Airtel has partnered with Opera Software to launch Opera Web Pass, a pay as you go Internet service. With the help of this service first-time mobile internet users can get instant access to internet services for their Airtel mobile phones.
All a subscriber needs to do is start Opera Mini on his mobile phone, click Opera Web Pass in the Speed Dial start page and choose from a list of web pass subscriptions.
How Opera Web Pass Works
Now you don’t have to activate the mobile Internet and wait for the customer care to do it for you after 48 hours. Subscribers can choose from hourly, 24Hr, or weekend Internet plans. When most operators charge the subscribers based on the amount of data consumed, Airtel, will charge the subscriber based on the time they use the service for (remember those dial-up days?).
Users browse the Opera Web Pass storefront and pick the pass that works for them. When a web pass has been activated the Opera Mini client simply routes the traffic to the zero-rated server for as long as the subscription package is valid. When the package expires, traffic is routed back to the premium-rated server, unless the user has picked a new pass.
Airtel had previously partnered with opera to offer co-branded Opera Mini browser to its subscribers.
As call charges fall, operators aren’t sparing any efforts to make up for their losses. Data seems to be the next big thing telecom operators are banking on for revenues.
Airtel has been creative with their data plans by selling it in various different packages. Around two months ago, the service provider launched data sharing plans that allow customers to share unlimited data between friends or family members or among 3 devices owned by the same person.
While India has over 900 million mobile subscribers, there are only about 30 million smartphone users. Only 50 % of the smartphone users in India have data access on their phone. Havign said that, more than 164 million users will access Internet from mobile by March 2014.
