Which Prepaid?92XXX/93XXX/94XXX/97XXX/98XXX/99XXX. Review on Choosing a Mobile Service

There are more than 10 Mobile operators in our country.I have almost every SIM (few not being used now!!) acquired since October 2003.(Comparing coverage,per second system ,Roaming etc)

To appear unbiased,Let`s proceed Alphabetically.

Airtel

I liked the`penetration`factor of the Company.It made it No.1 in terms of the number of subscribers.You get the signal almost everywhere.Now a days, many have Multimedia Mobiles which are more prone to confront the problem of Hanging,Slow and Virus.This necessitates complete System Restore.Why I told this? Airtel SIM has the Highest Phone book Storage capacity of 250.It means your full Phone book of important contact numbers is secured in the SIM.But Airtel Tariff the highest as of now,having two slots - 1paise for Airtel and 1.2 for others - seems using two yardsticks.Roaming charges as high as Rs 1.50 per minute.They are not able to afford per second in Roaming!!

Aircel

The coverageis not in all over the Telecom circles - the biggest drawback.It`s tariff is also does not seem to be competitive with roaming charges as high as the Airtel.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited

Though, State owned, but has captured good number of customers who value`aapnapan`and security from unwanted calls.No wonder,almost all Government officialsprefer the Mobile Number starting with 94.Liked the online recharge facilitycovering all banks for Net Banking.But BSNL also like the Airtel `discriminate` between own network(1 paise) and others(1.2paise).

DOCOMO

Here is a operator which set up an industry bench making per second billingin India.First operator to offer 1 paise per second.Others have just copied this tariff.DOCOMO does not discriminate with any operator -plain 1 paise per second.But falls apart while roaming.It`s not easy to make outgoing while roaming.faced problem in receiving the calls too.But for Home Network,it`s just fine.But it does not has Online Recharge option.

Idea

Coverage is decent.But not able to maintain per second billing while roaming.Also plans like Idea to Idea special tariff, irritate, as after number portability option, it will be of no use.

Relience

It had CDMA only in the beginning.But 10 months ago,it started the GSM operation too.CDMA operation is just making fool,the innocent customers ,who do not come to know various charges deducted,secretly ,as knowing the Balance is the Most irritating partof CDMA customers.But the Tariffis goodlike the 3 minute call for Rs 1 and roaming is also good.GSM has signal problemat many places.

Tata Indicom

The operator which has come a big way in improvement, is the Tata Indicom.Tha CDMA operator has innovations to provide balance immediately after the call is over.The Online Recharge credits the Talk time in seconds.Also the latest offer in which you get 180 second free per 180 second of call!!.The roamingalso has flat 1 paise per second,both for outgoing and incoming.Coverage is impressive.Unlike Relience CDMA,even Single signal Bar gives the best call quality.

Vodafone

I shall say,better than Airtelas far asOnline Recharge through Net banking is also taken into account.The Uniform per second billingis good,the Roamingthough is expensive.

I shall pickVodafone and Tata Indicom considering all pros and cons.

I have not covered Virgin(CDMA and GSM) and Uninor as they have limited circles of operation.