Thiruvananthapuram : For telephone users in Ernakulam, payment of bills is only a click away. Ernakulam Telephone district has bagged the distinction of introducing online payment system in the country for the first time. All that the customer has to do is access the site www.ernakulamtelecom.gov.in and register for the Internet-related value-added services.The facility was inaugurated the other day in Ernakulam by Ms Ruchira Mukherjee, senior deputy director of Bharat Sachar Nigam Ltd (BSNL). The facilities provided under the online system include detailed bill information, acceptance of applications for shifting of telephones, CLIP activation, safe custody etc.
Moreover, the registered users of the online system would receive their bills through e-mail. Customers having accounts in Federal Bank, ICICI Bank, and HDFC Bank can make payment online to begin with. Many other banks have expressed their willingness to be part of the online payment system. The software required for the online payment system was also devised locally by a Kochi-based firm, Prudent Technologies Ltd. Mr P P Ramachandran, chief general manager, Kerala Circle said that BSNL would start offering a variety of value-added services through mobile phone, wireless, and Internet.
Software required for Call centre and mediation centre facilities for the online system are also being devised by the Prudent Technologies. The computerised billing system called `Thrissur Package' now used in 200 of the 326 telecom districts was also developed by a Kerala-based IT entrepreneur Mr K Nandakumar who now heads Suntec Business Solutions Pvt Ltd.
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