Idea rings in the power of 3G

Idea has introduced time-based billing plan for 3G services enabling users to avail high-end data services without worrying about the volume of usage. To promote usage, Idea has introduced 'sachet' pricing offering attractive trial packages with per day billing.

Idea Cellular had on March 28 announced the launch of its 3G services that will catapult mobile communication services and transform user experience. The third generation of mobile communication systems, 3G, lets customers use an extensive range of high-end data services on a wide variety of handsets and other devices.

Idea announced the launch of 3G services on its network in MP & Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.   Idea's 3G services will be available in 200 towns by mid-April 2011, progressively growing at the rate of 10 towns per day to cover 750 towns by mid-2011, and 4,000 towns by the end of FY12. Idea has traditionally focused on growth from semi-urban heartlands of India and will continue to drive its 3G services from these industrial, agricultural and educational regions.

Ambrish Jain, director of operations, Idea Cellular, said: "Beginning with MP, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and HP, Idea's 3G services will expand in a progressive manner to provide expansive coverage across 4,000 towns by year end."

Idea's 3G services will enable users to avail Video Conferencing, IdeaMall Application Store, Mobile TV, Video on Demand, and high-speed Internet Browsing. IdeaMall is Idea's Application Store which offers an entire catalogue of games and applications on Web & Mobile platforms.

Idea's 3G services will offer the improved mobile experience in downloading songs, streaming videos on YouTube, streaming audio, photo updates on Facebook, mail and other online media, movie downloads, watching mobile TV, e-mailing with attachments, blog postings, viewing photos, and Flash & HD Gaming. Idea 3G users will experience speed up to 21 Mbps on 3G handsets, and higher speed on other devices depending on the device capability. 

Idea won 2.1 GHz (3G Spectrum) in 11 circles - MP & Chattisgarh, HP, Maharashtra & Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Haryana, UP East, UP West, AP, J&K and Punjab - which contribute over 80 per cent of the company's revenues.