Cross platform messenger application is costing more on Telcos already burdened pockets. In this post we will see how Whats app is making customer feel Happy go lucky and giving more trouble to troubled telecom operators. TRAI mandate which states any customer if sends more than 100SMS in a Day post 100Sms charges should be charged upto Default SMS rates(1Rs/1.5Rs) despite his SMS Rate cutter or unlimited sms pack. The step of TRAI is in right direction to curb the unidentified and hoax customers using numbers for bulk marketing sms. But it has a severe impact on telecom companies as customers who were already on BBM and similar messenger services are now night mared with cross platform Whats app messenger application. Whats app has destroyed the market of BBM as it works across all mobile platforms enabling customer to send unlimited text with minimal data charges.
I tried to do a calculation wherein if a customer who is using Whatsapp for sending a say 4MB file but for comparing Whatsapp with MMS we keep the file size @ 300KB (Maximum File size that could be sent via MMS). For an MMS receiver and sender not on any data plan will cost as below:-
Cost Analysis Whatsapp Vs MMS
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MMS
File Size:- 300KB
Charges for Sender- Rs3+ 10P/10KB data charges (300KB*10P/10KB)= 3+3= 6Rs
Charges for Receiver- 10P/10KB data charges (300KB*10P/10KB)= 3Rs
Total Charges:- 9Rs
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WhatsApp
File Size:- 300KB
Charges for Sender- 10P/10KB data charges (300KB*10P/10KB)= 3Rs
Charges for Receiver- 10P/10KB data charges (300KB*10P/10KB)= 3Rs
Total Charges:- 6Rs
Conclusion:- Whatsapp is a Cheaper Substitute of MMS.
Cost Analysis Whatsapp Vs SMS
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SMS
Considering on an Average SMS Charges are Rs2.5/SMS.
Character Length:- 160 Characters
Charges for Sender- Rs 2.5
Charges for Receiver- Null
Total Charges:- Rs 2.5
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WhatsApp
Character Length:- 160 Characters
Charges for Sender- 1.6KB for 160 Character Text Message*10P/10KB data charges = 1Paisa/SMS
Charges for Receiver- Null
Total Charges:- 1Paisa/SMS
Conclusion:- Whatsapp is a Cheaper Substitute of SMS.
But before you conclude and proceed to download whatsapp considering it cheaper solution to SMS/MMS there is one more catch.
In this link Whatsapp recommends to use unlimited data plans which means an expense of another ~Rs350/Month.
What If you disagree with Whatsapp Guys recommendation and don’t buy any unlimited packs?
I first explain why Whatsapp guys are saying you should opt for a Unlimited plan. Whatsapp in idle state Synchronize itself whole Day with Whatsapp server to keep data session alive and ready to send and receive data. This polling (Or Synchronization) happens @3Polls/Hour (Which is 6KB/Hr, as each poll consumes 2KB) equals to 72Polls/Day hence you are giving Rs1.44/Day to your mobile opeator without any usage. Calculation:-
72Polls* 2KB/Poll*10Paisa/10KB= Rs1.44/Day or Rs43.20/Month
In Addition to data charges handsets battery life will also drain due to Polling.
Do you still think Whatsapp is Free?
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