Aircel, Huawei complete LTE field trial in India

NEW DELHI: Telecom operator Aircel and telecom equipment maker Huawei announced to complete field trial of LTE-TDD technology in combination with two existing wireless technology namely GSM and UMTS using chipset from Qualcomm.

"Aircel is pleased to be the first telecom service provider to have successfully experienced LTE-TDD functionality using multimode devices based on Qualcomm chipset in our GSM,UMTS, LTE-TDD network provided by Huawei at Hyderabad," Mallikarjun Rao, CTO of Aircel said.

Aircel is a pan India operator. It has 3G spectrum in 13 circles and BWA spectrum in eight circles.

GSM, UMTS and TDD LTE come under category of 2G, 3G and 4G technology, respectively.

Huawei spokesperson told PTI that during trial peak data transfer speed of 245 megabyte per second during was achieved.

"The peak rate was achieved both in fixed and mobile condition of device moving at speed between 3 to 5 kilometer per hour," Suresh Vaidyanathan, spokesperson, Huawei India said.

This means that a person moving at speed of 3 to 5 km per hour can download content of compact disc like a bollywood movie in 3 seconds. A compact disc can generally store 700 to 800 megabyte of data.

After completion of this trial, Huawei said it is now ready to deploy commercial LTE-TDD network for GSM and UMTS mobile operators for mobile broadband in India.

"This first inter operability test on an existing UMTS network will stimulate the mobile broadband market in India, and show the way forward for the LTE industry," Deng Taihua, the president of Huawei's WiMAX, TD-SCDMA and LTE-TDD product line.

In India, most telecom operators have indicated to adopt Long Term Evaluation (LTE) Technology for rolling out Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) services.

Though FDD version of LTE is available in some countries, Indian telecom operators for some technical reason can only deploy Time Division Duplex (TDD) version of LTE.

However, non-availability of TDD LTE chipsets and equipments commercially had kept roll-out of BWA services by private telecom companies on hold in the country, even though BWA spectrum was allocated to companies in October, 2010.

How costly is iPhone 4 overseas?

Apple's iPhone 4, which was released by Airtel and Aircel in India 11 months after its international launch, is more expensive here than anywhere else on earth.

There was a time when handset giants used to launch their products in international markets first and then bring the products to India after one or two years, but now things are changing, with companies increasingly launching their handsets in India simultaneously or within a couple of months of the product's international launch.

Users in India would have loved to see the iPhone 4 launched in India at the same time as abroad, but better late than never: Apple iPhone 4 was released here courtesy Airtel and Aircel on May 27, almost a year after it was launched in international markets.

Aircel and Airtel are following an interesting strategy to market the phone, which amounts to a reverse subsidy. The iPhone 4 is priced at Rs 34,500 for the 16 GB model and nearly Rs 40,900 for the 32 GB model. You will have to pay the full price of the phone upfront; but can recover its cost if you stick to the same carrier (Aircel or Airtel) for two years.

You can, however, choose another carrier if you so desire. You can insert a micro-SIM card from carriers who provide it, such as Airtel and Aircel in India. At the same time, only GSM cards are supported by iPhone 4.

USA

The iPhone 4 was launched by AT&T in the USA in June 2010. New users could get the iPhone without a contract for about $600 (Rs 27,000) or $700 (about Rs 31,500), for the 16 GB and 32 GB versions, respectively.

However, existing customers of AT&T can get the 16 GB version of the iPhone 4 for just $200 (Rs 9,000), or 32 GB for $300 (about Rs 13,500). This offer is also available for those users who already have an iPhone but want to upgrade to iPhone 4. Upgraders will have to pay more than $400 (about Rs 18,000) or $500 (about Rs 22,500), and will be bound by a two year contract with AT&T.

Users can also buy their iPhone 4 through Verizon at similar price points. Verizon's network is CDMA(Code Division Multiple Access) based, hence data and voice cannot be used on the phone simultaneously.

Europe

In European countries such as the UK, France and Germany, the 16 GB version of the iPhone 4 is priced at 500 pounds (about Rs 37,000); whereas the 32 GB version costs 600 pounds (about Rs 44,500). These prices are for unbundled iPhone 4 devices, which means users can pick the carrier of their choice and choose their data plan accordingly. There are some bundled plans as well.

Australia and Japan

Just like in the rest of the world, iPhone 4 has become quite a rage in Australia as well. Users there have to pay Australian $860 (about Rs 41,500) for a 16 GB iPhone 4, and Australian $1,000 (about Rs 48,000) for 32 GB.

