Tata Docomo offers Roaming Incoming Calls Free with ‘JOY96’

Tata Docomo has announced the launch of ‘JOY96’ Recharge voucher for its customers in Andhra Pradesh circle. It’s the 1st ever recharge offer to allow customers to receive incoming calls free while roaming nationally across India.

Existing subscribers need to recharge with JOY96, while new subscribers would do a First Recharge of FRC106.

On recharge of JOY96/FRC106, the customer would get new Tariff Plan Benefits:

•1,000 minutes National Roaming Incoming Calls Free (on Tata Docomo Network only)

•96 Local/STD SMS Free (in Home Circle)

•Existing subscribers availing STV benefits (Special Tariff Vouchers) will be withdrawn and subscribers would be given default tariffs in home network.

Details of the offer are as follows:

Unlimited SMS Pack is Now 100 SMS per Day But No Price Reduction

It seems that Mobile Service Operators threw water over Heavy SMS Users who had hopes of “Tariff Reduction in SMS Pack” after the new regulation announced by TRAI which put a Daily Cap of 100 SMS in a single day.

Previously Airtel Delhi was providing 500 Daily SMS with RCV 88 with validity of 30 days. At now for TRAI’s new regulation there is a cap of maximum 100 SMS/day. But unfortunately there is no reduction in RCV price. Still they are charging same with just 100SMS/day. Even their site claims still they are offering 500sms/day. Even Vodafone remains silent on this issue!

Idea cellular offers 100 Local/Nation SMS daily at Rs. 91.

MTS Offers 50 Percent Extra Data Usage on MBlaze STVs

MTS India today announced special offers for its EVDO based Mblaze High Speed Mobile Broadband service.MTS has now made available MBlaze, Data Card for Rs. 1999 along with 5GB data usage for the first month.

The power packed offer also enables new MBlaze customers to get 50% extra data usage by recharging through Special Tariff Vouchers (STV) ranging from Rs. 496 to Rs. 899.

MBlaze customers now get 50% extra data usage on 5 Special Tariff Vouchers (STVs), all valid for 30 days. For eg: On purchase of a MTS STV of Rs. 498, a customer in a usual case gets data usage of 750 MB.

However with 50% extra data usage also made available, the same customer for STV of Rs. 496 can now use over 1 GB (i.e. 1125 MB: 750 MB + extra 50% 375 MB). Currently market offers 1GB for Rs.715, having paid just Rs. 496 initially, the customer saves Rs. 217.

T24 GSM Mobile Service Now In Mumbai and Maharashtra-Goa

After the successful launch of the T24 GSM mobile service across 16 telecom circles in the country, Tata Teleservices Limited, and retail giant Future Group today officially announced the launch of T24 Mobile services in the Mumbai and Maharashtra – Goa telecom Circles.

T24 services are already up and running in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhatisgarh, Orissa, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh—and have received heady response.

T24 has introduced two tariff plans – per second and per minute which offers 1p/second and 50p/minute flat call rate more details on tariff check out here T24 Traiff .

In addition, customers will be rewarded with free talk-time for every purchase above Rs. 350 made at any of the Future Group shopping outlets. For example, a T24 customer buying products worth Rs.3,001 at Pantaloons or Central will stand to gain Rs. 150 worth of free talk-time. Also, a customer spending Rs. 2,001 in Big Bazaar will gain Rs. 84 worth of free talk-time for every purchase. Plans will keep evolving to offer ever-more attractive options to the customer.

For assistance visit your nearest Future Group stores like Big Bazaar, Food Bazaar, Pantaloon, Ezone, Central, Brand Factory & Home Town. If you already are a T24 user call on 52121 (toll free) from your T24 mobile.

MNP : Over 38 Lakh Mobile Subscribers Switch To Other Operators

The Number of Unhappy Mobile Service users crossed 38 lakh nationwide by end of February’2011.

In Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka and Rajasthan telecom circles, the Highest Number of Mobile service subscribers willing to change their current operators through Mobile Number Portability (MNP) Service.

As per the data reported by the service providers to the TRAI, by the end of February 2011 about 38.33 lakh mobile subscribers have submitted their MNP requests to different mobile service providers for porting their mobile number.

