anujit read above news it's mentioned that handset should be RIM compatible. before you purchase make sure that it works with Reliance.

[Beetle 0]

So I can buy a nice fancy CDMA 2000 1x mobile from the US (which doesn't have a operator lock of course) and use it here?

19732[/snapback]

Nope, not yet. Not even with virtual SIM. There are more technical stuff involved. Unlike over the shelf GSM phones, not all cdma phones are compatible with every CDMA network. Its got things to do with, network load, voltage consumption, disturbance and stuff, and not just 900/1800Hz.

Reliance compatible handsets mean, only those handsets whoose ESN has been registered, so lets curtail our excitement for now.

Anujit read above news it's mentioned that handset should be RIM compatible. before you purchase make sure that it works with Reliance.

19734[/snapback]

Its very easy to make an imported handset work on Reliance/Tata/Garuda. Infact some new handsets can home onto any available CDMA network, NETWORK AUTO SELECTION feature. It exist even on Nokia 2280, but is software blocked, can be released with Diego. Guess, I am not allowed to discuss it..BANNED Whatever.

Ya... so, even if you program an handset onto reliance network, *228 wont work as the ESN is not registered, even with the virtual sim. All the virtual SIM will do is on OTAF give you a new MIN, for the old ESN. ESN has to be registered previously by network.

[vbraju 0]

There was an article in the Economic Times dt Sat Nov 20, 2004

Heres the link

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/928846.cms

Good News for all of us.

Last couple of days there has been some news about GSK (Get Started Kit) and HCC (Handset Change Cards).

Can someone please clarify what is the difference. I thought they were the same.

From the ET Article, I thought that RIM is introducing some kind of virtual SIM card wherein you buy a scratch card and enter the number in the handset. Then there will be an over the air activation and a new number allocated to your handset.

Regards

V B Raju

Edited November 23, 2004 by vbraju

[silverline 0]

I guess this will be only good news to pre-paid users.... Not for post-paid ! Also the fact that, the number activation can be only done with the "Reliance network compliant" handsets will be the catch in this. Meaning, may be we will be only able to activate the reliance sold handsets rather than any CDMA handset you might find in the market ! So this may be only good news to people who might want to swap numbers.

Any different opinion about this ?

Cheers,

Silverline !