mobile phone?

omshanti · Sep 9th, 2005, 20:45

Last time I was in India I was told that to get a mobile phone you had to be a resident and/or have bank account in India. I was wondering what the situation is now? I will be in India for about three months and would like to have a phone which has a wide range of service (i.e. do phones that work in Delhi get service in Mumbai?, etc.). Also, don't want to have to sign a yearly contract...are there any 'pay-as-you-go' plans?.....does anyone know if this is possible and/or can recommend a good service provider? Thanks in advance.

kiranlal · Sep 9th, 2005, 20:53

now you only need to have a photo identity card with you , and you need to provide a copy of that to the retailer . the passport page with your phot and address in enough

archicarla · Sep 12th, 2005, 22:50

Hi -
I am also in India for 3-1/2 months and using a mobile to stay in touch and make reservations etc.
You will have to use prepaid service, and although it's inexpensive, i was shocked that when you buy a prepaid card, up to 40% of the value of the card is in service fees and "validity". Validity means if your talktime money runs out people can still call you (provided you're in the home state where you bought the SIM card). You get a better deal the larger card you buy, but i have had trouble finding the big cards at very many places.
The other bummer is that (at least for Airtel and Hutch, and i'm told by the shopkeeper this holds true for the others as well - tata, rim, whatever else) you only get free incoming calls in your 'home state' (where you bought the SIM). If you roam, it's abou 6rs a minute, and of course outgoing calls are more expensive too. I can't figure out a good way to get around this... i even bought a SIM in Delhi thinking that surely one city alone wouldn't comprise my whole home network area, but sure enough...

Motorcycl_Adventurer · Sep 12th, 2005, 23:41

try getting the BSNL/MTNL pre-paid mobilephone[GSM] SIM card which is sold by the Indian Telecom Dept. This has got the best roaming deal and the signal is very good even in the remotest of areas [I got many calls when I was holidaying in a Forest Guest house, while other service providers didn't have any signal].

But they are hard to find, but if you have luck on ur hands u can get one for sure. I learnt that they are increasing their mobile capacity by about 4million cards, so you can get it.

I have one and I never bothered to change even when i got lower rates from competitors... I can even go to the 4 corners of India with a single mobile conn.

Bye.

*jyoti* · Sep 14th, 2005, 20:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by archicarla

Hi -
...you only get free incoming calls in your 'home state' (where you bought the SIM). If you roam, it's abou 6rs a minute, and of course outgoing calls are more expensive too. I can't figure out a good way to get around this... i even bought a SIM in Delhi thinking that surely one city alone wouldn't comprise my whole home network area, but sure enough...

My friends in India long term travel a lot, and they buy separate SIM cards for the major areas they'll be in. Then, they just switch them out as they travel. Of course, they have to be marked and you may have to reenter phone numbers (not sure how that works), but then they are always in home range.

mercedes10 · Sep 14th, 2005, 21:06

Motorcycle-Adventure - if I get one of the SIM cards you're talking about, what happens if friends/family from the UK call me? Does it cost me to answer their calls and, if so, any idea how much?? Also, can this SIM be used to send SMS to the UK? Thanks!!

Nick-H · Sep 14th, 2005, 21:33

If I may jump in...

My touchtel pre-paid SIM receives international calls at no cost to the caller. I make regular calls to a Chennai mobile while in the UK (using phone cards is the cheapest) and it doesn't cost me.

Calls to UK are much cheaper than the other way around, and international SMSs cost, IIRC Rs3. Delivery on INternational SMS from India is not 100% but is pretty good.

kiranlal · Sep 14th, 2005, 21:36

for receiveing a call in the particular circle , (that state ) you dont need to pay any money .
but if you go out of their circle , then you need to pay for roaming ,
normally it is, from 3-4 rs per minut, and then the call charges.
i think you better buy the a cheap phonefrom Reliance india mobile
and use their net work it is easy to recharge from every where as they have the largest net work in india . and the recharge coupounis available every where. and superb coverage , if you buy an aorange phone from mubai , how can you recharge the Phone form Goa ? goan outlets dont sell recharge coupouns for the mubai networks , except Reliance mobile

i traveled from south to north and west to east from ocotber 2005 to december 21 , and touched most of the tourist places. and this phone was help ful

