The world of prepaid mobile connection and recharge

‘Prepaid’ is the buzzword in the Indian mobile telecommunication industry, the world’s fastest-growing market. The Indian consumer does feel empowered with a prepaid mobile connection. Whether it is controlling how and when to spend or changing tariff plans or enjoying real value on a call-by-call basis, prepaid lets them happen. Moreover, the switch from postpaid to prepaid connections has been steadily climbing. If you go by the figures, i.e. comparing at least half a decade in terms of the percentage of users, you will find that 60 percent of mobile subscribers were prepaid users in 2005 and today over 92 percent of India’s mobile customer base constitute this segment. A recent survey has proven that 99 percent of new mobile phone subscribers fall in this segment.

Why are people increasingly going for prepaid plans? There are different reasons, few of which are aforementioned. To add to the reasons are the revolutionary lifetime prepaid concept. The question of cost of entry and validity is negated. Moreover, with lifetime validity, you can at least receive incoming phone calls for life even if you do not go for a recharge. This is not facilitated in a postpaid connection. What was Rs 999 earlier for a lifetime prepaid connection is today a mere Rs 99 or less. And then you need not pay for incoming phone calls, except if you move out of your circle where charges for roaming are levied. There are few countries where charges for incoming phone calls are imposed.

With prepaid plans, you enjoy a sachet approach. Yes, you can choose recharge prepaid plans with denominations starting as low as Rs 5 or Rs 10 or even Rs. 500 or more depending on uses, budget, and preferences. Longer the duration of the phone calls you want to enjoy, i.e. staying connected for longer time, higher should be the denomination you choose. Prepaid mobile recharge can happen anytime anywhere. When we say ‘anytime’, we mean online prepaid mobile recharge. When mobile stores or those offering recharge facilities close down in the evening, it is at the corporate sites of the mobile service providers or other online platforms where you can opt for a recharge.

Mobile service providers are increasingly doling out cut-price offers, attracting newer subscribers besides adding on the existing ones. Competition does exist, all to the benefit of the users. Subscribers only get to enjoy low-cost phone calls irrespective of whether it is local or STD or international phone calls.

Online prepaid mobile recharge constitutes a very small part of the total revenue generated for many a network operator. Though advantage associated with the same cannot be negated, yet many users feel hesitant or may not have the facility. For a particular section, online prepaid mobile recharge is a far fetched affair as they fail to understand how the website works. They hardly become aware of the latest prepaid plans and schemes not to mention how to get the recharge done. But with time, online prepaid mobile recharge is soon to gain momentum!