Cellular service operators in Gujarat have come out with a number of Navratri-related features to cash in on the festive mood.
Both the GSM and CDMA operators have announced introduction of Navratri-related ring tones, SMS, music cards and songs.
Operators expect the subscribers to make full use of these services in the next nine days as Navratri begins on Friday.
Cellular companies have offered sops such as a reduction in night speak rates as the festival picks up momentum after 10 p.m.
Also, the companies have slashed SMS charges for the next nine days. The companies say they expect call and SMS volumes to increase by at least 15 per cent during the next nine days.
Hutch has introduced special Navratri logos, ring tones, SMS and music cards, which can be downloaded at a price.
"These services are being introduced from Friday and we expect an overwhelming response during the next nine days because almost everybody participates in the Navratri festival in the state," said a Hutch official.
Besides a surge in the number of downloads of ring tones and music cards, Hutch expects SMS volumes also to go up considerably.
Idea Cellular has also introduced special and customised songs, ring tones, logos and picture messages for its subscribers.
Idea customers can send messages and Navratri-related songs to other mobile users. Besides, they can download several garba tunes as ring tones.
Vijay Grover, chief operating officer, Idea Cellular, Gujarat Circle, said "Our research has shown that participation in such customised services is great and hence these special scheme has been announced."
In another Navratri-related offer, Idea has offered an additional talk time of Rs 50 for Idea Chitchat (pre-paid) customers. All activations during the Navratri festival will get an additional talk time of Rs 50, Grover said.
Airtel also has announced a special Navratri benefit for its pre-paid subscribers besides offering a range of festival related ring tones, logos and picture messages.
The pre-paid subscribers will be charged SMS at Rs 0.25 per message and night speak rates (10 pm to 8 am) will be 0.99 per minute till October 6. Reliance Infocomm also has launched several Navratri-related features such as ring tones, greeting cards and video clips through its R-World option network.
The company said on the first day of the launch, over 10 million Navratri-specific downloads had been reported and a bulk of this came from Gujarat.
Wire-free festivity
- GSM and CDMA operators introduce Navratri-related ring tones, SMS, music cards and songs
- Cellular companies offer sops such as a reduction in night speak rates as the festival picks up momentum after 10 p.m.
- The companies have slashed SMS charges for the next nine days.
