State-run telecom operator, BSNL has announced the launch of landline phones featuring video calling facility, in in collaboration with SIS Infosystems. These phones will be available for use at public Video Call Offices (VCOs), which will be set up in place of several Public Call Offices (PCOs).
Users will be charged Rs.3 for 45 second video call made from a VCO. The charges include 30 percent share for the franchise owner. According to SIS officials, people who want to have a franchise will have to for pay for VCO devices, starting from Rs. 25,000. VCO operator shall be at liberty to charge facilitation charges based on market dynamics not more than Rs. 10 per call for incoming/ outgoing calls. Moreover, all calls made from VCOs shall be charged as Video Calls. It’s notable ISD call facility shall not be available on VCO connections.
Some of the VCOs will be equipped with medical devices for remote diagnosis of patients, while many other services have been lined up for near future. Find out more details about the BSNL VCOs here.
VCO Tariff Plan
“We will convert existing Public Call Offices (PCOs) to VCOs with these phones. People will be able to make voice calls to any phone and video calls to any other IP (internet based) phone,” BSNL Chairman and Managing Director R K Upadhyay is quoted as saying.
According to Mr. Upadhyay, the move will help the telecom operator up its revenue, which mostly comes from the landline phones. BSNL has finalised about 770 PCOs to turn into VCOs and aims to 10,000 VCOs across the country.
“It will bridge the gap between urban and rural India. This will be a platform for growth as this network can be used for purposes like job interview, tele-medicine, tele-education and host of other services,” says Advisor to Prime Minister Sam Pitroda, while inaugurating the new BSNL services.
Source: Times of India
Also read,