The Hindu : Business : Bharti's value-added services

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 20, 2004

Business

Business

Bharti's value-added services

NEW DELHI, JULY 19. Targeting more revenue from value-added services, Bharti Tele-Ventures today launched `Ring Back Tone' facility, a personalised mobile music service for its pre and post-paid mobile customers. The Hello Tunes service, which enables customers to replace his traditional Ring Back tone worth a personlised sound file comes with a monthly rental of Rs. 30 and Rs. 15 per download of songs both Hindi and English, Atul Bindal, Chief Marketing Officer, BTVL told reporters here.

The service is being launched in English, Hindi, Telgu, Tamil, Punjabi and Kannad. It will be initially available in Delhi and Karnataka. BTVL launched Airtel Hello Tune service in association with its strategic partners Bharti Telesoft and an affiliate of SK Telecom, WiderThan.com, he said.

BTVL has a revenue-sharing arrangement with the music industry for Hello Tune services. Bharti at present draws 12-16 per cent revenue from value-added services.

"Mobile music will be a key driver for future services in 2G, 2.5G and 3G networks. With a customer base of 7.6 million, the service will immensely improve our revenues," Mr. Bindal, said. A customer has to dial 678 and choose a song or a sound clip, which can be assigned to a specific caller or all callers.

The service is backed with a wide range of content priced at Rs. 15 per download.

"We are embracing the Indian music industry to upload their music. Discussions with corporates are also on as they are major potential clients," Mr. Bindal added. He said AirTel would soon roll out more value added services.

PTI, UNI

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