According to the TRAI reports, Out of these MNP requests around 3.20 lakh pertains to Haryanawherein MNP was implemented from 25th Nov. 2010. In rest of the country, maximum number of requests in MNP Zone-1 have been received in Gujarat (3.65 lakh) followed by Rajasthan (3.14 lakh). While in South and East telecom circle circles (MNP Zone-2) maximum number of requests have been received in Karnataka ( 3.18 lakh) followed by Tamil Nadu Service area(2.76 lakh).

Details of Telecom Circle-wise MNP Requests  is given below:

Loop Mobile Announces Lowest Rate Guarantee Plans

With over 3 million GSM subscribers in Mumbai circle, City’s oldest GSM Mobile Service Operator Loop Mobile (formerly BPL Mobile) in a latest move has come out with Daily Decrement add-on packs on the lowest rates for all prepaid subscribers dubbed as “Lowest Rate Guarantee Plans”.

Loop Mobile’s Prepaid customers can club the 5 different Lowest Rate Guarantee Plans just by one SMS for plan activation as their needs and suitability.

Under Lowest Rate Guarantee Plans, subscriber can opt STD at 50p, Loop To Loop local call for 1p/6sec, Local Calls to any network in Mumbai at 30p/min, and All OwnNet calls 10p/min.

Here are the Details :

Nokia launches Nokia X1-00, Cheapest Entry Level Music Phone

Nokia’s first new handset announcement in 2011, the Nokia X1-00 is budget phone for all you music lovers.

A powerful speaker rated at 106phon (a phon is a measure of perceived loudness – 106 of them is enough to rattle your window frames, apparently) on the back that can play audio over the noisy sounds of traffic and other loud ambient noise.

It’s a good looking phone specially tailored for Indian market that combines typically smart Nokia design with some characteristic elements (such as the curved back) that mark it out as an X-series device.

There are also three dedicated music keys, 3.5mm audio jack, a stereo headset in the box, FM radio and support for microSD cards (up to 16GB) along with a single-key playlist creator.

Nokia X1-00 Specifications:

Dimensions : 112.2 x 47.3 x 16 mm

Weight : 91.1 g

128 x 160 pixels

Symbian Series 30 OS

FM Radio

3.5mm audio jack

Music Player with Dedicated Keys

Three dedicated player keys and a Single-key playlist creator

Torch Light

microSD Card slot up to 16GB

Stand-by battery life is 61 days ( Battery – Li-Ion 1320 mAh)

The Nokia X1-00 is scheduled to be available in Orange, Ocean blue and Dark grey in selected markets beginning in April. It should cost around  Rs. 2100 before taxes and subsidies.

India’s 3G Connections To Hit 400M Within Four Years

The numbers of 3G subscriber connections in India are forecast to reach 400 million within four years, representing almost 30 percent of the country’s total.

According to a new Wireless Intelligence study, India 3G rollout (forecasts and market shares 2011 – 2015).

Seven Indian operators acquired 3G spectrum last year in addition to the two state-owned operators (BSNL and MTNL) that had already been awarded 3G airwaves ahead of the private auctions.

The study notes that over 80 percent of 3G connections will be based on WCDMA in five years, with the remaining 20 percent on CDMA-based 3G networks.Operators Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices Ltd (TTSL) have both offered 3G CDMA for a decade; but both are also in the process of migrating to GSM/WCDMA and were the first two private operators to launch services using new WCDMA spectrum in Q4 2010.

Reliance and TTSL are set to command 3G market shares of 39 percent and 30 percent, respectively, this year (see table).However, 2011 has already seen a succession of rival launches – including Bharti (in January), Aircel (February) and Vodafone (March) – and Wireless Intelligence forecasts that all new WCDMA-based operators will have launched services by June 2011.

This means that, by 2015, 3G market shares will more closely resemble the overall national picture: Bharti – India’s largest operator – is forecast to command the largest 3G share (18 percent), followed by Reliance (15 percent) and BSNL (13 percent) (see table).

