Tag: VAS

  • Tata Indicom launches an online store for mobile connections; builds on Vas offerings

    Tata Indicom launches an online store for mobile connections; builds on Vas offerings

    MUMBAI: Telecom service provider Tata Indicom has launched an online store I-choose for mobile connections. Customers can buy postpaid connections at the click of a mouse with a commitment of activation and delivery of the handset within three days. The store is located at www.ichoose.com and can be accessed from over 400 cities across the country.

    The store allows consumers to choose froma range of Tata Indicom handsets, tariff plans and value added services (Vas). Customers can compare and select the appropriate tariff plan. Tata Indicom CEO Darryl Green says that the aim is to break away from the clutter of mobile offers by empowering customers to make an informed decision.

    “We are committed to introducing services which are in line with the changing lifestyles and needs of our discerning customers. I-choose will ehlp us extend our reach across different segments. It will also allow us to create awareness about our Vas which we have expanded during the course of last year.”

    Tata Indicom offers a library of 50 video games for download. One of its latest offerings was a Krrishh themed game. It also offers 3D sports games like motor racing. The games cost between Rs. 20- Rs. 100 a month. One can also access email and the Internet using a phone.

    That is because the firm provides high wireless speeds for the net. Tata Indicom also has a voice station where the user can listen to film songs, devotional hymns etc. Right now around five per cent of its revenues come from Vas but this is expected top grow.

    In terms of promotional activities for the i-choose store the company will use a lot of Internet banner advertising as well as outdoor hoardings. It also sponsors high profile events like the recent broadband convergence conference in Delhi.

  • Essel targets January 2007 launch of digital venture; plans web portal

    Essel targets January 2007 launch of digital venture; plans web portal

    MUMBAI: Subhash Chandra-promoted Essel Group will unveil a set of digital initiatives under the banner of its newly-formed digital arm Digital Media Convergence Ltd (DMCL) by January 2007, including a web portal.

    The plan is to explore new media platforms such as mobile and IPTV and the online space in a full-fledged manner to distribute various formats of digitised content.

    “We will be unveiling our initiatives in three months time. We are going to create various in-house formats and shows. Apart from this, we are speaking to various foreign players as well to acquire internationally acclaimed formats. We are sending a special programming delegation for the upcoming Mipcom session. Though the stress is on delivering fresh content, we are keen on the Zee digital library as well,” says DMCL CEO Abhijeet Saxena.

    DMCL will concentrate on acquiring, digitising and making available content on various delivery platforms. “Apart from our library products, we are keenly looking at providing our services to all the content owners who want to distribute their content in these platforms. The company will also be exploring the interactivity segment to tap the potential this space offers to the maximum,” Saxena adds.

    To enrich its platforms, DMCL will be creating special interest content, apart from making use of the Zee Network library on a selective basis. DMCL has already initiated talks with various Indian as well as international companies to acquire programming formats and various genres of content.

    According to Saxena, the company is thinking beyond mobisodes and other existing mobile value added services (VAS). He says the plan is to launch multiple formats of shows, targeting various segments of the consumer.

    “We have thought about the viability of the services from a consumer point of view and the practicalities of making it a popular medium. Hence, we will offer various price rates depending on the duration and uniqueness of the formats. For example, we are working on multiple formats for movies, not just abridged versions. To market these multiple segments, we have classified the services into premium and mass oriented,” Saxena offers.

    DMCL expects to contribute to the mobile VAS in a significant manner with the initiatives. “The existing mobile VAS market size comes about $500 million and this space is expected to reach $10 billion by 2010. DMCL expects to be a major contributor to the expansion,” says Saxena.

    DMCL has recently roped in Intel and IBM for its back-end technology support. The company has already brought most of the telecom operators on board for the initiative.

  • CII workshop seeks to address copyright issues in the Indian entertainment sector

    MUMBAI: The Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) will orgabnise the second edition of its legal workshop series Technology, Value Adds & The Law on 13 September 2006.

    The aim is to address copyright issues in the Indian entertainment sector. The workshop will focus on copyright issues with respect to new technologies and value add services (Vas).
    At the workshop the CII-Lawquest legal paper Copyrights & Emerging Technologies will be released.
    There will also be a panel discussion. Today technology is evolving at great speed with it increasing the importance of electronic and digital media. At the same time, the innovators cannot foresee all its future uses, which calls for urgent attention of copyright owners towards electronic and digital rights issues.

    The session will be moderated by Tata Teleservices VP Vas Pankaj Sethi. The speakers are Star senior VP – interactive services Viren Popli, Hutchison Essar VP vas SP Narayanan, ,
    UTV VP international Ashoka Holla and Raj Tilak who is a consultant