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Nigeria: Starcomms Introduces Caller Ringback Tones
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This Day (Lagos)
12 September 2007
Posted to the web 13 September 2007
James Emejo
Lagos
Nigeria's largest CDMA 3G mobile network, Starcomms, has concluded arrangements to launch an innovation that offers customized ring tones via Short Messaging Systems (SMS) and IVR.
A statement made available to THISDAY stated that the new service, which is targeted at different strata of subscribers and age groups, allows the caller to hear the music or audio clips set by the receiver for every call received.
Simply called Startunz, the service is handset-independent and, therefore, works on any Starcomms mobile or desktop phone. It also has the capability to assign different tunes for different individual callers, groups and even at different times of the day and on special days.
The subscriber is offered a wide range of music selections such as Pop, Oldies, R & B, Naija, Gospel, Islamic, Juju, and Highlife, amongst others, to chose from, and can select, modify or change any tune to personalize the phone at any time desired.
Rich and broad, the content is updated frequently and has the latest top 10 hits across different markets, both local and international, from the Caribbeans, America, Europe, and Africa to India.
Starcomms Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Maher Qubain, who described the service as part of the network's resolve to ensure value for money added that subscribers can modify their profiles anytime, anywhere through the web portal, while pre-recorded tones can be downloaded or played back, thus letting the subscriber listen to the tone before creating or modifying their StarTunz profile. In addition, users can also upload their own customized ringback tones.
He said subscribers could create profiles according to calling numbers, and through phone numbers can pre-set and allocate different ringback tones to individual callers or groups. Also, the system can assign different tones at different times of the day.
To get activated via SMS, all the subscriber needs to do is send REG to code 2222 and thereafter follow the interactive SMS responses, which may include download tone, query tone, set tone, help, get password, and delete tone, among others while to access via IVR the subscriber dials *222 to register and thereafter follow the voice prompt. The subscriber can enter any 6 digits as his/her password and should not forget it. The IVR platform consists of all operational requests in accessing the service. The web access requires the subscriber to log in to the portal to perform various operational functions. Once registered, subscribers can access service via any channel at any time.
An RBT (Ring Back Tune) subscriber can subscribe to some songs that do not yet exist in the personal favorite library from the browsed or queried songs, and place them in his/her personal favorite library to conduct the corresponding song setting.
A subscriber can suspend or active the RBT service according to his/her specific needs. After the service is suspended, the subscriber can still download, set and delete songs. However, the system will not play any RBT to the caller who calls this service-suspended RBT subscriber.
In terms of duration, StarTunz have one-month validity from date of purchase and download, no activation and monthly fees are charged. Usage charge stands at N100 per download, SMS use at N5 per text and IVR use at N16 per minute.
Remarkably, this foray by the company will further empower Nigerians to communicate more effectively and affordably as the technology base of the 3G CDMA offers greater clarity than is currently prevalent.
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Commercially launched in 1990, Starcomms has invested heavily over the years to improve the quality of its products. Its deployment of the world class CDMA technology in 2002 exponentially established the company as the largest CDMA 3G Mobile network in Nigeria in terms of coverage, subscriber base, network quality and customer service delivery.
Last year the company introduced a new concept called 'The call of Freedom', which affords the network's numerous subscribers the flexibility to enjoy numerous services such as per second billing, SMS, Content, VAS, High Speed Internet, and Fun Box, among others. Since the offering was introduced, Starcomms had given subscribers a variety from the array of innovative products at highly affordable rates, with a bouquet of mobile phones, desktops and Internet module.
Over the course of the decade, Starcomms rode on the back of innovations, advanced technology and quality services to evolve a paramount player in the Nigerian telecommunications industry with its subscriber base currently at 750,000 with a target of one million by the end of the year.
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| Copyright © 2007 This Day. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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