SMS @ 1 paisa

News reports state that Reliance Communications Ltd has taken the lead and slashed SMS rates to 1 paisa per SMS. The first salvo in a new tariff war in telecom circles has begun. It will certainly put pressure on other telecom operators to follow suit.

The new SMS rates are in the form of add-on plans and are for all Reliance CDMA and GSM customers. By loading a voucher of Rs. 11/- the 1 paisa per SMS plan will be activated. My friends in Reliance say that a fee of Rs. 11/- will be automatically deducted every month from the balance of the prepaid subscriber. Should the subcriber not have sufficient balance on that day, he/she will revert back to 50 paise per SMS. So that's one catch.

Customers also have an option of going in for an unlimited daily SMS plan by having Re 1/- deducted from their balance. (Bad idea because Re 1 = 100 paise = 100 SMS' a day!)

A Third option given to prepaid subscribers is to load a Rs. 14/- voucher. This voucer will give a balance of Rs. 10.50 + odd and will also give daily 500 national SMS's free. Subsequent SMS will be charged at 1 paisa. A Re. 1/- daily fee will be deducted from the balance.

I, myself, have subscribed to the Rs. 11/- per month SMS pack on my post-paid billing Reliance Connection and I should be enjoying SMS @ 1 paisa within a day or two, WOW!!

My tired fingers don't seem to be rejoicing at this news, are they! ;)