I
n its bid to spread ‘Digital India’ message among the masses, Himachal Pradesh Postal Circle has decided to sell mobile phones at its Head Post Offices in all the district headquarters in the State. The first-of-its-kind initiative has been taken not only to popularise the Centre’s information technology (IT) initiatives but to provide affordable mobile phones to the poor people desiring to have one.
The decision has been taken on the heels of an agreement inked between India Post, BSNL, and a Noida-based Company—Pantel Technologies Private Limited, to sell Penta Bharat Phone PF 301 through post offices.
“The company’s pilot project in four southern states was a huge hit and over 70,000 phones were sold in less than a year, and the success model is being emulated in other states too,” Chief Postmaster General, HP Circle, Maj Gen A K Shori said.
The sale of Penta Bharat Phones was launched in Himachal with Shori handing over the first phone to the first customer at a function held at the newly-opened Post Shoppe in General Post Office (GPO) here.
The Rs 1,999-mobile phone comes with a free talktime of 1,999 minutes for 18 months. Penta PF 301 is a keyboard-operated phone loaded with attractive features like – 2.8-inch wide screen, dual sim, FM radio, audio player, torch, and camera – and is internet enabled. In the first phase, these phones will be sold in all the Head Post Offices from October 21 onwards and later more sale counters would be opened at other places, Shori remarked.
