Cell Phone Service

-->

By Rajkamal Rao 
 
Go back to Comparing Life US v. India

Just as with broadband internet, US consumers can sign up for mobile plans which offer unlimited text, data and voice packages from the really inexpensive (Boost, MetroPCS) to the majors (Verizon, AT&T) from $50 to $100 a month. Family shared plans can help drive down the cost but provide the same plan features to each family member.  4G service quality is generally strong in the major cities but the majority of the nation has been plumbed for strong 3G ensuring that even while roaming across major highways in remote areas, consumers are generally assured of a strong signal.  Both wireless technologies - GSM (from AT&T and T-Mobile) and CDMA (from Verizon, Sprint and MetroPCS) are available although one doesn’t work with the other unless you are roaming. 

In India, cell phone service for voice and text messaging is ubiquitous.  GSM is the dominant technology (BSNL, Airtel, Reliance, Vodofone) although CDMA technology is supported (Tata DoCoMo).  All companies promote their 3G and wireless offerings through splashy ads on television but service levels for data and internet access remain below world standards.  The competition is so intense that pricing is unbelievably cheap.  Calls average 1 INR/minute for most calls (even long distance) and billing is based on 1-second pulses.  Incoming calls are generally free for most plans.  Text messaging - SMS - is widely used and very cheap costing no more than 0.50 INR per message with unlimited free incoming texts.  Some plans charge you for the first three outgoing text messages after which the next 97 messages for the day are free.

Most carriers offer advanced call management services such as multi-party conferencing; call waiting, call hold, call forwarding and voicemail.  But adoption of these features - by the Indian population - is extremely limited.  This can be an annoyance to the relocating Indian who is used to leaving voicemails for unreachable parties and expecting calls to be returned.  People calling also don't bother to leave behind voicemails.  Thankfully, adoption of caller ID features is extensive.  It is a common practice in India for people to check their "missed calls" and dial them all in turn asking, "Who is this?" or "Did you call me?"

In summary, the returning family can continue to use their favorite branded smartphones in India with reliable quality for both voice and text, less so for data and the internet.  Cell phones are covered in more detail in the “In India - the first 90 days” section.

Go to Cell Phones.

1 comment:

  1. It is really informative and quality of the content is extraordinary. It is one of the best pieces of writing I have seen. Good job.

    It is one of the best pieces of writing I have seen. Good job.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for your note. Please consider signing up for email or RSS updates on our home page www.relocationtoindia.com