The Cellular Operators’ Association of India has lodged a complaint with TRAI against “Plan 700″ and “Plan 435″ of Reliance which offer unlimited talk time to Reliance phones.
“It is submitted that these tariffs are predatory as the same tariffs and rates are not transparently available to the other access providers, who are its (Reliance Infocomm’s) competitors. We believe that by offering such tariffs, Reliance Infocomm is squeezing the margins of it competitors as it has lowered its retail tariffs of competitive services in the downstream market whilst not extending this facility to its competitors for wholesale prices (carriage charges) in the upstream market,” the letter said.
Source: Business Standard
The department of telecommunications has opposed a proposal of the Singapore Technologies Telemedia (STT) and TM International (TMI) consortium to acquire 47.7 per cent stake in Idea Cellular.
If the proposal is cleared Tamasek would have significant stakes in both Bharti and Idea, which offer services in eight common circles.
At a meeting of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) today, the department’s representatives said STT was wholly owned by Singapore-based Temasek Holdings.
Temasek also owns 63 per cent of Singapore Telecom (SingTel), which is the largest shareholder in Bharti Tele-Ventures with a 28.22 per cent stake. Temasek also holds 5 per cent in Telekom Malaysia. TMI is the global investment arm of Telekom Malaysia.
After many warnings, finally its here! According to the Reliance Infocomm press release, RWorld usage will be charged from April 1, 2005. The tariff structure is four tiered viz. Membership, Pay-on-entry, Pay-on-use and Free.
Membership category with an option of monthly membership or a day pass comprises frequently used applications. Monthly membership is Rs.25, whereas a day pass (valid for 24 hours) is available only for Rs.3. There are no additional charges. Over 65 applications have been grouped under this category…
Applications that are impulsive in nature have been classified under pay-on-entry and pay-on-use categories. Pay-on-entry category includes applications such as railway booking, web mail, mobile banking, and will cost Rs.2 to 4 per log-on irrespective of the usage duration. Pay-on-use category includes applications such as ringtones, picture greetings, exam results, Cricket score updates and NSE quotes. These will be charged between Rs.2 and Rs.10.
Sun Microsystems India and Paradox Studios, a Reliance Infocomm subsidiary, have announced a wireless game developers contest beginning April 4, 2005 and lasting for two months.
According to a press release, participants will have to develop a J2ME based game application, competing in the process for a host of special prizes sponsored by Paradox Studios, including a top prize of Rs 1.5 Lakh, along with a Java Library. Other prizes will include a second prize of Rs 75, 000 and a third prize of Rs 50, 000 with a selection from the Java library for both. A range of consolation prizes will also be up for grabs up to the value of Rs 1 lakh.
Register for the contest online at www.j2mechallenge.com
Airtel becomes the first operator to go there.
According to the company statement, the launch of Airtel in Andaman & Nicobar is one of the fastest rollouts of a mobile network and it has been made possible by deploying a VSAT backbone.
To commemorate the 10th anniversary of Yahoo.com, Yahoo! India has announced free Mobile Downloads. You will still be charged the standard operator rates for SMS to shortcodes like 8243.
During the megafest, consumers can download unlimited content from a chosen list. Whether it’s ringtones from latest Bollywood tracks, or fast paced mobile games like Desert Rally or Banana split no download fee will be charged. Only standard operator charges for SMS to shortcode 8243 will apply during this megafest.
CIOL story:
The new products offering comprise of the P IV 2.8 Mhz (model no XS 1 D8 1 ALPF priced at 32,750) and (model No EPF N 24 AWA priced at Rs 30, 490) PIV 2.4 Mhz, Intel-based Processor based desktop PC, a Reliance Cordless FWP and the R-Connect data cable.
Asia Unplugged : The Wireless and Mobile Media Boom in the Asia-Pacific
by Madanmohan Rao, Lumita Mendoza (Editors)
Rs 850 - Hardcover - January 2005
In the preface, Rao asks, “how can the news media and entertainment industry harness mobile devices and technologies…while protecting their brands and encouraging innovation?” This is not a very meaningful question and doesn’t have an answer - which is perhaps why Rao does not provide one.
The real question that needs answering is: at what non-zero and non-negative price to the consumer can demand and supply (both of which exist, as the book amply demonstrates) be matched? The book does not even attempt to do so, which is a pity because that is the central problem that both firms and regulators are wrestling with.
You can read the full review here.
