BIGAdda, the social networking site from the Reliance ADA Group has gone mobile with the launch of SMS and WAP services, and a Mobile Application. I just tried to access the WAP site – http://wap.bigadda.com via my Airtel Live connection, and received the following message -
“Gateway received an invalid response from the upstream gateway”
This is yet another indication of the issues that GPRS users face – mobile operator networks in India are not neutral,and access to sites is controlled; this issue was raised by Microsoft last month, during discussion on VAS. Note that the site might work with Airtels other GPRS plan – Mobile Office – but it is access via Airtel Live! that really matters; it’s automatically enabled for GPRS enabled handsets, is pay-per-use, and is likely to have substantially more users than Mobile Office, which costs Rs. 499 per month. Note that I haven’t been able to use Fring since I switched from Mobile Office either.
BIGAdda concurrently offers three mobile based services – SMS, WAP and a Mobile App; I tried the online flash demo, since mobile access wasn’t possible -
Register Via Mobile: This will allow BIGAdda to add mobile-only users, and should be the norm for mobile services. Note that BIGAdda is also encouraging users to SMS the BIGAdda WAP link to other users to get them on board as well. So if you get SMS invite spam (like the email invite spam we’re already getting), you know whom to blame.
SMS Alerts: Well, they’re supposedly free, but read the fine print, and BIGAdda is controlling costs by allowing only 2 Alerts per day. They’re using the short code 55454
Phone Backup: Well, isn’t Phone Backup what OnMobile bought VoxMobili for? If I remember correctly, OnMobile’s phonebackup service is priced at Rs. 40 per month…BIGAdda is also offering a phone backup service, but they don’t appear to be pushing this service much. It will given them access to substantial user data and connections.
Mobile Text, Photo & Audio Scribbles: BIG Adda is allowing users to scribble (scrap/public message) audio, text and photos via the mobile.
It was evident that would go mobile once they launched a MoBlog for their celebrity blogger – Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan.
This website uses IntenseDebate comments, but they are not currently loaded because either your browser doesn't support JavaScript, or they didn't load fast enough.
5 Comments until now.
wap.bigadda.com is opening via net on Phone (NOP) service from Airtel. As far as Fring is concerned, I guess it requires a Data plan(like mobile office) or WiFi to establish connection.It does not work with NOP.Though it never worked for me even through WiFi!!
How many users are active on bigadda.com? When we can find most of our friends on Orkut n Facebook, what’s the point of going to Bigadda.com. I am sure, their wapsite will go down.
Nikhil do you use Bigadda.com regularly?
@Joginder
Nikhil may not be the TG for Big Adda. Moreover you need not drive every bike in the market regularly to be a bike journalist! :)
Nonetheless, your point is valid, and that questions the business case for all India focussed social networking sites. But I think there is some merit in localised feature as well as content (read ABC!)
“Airtels Mobile Office, which costs 499 per month”.
I use the 75 per week for Mobile Office and adds up to just over 300 per month. I previously used 375 per month untill I discovered the 75 per week pack.
BTW am in chennai.
Instead of Fringe, try Nimbuzz its cool
K.Rajkumar: Differential pricing, then. There’s only a flat fee of Rs. 499 per month in Delhi, afaik.