Infocomm frees outgoing calls

AMBANI BROTHERS STEP ON THE GAS

Reliance Infocomm today offered free outgoing calls worth up to Rs 2,000 on some of its new handsets along with lower local and STD call charges.

"On buying a handset for Rs 2,700, a subscriber will get Rs 2,000 worth talktime for outgoing calls along with 2,000 local short messages (SMS) free," said SP Shukla, president (wireless), Reliance Infocomm, at a press conference here today.

The free talktime, however, had to be used within nine months and there should be a minimum recharge of Rs 149 after two months from the date of subscription, Shukla added.

This is the third time in the last three weeks that Reliance has announced a new tariff plan. Earlier announcements included outstation calls for Re 1 and flexible tariffs on fixed wireless phones.

The "Free Outgoing Calls" scheme is available on purchase of five handsets.

On LG handsets available between Rs 2,700 and Rs 7,999, the subscribers will get free outgoing calls worth Rs 2000 along with Rs 2000 free local SMS.

In addition, on the two low-end LG handsets costing Rs 1,999 and Rs 3,500, the free outgoing talktime is Rs 1000.

The tariffs would be 99 paise a minute for a local call from Reliance to Reliance phone and Rs 1.79 from Reliance to any other mobile. STD rate has been fixed at Rs 1.79 from Reliance to Reliance anywhere in the country and Rs 2.49 from Reliance to other phones.

The company has also announced lifetime incoming free offer on its pre-paid and fixed wireless phone. Under the scheme, the user, by making a one time payment of Rs 2,999, can receive incoming calls free for life.

Outgoing calls would cost Rs 1.10 per pulse under the Rs 275 plan, Shukla said.