Indian telecom service provider Bharti Airtel today said it will launch its WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) portal to attract more Internet users.
The WAP portal — One Touch Internet — will be offering a simple, secure and intuitive interface that will allow first-time users to discover the Internet more easily, said Airtel.
The new service is available for prepaid – 2G and 3G — mobile customers of Airtel.
New mobile Internet users can access services such as social networking, videos, online shopping and travel bookings through free tutorial videos and trial packs for popular services like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube etc.
“There are millions of customers who own an Internet-ready mobile device and are keen on getting online, but are apprehensive due to reasons like lack of know-how and fear of incurring heavy data charges,” said Srinivasan Gopalan, director – Consumer Business, Bharti Airtel.
The portal is available two languages including English and Hindi. Airtel promises that 8 vernacular languages will be added. Airtel did not specify the timeframe.
Airtel wants to add more data revenue and enhance mobile Internet users. Mobile Internet users are estimated to reach 385 million by 2017 from 220 million today. 59 percent of the 220 million mobile Internet users access net on the phone. The projected 480 million smartphone users by 2017 will aid Airtel to rake in more revenue from data.
Meanwhile, Airtel Enterprise Chairman Sunil Mittal yesterday said the telecom industry needs more spectrum to improve quality of services and address the challenging issues.
editor@telecomlead.com
