Taking on Jio: Now Vodafone to offer 4G smartphones for Rs 2,899

Vodafone has forged a partnership with Micromax, wherein customers can own a 4G smartphone for Rs 999

As the incumbent operators look to take on Reliance Jio and retain their customer base for feature phones, they are forging partnerships with handset makers so as to make smartphones affordable and within reach of a large section of society.

After Airtel, which has tied up with Karbonn to come out with a smartphone for an effective price of Rs 1,399, Vodafone has also forged a partnership with Micromax, wherein customers can own a 4G smartphone for Rs 999.

According to the Vodafone offer, existing and new Vodafone customers will have to buy the Micromax Bharat-2 Ultra smartphone by paying Rs 2,899 and if they recharge at least Rs 150 per month for 36 months, Rs 1,900 will be returned as cashback.

Also Read : Micromax launches budget smartphone

At the end of 18 months, users will receive a cashback of Rs 900 and after another 18 months, a cashback of Rs 1,000, in their Vodafone M-Pesa wallets. Vodafone has not provided a specific plan for the Micromax offer and people buying the device can recharge with existing offers of the company.

As the company is targeting feature phone users, who usually recharge with amounts starting at Rs 10, Vodafone has allowed the flexibility for users to choose recharges of any denomination but to avail the offer, a minimum of Rs 150 should be spent in a month, or Rs 2,700 in 18 months.

Avneesh Khosla, associate director — Consumer Business, Vodafone India, said, “Through our partnership with Micromax, we have democratised 4G smartphones at a price of under Rs 999. This will help fulfill the aspirations of several million phone users across the country who desire a smartphone but couldn’t afford one.”

Rs 2500 JioPhone @ just Rs 1500! How RIL is planning to recover losses

Jio has amassed more than 128 million subscribers since its launch last year

Reliance Industries' telecom upstart Jio is footing at least 40 percent of the cost of its basic 4G phone, two sources familiar with the matter said, as it bets on recovering the investment by luring in millions of new customers.

The Jio Phone, rolling out this week for a refundable deposit of 1,500 rupees ($23.05), will cost at least 2,500 rupees ($39) to assemble, the sources told Reuters.

That means Jio will likely carry more than $150 million in costs for every 10 million JioPhones it sells.

And the company aims to build a subscriber base of between 250 million and 300 million users in the next two years, said one of the sources.

Reliance Industries did not respond to a request for comment.

Some Reliance investors may flinch at the cost of subsidies, but the scale of the outlay is a clear signal of the level of Jio's ambition, as it targets an audience of some 500 million who still cannot afford smartphones in India.

Also Read : Nokia 8 with dual rear camera launched in India at Rs 36,999

Jio's advanced voice over LTE (VoLTE) network only works with 4G enabled devices, inaccessible to many even at subsidised rates. The significantly cheaper JioPhone, however, will open the Internet to a less affluent segment of Indians for the very first time.

"The 3,000-rupee smartphone was not cutting it," the second source said. "Reliance is making a bold attempt with this phone and data will be the key driver for them."

Analysts estimate a majority of Indian feature phone users have an average revenue per user (ARPU) of rupees 50 or lower. JioPhone's 153 rupees monthly plan for so-called pre-paid users aims to drive up this ARPU, the first source said.

Jio, backed by India's richest man Mukesh Ambani, has amassed more than 128 million subscribers since its launch last year, by offering free voice and cut-price data for months.(more)

क्रिकेट जगत में क्रांतिकारी परिवर्तन लाने वाले इंडियन प्रीमियर लीग के 10वें साल में कई बदलावों की दरकार महसूस होती है

क्रिकेट जगत में क्रांतिकारी परिवर्तन लाने वाले इंडियन प्रीमियर लीग के 10वें साल में कई बदलावों की दरकार महसूस होती है

पिछले साल इंडियन प्रीमियर लीग (आईपीएल) शुरू होने से पहले ट्वेंटी-20 क्रिकेट के इस टूर्नामेंट को बेहद सख्त इम्तिहान माना जा रहा था। ऐसा मानना गलत भी नहीं था क्योंकि मार्च के आखिरी दिनों में जब यह टूर्नामेंट शुरू हुआ था, उस समय भारत के खिलाडिय़ों को एक के बाद एक दिग्गज अंतरराष्टï्रीय टीमों के खिलाफ बीस-बीस ओवरों के मुकाबले खेलते हुए तीन महीने हो चुके थे। उन तीन महीनों में भारत ने ऑस्ट्रेलिया और श्रीलंका को टी-20 मुकाबलों में धूल चटाई और बांग्लादेश में टी-20 एशिया कप में खिताबी जीत भी दर्ज की। उसके बाद भी उन्हें आराम नहीं मिला और टी-20 विश्व कप में सभी से दो-दो हाथ करते हुए टीम सेमीफाइनल तक पहुंचने में कामयाब रही। उसके बावजूद आईपीएल बेहद मनोरंजक एवं रोमांचक रहा।

