BANGALORE, INDIA: BSNL today announced the release of its bundled offer on mobile handsets and broadband. The bundled offer on two models of Beetel mobile handsets was launched in Bangalore.

The Beetel handsets - a monochrome (model EC 003) priced at Rs.. 1125 and a colour basic instrument (model EC 005) costing Rs. 1500 offers a host of features such as polyphonic ring tone and built in games along with a one-year warranty.

Speaking at the launch, K S Kuppuswamy, CGM, BSNL, Bangalore Telecom District (BTD), said that the scheme is valid for 15 months from the date of activation of free talk time of Rs.. 100, with initial validity of seven days. "In case of pre paid connections, the scheme will get converted to general prepaid scheme after the expiry of 15 months," he added.

"Under this scheme, we are looking at addressing the customers looking for the very basic facilities on the handset and also increase the availability of affordable handsets," Kuppuswamy said.

Further, BSNL also announced the bundled offer for broadband connections on HCL PCs and laptops. The HCL laptops under this offer come without an operating system but have an inbuilt modem. The bundled offer comes with no modem rental, no registration and installation charges. In addition, there is a reduction in the existing broadband charges from BSNL under various plans under this offer.

The HCL laptop under this offer is priced at Rs. 29,000 (plus taxes). "We are targeting home-based users, small companies, colleges and hospitals," a HCL official said.

Free broadband access
Kuppuswamy also announced the availability of free unlimited high-speed Internet access offer for customers registering for broadband connections. "The offer will be extended to technically feasible areas and is valid up to Sept 30. If the customers finds the service inadequate in any way, the connection can be surrendered within 15 days," he said.

"This offer is being made to commemorate the formulation of BSNL which falls on Oct 1," Kuppuswamy said.

Free NET ONE access
Highlighting other offers from BSNL, the CGM said that postpaid fixed wireless terminal (FWT) PCOs are available on demand. The prepaid connections will be launched during September first week. Also, customers can get free NET ONE (Dial up Internet) access for two months on BSNL landlines from September 1. They have to pay only the telephone usage charges, and NET ONE can be accessed by dialing 172222 with the respective telephone number along with the STD code.

State leads in wireless connections
The Wireless Intelligence Network is being established for the entire country. Bangalore is the coordinating centre for the entire southern zone and will be launched during September first week. "There are 515 base transceiver station (BTS) on CDMA technology with a acpacity of 4.8 lakh connections. Karnataka alone has 75 percent loading in wireless service with three lakh connections," Kuppuswamy said.

"During 2008-09, we are planning to add another 206 BTSs which will enable additional 1.65 lakh connections throughout the state," he added. Further, BSNL is planning to increase the GSM mobile connection base by installing additional 1200 towers in the state and increase the connection to more than 30 lakh," he informed.