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day and users will have to pay premium rate for every sms sent from the mobile, existing sms pack facility will be withdrawn for the day.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.