But here the iPhone 4 is not only available unlocked; it is also the telecos that are offering it without any contract, thus making it more expensive in India than anywhere else in the world. The major companies offering iPhone 4 in Australia are Vodafone, 3 and Telstra.

Japanese users have the option of paying 57,600 Yen (about Rs 32,000) for the 32 GB model or 46,080 Yen (about Rs 25,600) for the 16 GB model. The carriers offering iPhone 4 in Japan include NTT Docomo, Softbank and eAccess.

Aircel launches iPhone-4 in Hyderabad

GSM mobile network operator Aircel, a 74:26 JV between Maxis Berhad of Malaysia and the Apollo Hospitals Group, launched the much-awaited iPhone 4 from the Apple’s stable in Hyderabad today.

Speaking to mediapersons after the launch at Technovision multi-branded mobile store here, Hamir Bakshi, regional business head (south), Aircel, said the company’s tie-up with Apple offered an important combination of Aircel’s 3G network and iPhone 4’s video calling features.

“Our association with Apple has just started. We have not set any specific targets in terms of sales numbers but are looking at the tie-up as an access point to a new profile of customers,” he said.

The 16GB Apple iPhone 4 will retail for Rs 34,500, and the 32GB version for Rs 40,900. It has two cameras – on the front which focuses on the user, and one on the back, which focuses on everything else.

Bakshi said 3G services could give PCOs a facelift with its owners offering features like video calling at cheap rates. “Video calling at PCOs offers a real value preposition. We, however, are not looking at it (PCOs) right now but are expecting the entrepreneurs to take a cue from our 3G networks and go for it,” he added.

Aircel iPhone 4 Price – Prepaid & Postpaid Tariff Plans

Aircel iPhone 4 is now available in India @ price of Rs. 34,500/- for 16GB and Rs. 40,900/- for 32GB Model. Aircel flexi postpaid and prepaid plans for iphone 4 customers offers up to 100% money back.

Aircel iPhone 4 Prepaid Plans:

Aircel iPhone 4 Postpaid Tariff Plans:

50% Moneyback Advantage Plan:

• for 16GB Iphone 4: Monthly Net payment – 399/- , Free Local Minutes – 1250, Free SMS – 500, Free Data – 350 MB
• for 32GB iPhone 4: Monthly Net payment – 499/- , Free Local Minutes – 1500, Free SMS – 500, Free Data – 500 MB

100% Moneyback Premium Plans:

• 16GB Iphone 4: Monthly Net payment – 699/- , Free Local Minutes – 2000, Free SMS – 1,000, Free Data – 750 MB
• 32GB iPhone 4: Monthly Net payment – 800/- , Free Local Minutes – 2250, Free SMS – 1,000, Free Data – 1 GB

Mr. Sandip Das, Director, Aircel stated “We are very proud to bring iPhone 4 to Aircel customers in India,” “We always endeavour to bring to our consumers a world class experience and offer the best in innovation and service. With a robust roll out of Aircel ’s 3G services in 13 circles across India, the launch of iPhone 4 will allow our consumers to truly savour the 3G experience. With our incredible new price plans, we aim to make iPhone more affordable than ever.”

Aircel Offers free iPhone 4 with 2 year plans!

Ok, iPhone 4 is not exactly free, but close to it… Lets find out how!

iPhone 4 is coming to India when consumers worldwide are getting ready for iPhone 5. Although, for iPad 2, India has been given better treatment, when it comes to iPhones, India still looks like a dumping ground.

When iPhone 3G came to India last year, Apple had tied up with Vodafone and Airtel, but this time Aircel seems to have been the preferred telecom operator along with Airtel, who will be launching iPhone 4 in India.

Also, unlike last year, both Airtel and Aircel are giving lot of freebies on iPhone 4 purchase to attract customers – I am sure they don’t want to repeat the same thing that happened last year– Earlier iPhone launch was a super flop in India.

While, Airtel is offering 50% discount on iPhone 4, if user’s bill is above Rs. 2000 monthly – Aircel has gone ahead and is offering even better plan. It plans to offer discount equivalent to price of iPhone over a 24 month period !

How much does iPhone 4 cost ?

While Airtel is offering iPhone 4 for Rs. 35k (for 16gb) and 41k (for 32gb), Aircel has announced slightly lower prices – Rs. 34.5k (for 16gb) and 40.9k (for 32gb).

Aircel offerings on iPhone 4 purchase

If you are a pre-paid customer – sorry, you have no discounts, just take the iPhone at face value and forget about it, but if you are a post paid customer, and are a heavy mobile user (i.e: if you mobile bill is in the range of 2-3k), you stand to save a lot of money on iPhone 4. Here are the details:

Aircel Plans for iPhone 4

So, if you opt for premium plans, you end up saving 100% of your iPhone 4 costs. At the end of 2 years a consumer will essentially pay about Rs. 51,336 for 16GB iPhone 4 + voice calls + data and similarly and Rs. 60,240 for 32 GB iPhone 4 ++. 

