In an attempt to provide more value added services to customers, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and Managar Telecom Nigam Ltd have tied up with Prasar Bharati for a unique radio news-by-telephone facility.
The facility would be available to the subscribers of basic and mobile telephones of these two service providers in 15 cities.
Subscribers would be able to connect to an interactive voice recording system and listen to radio news in Hindi, English and their local language.
"Technical work on the project is on. The service would be available soon," a senior Calcutta Telephones official said.
One would have to dial 125800 or 125900 to access the service.
In beginning the service for the first time in the country, BSNL and MTNL have taken the cue from private cellular operators who have tie-ups for news with television channels and news Web sites.
The service would not be free. A subscriber accessing the service would have to pay Rs 1.20 for anything between 30-60 seconds within a city circle. Calls to the service from outside the city circle would cost Rs 2.40 for up to a minute.
Mobile phone users would have to pay Rs 1.20 a minute to listen to radio news.
The service rolls first in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Guwahati, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Imphal, Raipur, Shimla, Ahmedabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Patna and Jaipur.
The telecom service providers have reached a revenue sharing agreement with Prasar Bharati.
