Dot Seeks Dilution Of Trai's Role

[abhay 0]

the only pert of govt which is actully working is being thrown out! man they are crazy

DoT seeks dilution of TRAI's role

Government is likely to seek dilution of the role of telecom regulator TRAI for a 'Light Touch' approach towards regulation and prevent its indulgence in micro management.

The move to subdue TRAI, created under an Act of Parliament, incidentally comes close on the heels of the Prime Minister calling for strengthening the regulatory framework.

A process is likely to be put in place to review the activities of the regulator, thereby increasing the confidence of the industry as well as investors in the regulatory framework, says the Draft New Telecom Policy, being prepared by the Department of Telecom (DoT).

In yet another salvo on the regulator, DoT has proposed that on retirement/resignation from the TRAI, the officers would not be permitted to accept commercial employment with any telecom service provider and equipment vendor, including government agencies.

DoT is currently preparing a New Telecom Policy (NTP) to replace NTP 99 in view of major changes in the sector including new technologies and opening of the sector to a great extent.

The move to weaken TRAI, however, may have its fall out especially at a time when the sector is witnessing exponential growth and there is strong need to maintain balance and ensure level playing field among different categories of players, feel industry analysts.

They are of the view that TRAI, in fact, needs to be strengthened to overcome controversial issues like interconnection between two players. Delays in this may hamper growth of the sector in a major way, they added.

The Draft NTP also proposes that TRAI funding would be directly provided from the revenue share collected from the industry.

A newly constituted Committee with representation from the government, industry and consumers would monitor the functioning and expenditure of TRAI, says the draft NTP. The DoT could have made this proposal in view of the tight competition in the sector with market forces at their peak and therefore no need for regulation.

At present there are 6-8 operators in every service area, which implies that the number of service providers in a given area is much higher as compared to any international norm. As a result and as is widely acknowledged, the tariffs are much lower as compared to any international standards, it said.

In such a highly competitive scenario, it is neither required nor desirable to have too much regulation. The Regulator would, therefore, adopt Light Touch approach to Regulation and refrain from indulging in micro management, it added.

However, there will be stronger Regulatory overseeing in areas where competition is lacking and bottlenecks exist.

TRAI would itself examine the Impact of a regulation before it brings in a regulation, the draft policy adds.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1293643.cms

[SexyGurl 0]

It's time to launch a "Why DoT should be Banned?" thread on rimweb.

[abhay 0]

It's time to launch a "Why DoT should be Banned?" thread on rimweb.

46788[/snapback]

yup and we should take control over the telecom sector of india

OUR AGENDA:-

1) new broadband defination

2) no ADC

3) unbundled loacal loop

this would be kool

[Arun 795]

Is India's telecom regulator dead?

Sunil Jain | November 14, 2005 15:07 IST

- Rediff.com

Given how Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran has cocked a snook at the telecom regulator, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, ignored its major recommendations for over a year, and not even bothered to go through the mandatory consultation process before completely overhauling the long-distance telephony rules, it appears obvious Trai has been dealt a body blow.

More so since, when it comes to Trai's other powers, to insist that telecom firms allow others to interconnect with their subscribers on fair terms, these have been circumscribed by the telecom appellate tribunal, the TDSAT.

While it just takes a simple instruction from Maran to say interconnection disputes are part of Trai's jurisdiction, the minister's in no hurry to do anything of the sort -- let Trai fight out the issue in the Supreme Court seems to be his view.

Indeed, since Trai has cosseted the long-distance players for so long (its Universal Service Licence, USL, recommendations in effect extended their cartel-like profits for a few more years), and given how it went along with Arun Shourie to bypass the rules to allow Reliance a backdoor entry into the mobile phone market, it's hardly surprising that few are shedding tears over this.

While formulating the USL in 2004, Trai's argument for extending the protection was that long-distance telcos like Reliance, Bharti and the Tatas (VSNL) had invested good money and so needed some time to recoup this -- an argument not used to give cellular firms more time during the WLL mobile days!

It is, surely surprising, that while Maran has been talking of a cartel in the long-distance telecom market, Trai never paid attention to how the long distance-firms have nearly identical tariffs, to how this is the only segment of the industry where costs are way below the tariffs being charged, or to the fact that despite the access deficit charge payable on incoming international calls falling by over a rupee since February, the settlement rate with international carriers remains unchanged.

But merely hailing Maran as the all-in-one minister-cum-regulator in preference to the in-your-face Pradip Baijal, never mind your differences with the latter, can hardly be good for the sector.

