Virgin Mobile.... "Honeymoon is over" !!!

Tata's and Virgin Corporation came together in 2008, to launch GSM mobile services in India, as Virgin Mobile. It was launched with heavy fanfare, with new innovating schemes and youthful advertising. It came up with "Hatke" schemes like "Earn 10paise on incoming" and "Free SMS". But it seems, that even after lot of path-breaking marketing efforts, and even being backed by huge corporations, it couldn't find its space in consumer's evoked set. One of the major reasons could be huge competition in telecom sector, leaded by brands like Airtel, Reliance and Vodafone. Its been an year after the launch. Let's analyze its shortcomings from the customer's perspective.

1) New Users : Virgin mobile targeted youth, who could be the first time buyers of mobile in urban areas. Consumers enjoyed their fun-filled advertisements, but this liking never turned to purchase. Reason, Virgin being new! Consumers doubted quality and availability of their services, throughout India. Virgin couldn't break this perception of consumers, that even being new, it has good service all over India. Virgin never used brand Tata to promote itself. Brand Tata would have added credibility to its service, as it being already into industry as strong CDMA player.

2) Existing Users : Virgin Mobile failed to convince consumers to switch their services from Airtel, Vodafone, etc. to Virgin Mobile. Even being switching cost not so high, there is some sought of loyalty seen in telecom industry. A Vodafone user usually doesn't switches its service to some other service, until he/she is extremely dissatisfied by the brand. Or some other telecom player gives him/her enough good reasons, to change.

3) New Markets : Players like Airtel, Vodafone, Reliance and Tata Indicom are trying to expand their customer base by entering into rural markets of India, as huge potential is hidden there. But Virgin Mobile, targeted itself to urban youth, which is already been captured by existing players. Moreover, being new, it didn't have infrastructure to support rural market needs, i.e. lower calling rates, low priced handsets, better service.

To grow organically, either Virgin Mobile should add more content to its advertising or use the brand Tata to add its credibility.

What's your take on it???

A Small Story...!!!

My friend Sumit Gahoi mailed me this sweet little story. And I was so overwhelmed by the story, that I decided to post it on my blog.Here it is.

"A boy and a girl were playing together. The boy had a collection of marbles. The girl had some sweets with her. The boy told the girl that he will give her all his marbles in exchange for her sweets. The girl agreed.

The boy kept the biggest and the most beautiful marble aside and gave the rest to the girl. The girl gave him all her sweets as she had promised.

That night, the girl slept peacefully. But the boy couldn't sleep as he kept wondering if the girl had hidden some sweets from him the way he had hidden his best marble."

Moral of the story: "If you don't give your hundred percent in a relationship, you'll always keep doubting if the other person has given his/her hundred percent.. This is applicable for any relationship like love, employer-employee relationship etc., Give your hundred percent to everything you do and sleep peacefully."

Shashi Tharoor... On Indian Diversity !!!

Once, in HINDU newspaper, I read an article by Mr. Shashi Tharoor, on Indian diversity. I was so impressed by one of his statements that even after couple of years, I searched for it on web, to blog it.

 

He said, 

"If America is a melting-pot, then to me India is a 'Thali', a selection of sumptuous dishes in different bowls. Each tastes different, and does not necessarily mix with the next, but they belong together on the same plate, and they complement each other in making the meal a satisfying repast."

 

And those who have heard the name,"Shashi Tharoor" for the first time, or know less about him, beneath is his profile.

 

Shashi Tharoor was born in 1956 in London and educated in Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi (BA in History, St. Stephen's College), and the United States. He holds a Ph.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.

Since May 1978, Tharoor has worked for the United Nations. He served over 11 years with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, whose Singapore office he headed during the "boat people" crisis (SAJA). In October 1989 he was transferred to the peace-keeping staff at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. In this position, he served as Special Assistant to the Under-Secretary-General for Peace-keeping Operations. Dealing with a range of issues in this capacity, Tharoor addressed a variety of peace-keeping issues around the world and led the team responsible for the United Nations peace-keeping operations in the former Yugoslavia. On January 1, 1997 Shashi Tharoor was appointed Executive Assistant to Secretary of the United Nations Kofi Annan.

As a diplomat and writer, Shashi Tharoor has explored the diversity of culture in his native India. By exploring the themes of India's past and its relevance to the future, he has produced both works of fiction and nonfiction. His most recent work, India: From Midnight to Millennium, is a nonfiction account of India's past and projected future inspired by the 50th anniversary of India's independence.

