Voice SMS comes with added value

Mobile VAS in India“.Here are key excerpts: Subscriber base: * Population: 1.112 billion * Fixed Subs : 39.41 million (Oct 2007) * Mobile Subs : 217.14 million (Oct 2007) * Internet Subs : 9.22 million (Jun 2007) * Broadband Subs :2.67 million (Sept 2007) Of the mobile subscribers: * Prepaid connection comprise 85% of total subscriber base (expected to increase to 90%); and over 95% of new additions. * By the end of 2010, the mobile teledensity will be almost 44% with 497 mn subscribers (driven by semi-urban and rural areas) VAS in India:Past, Present and Future * VAS constitutes 7% of of total telecom revenue for Indian operators. * SMS consituted 55% of VAS revenue in 2006 [P2P/A2P/P2A, A = Application, P=Person), the growth was majorly driven by reality shows like Indian Idol/Kelloggs/KBC etc. * Digital music (including CRBT and ringtones) constitutes 35% of VAS revenue. * CAGR of 44% (2007 – 2010), VAS revenues will reach USD 2,744 mn (926mn $ by 2007): This is dependent on several factors like regulatory (e.g. number portability) and non-regulatory factors. o Growth acceleration will begin in 2009, as various challenges are overcome, size of mature user base increases, and telco focus on high end user VAS heightens * Bollywood and Cricket is the killer content - though no significant investment has gone beyond developing local apps or even content/services. * Revenue share between telcos & content providers / aggregators is 70:30, substantially more skewed in favor of telco than in other countries - further aggravated by lack of payment mechanisms. * SMS/IVR/Music downloads/Internet Apps/Search will see an upsurge; limited growth of UGC and mCommerce * Almost half of Indians use ULCH (Ultra Low Cost Handsets) Entities in VAS Value chain * Content/Application Owner - cos. like saregama/mauj/Rajshri who develop coyrighted content * Aggregator - aggregates content like games/wallpapers/ringtones and distributes it to suit customer needs [players : mauj, hungama mobile, indiatimes mobile etc] * software developer – develops applications (like payment/games/middleware etc.) for mobile VAS [players - mchek/July systems/webaroo/affle etc] * Technology Enabler – provides the platform that plugs into telco networks and acts like a bridge between aggregator and telcos [players include OnMobile, cellnext. mauj etc] Operators still dominate the revenue sharing arrangement in VAS [Of the amount paid by end users, 60-70% is kept by operator, aggregator gets 20-25% and content app/owner gets 10-15% of the revenue] Challenges: * Lack of content localization * Shortage of spectrum * Slow adoption of GPRS mobiles (only 6.1 mn GPRS users compared to 200 mn overall subs) Future VAS trends: * Location Based Services * Mobile Music update will increase with better bandwidth * Migration to 3G will result in increased ARPU * Local content is on the rise – regional/rural IVR seen as a major opportunity (see our earlier coverage of Ubona) * Mobile commerce doesn not look too promising (India is still a cash and cheque country) * IVR will see large scale adoption, especially in rural areas. * Mobile E-Mail will primarily be driven by enterprises * Stocks on mobile will see an uptake The current state of VAS can be candidly summed in one sentence “Novelty of VAS on mobile is short-lived and innovation is the key to success which means technology companies like will have to increase their investments into R&D”What’s your take?

SMS as a Tool to Find out Polling Booth - Short Code 5676729

IT is not apathy but cluelessness about the location of polling stations that is, in many cases, the cause of low voter turnout. Often the eager voter sets out to play his part in the democratic process but ends up returning home in a huff, having wasted precious time trying to find the polling booth and finally giving up in exasperation. This is going to be history in the seven Assembly segments of the Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency as voters can now easily locate the polling booths in a matter of seconds through mobile solutions by just sending either an SMS message or through Internet. This unique mobile solution concept has been developed by Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) Metropolitan Commissioner KS Jawahar Reddy who is also the Returning Officer for the Secunderabad Lok Sabha constituency. The proposal will be submitted to Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) IV Subba Rao for approval. Once it is approved, it will be introduced in the Secunderabad Lok Sabha election to be held on April 16. What is more important is that this is the first time in the state that general elections are being held after delimitation and voters would find difficulty in locating the polling booths. Explaining about its functioning, Jawahar Reddy said that there was a complete data base of Secunderabad Lok Sabha fed with them that includes names of the persons with all Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) with numbers, house addresses and polling stations and other relevant information. A voter who wanted to know the exact location of the polling station, has to just send an SMS by typing a short code (will be announced in a few days) and number 5676729 along with EPIC card number. Within a few seconds, the voter will receive a message with detailed address of the polling station. Those who do not have the EPIC card, the other alternative is to type their house number. They are also planning to host similar service through Internet. A new website is being created for this purpose. A private software company , Gray Logic, is providing mobile solutions to them.

