NOKIA 207 and NOKIA 208 ANNOUNCED, THE CHEAPEST 3G CAPABLE PHONES
Nokia has unveiled two of its new mobile phone and these are
tagged as the cheapest 3G-enabled phones. The two new
devices include the Nokia 207 and the Nokia 208. Both are
quite identical with their candybar design, however there are a few features which
differentiate them.
Both the devices have been officially priced at $68 (Rs. 4,000
approx.) and Nokia says that they will be available in markets
globally sometime in Q3 2013.
The devices are designed for people who still use classic
phone with a traditional keypad
however these do offer some extra benefits to such
consumers. Users can stay connected to social networks
and easily access other internet services. “As our most affordable 3G devices yet, the Nokia 207
and Nokia 208 offer a perfect balance of performance, features
and quality,” said Nokia’s Tom
Toikkanen.
In terms of the specifications,both the feature phones sport an alphanumeric keypad with a 2.4-
inch QVGA resolution display with a pixel density of 166ppi. It
has 64GB of RAM, 256MB of built-
in storage,expandable storage up to 32GB via a microSD card
and a 1,020 mAh battery. The battery is rated to provide up to
4.5 hours of talktime and up to 500 hours of standby time on 3G.
In terms of the connectivity, the device supports speeds up to 3.5G and it has a micro SIM card
slot. It also includes a 3.5mm audio jack, microUSB port and
Bluetooth 3.0. Nokia has further added an internet sharing
feature which allows users to use the device as a modem by
connecting it to a computer via a
USB cable.
In terms of the software, both run on Nokia’s Series 40 OS and come pre-loaded with apps like FM Radio, Email and Nokia Express Browser. Other third-
party apps included on the device include Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp for social
networking.
The Nokia 207 does not include a camera, while the Nokia 208 is a dual-SIM capable device which sports a 1.3 megapixel rear
camera with features like voice-guided self-portrait, sequential
shot and panorama mode.
Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Biz-ACER Tablet!
ACER ICONIA A1-810 TABLET: IT'S NO iPAD MINI, BUT PRICE-WISE,DEFINITELY AFFORDABLE
Into a market that is full of tablets, Acer has jumped in with
its Iconia A1-810. The play is on price (low budget), but there are
a few tweaks that sets it apart from the rest.
If you were thinking the Acer Iconia A1-810 is an iPad Mini
replacement for Android fans,you'd be wrong. Sure, on the
surface, the A1-810 aims to replicate the iPad Mini's appeal,
but in reality, it is a budget Android tablet.
Both tablets share the same 7.9-inch screen size, 4:3 aspect ratio,
and subpar resolution (by today's standards), but that's kind of where the similarities
end. The A1-810 is noticeably thicker than the iPad Mini and
aesthetically, while it's not homely, it probably won't be
winning any design awards.
And while Android has seen massive improvements to its app ecosystem, it's still no iOS. So a more apt comparison would be Google's Nexus 7. Both tablets run the latest version of Android (4.2.2), but the A1-810 has a
Micro-HDMI port and its storage can be expanded using a
microSD card.
However, Google's 7-incher sports a more comfortable build
and a sharper screen, and since it's made by the people who built
the operating system it's running on, it will get updates a lot
quicker.
Having said that, the Iconia A1-810 isn't a bad tablet, just
one that fails to stand out in any meaningful way. However, its low
- as 8-inch tablets go - street price ($200 for 16GB of storage;
$170 for 8GB) makes some of its shortcomings easier to swallow.
Design :
For a small tablet, the Iconia A1-810 is chunky, and it feels
hollow despite its weight and girth. Taking a cue from the
Nexus 7's design rather than the iPad Mini's, the top and bottom bezels are thicker than the left
and right ones, adding to its overall robust build. The tablet
would look sleeker with thinner bezels, but it is apparent that thin is not in with this model. So far from being an Android version of the iPad Mini, its clunky design
turns it into a bloated knockoff.
There are positives present of course. The power button on the
top edge and volume rocker on the right edge protrude slightly
and are easy to find without having to go searching for them.
