Cheaper BlackBerry services in India

New service schemes for BlackBerry by Indian telecom majors

The mobile phone markets tend to see an array of segmentation.

The BlackBerry has been one of the most revolutionary devices in terms of using high-end technology services on the move with the portability of a mobile phone.
It is usually immensely popular amongst corporate professionals and other businessmen and managers who need to stay in constant contact with their workplace.

With its popular push-mail services it has become a favourite in the PDA-mobile phone market and commands 28.5 million customers worldwide. In India, the number of BlackBerry handsets sold has crossed the 8 lakh mark.
Already popular with the business class executives, the BlackBerry now seeks to attack the youth market. The Research In Motion(RIM) team, creators of the BlackBerry, are now tying up with various telecom services providers to launch not only cheaper models but also push-mail services and Internet accessibility at low costs. The telecom providers are looking at opening the prepaid markets to the BlackBerry, which only had post-paid users till now.

The readers might notice the ace-shooter Abhinav Bindra branding BSNL’s BlackBerry motives on its new advertising campaign.

Tata Teleservices has offered a Rs.299/month plan on the BlackBerry8703e model, which costs around Rs.9990. Its Silver Data Plan gives unlimited downloading of data to access up to 10 mailing accounts along with a complementary BlackBerry e-mail address. The plan allows instant messaging and access to social networking sites as well. It maintains that the new offers will cater to a wider range of customers.

Bharti Airtel was the actual trendsetter with its original Rs.299 plan. The Airtel prepaid customers , through the BlackBerry Curve 8520 model can use its e-mail and instant messaging services. AN upgrade to the Rs.899 plan gets them to use unlimited internet access. It declares that the new scheme shall render the BlackBerry open to around 100million customers, a majority of them being pre-paid users.

The smart phone market in India has been growing robustly with around expected sales figures of 12 lakhs in 2009. The affordability factor is being looked upon to further boost the market.

RIM believes that the string of low-cost models will cater to the needs of the extra-ordinarily potent youth market allowing them affordable Internet access and networking as well as entertainment.

Another 299 plan is coming out with Reliance Communications, where it brings out its “Reliance E-lite plan”. The plan is offering instant messaging and mailing services on all handsets of BlackBerry.

Going with the tide, Vodafone Essar also has its own Rs.299 plan giving BlackBerry users access to upto 10 e-mail accounts and instant messaging services.

Reference: The Telegraph ,Business Section, 17 August 2009

Cheaper BlackBerry services in India

New service schemes for BlackBerry by Indian telecom majors

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