Republic (HOLI)Day... !!!

Last 8 years, spent in my engineering college, company and B-school, I have never seen people turning up in huge numbers for Republic day or Independence day functions. Today is 26th January. India's and our's "Republic Day"! I have intentionally used "India's" and "Our's" separately. Reason, many people living in this country, separate themselves from India.

Today, out of 500 people in my B-school campus, only 50 appeared for the Flag hoisting ceremony. Not to forget, out of those 50 students, 20 were staff and guards. Above all, none from the administration and faculty department appeared for the function. And the ceremony finished in just 30 minutes. Nothing new in it,actually. I have been seeing this for the last 8 years.

People feel patriotism, when movie based on India gets nominated in Oscars!

People feel patriotism, when India beats other teams in Cricket!

People feel patriotism, when Indians are awarded on global level for their exemplary work!

But when it comes to Republic day, it's a mere Holiday !

The common feeling is,

"To hell with patriotism! Its better to sleep for an extra hour rather attending the flag hoisting ceremony."

I know, just not attending these functions, doesn't mean that someone is not patriotic. But if it would have been functions like, Valentine's day, Ethnic Day, Lohri, Holi etc., ceremony would have been jam-packed ! Reason, these functions have fun, dance and entertainment elements into it. Moreover, people get chance to showoff their dresses or to click snaps of themselves. People tend to believe, Republic or Independence day functions as boring and unnecessary.

Yes, these functions don't have fun element, but don't they make you feel,"Proud"? 

It reminds me of my School days, where Republic Day and Independence Day functions were compulsory. Patriotic songs are sung, folk dances are presented, ,sweets are distributed, march-past and parades are held. We as teens, used to enjoy those functions with enthusiasm. All these events, adds to the feeling nationalism and patriotism among us.

So what's difference between "School Days" and "College Days"?

Now we are more educated (graduates and post-graduates) and we all are less patriotic!

Is there any relation between education and patriotism?

Doesn't it make a statement!

HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY !!!

VANDE MATARAM !!!

Common Man's Best Friend... Rickshaw !!!

India is growing, its economy is well-stabilized, infrastructure is improving, income levels are raising and the whole world wants to invest in this country. My journey from Kanpur (my birthplace) to Delhi and finally to Bangalore, have seen immense change in terms of city infrastructure, especially transport. 

In Kanpur, roads are as slim as the footpaths.Four-lane roads are rarely seen, that to in the very outskirts. Smaller Mahanagar Buses, are as full as a popcorn pack, where men and women are popping out of doors. Moreover, in buses, more likely are the chances of pickpocketing and eve-teasing (Kanpur boasts of it). To add to it, you could never ever find a seat to sit even in your wildest dreams. Thus "Sharing Autos" (Vikram) are prominent mode of transport as they are cheap (literally), quick (just see them driving), and safer (you have to experience that). But, for small distances, Kanpur still depends on "Cycle-Rickshaws". I guess, whole of North-India depends on them.

According to Calvin Trillin of National Geographic, "Most rickshaws serve people "just a notch above poor" who tend to travel short distances. He added that some people use rickshaws as "24 hour ambulance services," as escorts for shoppers, and as a way for businesses to transport goods. Trillin added that children enrolled in schools were the "steadiest" customers. Many middle class families contract with rickshaw pullers to transport their children; a rickshaw puller who transports children becomes a "family retainer.""

The best part about cycle-rickshaws is that, it makes a common man feel as if he is "The King of the Road". Yes, they are damn slow, but its like a elephant-ride of King, who sits alone, and rules the road as well the driver. Moreover they are eco-friendly and cheap. Yes, it doesn't save you completely from the heat of summers and rains. But friends, drenching yourself in rain while travelling, is an experience. Rickshaws are the best-friends of people living in smaller cities. 

No matter, how thin a lane is. 

No matter, how rough a road is. 

Rickshaw would take you there!

But, with times, the cycle-rickshaws are reducing in numbers. And I always felt that my children would never be able to live this experience. Rickshaws are losing the race with times. In more developed cities like Mumbai and Bangalore, rickshaws are banned. Reason, their slow pace affects traffic and it involves excess physical labor.

Sorry Bangaloreans, you are missing the experience of travelling in a rickshaw !

Atleast I miss them!

Welcome!!!

I have introduced, a new form of my blog, as "vibsmats.blogspot.com", for slower connections.