उस आईपीएल की खास बात यह थी कि उच्चतम न्यायालय की तरफ से नियुक्त न्यायमूर्ति आर एम लोढ़ा समिति की सिफारिशें आने के बाद वह पहला आईपीएल टूर्नामेंट था। खास बात यह भी थी कि उस टूर्नामेंट से ठीक पहले चेन्नई सुपरकिंग्स और राजस्थान रॉयल्स की दिग्गज टीमों को टूर्नामेंट से बाहर कर दिया गया था। उनकी जगह दो नई टीमों राइजिंग पुणे सुपरजाइंट्स और गुजरात लॉयंस को शामिल किया गया था। ऐसी सूरत में 2016 के टूर्नामेंट की कामयाबी को लेकर चिंताएं होना लाजिमी था। चिंता उस समय बढ़ भी गई, जब उसे शुरुआत में टेलीविजन पर उतने दर्शक नहीं मिले, जितने उससे पिछले सालों में मिलते आए थे।

लेकिन दो हफ्ते के भीतर ही इस टी-20 लीग का खुमार एक बार फिर पूरे मुल्क पर चढ़ गया और टीवी रेटिंग एक बार फिर चढऩे लगीं। टूर्नामेंट खत्म होने पर पता चला कि लीग के दर्शकों की संख्या साल भर पहले के आंकड़े से तकरीबन 88 फीसदी बढ़कर 36.12 करोड़ तक पहुंच गई थी। टूर्नामेंट के पहले साल यानी 2008 के संस्करण में दर्शकों की संख्या से तुलना करें तो 2016 में तकरीबन ढाई गुना दर्शक आईपीएल को हासिल हुए थे। दर्शकों के साथ ही विज्ञापन से होने वाली कमाई के मामले में भी प्रदर्शन बहुत शानदार रहा। पिछले साल आईपीएल को प्रायोजकों के विज्ञापनों ने तकरीबन 1,100 करोड़ रुपये की आय हासिल हुई थी। इन आकंड़ों ने एक बार फिर साबित कर दिया कि आईपीएल अपने रास्ते में आने वाली तमाम बाधाओं से पार पाने में कामयाब रहा है। Read More

Here is what Airtel, Idea and Vodafone are offering to counter Reliance Jio

Old telcos have sweetened their offerings considerably to take on the Reliance Jio challenge

Reliance Jio made a big announcement on Tuesday following which the road ahead doesn't look smooth for rivals Airtel, Idea Cellular, Vodafone, among others. Although the free services provided since its launch, including 1GB data at 4G speeds every day, unlimited voice calls and unlimited text messages will be over after 31 March, the operator has introduced a new plan called Jio Prime which will allow users to avail the facilities for another year at a nominal price.

Here are the key points:

• Membership: Jio Prime membership is limited to the 100 million existing Reliance Jio users as well as those who join the network before March 31, 2017.
• Cost: All Jio members can enroll prime membership for a one time fee of Rs 99 (which is valid for one year). Additionally, to get the free mobile data and other benefits, users will need to pay another Rs. 303 per month for the next 12 months (which amounts to Rs 10 per day, approximately).
• Subscription: To subscribe, users can go to any Jio store or Jio partner store. Besides, MyJio app and Jio 4G LTE Network website can also be used.

Read more : CBFC office vandalised in Hyderabad for 'not clearing' a Telugu film

• Commencement: Users can start subscribing to the plan from March 1. It will end on March 31.
• Offers: Under the plan, unlimited mobile data for a year (1GB daily FUP limit), media and content benefits associated with the Jio apps suite are available. "There will be many other attractive deals and offers from both Jio and its partners (for) the Jio Prime members," a statement released by the company said. Like the current offer, Jio Prime will also reduce the internet speed to 128kbps after the 1GB data per day limit is crossed.
• Users who do not subscribe: Reliance Jio users who opt not to subscribe the Jio Prime membership will have to pay for data and other services, but not voice calls (including on roaming).

A quick look at the offers provided by Vodafone, Airtel and Idea: (more)

Read more : Free run ends for Jio users on 31 March but Reliance keeps goodies rolling

BSNL unlimited call offer: All you need to know about the plans

Telecom major BSNL is all set to take on rivals Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio with its Rs 149 monthly unlimited voice call plan for mobile subscribers.

BSNL will roll out an unlimited local and national voice call plan to any network with a bit of free data for Rs 149 or less next month.

BSNL is all set to give a tough competition to other telco companies by its new offerings. It has recently announced unlimited calling offer that starts at a price of Rs 99 for its pre-paid customers along with limited free data usage.

