Friendship Day And SMS Don’t Come Hand In Hand
Though this is quite an old news, TelecomTalk wanted to Throw a Light on this again .
From few years, we are aware of Telecom Operators charging special rates for SMS on particular days like festivals and occasions calling it as “Special Day”.
On special days,inspite of Offering some ‘Sweet’ like offers, Top GSM Operators are charging for every SMS which you send on this ‘Special Occasion’ .
The Telecom Pioneers in India Airtel, Vodafone and Idea are Celebrating this Special day with great spirits today being friendship day, every local SMS is being charged at Rupee 1, starting from 00:00 Hours of August 1 (Today) irrespective of any free SMS Plans which you are in.
The Special Charges will Override the Existing Offers and Tariffs, 24 hours a day.The Other Special Occasions being New Year Day, Valentine’s day, Diwali and New Year Eve the special charges apply.
Some of the Operators have Notified about this “Money Making Day” via SMS, and some have mentioned about this in their official websites, and Few of the operators without any Prior Notice have started charging.
Vodafone and Airtel has made it Clear, by Stating its Special Offers on Special days in its website
It is interesting to see many of the Operators like BSNL, MTNL, Reliance (GSM/CDMA) Aircel and Tata Docomo are not Charging for Friendship Day and going Friendly with Customers.
Why do you Think Big Companies like Airtel, Vodafone and Idea enforce Special Tariffs on Special Occasions like Festivals and Events?
1.To Avoid Network Congestion (To Keep their System 24×7 Up)
2. To Make Customers Feel Special about the Day. (To get a Feel “My Close Friend wishes even though It’s Special day and Paying Re1 for Wishes )
3. A Clean Money Making Opportunity making use of collected ‘special amount’ to give bonus for their employees and make them happy
4. Following government regulations (if, any)?
How many of you are considering this as a break to your fingers, sit back and enjoy the day without mobile (staying out with Technology)?
How Happy or Frustrated are you to witness this special day with special tariffs called by our beloved Mobile Operators in India?
Were you able to Wish your Friend on This Occasion of Friendship Day? How Many of You have Virtually Celebrated the ‘Friendship Day’ a Day Prior (to avoid SMS Charges)?
Having Said All These, We Hearty Wish our Beloved TelecomTalk Readers a Very Very Happy Friendship Day!
I believe all providers have been given the option of picking up 5 days for SMS blackouts/ circle by TRAI. hence in each circle the days will be different. All operators are given the option of using these days for their benefit. So it might happen that in Mumbai its friendshi day while in other circle it might be vishu or Durga pooja or Lohri. Check your operator for different circles.
yesterday i enjoyed sending sms with my aircel as i hav activated the 200 sms pack 10 days ago. thank u aircel
Reliance is very good in their schemes,But firstly they should improve their gsm network.
@Shilpa Mondal
Its applicable for DEL and AP – AIRTEL did not charge extra on 01 AUG (FRIENDHSIP DAY) – customers using RC88 (DEL) and RC77 (AP) were charged through the 15000 FREE SMS (ie 500 SMS PER DAY) and not debited later.
@PAROTOSH – Airtel’s Rs. 88 sms scheme in working today in New Delhi circle. Maybe the information (image) hasn’t been updated by Airtel.
@SHILPA MONDAL- You will get charged in few hours from now wait for this day to get over a surprise package is waiting for you who knows later tonight you will be charged in bulk from Airtel
I am sending lots of msg yesterday on Frndship day,,,i have not xtra charged pay…My network is DOCOMO…
Yeah man..!!!! Most of my friendshp day sms’s failed 2 deliver or reached dere destinatn abt 4-5 hrs late…RGSM succckkkksssssss big tym in Mumbai..!!!!!!