The Hindu : Coin operated mobile phones may help improve connectivity

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 03, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Coin operated mobile phones may help improve connectivity

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, FEB. 2. Taxi and autorickshaw drivers and bus conductors could in future become mobile public call offices, according to a city inventor and technology expert, D. Ravi Shankar.

"While there are more than enough PCOs with STD/ISD facility even in the semi-urban areas, the spread of mobile telephony is threatening the existence of landline, fixed telephony, and landlines may, over a period of time, go into oblivion," he says.

While such a situation may be far away, the coin operated mobile telephone suggested by Mr. Ravi Shankar could bring connectivity to more people, including long-distance bus passengers without a mobile phone of their own. Trains could also provide them, he says.

Structurally, these phones would be small and user-friendly, similar to those at PCOs, but compact enough to be carried on three-wheelers.

The mobile unit would connect with mobile "transceivers" or telephone exchanges and facilitate connectivity on insertion of a coin(s) for a pre-set period.

It could also carry telephone services to rural areas.

"Telecom companies can use taxi drivers and bus operators on a revenue sharing basis. Unemployed youth can get these phones fitted on two-wheelers and provide their services at busy points such as markets, frequented by `those still without a mobile phone,'' Mr. Ravi Shankar says.

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