Speed SMS Championship

Univercell-the Mobile Expert, mobile show room chain is organising the “country’s first” Speed SMS championship. A release from Univercell said that texting championship is ready to provide opportunities to young enthusiasts to compete against the best in the city. The platform extends the chance to win prizes worth Rs 50,000 and more. Contestants will have to type the message in the shortest possible without the aid of dictionary mode. Participants could register by sending SMS to UNI NSSC to 55050 or by longing on to www.univercell.in/nssc. Venue and date of contest will be informed shortly.

BSNL Changed Pulse Rate

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Coimbatore, has announced changes in tariff and pulse rate in respect of inter-circle and intra-circle calls. Intra circle calls for more than 50 km distance from BSNL phone to other fixed and wireless in local loop phones (except 10 digit numbers) will be 120 seconds.

Inter circle calls up to 50 km within BSNL network or other networks will be 120 seconds. For more than 50 km, the new pulse rate for inter circle calls will be 120 seconds. The revised tariff is also applicable for BSNL One India and alternate plans and trunk calls.

RCom launches GSM Mobile services in Coimbatore

Reliance Communications ( RCom) announced the launch of its GSM services in Coimbatore and extended its Customer Experience Programme (CEP) in the region.

The company is offering its lifetime validity for Rs 35, the first recharge being priced at Rs 60.

“The Reliance Mobile GSM entails offering a unique value proposition fine-tuned as per the needs of every segment of over 250 Million GSM customers market in the country”, said Mr. Ajay Awasthi, CEO – Tamil Nadu circle, Reliance Communications.

“The Customer Experience Programme, Reliance Mobile GSM’s first offering, is in line with Reliance Communications’ Philosophy of making world-class telephony services accessible and affordable to the masses”, he added.

Airtel Expands Its Service

Airtel, cellular service provider, has expanded its services in Coimbatore district by adding five new towns to its existing network. A press release from Rajiv Rajagopal, Chief Executive Officer of Mobile Services, Bharti Airtel Limited, Tamil Nadu, said that the new cell sites added are Kalipalayam, Oorapalayam, Velampalayam, Sevanthampalayam and Annur.

Vodafone Announced The Launch Of Lifetime Post-paid

Vodafone, cellular service provider, has announced the launch of lifetime post-paid plan at Rs. 499 across Tamil Nadu giving subscribers the flexibility to choose their tariff plan. The offer comprises over 30 value pack options between call, SMS rates, STD, ISD among others. The plan also offers the customers lifetime connectivity with an one-time payment of Rs. 499 (exclusive of taxes).

The customers will have the added flexibility of changing their toppings every month by simply sending an SMS. Kumar Ramanathan, Operations Director of Vodafone Essar South, said that traditionally post-paid plans comprised a monthly fixed rate with freebies that need not necessarily fit the customers’ usage pattern. This led to customers paying for services and features that they did not utilise. With the new offer, the customers have the opportunity to choose from a variety of tariff toppings. The customers could subscribe for this by visiting any Vodafone store or by browsing through http://www.vodafone.in/.

Aircel Launched FM phones

Film Actor Surya, brand ambassador for Aircel, recently launched the music wave FM phones in rest of Tamil Nadu circle. K.V.P. Baskar, Operations Director-South said Aircel was having 15 million subscribers in India.The product targeted prepaid subscribers who are looking for a mobile handset at affordable price with all value added features. G 225 and G 240 coloured mobiles with FM radio and long standby battery life are priced at Rs. 1,350 and Rs. 1,750 respectively. These serviced included life time validity, 6,000 free SMS and a free talk time of 75 minutes.

BSNL Mobile Thiruvizha

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited is conducting ‘BSNL Mobile Thiruvizha’ for booking mobile connections with special offers and discounts from January 12 to January 16. The mela is being conducted near Natarajar temple, Perur, near bus stands at Pollachi and Madathukulam. BSNL has also announced that the free SMS offer will not be applicable for its mobile subscribers in Tamil Nadu circle for Pongal, Valentines Day and Deepavali.

BSNL Promotional Offer

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Coimbatore, has introduced a promotional festival offer providing extra value to the BNSL mobile prepaid subscribers on the recharge coupons for a period up to January 16.

Coupons with a face value of Rs. 1,000 sold at Rs. 1,124 will have a talk value of Rs. 1,125 as against the normal talk value of Rs. 900. Similarly, coupons with a face value of Rs. 2,000 sold at Rs. 2,247 having a normal talk time value of Rs. 2,400 would have Rs. 3,000 talk time value. Coupons with a face value of Rs. 3,000 sold at Rs. 3,371 having a normal talk value of Rs. 3,000 would have a talk value of Rs. 3,750 if purchased during the current promotional offer period. Coupons with a face value of Rs. 5,000now now have a talk time value of Rs. 7,504.

