Rajasthan Patrika recently launched an IVRS Service in Rajasthan BSNL circle with technical solution from NTS  have launched the following services :
1. Music
2. Astrology
3. Cricket
4. Jokes.
5. News

This Rajasthan Patrika Service can be accessed by dialling 5696900 from BSNL Mobile phones and 12696900 from BSNL Landline phones. Individual services can also be accessed directly by dialing 126969XX/56969XX where XX denotes the service code like 01 for Music, 02 News etc.

This service is powered by NTS UMS Software version 2.0 works in various plateforms with MYSQL/MYSQL Database connectivity in distributed architecture. The reliabe UMS Software has performed very well handling almost 25000 calls a day. Rajasthan Patrika is upgrading and adding more lines to handle more calls very soon.

Source: NTS

With private operators betting big on Value Added Service (VAS), state-owned BSNL has decided to join the bandwagon. The PSU has decided to go all out to rope in as many VAS companies as possible for partnerships.

Over the next couple of weeks, BSNL will announce multiple tie-ups with VAS companies for the following services: stock prices forex rates, entertainment, TV schedules, sports, movies, serials, travel, downloads, astrology and cricket amongst others. BSNL has asked all VAS companies including foreign players to submit their proposals by March 17.

“There is a lot of focus on value added services. Last year, their revenues from vas was Rs 450 crore and for they plan to raise this figure to about Rs 2,000 this year. With these tie-ups, the PSU plans to increase its revenues from non-voice services to about 15% for this fiscal, as against about 5% at present.

This also marks the first time that the PSU is going in for multiple deals simultaneously to enhance its VAS offerings. BSNL will be entering into revenue share arrangement with these VAS companies to offer these services. Besides, all partnerships will be for a two-year period with a clause that it can be extended on mutually agreed basis, BSNL sources said.

The PSU has also directed all potential partners that they would have to set up the platform to operate the different services they planned to offer. The content provider shall be responsible for arranging the hosting infrastructure for the requisite content/applications at its own costs.

Source: Indiatimes

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL), Chennai Telephones, has extended the mobile television feature provided on trial basis to post-paid clientele to pre-paid subscribers.

The feature, that can be accessed by subscribers who have GPRS-enabled mobile phones, will be available free of cost for both categories of mobile users till January 15, 2008.

When it becomes a paid service, mobile TV will cost Rs.10 a day for 24-access to a single channel, Rs.50 per month per channel for a 30-day period and Rs.150 per month for watching all channels for 30 days.

The mobile TV facility provides a mix of news and entertainment on 13 channels ranging across NDTV, Aaj Tak, Cartoon Network, CNN-Mobile and Jaya TV.

Source: The Hindu

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd scores an ace by successfully launching location-based services (LBS) on Telenity’s Canvas LES, Location Enabling Server. With the launch, BSNL has become the first operator to make available the personalised value added location-based services to its mobile customers in India through Telenity’s location solution. The Web-based service allows real-time tracking and monitoring.

A range of LBS has been launched in the East Zone of BSNL’s network :

1) Now enterprises can locate, monitor and manage their mobile assets and employees in a secure way using a simple Web browser named ‘Real time fleet and asset management’.

2) Another service is ‘Friend finder’ which alerts subscribers when one of their friends in their buddy list is in close proximity to their location or vice versa.

3) Another service, ‘Location-based advertisement’, broadcasts advertisement/promotion information to subscribers.

4) Also, there is the option of ‘Location-based chatting service’ that enables users to communicate and/or meet someone with same interests within the same vicinity.

The step is being viewed as BSNL’s marketing strategy to take an edge over its competitors in the country.

This new service will attract new customers for BSNL and will also help in retaining existing customers.

Source: EFY Times