For one, the evidence of each sector, from power onwards, has shown that wherever there have been politicians, the pace of reforms has slowed. In the telecom sector, Maran's predecessors, and later he, have been happy to protect the incumbent BSNL and VSNL in the days before it was privatised.

The imposition of the access deficit charge, which drains out around Rs 5,000 crore (Rs 50 billion) annually from customers to line BSNL's pockets, is just one example. Even today, BSNL refuses to provide leased line services to competitors for Internet services like VPN and the rules of the game were changed overnight to facilitate this -- VPN services, which were part of the internet licence, were suddenly reclassified as a new licence for which the entry fees was jacked up from one rupee to Rs 10 crore (Rs 100 million).

BSNL also refuses to allow its competitors to connect to its customers -- Trai has cited 918 such cases recently, of which 367 have been pending for more than a year.

When Trai said, in line with the global practice, that BSNL would have to allow others access to its last-mile fibre going into consumers' homes, the ministry simply ignored this recommendation. The short point is that while Maran has done the right thing by increasing competition in the long-distance business, there is a fundamental conflict of interest.

First, he's responsible for BSNL's profits. Second, as a politician, his interests cannot be the same as that of the industry. The ADC and VPN cases are examples of just this.

But what if the regulator hasn't done a good job? After all, in the WLL mobile case and the long-distance cartel, Baijal's decisions were one-sided. So how do you prevent a regulator from being arbitrary?

An arbitrary regulator, it is true, is a bad thing, but is any day preferable to an arbitrary politician. When a regulator gives a recommendation, he has to publicly consult all stakeholders, and then give a written explanation for the recommendation.

If anyone finds the arguments flawed, he can go to the TDSAT, and later the Supreme Court. When Trai passed an order reducing tariffs for international leased lines, but didn't share the basis of its findings, VSNL went to the TDSAT, which struck down the Trai order twice, on different grounds each time!

When politicians decide on things, on the other hand, the decisions are generally shrouded in mystery and the data are never made public. For instance, it is only now when Trai laid bare the whole process of how calls are to be accounted for that you know just how much extra you're being billed for by the long-distance players -- in the earlier days when politicians decided what long-distance tariffs were, you had a vague idea you were being fleeced, but had no clue about how much, and so were in no position to do anything about it.

Many of Baijal's decisions may have been questionable, but to cripple the institution of Trai because of this is akin to cutting off your nose to spite your face.

[linuxguy 0]

THIS is stupid. There has to be a balance of power! I feel, BSNL and MTNL are being given unfair advantage by Maran to establish themselves are powerful players in the broadband arena. It is only when they have a strong and well secured subscriber base that they might think of unbundling the local loop. This leaves on Reliance and Airtel to kick some BSNL/MTNL butt! But, Reliance is dormant and with the way things are going with Airtel the situation is bleek!

Broadband and Cellular connectivity is DOOMED!

[adforsaj 0]

"But what if the regulator hasn't done a good job? After all, in the WLL mobile case and the long-distance cartel, Baijal's decisions were one-sided. So how do you prevent a regulator from being arbitrary?" (ET)

As above news article show, TRAI must be democratic in their process of regulation.

TRAI must be 3 member body like Election Commission of India.

Let's wait for new Telecom Policy.

Very Good Thread.

[SexyGurl 0]

And what about DoT (really Govt. of India -- the NDA govt) being one-sided, when they, wrote-off a massive LICENSE FEE payable by Airtel, Hutch, Idea and other players ... when converting to a revenue-shared model ?

These guys bid way-too-high ... and they cried-to-tears their way out of the high bids.

In was entirely justified to permit BSNL, Reliance and Tata, when the original mobile operators failed to charge up the market (simply becoz of their Rs. 16 per minute tariffs). And neither meet their contractual obligations regarding committed license fees.

In any case, TRAI has only advisory / consultancy capability over policy matters .... DoT already has full power over policies.

But once the policy is set, TRAI should be allowed to implement it fairly. As correctly mentioned above, an "arbitrary DoT" riddled by politicians (read Maran), is far to worse than an "arbitrary TRAI" .. becoz is has to defend it's opinion in Black & White Objectively.

So, atleast TRAI has been more transparent .. and has always put clear reasons of it's stand (though, all of it's stands are subject to scrutiny by TDSAT and higher courts, if the operators, subscribers are dissatisfied).

