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Tata Tele launches Web browser handset
Published on 2007-09-16 00:10:00
Tata Teleservices has launched a Web browser mobile phone ‘Samsung Explore’ that is customised to access the Internet.At Rs 5,499, the phone has other features such as 0.3-mega pixel digital camera, FM radio, MP3 player, mobile tracker, SOS alert and provision to insert external memory cards.Starter kits and SIM cards would be additionally charged. Tariff plans for Internet access include Rs 10 a day, Rs 30 for 7 days and Rs 99 for a month – all offering unlimited access at speeds of about
Idea Cellular backs COAI on licence row
Published on 2007-09-16 00:09:00
Idea Cellular on Thursday lent support to the Cellular Operators Association of India's (COAI) concern on the recent spate of unified access service (UAS) licence applications.Idea Cellular managing director Sanjeev Aga described them as "nameplate applications"."Despite 74 per cent FDI being permitted in the sector, not even one major telecom service provider has made an application," Aga, who was in New Delhi to announce an 'Asia Mobility Initiative', said."A nationwide mobile network will tak
BPL’s Innovation: Watch TV and track your cell if lost
Published on 2007-09-16 00:07:00
BPL MOBILE a GSM cellular service provider launches two new feature packed services in India. One of it is a solution to track down mobile phones that are lost or stolen. Called the BPL Mobile Tracker, this solution can be availed not only by BPL customers but also by any GSM service user. And the other one being the TV on cell: Who doesn’t want to have their dose of entertainment even at the same time as they are on the move? Meeting this need, BPL Mobile has an exciting announcement to make
BPL Mobile applies for telecom licences
Published on 2007-09-07 12:09:00
BPL Mobile's application for license has created a flutter in telecom circles. The question on everybody's mind is, are the Ruias trying to make a backdoor entry through them since the Ruias already partner Vodafone in India.It has been learnt that there is an application for a new licence filed by a company called ShippingStock.com, which has applied for 21 telecom licenses and it is a wholly owned subsidiary of BPL Mobile.The company in a press release said "BPL Mobile Communications Limited
Telemarketers thumb nose at government
Published on 2007-09-07 12:07:00
Out of an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 telemarketers, only about 13,000 have registered with the telecom service providers till date, according the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). And, only 5.5 million phone subscribers, out of a total base of around 232.87 million as of end of July, have included their names in the do-not-call list so far.TRAI had a review meeting with the telecom service providers on Wednesday, to assess the level of industry compliance with the government directiv
Sify launches broadband initiative
Published on 2007-09-06 14:36:00
Sify Anywhere will allow users access to the Net from anywhere.Sify, a leading player in the internet and enterprise services space in India, has launched a new initiative called Sify Anywhere that will allow broadband users to access the internet even while on the move.Sify broadband subscribers will now be able to access their accounts from any Sify kiosk at airport, hotels or Sify iWay cafe.“Subscribers can use a laptop and can use the same account as a dial-up account or walk into any of t
GSM operators differ with TRAI on spectrum plan
Published on 2007-09-06 14:35:00
GSM-based cellular operators and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India seem to be on a collision course over the recent recommendations on subscriber base spectrum allocation policy.While the Chairman of India’s largest cellular company, Mr Sunil Bharti Mittal, said that TRAI had got it wrong in suggesting that the operators should pack in more subscribers to get additional spectrum, the telecom regulator dismissed the GSM operator’s allegations of being non-transparent.Mr Mittal also sa
Telecom players question legality of TRAI’s suggestions
Published on 2007-09-04 12:19:00
Finding it increasingly difficult to weather TRAI's recommendations of August 29 on spectrum allocation, industry is now taking an aggressive stand by questioning its legal legitimacy.TRAI had asked over 30 questions in its consultation paper of June 12, on licence reforms and capping of number of service providers, but none of them directly referred to the need for revising or assessing subscriber criteria for allocating spectrum afresh, questions a leading mobile operator.Since TRAI’s recomm
ICA Moves to Curb Counterfeits
Published on 2007-09-04 12:15:00
