This Diwali be ready to shell out more from your pocket, as operators have decided that Diwali day will be blackout day and users will have to pay premium rate for every sms sent from the mobile, existing sms pack facility will be withdrawn for the day. Standard sms charges applicable for both Local and National sms.
As per the sources Airtel & Tata Docomo will have two days of black out day in most of the circles i.e, on 25th & 26th Oct 2011.
MTNL will have no SMS blackout day on the eve of diwali all other operator Idea, Tata Docomo, Uninor, Reliance, Vodafone have only one day of Black out day i.e, 26th Oct 2011 and as per the TRAI Customer can send unlimited chargeable sms on the black out day.
Country wide all operators will also celebrate Diwali with their customers by offering SMS Blackout days.
So what is the other ways?
Use Email, Facebook, Twitter, and Blackberry Messenger or log in to websites which offer Free SMS. But note that if the receiver has registered in Do Not Disturb register, he will not get sms from these websites. Our preference goes with 160by2, way2sms and whozzat.
As Diwali being the festival of light to remove the omen from the home, is celebrated all over the country, this decision of making the day as black out day is unethical and not at par with festive mood of the country. Operators should think on this.
As a customer whats your take on this should Diwali be treated as a Blackout day do let us know via comments.
Abhijith October 27, 2011 at 9:25 am
Lol govt is under control of corporate lover congress party ! ! ! ! See the changes in our country . .
Kaushik Roy October 26, 2011 at 9:49 pm
In blackout days only sms are to be charged and not calls as per basic rate even if someone using some special recharge – this is my understanding of Blackout days
But here in Kolkata, IDEA is charging normal rates for both sms and calls
I am subscribed to local call rate of 1p/2s offer, but that not working on blackout days like today, the call rates are 1p/1s
even vodafone and airtel offers discounted calls on blackout days but not sms
Raghu October 26, 2011 at 3:46 pm
@Rajesh
yes some Operators in some circles are doing this discrimination by charging one day before Diwali. To stop such things,TRAI/DOT have to remove the blackout days for lifetime with immediate effect
Rajesh October 26, 2011 at 1:20 pm
All the operators should know one thing and TRAi also.. if the operators are charging on the festival days means..they have to give the exact 30 days on the boosters and bonus cards.
for eg: this month vodafone charged 2days for diwali. if a customer has the sms bonus card of 30 days means, they will be getting only 28days of free sms service.
so they are cheating two days for one customer… so people should think about this…
Rajesh October 26, 2011 at 1:17 pm
Bloody vodafone is charging sms for two days (25&26).
They have not sent any intimations also for charging sms on 25th. Govt. should think on this…if they really want to beg from customers let them do it on festival days..why the hell they are charging the day b4 also?
Trai should interfere on this and should take a proper action against operators.
Raghu October 25, 2011 at 10:46 pm
@DB
it is totally un-ethical to charge rates on Black-out days all packs should be applicable 365 days why this sort of discrimination . Reliance used to offer sms packs even on blackout days after sometime they also removed it. TRAI/DOT have to put a consultation paper and remove the blackout days. They bring consultation papers for Various things but not for this. Really sorry state of Affairs.
Saurabh October 25, 2011 at 7:41 pm
Black day for bunch of Videocon GSM customers
News from internal sources:
Videocon is looking for a exit from telecom sector. From last three months we have seen a huge fall in Videocon’s customer base. The people concerned with the matter said that they are working on a exit plan and if anything comes out they will surely exit the business. Before this Loop Mobile expressed his concern on exit and license/spectrum surrendering.
I think it is actually good for the sector if 2-3 new entrants like Loop, Videocon, Etisalat exit. It will bring down the number of over-crowded telecom operators market in India.
Indian Govt. issued new licenses in hope of bringing competition and fall in cost consumers bear but it is actually hitting hard both companies and consumers in some ways.
Shoeb October 24, 2011 at 8:07 pm
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YES SIR!!!!!!! JAI HIND!!!
D October 24, 2011 at 4:51 pm
UNLIMITED SMS on Diwali Day is fair enough for people to wish.
If you WISH to WISH then PAY for it.
LIFE cannot be always full of freebies.
>> As a customer whats your take on this should Diwali be treated as a Blackout day do let us know via comments.
Mehboob October 24, 2011 at 2:14 pm
@VIgnesh
It is typing mistake….u dont understand?
VIgnesh October 24, 2011 at 12:48 pm
@Mehboob
wat an english sir ji???
