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India
Telecom
March 16, 2004
VSNL to tap global retail market for inbound calls
NEW
DELHI -- Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd., India's premier
telecom and Internet service provider (ISP), recently
forayed into the global retail inbound call market by
launching Tata Indicom's India-On-Call calling cards.
This will allow Indians traveling overseas to call within
India or any other destination, worldwide, using any
phone line. The launch marks the company's first foray
into the retail market for voice.
The
service, which is presently available for calls originating
from the US, will soon be extended to countries in the
Europe, Middle East, Asia, and the Asia Pacific region
(including Australia). Tata Indicom's cards are available
to customers in the denominations of Rs. 540, Rs. 1,080,
and Rs. 2,160. The cards allow high-quality voice communication
from overseas to India as well as other destinations
worldwide, at competitive prices. The cards will be
available online as well as through select retail outlets
in India and other international destinations.
S.K.
Gupta, managing director, VSNL, said: "The launch
of the Tata Indicom's international inbound calling
card is an important milestone for VSNL. It is our first
attempt to directly tap the global retail market for
inbound calls, and is our maiden retail foray into voice.
This is an attractive market for us, as it complements
our overall retail strategy. It is also a lucrative
revenue stream for us. This product marks the first
step in empowering the customer to select a preferred
long distance service provider."
The
calling card can be purchased as well as recharged over
the Internet through VSNL's online payment gateway.
VSNL will also be tapping various strategic channels
for the distribution of the cards, in India and abroad.
In India, the calling cards will also be available across
International airports, travel agents, and other key
VSNL retail outlets.
The
customer is guided through the dialing process in the
languages of his choice. The customer dials his card
number for authentication, and then dials the destination
number he wishes to call. The call charges are deducted
from the balance available on his card. These cards
will offer the advantages of convenience and forex savings,
since the card is purchased in rupees from India, and
all call charges are deducted from the card balance.
Contact:
VSNL
www.vsnl.com
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