In the face of exploding batteries triggering safety concerns about usage of mobile handsets, the Indian Cellular Association (ICA) has reportedly moved to tighten the grip on counterfeits sold in the grey market.According to ICA, nearly nine crore original mobile handsets were sold in the country in 2007-08 along with service packs that included original batteries. However, 70 to 75 percent of the replacement battery market is still dominated by counterfeit batteries.Counterfeiters illegally us
Vodafone set to conquer Indian mkt
Published on 2007-09-01 02:53:00
It came, it bought out Hutch but will it conquer the Indian market? That’s what the world's largest telecom company Vodafone wants to do but its tough to be the numero uno.Number 3 is not his position of comfort! Vodafone Chief Arun Sarin has given the company 3 years to climb up to number one position. Sarin's strategy is focussed clearly on increasing rural subscriber base. But average revenues from these subscribers that are currently between Rs 75 to 125 rupees a month may not be enough to
CDMA operators agree on number portability
Published on 2007-08-24 11:55:00
Even as the government has not acted on the telecom regulator’s recommendation on framing a policy on number portability in mobile phone services for more than a year, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) players have now stressed the need for the same.Number portability enables you to switch from one service provider to another without changing your number.In a letter to communications minister A Raja, CDMA players, represented by the Association of Unified Service Providers of India (AUSPI),
Now, you can call overseas at Re 1
Published on 2007-08-24 11:54:00
Come Friday, MTNL broadband customers in Delhi and Mumbai will be able to make an ISD call to any part of the world for as low as Re 1 per minute through their fixed line phones.The state-owned PSU will become the first telco in the country to offer internet telephony or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) where subscribers can enjoy ultra cheap ISD calls without even having a computer at home. For those who choose to access MTNL’s internet telephony through their personal computers (a PC to P
Mixed signals emanate on portability
Published on 2007-08-23 12:20:00
There are mixed signals within the government on introduction of number portability in the telecom sector, it is believed. Communications minister A Raja, while replying to media queries on Wednesday, said that the issue of “number portability” was being considered by the government, and that telecom operators would be consulted for the same.However, sources in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) pointed out that “number portability is not a priority issue for the government at this
Spectrum rules to be in place by year-end
Published on 2007-08-22 20:04:00
The government today said it would announce the spectrum policy by the end of this year. It would also consult telecom operators on the possibility of introducing a facility to enable customers retain their numbers even after changing the service provider.“I am very optimistic that the spectrum policy will be ready in a couple of months. It will definitely be before the end of the year,’ said communications minister A. Raja.The policy has four times missed the deadline given by the ministry
MTNL in deal with AOL
Published on 2007-08-22 20:03:00
The co-branded portal, mtnl.aol.in will offer a compelling combination of AOL products. This strategic partnership leveraging the inherent strength of MTNL’s network and AOL as a global web services player will bring to subscribes a world class Internet experienceAOL, a division of Time Warner, a leading media and entertainment company, and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), the leading provider of broadband and telecommunication services in Delhi and Mumbai, today announced a strategic
TRAI talks tough with Bharti on network rectification
Published on 2007-08-21 22:21:00
Telecom regulator TRAI on Tuesday criticised leading cellular service provider Bharti Airtel for proposing to charge extra for rectifying defects and asked the operator to refund such money, if any, taken from consumers.Examining the tariff reports submitted by Bharti Airtel, which proposed additional charges for rectification of defects, the regulator said, "such tariff packages are anti-consumer and cannot be permitted."As per terms and conditions of the licence issued to the service providers
TRAI smells pricing co-operation among GSM players
Published on 2007-08-17 12:29:00
The telecom regulator will bark but not bite over the recent tariff hike. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, or TRAI Chairman Nripendra Misra said that regulatory intervention will set a bad precedent. Reports are that the regulator smells pricing co-operation between GSM players but no cartelisation.Private GSM players like Bharti Airtel and Vodafone can breathe easy as the telecom regulator is not going to issue a diktat asking them to roll back the recent tariff hike. GSM players hik