This for those of my readers, who suffer from poor internet speed, thus the blog includes lesser gadgets and widgets.

Moreover, there have been a feedback from my readers, that they wished to have a simpler URL, as "beastepahead.blogspot.com" seems cumbersome. Neither it was easy to remember, nor were they able to associate it with my name. Thus, I planned to run a parallel blog,by the simpler name as "vibsmats.blogspot.com", related to my name, and easier to remember.

So, friends, extend your support to this parallel blog as you all were being doing earlier.

Thanks.

Be a step ahead !!!

G for "Greed" or "Generosity"... !!!

Gone are the days when in business, the letter G denoted "Greed". After crisis, people of Europe, Japan and prominently USA are disgusted with these greedy corporations. As if they no more believe in the brands, they trusted before. Now no more, they follow brands blindly. Common man believes that the greediness of these brands and corporations led to downfall of their economy.

So what to do, to win back the trust of the common man!

I guess, corporations need to understand that in today's business arena, there is no room for greed.
To succeed, the letter G should be replaced to "Generosity"!

A corporation need to be more customer responsive, ethical and value driven. Brands need to crush their arrogance and should communicate their "Generosity" through Public Relation (PR)campaigns, Corporate Social Responsible (CSR) Activities and by providing more value to customers through their products and services.

Thus, it introduces new form of marketing, as "Generosity Marketing".

Trendwatching.com discusses this concept and explains how could corporations and brands can have long term success, and can be a step ahead from their greedy competitors.

What's your Facebook status... ???

Can you imagine, what is the impact of Facebook in the world's most powerful country, USA ?
Let me be blunt and straight.

A man brutally attacked his wife with knife and killed her.

So what’s so special about it?

He killed his wife just because, she changed her profile status on Facebook from married to single !

As per news from BBC, "Edward Richardson, 41, was found guilty of stabbing Sarah Richardson to death. He killed the 26-year-old hairdresser at her parents' home in Brown Lees, Staffordshire, on 12 May, 2008."

Among all the social networking websites, Facebook is the biggest phenomenon among US citizens.

I am speechless !!!

U.S.Future in Safe Hands... ???

George W. Bush is gone, after having two successful terms at the highest level, as the President of USA.
And here we welcome, Mr. Barack Obama, as the new "hope", as the new President, who promised "Change".

I still don't know, whom to laugh at, Mr. Obama, or his campaign "Change".

Or at the 2 million people of US, standing near Capitol and White House, just to be a part of inaugral ceremony, as if Mr. Obama is the saviour arrived, who has the magic wand and will "Change" the future of capitalistic US.

Could someone, please give me the rationale behind this!

Well, congratulations, to Mr. Obama.

When there is so much of uncertainty, its better to laugh at the picture beneath.

Future of USA, in the hands of both the leaders. Watch out for the reactions!!!



HA HA HA....

Calvin and Hobbes... view on Crisis... 15 years back !!!

My dear friend Sumit Gahoi mailed me this cartoon which is suggestive of today's economic crisis and bail-out packages.It clearly depicts today's scenario in a form of cartoon.

"Calvin's explanation of his Lemonade Stand's business perspective has a resonance to the American Banking and Auto industry's position in the economy. Remember that this cartoon was drawn over 15 years ago!"



"Calvin and Hobbes is a comic strip written and illustrated by Bill Watterson, following the humorous antics of Calvin, an imaginative six-year old boy, and Hobbes, his energetic and sardonic—albeit stuffed—tiger. The pair are named after John Calvin, a 16th-century French Reformation theologian, and Thomas Hobbes, a 17th-century English political philosopher. The strip was syndicated daily from November 18, 1985 to December 31, 1995. At its height, Calvin and Hobbes was featured in over 2,400 newspapers worldwide. To date, more than 30 million copies of the 18 Calvin and Hobbes books have been printed."

Oops... !!!

Sorry to say, but I get totally irritated with Hindi News channels especially like Aajtak TEZ, India TV, Zee News and STAR News. Their news stories are so dumb and funny that sometimes it makes me feel, as if there are no more important issues left in India.

A friend of mine posted this picture in his Orkut profile. See what a co-ordination between the news and the forthcoming news.
I just couldn't imagine what would be the news with the tagline "इस कुत्ते से सीखिए" ("Learn from this Dog").
And does this news has enough relevance.
I guess its better to keep our brains shut, and laugh our hearts out at this blooper.

Sorry Advaniji and BJP fans!

