SMS IN BANGLA AND THE MOBILE WAR

আমি বাঙলায় কথা বলি, আমি বাঙলার কথা বলি ।

For the first time in Bangladesh Bangla SMS is offered by the cell phone provider Citycell. Kudos to the four students of Computer Science & Engineering Department of BUET and part time programmers who developed the conversion software. The system they implemented converts Bangla Messages in English alphabet into Bangla Messages in Bangla alphabet and then transforms it into a compatible picture message. I hope the other mobile phone operators also join the race soon with better and simpler technology to give more value to their customers.

With the introduction of Teletalk, the government entered into the celluler phone market, which is very lucrative considering the meager teledensity of Bangladesh. Orascom's Bangla Link started the war offering mobile connections at down-to-earth rate. Now AKTEL and the pioneer GrameenPhone are also offering connections/SIMs at unbelievable rates (as low as $3). However the call rates (incoming and outgoing) are not reducing much. There is a fierce competition for giving reduced pulse as low as 10 seconds, but in the end the providers will reap from the stagnant high call charges. If we consider economies of scale, the rate should drop along with acquiring more customers. Hope to see some change in this once Teletalk gets fully operational.