VSNL launches a bouquet of calling cards
By Partners with Tata Teles | 16 Jun 2004
Partners with Tata Teleservices to launch 'HELLO DUNIYA' Calling card for Tata Indicom customers.
HELLO DUNIYA Calling Cards to be extended across all networks subject to IN-Service Regulation Implementation
Inbound Calling Cards available to call India from US, UK and Gulf; Global Calling Cards capable of calling from anywhere to anywhere to be launched soon
Mumbai: VSNL in partnership with Tata Teleservices has launched 'great value' STD / ISD prepaid calling cards under the brand 'Hello Duniya'. These calling cards will enable customers to make STD and ISD calls from any Tata Indicom mobile, fixed wireline, fixed wireless or payphone across all Tata Teleservices' circles without having to activate the facility on the telephone.
This allows Tata Indicom customers to significantly save on their STD / ISD bills besides empowering them to be in full control of their long distance call spends.
The cards also allow Indians traveling overseas to call India or any other destination across the globe from any phone line (including payphones, mobiles and hotel phones) at extremely attractive tariffs.
VSNL said that it had extended its range of global inbound 'India-on-Call' calling cards (earlier available only for the U. S.) to include destinations like the United Kingdom and select Gulf regions of Bahrain and U. A. E.
'Hello Duniya' calling cards allow Tata Indicom customers to call the US, Canada, the UK and select countries in Asia at attractive tariffs. The tariffs offered are Rs 7.20/min for US, while calls to the Gulf and South East Asia will be charged at Rs 15/ minute and Rs 9.60/ minute respectively. These calling cards will be available in denominations of Rs. 540 and Rs. 1080. VSNL will be making the calling cards available to its customers through 7,000 retail outlets across the country. Tata Teleservices presently offers services across 8 circles in India, namely Mumbai, Maharashtra, New Delhi, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Chennai and will be extending its service across 12 new circles.
The launch of 'Hello Duniya' calling cards comes after VSNL's recent foray into the global retail 'inbound' Calling Card market with the launch of Tata Indicom 'India-On-Call' Calling Cards.
Speaking on the occasion, S. K. Gupta, managing director, VSNL said, "The launch of the VSNL calling cards is a significant milestone for us as it marks our entry into the Indian retail market for voice. One of the important challenges for VSNL in today's times is to have direct access to the retail customer, unlike in the past, wherein we were largely a carriers' carrier. The calling card business segment will help VSNL achieve this objective effectively, besides being a lucrative revenue stream for us. "
At present offered only on the Tata Indicom network, VSNL said that it is in a position to roll out 'Hello Duniya' cards across all networks in the country, once the Intelligent Network services regulation is implemented in India. This regulation will permit VSNL and other IN service providers to bring their customers additional services such as toll free and premium rate numbers in addition to advanced value added services like Premium Services and Call Mobility Manager.
India-On-Call Calling Cards allow customers to call India from destinations across the world at extremely attractive tariffs. These cards are increasingly finding favor amongst corporate travelers, tourists, students and software professionals going for short-term assignments. The tariff from US to India is Rs 12.48/min, where as tariffs from UK and Gulf are Rs 18.48/min and Rs 21.48/min. Besides calling India, US-India and UK-India cards can be used to call any third country across the world as well.
One of the major advantages of using this card is the huge savings compared to calls made from mobile phones with international roaming and pay phones abroad. VSNL sources indicated that customers can save up to 75 percent or more if they use Tata Indicom Calling Cards to call India compared to if they made calls through their international roaming mobiles. They also pay lower tariffs compared to calls made from pay phones or hotel phones abroad.
VSNL is likely to launch its truly Global Calling Card, which will enable customers to call India and other destinations from across the world shortly.