BSNL, MTNL plan tele-voting

Landline subscribers will soon be able to take part in nation-wide "tele-voting" at local call rates as Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) are set to launch this facility.

The two PSUs will also provide a slew of add-on interactive features, which allow customers to ascertain the number of calls placed to different candidates in a voting and even give options and results, following the completion of a call. Other features include "remote customer access" and a customer care facility to provide results at regular intervals or through e-mail and FAX.

A customer can also track the survey's status as they can request information on the number of calls placed to different candidates at any time.

The platform was capable of handling 400,000 calls an hour and would be upgraded to 1.2 million after the launch, company executives said. Out of its five "intelligent network" platforms, the mass calling intelligent network (MCIN) in Hyderabad would be used for televoting, they added.

"Unlike SMS-based voting, there are no intermediaries and hence there is no revenue-sharing," explained a BSNL executive.

The charge for SMS voting is between Rs 3 and Rs 5, and customers often do not receive an acknowledgment. Besides, text messages are delivered late when the traffic is heavy.

"Televoting offers solutions to these. We also have a facility where customers can make free calls and the agency that undertakes the survey or the opinion poll foots the bill," said the executive.

For minute-to-minute tracking, BSNL has also offered ISDN lines on rent to agencies that use this service.

The company is also willing to opt for a revenue share with agencies which agree to bring in an assured number of calls.