[linuxguy 0]

You know what? I am waiting for a REAL foriegn company stepping into the Indian market. Something like comcast, verizon, Yahoo SBC DSL, etc...

[Arun 795]

Why you can't fathom your cellphone bill

- Rediff.com

November 15, 2005

Regulatory authorities have the crucial role of providing an effective regulatory framework and adequate safeguards to ensure fair competition and protection of consumer interests. The role of the regulatory authorities is much more significant during the reform process of any sector in a fast growing economy like India.

Regulatory authorities have several key functions to play with the changing technology and invention in their respective sector. Nevertheless the primary objective for the existence of a regulatory body is to protect consumer interests. In order to protect consumer interests, regulatory authorities:

Must be accessible to consumers in a variety of modes including e-mail, toll-free phone, mail, e-filing, fax, etc for lodging complaints.

Must acknowledge any complaint received and provide a reference number for tracking the status. They should lay down a feasible timeframe for resolving any kind of complaint.

Must maintain the complete database of complaints and thereby revise and enforce new regulations for the benefit of other consumers.

The telecom sector in India has been opened up to private participants along with FDI (foreign direct investment) to some extent. The Government of India has established the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India as the regulatory authority for the telecom sector. TRAI has been vested with comprehensive powers and also has the responsibility of advising GOI on all policy matter pertaining to the telecom industry.

1. Accessibility: TRAI

TRAI is accessible currently to consumers through a New Delhi number and e-mail.

Consumers from any part of India other than Delhi have to use STD to reach TRAI.

E-mails sent to TRAI are never acknowledged / responded and are simply ignored.

TRAI service personnel, who pick up the phone sporadically, mention that complaints can be lodged only by visiting their Delhi office personally rather than by e-mail or on phone.

2. Cellular phone regulations: TRAI

Cellphones can be described as a necessity in this new century based on acknowledgement of the fact that mobile phone connections have already bypassed fixed line connections in India. Consumers accept the terms and conditions of the cellular operators and take up the connection without getting in to the nitty-gritty of the billing details.

Consumers start to panic as when their monthly bill goes way beyond their budget and get a feeling of being overcharged. Indian cellular consumers are deprived of some basic expectations from the cellular operators as they are not enforced by corresponding regulations by TRAI. Few of them are explained below:

Itemised Billing Statement (IBS)

Tariff charges for different call categories (local, WLL, STD, inter-circle, roaming charges, etc) vary with each cellular operator in India. IBS (Itemised Billing Statement) helps the consumer to find out any billing discrepancies with pinpoint accuracy.

TRAI currently does not enforce this basic regulation on cellular operators to ensure all the post-paid consumers receive IBS by default as part of any plan chosen. Although IBS information is readily available with the cellular operators, currently it attracts a minimum charge starting from Rs 50 every month, except for a few privileged consumers.

Bills sent by many operators do not have the required clarity which is mandatory and the consumer has every right to receive the billing information precisely.

TRAI must impose strict regulations on the operators with regard to billing clarity. The need for billing clarity is not limited to cellular phones but to any kind of phone connection. It is ironic to note that there is no mention about IBS regulation in the white paper published by TRAI on billing issues in May 2005.

Mobile Number Portability (MNP)

Number portability allows subscribers to change their service provider while retaining their current number. MNP gives the freedom to the consumers to switch the operator without any concern about retaining their number.

TRAI has produced an excellent white paper on number portability in July 2005. It is ironic to note a well-stated fact in the white paper that less developed countries like our neighbour Pakistan has already started implementing MNP programme when the cellular phone penetration is as low as approximately 7%.

Ideally, TRAI should have started implementing MNP programme as the cellular phone connections have already surpassed fixed line connections in India. Rejection of MNP by our leading cellular operators like Reliance at this proposal stage is totally unacceptable.

It should be noted that private operators do support FNP (fixed number portability) as it helps them break in to state-owned operator's territory and they are against MNP which actually benefits many consumers and is the need of the hour.

Toll Free Numbers / Emergency Numbers

Cellular operators simply do not route calls made to the toll free numbers set up on BSNL/ MTNL and other emergency numbers as there is no policy set-up or enforced by TRAI. This defeats the purpose and meaning of toll free numbers and also hinders many service-oriented companies in their respective sectors to provide this basic facility to their consumers.

It should be noted that it is not expected to have this service completely free on cellular phones and the expectation is to have TRAI regulation and policy in place to handle the need.