The study notes that India’s Circle A and Circle B service areas will account for 75 percent of the country’s 3G connections by 2015. Even though initial 3G rollouts are concentrated in the so-called metro areas (Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata) they will soon be outstripped by fast-growing demand for 3G in more populous regions such as Punjab, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Haryana, the report says.

But the situation is complicated by the fact that no 3G operator is able to offer a nationwide service, which will require network sharing and roaming between operators. Pricing 3G services appropriately in a market where around 200 million prospective users live on less than US$2 a day is also set to be a major challenge.

Tata Indicom Introduces ULTA SMS Pack For Its Prepaid Customers

Tata Indicom today announced the launch of ULTA SMS PACK for its prepaid customers across India.

ULTA SMS PACK allow customers to send all STD SMSes at 5paise/SMS with this new pack, customers will be able to send all local SMSes at 10paise/SMS, thereby making the cost of STD messaging actually, even less than the local messaging.

ULTA SMS PACK is similar to Ulta Plan, where in STD calls are cheaper than local calls. By availing this pack, customers can send STD SMSes at 5 paise/SMS and local SMSes at 10 paise/SMS up to 100 SMSes per day.

Post sending 100 SMSes per day, all local SMSes will be charged at Rs. 1 per SMS and STD SMSes at Rs.1.5  per SMS. While on roaming SMSes will be charged at Rs. 3/- per SMS and ISD SMSes will be charged at Rs. 5 per SMS.

To activate ULTA SMS PACK, pre-paid customers have to send an SMS ‘SMSULTA’ to 12524. Subscription charges of this pack are Rs. 11/- for 30 days. ULTA SMS PACK will be activated and benefits will be credited to customer within 48 hours.

Uninor Launches Soochna Shakti VAS To Empower Rural Women

Uninor last week announced the launch of  ‘Soochna Shakti’, a revolutionary Value Added Service to empower rural women.

The service was launched by Smt. Pratibha Patil, Hon. President of India at an event organised at Vigyan Bhawan earlier today.

This service will not only help in empowerment of rural women but they will also benefit from other aspects of the service including English learning.

This innovative VAS by Uninor ‘Soochna Shakti’ will deliver information, expert advice and news alerts on health, education, self employment and finance on an IVR portal which can be accessed by dialing a short code from anywhere at any time.

Uninor’s ‘Soochna Shakti’ can be deployed across multiple models of handsets which require customers to simply dial into a voice portal which will be in their local languages. ‘Soochna Shakti’ is being launched as a pilot project on a group of selected Self Help Group (SHG) women in the Uninor Hand in Hand Citizen Centre initiative.

Spectranet Partners With Aircel To Deploy Wi-Fi Hot-Spots

Spectranet has partnered with Aircel to offer high speed Internet access to Aircel customers on Wi-Fi. Spectranet Wi-Fi service can be accessed by Aircel subscribers on all kinds of Wi-Fi enabled devices including mobile phones, laptops and tablets.

Aircel subscribers can access the Wi-Fi services by latching onto the “aircel_spectranet” SSID and following a simple two-step registration process.

Spectranet, as preferred partner of Aircel, will deploy and manage core & access service infrastructure for Wi-Fi services in 6 Metros enabling seamless authentication solution for both post-paid and pre-paid subscribers.

This service will enable seamless Internet access for Aircel subscribers across Aircel GSM/3G network and Spectranet Wi-Fi network. Spectranet’s mobile data offload platform enables seamless traffic handover between GSM & WiFi networks.

The system allows mobile smartphone users to be automatically logged in & out of Wi-Fi hotspots without having to enter username and password each time.The technology platform has been supplied by leading Indian OSS/BSS vendor Inventum Technologies which is also behind several other leading network deployments. It is notable that this is the first ever deployment of 2G & 3G mobile data offload to WiFi within India.

Spectranet has deployed Wi-Fi network at over 1000 hot-spots across six metros Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai and Hyderabad. Over the next five years Spectranet plans to invest Rs. 500 Crore to expand its services across 50,000 hot spots and over 5 million households.

Google Maps for Android Phones Now With Twitter Integration

World most popular Mobile Map application Google Maps recently launched new version with the couple of exciting new features, bit similar to Foursquare.

