Tata Docomo cuts data rates by 90 per cent

Tata Docomo will charge 1 paisa per 10 KB in case the customer exceeds the data limit of the 2G packs, which are priced at Rs 126, Rs 149 and Rs 249. The 3G data pack is priced at Rs 255.

Tata Docomo becomes the fourth company after Vodafone, Idea Cellular and Airtel to cut its data tariffs.
Tata Docomo has announced a cut in its 2G and 3G mobile internet rates by a whopping 90 per cent from 10 paise to 1 paisa per 10 KB; which will come into effect from July 1. The offer is valid in all 19 circles but only in a limited number of packs. Also, there is no change in overall base rate, which continues to be 10 paise per 10 KB.

The revised tariffs will be applicable on 2G mobile internet packs offered by the company on a recharge value of Rs 126 (2 GB for 30 days,) Rs 149 (2.5 GB for 30 days) and Rs 249 (3 GB for 60 days,) and the 3G data pack of Rs 255 (2 GB for 30 days).
Customers who opt for these packs will pay 1 paisa per 10 KB after the data quota expires. For example, in the Rs 126 pack the 1 paisa per 10 KB rate will be applicable after 2 GB has been consumed.
The company would extend this discount to customers even when they are on national roaming on Tata Docomo GSM networks.

RIL 4G may change TV landscape

 Ril,s will offer live TV service using 4G LTE network, it is expected to make the service cheaper, offer much more interactivity and make it available across Mobile, TV, and PC.

 subsidiary, Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited (RJIL) has already announced that it will offer live TV service through its 4G network and with such high speed network in place with ample bandwidth available it has the potential to change the TV landscape apart from affecting the whole broadband space.

Content

RJIL had announced in January 2012 itself that it has signed a deal with Network 18 group with preferential access to content of 25 channel for its live TV service. However the deal was not just about that it also included web content and other digital contents.

Apart from that Reliance has been working on its content strategy for more than a year and it has already said that it will offer a lot of content and services including education, healthcare, security, financial services, government-citizen interfaces and entertainment.

And though these services will be part of broadband services more the TV service, there is likely to be a lot synergy and many of these services like education will be offered as content on the TV service also.

Pricing Advantage

What will however change the landscape is, RJIL'ss ability to price the service at really affordable rates as it will not have to pay huge amount of satellite rights the way DTH services has to pay for providing live TV services. In 2012, DTH players paid more than 600 crore to ISRO for satellite use and roughly 200 crore to foreign satellite vendors. This is one cost RIL will not have to bother.

According to our calculation 150 channel bouquet on a DTH service costs anything between Rs 250 to Rs 350. If RJIL wants it can offer the same for less than Rs 150.

It also has ample bandwidth of 20MHz which will be sufficient for it to offer all sorts of services without fear of congestion in the network. And finally because the spectrum that it has bought has come cheaper than 3G spectrum and will be primarily used for offering broadband service.

Technology advantage

since RJIL is IP technology it can even offer time shift TV, shopping, on demand videos etc, services just like IPTV service.

RJIL can revive the IPTV technology which has not been able to grow till now due to lack of wired broadband networks and only one player 'Airtel' being a sizeable player.

With wireless technology the roll-out will not be an issue and though it can't match the coverage of DTH (which is available even in a Jungle) it definitely will be much more scalable compared to wired network.

The other very important benefit is that this service can be availed not just on TV but any internet connected device like smartphone, tablets, laptops and smart TVs (even without settop box).

Aircel internet monthly pack now just Rs 24!

The pack offers 100 MB of data only post which you can enjoy internet at 1 paisa per 10 KB.

Aircel has launched a new data plan, Pocket Internet 24, which costs just Rs 24 and has a validity of 30 days. For this Aircel is offering 100 MB of data, post which customers can enjoy internet at a discounted price of 1 paisa per 10KB. The offer is available in Delhi and is aimed at 2G users.

Aircel is aiming at increasing the adoption of mobile internet service with this pack. Anil Gupta, regional manager, North, Aircel, said, "Pocket Internet 24 is developed keeping in mind the two key issues of a first time user - time to learn and the fear of overspending on data. The product will offer higher validity at lesser price to ensure ample time for the customers to learn and understand the usage of internet on mobile."
Few days back Vodafone also launched a similar pack priced at Rs 25 however the pack offered 500 MB of data but only 7 days validity. Vodafone offer was also aimed at first time users and was available to them only.

BlackBerry woos customers with 1 GB plan for just Rs 129

Although not available in metros, the BlackBerry 129 Plan will allow users to access BlackBerry services of up to 1 GB at just Rs 129

BlackBerry has announced a new plan under which it is offering 1 GB of data for just Rs 129.

Called as BlackBerry 129 plan, it is presently the most affordable BlackBerry plan ever to be offered. However, the plan is not available in any metro cities instead, BlackBerry is offering the plan in 15 low and mid revenue generating circles where users can opt the plan for mail exchange, web surfing and BBM for up to 1 GB worth of usage.
The plan is available for West Bengal (excluding Kolkata), Assam, Bihar, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, North East, Orissa, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu (excluding Chennai), Uttar Pradesh West and Uttar Pradesh East.

According to the plan, customers will get access to most BlackBerry services all included in the price for up to 1 GB worth of usage. The plan is valid for devices running on the BlackBerry 7 OS platform and is not for the new Blackberry 10 OS based devices that were launched this year.
The BlackBerry Messenger or BBM is a native Instant Messaging service for BlackBerry smartphones which allows BlackBerry users to send and receive short messages and attachments instantly to other BlackBerry users, wherever they are - in the country or outside.
The plan is available for the customers of Aircel, Idea Cellular and Vodafone customers in all the 15 circles mentioned above.