We will have to obviously wait and see how many consumers will lap this up, but according to me the prices are just too high even with all the discounts and freebies offered ! This will be another flop is what I can say 

Aircel to launch iPhone 4 in India - http://www.indiaeveryday.in/

At least mobile operator —  Aircel — on Monday announced plans to launch     

Apple's iPhone 4 in the country in the coming months, without giving any details on either its pricing or their tariff plans for the smartphone.In their statements, Aircel said iPhone 4 was the most innovative phone in the world, featuring Apple's stunning retina display and FaceTime, which makes video calling a reality.U.S.-based Apple will introduce the iPhone 4, which is equipped with a sharper screen and video-chat features as it attempts to ward-off competition from devices running Google's Android software. The iPhone 4 will have a 3.5 inch display with 640 X 960 pixel resolution, and a 5-megapixel camera with built-in LED flash.

http://www.indiaeveryday.in/

MapMyIndia Powers Aircel’s Pocket Finder - Location Based VAS

Indian GIS company MapMyIndia has launched a maps and location service with telecom operator Aircel, called PocketFinder. It’s a white labeled service for Aircel which allows users access to maps, points-of-interest like ATM’s, Cafe’s and restaurants, and more interestingly, “friend-finder” services and location specific deals. The subscription based service, priced at Rs. 10 per month (with data charges extra) is available as an application, on USSD, WAP and SMS, and it requires GPRS and/or 3G to work. Alternatively, of course, there’s Google Maps, which is free (albeit, also with data charges).
Friend Finder

The service has a Friend Finder application (SMS in the format <10 digit mobile number of friend> to 54654), similar to the Buddy Finder service which Airtel piloted over a year ago, which allows users to permit specific Aircel users to find them. In the application, one can get directions to the friend, but not on WAP. If the phone is switched off or not in network coverage, then the last known location is displayed. Chhavi Gupta, AVP at MapMyIndia, told MediaNama that it’s a little clumsy to draw on WAP. Gupta declined to comment on how much MapMyIndia has invested in this initiative, but said that they’re getting a revenue share on the subscription fees.
It’s worth noting that the service works only with Aircel users, and is not carrier-independent, which limits the functionality of the Friend Finder service. Gupta doesn’t expect a carrier-independent service to be possible in the short run. “We aspire to do that, but the LBS ecosystem is complex. It won’t happen like the “press star to copy” service with ringtones.” MapMyIndia currently provides maps data to MTNL, Aircel, Virgin, Tata Indicom, MTS, either directly or through other application providers.
Deals/Offers
Gupta says that Aircel and MapMyIndia have just started working with a few partners to offer deals on PocketFinder, where they will surface sales in nearby locations initially. “The offers is not the main functionality of the service right now, but we’ll build it up with partners, from both us and Aircel”. Gupta feels that surfacing sales is hard to monetize, but it will help build stickiness; the monetization will come from couponing. Note that Bangalore based Taazza surfaces location specific deals and news, using Google Maps.
PocketFinder can extend the deals functionality to a pull based couponing service, which provides location sensitive and category specific deals to users. They can surface deals both within the application, as well as on WAP, say as a footer to Restaurant Search. A question remains – why hasn’t Google Maps launched deals yet?
Comparison with Google Maps
- Accuracy: Gupta says that the service is GPS independent, and uses cell ID data for identifying a users location. Aircel’s website suggests that the accuracy is between 400 to 500 meters, but Gupta says that with repeaters, it can be up to 150 meters, and in some areas it can go up to 1 KM. That kind of a variance has also been seen in Google Maps, though it has improved.
MediaNama readers might recall that the Indian government has asked telecom service providers to improve accuracy. Gupta says that it’s not feasible to provide location information for 50 metres in one shot, but “it will require iterations from telecom service providers, from service providers like us, and from the government. Whatever is the network based location, it will improve the location awareness for all of these applications.
- Access: Gupta says that given that the application uses cell ID, it is applicable to phones that cost less than Rs. 7000, the cheapest phone with GPS, a limitation which Google Maps face. Additionally, location based services in Aircel Pocket Finder are available on WAP, USSD and SMS as well
- Always on: Unlike Google Maps, the friend locator works even if a user doesn’t have the application on, because it is Cell ID based triangulation, and doesn’t depend on GPS. This has both pluses and minuses: for locating her child, a mother might want it to be always-on, but there are instances when you don’t want to give access.