Tata Indicom launches 'i-Help' emergency services
March 14, 2008

First-of-its-kind customer care service launched

• Dial *44 is the first service launched under i-Help emergency services for customer care
  
• Available in eleven regional languages for Tata Indicom subscribers
  
• Dial *44 and the system immediately calls and sends an SMS to the three registered numbers under an emergency

Tata Teleservices, the fastest growing telecom service provider in the country, today announced the launch of i-Help emergency services. The initiative is the first of its kind, targeted to provide efficient customer care service to the subscribers. i-Help emergency services will have a number of exclusive services to meet the diverse requirements of Tata Indicom customers under circumstances; amongst this set of services the first to be launched today is *44. This customer care service allows mobile users to contact their family and friends instantly in case of an emergency. The service is designed to fulfil anytime, anywhere connectivity requirements for the user during an emergency.

Speaking at the occasion, Anil Sardana, MD, Tata Teleservices, said,” With the introduction of ‘i-Help emergency services’, Tata Indicom has initiated an exclusive concept of customer care service. The launch reaffirms our commitment to bring innovative telecom solutions and make a valuable contribution towards the larger goal of public welfare. i-Help emergency services will have a series of different services to provide instant customer care service to our subscribers. The first one to be launched today is *44, while we would have many more such services in the near future to address different customer requirements at different situations.” The service is applicable to all Tata Indicom pre-paid and post-paid subscribers and it’s available in 11 regional languages. To avail *44, the subscriber has to register any three preferred numbers (mobile / landline) that may be contacted on their behalf, in emergency. These three people are automatically registered by the system under the subscriber’s identity.

In case of an emergency the caller has to simply dial *44 and the system immediately calls and sends an SMS to the three numbers, intimating them that the subscriber is in need of help. In case if any of the registered numbers are out of reach or switched off, the system would call at least four times to ensure that the number is reached. Both the call and the SMS are sent instantly to the three numbers leaving no role for schedulers. Also, apart from calling Tata Indicom customer care, the customers have an option of registering to the service by logging onto the Tata Indicom Website.

“This brand new service (*44) will be of great value to our subscribers keeping in view of the rising crime, violence, accidents and other unforeseen emergency situations. The service will be of helpful especially for people working in night shifts in BPO, working women etc. We have been aggressively introducing innovative services for our customer and many more similar announcements from Tata Indicom in the near future. With similar pioneering initiatives, we are confident to grow VAS current contribution of 9.4 per cent to the company’s revenues to 15 per cent within a year,” said Pankaj Sethi, president, VAS, Tata Teleservices.

The mobile telephony market is showing a lot of promise, where value added services is increasingly a growth area. There is an increased transformation of business models with an aggressive focus on value added services. It is attracting wireless operators, handset manufacturers, content developers, music and film companies, cartoon artists, game makers and musicians for ringtones, music, gaming, sports, mobile imagery, WAP, wall papers, logos, SMS-based contests and streaming audio and video.