B G Shirsat &Amp; Rajesh S Kurup In Mumbai

Stories by B G Shirsat &Amp; Rajesh S Kurup In Mumbai

Vodafone blocks Netcore's free SMS

Vodafone blocks Netcore's free SMS

Rediff.com   17 Feb 2009

Netcore offers the service 'MyToday' to 3.8 million mobile phone users in the country. Jain was the founder of IndiaWorld Communications, a small start-up, which was acquired in 1999 by IT major Sify Technologies for around Rs 500 crore (Rs 5 billion).

BIG TV walks out of IPL deal after spat with Sony

BIG TV walks out of IPL deal after spat with Sony

Rediff.com   13 Feb 2009

Reliance-Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group-controlled BIG TV has withdrawn from partnering the Indian Premier League, alleging discrimination by the league's broadcast rights-holder Sony Entertainment Television.BIG TV has communicated its decision to IPL CEO Sundar Raman, alleging that SET has decided to offer the contract to competitor Airtel DTH, though it quoted a lower price for on-air partnership, sources said. When contacted, a BIG TV spokesperson declined to comment.

GSM foray to have limited impact on competitors

GSM foray to have limited impact on competitors

Rediff.com   12 Feb 2009

With the existing operators garnering the high-average revenue per user subscriber, new service providers like RCom has to look at new customers," Gartner principal research analyst Naresh Singh said.

Govt to check RCom's revenue reports

Govt to check RCom's revenue reports

Rediff.com   10 Feb 2009

The government has asked the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to speed up its responses on the allegations that Reliance Communications (RCom) has violated revenue reporting norms. The government will also appoint a special auditor to scrutinise RCom's books.

Ex-CEOs join hands to set up novel firm

Ex-CEOs join hands to set up novel firm

Rediff.com   3 Feb 2009

Four former Indian CEOs - three of them with telecom companies and one from soft drinks major Coca-Cola - have come together to start an angel partner firm, the Phi Group. Interestingly, the group has roped in two former bosses of global telecom companies for its international foray.

Spice firms up plan for Satyam buy

Spice firms up plan for Satyam buy

Rediff.com   2 Feb 2009

Sends team to discuss share auction with Sebi today Satyam board to sell stake via auction.

Now, make free international calls

Now, make free international calls

Rediff.com   21 Jan 2009

You can make free phone calls to anywhere in the world now. An Italian software company - Seven Rings International - is launching its Voice over Internet Protocol service in the country that provides free international phone calls, instant messages (chat) and text messages.

Few takers: Raju's claim of quarter margin

Few takers: Raju's claim of quarter margin

Rediff.com   12 Jan 2009

There are very few takers for B Ramalinga Raju's astounding claim that the margin earned by Satyam in the quarter ended September 2008 was just 3 per cent, and not 24 per cent as reported in the results.

Upaid case hearing not scheduled this week

Upaid case hearing not scheduled this week

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2009

The hearing of the forgery case filed by British mobile solution firm Upaid against Satyam Computer Services is not scheduled for hearing during this week.

Satyam fiasco: Raju is in Hyderabad

Satyam fiasco: Raju is in Hyderabad

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2009

The hearing of the forgery case filed by British mobile solution firm Upaid against Satyam Computer Services is not scheduled for hearing during this week. This means no Satyam official -- neither B Ramalinga Raju who stepped down as its chairman after admitting to a financial fraud nor any other top executive -- is in the US for the case. When contacted, a Satyam spokesperson confirmed the development and added that Raju was 'very much' in Hyderabad.

Trai seeks RCom plan to handle cable cuts

Trai seeks RCom plan to handle cable cuts

Rediff.com   26 Dec 2008

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has sought details of the arrangements made by Reliance Communications to restore bandwidth in case of submarine cable failure.

Some telcos want delay in 3G auction

Some telcos want delay in 3G auction

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2008

The 3G and broadband wireless access spectrum auction is running into further controversies with a section of telecom firms opposing the timing of the auction and internet companies planning to move the Prime Minister's Office.Even though Reliance Communications is ready with $1-billion investment for 3G rollout, it intends to focus on GSM rollout at the moment. The company is "receptive to the opinion that the 3G auctions should be held at a later date," a source said.

Internet connections will be slow till December 26

Internet connections will be slow till December 26

Rediff.com   23 Dec 2008

Slow internet connections will continue till Friday, even as restoration work on two cables out of the three that had severed a few days ago is under way. In India, the latency will continue till the end of the week, even for customers who have opted for redundancy bandwidth. For those who did not opt for redundancy bandwidth, the latency would be higher till the restoration.

How India is weathering the financial tsunami

How India is weathering the financial tsunami

Rediff.com   22 Dec 2008

Once criticised as inhibitory, India's strict regulatory norms have protected local banks from the global financial tsunami.

GTL to buy back FCCBs, shelves acquisitions

GTL to buy back FCCBs, shelves acquisitions

Rediff.com   12 Dec 2008

Telecom infrastructure major GTL Infrastructure will use its Rs 2,200 crore cash reserves to buy back foreign currency convertible bonds.

DoT for dividend restrictions on new telecom cos

DoT for dividend restrictions on new telecom cos

Rediff.com   9 Dec 2008

However, this rule will not be applicable to companies holding licences for a period of three years, even if they acquire licences in other circles to expand their operations, according to sources close to the development. The suggestion was made by the DoT to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India, which will decide on making it a regulation, along with other suggestions on the lock-in period put forward by the licensor.

Tata Tele seeks lock-in period enforcement

Tata Tele seeks lock-in period enforcement

Rediff.com   24 Nov 2008

The move gains importance after two new telecom players -- Swan and Unitech -- sold stakes to foreign companies at high premiums after the allocation of spectrum. The Left parties had also accused Telecom Minister A Raja of underselling spectrum that cost the national exchequer around Rs 60,000 crore (Rs 600 billion).

Why your mobile phone will be more expensive

Why your mobile phone will be more expensive

Rediff.com   21 Nov 2008

Nokia has already increased prices of its base models by around 3-4 per cent. Industry analysts expect other manufacturers to follow suit. "The 25 per cent increase in the value of dollar vis-a-vis rupee (the dollar rose to Rs 50 this month from Rs 40 in March) has resulted in our import costs going up. This has compelled us to increase the prices of our old models launched during the last 6-9 months," said HTC (India) Country Head Ajay Sharma.

Telecom firms to raise retail presence

Telecom firms to raise retail presence

Rediff.com   17 Nov 2008

The cost cutting efforts by corporates, like restricting travel, would also be beneficial to the industry. HotSpot, the multi-brand technology retail chain of the Spice group, will increase its presence to around 3,000 outlets in the next two years.

Mobile rates set to fall by 30%

Mobile rates set to fall by 30%

Rediff.com   10 Nov 2008

Mobile subscribers are in for a bonanza as telecom tariffs are set to come down by at least 25-30 per cent by the year-end. Factors such as a fall in the availability of international bandwidth, entry of new licencees and mobile virtual network operators, and the move to permit unrestricted Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephony will help bring down the tariffs.