BSNL launches Voice & Video Telephony over Internet Protocol

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited has launched the first of its kind VOIP services in India. BSNL’s Voice & Video Over Internet Protocol (VVOIP) technology uses the packet switching technology and makes communication possible over IP networks such as Internet. In this the Voice and Video signals are converted into data packets and sent to the destination, where the data packets are again converted back to voice and video respectively.

The main highlight of this service is that any customer can make audio and video calls at will on any landline, mobile or IP phone anywhere in the world (except India), provided both the ends have requisite video phone equipment and if video phone equipment is available at only one end, only voice call can happen. Within India, a customer can make only IP to IP calling within BSNL network.

The VVOIP service will cost 40 paise per minute for audio calls and Rs. 2 per minute for video calls within the country.For example, a call to US will cost Rs.1.20 p per minute to UK it will cost Rs.1.20 P on landline and Rs.7.20 P to mobile and Rs.1.20 p per minute to China.

The detailed tariff charges for all countries are available on BSNL website monthly charges for VVOIP services will be Rs. 150.This service also provides all the industry standard Class 5 features like Call Hold, Call Transfer, Do Not Disturb, Call Forward, Mute, Caller ID / Name Display or Block, Call Waiting, Call Waiting Caller ID, 3-Way Conferencing, Call Log, Video Phone Book, Off Hook Auto Dial, Auto Answer, Early Dial and Speed Dial, Redial, Volume Control, Visual Message / Voice-mail Indicator, Downloadable Custom Music Ring Tones, etc.

Availability of Soft phone, which can be installed on a Personal Computer (PC), will further reduce the initial investment for subscribing to this service. The Soft phone will be provided FREE OF COST. DVD Quality pictures (30 fps) will ensure visual clarity at both ends. The controls will allow horizontal and vertical adjustments of the camera and zoom in and zoom out controls for better transmission of image.

TATA Docomo starts USSD based access to Facebook and Twitter

TATA Docomo announced that starting today its customers can now simply dial *325# & *515# to access Facebook and Twitter without subscribing to any data plans.

Users of TATA Docomo can see and post status updates, comment, like, poke more by dialing a simple USSD String.

To avail the Facebook and Twitter services, Tata Docomo subscribers need to dial *325*XXX # and *515*XXX# respectively. This service is powered by Fonetwish.

Accessing Twitter via USSD

User needs to dial *515# and needs to subscribe the pack at Rs. 1/Day.

A landing page will appear on the user’s screen where the user needs to input his favorite category or enter his Twitter details.

Once the user has entered his/her required credentials he can post updates tweets, Find People, Read Tweets, Check out updates from the follower list, much more.

Accessing Facebook via USSD:

User needs to dial *325# and can access the service , at Rs. 1/ Event (MO).

A landing page will appear on the user’s screen where the user needs to input his Facebook Id login id and password.

Once the user has entered his/her required credentials he can post updates on his wall, Find a Friend, Send personal Message, read wall posts ,reply to wall post and much more.

Service Features:

Anytime, anywhere accessibility

Easy to use.

User friendly

USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) is a menu-based system that enables interfacing with content based services. Instead of a browser, which requires an internet / GPRS connection), the USSD menu acts as browser to pull content to the phone.

MTS Offers Callertune Song at Just 1paisa

Now there is a shake in VAS industry from MTS India. Good news for all callertune addicts. Now you can choose your favorite song as your CRBT( Caller Ring Back Tune) at a unbelievable prices if you are a prepaid customer of MTS India. Currently MTS is offering callertune at cheapest price point i.e 1 paisa per song as a limited period offer.

If anyone chooses a callertune between 11pm and 1am, he/she will be charged at 1paisa/song for a period of 7 days as song downloading charge. He/She can choose any number of songs on his/her callertune a/c. And all song will be charged as 1paisa/song as song downloading charge.

Remember this offer is only meant for song downloading charge which is usually Rs. 15/month. Apart from this one will also be charged Rs. 15 as callertune rental and this special tariff is only available between 11 pm and 1 am. After 7 days of activation customer will be charged at regular basis for song downloading charge.

This offer is available from 15th July, 2011 to 21st. And it is available in Kolkata & West Bengal circle & for prepaid segment.

This offer may be available in other circles, please contact you CC @155 from MTS mobile for clarification.

Tikona introduces Bill Free Plan for Home Users

Tikona Digital Networks today announced the launch of Bill Free Plan for the broadband home segment across India.

In this plan subscriber can get 2Mbps Bill Free Plan with upto 30,000 MB of bundled usage for a period of 30 months at a hassle free onetime payment of only Rs. 2999 (plus service tax).

