Update: Tata Teleservices has clarified to us that this is a voucher that offers voice minutes for free, and the positioning they've taken is that it effectively frees up consumer pre-paid balance for data usage at Rs. 0.01 per kb. The way they positioned the product in their press release led us to believe that it's the launch of a VoIP service. That is not the case, and the error is regretted, and the story below has been modified . GSM Telecom operator Tata DOCOMO has launched prepaid vouchers called "Voice Free", in the Andhra Pradesh circle, worth Rs. 200, Rs. 350 and Rs. 500, with validity of 10 days, 20 days and 30 days respectively, allowing consumers to make voice calls to any network in India, whether Local or STD. The way Tata DOCOMO has pitched this product, is that the voucher effectively frees up talktime for GPRS usage, and works well for customers. We, however, don't think so: their Fair Usage Policy limits usage to 40 minutes a day; so for 400 minutes over 10 days, users will have to pay Rs. 200 - which is effectively Rs. 0.5 per minute. Who would buy? Related: - WiMax Only Devices Won’t Work; Arbitrage Opportunity For VoIP Is Over - Bangladesh: A Step Ahead In Internet Telephony Over India? - ISPAI Prods CCI On Internet Telephony Legalisation; Is It Too Late? - Sabse Acquires Another VoIP Co MobiVox; Internet Telephony Portfolio - No VoIP For Nimbuzz On Tata Indicom