The New Google Maps version 5.2 for Android Smartphones enables  Share Check-in with your friends connected with Latitude and also share or publish your position in your Google profile as well as Twitter. It also integrated with the a variety of locations corresponding roughly to where you were located and whats nearby you.

The improved Google Maps for Android feature ‘pings’ for Latitude, Hotpot Tweets and enhanced search results.

Previously, Google Maps for Mobile, location enabled sharing recommendations with Hotpot friends or connected network only. With the V5.2. one can post their ratings and reviews of places like shops, cafes and restaurants directly to their Twitter accounts from their Android-powered smartphone. This can be done by simply choosing the ‘Post review to Twitter’ option from the rating widget.

Instead of texting or calling close by Latitude friends when they are spotted on the Google Map, users can now swiftly ‘ping’ them. The Latitude ping feature will send a notification to the concerned person’s Android mobile device, asking them to check in at a particular place. This ‘ping’ attribute requires both friends to use version 5.2 of the app.

MTNL Delhi to launch affordable Prepaid Broadband

MTNL delhi is going to introduce a very affordable prepaid wireline broadband plan for occasional internet users. MTNLs wireline broadband service is much appreciated one in Delhi & Mumbai but a large chunk of cost conscious customers shun it as it needs a landline connection too. So landline rental is an additional burden if one doesn’t actually need it.

The new prepaid plans come with a landline and there is no additional charges for it .The detail of the plans are :-

Aircel Mobile Health Care Free trial till 28th Feb

Aircel mobile has always been treading on a different route which has helped it in creating a differentiated positioning in the minds of customers. Resultantly now Aircel is a distinct brand known for bringing innovative VAS and quality services to customers. Aircel has earlier launched India’s first ever Mobile health Care service in association with Apollo hospitals. The launch of Mobile health care service makes sense and brings synergy as Apollo group has stake in the company.

Through this service Aircel customers can contact to medical experts over phone for mild problems or during odd times when it’s difficult to visit hospital.

In order to access the service customers need to dial a short code number 55104. The charges include the consultation charges of Rs.45 and call charges of 40 paise/min. The customer gets one free followup consultation and 3 day follow up validity.

Currently The company is running Free Trial Offer wherein the consultation charges of Rs.45 is waived off.

Spice Digital To Launch Voice Based Music Streaming Services

India’s leading Mobile Value Added Services content developer Spice Digital has entered into a historic exclusive arrangement with PPL (Earlier Known as The Indian Music Industry – IMI) to launch Voice based Music Streaming Services over Mobile Phones.

With such an exclusive tie-up with one of the India’s largest music societies having access to over 10 lakh songs, right from 1950’ to date, we will be able to provide much more enhanced and richer music listening experience to all the music loving people.

Spice started Music streaming services four years back and today has made it into the second largest VAS service for most of the operators. As you may recall, Spice Digital launched yet another innovative service “Mirchi Mobile” to provide a unique music proposition for the mobile users.

Get Cricket World Cup 2011 LIVE On Your Nokia N8, For Free

Cricket  is game which requires it`s fans and followers to stay up-to-date with scores in a match. ICC cricket World Cup-2011 around the corner cricket lovers will not miss any of the excitement this world cup. Nokia, along with ESPN, has introduced the ESPN Widget for all Nokia N8 smarkphone users exclusively on the Ovi Store, for free.

With this widget cricket enthusiasts will be able to get latest news and updates — pushed directly on to the homescreen of their Nokia N8. With this widget users can get Live News feeds, Live Scores and ball-by-ball text commentary,Statistics & Expert Comments,Schedules & Standings Points and Video Clips.

The Nokia N8 ESPN Widget is a dynamic, stand-alone mini web-based application that offer focused features and an optimized mobile web experience on the N8 device. The users also have the option of switching the widget off – when on, the widget keeps bringing updates on an ongoing basis. There is no subscription fee for downloading the ESPN Widget on the Ovi Store for N8 (http://store.ovi.com/). The users need to pay only for the data download charges as part of their operator bill.

