In this world of neck to neck competition, various entrepreneurs have scathed their Grey cells to devise a plan intelligent enough to gain capital and enticing enough to lure customers. In this fast track of life, different firms have twisted their paradigm and brought the coherence of thoughts at a point where customers fall into their belt and they enjoy the cake thenceforth.
Reliance has been an epitome of success for young entrepreneurs around for umpteen years now. Now that reliance has put its footstep into the arena in, which lies several over populated regions, regions housing people wanting luxury at cheap rate; Reliance has spread its arm to cover the whole of India and play with its citizens.
Unfortunately, not many people around criticize such a huge company owing to the reputation it has built over the years but for the sake of fellow consumers, I will try and bring out the real villain that is hiding behind those glamorous ad's and posters of reliance.
Tool used by reliance to lure customers
# the punchline ''mera sapna, sabka apna'' and ''kar lo duniya mutthi mein'' supported by various ad's and posters.
# The first attraction you see on the reliance pamphlets is as foll:
1) 40p/min.
2) Handset free.
3) SMS & incoming calls free
The immediate page that follows show:
400 minutes/month of outgoing calls.
Free: incoming calls, CLIP, Call waiting, Call hold, Call divert and voice mail.
where subscribers are led into an illusion
they write the foll:
400 min/month @40p/min includes:
All local calls.
STD calls to any reliance India phone in India.
STD calls to any landline phone within the circle.
Analyzing sequentially, we see that the mindset of subscriber is based on the fact that:
1) All local calls are charged at 40p/min.
Consumer vision: Consumer thinks that all local calls are charged as above but this is not true. The actual argument lies in the fact that the charges within
50 kms:1.00 ./min.
200 kms:1.90 Rs./min
500 kms:3.00 Rs./min
above 500 kms:4.00 Rs./min
how reliance traps us?
Quoting an instance, say if we call to a landline number for 1 minutes, the charges on us are 1.00 Rs./min but reliance debits 40p from the 1.00 Re and the bill of 60p is sent to us through post.
Similarly, if we call to Jaipur(from ahmedabad) and talk for 1 minute, reliance debits 40p from 4.00 Rs. And the rest 3.60 Rs. Is ascribed to us through a bill. So this is how consumers are confused thinking that charges are just 40p but actually reliance bills the rest of the amount excluding 40p to the subscriber.
herefore, for a reliance customer: considering one month rental i.e.600 Rs/ + amount excluding 40p= actual cost to us.considering a standard usage of 400 minutes in the foll. manner:
extra charge
within 50 kms: 170 min. (1701.00-0.4170=Rs.102)
within 200 kms:100 min. (1001.90-0.4100=Rs.150)
within 500 kms:80 min. (803.00-800.4= Rs.208)
above 500 kms: 50 min. (504.00-0.450= Rs.180)
so the actual cost to us: monthly rental already paid i.e.Rs.600/+Rs.640= Rs.1240/- which is too much.
Case study and analysis
How are we at loss? For this let us compare a prepaid card of ''hutch'' and a ''reliance India phone''
Prepaid card of hutch costs Rs.349/- that includes free incoming calls, CLIP(caller line identification program). What we don’t get, compared to reliance, is Free outgoing SMS ,call waiting and voice mail.
The point is that we invest approx. Rs.22000/- and obtain the benefits which we can't in prepaid card. But, acc. To my knowledge, (at present) by paying just Rs.50/- hutch has offered unlimited outgoing SMS(alike Reliance) and unlimited outgoing calls(except MTNL,BSNL). So both, the prepaid cardholder and the reliance customer enjoy the same benefits at more or less at a same value. So why should we opt for reliance?
Also, the network of Reliance Infocomm is very pitiable and one noteworthy point is that the number of your phone changes once you extend outside the 50 km(local radius). This is for the reason that reliance is a WLL(wireless in local loop). While, this is not a big problem if calls are received and transmitted but the practical aspect is that once you cross your local radius, the standard answer from the reliance server is'' The customer you have called has switched off the mobile'' while this is not true. All such things happen owing to severe network problems.
R-World connectivity
Reliance offers the entertainment to the subscribers with the aid of R-World data services. But connection to R-World occurs in a miserable condition. It sometimes connects and for most of the time blinks the message ''Error in Connecting''
Roaming Facilities
In this fast life, we need connectivity throughout the country and forgetting about the country at least throughout the state. Reliance mobile just turns out to be a showpiece once 50 kms radius is crossed. On crossing the municipal limit of the city, we are given a new number. Please note that if my old number was 31003211 they give me a temporary number like 3101452. Now, this number is not reachable by any of the landline number from anywhere. This number can be dialed only by mobile users. Another thing is that if now you call on the old number, You'd have to pay 40p/minute incoming charge. RELIANCE is the only Cell provider that charges incoming charges not directly but in a hidden mode.(update: RIL paid 1800 Cr. for national roaming and things are working good now,still some improvements are needed)
pulse rate scheme
Subscribers earlier were lured by the most attractive scheme of the pulse rate offered by Reliance. i.e. of 15 second. So that consumers who talk for multiple of 15 seconds don’t have to pay for the entire 1 minute as usually done by the other providers. But at present, the pulse rate of reliance has been elevated form 15 sec to 60 sec. So there lies no hairline distinction between a reliance subscriber and a non-Reliance one. Why then would someone subscribe to Reliance?
Free SMS scheme
Talking about free SMS, reliance is now able to mollify its relations with providers like''hutch'',''idea'',''airtel'' etc. But you don’t enjoy smooth services.Reliance customers,many a times, are not able to send or receive SMS from these providers and considering the fact that these providers hold a large market in the country, reliance customers are at a great loss. (Update: Things are working smoothly now)
A predictable summary
I hope this clears some of the doubts nesting in the minds of several consumers. Summarizing, I don’t think reliance really gives what it says. It is a sorry thing for such a reputed company to digress from its promises and in a way cheat the consumer. I don’t recommend Reliance India phone to consumers and if at all I do, it'd be after 3 months(at least) when things are likely to be stable.
In case any one of you has a doubt regarding the charges of reliance to landline/WLL/mobile/inter-state etc. please do comment and give a chance to me for your help. (all this information stand true at the time I worte this review)
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