**OT** E-mail facility for Tata Cell subscribers
Our Bureau
HYDERABAD, Feb. 15
TATA Cellular, the cellular operator in Andhra Pradesh, has launched a new facility called email@tatacell.net, which enables a Tata Cellular user to send and receive messages on their cell phones to and from any Internet site.
Mr. Ajay Panday, Vice-President, Marketing, Tata Cellular, said the new facility, which is part of the company's effort to offer a host of value-added services to its customers, helps send and receive mails up to 160 characters per message. However, a customer can send and receive unlimited number of messages.
"The e-mail facility will be made available for customers for a fee of Rs. 100 per month and the customers who sign up for the service before March 31 will have the additional benefit of getting Short Messaging Service (SMS), which will help them send and receive messages on the cellular phones free of cost," he said.
"Cell phone is much more than a phone. With convergence becoming the order of the day, we are looking at host of services including banking transactions and stock broking. When people can be reached in real time, communication becomes easy and faster," he said.
"The interface between the cell phone to computer and the switching terminal has been provided by a Hyderabad-based IT company, Taruni Technologies, with which we have entered into a partnership," Mr. Panday said.
"With a subscriber base of over 54,000 users, we are looking at enlisting 60,000 customers before the end of this fiscal. Geographically, we have nearly covered half of the State and by the end of next fiscal, we are looking at covering most parts of the State," Mr. Panday said.
"We know the path we are taking out both in innovation and leadership. The delay in calling party pays regime is to some extent a set back. But we are certain it will have to come in soon," he observed.
When asked to comment on the Bell Canada decision to divest its stake in the company, Mr. Pandey said: "This will no way affect the investment plans of the company. This move by Bell Canada was part of its global strategy. They have also divested their stake from a company in China too."
-The Hindu BusinessLine |
