Date: 23-06-04
TARIFFF
To avail of JAM, a
subscriber will need to pay, a combination of the following:
#1 Monthly Subscription
- most likely a fixed amount
#2 Incoming Job-Alert
SMS (5/10 per day)
- Could be Re. 0.50 to Re. 1.0 per SMS or the
mobile service operator may decide to send these FREE
#3 Outgoing "Apply
online" SMS (Resume forwarding Service)
- This is where, both MSP and we make
our money
- I am sure, all MSPs will charge #3.
Actual "per click" amounts will vary from MSP to MSP.
As far as #1 & #2
are concerned, some MSP may charge #1 but not #2 and some
other MSP may charge #2 but not #1.
You are also aware that the MSPs
offer a wide variety of "Tariff Plans" (presumably to
thoroughly confuse the subscribers!). They also keep changing these
plans.
They (MSP) may also do
this (frequent changes) in case of JAM.
Their main objective is that the
subscribers, are not in a position to "compare" tariff plans
of different MSPs and then figure-out, which plan is the "Cheapest".
By making their "pricing" NON-COMPARABLE, MSPs hope
that the subscribers will not abandon them (Chum) and migrate to a
Competitor.
In case of JAM, the question of
"distance" does not come into picture
e.g.:
- 0-200 km
- 201-500 km
- etc.
But it is "conceivable"
that the MSPs may demand from their subscribers, a 10%-20%
"PREMIUM" for delivering JAM at say 8 AM & 8
PM (Subscriber PRIME TIME, when he is free!).
In course of time, we would
certainly co-operate with MSPs to provide maxm CONVENIENCE to
their subscribers, but not now!
For the moment, we want to keep
things SIMPLE for our software and for our webmaster.
By keeping things SIMPLE
(EASY-TO-PROGRAM), we would be able to keep a continuous track of
what kind of "monies"
are MSPs earning thru JAM (on daily & cumulative basis)
what kind of "monies"
are WE earning (from each MSP and of course Combinedly.) also
on daily & cumulative basis.
So, we must pressurise the MSPs
to keep fewer "variables" and keep these as simple/straightforward
as possible - and keep these CONSTANT over as long a period of time, as
possible.
On the other hand, our Software
must be made capable of accommodating any "changes" in these "variables"
at short notice.
This "variable"
must also include, our "share" of the MSPs "revenue"
on each transaction. This could be a
- percentage (%) of the revenue earned by MSP
- a lump sum "amount/transaction"
(e.g. Rs. 0.50/Rs. 1.00/Rs. 2.00 etc)
- (e.g. Rs. 10/= per month - in case of Monthly
subscription).
I presume
- each MSP has its own website and
- on this website, they would display their "Tariff-chart/Tariff-Plan"
for JAM.
If any particular MSP has
any reservation/reluctance to display JAM TARIFF on its own corporate
website, then we should convince him that it is in his own interest to do so!
Would you want to go into a hotel
& order any food, if the MENU does not display the prices?
Unlikely.
The European hotels &
restaurants, go to the other extreme and, along with the Menu, also display the
prices in the roadside windows!
Their logic is simple.
If the Customer knows the "price"
of each item, even before he enters the restaurant, there is a better chance (a
higher probability) that he would feel inclined to walk in and order a couple
of items!
Of course, if your prices are too
high, the customer may walk-in the next restaurant! But, it can also happen,
the other way around too!
But a "Comparison-shopping"
is what the internet customers are demanding and that is what we should
provide.
My Suggestion is as follows:
REGISTRATION
Clicking on this link, will
take the subscriber (who wants to "register") to the relevant TARIFF
PAGE of his service provider's website where he can see what he will have to
pay for JAM.
So, even BEFORE
registering (clicking \fbox{SUBMIT}), he already KNOWS, what he would
have to pay for JAM.
If JAM has to take-off (like
a rocket), then, I think, this transparency is a must.
Why make a subscriber,
first register, without knowing
the "price/cost" implications on his monthly cash-outflow then
get an SMS/email from the MSP, intimating the "charges"
that he would pay, then
decide that he cannot afford
these charges and just keep quiet!
Neither the MSP, nor WE,
would be any wiser! We may even follow-up with him by email/sms - which
would be a wasted effort. He may even get irritated with such follow-up.
And who has any care, time to
follow-up and figure-out, why he decided not to join JAM?
At least, we don't have any
resources, for such follow-up!
As far as I am concerned, the
only question is
Do we make it possible for a BPL
subscriber to get to see/view BPL's JAM tariff? (by taking him to BPL's
website)
OR
Do we make it possible for him to
see tariffs of ALL MSPs? at one go, in a neatly tabulated, COMPARATIVE
CHART?
If we do not show him a neatly
tabulated COMPARATIVE CHART, he could, of course, compile one himself by
clicking on all tariff links, one-by-one, and noting down on a piece of paper!
What do we gain except making
subscriber's life miserable? If he has made up his mind, he will
somehow, get these info somehow or other, after spending a lot of time! and Curse
us for making him do this "donkey-work"!
On the other hand, if we offer
him a ready-made, Comparative Chart, he would "respect"
us for simplifying his life and enabling to take a quick &
considered, decision!
As far as we are concerned, what
does it matter if someone is receiving JAM as a subscriber of BPL
or as a subscriber of TATA?
We are not bothered if a BPL
fellow migrates to TATA or vice-versa!
All that we are interested is
that he "subscribes" one way or other! If he wants to migrate
to some service-provider who charges "Lower Tariff" for JAM,
it is OK with us!
What is really important for us
is that in absence of any info/data re: the JAM Tariffs of his own
service-provider, he decides "NOT TO SUBSCRIBE" - at all!
That would be BAD!
Inter-MSP "Chum"
is not our concern. It is something for an MSP to worry!
What we are interested in is
increasing the overall size of this circle (Total JAM subscriber-base).
But if the \substack{\text{big} text{Circle}}
remains same size, but individual, \substack{\text{Inner,} text{Smaller}}
Circles, keep changing their sizes (\text{grow bigger or smaller}), that does
not bother us - nor help us!
And, I feel, the only way to get
more & more mobile-phone subscribers to opt for JAM, is to show them
COMPARATIVE-TARIFF CHART right at the outset.
Signature & Date:
28/06/04
No comments:
Post a Comment