Telecom operators look for niche users

Telecom service providers across the country are launching new and innovative services and products focusing majorly on customer convenience and ease. Telecom equipment vendors and service providers are competing with their counterparts in targeting specialized sectors of the customer base, targeting the niche user.

Reliance Communications has announced the launch of Braille Bill service. The Braille Bill service is the first-of-its kind initiative introduced by an Indian telecom operator aiming to create a convenient customer service environment for the visually impaired.

There are currently 12 million visually impaired people reside in India. Reliance's new Braille Bill service is in line with their Customer Service objective. This service will be available to their post paid visually impaired users as free of cost with all the relevant details as a normal bill shows. The Braille Bill will be dispatched to the visually impaired customers through post every month.

Recently, Chennai based telecom company Munoth Communication also launched nine models of its senior citizen specific handsets designed for their comfort. Handset had features like large key pads,large screen for easy reading, a torch, a sensor if the phone is left by the user it will alarm a bell, SOS button and many such user specific features.

Targeting the niche user base, Tata Teleservices also launched a very innovative scheme for young generation. Tata Teleservices has launched a call and tweet service which enables subscribers to update their Twitter status by posting voice tweets from their mobiles without logging on to the Internet. Subscribers need to just dial 50007 and send a voice tweet to update their status on Twitter. A user can speak in any language. The Call-n-Tweet service on the Tata Tele network leverages the superior capabilities of voice messages that had been sourced from Kirusa, global developers of voice messages based mobile value added service. This service will not require any specific handset model.

The “Aicomobile” created by Russian designer Lord Leon, is directed towards visually impaired users. Aicomobile allows the blind user to make, receive a call and even send an SMS. The device resembles a Rubik’s Cube and features Braille fonts and numbers, easy to identify for people who are visually impaired. The earphones will also play a part in the use of the cellphone and the unit measures 40x40x40mm and comes with a strap, allowing it to be worn like a necklace. However, this device is not launched in India so far but it surely gives us a peak into the niche segment which telecom companies are targeting and coming up with innovative schemes and devices.

akankshas@cybermedia.co.in