Cellular: It's Your Bill Buddy!

The frequency of change in tariffs along with the multiplicity

of plans leaves consumers confused. Not anymore as the solution is now at your

fingertips. Trilogy, Texas-based business value services provider, has developed

a portal www.yourbillbuddy.com that

promises to reduce your mobile phone bills by analyzing your existing bills and

figuring out which rate plans from which mobile operator is most suitable to

you. This is one-of-its-kind website that addresses problems of people like you

and I who are faced with a deluge of mobile rate plans to choose from.

That's not all; the benefits are multifold for mobile

operators and people who can use the portal to attract new subscribers. The

website is currently in beta stage and launched initially in Bangalore, Delhi

and Mumbai. It currently supports Airtel, Hutch, Reliance, Tata Indicom, BSNL,

MTNL, Idea and Spice subscribers.

Choices Made Easier



With 10 mobile operators in 23 circles to choose from, the task is not easy
when it comes to deciding which monthly post-paid plan or pre-paid plan best

suits the wallet. 'YourBillBuddy.com' works in three simple steps-login,

upload post-paid mobile bill with bill details, and follow instructions online.

Once you upload the bill, within seconds the site analyses your bill and gives

you a break-up of your usage-local calls, STD calls, ISD calls, SMS, and

roaming-and compares them against the tariff plans of each mobile operator.

The backend is supported with a robust algorithm through which

all types of bills are accepted and compared. The website then finds the best

available tariff across all service providers, and helps the subscriber switch

plans or operator online. The new service provider then provides the new number

and other details-all within a matter of few seconds without having to visit

the customer care centres of any operator.

Virendra Gupta, director of Telecom Services, Trilogy India,

says, "We are already seeing positive results. Thirty percent of our users

have saved at least 25% on their bills. Our customers find this online service

extremely cost-effective and reliable, as our software suggests the best rate

plan or operator based on fundamental value rather than perception."

"We are already seeing positive results. Thirty percent of our users have saved at least 25% on their bills"   -Virendra Gupta, director of Telecom Services, Trilogy India		YourBillBuddy.com shows a detailed usage pattern based on your bill

Boon for Operators



The website promises great value even for the mobile operators as it offers
them an unbiased platform to attract new customers in a transparent manner.

"Today, mobile operators have two main objectives-customer positioning,

and retaining of customers or lowering churn rate. Today churn reduction is the

single most priority for any mobile operator as subscribers change their plans

frequently. We believe this can be reduced by 50%, and thus be beneficial for

the service providers who have tied up with us."

For a mobile user, the choice of a mobile operator is primarily

determined by the feasibility of a bill plan. YourBillBuddy.com is a useful tool

for the operators to monitor the movement of existing subscribers in case they

switch to a new plan or operator. This gives them an opportunity to address the

issue by suitably improving or altering the rate plans. It also provides a good

platform for the operators to attract new customers.

The revenue model for the website is based on customer (mobile

operator) satisfaction. "Our business model is unique. Mobile operators

will pay us only if they are satisfied with our delivery. As they acquire more

customers through YourBillBuddy.com, we earn our revenue," says Gupta.

Interestingly, YourBillBuddy is an idea that emerged from a

brainstorming session held during Trilogy University Program held in India in

2004. At the annual event, a clutch of students undergoing the program suggested

the web service as a business model for Trilogy's newly launched telecom

business service.

The site constantly monitors the changing tariff plans in the

market, and recommends the most appropriate plan. It is a free service for the

mobile consumers. In the first phase, Trilogy India plans to make this service

national and attract more service providers. It is also working on adding

additional features related to value added services and probably specific

features catering to enterprise customers.

Indeed the advantage of not having to run from pillar to post in

looking at a myriad of plans, is the best reason why the website has attracted

over 25,000 registered users in Dec 2006 and still counting.

Malovika Rao



malovikar@cybermedia.co.in