Raghu October 23, 2011 at 11:22 pm
i do not know why TRAI/DOT do not bother to remove the blackout days. what is their problem if they remove black out days. really sorry state of affairs.
DB October 23, 2011 at 11:09 pm
@MANDANA – there is nothing “unethical” about it – TRAI has allowed all telcos 5 Blackout Days per calendar year… the operator can decide WHEN they want to exercise this option… so Airtel/Vodafone chose DIWALI as they have a LARGE base and will get MAXIMUM REVENUE across these 2 days.
>>this decision of making the day as black out day is unethical
Mehboob October 23, 2011 at 11:04 pm
@Sudhakar
Like
TRAI is FALTU……100 sms per day bulshit!!!!
please some case against court against TRAI for the limiting the FREEDOM of Communication in Free INDIA!!!!!!!!!
Sudhakar October 23, 2011 at 10:36 pm
Better to buy a pigeon and tie the matter (written in a piece of paper) and send it to the destination. That too the non veg eating idiots may kill it and eat !!!!!!. Damn it.
Or TRAI may impose a limit of sending only 100 pigeons per day. LOL LOL LOL.
vasu October 23, 2011 at 8:01 pm
This is CRAZY,, Festivals are there to enjoy not to be blackouts…TRAI is supposed to be on side of people not operators
BK October 23, 2011 at 5:47 pm
Got a text from bsnl TN. Apparently 26th is blackout for gprs packs also. 4p/10kb applies irrespective of gprs pack.
Silsila October 23, 2011 at 12:06 pm
No Blackout for Kerala Circle tata docomo customers on Diwali…
Sayan Chattopadhyay October 23, 2011 at 9:31 am
bsnl doesn’t have any blackout days in wb circle.
Amit.G October 23, 2011 at 9:23 am
Good news for Nokia 5800 and 5530 users. Nokia has finally released updates to these phones which includes new browser, better maps and better performance of entire device. Nokia 5800 will get update version 60.0.003 whose size is 7.7MB and 5530 will get version 40.0.003 whose size is 6.9MB. For india it will be available by today or tmrw.
Kawal October 23, 2011 at 6:17 am
Idea Annouced 2 Days Black out in Punjab 25 and 26 oct. M using My Gang, Already Irited by 100 sms Limit and Now this Stupid Step. . Nor Operators neither TRAI cares about Customers
Kawal October 23, 2011 at 6:14 am
Already operators and TRAI implimented 100 sms limit which sucks and Now This Black out Day. Operators and TRAI has gonne mad.
Rohan Singh October 23, 2011 at 12:08 am
X8, x10 mini & x10 mini pro were not made in 2011. But u will also get update for Xperia mini & Xperia mini pro.
SUMA October 22, 2011 at 11:03 pm
Rcrg korte korte YANGISTAN ka pocket RAGISTAN ho geya hai upor se “TRAI” aur operators both r “TRY’ ing to make us KANGALISTAN. Good good lage raho operators bhai.
vasu October 22, 2011 at 10:41 pm
these operators are there to make money, who the hell cares about customers, its ethically not correct to charge extra on any festival , the whole idea of social connectivity is gone
Amit.g October 22, 2011 at 10:00 pm
Guys NOKIA is going to organise a Developer conference Event in BAngalore. They are inviting all the developers to Nokia in order to boost apps. visit http://www.nokiadeveloperconference.com/index.html
Sudhakar October 22, 2011 at 9:03 pm
To amar :
What are you coming to say?.
PD October 22, 2011 at 9:00 pm
IT is truly BLACK OUT time – Electricity and SMS communications ! Mera Bharat Mahan !
amar October 22, 2011 at 8:20 pm
Telecom operators just want to make money at any occasion may be diwali or any festival of india.It is the real fact and excluding this all are excuse.
5 blackout day is given by TRAI otherwise our telecom operators will make each and every festive day as blackout day.
Because of the blackout day many people send message few minute ago from blackout day but look some operators targeted that day also.
PK October 22, 2011 at 7:37 pm
Trai customers ka majak kar raha hai! Kabhi to customers ki bhi sun lo!
Sudhakar October 22, 2011 at 6:45 pm
To Amar,
First of all try to accept the fact. Ok?. Truth will taste sour before accepting.
Mehboob October 22, 2011 at 6:29 pm
Can I send more than 100 sms a day at premium rate in others day?
rajiev October 22, 2011 at 5:03 pm
xcept sony ericsson x8,xperiax10 ,mini,pro
Rohan Singh October 22, 2011 at 3:58 pm
All the Sony Ericsson android phones created in 2011 will receive android 4.0 update. SE announced this in September.
max October 22, 2011 at 3:50 pm
According to sources Sony Ericsson is now planning to bring the newly announced Android 4.0 to its devices in the Xperia portfolio. The company has claimed that it will start working on the OS once it is available.