The microSD card slot and microphone are directly beneath
the volume rocker, with a shutdown pinhole and Micro-
HDMI port sitting below them.
The bottom edge of the tablet is home to the Micro-USB port and headphone jack.
In fact, this is where it leapfrogs its rivals. The inclusion of a
microSD slot and Micro-HDMI port
gives the Iconia A1-810 a leg up on the port-challenged iPad Mini and Nexus 7.
With no ambient light sensor, the screen's brightness has to be
adjusted manually. However,thanks to the inclusion of
Android 4.2.2, the brightness setting -- accessed via a quick
swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen -- is only a
few steps away. Due to the screen's relatively dim maximum brightness setting, you will
probably end up running it on full blast the majority of the time,making an automatic brightness
adjustment seem less necessary.
Medium-rare Android The Iconia A1-810 runs an almost pure version of Android
but its low build quality fails to take advantage of some of Jelly Bean 4.2.2's fun features. Acer's Touch WakeApp feature is meant to provide easy access to your
locked device via different gestures made on the screen.
Placing five fingers on top of the display unlocks the device and tapping two thumbs on the
locked screen launches the camera or a user-designated
app. I'm personally a fan of apps that make the most mundane
tasks appear like works of magic,but it was as if I needed to
actually cast a spell to get the feature to function correctly. The
time it took continually tapping
on the device to unlock the screen or activate the camera far surpassed the few swipes of a finger that would traditionally cue the same result.
Not to say it didn't work-- the function was successful when I
didn't need it. Before I eventually gave up on the app (you can
easily disable it in the settings), I unknowingly launched the camera various times while it
was in my bag and sometimes while I was simply carrying it
around. The Touch WakeApp on the Iconia A1-810 falls flat due to its inability to make already easy
tasks even easier.
Into a market that is full of tablets, Acer has jumped in with
its Iconia A1-810. The play is on price (low budget), but there are
a few tweaks that sets it apart from the rest.
If you were thinking the Acer Iconia A1-810 is an iPad Mini
replacement for Android fans,you'd be wrong. Sure, on the
surface, the A1-810 aims to replicate the iPad Mini's appeal,
but in reality, it is a budget Android tablet.
Both tablets share the same 7.9-inch screen size, 4:3 aspect ratio,
and subpar resolution (by today's standards), but that's kind of where the similarities
end. The A1-810 is noticeably thicker than the iPad Mini and
aesthetically, while it's not homely, it probably won't be
winning any design awards.
And while Android has seen massive improvements to its app ecosystem, it's still no iOS. So a more apt comparison would be Google's Nexus 7. Both tablets run the latest version of Android (4.2.2), but the A1-810 has a
Micro-HDMI port and its storage can be expanded using a
microSD card.
However, Google's 7-incher sports a more comfortable build
and a sharper screen, and since it's made by the people who built
the operating system it's running on, it will get updates a lot
quicker.
Having said that, the Iconia A1-810 isn't a bad tablet, just
one that fails to stand out in any meaningful way. However, its low
- as 8-inch tablets go - street price ($200 for 16GB of storage;
$170 for 8GB) makes some of its shortcomings easier to swallow.
Design :
For a small tablet, the Iconia A1-810 is chunky, and it feels
hollow despite its weight and girth. Taking a cue from the
Nexus 7's design rather than the iPad Mini's, the top and bottom bezels are thicker than the left
and right ones, adding to its overall robust build. The tablet
would look sleeker with thinner bezels, but it is apparent that thin is not in with this model. So far from being an Android version of the iPad Mini, its clunky design
turns it into a bloated knockoff.
There are positives present of course. The power button on the
top edge and volume rocker on the right edge protrude slightly
and are easy to find without having to go searching for them.
The microSD card slot and microphone are directly beneath
the volume rocker, with a shutdown pinhole and Micro-
HDMI port sitting below them.
The bottom edge of the tablet is home to the Micro-USB port and headphone jack.
In fact, this is where it leapfrogs its rivals. The inclusion of a
microSD slot and Micro-HDMI port
gives the Iconia A1-810 a leg up on the port-challenged iPad Mini and Nexus 7.