Jasmeet Gandhi, Head – Services & Devices OPM, said, “The entire nation is abuzz with the World Cup fever and we are happy to be associated with ESPN to reach out to our cricket-loving consumers. The widget will enable cricket lovers to stay on top of their game, providing them with live news feeds, scores, video clips and much more. We will continue to engage with our consumers with services and information relevant to them providing them an enriched mobile lifestyle.”

Spice Intros Entry Level Android Phone MI-310 At Rs. 7500

This entry level power-packed smartphone comes with Android  2.2 (Froyo), 3.15″ HVGA Capacitive  Touch screen with 320 x 480 resolution, 2MP camera, 1200 mAh battery, HSDPA (7.2Mbps), Bluetooth 2.1, aGPS, FM Radio, MicroUSB, and memory card (T Flash, Micro SD, Micro SDHC) support upto 16 GB, USB Tethering & Wi-Fi Hotspot Functionality.

Though hardware details (CPU & RAM) is not revealed, it is certain Spice modifies Android UI for best experience on this low end hardware.

Powered with Android 2.2 the phone can run thousands of applications from Android Market and apps can be installed on external storage. Spice has also pre-loaded made-for-India applications like ibibo, Nimbuzz, Naukri.com, OI Notepad, Spice Gang, and Wapedia.

The phone can be a best buy for those who are on tight budget and like to move to Android! Biggest plus point of the smartphone is Android 2.2 and Capacitative touch screen – which will give you best experience with Android!

India To Adopt International Norms for Radiation Free Mobile Phone

Government of India’s Department of Telecom (DoT) all set to adopt the new policy and regulation on electromagnetic radiation emitted by Mobile Phones in India.

With the adoption of new norms, all the Importers and Local manufacturers of Mobile Phone in India would now be required to follow international norms pertaining to electromagnetic radiation emitted by mobile phones.

Mobile handset manufactured and sold in India or Imported from any other countries should be checked for compliance of SAR limit and No handsets of SAR value above the prescribed standard adopted in India should be manufactured or soldin the country.The manufacturer’s mobile handset booklet should contain various Dos & Don’ts for safe use of cell phones.

Sachin Pilot, Minister of State for Communications & IT said that, “An Inter-Ministerial Committee was constituted by the Department of Telecommunication to examine adoption of safety limits for exposure to radio frequency energy produced by mobile handsets i.e. Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) levels of exposure from a mobile hand-set.

The report has indicated that most of the laboratory studies were unable to find a direct link between exposure to radio frequency radiation and health. The scientific studies as yet have not been able to confirm a cause-and-effect relationship between radio frequency radiation and health. The effect of emission from mobile phone is not known yet with certainty.

Highlights of New Policy for Radiation Free Mobile Phones :

(1) Telecom Commission has adopted International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines for mobile handsets imposing basic restrictions in terms of SAR (Specific Absorption Rate) value limiting to 2 W/Kg (averaged over 10g tissue) localized for head and trunk in the frequency range of 10 MHz to 10 GHz. Thereafter

i) Indigenous manufacturers of mobile handsets have been instructed to comply with ICNIRP guidelines and furnish self certificate.

ii) Mobile handsets manufacturers have also been instructed to indicate the level of radiation on the product itself and to clearly communicate the potential danger of mobile phone radiation and exposure.

(2) To regulate indigenous as well as imported mobile phones, Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) has been requested to frame standards for mobile phones under BIS Act 1986.

Inter-Ministerial Committee constituted by the DoT in its report has made the following recommendations:

(i) Adoption of mobile sets having low SAR value of 1.6 W/Kg averaged over a 6 minutes period and taken over a volume containing a mass of 1 gram of human tissue;

(ii) Mobile handsets manufactured and sold in India or Imported from other countries should be checked for compliance of SAR limit and no handsets of SAR value above the prescribed standard adopted in India should be manufactured or sold in the country;

(iii) Display SAR value information in the handset;

(iv) Information of SAR values of different mobile phones made available on manufacturer’s website and Government website; and

(v) The manufacturer’s mobile handset booklet should contain various Dos & Don’ts for safe use of cell phones.

The report of the Inter-Ministerial Committee has been placed on the Department of Telecommunications’ website calling for feedback from stakeholders. Thereafter, it will be examined for appropriate action.