HFCL Infotel has launched its service today and the subscriber need to just press "*" to copy the ring tone of other ping mobile or connect wireless user.

The subscribers can also download songs @ Rs.10 per song through a monthly subscription of Rs.30 for CRBT service.Same charges will be applicable on copying the tune from other ping moblile or connect wireless.

The company officials handed over the cheque to Bilu Ram for winning the special contest for Connect STD operators in Panjab for the first quarter billing.

As per the scheme, the Connect STD operators could win either a cash prize of Rs.20,000 or a trip to Bangkok in every quarter for the billings. they would also be entitled for the bumper mega prize of a trip to London after one year.

HFCL has over 40,000 Connect STD booths in the state of Punjab and Chandigarh, catering to the common man.

Billu Ram runs a kiryana store on the main Chintpurni road, and his two daughters run the STD booths which was started by his son who died of some disease about six months back.

"I had no idea that I could win a prize, but thank to God, and the company who had entered me for the lucky draw on the basis of my usage," says Billu Ram.

HFCL Infotel launched the scheme on 1st April and the lucky draw have been taken out for the first quarter. The final bumper draw of a trip to London, shall take place after 31st March 2009.

HFCL Infotel Limited is one of the leading telecom companies in Punjab and Chandigarh, which runs 'Ping' mobile service, Connect landline, WLL, and internet broadband services.

Seven teams from different institutions participated which included CIIS, Chitkara, Chandigarh Business School, INIFD, ICL Business School, Regional Institute of Cooperative Management, and the British Library, to present their suggestions on preventing the use of cell phone while driving, and what the cell phone companies should do to promote drivers' safety.

The team of girls from INIFD emerged as the winner, while CIIS team was the first runner-up and ICL Business School team was second runner-up.

The prizes will be distributed at the function on Saturday which shall be presided over by Ms Raji P. Srivastava, IAS, Director Higher Education, UT Administration.

Yesterday, an interactive seminar was also held at the PHD House in which Mr Smrath Bali, a global communication expert, and Dr. Manoj Sharma, reader at Panjab University, shared their viewpoint on the need for effective communication in the corporate set up.

Mr. Smrath Bali said that it is the effective communication that distinguishes a great company from a mediocre one.

Dr Manoj Sharma shared the result of his research study of several corporate outfits in Panjab and recommended the need to adopt 7Cs to make communication beneficial.

On Rs.199 recharge coupon, the customer will get the talk time of Rs.354.22 with the validity of 90-days and on Rs.99 recharge coupon will get a talk time of Rs. 129.17.This extra additional talktime is valid for all the local/STD/ISD calls as well as SMS

With this offer the subscriber can now make the extra long calls with the same money and make the best of their festive season by calling their near and dear ones.

Ping is known for its innovative offerings to its customers across Punjab and Chandigarh, and its un-matched customer friendly tariff of one paisa per second call has remained the most unique option across all telecom operators in the country.

Ping mobile service is available across 270 towns and 2050 villages in Punjab and Chandigarh through a state-wise distribution network of 8000 retail outlets with a total customer base of 2.5 lacs within a short span of one year.

Ping is the brand name of mobile service provided by HFCL Infotel Limited one of the leading telecom companies in Punjab and Chandigarh with services of Connect landline, WLL, and internet broadband services.

The Rs 499 handset comes bundled with a predefined mobile no. which can be recharged with special tarrif packs for Rs. 151 / Rs. 201 or Rs. 251. The local call rate of one paisa per second and STD at Rs 1.50 per minute shall be available on these plans. The subscriber can also enjoy the validity of 30 days and STD call rate of rupee one per minute on the minimum recharge coupon of Rs. 33.

The benefit of this offering is that now anyone can take home a colored mobile in just Rs. 499 only.

Ping has always been the first to offer innovative products in mobile telephony by offering one paisa per second call rates, double talk time on pre paid recharge coupon and top it all now highly affordable and stylish colored handset at just Rs 499.

Pings mobile services available across 270 towns and 2050 villages in Punjab & Chandigarh through a robust distribution network of 8000 retail outlets. In a short span of one year Ping has achieved a total customer base of 2.5 Lakhs.

Ping offers mobile service provided by HFCL Infotel Limited one of the leading telecom companies in Punjab and Chandigarh with services of Connect landline, WLL, and internet broadband services.

Now Connect subscriber can watch videos, Live TV, watch You-tube, Voice Chat, enjoy duplex chat, games, movie downloads, quicker transactions, high quality VoIP with no extra costs which otherwise was a hindrance with low bandwidth , informed Mr G D Singh , COO, HFCL Infotel Ltd.

HFCL launched its Connect broadband service in 2000, and has the advantage of pan-Punjab broadband connectivity through 3500 kms of optical fibre cables connecting over 136 towns of Punjab, and has 62,000 subscribers at the moment.

As one of the leading private sector telecommunication service providers, HFCL has a combined customer base of 5 lacs, and enjoys the highest Average Revenue per Line (ARPL) in the country because of its innovative customer-friendly solutions, adds Mr G D Singh

Connect offers the minimum monthly rental against other players including BSNL and Airtel, and offers unlimited data access with bandwidth ranging from 100kbps to 700kbps across its various plans.

Connect has three plans, namely Silver UL444, Gold UL 666, and Diamond UL 888 under which maximum bandwidth speed available is 300kbps, 500kbps and 700kbps respectively, along with free calls worth Rs.50 and highly competitive local and STD call charges.

In both the Gold and Diamond plans, Connect subscribers can call anywhere at just Re.1 per minute in which both the local and STD pulse rates are Re.1 while in Silver plan the STD pulse costs Rs.1.99.

Connect has also launched a highly cost-effective home plan @ Rs.1111 with a speed upto 1 mbps which makes internet access affordable for families & children wanting to surf the net for information and knowledge, Mr. GD Singh added.

The Talking SMS service allows mobile users to record, send SMS in their own voice and in the language of their choice.

Talking SMS enables the subscriber to record his or her voice and send it across as a voice message. The unique difference is that instead of keying the text, the subscriber can record his message and send it.

The customer has to dial 57888(PING Talking SMS), record the message as per instruction and send it to the desired mobile or landline local or STD number. The voice message would be of around 30 seconds.

The charges are at par with that of an SMS. The customer would be charged@50paise per local SMS sending and Re1 for the national SMS sending.

This is a boon for the illiterate /semi illiterate who find it difficult to type the text message.

The benefits of this service are that it allows the customer to reach for friends amongst the strangers without disclosing their real identity.

To use this service the customer has to simply call the 57657 and register his/her profile and create a chat id as per instructions. The subscriber also needs to specify the desired partner's profile with gender and age. The user can then chat with the friends available. The subscriber also has the option to directly call on the chat id of their choice.

The customer can subscribe to this service @ Rs.7/week per week and would be charged @Rs 2/min for usage.

All Ping as well as Connect landline customers can now enjoy the all new experience of talking & hearing while chatting.