Future Group and Tata Teleservices Limited announced the launch of the mobile telephony services on the GSM platform in Gujarat under the brand-name T24. The companies had earlier announced the joint venture and unveiled Brand T24 after signing a strategic alliance in February last year—the first telecom Circle to go live with the services was Andhra Pradesh, in June 2010. T24 is now present in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.T24 tariff plans will reflect the per-second rates being offered for pre-paid customers on the Tata Teleservices Limited network. In addition, customers will be rewarded with free talk-time for every purchase above Rs 351 made at any of the Future Group shopping outlets. For example, a T24 customer buying products worth Rs 3,001 at Pantaloons or Brand Factory will stand to gain Rs 150 worth of free talk-time. Also, a customer spending Rs 2,001 in Big Bazaar will gain Rs 84 worth of free talk-time for every purchase. Plans will keep evolving to offer ever-more attractive options to the customer.
T24 mobile telephony service will be progressively rolled out across the country in next few months, through Future Group’s retail networks in over 76 cities and 65 rural destinations. Customers visiting Future Group retail chains like Big Bazaar, Food Bazaar, Pantaloons, Central, Brand Factory, Home Town, eZone & Aadhar, amongst others, will be offered this exclusive mobile connection and tariff plan, on which they will get free talk-time based on their purchase at these stores. Customers will be provided the facility of recharging their T24 mobile at these stores as well as at any Tata DOCOMO retailer. Customers will also be rewarded with special deals and promotions at Future Group retail outlets every time they buy paid recharge.
“This is a unique marketing alliance between a retailer and a telecom operator in India and offers us direct access to millions of Future Group customers through its widespread retail presence across India,” Mr. Nipun Sharma, Chief Operating Officer, Tata DOCOMO, Gujarat said. “T24 stands for Talk 24, and was a natural choice of brand-name for us in this unique partnership, one that will provide customers with a dual advantage all 24 hours of the day—‘Shop More, Talk More’ and ‘Talk More, Shop More’. The T24 mobile telephony service is yet another compelling offering from the House of Tatas, in keeping with Tata Teleservices Limited’s stated objective of constantly innovating to redefine the telecom experience in the country,” he added.