To really understand the cost-benefit relationship of Orange, one has to compare it with its competitors in the market. Here is a comparison between Orange and Reliance :
Orange Plan - ‘Talk 349’ Reliance Pioneer Offer
Airtime Rate
Outgoing Rs. 2 / min Rs. 0.4 / min
Incoming 60p /min Free
Rent p.m. Rs.350 Rs. 340
SMS Rs. 1.50/SMS Rs. 0.3 [ w.e.f. 1st May ]
Internet No Yes [ @ 40p ]
Now the figures speak for themselves. You don’t need to be an expert to decide which offer is better for you. Reliance surely takes the cake !
But for those who still haven’t comprehended the huge difference hereinabove, might just know what I mean after they read the following :
Well, lets see how much it costs to talk on Orange and Reliance.
Lets consider talks of 400 min a month here,
Orange Reliance
Airtime Chgs 800 160
Rent 350 340
TOTAL 1, 150 500
Now the difference is clear…Rs. 1, 150 Vs Rs. 500……which one will you prefer ?
And all this without even considering the incoming calls, which are free in Reliance and not in Orange.
Moreover, there are certain core aspects to cellphones that cannot be quantified in monetary terms…….things like voice quality …the clarity !
Reliance offers surprisingly high voice quality with little or no call drops…..and sometimes its even better than a good quality landline.
Now talking about roaming, in case of reliance, due to the concept of SDCA (Short Distance Charging Area of 50 kms) in case of WLL mobile operators, reliance can offer a ‘local call area’ even beyond the limits of Mumbai…the place where I stay….so if one has to go to far off places like Vasai, Virar, or even beyond in north or other areas in east or south, one does not need roaming…..unlike in orange.
So why would like to pay those hefty roaming charges to orange , when you don’t have to pay even a penny in case of reliance.
Now coming to the handset aspect of it, it is clearly a point in favour of Reliance, which offers a LG handset, smaller and slimmer than I have ever used, worth about 10, 500 …..for just 3, 000 !!
However, one can treat the Rs. 100 pm that one has to pay, as instalments for the handset….so in that case it works out to 6, 500…..i.e. 3000 downpayment + 3600 vide 36 instalments of Rs. 100……..that’s not a bad deal !!
Now, we haven’t even touched the STD aspect of calls…
In case of Rel-Rel, one can make STD calls @40p /min…..actually it is 10p / 15 sec !
Now does Orange give you the same rate ?......No !......
...orange charges about 3.50 /min + airtime chgs !!
Even in case of Rel-nonRel STD calls, the charges are much lower than what you would have to pay for a Orange-nonOrange STD call.
Now, considering all this, one tends to wonder whether these private cell companies like Orange / BPL / Airtel were (and still are) making super-profits !!
When Reliance can give you calls at 0.40 / min…..don’t you think orange can do it too !.....after all orange has been making revenues for years now and has covered its infrastructure cost, which reliance hasn’t...so why is orange charging exorbitant Rs. 2 /min…?.......Well, the only reason that one can think of is the ‘ looto jab tak loot sakte ho ‘ kind of an attitude that it has !
So when it comes to cost and quality , reliance is the king…..and I would never compromise on that……not for drop boxes or some crappy discount coupons !
( by the way, reliance too gives discount coupons worth Rs. 1, 00, 000 !! )
And talking about good brand name, Reliance has a brand name that out-brands any other brand.
So, if one has loads of money and doesn’t care where, how and how much it can be thrown, with eyes closed, can opt for orange……for others, I would suggest reliance.
P.S. : For cell-landline calls, from May 1st, in addition to airtime charges, one will also have to pay interconnect charges of 50p / min….irrespective of the operator !
Maybe the oranges have become too sour by now !!