Big C Mobile Retail Chain Entering Coimbatore

Big C, a mobile retail chain, has said it would expand the network to Tamil Nadu and Kerala next year. The company has a chain of 60 showrooms in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. “We are going to set up outlets in Coimbatore, Thiruvananthapuram, Madurai and Salem. The company would spend Rs 50 crore on the expansion plans,” M. Balu Chowdary, Chairman and Managing Director of Big C, said.

“We covered top towns in Andhra Pradesh excepting in Medak and Mahboobnagar districts. We will be covering these and tier-II cities to have 100 outlets by the end of the financial year,” Y. Swapnakumar, Executive Director of Big C, said. Addressing a press conference here on Sunday, they said the slowdown might impact just 10-20 per cent of the mobile market. “But it gives us a good opportunity to bargain better for space and human resources,” they said. The company, which registered a turnover of Rs 180 crore in 2007-08, was looking at Rs 250 crore this financial year.

Coimbatore Will Soon Enjoy 3g Mobile

The much awaited 3G Mobile would be introduced in Coimbatore and Tirupur telecom circle, before this financial year, at top BSNL official has said. The facility would have a capacity of 90,000 lines, with 250 additional towers, for which orders have already been placed, A Shahjahan, Principal General Manager, BSNL, Coimbatore telecom circle, told reporters here last night. At present 279 cell towers were working in the circle and an additional 24 cell sites would be commissioned within a month's time, with a total capacity of 58,000 lines, he said.

BSNL was also ready to launch its IPTV service (cable tv on Broadband), as field trial was going on at National level. The corporatian would have tie up with major players for getting their channel to be beamed through this service, he said. Stating that broadband would be commissioned in all exchange areas by March 31 next year, with additional capacity of 32,000 lines, Shahjhan said that rural brodband was available in 22 exchanges with enough spare capacity and connections can be provided on demand. Shahjahan also said that Wi.Max was planned in 17 suburban and rural exchanges, likely to be commissioned in the next financial year.

Airtel Ungal Choice Portal Launched

Airtel, leading mobile service provider, today announced the launch of its voice portal 'Airtel Ungal Choice.' This special service allows customers to access and download a number of interesting and entertaining value added services on a single number, Rajiv Rajgopal, CEO, Mobile Services, Bharti Airtel, Tamil Nadu, said in a release here.

Music director, Yuvan Shankar Raja, launched the portal, which could be accessed by dialling 52222. After dialling 52222, customers have to follow the simple instructions on the IVR to reach their desired content. Music, which was the most popular and preferred service, has different categories like movie special, star special, remixes, Music director special, which makes it very easy for customers to listen to their favourite songs. Apart from this, the portal would include women's tips (on beauty or cooking), Receipe (south Indian and Continental dishes), Thirukkural and Kavithai Arangam, Rajiv said.

Airtel Introduced e-payment Through Phone

Airtel, cellular service provider, has introduced bill payment facility for its post-paid customers through credit card, that too from Airtel mobile phone number. Rajiv Rajagopal, CEO of Mobile Services, Chennai and Tamil Nadu, Bharti Airtel Limited, says the facility comes with complete security and risk-free service on all credit cards. To access the facility the post-paid subscribers should call 121 from their Airtel mobile.

Subscribers could dial *121# for information on outstanding, unbilled, billed summary, payments and service request status. Airtel prepaid customers could also dial *121# for information on balance, validity, offer of the day and hello tunes. For getting the payment-by-phone facility, the subscriber will have to first register for the service. Upon completion of each transaction, the customer will receive an SMS confirming the same.

Vodafone Announced Special Services For Sabrimala Pilgrims

Vodafone Essar, cellular service provider, has announced a range of special services for pilgrims travelling to Sabarimala. A release from Vodafone said that the Sabarimala pack will provide temple timings, prasadam information and other important events during the mandala season.

The devotees could activate the pack by dialling 567696. A wide range of devotional caller tunes and ring tones was available up to January 31. Mr. Kumar Ramanathan, Operations Director, Vodafone Essar, said that the new Ayyappa alert pack offers mantras and trivia on Lord Ayyappa for a monthly rental of Rs. 30. Vodafone has installed a cell site on wheels at the parking lot at Nilackal. Emergency numbers 9946100100 and 9946700700 will reach the police control room at Sannidhanam and Nilackal range.

Virgin Mobile Launched Video Recording Phone

Virgin Mobile, mobile service provider, has launched a new video recording mobile phone handset costing Rs. 3,499. M.A. Madhusudhan, Chief Executive Officer of Virgin Mobile India limited said that vKewl, comes with a life time prepaid validity and has a 1.3 mega pixel camera, MP 3 player, FM radio, MMS and headsets.

Airtel Launches Voice SMS Facility

Airtel cellular service provider has launched voice SMS facility wherein subscribers could send short messages in voice form rather than text. Anirban Ghosh, Chief Operating Officer of Mobile Services, Bharti Airtel, Tamil Nadu, said that it was an innovative mode of redefining the way people stay connected with their near and dear ones. Voice SMS can add emotions to the messages. It cuts across all language barriers. Voice SMS makes your SMS talk, laugh, sing, cheer the way one wants to.