Understanding Vodafone 'All in One plan' for Samsung Galaxy S4

The plan is valid for both Postpaid as well as Prepaid customers with more or less similar benefits.

Samsung's flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S4 has now been made available for buyers in India at an exciting price point. But along with that Samsung has tied up with Vodafone to offer a special "All in on" tariff plan for the customers of Galaxy S4.
The plan comprises of a year-long commitment for users and comes with a host of benefits including Rs 12,000 worth of savings during the first year. Although it is beneficial for the users but for many it also is confusing at the same time, so here is how Vodafone customers can benefit from the special Samsung Galaxy S4 "All in One" plan.

First and foremost thing to do after purchasing the Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone is to insert your existing Vodafone SIM on the handset. Users will automatically get an SMS within 24 hours informing them about the "All in One" plan.
The plan is valid for both the prepaid as well as postpaid users. Others can also opt for mobile number portability to take the benefits of this scheme. To know how to transfer your carrier using MNP read here.
For postpaid users, the plan offers more than Rs 1000 in savings. Users will be offered the plan for a monthly rental of Rs 1199 plus taxes in which they will be eligible for 3000 minutes of local as well as national calling, 3 GB 3G Internet, 750 SMS local+ national and Missed Call Information service. It offers unlimited Internet access but after 3 GB speed will be reduced to 64 Kbps.
For prepaid users, Vodafone is offering the plan for 15 and 30 days over recharge of Rs 345 and Rs 678 respectively. For Rs 345 recharge, users will get 500 local and STD minutes, 512 MB 3G data and 250 local and national SMS valid for 15 days. For Rs 678 recharge, users will get 1000 local and STD minutes, 1 GB 3G data and 500 local and national SMS valid for 30 days. However, here also users will get unlimited Internet access after 1 GB/512 MB allowance while speed will be reduced to 64 Kbps.

Vodafone launches M-Pesa mobile money service with ICICI bank

The service will allow deposit and withdrawal of money from select Vodafone outlets.

Vodafone's M-Pesa service, which was announced in November 2012, is finally available for users in Kolkata, West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand.

M-Pesa has been launched through Vodafone's 100 per cent subsidiary, Mobile Commerce Solutions (MCSL) and ICICI Bank. This offering will include a mobile money account with ICICI Bank and a Mobile Wallet issued by MCSL.

Customers can not only be able to deposit and withdraw cash from designated outlets, but they can also transfer money to any mobile phone in India.

This money can be used to recharge mobile phone and DTH accounts, utility bill payments, to transfer money to any bank account in India and to make payments at select shops.

To register for the service, Vodafone customers need to visit an 'M-Pesa' agent outlet, fill up a form, submit identity and address proofs, and have to deposit a minimum amount to open their 'M-Pesa' account.

The MCSL Mobile Wallet get activated immediately and the customer can do a variety of transactions like cash deposit, transfer money to any bank account, money transfer to any other 'M-Pesa' customer, recharge mobiles and DTH, pay mobile and utility bills. Once the documents are verified and approved by MCSL and ICICI Bank, the customer can do other transactions like cash withdrawal and sending money to any mobile number.

This service is especially aimed at people who do not have any bank account right now. However, people with an existing bank account can also use it. These services will be made available using a network of authorised agents who will enable the customer to deposit and withdraw cash in and from their account.

Marten Pieters, managing director and chief executive officer of Vodafone India said, "Vodafone 'M-Pesa' is offering millions of people basic financial services, beyond the reach of traditional banking (in Africa mainly). This offering has been customised to serve the Indian customer in compliance with all applicable regulatory requirements."

The service is already quite popular in Africa where the service has been available for past couple of years. In India, Airtel already has a similar service with Airtel money.

Airtel makes incoming free during international roaming

USA international roaming offers outgoing calls at Rs 20 per minute and above while other countries get it at Rs 40 per minute outgoing calls.

Airtel has launched new International roaming packs for its customers in India. With these packs travelers to USA can get up to 5 hours of non-chargeable incoming calls and make outgoing calls at Rs 20 per minute through special packs, all valid for 30 days.
There are three options for travelers to USA: Rs 1,000 pack offers 10 minutes free incoming and outgoing calls at Rs 60 per minute. Rs 3,500 pack offers outgoing calling at Rs 35 per minute and 60 minute of free incoming calls. There is a Rs 8500 pack that offers offers outgoing calls at Rs 20 per minute and 300 minutes of free incoming calls.

Airtel postpaid customers travelling to countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Australia, Germany, UAE and the UK can now receive up to two hours of non-chargeable incoming calls and make outgoing calls for Rs 40 per minute through special packs. There are two packs for these countries, costing Rs 1,500 and Rs 3,600.
In Rs 1500 pack, users get 15 days validity, outgoing calls at Rs 60 per minute and 30 minutes of free incoming calls. The costlier pack of Rs 3,600 offers 120 minutes free incoming calls and outgoing calls at Rs 40 per minute, and is valid for 15 days.
Airtel prepaid customers travelling to a select countries can also enjoy special outgoing and incoming call rates for Rs 20/minute on recharge packs of Rs 779 and Rs 1479, along with getting full talk time on these packs which can be used both during international roaming as well as in India.
To know more details, customers can call 121 or SMS IROAM to 121 or log on to www.airtel.in/ir.