With no ambient light sensor, the screen's brightness has to be
adjusted manually. However,thanks to the inclusion of
Android 4.2.2, the brightness setting -- accessed via a quick
swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen -- is only a
few steps away. Due to the screen's relatively dim maximum brightness setting, you will
probably end up running it on full blast the majority of the time,making an automatic brightness
adjustment seem less necessary.
Medium-rare Android The Iconia A1-810 runs an almost pure version of Android
but its low build quality fails to take advantage of some of Jelly Bean 4.2.2's fun features. Acer's Touch WakeApp feature is meant to provide easy access to your
locked device via different gestures made on the screen.
Placing five fingers on top of the display unlocks the device and tapping two thumbs on the
locked screen launches the camera or a user-designated
app. I'm personally a fan of apps that make the most mundane
tasks appear like works of magic,but it was as if I needed to
actually cast a spell to get the feature to function correctly. The
time it took continually tapping
on the device to unlock the screen or activate the camera far surpassed the few swipes of a finger that would traditionally cue the same result.
Not to say it didn't work-- the function was successful when I
didn't need it. Before I eventually gave up on the app (you can
easily disable it in the settings), I unknowingly launched the camera various times while it
was in my bag and sometimes while I was simply carrying it
around. The Touch WakeApp on the Iconia A1-810 falls flat due to its inability to make already easy
tasks even easier.
Tech-XOLO!
XOLO LAUNCHES QUAD-CORE SMARTPHONE Q600 AT Rs 8,999
Xolo has launched one more smartphone in its Q series named Q600. The phone is
priced at Rs8,999.
This is the fourth quad-core smartphone launched by the company.
Xolo Q600 comes with a 4.5" TFT display with resolution of 854x480 with 217 PPI. The
phone comes with 4 GB of internal storage and 512 MB of RAM for a smoother smartphone experience.
The phone is available in white colour.
Specifications:
* 1.2 GHz Quad-Core Processor
* 4.5" TFT Display
* Android Jelly Bean 4.2
* Dual SIM (3G+2G)
* 4 GB Internal Memory
* External memory expandable up to 32 GB
* 5 MP rear camera
* VGA front camera
* 2000 mAh battery
Xolo has launched one more smartphone in its Q series named Q600. The phone is
priced at Rs8,999.
This is the fourth quad-core smartphone launched by the company.
Xolo Q600 comes with a 4.5" TFT display with resolution of 854x480 with 217 PPI. The
phone comes with 4 GB of internal storage and 512 MB of RAM for a smoother smartphone experience.
The phone is available in white colour.
Specifications:
* 1.2 GHz Quad-Core Processor
* 4.5" TFT Display
* Android Jelly Bean 4.2
* Dual SIM (3G+2G)
* 4 GB Internal Memory
* External memory expandable up to 32 GB
* 5 MP rear camera
* VGA front camera
* 2000 mAh battery
Tuesday, 2 July 2013
IIM NEWS!
QUITTING JOBS TO JOIN B-SCHOOLS!
New IIM batches have more students with work experience
The global economic slowdown notwithstanding, new batches at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are seeing a higher representation of
candidates with work experience vis-à-vis freshers. A tough
employment environment has
not deterred candidates from giving up their jobs and getting an IIM tag to acquire better
career profiles.
For instance, at IIM-Calcutta, the percentage of candidates with up to 24 months of work
experience in the current batch of 2013-15 has increased to 42
per cent, against 39 per cent in the 2012-14 batch. Overall, 71
per cent of students in the current batch has work experience.
Similarly, 81 per cent of the candidates at IIM-Bangalore has
work experience. And, more than a fourth of them come with two
to three years of experience.
At IIM-Kozhikode, freshers comprised 42 per cent last year,
and this year the provisional number is down to 39.5 per cent.
“Globally, candidates seeking admission in B-schools need to
have at least three years work experience,” said Achal Khanna,CEO, Society for Human Resource Management (India).
In difficult economic conditions,companies prefer experienced
candidates as they have a quicker learning curve and faster turnaround time, she added.