Tikona Wireless Broadband connection comes bundled with self installed Wi-Fi devices and a complimentary anti-virus worth Rs. 1500 per annum with every connection.Moreover with the option of ‘First Demo Then Pay’ one can call for a demo in their home or office before subscribing to the OFDM and MIMO 4th generation based technologies broadband service.

The Bill Free Plan is available from July 1 and is being offered either through an online subscription or a direct to home First Demo then Pay option.

2Mpbs Bill Free Plan
Details	ZMR2999
One-time non-refundable charges (Rs)	2999
Bundled Usage to be consumed within 30 months (MBs)	30,000
Charges Beyond Bundled Usage (Rs/MB)	0.10
Subscription Amount (Rs) (One-time Charges + Service Tax)	3308
Maximum PC registrations	6

Vodafone partners with !dea & AirTel for 3G services

Vodafone Essar has signed agreements ((ICRA) with leading telecom operators Bharti AirTel and IDEA Cellular for 3G Roaming services.

With the 3G Intra Circle Roaming Agreements (ICRA) Vodafone, AirTel and IDEA Cellular now can offer commercial 3G Mobile and Data services to their subscribers with Pan India coverage (except Orissa circle) or including the telecom circles where they currently don’t have 3G spectrum and licenses.

Vodafone has mutually tied up with IDEA Cellular and through the ICR Arrangement providing 3G services to its customers in Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh (West) telecom circles.

Similarly India’s largest Mobile Service provider AirTel launched 3G service using IDEA Cellular’s 3G network via ICRA in Gujarat.While IDEA Cellular will offer 3G services in New Delhi, Kolkata and some other circle, via Vodafone’s 3G Network.

BSNL introduces Trust Card

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has partnered with Itz Cash Card Ltd to launch “TRUST CARD”, a co-branded prepaid card for online payment of various services.

It not only enables the customers to pay for BSNL’s telecommunication services like BSNL Postpaid bill payments, Prepaid top-ups and BSNL Value Added Services like Hello TV Subscription, BSNL Hello Tunes (Ring Back Tune) but also enables online bill payments of utilities like electricity, telephone, cooking gas, mobile, water, book rail/air tickets, renew DTH subscription, Citizen Services by Government or Government bodies and lots more.

The Trust Card will initially be available in denominations of Rs. 250, Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000. To start with, the cards will be launched in Chandigarh, Kolkata, Pune & Chennai and gradually the cards will be launched throughout India.

The cards will be sold through ItzCash franchisees branded as ItzCash World and from BSNL retail outlets. The introduction of the Trust Card will not only provide another channel to BSNL subscribers to pay for BSNL bills and services but will also smoothen the bill payment process for all its users for all kind of bills.

Talk to Katrina Kaif live with AirTel Talk2me VAS

AirTel’s innovative value added service Talk2me lets customers talk to their favorite celebrities live. This is real thrill for customers as they can ask questions live from their favorite celebrity and talk one to one over mobile phone.

AirTel’s Talk2Me gives an opportunity to customers to talk to Bollywood’s actress Katrina Kaif Live on 12th July at 2 pm. Fans can ask questions to her on movies, and professional as well as personal life. For Katrina kaif , it would be part of promotion for her upcoming movie’ Zindagi Milegi Na Dobara’ while customers would be delighted on getting the opportunity to talk in reality. Airtel would get customers brand loyalty which would be the outcome of customer ecstasy.

A select group of callers will be queued at a time to connect with the celebrity for a live conversation in a sequential mode. Every caller will be prompted in advance and given equal time to interact with the celebrity. In case, if a caller does not get chance to interact with celebrity due to paucity of time; the person will be able to listen to the conversations between the celebrity and other participants during the entire session.

How to register & participate:

• Call on 50505 to register for the event . Registration charges: Rs.15/event, call charges 2p/sec

BSNL launches pan India Game download contest to promote VAS

With the objective of enhancing revenue contribution of VAS portfolio, BSNL has planned Games download contest. This contest starting from July 07 will continue upto August 6. The top three games downloaders will be selected and rewarded. All the game downloads from BSNL Live, Games club etc will be counted.

Customers can participate by downloading any game from any category Rs.50. First three maximum down loaders will be selected as winners for prize and in case of tie winners will be selected through random selection. The names of winners will be announced on August 16,2011.

All the three winners will get Game Play Station 2 (worth Rs.3000) as the contest prize.

BSNL management has been asked to mop up 25% revenue growth in this financial year by telecom minister and for that to happen VAS revenue contribution have to go up. This contest may have been planned to scale up the revenue contribution from VAS.