I love Orange (THE FRUIT ) !!. Review on Orange Mobile Operator

Ever since cellular services were launched in Mumbai(some 4-5 years ago),everyone in my family has been using Orange as the cellular service provider (since the days it was called ''Max Touch'' ) I dont know what was the funda behind the name change !! Services surely changed with the change in name...but im afraid ''not for the better'' !

Its too well known and widely used and trusted/distrusted a product to write a review as such, but I take the opportunity of this platform to pose a few questions- some doubts which im sure our CELLULAR experts on MS will clear for me (and for many others who have the same doubts)

I could have cleared all my doubts with the Orange Coldline-always in hibernation, but after holding on and listening to their highly artificial sympathy (Thanks for calling us, all our customer service executives are busy (with what/????), we appreciate your calling...average hold time is 12 min...and bla bla bla ) - AND (IF) AND WHEN AN EXEC COMES ON LINE- I HAVE MORE OR LESS FORGOTTEN WHAT WAS IT I CALLED THEM FOR.:-D

So here goes:

1.Considering the new plans launched a month ago, with the 50p/min airtime, for both Incoming (IC) and Outgoing (OG)- eg 349, 599, 699 etc, people who have made the switchovers from plans like Flexi plus or Flexi- have you really found your bills to get less fatter or are they the same? (keeping other factors constant).Or is this all an eyewash, they do some manipulations or the other that your bill amount never goes downhill, only their services do !

2.SMS-Is the SMS to a PC (eg .icq) still being charged Rs.10?

Does an SMS cost the same while roaming (in other networks)

1. When they say-incoming calls are free in some plans- are even calls from landline free? Or is Rs.1.20 levied for every 2 minutes ?

What about calls from other networks like BSNL / MTNL / Reliance? What is the pattern of charging for IC and OG calls from and to these networks?

4.Call forwarding- When one forwards office (landline)calls (after office hours) to the cellfone- if a call from the same network , say , Orange, is being forwarded from the landline to my Orange fone, will IC be free or charged as though coming from Landline?

1. How are Incoming ISD calls charged to the receiver?

WHY I FEEL LET-DOWN WITH ORANGE !

1.Always last to announce their new plans

2.NOTHING FOR OLD CUSTOMERS-

Give no benefits to existing customers-treay us like STALE ORANGES all good things like free SMS, all incoming calls free-always given to NEW customers-nothing for the old! Someone should teach them what this means :

Make new customers,

but the old r GOLD

3.DEPOSIT-

They ask for deposit (1500 for Roaming and 2500 for STD) for services like STD, Roaming from customers of more than 2 years who havent once defaulted on payments ! ( and I thought BUSINESS runs on TRUST )

1. NOTICE PERIOD-

They ask for advance notice of 72 hours (Is that the time they take to hatch ORANGES or making any changes in your plan / services (even in this jet age), and when I called them yesterday--ALL THEIR SYSTEMS WERE ''DOWN'' it seems, and when I asked some more questions- the usually glib talking gal at the call centre was stammering like nobody's business -i could also feel the vibes of anger coming from her towards me for making her stammer

1. BILLS-

No matter how clever one is, their bills are enough to DUMBfound anybody ! Service Taxes,Roaming Taxes, caller id charges, Interconnect charges, and if it doesnt fit in any of the above categories-then OTHER CHARGES

...is there an end to this?? After paying my monthly bill, im just left with enough dough to buy ORANGES

All this said, few good points about Orange (cant say in comparison, because I havent experienced other Cellular services)

1.Good brand name (first good thing I can think of)

2.Signal is pretty alright in most places- except Mezzanines and highly enclosed spaces

3.Lots of drop boxes for the Cheques

4.I got a Mac Donald discount card some 6 months ago,which I have happily been using and also allowed my friends to USE ;-)