3. Conclusion

Reform process is intended to boost the economy and give the consumers a variety of options to choose from. However, when the corresponding regulatory authority fails, it does not serve the purpose which is the case with TRAI as it turned in to a complete fiasco.

As a result of this, majority public who used to support the reform process now tend to incline towards the Leftist view. It should be noted the state-owned operator is safe without the reform process as it prevents the growth of unscrupulous operators who do not have any sense and commitment towards building of the nation.

The government must restructure TRAI and closely review its performance.

TRAI should first create awareness to the general public that it is available to listen to consumer issues and act as an arbitrator to resolve the issues between the operator and the consumer.

TRAI should never ever succumb to lobbying by private Indian telecom giants.

[SexyGurl 0]

I managed to read 4 to 5 sentences from the above (each from a different paragraph).

In general, it doesn't sound positive ... and I get a feeling that someone's modesty is being outraged.

As always, I remain sympathetic towards TRAI ... it's influence has been very positive, thus far.

[linuxguy 0]

sexygurl (oh i hate typing that name!), you should've read the entire article. very informative. picks out the good points! TRAI has failed to be consumer oriented. They have not implemented a basic necessity like Emergency numbers (100, 101, 102) and toll free numbers! Even the emergency number (112) doesnt work!

[SexyGurl 0]

True, everything is not perfect ... but compare TRAI to what other regulatory authorities do.

IRAI - Insurance Regulatory Authority of India ... Total Cr*p. I fail to see why it exists, if it's that dormant.

Power Regulatory authorities - The less said, the better.

Atleast, TRAI hasn't chosen to play a DEAD DOG.

[Ramchi 0]

TRAI is totally useless. All their expected initiatives are already implemented in many countries. TRAI is merely repeating their suggestions. They do not have the will to accept queries from the consumer forums. TRAI is another beuracratic mess which slows down telecom reform process. Only in India strange ways of billings like STD, FWP/FWT, Mobile, 200 KM/500 KM/50 KM, intra circle, pulse rate etc...There is no standard approach in billing and there is no unified numbering system across the country across all providers.

Importance is given in identifying the provider (thru your number) than identifying the area or the owner of the number.

I think corrupt TRAI people are getting paid by Reliance & TATAs so that Indian consumers are get stuck 50 years back.

As always, Indian consumers **** their thumbs.

[SexyGurl 0]

I'm sure Ramchi is enjoying the state of Power Sector in India.

Great Electricity Bills ... no corruption there.

WOW ! If only Telecom would have followed the things as they are there in the power sector .... Ahhh !

Sh*t ... if we could somehow make our Telecom sector like the power sector .... we would become "eligible" for a decent comparison with Nigeria or Sudan.

-- Jokes apart, Ramchi has already forgotten the telecom tariffs, before Reliance entered the sector.

Shall we revert to pre-reliance tariffs dear?

Atleast Rs. 800/- for low users ... and 4000-5000 per month for high users. Hmmm.... I wonder, who are you being paid by.

[Ramchi 0]

I am NOT supporting state owned power companies and their attitude. They also will eventually wound up from the business if they do not rise up to demands.

The competition is driven NOT only by Reliance or TATA, alone. Multiple players are jumping in and that’s why you see price fall. Reliance and TATA are nothing but extended version of State run enterprise where no one takes responsibility but only one person takes all the profitability. These companies enjoy patronage from state governments thru corrupt practices. TATA is one example of useless existence thru license Raj by not allowing competition. TRAI is simply facilitating an environment where quick progress is hard to achieve. They totally ignoring consumer's voice in this respect.

I feel Reliance and TATA are not there for competition instead they want to monopolize Mobile business and corner Indian consumers with their useless Indian stuffs. They hardly survived international competitions at global levels and their success is only thru back-door entries and not thru technological inventions or consumer friendly business practices.

[linuxguy 0]

True, SexyGurl (>_<). But he is right in a way. TRAI hasn't done enough to protect the consumers.... :|

[SexyGurl 0]

Reliance not "surviving" international competition. !!!

It's crushing it ... a bit too hard

You saw the unfolding of the Jamnagar refinery .... THE LARGEST SINGLE GRASSROOTS REFINERY -- IN THE WORLD.

AND NOW IT'S BEING EXPANDED TO 60 MILLION TONNER (NEARLY DOUBLE).

Reliance simply rocks. Even Infocomm.... 80,000 Kms of optic fiber network. Presence in 5000 cities and 4 lac villages (by end of year).

You can ask anyone knowledge-able about Indian telecom Industry ... what MONSOON HUNGAMA did to Indian mobile industry.