In India, 5-10 years back, most top B-schools had a large
number of freshers, except a few such as the Indian School of
Business, Hyderabad, where work experience has always
been a prerequisite.
But premier B-schools in India say that understanding
workplace dynamics is an important element in management courses. “We have seen that students with close to
two years’ experience have the best choices (for jobs) since they
can apply for laterals (placements for those with work experience)as well as opt for fresher jobs,”
said Sapna Agrawal, Head of Career Development Services, IIM-B.
The salary for laterals is generally 25 per cent higher than for fresh graduates. Those with four or more years of experience are likely to be hired by companies in
verticals similar to ones they had worked in earlier.
“However, a large number of companies hire for entry-level
managerial positions. Students looking for a change from their
earlier domain actually prefer to
join these positions,” said Agrawal.
New IIM batches have more students with work experience
The global economic slowdown notwithstanding, new batches at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are seeing a higher representation of
candidates with work experience vis-à-vis freshers. A tough
employment environment has
not deterred candidates from giving up their jobs and getting an IIM tag to acquire better
career profiles.
For instance, at IIM-Calcutta, the percentage of candidates with up to 24 months of work
experience in the current batch of 2013-15 has increased to 42
per cent, against 39 per cent in the 2012-14 batch. Overall, 71
per cent of students in the current batch has work experience.
Similarly, 81 per cent of the candidates at IIM-Bangalore has
work experience. And, more than a fourth of them come with two
to three years of experience.
At IIM-Kozhikode, freshers comprised 42 per cent last year,
and this year the provisional number is down to 39.5 per cent.
“Globally, candidates seeking admission in B-schools need to
have at least three years work experience,” said Achal Khanna,CEO, Society for Human Resource Management (India).
In difficult economic conditions,companies prefer experienced
candidates as they have a quicker learning curve and faster turnaround time, she added.
In India, 5-10 years back, most top B-schools had a large
number of freshers, except a few such as the Indian School of
Business, Hyderabad, where work experience has always
been a prerequisite.
But premier B-schools in India say that understanding
workplace dynamics is an important element in management courses. “We have seen that students with close to
two years’ experience have the best choices (for jobs) since they
can apply for laterals (placements for those with work experience)as well as opt for fresher jobs,”
said Sapna Agrawal, Head of Career Development Services, IIM-B.
The salary for laterals is generally 25 per cent higher than for fresh graduates. Those with four or more years of experience are likely to be hired by companies in
verticals similar to ones they had worked in earlier.
“However, a large number of companies hire for entry-level
managerial positions. Students looking for a change from their
earlier domain actually prefer to
join these positions,” said Agrawal.
Tech-eXtraZ!
OVERFLOWING INBOX? THESE NEW APPS CAN HELP YOU
TORONTO: Buried under emails? Losing control of an overflowing inbox? New apps are designed to help consumers deal with
seemingly endless streams of electronic mail.
Three apps, Dispatch and Boxer for the iPhone, and Boomerang for Android devices, try to make email management on
smartphones fast and simple.
Another app called Sanebox,which works on any platform
and costs between $2 and $20 each month, creates a folder in a
user's mailbox where it filters unimportant messages.
Algorithms in the app learn about a user's behavior to understand what he or she considers urgent.
"You think you're being productive by clearing stuff out
of your inbox, but no matter how good you are, more emails will
keep coming," said Dmitri Leonov, a vice president for Boston-based SaneBox.
The average office workers spends 13 hour each week
reading, writing and replying to emails, according to the McKinsey Global Institute, the research arm of McKinsey management consultant.
The Dispatch app works by communicating with 16 other apps, such as one for note-taking
and another linked to-do lists to simplify email. Users can send a link to Instapaper, an app for reading articles at a later time,
and can also customize messages to help them respond
to emails faster.
Boxer has a feature so users can "like" an email and put it on the app's to-do list for later processing. They can also request that a coworker handle
an email, and there are templates for quick responses, such as "Good idea," and "When do you need this?"
Both Dispatch and Boxer cost $4.99 and are available worldwide.
