Free talk time with Reliance prepaid
Reliance Infocomm is slated to nationally
launch its prepaid mobile service between January 15
and 18.
To give the GSM operators a run for their money, Infocomm
is likely to offer a minimum Rs 1,500 worth of free
talk-time as part of its prepaid promotional offer
for an undecided span.
The free prepaid talk-time options (in the Rs 1,500-Rs
4,000 range) will be bundled with multiple CDMA handset
offers. Which means, all Infocomm prepaid customers
will have to pay upfront the full price of the handset
of their choice to activate their connections.
Reliance prepaid customers, it is learnt, will be
allowed to use their free talk-time to make local and
STD calls besides sending SMS. They will be unable
to make ISD calls with such free talk-time.
"Local and inter-circle STD calls will be priced at
Rs 2 per minute while local, national and international
SMS will cost a flat 50 paise per message," sources
close to the developments said.
When contacted, top sources at Reliance Infocomm said: "BSNL
has just opened up the Access Level 93 to facilitate
the launch of Reliance Infocomm's prepaid service nationally.
Field trials are under way on a war-footing. We expect
to formalise the prepaid launch date by January 15."
Details of Infocomm's upcoming prepaid package remain
shrouded in secrecy, but here's a hint of the shape
of things to come. To start with, Reliance Infocomm
will offer all RIM prepaid customers a selection of
Motorola, LG, Nokia and Samsung CDMA handsets on "a
right to use basis".
Under Infocomm's right-to-use handset offer, prepaid
customers will be initially given four handset options,
Motorola 131, LG 2030, Nokia 2280 and Samsung 191.
Indications are 'Motorola 131' will be the entry-level
CDMA mobile phone in Infocomm's prepaid menu.
Takers for Motorola 131 will pay Rs 4,500 for the
phone to earn Rs 1,500 of talk-time. The high-end LG
2030, Nokia 2280 and Samsung 191 models will be priced
higher in the Rs 6,300-6,500 range.
RIM prepaid users opting for these high-end models
will enjoy talk-time in excess of the Rs 1,500 base
quota. Information available suggests the RIM prepaid
recharge vouchers will come in three denominations
- Rs 250, Rs 500 and Rs 1000.
Initially, the RIM prepaid connections will be available
nationally at the 250-odd Reliance Web Worlds. Subsequently,
they will also be sold at the 1,200-odd Reliance Web
World Express outlets to be shortly rolled out nationally.
Source: The Economic Times
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