Airtel Uses Its Subscriber Base To Promote MNP

Airtel , India largest mobile service provider has created a new form of free publicity it has replaced the “press *9  ” to copy ” prompt with its own form of unique advertising.

From 6 FEB onwards caller across India are receiving the following message before the song plays whenever they call a airtel mobile customer “Switch to airtel and join 200 million friends on India’s best network.SMS Port followed by your mobile number and send it to 1900″.

The default tune plays on all subscribers who have activated Airtel hello tune service which is available in regional vernaculars and has replaced the pre connect message while this may be very unique and innovative as a concept.But why should a customer who is already paying subscription charges should encourage a free publicity of MNP on his number ?

It also violates the TRAI recommendations which clearly states that anyone having a (CRBT) hello tunes , dialer tone , call me tune, name tunes etc ) should be informed about monthly charges and the fact that if they press *9 the same will be copied on t0o there number , which will result in both monthly charges as well as song charges being deducted from customers balance .

In case you are not happy with the above , dial 198 complaint helpline ( toll free ) from your airtel mobile and request the agent to remove the prompt from your number.

What you think about this latest foremost free advertising by airtel using its subscriber base do share your views via comments are you happy with this move ?

Supreme Court Cancels 122 Licences Given in 2008, (2G SEPCTRUM)

What come as a shocker for many operator is the judgment passed by the Supreme Court today which has cancelled all 122 2G licences.

As per ET the licenses of 11 companies have been cancelled the penalties have been imposed on Tata Teleservices, Unitech and DB Realty.

The Mobile Service providers (GSM/CDMA) that are set to lose on account of the cancellation of the licences are Uninor (joint venture between Unitech and Telenor of Norway), Loop Telecom, MTS India(Sistema Shyam TeleServices) Cheers Mobile – Etisalat DB (joint venture between Swan and Etisalat of UAE), S Tel, Videocon, Tatas and Idea Cellular.

All these 122 licences issued by former telecom minister A Raja in January 2008 on first—come first—serve basis, Uninor (Unitech-Telenor) was alloted 22 pan India licences, Loop 21, Sistema-Shyam/MTS India 21, Cheers Mobile or Etisalat—DB 15, S Tel (Shiva Group & BaTelco) 6, Videocon 21, Idea 9, Spice Communications 4 (now owned by Idea Cellular) and Tatas 3.

The companies can operate the quashed licenses for 4 months and TRAI has been asked to make fresh suggestions for grant of licenses.