Chennai, May 10: Delta Innovative Enterprises Ltd which had introduced itssatellite mail services under the brand name Deltagram in December 1999, hasnow introduced a prepaid card for its services. Addressing a media meet onWednesday, Delta Managing Director R Kothandaraman said that till datecustomers had to go to a Deltagram franchisee to avail of the phone mailservice or become a registered member paying a fee of Rs 1000. Deltagram isnow increasing its reach by introducing prepaid cards having a value of Rs10 each. These will be available with Deltagram franchisees, retail shops(chains and kiranawalla) and even paanwallas - to ensure maximum conveniencefor the customer. The card has a blank portion which will have to bescratched to reveal the code number to prevent misuse. Using this, thecustomer can use his own telephone or any PCO to relay his message viaDeltagram into the receiver's phone, pager, fax or even for doordelivery.The length of the message is restricted to 60 words, and the customer willhave to open another card if he exceeds the length. There will be promptswarning the customer of the message length which will give the customer anoption to edit the same. Delta is currently appointing stockists todistribute the cards, though they are also available with franchisees.
Prepaid cards in higher denominations may be launched if there is perceiveddemand. A toll-free number in the card enables one to check the status ofthe mail delivery - which is guaranteed to be done in 15 minutes, unless thereceiver is not available.
In which case Deltagram calls back to check on further action. Undeliveredmail is not charged. The prepaid cards will also be used to facilitateother services to be launched by Deltagram - fax to fax communication,computer to computer communication (all in a few months). These serviceswill perhaps cost even lesser than the phone mail, Kothandaraman hinted, anddefinitely lower than what was being charged by the ISPs. The main objectiveof Deltagram was to provide the last mile service where there was no needfor the customer to have a computer to send mails/messages. The servicesshould be affordable and easily accessible across towns and villages,Kothandaraman said. Delta has networked 250 towns and 5,000 villages and setup 56 hubs or gateways. It is planning to set up 200 gateways by 2001 andlink up 3,000 towns, 40,000 villages. The southern states, Maharashtra andGujarat have been networked and the company is expanding into UP and WestBengal. The number of collection centres (franchisees) targeted is 100,000.
Currently it has 5,000 centres. Messages are also hand delivered in 150towns where necessary and more numbers will be added for this facility. Thereason for setting up this non-DoT dependant network is to avoid the highcosts of transmission, unstable Internet connectivity, and limited reach ofthe Internet. Delta will also look out for joint ventures in third worldcountries for these services after stabilising operations within. The totalinvestment would be Rs 180 crore of which Rs 60 crore will come for theinvestment on hubs by Deltagram. The remaining will come from franchisees,with a 50:50 revenue sharing arrangement.
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