Network 18 has introduced co-branded WAP properties with IDEA Cellular, one of the leading mobile operators for over 41 million subscribers across the country. Under the same, Network 18 has customized its Finance, News & Technology content services for IDEA Cellular, keeping in mind the unique needs of subscribers. The services will be powered by category leaders: moneycontrol.com, IBNLive.com & Tech2.com.
Speaking about the initiative Mr. Pradeep Shrivastava, Chief Marketing Officer, IDEA Cellular, said “In line with our commitment to offer innovative value added services for our subscribers, IDEA Cellular in association with Network 18 services, will now introduce a range of extremely rich content around General News, Money & Technology. The sites will offer information and updates with text, video and pictures in a crisp, mobile-friendly format for IDEA GPRS subscribers on the move. This is yet another initiative that allows our subscribers to access the best web services on the Idea WAP Portal itself.”
According to Mr. Rahul Pandey, Mobile Business Head (Network18), “These unique offerings are a great beginning for us, considering IDEA Cellular is one of the leading Telecom Players in India with vast presence across India. With the combined expertise of Network 18 and IDEA Cellular, we will be able to serve the masses in a better manner by offering the best of content to IDEA Users”.
These services will be available to GPRS Users of IDEA across 15 telecom circles in India. The service can be accessed on IDEA’s WAP portal- wap.ideaFresh.com. The daily, weekly and monthly subscription for News & Tech 2 content is priced at Rs. 3, Rs. 10, and Rs. 30 respectively. The subscription price for Finance content is Rs. 5/day, Rs 15/week and Rs. 50/month.
About IDEA Cellular Ltd.
IDEA Cellular Ltd. is a leading GSM mobile services operator with over 41 million subscribers, under brand IDEA. It has licenses and spectrum to operate in all 22 service areas of India with commercial operations in 15 service areas, currently. IDEA is listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India.
IDEA Cellular is part of the Aditya Birla Group, India’s first truly multinational corporation. The group operates in 25 countries, and is anchored by over 125,000 employees belonging to 25 nationalities. More information on the company is available at: www.ideacellular.com and on the group at: www.adityabirla.com.
About Network18:
Network18[BSE: 532798,NSE: Network18] is one of India's leading full play media conglomerates with interests in television, print, internet, filmed entertainment, mobile content and allied businesses. Through its holding in Television Eighteen India Ltd (TV18) [BSE: 532299, NSE: TV-18], Network18 operates India’s leading business news television channels, CNBC-TV18 and CNBC Awaaz. It also runs one of India’s largest Internet players - Web18, as well as one of India’s leading real time financial information and news terminals - Newswire18. TV18 has recently expanded into print with the acquisition of Infomedia, India's leading player in the special interest publishing and printing operations space, and announced collaboration with Forbes media for the launch of a business magazine in India. Through its holding in ibn18 Broadcast Ltd (ibn18) [BSE: 532800,NSE: ibn18], Network18 operates in the general news and entertainment space with leading general news channels CNN-IBN and IBN7 and has launched IBN Lokmat, a Marathi news channel in partnership with the Lokmat group. ibn18 also operates a joint venture with Viacom, called Viacom18 which houses the MTV, VH1 and Nickelodeon channels in India - as also Studio18, the Group’s filmed entertainment operation and has launched ‘Colors’, a Hindi general entertainment channel. Additionally, Network18 holds the Group’s online & on-air home shopping venture, Homeshop18 and its full.
About Mobile18
Mobile18 is a part of Web18 Software Services and is the mobile arm of Network 18 group. Network18 is one of India’s largest media conglomerate, a rich source of content and Mobile18 helps in offering this content on Mobile Phones. Television content from the Network’s diverse assortment of channels such as CNBC, CNN IBN, CNBC Awaaz, etc and online content from Web18’s portals such as Moneycontrol.com, Cricketnext.com, etc form the largest chunk of offerings from Mobile18.
Mobile 18 has developed the WAP sites for Moneycontrol.com, IBNLive, IN.com, Cricketnext.com, Tech2.com, In.com & Buzz18.com. Mobile18 also will be the first one to introduce an innovative launcher on WAP that will give direct access to all their WAP properties on a single platform.