Reliance uses deceptive marketing practice in contrast to TataIndicom.
If you buy a service and hence a CDMA set from Reliance you are not allowed to use the same set if you for any reason disconnected from Reliance and want to join back again.
CDMA hardware unlike GSM hardware has the number hard coded into it. So a device or telephone has a number. If it is lost and you report it, the provider disconnects it from the system and lists it in the stolen/lost directory maintained by the CDMA providers.
The idea of not reconnecting the same hardware is explained to customers as the system completely deletes the hardware electronic serial number (ESN) and thus it is technically not possible to restore it. How come TataIndicom can do it with a flick of a finger and so can Verizon Wireless of USA and Sprint Wireless of USA too!
Why not tell the customer that WE WANT TO FORCEFULLY SELL YOU NEWER EQUIPEMENT THAT YOU DO NOT NEED OR CAN HOLD YOU HOSTAGE TO THE EXPENSIVE EQUIPMENT YOU ALREADY BOUGHT. So wrong is this practice, even more wrong that their deceptive (not defective) billing system. They are forcefully making you hold to continuous service.
I am an NRI and require high speed internet. CDMA 1xRTT is my choice as I have been using it in San Diego, CA and New York, NY without any problems. I come to India and put those services on hold or even disconnect them if I am here for 4 months.
All the strengths of a Terra-bit network fade for me as I am forced to buy GPRS from AirTel or BSNL to suffice my data needs. In Chandigarh and most of Northern India TataIndicom has it’s service which delivers data rates of 9-10 KB/Sec (not 9-10 kb/sec) even in cities like Lucknow, UP (East). So it holds on to the promise of CDMA 1xRTT. But I have to travel to places that only Reliance or BSNL have coverage in <u>(network is the reason for 2 stars)</u>. I will gladly give them the INR 650/month for 1 GB provided they let me re-activate my Sierra Wireless Data card that sells for INR 9990 only (USD 220+). I am happy to pay a reconnection fee of INR 500-1000 and use the service of INR 650/month, so that my bill amounts to INR (1000-reconnection + 650x4 = 1000+2600 = 3600) which is roughly equal to USD 80. So in this situation it is pretty attractive. But with their strategy I have to pay (without any connection fees) USD 220+60 = USD 280 for 4 months access. It is much better to get INR 350/month GPRS from BSNL or for INR 375/month (in Chandigarh) from AirTel. Reliance can shove it.