RSL wins The Time Shield F Division Cricket Tournament against TCS by 5 Wickets

Dear All,
I would like to Congratulate RSL family for Winning Time Shield F Division Cricket Championship against TSC by 5 wickets.

Today we won against TCS by 5 wickets to lift prestigious Times Shield for F Division.

Today’s Win brought lots of happy and cheering  smiles on Team member’s faces and will boost up their confidence.

This was our first time entry in Times Shield and we emerge as winner.

It was great team effort and comeback by team at one point of time TCS was 79 for no loss in 16 over’s, then comes fine and  disciplined bowling by Shailesh Dubli, Kadir Patel and Vishal we bowled out TCS for just 106 runs.

While batting second we faced some resistance from TCS bowlers but Bhushan and Pawan made batting so easy with their composed and  dedicated batting performance take us to an easy win over TCS by 5 wickets with 20 over’s left. 

Special thanks for Mr. Rajdip Gupta, Rahul Pandey and Support staff to make this happen. 

Once again I would like to Congratulate RSL family.

We are not only Providing World class Messaging and Software Solutions we also play First Class Cricket as well. 

Regards,

Sandip Gupta

 

BULKSMS Fraud - Beware of Mushrooming Indian Companies

Dear Readers ,


In recent time we have come across many instances where small proprietary companies have duped large number of International as well as Local Customer .

Modus Operandi:

In the beginning these companies give test account on Premium Route and set price at very low .

Once you have gone through the test process and transfer fund to them they put you on other route and your messages will not get delivered.

If you ask for refund they will give lots of Excuses and will not send back money to you and you have lost your money.

My advice to all the member and reader of the blog that they should buy SMS form Registered Indian Companies with long market standing .

Do not go by lower price as it is fake to get your confidence and later cheat you.



For more information please contact : sandip@routesms.com

Website: www.routesms.com

Mobile VAS in India

Mobile VAS in India“.
Here are key excerpts:
Subscriber base:

* Population: 1.112 billion
* Fixed Subs : 39.41 million (Oct 2007)
* Mobile Subs : 217.14 million (Oct 2007)
* Internet Subs : 9.22 million (Jun 2007)
* Broadband Subs :2.67 million (Sept 2007)

Of the mobile subscribers:

* Prepaid connection comprise 85% of total subscriber base (expected to increase to 90%); and over 95% of new additions.
* By the end of 2010, the mobile teledensity will be almost 44% with 497 mn subscribers (driven by semi-urban and rural areas)

VAS in India:Past, Present and Future

* VAS constitutes 7% of of total telecom revenue for Indian operators.
* SMS consituted 55% of VAS revenue in 2006 [P2P/A2P/P2A, A = Application, P=Person), the growth was majorly driven by reality shows like Indian Idol/Kelloggs/KBC etc.
* Digital music (including CRBT and ringtones) constitutes 35% of VAS revenue.
* CAGR of 44% (2007 – 2010), VAS revenues will reach USD 2,744 mn (926mn $ by 2007): This is dependent on several factors like regulatory (e.g. number portability) and non-regulatory factors.
o Growth acceleration will begin in 2009, as various challenges are overcome, size of mature user base increases, and telco focus on high end user VAS heightens
* Bollywood and Cricket is the killer content - though no significant investment has gone beyond developing local apps or even content/services.
* Revenue share between telcos & content providers / aggregators is 70:30, substantially more skewed in favor of telco than in other countries - further aggravated by lack of payment mechanisms.
* SMS/IVR/Music downloads/Internet Apps/Search will see an upsurge; limited growth of UGC and mCommerce
* Almost half of Indians use ULCH (Ultra Low Cost Handsets)

