Airtel has introduced an ‘SMS video tone service’ which can play videos assigned to individuals and groups on incoming and outgoing calls, as well as SMS’. The content delivery application for this ‘Smart Video Com Service’ has been developed by Migital, and costs Rs.50 initially to download. From then on, there’s a Rs.15 monthly subscription charge, which allows the user to download videos from a video content gallery, accessible via GPRS. The videos are priced at Rs.15-Rs.30 for download. The videos can be downloaded from Airtel Live, or from Migital’s WAP site.
So, if I want to try out a video ringtone, that’s anything between Rs.80-Rs95 for one time usage. Expensive. (Update below) But then I was skeptical about call back tones too, and see how well they’re doing. Secondly, it seems to be limited to those who use Airtel Live or GPRS. Also, what worked for call back tones is that users saw it as a means of projecting their individual choice of music, because those calling them would hear it.
Update:
Rishi Dawar, General Manager Aims Migital has written in to clarify that the downloaded application comes with a videotone, so one doesn’t have to download a videotone if you just want to try it.
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