I love mobile telephony and infact enjoy using it. Ofcourse, when I am so much in love with cellular world, I talk a lot, send a lot of SMS’ and use a lot of mobile internet too. Since 2003 I have changed numbers so many times for the sole reason that I have always wanted something good at an equally good tariff. My reviews speak about BPL, about Reliance and here I am talking about my latest and final love - Hutch.
I have used Hutch before and left it and got it back and left it again. Although when I switched back to Hutch in November 2005, I had decided to be back for the better ...... Cool, so now that Hutch is the king, let me elucidate on the crucial points that makes Hutch the ’rockin’ service provider.
1. Getting a connection :
Getting a hutch connection is very simple. Just get your SIM, submit the documents and voila!
Your card gets activated in a day or two. I have never faced problems in getting hutch sims activated.
2. Coverage :
Hutch coverage is one of the best in Mumbai. I wouldn’t want to speak for other Hutch circles, although it sure is good in Mumbai. Recently though, its started faltering in some areas. Inspite of full network coverage the voice sometimes breaks real bad, with a shhhh extension to it. Now thats a little bad. Altho, it does happen rarely, so its kinda ok. Hutch’s coverage in Mumbai extends from Colaba in South Mumbai to Bhayendar in the north, although unofficially it does extend a lil further.
Similarly, to the east, Kalyan and Panvel mark the limits for Mumbai circle’s Hutch coverage.
3. Tariffs(Rs) :
Every service provider has preferential tariff rates to its own network and Hutch is no exception.
Normal tariff rates are 1.99 to any local phone and 2.65 to any STD network. SMS is at 1.50, 2.00 and 5.0 for local, national and international. For Rs.450 recharge, one gets local Hutch calls and SMS at 50 paise per minute. Other local calls continue to be at 1.99 bucks.
The recent scheme by Hutch for local H2H calls at 30 paise is a major boon for its subscribers with first 100 mins H2H free. All this for a monthly rental of Rs.30. Quite a good one if majority of your calls are to the Hutch network. Cool. One can activate other value top ups like SMS at 75 paise with this offer.
4. Network Congestion :
Network congestion is not rampant although does happen sometimes. Its not however something too bad.
5. Value Added Services - GPRS / MMS :
Hutch has a fantastic GPRS service and offers quality mobile internet service. For a monthly rental of Rs.49, one can enjoy WAP service on your phone with data exchange chanrged at 10paise per 10kb. Now thats a little expensive. MMS is Rs.3. Although there certainly is a 100KB limit per MMS.
6. Customer Care :
Excellent. Timely. Helpful. Just these three words. Simple and Clear.
My advice : Go for Hutch. It makes sense. And join Hutch2Hutch local community.
It needs to omprove on some counts, viz coverage in some areas, network congestion, although on the whole it feels good.
Thats why, I re-iterate - HUTCH PREPAID ROCKS !