Date:26/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/26/stories/2006082606491900.htm

Business

Hutch launches GPRS service

Special Correspondent

Kochi: Hutch, pure play cellular service provider, on Wednesday announced the launch of PlaneHutch, an interactive GPRS-based service, for its customers in the State.

Hutch customers with GPRS and EDGE-enabled phones can now download their favourite songs, polyphonic ringtones, wallpapers, greetings, movie clips and games any time and anywhere and get the latest national and international news updates and book railway tickets. They can also MMS their favourite pictures.

Customers would find their GPRS-enabled handsets becoming a one-stop shop for all infotainment needs, Samuel Selvakumar, operations director, Hutchinson Essar Ltd., Kerala, told mediapersons here.

There would be no monthly rental for the service. Customers would be charged the standard rate of 10 paise per 10 kb as usage charge while accessing PlanetHutch.

Regular download charges varying from Rs.3 to 150 would apply for downloads. Hutch customers could track their PlanetHutch usage through the GPRS data counter available on most GPRS compatible handsets.

Hutch was also rolling out EDGE, a technology that would give high-speed connectivity to its customers, thereby reducing the download time.

The Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE) standard had the capability to provide high-speed, multimedia mobile services such as video streaming on mobile phones.

EDGE could deliver higher speeds of downloads using the existing GSM spectrum and was deployed by leading GSM operators globally.