New Delhi, Feb 18: The Union government has liberalised business conditions for private firms offering voicemail services by abolishing a licensing fee, officials said on Sunday. The government, in a revised set of guidelines for investors, also ended licensing altogether for audiotex service firms that offer information of public utility like news and weather over the telephone, a senior official of the information and broadcasting ministry told Reuters.The government already allows 100 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) in voicemail and audiotex services. "If somebody wants to start a voicemail service, he must get a license from the government but there will be no fees charged," the official said. He said that the new guidelines also changed the definition of the service area for firms that so far covered only city limits.
Now they will be extended to short-distance charging areas (SDCAs) which can be accessed by local dialling, he said. Existing voicemail services operating under the old licensing-based regime will be able to migrate to the new regime with effect from April 1, the government said in a statement. Voicemail and audiotex services can also be offered by mobile and fixed line telephone companies, it said.
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