Here are the top 4 schemes that the customers must know before actually availing the offer:

1. Rs 99 offer: This scheme offers free unlimited voice calls (local) and free STD calls from BSNL to BSNL along with 300MB of data. The plan is valid for 28 days and is applicable in Kolkata, Assam, Assam, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra.

2. Rs 149 offer: BSNL is also offering unlimited voice calls and free STD BSNL to BSNL calling along with 300MB data which is valid for 28 days. This is applicable for Himachal Pradesh and Kerala circles.

3. Rs 119 offer: This plan gives free unlimited local voice calls and free STD BSNL to BSNL calls; with 300MB data which is again valid for 28 days. This will be applicable in Uttaranchal, and Uttar Pradesh east and west circles.

4. Rs 339: This scheme gives unlimited local voice calls along with free STD BSNL to BSNL calls and 1GB data. It is valid up to 28 days.

Meanwhile, Reliance Jio is offering a Rs 149 plan under which it will offer free calls to all network in the country for 28 days without any roaming charges. The plan also includes 300MB of 4G data during the day and unlimited usage at night. Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular also attemped to match Reliance Jio'd scheme by offering free calls and limited mobile internet priced at around Rs 150 and Rs 350, respectively. Click Here to see more offers of the Airtel, vodafone, idea cellular.

Vodafone launches 4G in Mumbai on 1,800 Mhz

Vodafone, country's second largest telecom operator, launched its fourth generation broadband services in Mumbai. The service was unveiled by chief minister Devendra Phadnavis, a Vodafone customer himself. The company launches its services months after Bharti Airtellaunched its 4G services across 300 towns in India.

At the launch, Chief Minister Phadnavis said mobile was a key aspect of its JAM trinity (Jandhan, Aadhaar, Mobile) which was transforming governance. He said that he would have liked if Vodafone had launched 4G in Mumbai first as it was the commercial capital of the country.

The 4G era: Will it change the game for media firms?

The data party just began. Earlier this month, Vodafone launched its 4Gservice in Kerala. This Sunday, Mukesh Ambani-controlled Reliance Industries launched Lyf, its 4G-enabled phone, and its Jio 4G services - only for employees currently. A full commercial launch is due in end March or early April 2016. Just before Jio, came Idea. Airtel and Aircel have already launched their 4G services.

4G, or LTE as it is called globally, compresses huge amounts of data making it easier to transport it over the airwaves. This means “better speeds and, therefore, more video consumption. And anything that pushes up video consumption is good for us,” says Sudhanshu Vats, group CEO, Viacom18 Media.

That is an understatement. 4G, say analysts, is the single biggest game changer in the Rs 100,000-crore market for media and entertainment in India. Largely because it could trigger massive consumption of mobile video, expanding the market for everything - from films and music to newspapers and TV shows. And because it brings the big boys, the telecom and broadband network operators, back into the media game. 

SC asks Vodafone to pay Rs 2,000 crore for merger

Today's Paper : The Supreme Court on Monday directed the department of telecom (DoT) to approve the merger of four firms with Vodafone Mobile Services upon the latter paying Rs 2,000 crore to the government.

The order was made in the government’s appeal against the interim order of the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) on spectrum usage charge and other issues, including the merger of Vodafone-related firms.

In its order, TDSAT had stated no amount was payable till resolution of the disputes. The government moved the Supreme Court against the order, arguing the company had not followed the guidelines for merger. It contended the merger could not be approved till the dues of the companies were cleared.

The Supreme Court Bench headed by J S Khehar heard the government’s appeal and passed the order, asking TDSAT to speed up the hearing in view of the huge amounts involved.

The government’s demand against Vodafone Mobile is Rs 6,678 crore under five heads. However, Vodafone has disputed the amounts and agreed to pay Rs 1,773 crore, which is outside the TDSAT’s purview if the merger was approved.

The Supreme Court made it a round figure of Rs 2,000 crore. The order added that in case Vodafone succeeded ultimately in its petitions before the tribunal, the government should refund the amount to the company with interest determined by the tribunal.

The government argued that according to DoT guidelines, approved by the Cabinet, all liabilities should be cleared before any merger takes place. The company moved the tribunal and got stay orders. Government counsel Narasimha contended this is the usual course adopted by telecom companies.

When contacted, Vodafone India refused to comment, saying the matter is sub judice.

There are several cases before the tribunal in which stay orders have been obtained by them and then the cases are not decided for decades, he added. The government needs money immediately and it cannot be run on undertakings, the counsel said.

Vodafone's counsel K K Venugopal told the court that the operation was mainly an internal restructuring of the telecom companies related to each other and there was no transfer of spectrum from one area to another. Several circles are involved in the operation, he said.

Article Source: Business Standard.