Stanley G Pinto - Times News Network
 
Mangalore Feb 13: Sending a belated Valentine's Day SMS is likely to be lighter on the pocket than a punctual message on February 14 for all love-struck Romeos.

One more cell company will discontinue free SMS for 13 days in a year from Monday. This will also apply to customers on free or discounted SMS tariff.

These pre-defined and special days will be charged at the rate of Re 1 for local, Rs 2 for national and Rs 5 for international SMS.

The days are February 14 (Valentine's day), March 4 (Holi), March 19 (Ugadi), April 1 (Id Milad), August 5 (Friendship day), August 15 (Independence Day), August 28 (Rakhi), September 15 (Ganesh Chaturthi), October 21 (Dussehra), November 8 (Diwali eve), November 9 (Diwali), December 25 (Christmas) and December 31 (New Year eve).

Earlier, a cell company had blacked out free SMS from December 21 last year on Christmas, New Year's Eve, New Year's Day, Valentine's day, Friendship Day, Republic Day, Independence Day, Holi,Vishu, Onam, Diwali and Eid.

This follows India's telecom regulator TRAI's move to do away with the rental for using roaming services and provide free incoming SMS while roaming from February 15. It may be recalled that TRAI has slashed mobile roaming tariffs by up to 56 per cent and also scrapped rental for roaming services, decisions which would deflate bills of frequent travelling customers. But this means loss of revenue for cell companies and they are trying to cope up with the TRAI's move, when the customers use SMS most.

SMSes has almost replaced formal greetings due to its cost effectiveness. Now the SMS on special days will be a tad costlier, even for those customers who have got bulk free SMS offers or other packages.