Idea Cellular, India’s 3rd-largest mobile operator and Opera Software have joined hands with Quikr, India's largest online mobile classifieds portal to offer sponsored mobile data through Sponsored Web Passes for over 137 million Idea customers in India. The tri-partnership is aimed at enabling more Indians to get online and experience the power of the internet on their mobile phones, the first such initiative in South Asia.
A web pass is a great alternative to monthly data plans for consumers who do not require full-time internet access. Opera partnered with Idea earlier this year to bring this innovative solution to Opera Mini users in India. This solution provides affordable internet packages, tailor-made to enable Idea subscribers to enjoy internet access for particular timelines or websites, such as Facebook access for a day or internet access for an hour at just Re. 1. Web passes allow transparent, self-explanatory transactions, along with affordable and controllable pay-as-you-go features.
With Sponsored Web Pass, Idea subscribers will enjoy internet on their mobile phones, sponsored by Quikr. To get sponsored web access, Idea users just need to open Opera Mini and click the “Idea Web Pass” Speed Dial entry, then select the “Free Internet by Quikr (10 MB)” web pass option. From there, users will be able to enjoy 10 MB of sponsored internet access on their mobile phones for an entire day.
Speaking about the association, Sashi Shankar, Chief Marketing Officer, Idea Cellular, says, “Data is going to be the next big game changer in the Indian telecom industry. However, there are certain entry-level barriers that must be overcome for mass adoption. The web pass concept has helped us surpass the barrier of cost and convenience and has led to a spike in the number of data users on our network. Now, with Sponsored Web Pass, we are confident that even more non-data users will come on board and enjoy the amazing world of internet on their mobile phones, while also giving an opportunity to advertisers to gain instant connect with consumers using the mobile platform.”
Sunil Kamath, Vice President for South Asia at Opera Software, says, “At Opera, we are always looking for new ways to break the barriers for internet access and ensure that more and more people get connected to the web. In line with that, we are extremely happy to deploy our first-ever Sponsored Web Pass in South Asia, with Idea and Quikr.
Kamath adds, “This revolutionary tool helps operators expand the reach of mobile internet to many more new users, who might otherwise be wary of spending on data plans. It’s a great avenue for advertisers as well, who gain an extremely positive brand association with millions of consumers through Opera Mini. Consumers love sponsored internet access, which is increasingly becoming a necessity today. Sponsored Web Pass is a win-win for everyone.”
Pranay Chulet, Founder and Chief Executive Officer at Quikr.com says, “We are very excited to partner with Opera and Idea for this groundbreaking solution. Today, Indian consumers are increasingly using their mobile phones to reach out to all kinds of products and services. Given Opera Mini’s massive popularity in India, this is a great opportunity for us to connect with new consumers and create mindshare through this new platform of advertising, which directly benefits consumers, as well.”
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