Mahindra XYLO… an answer to Tata Sumo Grande !!!

"Tata Sumo Grande", have you heard of this car before? Yah, I know friends, some may knew it, and some would have never even heard of it. Since, I did my internship in Tata Motors, and was handling specifically Tata Sumo Grande, I know this car in and out.

Tata Sumo Grande was introduced in the market to compete the likes of Chevrolet Tavera, Mahindra Bolero, Mahindra Scorpio and especially Toyota Innova. It was positioned as a mix of SUV and a family car. The major advantage it had was its price. It tried to market itself an SUV with comfort of Toyota Innova, looks of Mahindra Scorpio and Mileage of Chevrolet Tavera at the price of Mahindra Bolero.
The result, it failed miserably !!!

Reason, it tried to target everyone, and hence couldn't satisfy, anyone. Neither SUV lovers as it lacked power and pick-up, nor families as it lacked good interiors and had poor rear suspension(leaf-spring) with almost no luggage space.

Now Mahindra has launched "Mahindra Xylo", on the similar lines of Tata Sumo Grande, as projects itself as a mix of sedan and SUV. The target market is same, competitors are same, positioning is same.

Exteriors are good. It has more power than Sumo Grande and better rear suspension (coil-spring).

Let's see what lies ahead of Xylo!!!

Slumdog.... INDIA !!!

I am eagerly waiting, for the Oscar nominations to announce. "Slumdog Millionaire" has won 4 Golden Globe awards and many others prestigious awards. The best part, an Indian, A.R.Rahman, winning international awards all round the world. Now, its time for Oscars !

But I have always felt that, only those movies (related to India) have done well in Oscars, which depict India as a underdeveloped poor country. Movies like "Salaam Bombay", "Gandhi", "Mother India", "Lagaan", "Water" and finally "Slumdog Millionaire", all depict India living into villages and slums. These movies showed poverty, socio-imbalance, riots, and what not. I guess, for the Oscar jury, India is still a land of "snake charmers".
Amitabh Bachchan rightly says, "Slumdog Millionaire has portrayed India as a Third World dirty underbelly developing nation"!
I still believe, that there were many other movies, which were equally good, and deserved an Oscar nomination, atleast!
My fingers are crossed, and all the wishes to "Slumdog Millionaire".

But I still wait for a movie, winning awards globally, depicting India's economic success.
I still wait for a movie, winning awards globally, that talks about Indian culture, diversity and unity.
I still wait for a movie, winning awards globally, that talks good and positive about India.

This one is for Ghajini...!!!

Thanks to my friend,Sumit Gahoi, who got me the ad of Ghajini, an Amul's perspective.But I still prefer the "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" one.
What's your favorite?

Amul's take on "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi"... !!!

There is been a war between the fans of Aamir Khan and Shahrukh Khan. Which movie will be the highest revenue grosser this year, "Ghajini" or "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi" ?

Amul, has its own take on it, via humour.

I am waiting for the Ghajini ad !!! Are you ?

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009

"Walt Disney of India"

I guess, many of we Indians must have read CHACHA CHAUDHARY, SHRIMATIJI, PINKI, BILLOO and RAMAN comics in their childhood. All under the banner of Diamond Comics, were the favorite pastime of children. Let me introduce you with Walt Disney of India, Father of Indian Comics, Mr. Pran Kumar Sharma. Entertaining generation after generation, PRAN'S comics have been constant companion of every youngster's growing up. His all character are drawn from middle class society. He was the one, who in 1960, created first indigenous cartoon strips having Indian characters and based on local themes. Before that all comics were imported from foreign countries. Pran began his career in 1960 as a cartoonist for the Delhi-based newspaper Milap with comic strip Dabbu. In 1969, he sketched Chacha Chaudhary for the Hindi magazine Lotpot, which made him famous.

He has influenced all our lives through his cartoon characters. I still remember buying Chacha Chaudhary, Pinki and Billo, whenever I used to cross any bookshop. But, today Indian kids are no more interested in reading comics and that to Hindi… never !!! Indian kids are over burdened by high standards of education.

I am proud, to be born in that generation, who had enough time to live their life up, had fun and spice in life. We dreamt and desired, and see them fulfill through these comic characters.
In the end, very famous lines from these comics,

"Chacha Chaudhary ka dimag computer se bhi tez chalta hai !"
&
"Jab Saabu ko gussa aata hai, to Jupiter me kahin na kahin jwalamukhi phatata hai !"