Bangalore, April 27: Closed user group (CUG) is the new password connecting corporate clients with their cellular service providers in the country. For several companies reeling under huge losses, the CUG system could be a way out to communicate in a cost effective way.Cellular service provider JT Mobiles Ltd is offering such services in Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. The USP of this system is `security'. Which means that users in the group can talk without fear of the call being tapped.Spice Telecom, which holds the licence for Karnataka and Punjab circles, is also offering similar services.
The demand for such a system stems from the fact that mobile phones given to certain executives in a company under the already available `corporate package' are often used for personal purposes too. Under the CUG scheme, one of the options is to block outgoing calls beyond the group. So the calls are restricted to the group (read: No misuse of the mobile). Another option: Without the requisite authorisation, s/he maynot be able to accept calls from outside the group either.
The service works on the global system for mobile (GSM) communication technology from Ericsson. Each switch is protected by a device called a `guard' that ensures that calls stay within the group (if so deemed)."The response to this system has been encouraging," said JTM president KS Reddy. The company already has 200 CUGs in its accounts out of the present 80,000 customers in both Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh circles. But he did not disclose the total number of customers under the groups citing intense competition.
The targeted customer segment includes logistics and distribution companies where the need for seamless, secure communication is very high, according to company officials.
The various CUG options available with JTM are:
For mobile-to-mobile calls within a CUG.
For mobile-to-mobile calls within a CUG and also to allow outgoing calls.
For mobile-to-mobile calls within a CUG and also to allow incomingcalls.
For mobile-to-mobile calls within a CUG and also to allow both outgoing and incoming calls.JTM is offering a combination of options. For instance, with a closed user group of 10 executives and one manager, the group can be programmed in such a way that while the executives can only make calls to each other and to the manager, the manager can have the additional facility of making and receiving calls outside the group also.
For mobile-to-mobile CUG service, JTM has tagged the service at Rs 1,000 rental per month with the first 500 minutes of airtime free and a flat rate of Rs 2 per minute thereafter. Rates vary for other options, with other terms such as connectivity being the same.
The other features of JTM's CUG service include mobile fax and data services, encrypted and high security speech, complete access with control, calling line identification, call conferencing, call hold facility, voice mail facility and short message service facility.
Company officials claim that JTM is theonly service provider in Karnataka to offer fax and data connectivity.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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