Entities in VAS Value chain

* Content/Application Owner - cos. like saregama/mauj/Rajshri who develop coyrighted content
* Aggregator - aggregates content like games/wallpapers/ringtones and distributes it to suit customer needs [players : mauj, hungama mobile, indiatimes mobile etc]
* software developer – develops applications (like payment/games/middleware etc.) for mobile VAS [players - mchek/July systems/webaroo/affle etc]
* Technology Enabler – provides the platform that plugs into telco networks and acts like a bridge between aggregator and telcos [players include OnMobile, cellnext. mauj etc]

Operators still dominate the revenue sharing arrangement in VAS [Of the amount paid by end users, 60-70% is kept by operator, aggregator gets 20-25% and content app/owner gets 10-15% of the revenue]
Challenges:

* Lack of content localization
* Shortage of spectrum
* Slow adoption of GPRS mobiles (only 6.1 mn GPRS users compared to 200 mn overall subs)

Future VAS trends:

* Location Based Services
* Mobile Music update will increase with better bandwidth
* Migration to 3G will result in increased ARPU
* Local content is on the rise – regional/rural IVR seen as a major opportunity (see our earlier coverage of Ubona)
* Mobile commerce doesn not look too promising (India is still a cash and cheque country)
* IVR will see large scale adoption, especially in rural areas.
* Mobile E-Mail will primarily be driven by enterprises
* Stocks on mobile will see an uptake

The current state of VAS can be candidly summed in one sentence “Novelty of VAS on mobile is short-lived and innovation is the key to success which means technology companies like will have to increase their investments into R&D”

For more information please contact : sandip@routesms.com

SMS.TV SMS SCAM AND FRAUD

SMS.TV SMS SCAM AND FRAUD


Hi Guys

Please beware of company called as SMS.TV. THEY ARE FRAUD AND 100% CHEAT.There are about 100 of companies who are suffered loss due to this company.lets come together and fight against this cheat called as Joerg lamber

The guy’s name is Jorg Lamber from Germany and he has several different company names under which he operates. (Geißenbrünnchen 32, 66539 Neunkirchen, Germany, +49 6821 1799264) Other names he operates under are Marketing Lambers, Saarpromotion Lamber GmbH – Emails: info@sms.tv, joerg.lambers@sms.tv, support@sms.tv

Here is his MO:

He does 2 things:

1) He uses free email accounts like the one in this URL to promote his fraudulent service: http://www.klenn.de/news//OnlineMail700.html

2) He let you test on a high quality route and when you buy, he degrades the route to low quality or a route where you get false message id’s. When you ask for tech support or confront him about it he close your account and block you on email, MSN, ICQ etc. and when you phone there is just an automated recording that plays.

3) His second trick is not considered fraud by the banks – what he does is give the bank account number of one account at one branch and an IBAN of another account at another branch on his invoices. He requires payment upfront which is not unusual in the SMS industry. The banks use IBAN for international transfers – when you try to stop funds and phone his bank, they do not ask for the IBAN but the bank account number and put a stop funds instruction on that account. In the mean time, the funds goes into the account linked to the IBAN number and when the banks phone him when funds are recalled, he refuse to refund. He also closes your SMS test account the moment he realize that you sent the money. So you sit without money and without the service. Once again he blocks you and cuts of all communication.

So please learn from our mistakes and avoid dealing with SMS.tv as they are the biggest fraudulent scam in the SMS industry. They have been reported to all authorities for prosecution but he bought a hotel in Thailand with the stolen money and most likely run the scam from there.

