PRESS RELEASE
First of its kind value added loyalty programme
for users with roaming facility
Mumbai, April 19, 2001: Hutchison affiliate companies - Orange in Mumbai, Essar in Delhi and Command in Kolkata have tied up with HDFC Bank to bring a truly amazing offer with Roaming Rewards - the most powerful rewards programme in the country by Hutchison. A visiting national customer, travelling to Kolkata, New Delhi or Mumbai and holding a HDFC Bank savings or current account can now get Rs.4/- credited to their HDFC Bank Account for every Rs.100/- of roaming airtime used in any of the above Hutchison networks.
Announcing the initiative, Mr. Sanjeev Vohra, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Hutchison Max Telecom Ltd. said, "Over 120,000 customers of Hutchison and its affiliates in India subscribe to the roaming service. The tie-up with HDFC Bank will be a powerful incentive for roaming customers, and is part of our commitment to constantly endeavour to maximise customer satisfaction."
Commenting on the association, Mr. Neeraj Swaroop, Country Head - Retail Assets & Marketing, HDFC Bank stated, "This is an absolute win-win situation for HDFC Bank and Hutchison. Through this association, both companies aim at building loyalty in their customer base."
Hutchison's affiliates in India have over 400 roaming relationships providing connectivity to approximately three lakh Indian GSM customers and over 140 million international GSM customers into India at Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. An average of over 140,000 roaming customers visit Hutchison networks and use over 4.5 million minutes of airtime in a given month making it the largest roaming usage in any one set of affiliates in India. The total roaming minutage per month in India today is in the range of approximately 35 million minutes, of which Hutchison and its associates in India account for 30%.
Today, close to 500,000 GSM subscribers in India have access to roaming services, which enable them to use their services in national and international locations outside their home network. This service enables them to be contacted on a single number while travelling outside their home networks. All of these customers would now be able to participate in the roaming rewards programme.
About the Roaming Rewards programme
The Roaming Rewards programme, the most powerful rewards programme in the country, provides an opportunity for national roaming customers to earn reward points based on their roaming usage in Hutchison circles. Apart from the current tie-up with HDFC Bank, the programme also has tie-ups with Flying Returns - Joint frequent flier program of Air India & Indian Airlines, TOP - Frequent guest programme of The Oberoi Group and with Bonus Rewards Programme from HSBC Credit Cards. The current value of points for each alliance partner is, 12 Mileage Points with Flying Returns or seven Bonus Reward points with HSBC or five TOP Points with The Oberoi Group for every Rs100/- of roaming airtime used in the Hutchison Networks.
To register for the Roaming Rewards programme the customer needs to call 500 (toll free) in each of the Hutchison locations and choose the alliance partner. The roaming rewards points are calculated on the basis of the duration of the call. (for instance if a subscriber speaks for 25 seconds, he/she would get points for 25 seconds).