This is what Sony Ericsson said, “Sony Ericsson is currently rolling out the upgrade to Gingerbread 2.3.4 across its entire 2011 Xperia Smartphone portfolio. This software upgrade will be available through a phased roll out in select markets. Beyond Gingerbread 2.3.4, we plan to upgrade our 2011 Xperia smartphone portfolio to the next Android platform made available to us.”
This means that handsets including the Xperia Play, Xperia Ray, Arc Ray, Neo and Neo V should be receiving the new Ice Cream Sandwich update in the coming months. Now that is great news !
Kulbhushan October 22, 2011 at 3:50 pm
“As per the sources Airtel & Tata Docomo will have two days of black out day in most of the circles i.e, on 25th & 26th Oct 2011.
MTNL will have no SMS blackout day on the eve of diwali all other operator Idea, Tata Docomo, Uninor, Reliance, Vodafone have only one day of Black out day i.e, 26th Oct 2011 and as per the TRAI Customer can send unlimited chargeable sms on the black out day.”
Please be specific with TATA DOCOMMO, Whether one day or two day
max October 22, 2011 at 3:44 pm
100 sms per day means u can send free sms (which offered by operator via sms pack) up to 100. u can send more than 100 sms at basic sms rate
amar October 22, 2011 at 3:22 pm
Why are you giving such idiotic comments?
Diwali, christmax and other are festival for everyone.
Everyone celebrate these festival.
For your kind informatiom 1st jan is blackout and 1st jan is acc. To english calander.
Mane October 22, 2011 at 2:38 pm
On blackout days operators charge rs 1 or 1.5 to per sms. various Customers are wise because they avoid ownself sending sms. But if operators reduce sms rates from 1 rs to 20p/sms then customer can send heavy sms. And operator can earn at least 20p instead of nothing.
Mehboob October 22, 2011 at 2:17 pm
When TRAI capped 100 sms per day then why these Blackout still there? Where is TRAI??
doc vmc October 22, 2011 at 2:06 pm
stop looting customers
airtel is chor
novicefreak1 October 22, 2011 at 1:32 pm
why name it as blackout??? it is so unethical…these operators simply aping west,,,,damn te operators….chane thw name for god sake,….
anuj October 22, 2011 at 1:32 pm
extremely sorry.. I meant 26th October, not July. apology.
anuj October 22, 2011 at 1:31 pm
In m\Maharshtra, Airtel is having blackout day on 26th july only and not on 25th. I got SMS alerting this from Airtel yesterday. Still its not good. But TRAI has given them permission for total 5 blackout days in a year and operators are allowed to decide those 5 days on their own. TRAI should be blamed.
Rohan Singh October 22, 2011 at 1:19 pm
This post hasn’t mentioned anything about BSNL.
Larkins October 22, 2011 at 1:08 pm
If there is no blackout on Diwali then there shouldn’t be blackout days at all.. India is a secular country remember.
Jagan October 22, 2011 at 12:52 pm
Sweet Edu… Kondaadu…..
Celebrate Diwali by paying actual SMS charges and send unlimited SMS
Courtesy: TLAI – Telecom Looters Association of India.
Sundar October 22, 2011 at 11:50 am
Idiotic operators. They charge for SMS only for Hindu festivals. They do not charge for SMS on christmas, ramzan, muharram, milaad i nabi, good friday etc.
Damn it. This practice must stop immediately.
VS October 22, 2011 at 11:45 am
@ KK.. on black out days, SMS capping of 100 will not be applicable. This is exactly the article reads as….
S.Sudhakar October 22, 2011 at 11:39 am
Idiotic operators. They charge for SMS only for Hindu festivals. They do not charge for SMS on christmas, ramzan, muharram, milaad i nabi, good friday etc.
Damn it. This practive must stop immediately.
kk October 22, 2011 at 11:37 am
HI
NO more than 100 soooooo….
Operator only make RS-100 day or they .50(My reliance) SMS only make RS-50….
Magnet October 22, 2011 at 11:26 am
Big looter airtel only has two days of blackout. Others one day only. What the hell doing TRAI ? Fuck airtel.
hardeep October 22, 2011 at 10:59 am
sms to dnd numbers do get delivered from way2sms from their quick sms option. checked myself.