The Hindu : National : Telecom firms cashing in on poll fever

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, May 08, 2004

National

National

Telecom firms cashing in on poll fever

By N.Ravi Kumar

CHENNAI, MAY 7. Elections in the country have leap-frogged technologically, from ballot paper to electronic voting machines; from telecasting the results between popular movies on Doordarshan to catching up with them on mobile phones.

As the campaign for the Lok Sabha elections enters the last phase, leading telecom companies in the city are gearing to provide updates.

It is a different kind of feel-good factor — to be the first to know — the companies hope will help build subscriber loyalty.

Elections, examination results and sports events are occasions when landline and mobile phones can serve as effective channels of information, say senior executives. Three service providers have unveiled plans to host election updates and at least two others are expected to follow suit.

Leading the pack is Chennai Telephones, which is reviving its `Speak-2-Seek' service. By dialling 1044, landline subscribers will get to know the results and trends. The information will be updated every five minutes.

Apart from getting the information (free of cost) on the location finder in their handsets — most equipment are compatible — mobile subscribers of Chennai Telephones can dial 444 to get the updates. It is a paid service and local call rates apply.

Mobile service provider, Airtel, will offer voice updates of election news bulletin every 20 minutes.

Its subscribers can access them and election analysis by dialling 646. The company has also launched a subscription-based SMS (short messaging service). Users need to type `Sub News' and send it to 3333 to receive election alerts.

Airtel has launched an election ticker, which can be downloaded from www.airtelworld.com onto GPRS-enabled Airtel phones, says a release.

Hutch has tied up with New Delhi Television (NDTV) for election updates. Subscribers need to SMS `ELECT' to 123 to get the news and dial 123 to listen to the news and special analysis.

According to a press release, Hutch GPRS users can view video clippings of NDTV election news programmes.

Sources in Reliance and Aircel, two other mobile service providers, say the companies are also planning to provide election updates.

Examination results

Some operators plan to offer board examination results.

The `Speak-2-Seek' service , which can be accessed in English and Tamil, will post the results of X and XII class examinations, conducted by the State Board and those of the Tamil Nadu Professional Courses Entrance Examination.

According to Reliance Infocomm, results of over 70 examinations, including those conducted of standards 10th and 12th by the CBSE, the ICSE and State board schools, engineering and medical entrance tests, will be posted over 90 days on the R-World in its phones.

Long distance calls

Touchtel, wired line service provider in the city, however, has chosen to attract subscribers offering what it says are the lowest long-distance call tariffs.

Addressing a press meet here, M.S. Ravichandran, chief technology officer and Ganesh Mahadevan, sales head, said the charge was Rs.6.99 a minute for calling the United States and the United Kingdom, while it is Rs.2.99 a minute for calls to Mumbai and Bangalore from Tamil Nadu.

Calls anywhere within the State cost Rs.1.69 a minute.

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