Boomerang, for Android devices, allows users to defer messages until later, schedule emails to be
sent at a particular time, and track responses. The free app only works with Gmail.
Leonov suggests people focus on dealing with urgent and important messages, rather than
trying to keep up with everything that lands in your inbox.
"Email is a to-do list that other people can write on for you,"
said Leonov.
TORONTO: Buried under emails? Losing control of an overflowing inbox? New apps are designed to help consumers deal with
seemingly endless streams of electronic mail.
Three apps, Dispatch and Boxer for the iPhone, and Boomerang for Android devices, try to make email management on
smartphones fast and simple.
Another app called Sanebox,which works on any platform
and costs between $2 and $20 each month, creates a folder in a
user's mailbox where it filters unimportant messages.
Algorithms in the app learn about a user's behavior to understand what he or she considers urgent.
"You think you're being productive by clearing stuff out
of your inbox, but no matter how good you are, more emails will
keep coming," said Dmitri Leonov, a vice president for Boston-based SaneBox.
The average office workers spends 13 hour each week
reading, writing and replying to emails, according to the McKinsey Global Institute, the research arm of McKinsey management consultant.
The Dispatch app works by communicating with 16 other apps, such as one for note-taking
and another linked to-do lists to simplify email. Users can send a link to Instapaper, an app for reading articles at a later time,
and can also customize messages to help them respond
to emails faster.
Boxer has a feature so users can "like" an email and put it on the app's to-do list for later processing. They can also request that a coworker handle
an email, and there are templates for quick responses, such as "Good idea," and "When do you need this?"
Both Dispatch and Boxer cost $4.99 and are available worldwide.
Boomerang, for Android devices, allows users to defer messages until later, schedule emails to be
sent at a particular time, and track responses. The free app only works with Gmail.
Leonov suggests people focus on dealing with urgent and important messages, rather than
trying to keep up with everything that lands in your inbox.
"Email is a to-do list that other people can write on for you,"
said Leonov.
Biz-Aakash Tab!
NEXT VERSION OF 'AAKASH' CLOSE TO GOOGLE NEXUS 7
The next version of the world's cheapest computer tablet will
boast features close to that of a Google Nexus 7, but could be more expensive than the current price of Rs 2,263.
The specifications of the third generation of Aakash (or Aakash
4) were released by the department of electronics and information technology (DeitY) on Monday and, according to HRD ministry officials, it will be priced at roughly Rs 3,000. Unlike in the past, the tender for Aakash
4 will carry minimum
specifications that the computer tablet has to meet. The bid
winner/manufacturer will have the liberty to equip the tablet
with more advanced features.
Aakash 4 is definitely an improvement over Aaksh 2 as the specifications suggest. In terms of CPU performance, Aaksh 4 will have a minimum of 3537 Antutu Benchmark score. According to Arun Prabhudesai, author of popular blog trak.in, this score
would make the tablet comparable to Google Nexus 7,which has a score of 3679 on
Antutu Benchmark. The Antutu Benchmark is an application that
gauges the speed and
performance of Android based mobile devices.
Among other features, Aakash 4 will weigh less than 500 grams
and have at least 4GB internal storage, external storage of 32
GB, a 7-inch display screen, dual-bootable operating system
(Ubuntu distro along with Android Jelly Bean), a battery
which will support at least three hours for online 720p video
playback and minimum five
hours on web browsing.
The computer tablet will support internet connectivity via WiFi and 2G, 3G, or 4G internet dongle and
also support external keyboard and mouse.
Aakash was first launched one and half years ago by former HRD minister Kapil Sibal and was touted as the world’s cheapest computer tablet at a price of Rs
2,750 per unit.
After that the tablet was revamped with better features and was even re-launched as Aakash 2 at a lower price of Rs.2,263 per unit in November last
year.
The next version of the world's cheapest computer tablet will
boast features close to that of a Google Nexus 7, but could be more expensive than the current price of Rs 2,263.
