SAMSUNG CHAMP DUOS

Samsung Champ Neo Duos launched at Rs 3,190

Bangalore: Samsung has introduced another player in its budget phone class, the Champ Neo Duos. The dual SIM device has some neat features to it making it a budget-friendly buy at Rs 3,190.

Sporting a 2.5-inch screen and with a stylus pen too, Champ Neo Duos has on-the-go connectivity options and a dual SIM hot swap functionality. 

The device is fully capable of social network support with apps like Twitter, Facebook. Samsung’s own chat application, the ChatON comes pre-installed along with 20MB memory expandable to 32GB, a VGA camera and 1,000 mAh battery.

Samsung Champ Neo Duos is available in ceramic white colour.

According to Samsung’s own website, the Champ Neo Duos is, ''Housed in a compact and neat design with a full touch screen and enhanced connectivity, this mobile is always on to receive calls, access social networking sites, download apps, play music and much more,'' 

The phone is available on online retail giant Flipkart at Rs 3,190. 

No roaming charges likely from next year

No roaming charges likely from next year

NEW DELHI: The communications ministry will do away with roaming charges paid by mobile users when travelling within India from 2013, telecom secretary R Chandrasekhar told ET, even as he added that it would not be possible to specify the exact month of execution.

The finance ministry asked the telecom department to submit the road map for implementation of the 'one nation-free roaming' that was announced by communications minister Kapil Sibal earlier this year. In May, the Union Cabinet had approved the National Telecom Policy - 2012 that aimed at doing away with roaming charges and introducing a pan-India mobile permit (unified licence) that would enable mobile phone firms to offer all communication services.

"Our first priority is the upcoming spectrum auctions. At the same time, we are working on the Unified Licence (UL) and we want to finalise this by December. Once the UL regime is rolled out post December, concepts like 'One nation-free roaming' that is part of it will be introduced. This will happen sometime next year (2013). At this stage it will be impossible to specify the exact timeframe," Chandrasekhar said.

This consumer-centric move, which is bound to bring down the mobile bills of frequent travellers, will dent revenues of India's beleaguered telecom companies since roaming charges account for about 10% of the sector's annual sales.