Tata, I agree is just-an-other competitor. No heroics there. But, it along with Reliance, brought the old-GSM operators to their senses.

Now, if you're claiming that Airtel, Hutch would have been charging the currently applicable tariffs, if Reliance & Tata & BSNL were not there ... it's easily laughable.

In fact, specifically, Hutch is still quite pricier on EDGE-BASED DATA SERVICES ... Read another thread ... It cost's @ 1 Rupee per SECOND .. to watch "HUTCH-TV" on EDGE. (includes Aajtak, and other video-services). (Not to state the mandatory Rs. 50 per month charge).

What are Reliance's tariffs: UNLIMITED VIDEOS (AAJTAK, NDTV 24X7, CNBC, ...) just with Rs. 25/- per month. No PER SECOND CHARGE.

Actually, NDTVX7 english video news it TOTALLY FREE .. not even Rs. 25 per month.

And Bollywood videos: Kishore Kumar, Lata Mangeshkar, Mohd. Rafi HITS, DHOOM, KAJRA-RE etc. @ Rupees 2 per launch (AGAIN NO PER SECOND CHARGE).

The old-GSM has still not behaved as far as data services are concerned. But it's competition: If they don't mend their ways, they will get eliminated completely from the HIGH-END DATA SERVICES MARKET.

As for TRAI, maybe here, it could set up an upper band, on this DAYLIGHT-LOOT by old-GSM operators on Video Data Services.

[Ramchi 0]

Many players were involved in laying Fiber Optic cables. Reliance might have started the mass appeal as far as mobile phones are concerned but GSM operators never stopped the technology from progressing. I am not really familiar with how the telephone networks are operating, how revenues are shared across different providers etc…but as an end user I see lots of flexibilities with GSM operators. Many GSM operators are matching Reliance atleast on one segment like ‘Local calls’ or ‘Intra Circle’ calls. Whereas, Reliance price policy is very rigid as we can see it from RConnect charges.

I am hearing that Reliance and TATA are against opening up the spectrum [for 3G Networks] for private players at affordable cost. This itself is a clear indication that these guys are really pissed-off seeing others competing on equal grounds. Clearly, these two providers are shaken by the fact that international players will be able to beat them fair and square on technology offerings to Indian customers at affordable cost.

World is moving towards Video Conferencing, Mobile Broadband at 1 GB rate etc…whereas our TRAI is struggling to add customer base with its broadband policies like 1/2 GB cap on usage etc…TRAi is another useless Government Body just like our BCCI where people spend more money [in Crores] on Meetings and Conferences than addressing real issues.

Edited November 17, 2005 by Ramchi

[SexyGurl 0]

Reliance and TATA opposing more spectrum ....no??

Ratan Tata said, he is even willing to BUY it (For around 1500 crores).

The "international" players (if you mean the current GSM operators) .. want it FREE.

As of Date: GSM operators are holding 25 MHz of spectrum. CDMA (i.e. Reliance + Tata) are given only 5 MHz.

Neither by subscriber base, nor by traffic, is GSM 5 times CDMA in India.

They want more (and I have hardly any problems with that) .... the Finance Ministry has: Why should a National Asset be given off to non-Indians (nearly 50% of GSM players are owned by "international" players) for FREE??

It's like Taxing poor Indians but giving a National Asset for free to outsiders. I feel, that govt. should REDUCE taxes ... and raise money from SALE of Spectrum.

Why shouldn't HUTCHINSON WHAMPOA, SINGTEL or VODAFONE pay from Spectrum?

These same players paid HUGE money of the order of BILLIONS of DOLLARS in other countries. Why should we gift all this free.

We do want to use that money, to build our ROADS, PORTS, POWER PLANTS.

AND EVEN IF DON'T WANT TO BUILD ALL THAT ... WE'LL KEEP THAT MONEY IN SAFE DEPOSIT.

WHY THE PHUCK, GIFT THE SPECTRUM FOR FREE ????

[Ramchi 0]

If only one player buys out the spectrum then Indian consumers will be at the receiving end. Indian government is already heavily taxing Indian citizens thru sales tax, service tax, excercise duty, other taxes for which citizens are not even getting the basic things correct. If Tata or Reliance keeps the license then Indian consumers will be taken back to socialistic era where only rich people will enjoy the fruits of technology and common people will be left out.