The specifications of the third generation of Aakash (or Aakash
4) were released by the department of electronics and information technology (DeitY) on Monday and, according to HRD ministry officials, it will be priced at roughly Rs 3,000. Unlike in the past, the tender for Aakash
4 will carry minimum
specifications that the computer tablet has to meet. The bid
winner/manufacturer will have the liberty to equip the tablet
with more advanced features.
Aakash 4 is definitely an improvement over Aaksh 2 as the specifications suggest. In terms of CPU performance, Aaksh 4 will have a minimum of 3537 Antutu Benchmark score. According to Arun Prabhudesai, author of popular blog trak.in, this score
would make the tablet comparable to Google Nexus 7,which has a score of 3679 on
Antutu Benchmark. The Antutu Benchmark is an application that
gauges the speed and
performance of Android based mobile devices.
Among other features, Aakash 4 will weigh less than 500 grams
and have at least 4GB internal storage, external storage of 32
GB, a 7-inch display screen, dual-bootable operating system
(Ubuntu distro along with Android Jelly Bean), a battery
which will support at least three hours for online 720p video
playback and minimum five
hours on web browsing.
The computer tablet will support internet connectivity via WiFi and 2G, 3G, or 4G internet dongle and
also support external keyboard and mouse.
Aakash was first launched one and half years ago by former HRD minister Kapil Sibal and was touted as the world’s cheapest computer tablet at a price of Rs
2,750 per unit.
After that the tablet was revamped with better features and was even re-launched as Aakash 2 at a lower price of Rs.2,263 per unit in November last
year.
Monday, 1 July 2013
Biz-TELECOM NEWS!
‘FREE’ ROAMING COMES INTO EFFECT, AIRTEL & IDEA LEAD CHARGE
Bharti Airtel and
Idea Cellular today
announced ‘free’
roaming packs,
paving the way for cheaper roaming across India.
NEW DELHI: Telecom majors Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular
today announced 'free' roaming packs, paving the way for
cheaper roaming across India.Other operators are expected to follow suit soon.
The country's biggest telecom company, Airtel on Monday
became the first to announce "free incoming calls" on roaming at a charge of Rs 5 per day. Airtel
subscribers can also opt for the one-time pack of Rs 79, which
provides free incoming calls on
roaming for 30 days.
However, these offers have been doled out to prepaid customers
only and there is no word about the same being extended to
postpaid users as of now. Airtel's offer was followed by a
similar announcement later in the day by Idea Cellular. The Birla-promoted company is launching
two new prepaid vouchers to offer 'free roaming' to its over
123 million subscribers in all 22
circles, without incurring any further charge.
According to Idea, the company will issue two vouchers priced
between Rs 230-240, and another priced between Rs.35-40 (denomination to vary
across circles), using which a subscriber can get the same
rates for local, STD, ISD calling and SMS, as those paid in the home circle.
The incoming roaming charges
will be 75 paise per minute for users who avail the Rs 35-40
voucher, whereas incoming is absolutely free for those who
avail Rs 230-240 voucher of Idea.
Idea users who recharge with the new vouchers will be able to enjoy the roaming benefits for 6 months from the date of recharge.
While Airtel and Idea have taken the lead in rolling out their 'free
roaming' offers, other major operators Vodafone and Reliance Communications are yet to make any announcements. Tata
DoCoMo has been offering a similar service for past one year.
When contacted, a Vodafone spokesperson declined to confirm if the company was
making any announcement
regarding its 'free roaming' offer. However, the company is expected to follow in the
footsteps of Airtel and Idea soon.
"We cannot commit as to if and when we will make any
announcement," said the spokesperson.
With the market leaders entering
the fray with their 'free roaming' offers, albeit with riders, other companies will be under pressure to make their
announcements sooner than later.
On June 17, Trai had announced that telecom operators can allow free national roaming if users
pay a fixed fee. This order comes into effect from July 1. However,Trai has also said that completely
free national roaming, as envisioned by telecom minister
Kapil Sibal, is not practical.
Trai chairman Rahul Khullar said operators have been mandated
to provide two types of roaming plan for customers.
"In one case, charges on incoming will be free but a fixed
charge will be levied and in the other regime you don't give free incoming and there will be no
fixed charges. The philosophy of authority is let customers decide
what they want... competition in the market will help in driving tariffs down," he said.