Through voice SMS one can express emotions in the language of their choice. It could be sent to any mobile network and would be charged at 75 paise per voice SMS. The subscriber will have to just dial * and then the mobile number of the recipient of the message and leave a message for up to 30 seconds. The recipient then gets an incoming call and could hear the message by simply picking up the call. In case the recipient misses the call, he/she would receive an SMS notification and then the subscriber should dial *0* to hear the message for free.

The voice SMS could be stored in the archives too. To retrieve a voice SMS from the archive or listen to the message again, the recipient should dial *1* and would be charged at 75 paise. Customer can forward/reply to the voice SMS by choosing the option which came from the IVR after the voice SMS was played out. If the voice SMS was sent to a non-Airtel number, the recipient will get an SMS notification. He can retrieve the voice SMS by dialling a ten digit number mentioned in the notification, for which the charge would be applicable as per the service provider’s tariff.

BSNL Mobile Thiruvizha

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Coimbatore, is conducting BSNL Mobile Thiruvizha for exclusive booking of mobile connections with special offers and discounts on November 29. The offers are available at Bharathiar University telephone exchange, Gandhipark bus stand, Koilpalayam, Sathyamangalam Road, Vasantha Mill, Singanallur, Edayarpalayam Junction and Thadagam Road, telephone exchanges at Pollachi, Anamalai, Palladam and Tirupur and the BSNL showroom at Udumalpet.

BSNL's Open House Session

BSNL, Coimbatore, will conduct an open house session for the subscribers of Mettupalayam SDCA at Customer Service Centre, Microwave Telephone Exchange Buildings, Coimbatore Road, Mettupalayam, on November 22 at 3 p.m. Subscribers from exchanges of Mettupalayam, Karamadai, Annur, Sirumugai, Dhayanur, Therampalayam, Irumborai and Jadayampalayam DLC can offer their views and suggestions for improvement of services of BSNL, according to a release.

Big C Mobiles Eyes Coimbatore

Big C Mobiles Private Limited, a Hyderabad-based mobile retail chain, has embarked on an expansion, which will entail an investment of about Rs 50 crore over the next one year. -old company, touted as the second largest south Indian mobile retail chain next to Chennai-based UniverCell that has 180 stores, plans to increase its number of stores to 200 by March 2010. Big C currently has 54 outlets – 50 in Andhra Pradesh and four in Bangalore. “We are targeting to take our total store network to 100 in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka by March 2009.

The second phase of expansion will see our foray into Kerala and Tamil Nadu markets in 2010, with our network touching the 200-store bar by then,” M Balu Chowdary, chairman of Big C Mobiles, told Business Standard. Mobile retailing, including handsets and accessories, is currently a Rs 75,000-crore market in India, of which the organised sector comprises about 30 per cent. The organised sector, which is growing at 10-12 per cent year-on-year, is expected to grow at a fast clip of 50 per cent in the next three years, he said. “With the mobile users in the country expected to touch 500 million by 2010 with additions of about 9 million subscribers every month, there is a huge opportunity for mobile retailing,” he added.

Chowdary said the company was eyeing tier-I and tier-II cities such as Mysore, Hubli, Mangalore, Coimbatore, Thiruvananthapuram, Madurai and Salem, where music-enabled and FM phones are moving faster, for its second phase of expansion with each store having a carpet area of between 450 sft and 2,200 sft.

“We plan to fund the expansion through a mix of debt and internal accruals,” Chowdary said, adding the company was in the processing of developing an online mobile store, which will be launched within a month. Big C registered revenues of Rs 180 crore in the last financial year. It expects to close the current fiscal with revenues of between Rs 250 crore and Rs 275 crore on the back of its expansion.

Telephone Service Interruption

Sulur Air Force (level 2683 and 2684) i.e., telephone numbers beginning with 2683000 to 2684999 will be transferred to the Sulur Air Force Telephone exchange at Kangeyampalayam on November 7 due to technical upgradation.

The telephone numbers commencing from 2683000 to 2684999 are likely to be interrupted for a short duration on November 7. Customers of these numbers having STD/ISD facility dynamic locking facility are requested to re-register their password on November 7 after 5 p.m. They can contact the BSNL officers, Sulur over phone numbers 2680000/94861-01035 for any further assistance, if required.

BSNL Mobile Users Faced Tough Time

The subscribers of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, Coimbatore were left and high dry on Wednesday since afternoon as the mobile switching centre developed a technical snag. Those trying to reach a BSNL mobile number faced a dead response at the other end or got a reply stating that the number does not exist. Enquiries revealed that the technical snag at the switch was being attended to and restoration of mobile phone was being done in a phased manner. Officials expressed confidence that the mobile services would be restored by Thursday morning.