Government can easily recover the spectrum cost thru various means. Ultimiately, consumers should be able to use the technology at affordable cost. Tata will definitely charge its customers heavily if they buy out the spectrum at Rs 1500 crores and not only that, it will block others from entering the market and blocking the resources.

People need not go for Vodaphone and other providers if Reliance or Tata is confident of providing cost-effective solutions for Indian customers. Why do you think people migrate to GSM providers from CDMA? Reliance and TATA are worst in terms of taking care of their customers because of their corrupt background.

[SexyGurl 0]

Nobody is buying all the spectrum .. and neither is anyone selling all the spectrum to one party.

Tata offered to buy a one-operator's requirement for launching 3G services.

Airtel (Singtel + Vodafone + Bharti) want the same thing for free, for which Tata is willing to pay 1500 crores.

I see no logic in offering to either. There should be open bidding ... including NEW international players like Cingular, Orange, Nextel, Korea Telecom, Japanese providers .... Deutshche telecom.

They have money ... want to launch 3G .... good for both India and Them. If Hutchison Whampoa or Singtel don't have money, then Sorry. Keep providing 2G services only.

And by the way, don't be a fool .. that IF we gift the Spectrum for free .. .the prices of 3G will be any cheaper.

Price will be, what WE as customers are willing to pay ... not what someone is going to steal from your pocket.

Eg. If Nextel or Cingular pays Govt. of India 4 billion dollars .... it woulud like to earn back, fine. But it better keep it's COSTS in check. Provide Indians the services, at what the COMMON INDIAN can buy. Otherwise no one will buy the service & it's Nextel or Cingular's problem to look for getting back it's investment.

FIRST RULE OF MARKET: Given sufficient competition, PRICE is WHAT THE CUSTOMER IS WILLING TO PAY.

Not equal to: Cost + Profit Margin. That doens't work.

Lastly go and get a REAL BROADBAND experience at any Reliance webworld. You'll know the difference, clearing your mindset.

As for people "migrating" .. check the latest figures. The PROPORTION of CDMA subscribers to GSM subscribers is rising in India.

For all wireless subscriber additions, last month 34% of the additions were by CDMA, 66% by GSM.

(Total 3.24 million subscribers were added in October ... 1.1 million by CDMA operators)

Edited November 17, 2005 by SexyGurl

[linuxguy 0]

You know what? I think CDMA players would start getting more subscribers if we had these dual GSM-CDMA phones AND the CDMA phones had a dummy "sim". The reason why people are sticking with GSM right now is the ease of changing the operator

[adwait 0]

Yup...there are only two CDMA operators, and even then its apparently illegal to reprogram you handset for another provider (out of a choice of just 2!), even though you bought the habdset with full upfront payment

[Ramchi 0]

It is shear stupidity to argue that ‘price is what customers are willing to pay’ when we have only limited local providers that too who can manipulate authorities and work together in blocking new entries! Customers do not have a choice here. In this case there are two types of customers, one wealthy set that can use these services does not matter what the cost is and others just can not use it. This was exactly like 10-15 years back in India. Even in US this was the case when Sprint PCS [CDMA provider] was ruling the mobile subscriptions. They even block new technologies [including GSM] which makes the customer to choose different providers without having to invest on handsets.

TRAI or any Government authorities must facilitate price competition instead of blocking new entrants thru stingy measures. Only GSM entry made sure that a customer in villages can also use mobile phones with its prepaid schemes. Reliance has dropped all its promotional schemes [with postpaid cheques for its handsets] when it entered the market because many people were unhappy with its billing and so on…

Reliance does not allow handset makers to go ahead with new implementations and even look at Nokia 6255, they have stripped down its features just because it pleases its boss; so that he can make more money. Here customers do not have a choice. Only controlling authorities can make sure that fair practices are followed in favor of customer NOT the other way around.

If Microsoft alone can decide on matters, it would not have allowed Java VM in its browser.

Believe me, when 3G network is installed across the country, all CDMA users will migrate to GSM because CDMA handsets are already light-years behind. Even the entry level GSM phones contain following features, 1. EDGE/3G 2. Camera wit Video 3. Bluetooth 4. Expandable Memory and other list of other options.

[SexyGurl 0]

>> Even the entry level GSM phones contain following features, 1. EDGE/3G 2. Camera wit Video 3. Bluetooth 4. Expandable Memory and other list of other options.

Your market knowledge impresses me.

btw ... .assuming you do use a GSM connection ... are you enjoying watching videos on EDGE.

(even if, it's an "entry level" set)

Edited November 18, 2005 by SexyGurl