The regulator also reduced the national roaming charges by up to 57%. The cap on roaming charges prescribed by Trai in
2007 is Rs 1.40 per minute for outgoing local calls and Rs 2.40
per minute for outgoing STD calls.
This has now been reduced to Re.1 per minute for outgoing local calls and Rs 1.50 per minute for outgoing STD calls. Similarly, the ceiling for incoming calls while on national roaming has been
reduced from Rs 1.75 per minute to 75 paise per minute under the new order.
In a submission to Trai in April,Anil Ambani-led RCom had
countered the contention of
Bharti Airtel and Vodafone that 'free roaming' services will hit operators' revenues, saying the
growth in business will help recoup any losses and help
expand the overall market significantly.
Bharti Airtel and
Idea Cellular today
announced ‘free’
roaming packs,
paving the way for cheaper roaming across India.
NEW DELHI: Telecom majors Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular
today announced 'free' roaming packs, paving the way for
cheaper roaming across India.Other operators are expected to follow suit soon.
The country's biggest telecom company, Airtel on Monday
became the first to announce "free incoming calls" on roaming at a charge of Rs 5 per day. Airtel
subscribers can also opt for the one-time pack of Rs 79, which
provides free incoming calls on
roaming for 30 days.
However, these offers have been doled out to prepaid customers
only and there is no word about the same being extended to
postpaid users as of now. Airtel's offer was followed by a
similar announcement later in the day by Idea Cellular. The Birla-promoted company is launching
two new prepaid vouchers to offer 'free roaming' to its over
123 million subscribers in all 22
circles, without incurring any further charge.
According to Idea, the company will issue two vouchers priced
between Rs 230-240, and another priced between Rs.35-40 (denomination to vary
across circles), using which a subscriber can get the same
rates for local, STD, ISD calling and SMS, as those paid in the home circle.
The incoming roaming charges
will be 75 paise per minute for users who avail the Rs 35-40
voucher, whereas incoming is absolutely free for those who
avail Rs 230-240 voucher of Idea.
Idea users who recharge with the new vouchers will be able to enjoy the roaming benefits for 6 months from the date of recharge.
While Airtel and Idea have taken the lead in rolling out their 'free
roaming' offers, other major operators Vodafone and Reliance Communications are yet to make any announcements. Tata
DoCoMo has been offering a similar service for past one year.
When contacted, a Vodafone spokesperson declined to confirm if the company was
making any announcement
regarding its 'free roaming' offer. However, the company is expected to follow in the
footsteps of Airtel and Idea soon.
"We cannot commit as to if and when we will make any
announcement," said the spokesperson.
With the market leaders entering
the fray with their 'free roaming' offers, albeit with riders, other companies will be under pressure to make their
announcements sooner than later.
On June 17, Trai had announced that telecom operators can allow free national roaming if users
pay a fixed fee. This order comes into effect from July 1. However,Trai has also said that completely
free national roaming, as envisioned by telecom minister
Kapil Sibal, is not practical.
Trai chairman Rahul Khullar said operators have been mandated
to provide two types of roaming plan for customers.
"In one case, charges on incoming will be free but a fixed
charge will be levied and in the other regime you don't give free incoming and there will be no
fixed charges. The philosophy of authority is let customers decide
what they want... competition in the market will help in driving tariffs down," he said.
The regulator also reduced the national roaming charges by up to 57%. The cap on roaming charges prescribed by Trai in
2007 is Rs 1.40 per minute for outgoing local calls and Rs 2.40
per minute for outgoing STD calls.
This has now been reduced to Re.1 per minute for outgoing local calls and Rs 1.50 per minute for outgoing STD calls. Similarly, the ceiling for incoming calls while on national roaming has been
reduced from Rs 1.75 per minute to 75 paise per minute under the new order.
In a submission to Trai in April,Anil Ambani-led RCom had
countered the contention of
Bharti Airtel and Vodafone that 'free roaming' services will hit operators' revenues, saying the
growth in business will help recoup any losses and help
expand the overall market significantly.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)