Sep 9th, 2005, 20:45	#1
omshanti mera dil hindustani hai Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: milky way Posts: 38	mobile phone? Last time I was in India I was told that to get a mobile phone you had to be a resident and/or have bank account in India. I was wondering what the situation is now? I will be in India for about three months and would like to have a phone which has a wide range of service (i.e. do phones that work in Delhi get service in Mumbai?, etc.). Also, don't want to have to sign a yearly contract...are there any 'pay-as-you-go' plans?.....does anyone know if this is possible and/or can recommend a good service provider? Thanks in advance.

Sep 12th, 2005, 23:41	#4
Motorcycl_Adventurer Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Chicago IL Posts: 38	try getting the BSNL/MTNL pre-paid mobilephone[GSM] SIM card which is sold by the Indian Telecom Dept. This has got the best roaming deal and the signal is very good even in the remotest of areas [I got many calls when I was holidaying in a Forest Guest house, while other service providers didn't have any signal]. But they are hard to find, but if you have luck on ur hands u can get one for sure. I learnt that they are increasing their mobile capacity by about 4million cards, so you can get it. I have one and I never bothered to change even when i got lower rates from competitors... I can even go to the 4 corners of India with a single mobile conn. Bye. __________________ **************************** http://bikeking.blogspot.com http://justaboutmyself.blogspot.com ************************** **

Sep 14th, 2005, 21:33	#7
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,829	If I may jump in... My touchtel pre-paid SIM receives international calls at no cost to the caller. I make regular calls to a Chennai mobile while in the UK (using phone cards is the cheapest) and it doesn't cost me. Calls to UK are much cheaper than the other way around, and international SMSs cost, IIRC Rs3. Delivery on INternational SMS from India is not 100% but is pretty good. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

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Sep 9th, 2005, 20:53	#2
kiranlal The only one of its kind Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Trivandrum,Kerala,India,Malaysia,Singapore Posts: 521	now you only need to have a photo identity card with you , and you need to provide a copy of that to the retailer . the passport page with your phot and address in enough

Sep 12th, 2005, 22:50	#3
archicarla Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Boston via Vancouver Posts: 14	Hi - I am also in India for 3-1/2 months and using a mobile to stay in touch and make reservations etc. You will have to use prepaid service, and although it's inexpensive, i was shocked that when you buy a prepaid card, up to 40% of the value of the card is in service fees and "validity". Validity means if your talktime money runs out people can still call you (provided you're in the home state where you bought the SIM card). You get a better deal the larger card you buy, but i have had trouble finding the big cards at very many places. The other bummer is that (at least for Airtel and Hutch, and i'm told by the shopkeeper this holds true for the others as well - tata, rim, whatever else) you only get free incoming calls in your 'home state' (where you bought the SIM). If you roam, it's abou 6rs a minute, and of course outgoing calls are more expensive too. I can't figure out a good way to get around this... i even bought a SIM in Delhi thinking that surely one city alone wouldn't comprise my whole home network area, but sure enough...

Sep 14th, 2005, 21:06	#6
mercedes10 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Scotland Posts: 556	Motorcycle-Adventure - if I get one of the SIM cards you're talking about, what happens if friends/family from the UK call me? Does it cost me to answer their calls and, if so, any idea how much?? Also, can this SIM be used to send SMS to the UK? Thanks!!

Sep 14th, 2005, 21:36	#8
kiranlal The only one of its kind Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Trivandrum,Kerala,India,Malaysia,Singapore Posts: 521	for receiveing a call in the particular circle , (that state ) you dont need to pay any money . but if you go out of their circle , then you need to pay for roaming , normally it is, from 3-4 rs per minut, and then the call charges. i think you better buy the a cheap phonefrom Reliance india mobile and use their net work it is easy to recharge from every where as they have the largest net work in india . and the recharge coupounis available every where. and superb coverage , if you buy an aorange phone from mubai , how can you recharge the Phone form Goa ? goan outlets dont sell recharge coupouns for the mubai networks , except Reliance mobile i traveled from south to north and west to east from ocotber 2005 to december 21 , and touched most of the tourist places. and this phone was help ful

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