The company is selling two short range models-SN 258 and SN 738S. It has yet to get a permission from the wireless department of the government of India to sell its long range cordless phones on a mass scale.

SN 258 has a downtown range of 8-10 km and free space range of 10-20 km with a maximum air radius of 30 km. SN 738S phones have a downtown transmission range of 2-4 km and free space range of 8 km with an air radius of 10 km.

However, the downtown transmission range of SN 738S models can be increased to a km further by putting an outdoor antenna.

The downtown transmission range for cordless phones is lower in comparison to their free space range due to the obstructions by high rise buildings, etc.

Senao cordless phones have a built-in scrambler. So, the user of these phones can set a time alarm. These phones also have multi-channel auto scan facilities, which help the handsets to adjust to lower frequencies of the incoming calls as well. Further, the handsets come with a memory of storing 10 telephone numbers. With a click on one digit of these stored numbers, the phone starts dialling the number, thereby saving time and magnetism.

Another interesting feature of Senao phones is that once the user moves outside the transmission range, the phone automatically beeps an alarm. The phones also come with LCD displays, similar to cellular phones. Apart from these, the Senao cordless handsets have a number of other interesting features.

"Senao cordless phones function on MTNL lines and are metered at local rates, unlike cellular phones," explains Mr Arun Kumar, head of Eageract Impex. He adds, "Hence these cordless phones, which can be used while one is mobile within the transmission range, are cost-effective as compared to cellular phones. Further, as many as 14-15 handsets of Senao cordless phones can be joined to be used as an EPABX."

Looking at the handset prices also cordless phones seem much cheaper than cellular phones. "When one buys a cordless phone, the investment is between Rs 3,000 and Rs 5,000. But in case of cellular phone the initial investment comes at around Rs 10,000," Mr Kumar says.

Available in the price range of Rs 15,000 upwards, the prospective customers of Senao cordless phones include business establishments, police, army, etc.

"The communication instruments (wireless phones) which the police presently use in our country are capable of one-way communications, but Senao cordless phones are capable of two-way communication," says Mr Kumar.

Though Motorola has already introduced its two-way long range (over 100 km transmission range) radio phones in the Indian market long before, yet these phones can be sold only to the police or individuals who have a licence from the wireless department.