BSNL launch drive to collect e-mail, mobile numbers of customers

BSNL has launched a Statewide drive to put together a comprehensive database of its landline subscribers in a bid to serve better its nearly three million fixed phone and broadband users.

While many newer landline and broadband customers would have already submitted their e-mails or primary mobile contact numbers when they signed up for BSNL services, there is a large proportion of long-time subscribers whose contact details are yet to be updated, officials said.

“One of the primary aims of the exercise is to streamline fault redressal mechanism by sending SMS alerts to a registered mobile number of a landline subscriber on fault registration status, the lineman assigned and his contact number,” said G. Vijaya, spokesperson for BSNL Chennai Telephones. BSNL will also rely on e-mail to despatch e-bills, pitch promotional schemes, alerts about usage limits (for broadband users) and online support.

In Chennai circle, about 60 per cent of the 8.50 lakh landline and broadband user base have updated their e-mails/mobile contact by registering on the codes 53334, 53733 and 9442253733 — the procedure to do is available on chennai.bsnl.co.in

Though BSNL Tamil Nadu circle has collected e-mail contacts of an estimated 3 lakh subscribers, a chunk of its 17 lakh landline and broadband users, especially those in rural areas, do not use any e-mail account yet leaving their registered primary mobile numbers as the contact channel, officials said. BSNL is also encouraging subscribers to switch to e-bills with a loyalty bonus of ten free calls for each month.

“Switching to e-bills can save a lot of printing and postal costs while subscribers too benefit from instant access and ease of repeat reference,” said M. Ashraf Khan, Chief General Manager, BSNL Tamil Nadu. “We will continue to send monthly bills by post unless users opt for e-mail statements,” Ms. Vijaya said.

While BSNL’s efforts to promote e-bills is in line with go-green practices of service industries,subscribers who have already opted for monthly statements on e-mail point out that for some reason the BSNL has not adopted password protection for e-mailed bills even though call logs that come with the statements fall in the domain of user privacy.

Source : http://www.thehindu.com/