In Lifetime pre-paid cards -- What's the catch?, we spoke about lifetime validity on your prepaid cell card. Here, we take a look at some of the offers by the various cellular operators:
Note: All call charges are per minute.
Airtel Lifetime Prepaid
Cost
Rs 999
Free talk time
Rs 25. Full talk time (less taxes) on subsequent recharges
Recharge denominations
Rs 60 to Rs 3,300
Call and SMS rates with lifetime validity
Local calls: Rs 1.99
STD calls: Rs 2.99
Local SMS: Rs 0.99
National SMS: Rs 1.99
Call and SMS rates on non-lifetime validity prepaid cards
Local calls to Airtel phones: Re 1
Local calls GSM/ WLL/ landline: Rs 2.25
STD calls to Airtel phones: Rs 2
STD calls to GSM/WLL/landline: Rs 2.9
Local SMS: Rs 1.50 (up to 160 characters)
National SMS: Rs 2
The small print on lifetime validity
The connection will be permanently deactivated if you don't make an outgoing call/ get an incoming call/ or buy a recharge for a continuous period of six months. So you can't stash away your mobile in your drawer, forget about it and still retain your connection. You cannot opt for any of the above mentioned special schemes once you have opted for the lifetime validity plan.
Special schemes (not available on lifetime validity offers)
Airtel One Local: Make local calls to any GSM mobile phone for Re 1 by paying a monthly rental of Rs 25.
Airtel One STD: Make STD calls at Rs 2 for a monthly rental of Rs 50 and a one-time activation charge of Rs 50.
Airtel Friendz: Send local SMSes at Rs 0.30 and make calls between 11 pm and 7 am to an Airtel phone at Rs 0.50 for a monthly rental of Rs 30
Hutch Chalta Rahe
Cost
Rs 999
Free talk time
Rs 25, with full talk time (less taxes) on every future recharge
Recharge denominations
Rs 10 to Rs 3,300
Call and SMS rates with lifetime validity
Local calls: Rs 1.99
STD calls: Rs 2.99
Local SMS: Rs 1.50
National SMS: Rs 2.50
Call and SMS rates on non-lifetime validity prepaid cards
Local calls to GSM/ CDMA/ landline: Rs 1.99
STD calls to GSM/ CDMA/ landline: Rs 2.64
Local SMS: Rs 1.50
National SMS: Rs 2
The small print on lifetime validity
You have to recharge every six months, or your connection will be cut off. The plus point is that you can get recharge coupons for as little as Rs 10. As in the case of Airtel, you cannot activate the special schemes after opting for lifetime validity.
Special schemes (not available with lifetime validity)
Get Closer: Make an STD call to any Hutch phone at Re 1 for a monthly rental of Rs 25.
Wait Till Night: Send an SMS to any local Hutch phone between 10 pm to 10 am for Rs 0.10 for a monthly rental of Rs 25.
Talk@99p: Make calls to any local mobile phone @ Rs 0.99 for a monthly rental of Rs 25.
MTNL Trump Jeevan Sathi
One-time cost
Rs 990
Free talk time
Rs 100, with full talk time (less taxes) for subsequent recharges
Recharge denominations
Between Rs 100 and Rs 2,640
Call and SMS rates for both lifetime validity and non-lifetime validity schemes
Local calls to Dolphin/Trump: Rs 0.90
Local calls to any other phone: Rs 1.50
STD calls within Maharashtra/ Goa (any phone): Rs 1.75
STD calls outside Maharashtra/Goa: Rs 2.40
Local SMS: Rs 0.50
National SMS: Rs 1.50
Note: Call rates are the same, whether you choose a lifetime validity scheme or any other offer. MTNL does not have any special scheme that can be coupled with the normal plan.
The small print on lifetime validity
You have to recharge the card at least once in six months with a minimum recharge of Rs 100.
Reliance IndiaMobile Jeevan Bhar ka Saath
Cost
Rs 995
Free talk time
Rs 50
Recharge denominations
Starts as low as Rs 10. You can couple the lifetime offer with recharge coupons that allow you to make outgoing calls for as little as 40 paise and send an SMS for 1 paisa.
Call and SMS rates with lifetime validity
Local calls: Rs 1.99
STD calls: Rs 2.99
Local SMS: Rs 1
National SMS: Rs 2
Call and SMS rates on non-lifetime validity prepaid cards
Local Reliance to Reliance/ FWP/ FPT: Rs 0.99
Local calls to other phones: Rs 1.79
STD calls to Reliance: Rs 1.79
STD calls to any other phone: Rs 2.49
Local SMS: Re 1
National SMS: Rs 2
The small print on lifetime validity
The connection will be deactivated if there is no transaction in the account for six months. And since it's a CDMA service, it can be used only with Reliance-ready handsets, which means switching services can be rather expensive. One advantage of this service is that you can combine lifetime validity with special schemes that suit your mobile usage.
Special schemes (available on both lifetime validity as well as non-lifetime validity cards):
Make free calls to Reliance phones by recharging with a Rs 440 coupon (valid for 30 days, talk time Rs 100).
One Nation, One Tariff: Buy a Rs 1,100 voucher and call any phone in India at Re 1 (valid for 30 days, talk time worth Rs 750).
SMS Top-up: For a Rs 55 top-up card you can send unlimited SMSes to Reliance phones across India (valid for 30 days). For a Rs 180 recharge you can send 18000 SMSes (valid for six months).
