RIM or Reliance India Mobile is a real boon for those people who talk or need to talk in volumes and dont want to empty ones pockets. especially engaged ppls.
I wanna share my personal experience with RIM. I had MTNL prepaid connection. Post my engagement, the bills soared to about 2500 per month (well they did warn me about this !). Anyhow still there was more to talk and money was a constraint.
Then I came upon this idea of RIM. Since myself and my fiancee are in 2 different states, one of us had to go in for Reliance fixed phone with all india plan.
I did my initial review and analysis of Reliance thru Mouthshut and with my friends. Many had several concerns about billing and trust reg RIM. One major hurdle was the fact that one had to invest money in CDMA phone. I nokia 2212 with connection for 3200. And going by my calculations every recharge with MTNL for 550, I was loosing 150 as service charge and was paying 2.40 for each call. So I knew that this investment I would break even in a matter of few months. My fiancee took the fixed phone and her rent was 700 per month and end of story.
Coming to concerns
(a) Rumours were that RIM would charge for time that u hear the ring sound but the person has not actually taken up the phone
(b) Service was very poor and irresponsible.
My experience till now proves other wise
I have tested how they would bill my calls by calling and cutting severall calls on select dates and checking it out in detailed bills (u need to pay 25 per month if u need it). They bill properly.
I found out that the customer service is very responsive even while roaming. Infact I once called in middle of night while roaming and was able to get hold of one personnel. (dont know if I caught him napping !)
In Mumbai I find range to be too good. With MTNL that was a big headache and this range matches even Orange if not better (in our office canteen where Orange signals are also weak, this works). Most testing was that during mumbai heavy downpour times, RIM and TATA indicom were the ONLY service providers that were up and functioning when it mattered the most. Though the next day the signal was unavailable at times.
One thing I noticed is that Reliance has not made efforts to make its webworld centers to be more quality based. Many of these centers have personnel who act very unprofessional and dont convey all that is present in the plan.
So as till now (i.e. 3 months) I find RIM to be good goin ...