Aircel Blackberry services launched
Aircel will offer Blackberry Enterprise Server and Blackberry Internet Services on its network.
Aircel Blackberry services have been launched in India. Aircel, a recent entrant to many of the metros has been steadily ramping up its services, and the launch of Blackberry services on the Aircel network comes as the latest step.
Aircel said that BlackBerry services (Blackberry Internet Services and Blackberry Enterprise Server) will be available on the Aircel network in Mumbai (Bombay), Kolkata, (Calcutta), New Delhi, Chennai, Coimbatore, Hyderabad and Bengaluru (Bangalore). Blackberry Enterprise services are meant for corporate users, while Blackberry Internet
Services are designed for individuals and small businesses.
Aircel will be offering four models of BlackBerry in its network: these are Blackberry Curve 8900, Blackberry Pearl 8120, Blackberry Curve 8310, Blackberry Curve 8320 and Blackberry Bold 9000. The choice of the range is limited, compared to rival national cellular operators. Bigger operators like Vodafone, Airtel, Tata Indicom and
Reliance Communications offer newer Blackberry models like the Blackberry Storm, Blackberry Curve 8520 and the Blackberry 8800 series. However, though who wish to use the latest models of Blackberry can purchase unlocked Blackberry models and use them on any network.
Aircel also announced the Blackberry tariff plans on its website. The plans include the BlackBerry Business Plan 2500, BlackBerry Business Plan 1350, Unlimited Blackberry Data Plan 999 and Blackberry Data Plan 499.
Blackberry Enterprise Server is meant for corporate customers, who maintain email servers of their own. There is more system administrator control over Blackberry Enterprise Server users, and has additional benefits like increased data encryption, remote data synchronisation etc. Email server software like BM Lotus Domino, Microsoft Exchange and Novell GroupWise can be used with the Blackberry Enterprise Server. The email accounts can be accessed on the Blackberry smartphone. The Blackberry Enterprise server connection can access 11 accounts (1 corporate account plus 10 individual accounts) while the Blackberry Internet Service can access 10 individual accounts.
According to Aircel chief operating officer Gurdeep Singh said, Aircel has gained significant momentum in expanding its operations in India and the launch of the BlackBerry solution is of strategic importance for the company’s growth. “With the availability of a wide range of BlackBerry smartphones on our network, our customers can find the
right model for their work and personal needs,” he added.
A Blackberry handheld can be used to access email on the mobile phone, apart from using applications like instant messengers (Google Talk, MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger), social networking (Facebook, Orkut, Twitter) as well as for browsing websites. Aircel has hired Redington to distribute the Blackberry handsets to
retail outlets.