Quikr teams up with Idea and Opera as the first advertiser to lower the barriers for Indians to come online
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.”
For more information on the Opera Web Pass solution for operators, visit http://www.operasoftware.com/products/web-pass/.
About IDEA Cellular
IDEA Cellular is India’s 3rd largest national mobile operator, with more than 137 million subscribers. With traffic in excess of 1.75 billion minutes a day, Idea ranks among the Top 10 country operators in the world. Using the latest in technology, Idea provides world-class service delivery through the most extensive network of customer touch points. Idea is listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India.
IDEA Cellular is an Aditya Birla Group Company, India’s first truly multinational corporation. The Group ranks Number 4 globally and Number 1 in the Asia Pacific in the 2011 Top Companies for Leaders (TCFL) study conducted by Aon Hewitt, Fortune (the Global Business Magazine) and the RBL Group. It operates in 36 countries, and is anchored by more than 136,000 employees belonging to 42 nationalities. More information on Idea Cellular is available at www.ideacellular.com and on the Aditya Birla Group at www.adityabirla.com
About Quikr.com
Quikr India Private Limited operates as a community classifieds Website. The company enables people in the same city to meet, trade, share ideas, and help in various areas, such as household goods, cars and bikes, services, real estate, jobs, and matrimonial. The company was formerly known as Kijiji India Private Limited and changed its name to Quikr India Private Limited in June, 2008. The company was incorporated in 2005 and is based in Mumbai, India. Quikr India Private Limited is a former subsidiary of eBay Inc. More information on www.quikr.com