The "Men" win Big

In the continuing effort to “stick it to the men” of telecom, I lost big in India this week

It worked on a previous trip to India – I turned off my PDA, since Cingular/ATT wants $ 2.99 a minute (plus taxes) – and bought prepaid cards for a local mobile and for access to wi-fi hotspots. Used Skype for most calls back to US.

 On this trip, did the same…but got my butt kicked.

a) Cannot buy Hutch (now part of Vodaphone) mobile prepaid card on-line. Go to Hutch store and there is a kiosk at store but not for prepaid cards. So, it takes an hour and handling by 5 reps before I get set. Have to go back to ensure it will allow for roaming in the 3 other Indian cities I plan to visit.  Roughly works out to 25a c a minute for calls in, 35c for calls back home. Not cheap and lousy customer service, but lot better than the Cingular rate. 

b) Go to Tata Indicom store to buy WI-FI hotspot prepaid cards. Store has plenty but cannot sell them because system shows “they have previously been sold”. Not sure what that means, but it is a wasted trip. However, Mumbai airport kiosk sells me the cards. Reasonably priced at about $1.50 per Wi-FI hour, and allows for roaming across major cities. So, I think.

 c) Stay at Le Meridien at Bangalore. WI-FI is through Tata Indicom, but will only recognize cards sold through its lobby. The cards I bought at airport do not work. Pay them $ 17 for 24 hour period. Consolation: Le Meridien is $ 125 a night cheaper than last time. I hear Bangalore hotel rates are finally coming down. About time.

 d) Use prepaid Tata Indicom card at Bangalore airport. Works fine. But Skype does not - appears blocked. 

 e) Stay at Courtyard by Marriott in Chennai. Does not accept the Tata prepaid card. WI-FI is $ 17 a day. But hotel is otherwise great value – highly recommend it. Also use the Tata card later at Chennai airport.

f) Stay at Taj Blue Diamond in Pune. Part of the Tata group of companies. But no Tata-Indicom. WI-FI is another $ 17 a day. On top of an overpriced room. 

g) Stop for dinner at Maratha Sheraton in Mumbai near airport. Find out flight is delayed 3 hours. Like to get on-line, but no Tata-Indicom. WI-FI is $ 17 a day. – cheaper than by the hour. Signal is weak in lobby. So Business Center opens up its conference room for us to use. Now, this is a bargain at $ 17.

h) Go to airport. Flight more delayed. Pick up a weak Tata Indicom signal in lounge. Shell out $ 6 for hour of better access on EzComm Wireless. 

i) Check my Cingular AT&T bill from my E. Europe trip last month. Recall that I had downloaded email one evening to my PDA. Momentary lapse, and transfer of 1135KB, costs $ 25.

I feel sore. Need to train better to stick it to the Men next time

Update: Boingo must have heard me. They are launching a flat $ 39 a month global plan. I had signed up on their $ 21.95 plus 12c roaming plan last month and it did me well on my E. Europe trip. Did not help much in India where they only showed 5 hotspots in the whole country, none convenient to my travel spots. Hey, if they keep improving the new flat plan will be a winner. Thanks for the stick, Boingo!