India faces mobile pricing pressure as MNP looms

India faces mobile pricing pressure as MNP looms Number portability to trigger competition, ease playing field for new entrants in Indian mobile market, according to Syniverse; delays likely though. Mobile nClick here to find out more!umber portability is due to come into effect in India next month. There may be delays – the regulator is still ironing out the final details – but one thing is certain: sometime soon Indian mobile users will be able to keep their number when they move operator, and that will trigger a change in the competitive landscape. "It's going to drive prices lower and operators will have to find more ways to keep things efficient," said Jeff Gordon, chief technology officer at U.S.-based Syniverse Technologies, one of the companies charged with implementing MNP systems in India. Syniverse was named as one of two companies – the other being Telcordia – to provide number portability clearing house and centralised database services in India earlier this year. The company won the concession for zone one, which covers the north and west of the country. According to rules set out by India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT), MNP is scheduled to come into effect in metro areas and 'A' circles on 20 September, with the rest of the country to follow by March 2010. For Syniverse, that means the New Delhi and Mumbai metros, plus Maharashtra and Gujarat are due to go live next month. However, delays are expected. "There are a lot of operators that have requested extensions," said Gordon. As yet, there has been no official extension granted by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), but there is a possibility that some of the operators are not ready for MNP, added Sanjay Kasturia, head of Syniverse's Indian operations. "They do have some genuine reasons for that," Kasturia said, noting that operators have to make sure all their systems, such as rating and billing systems, are able to interface with the MNP systems, for example. In addition, the TRAI has yet to issue a final decision regarding interface specifications and the like. While lengthy delays may be typical of the Indian telecoms space, Gordon pointed out that when it comes to MNP implementation, "it's not an unusual circumstance". The operators have a lot to learn with MNP implementations, and "that can be a steep learning curve," he said. Meanwhile, it's all new for regulatory bodies and, last but not least, for consumers too, he added. After a number of years, MNP is now working well in the U.S., "but it took a couple of years for the kinks to work out of the system," Gordon said. "The whole country – subscribers, regulators and operators alike – is learning about portability for the first time," he said. "I would not be surprised if you saw some delays." India's mobile operators have already changed their thinking on number portability. "It took some time for operators to figure out what impact it would have on their networks," said Kasturia. "The large operators were only thinking initially of losing customers," he said, but have since started considering that MNP could also enable them to gain customers. Only time will tell what MNP will really bring to India. As Gordon said, "once the tech piece is up and running, then the real fun begins." Syniverse predicts a relatively slow start – "it takes a while for the subscriber community to really understand... rate plans can be complex," said Gordon – but once MNP takes hold, a healthy rate of churn is likely to emerge. "The level of competition will rise dramatically," Gordon said. If the regulatory regime allows it, there will be room for niche and MVNO-style players to "enter the market and make a serious run at a segment," he predicts.

August 26, 2009 7:04 AM

manish said...

Nokia launches Nokia Money, a mobile financial service Nokia has introduced Nokia Money, a new mobile financial service offering consumers with mobile device access to basic financial services. For many consumers, this will be the first time they have had any access to such financial services. Nokia Money has been designed to be as simple and convenient as making a voice call or sending an SMS. It will enable consumers to send money to another person just by using the person’s mobile phone number, as well as to pay merchants for goods and services, pay their utility bills, or recharge their prepaid SIM cards (SIM top-up). The services can be accessed 24 hours a day from anywhere, meaning savings in travel costs and time. Nokia is building a wide network of Nokia Money agents, where consumers can deposit money in or withdraw cash from their accounts. 4 billion mobile phones but only 1.6 billion bank accounts “We believe mobile financial services offer a market opportunity with long term growth potential. In many countries, mobile phone ownership significantly exceeds bank account usage, suggesting that many mobile phone users have very limited or no access to basic financial services. With more than 4 billion mobile phone users and only 1.6 billion bank accounts, global demand for access to financial services presents a strong opportunity to combine mobile devices with simple but powerful financial services such as Nokia Money”, said Mary McDowell, EVP and Chief Development Officer, Nokia. Mobile payments will be the next step for delivering financial services to hundreds of millions of people, both urban and rural, who are underserved by existing payment means, especially in emerging economies. “Rural consumers will particularly benefit from money transfers and, for urban consumers used to online services, we are enabling services such as payment of utility bills, purchase of train and movie tickets, top-ups, all through their mobile phones. Nokia Money is simple to use, secure and available across different operator networks and on virtually any mobile phone. This means millions of new consumers will soon be able to manage all their financial needs from their mobile phone”, said Teppo Paavola, VP and Head of Corporate Business Development, Nokia. Visit us at    www.routesms.com