Vodafone has come out with a low cost mobile phone for the common man of India, who can’t go for the other high end phones available in the market. The company now brings the Vodafone 150 and Vodafone 250 mobile phone which come with an affordable price tag attached to it.

Vodafone is looking at emerging markets in order to find potential buyers. The company is seen launching its two handsets into the Indian markets as well as six African markets like The Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, Kenya, Qatar and Tanzania. The company is looking forward for the devices to reach at least 60% of the population.

“The cost of mobile handsets can be one of the most significant barriers for people in accessing and benefiting from the growing number of socially valuable mobile services. The lives of people who use these phones – the Vodafone 150 and Vodafone 250 – will be changed and improved as they become part of the mobile society. I am proud of the work we have done and will continue to do in this critical area of customer empowerment,” revealed Patrick Chomet, Vodafone’s Group Director of Terminals.

The Vodafone 150 and Vodafone 250 provide its customers with a great voice as well as SMS services. They also offer support for mobile payment services. The two mobile phones from the carrier are similar with respect to their specifications and features. The only exception being that the screen of the Vodafone 250 supports color and is just a little bigger when pitted against the Vodafone 150. It also offers an FM radio unlike the latter. The company is providing the phones with a custom-built feature set and packaging design.

The Vodafone 150 is set to retail at under $15 (approx. Rs.693) while the Vodafone 250 is scheduled to retail at under $20 (approx. Rs.924). The exact pricing details will be known when it hits the local market.

We had earlier told about the Mobile Tower Sealing issue, now High Court has givem a major relief to cell phone users and service providers, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has directed NOIDA authority to open the seal of over 100 mobile towers immediately.

A division bench comprising Justice Pradeep Kant and Justice Ritu Raj Awasthi directed completion of formalities pertaining to setting up of towers by the mobile companies within two months.

In its order yesterday on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition filed by Indus Towers Company, whose services are used by cellular service providers in the satellite town on the outskirts of Delhi, the court asked the petitioner to approach the authority with necessary documents for fulfilling the formalities for installing the mobile towers.

Mobile services in Noida remained badly crippled for the second day running as the authorities launched a crackdown on “illegal” mobile towers. Already 193 of 576 towers have been sealed, leading to mobile phones going on the blink, especially in residential sectors 29-35 and industrial sectors 2-12.

What’s more, a similar crackdown has started in Delhi. Already, 40 mobile towers have been sealed in the city and more “illegal” towers are in MCD’s crosshairs. Delhi has 4,532 mobile towers, out of which MCD reckons 2,517 towers are illegal. So, if these are sealed, mobile phone services in the city will be very badly hit.

The faceoff between the authorities and mobile service providers could escalate as neither side is backing down. While Noida authorities as well as MCD are insisting on the towers meeting all norms, which they claim many don’t, the service providers’ body, COAI, is maintaining that since regulator, TRAI, is all set to come out with a consultation paper on tower installation, status quo should be maintained.

Meanwhile, mobile phone users are feeling the heat. Said Rahul Sinha, a resident of Noida sector 11: “People are helpless without their mobile phones. It’s for many their connection with the world. We have a wedding in our house on February 16, but with no network coverage, we were unable to plan anything.” Similar sentiments were echoed by many more residents.

In Delhi, MCD commissioner K S Mehra said that action against all illegal towers will follow. When asked about illegal towers, a COAI spokesman said, “There are no illegal towers in Delhi. What MCD is calling illegal are applications filed by service providers that are pending with MCD.” In short, the two positions are at variance, indicating a prolonged confrontation, unless higher authorities step in.

Both MCD and Noida authorities want all cellphone towers to have structural stability certificates, an NOC from resident welfare associations, design approval from experts, clearance from the pollution board, fire department and a security fee of Rs 1 lakh per tower. Above all, they want the towers to be moved out of residential areas to commercial areas, government buildings and community service buildings like `baraat ghars’.

At present, most towers are in residential areas. Relocating them is bound to create a major dislocation of service, unless the whole operation is undertaken jointly by authorities and service providers.

MCD has already set up a sub-committee, headed by councillor Meera Agarwal, which is holding talks with RWAs. It has also written to the World Health Organisation to ascertain the health risk posed by the towers. It’s said the towers don’t just pollute when run on gensets, but also radiate waves that could be harmful. WHO has said that it still has no data to reach any conclusion on health risks.

Source: TOI