The Hindu Business Line : Planet Hutch launched in Kerala

Hutch customers with GPRS and Enhanced Data for GSM Evolution (EDGE) enabled phones can now download their favourite songs, polyphonic ring tones, wallpapers, greetings, movies clips and games any time and anywhere, get the latest national and international news updates, and book railway tickets. They can also MMS their favourite pictures.

One-stop shop

With Planet Hutch, the customers in Kerala will find their GPRS-enabled handsets becoming a one-stop shop for all their infotainment needs, Mr Samuel Selvakumar, Operations Director, Hutchinson Essar Ltd, Kerala said.

Planet Hutch in Kerala comes with no monthly rentals. Customers will be charged the standard rate of 10 paise/10kb as usage charges while accessing Planet Hutch. Regular download charges varying from Rs 3 to Rs 150 will apply for downloads. Hutch customers can track their Planet Hutch usage through the GPRS data counter available on most GPRS compatible handsets.

Simultaneously, Hutch is also rolling out EDGE, a technology that will give high-speed connectivity to its customers in the State, thereby reducing the download time. EDGE standard has the capability to provide high speed, multimedia mobile services such as video streaming on mobile phones.

Using EDGE

EDGE can deliver high speeds of download using existing GSM spectrum and is being deployed by leading GSM operators globally. Currently the service is available in three cities - Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode.

As a special offering for Onam, the company is offering free MMS for three months and a free one-month trial of Hutch mail, he said.

More Stories on : Telecommunications | Strategy | Kerala

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