Nokia issues battery warning
Published on 2007-08-15 22:40:00
Nokia, the world’s largest cellphone maker, yesterday joined a growing list of consumer-electronics makers forced to warn customers that batteries shipped with their products could be defective, posing a potential safety risk.Finland-based Nokia Oyj issued a global alert, warning that up to 46 million of its cellphone lithium-ion batteries used in its cellphones could, in rare cases, overheat due to a short-circuit while being charged. Nokia is offering to replace the batteries.The batteries,
Cell cos send message, stand pat on SMS hike
Published on 2007-08-15 22:38:00
Mobile service providers are in no mood to roll back the recent hike in SMS and call tariffs.In fact, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar, which set the ball in motion earlier this week, are going to get some company.This move comes even as the regulator had expressed its readiness to intervene in the matter. Bharti and Vodafone had increased local call charges within their own networks in the Delhi circle, under some tariff plans, from Re 1 to Rs 1.20 per minute.SMS rates, too, were hiked from Re
Bharti, Vodafone hike mobile tariffs
Published on 2007-08-14 01:59:00
Faced with declining average revenue per user (ARPU), mobile operators are now increasing their tariffs.Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar have increased local charges for calls within their own network by 20 per cent. All pre-paid and post-paid subscribers using the low-end tariff pack with rentals less than Rs 150 per month will have to pay Rs 1.20 per minute instead of Re one a minute for Airtel-to-Airtel calls and Hutch-to-Hutch calls.New SMS ratesThe two operators have also increased local SM
New twist to spectrum war
Published on 2007-08-14 01:53:00
GSM operators believe that CDMA players are getting additional spectrum virtually free.Their apex body, the Cellular Operators’ Association of India, has written to telecom minister A. Raja to voice its anguish.COAI director-general T. V. Ramachandran said, “The cost of spectrum for CDMA operators such as Reliance Infocomm and Tata Teleservices remains static at 2 per cent of the adjusted gross revenue (AGR) of their wireless business for up to 5 MHz of spectrum. For GSM players such as Bhar
DoT to form panel for spectrum pricing
Published on 2007-08-09 20:55:00
The department of telecom (DoT) has decided to set up a committee for spectrum valuation and pricing. This significant step follows a TOI story on August 2, revealing that the defence ministry in a late July communiqui, has refused to vacate spectrum till a secure alternate communications network for all three wings of the defence forces is built.The cost of this exercise is estimated at upwards of Rs 6,000-8,000 crore with annual expenses at over Rs 1,000 crore, Pressure, on account of extremel
Airtel Ties Up With Google For Web-based Services
Published on 2007-08-08 19:40:00
Bharti Airtel Broadband & Telephone Services (B&TS) and Google entered into a strategic alliance to work together in bringing web-based services to Airtel's broadband internet customers. As part of the agreement, Airtel will offer its broadband customers a world-class portal including Google Search for web-based queries, Google Gmail with 2 GB storage, Google Talk instant messaging/ chatting service, Google Docs and Spreadsheets so users can share and collaborate in real-time, and other serv
TRAI to take operators to task on threatening calls
Published on 2007-08-08 19:39:00
Alarmed by the rising number of threatening calls made to defaulters, who do not pay their bills, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) is planning to take the operators to task.The regulator has sought information from telecom licencees on their recovery methods, under an attempt to curb the growing problem.“A large number of subscribers are receiving threatening calls for payment of outstanding dues, which may or may not be correct. This is not specific to any company, but if this
Idea to start Mumbai operations in 3-4 months
Published on 2007-08-08 19:36:00
GSM service provider Idea Cellular on Wednesday said it would start operations in the Mumbai circle within 3-4 months once the spectrum allocation imbroglio is sorted out.The DoT had cleared Idea's application to launch services in Mumbai in August 2006, following the exit of the Tatas from the company. Idea Cellular was also awarded the letter of intent (LoI) for its Mumbai foray during the same month and since then, the company has been awaiting the allocation of spectrum to begin its services