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I'm going to India for over a month. I'll be traveling throughout the country so I need a prepaid service that covers most of India. It also needs to be able to handle international smses (AirCel doesn't) and it would be a big plus if there was a GPRS support. I have a GSM phone - so Reliance is not an option. I've been looking at AirTel and perhaps BSNL, but would like your opinion. Maybe there's a third provider which I should also consider. I'll be very grateful for your help in choosing the right mobile provider for me.
Please, keep it simple. Everytime I find a page that "explains it all" I'm more confused than before. India has way to many mobile providers and they try (succesfully) very hard to make their services as complicated as possible.
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Posted: 2005-12-16 15:37:46
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Airtel is the way to go and it also has gprs.
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Posted: 2005-12-16 16:59:33
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Airtel all the way....
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Posted: 2005-12-16 17:02:00
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Oh thank God, you've both said the same thing. Keeping it simple
few more questions:
1) it's about the recharge vouchers (I hope that's the right word). For example, if I buy a vocher for 335Rs, what's calling value of 154RS? does that mean I actually pay 335 Rs, but I can only talk/send smses for 154Rs? This is something new for me. I'm used to prepaids where you get as much as you pay.
2)And what does validity of 30 days mean? Does that mean I can't use my sim any longer if I don't recharge in 30 days or does it mean that I loose all my money on my sim that I didn't spend in that time period?
If any of you know - what are roaming charges for GPRS. are there any activation charges and can I use it for built.in email client and java apps. What's the price of transfered kB.
Is it better to buy an Airtel sim in Delhi or Darjeeling. I'll be in Delhi only overnight, then I'm flying to Darjeeling. I suppose the roaming charges are the same no matter where I buy it so in let's say Mumbai the costs will be the same. But I've learned to check and double check when it comes to Indian mobile providers.
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Posted: 2005-12-16 17:26:45
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Yup, you're right about the recharge rates ...you won't get the full amount as talktime.
As far as the rates of gprs are concerned, there is huge confusion un Airtel regarding this...
Airtel charges for gprs vary from state to state (India is divided in to 21 telecom circles)
So the gprs rental for Delhi may not be same as the one for darjeeling...
You would have to find out what the exact rates are...
For example. i pay only 150 rupees a month for unlimited gprs access (full acces) but for the same thing i would have to shell out 600 rs a month if i'm a tamil nadu customer!
A good aspect of gprs on aitrtel is that they don't charge extra for gprs on roaming..
You might find the rates for all the circles at
www.airtel.in
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Posted: 2005-12-16 18:33:08
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This GPRS thing is the best news I've got all day. Even 600Rs is not expensive if I can chat with my family and friends on MSN Java app and I also have a Java app that allows me to send smses free of charge (I guess some of you will remember SMSSend, but now it only works with one mobile provider in the world - luckily mine
).
Don't need to call or use their sms service at all.
Airtel it is
Thank you for your help! This India prepaid bussiness almost made me cry.
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Posted: 2005-12-16 18:41:36
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Hmmm may i ask why are you on a visit to India?
Mybe we could arrange the first "International" Esato meet if you come here!
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Posted: 2005-12-16 18:47:43
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6 of my friends have been in India for almost 2 months (working as medical team in a village near Shillong) and 3 of us are joining them in Christmas time. We will all go and play tourists for over a month. we haven't planned our trip to the last detail yet, but are planning to spend New Year's eve in Darjeeling, then probably take a train to the very south of India and slowly move up to Delhi. I know we won't go to Rajastan, cos my friends have already visted Jaipur and Jodhpur, but i suppose there is still a lot to see in India.
Where are you from? If we visit your city I'll PM you
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Posted: 2005-12-16 18:58:23
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Hmm. i am in Mumbai...we have quite a lot of Esatoians in Mumbai...
Btw, do visit Kerala if your going down south..
I do have a lil resort there (in kumarakom) see sig...
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Posted: 2005-12-16 19:10:54
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Thanks for advice! I hope we'll go all the way down, after all, we'll have to see as much as possible, we're not in India every day
[ This Message was edited by: Jabe on 2005-12-17 11:28 ]
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Posted: 2005-12-17 12:17:43
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