Google launches free SMS on Gmail in India

Search giant Google has started rolling out 'free SMS' for its free email service Gmail and paid email service Google Apps customers in India. The service allows users to send SMSes to mobile phones from chat windows. Users have to add mobile numbers of their contacts in the email address book and they are set.

The service starts with 50 SMS credits for each user, every sent SMS costing one credit. Every reply received adds on 5 credits subject to the maximum level being 50 SMS at any given time. There is no official statement from Google on the launch of this service, however the service has gone live this evening in the chat windows of many users.

Google is rolling out the service in partnership with cellular operators, which means they would share revenue with Google out of SMSes users on their network send. It specifies a way to buy more SMS credits. "You can always send an SMS to your own phone, and then reply to that message multiple times. Every time you send a reply message, your SMS credit is increased by five. Effectively, you're buying more messages by paying your phone company for these outgoing messages," it writes on its chat help portal.

The service currently supports eight cellular operators including Aircel, Idea, Loop Mobile, MTS, Reliance, Tata DoCoMo, Tata Indicom and some circles of Vodafone. BSNL, MTNL and Airtel are not supported yet.

The SMSes sent from Gmail chat are delivered to mobile phones while replies from the mobile phone come into the chat window. For the mobile phone user, the reply is charged at local SMS rate as per her/his normal billing plan.

If no replies are received to any of the 50 SMSes sent and the credit balance come down to zero, Google says, "...it will increase back up to one 24 hours later. So, you won't ever be locked out of the system."

Tata Teleservices Limited (TTSL) launches Instant Audio Conference service

Tata Teleservices Limited (TTSL), India’s fastest-growing pan-India dual-technology telecom service provider has launched ‘Insta Conference’ – a unique audio conferencing service using XOP Network’s Universal Service Node (USN) platform. Insta Conference service allows a customer to instantly convene a voice conference with a pre-selected group of individuals at the press of a key. The service is available to all existing as well as potential customers of Tata Walky, Tata Indicom and Tata DOCOMO.

The service is unique in its offering; making voice based conference calling an extremely easy process. By dialing a single number, from their registered phone, TTSL subscribers will be able to simultaneously reach a group of pre-defined users.

Speaking at the launch, Mr. Sukanto Aich, President Enterprise Business, Tata Teleservices Limited said, “We are delighted to introduce another revolutionary value added service for our customers across the Tata World. Our collaboration with XOP Networks has enabled us to offer Insta conferencing service based on XOP’s Firebar application. It is aimed at large, small and medium enterprises, wherever there is a need for instant, voice-based group communication. The service is hassle-free, easy to connect anytime, from anywhere, can connect any number of people at one point in time, and above all is cost-effective with no additional rentals.”

Mr. Sudhir Gupta, CEO of XOP Networks said, “We are very pleased that Tata Teleservices has selected XOP Networks platform to power its Insta Conference service. It is a great honor to be included in Tata Teleservices Limited’s network and to be able to assist in bringing this unique audio conferencing service to Tata Teleservices Limited customers across the country.” Insta-conference significantly reduces the effort required to set up an audio conference call.

This Conferencing service is a cost-effective, efficient and convenient. A customer can simply dial in to the bridge to automatically start a conference. The application dials out to one or more numbers belonging to each individual and as people pick up their calls; they are automatically placed into an audio conference. The service also allows them the flexibility to dial in and join/re-join as necessary. The charges for calls using Insta conferencing are based on flat billing and will be independent of the voice plan / add-on packs, which the customer has subscribed. Charges will be levied based on the actual number of participants in the conference and the respective duration for which each of them participated.