Airtel, Vodafone announce attractive packages to counter Jio's launch

In yet another move to attract customers before the launch of Reliance Jio 4G services, two dominant players Airtel and Vodafone India on Friday announced another set of attractive packages.

Airtel, in fact, even went to the extent of announcing packages with free local and long-distance calls, unlimited roaming and as many as 100 SMSs per day.

Vodafone's packages were somewhat muted in comparison with Airtel.

The move comes a day after Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani telling shareholders in the company's annual report that the Jio 4G services will be commercially launched soon.

Bharti Airtel on Friday launched two new postpaid plans under its `myPlan Infinity` series, offering unlimited voice calls along with bundled 3G and 4G data.

"With 'myPlan Infinity' we are making voice calls free for our customers and offering them the flexibility to combine this benefit with their individual data requirements," said Ajai Puri, Director - Operations (India & South Asia), Bharti Airtel.

"With the new price points, we have made the proposition even more affordable and this will benefit customers with very heavy voice usage," he said.

Under the new `Infinity` plans, for Rs 1,199, customers will enjoy unlimited voice calling -- local, STD, and on national roaming -- along with 100 SMSes per day, 1GB 3G and 4G data and free subscription to Wynk Music and Wynk Movies.

The Rs 1,599 plan will offer unlimited voice calling -- local, STD, and on national roaming -- along with 100 SMSes per day, 5GB 3G and 4G data and free subscription to Wynk Music and Wynk Movies.

In one of its reports, Bank of India Merrill Lynch stated: "Jio's differentiated offering likely would be free voice when Jio commercially launches its telecom services (expected on August 15)."

It said it expected the company to offer a differentiated offering, which would be unlimited VoLTE bundled with its data offering above Rs 300 per month.

Vodafone India, under its ongoing Vodafone Delights bonanza, introduced free 10-minute talk time to customers whose conversation gets interrupted for any reason.

"Each conversation on our network is important and must carry on uninterrupted. At times, however, conversations do get interrupted. To continue such conversations, we are offering 10-minute talk time benefit, no questions asked," said Sandeep Kataria, Director - Consumer, Vodafone India.

To avail this talk time benefit, customers need to SMS `BETTER` on 199 and talk time of 10 minutes will be credited immediately (within 30 minutes) to their number, the company said in a statement.

This initiative on voice follows close on the heels of the up to 67% data benefit to customers, announced earlier this week.