TRAI’s 100-SMS-a-day limitation being sidestepped

Internet applications like Whatsapp has made it easy to go around the TRAI 100-SMS-a-day limitation.

By Shraddha Choudhury

BANGALORE (Oct. 20)—Texting addicts can continue sending over 100 SMSs per day with various Internet applications available for free download on smartphones.

People are turning to Internet apps to enable them to continue enjoying texting following the decision by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of India to cap texts at 100 a day, ostensibly to combat phone spamming.

With the coming of Blackberry messenger-like applications such as Whatsapp, Facebook chat and the like available for free download on phones, the need to have SMS packs and be able to send over 100 texts a day is no longer as strong.

This signals a shift in the way people use their phones: Instead of investing in SMS packs, people are now spending more on Net packs.

“Internet surfing and downloading has increased,” said Shaik B., manager of Reliance World in Mota Arcade. “TRAI can’t stop people from using such [Internet] applications.”

Dheeraj E.T., assistant manager of the Vodafone Store in Church Street, said, “With the coming of 3G and then the TRAI regulations, there has been around 10-15 pecent increase in Internet usage.”

He said it was a little early to comment on these applications as they are relatively new.

Telecom firms unfazed

With SMS packs no longer in use, one would imagine that the telecom companies would be facing losses, but that is not how things have turned out.

“[The new regulation] has not affected business much,” said Shaik of Reliance Communications. “We don’t offer the special service packs anymore but don’t face much losses as the Internet on cell phones is in much use now.”

Dheeraj said the limitation had a negligible effect on Vodafone sales in cities, but that rural areas, where people do not use the Internet much, have felt the difference.

He also said the TRAI move has made the biggest difference to people working in sales and marketing.

“They send their business updates through SMSs, and most of their business is based on this,” he said. “Not all these working-class people have smartphones where they can use these apps, so SMSs is the way they communicate.”

The SoftCopy asked users across the country how they felt about the TRAI move and also how convenient—or inconvenient—they find the use of such applications. This is what they had to say:

	Abhinita Ghosh, audit assistant at KPMG in Hyderabad: “I still SMS as much as I used to earlier, which is a lot. But Whatsapp is somehow more convenient as it helps me stay connected with many people.”		Niti Joshi, senior compensation analyst at Applied Micro Circuits Corp., San Jose, California: “These apps are much, much easier! Right at this moment I’m out with friends and chatting with my sister-in-law and best friend, who are both in India, at the same time!”
	Ashish Nahar, article assistant for Manohar Chowdhury & Associates, Chennai: “The TRAI rule doesn’t matter to people who use these apps. But they are far more convenient than SMSing.”		Agni Srinivasan, an engineering student at Kolkata: “Whatsapp is a cheaper option, yes, but only because most of my friends also have smartphones.”
	Nitya Mehra, assistant marketing manager at Phillipines Tourism Board, Mumbai: “With these apps, SMSing has reduced a lot and it’s convenient. Companies have come up with good internet packages, so life is easy!”		Ambica Chibber, a student in Delhi University: “The 100 limit thing has not made a difference. But the SMSs from property people, etc. have reduced.”
	Sheldon Abranches, a freelance copywriter from Goa: “Whatsapp is quite convenient, but as far as reach goes, not everyone uses Whatsapp. So texting still holds ground over such apps.”		Navneet Karvasara, manager of Deutsche Bank, Mumbai: “The limit set by TRAI is insane! But it doesn’t matter to me as BBM is more convenient than messaging. Though it does make me spend on Internet packs.”
	Kanksha Barman, a linguistics student in Germany: “I barely SMS anymore. The other apps are way better and make me spend more on Internet packs now.”		Ayu Kay, a student from Indonesia studying at JNU in Delhi: “This scheme hasn’t made a difference but neither has these apps. A lot of my friends don’t use them as their phones only allow texting and calling. They are convenient sometimes, but there’s a thin line between easy communication and invasion of privacy.”
	Abhinandan R.L., a student at BMS Engineering College in Bangalore: “Even if TRAI didn’t come up this regulation, I’d still use Whatsapp. It's a faster way to communicate as we can have group chats and send pictures as well.”		Ahana Dutta, an engineering student in Manipal: “No. These are not more convenient because not everybody’s on it.”