Yesterday we saw how the mobile VAS industry was shaped up from Flytxt’s point of view. At WATBlog we have also covered how Reuters Market Light were enlightening farmers. They sold market light subscription services to 135,000 farmers across 3 states of Maharashtra, Haryana and Punjab, as said by Amit Mehra – MD, Reuters Market Light in an interview with WATBlog.
And here we spoke to Mr. Praveen Rajpal, CEO – Handygo, India discussing their company’s services and initiatives, their subscriber base, about the VAS industry and so on. Handygo, is a Value Added Service company under F-Technologies Pvt Ltd currently encompassing services to the rural population on IVR (Interactive Voice Response) platform.
Currently their key focus area is the rural sector under the umbrella of “Behtar Zindagi” project, pan India. We heard it from Praveen about the same, sharing his thoughts about Handygo’s strategies from here. Some excerpts -
1. How is the “Behtar Zindagi” project different from other initiatives of its kind?
Behtar Zindagi is the biggest VAS service for rural India. In the Vas industry companies are providing limited information on mandi prices, but only Behtar Zindagi, a vast project on VAS is providing information on Crops, Seeds, Fertilizer, Mandi Prices, Livestock, Education, Finance, Health, Fisheries and is available on all the verticals -PAN India. Its available in Hindi as well as 20 regional languages .Today Behtar Zindagi service have more than 10,000 prompts inbuilt. It’s undoubtedly a biggest VAS project available in India as of now.
2. What in your view is the mobile VAS startup scene in India?
Mobile VAS industry was expected 2,850 CR in year 2006 by the end of 2007 it reached 4,560 CR. It has an immense potential of growth and definitely higher deliverable are expected out of VAS.
3. What is the future of mobile entertainment and Value Added Services in India?
VAS industry in India is growing with 40%-50% annual growth. Newer tariff plans and cheaper mobile phones proliferating the markets, but the fact is that there are 25 million customers added in the Apr-June quarter, 8 million are from rural areas which states that more than 21% of over 500 million telecom subscribers are from rural areas So. there is huge shift from urban Vas to untapped Rural markets.
4. What will be the cost to farmers for information regarding farming?
Behtar Zindagi service is available @1 Rs per minute and various subscriptions are customized by keeping in mind the requirements of rural area.
5. After Handygo’s Pay-Per-Play service for mobile, what are the other unique services?
We are focusing on m-governance.
6. How much is your current subscriber base?
Behtar Zindagi service started in August 2009 on pan India and today we have more than half million subscribers of Behtar Zindagi as its not only affordable but also acceptable all over India.
7. Are you funded? How much? How is the funding utilised?
No, Behtar Zindagi is not funded its an initiative of Mr. Praveen Rajpal, CEO of the company, who started this service with his team and today more than 50 employees expertise in related verticals are working behind this service.
8. Who are your competitors?
Behtar Zindagi is India’s only and exclusive service available on IVR giving information on more than 8 verticals of rural industry in 20 regional languages. So we are the sole providers of this biggest social cause.
9. What is your revenue model?
Revenue model is same as for SMS and GPRS flowing in the VAS industry.
10. Are you tied-up for this project? Who all?
For Behtar Zindagi each vertical is supported by various Govt. and Non-Profitable organizations like IMD, INCOIS, EKO, CARE, CDAC, SIFF and many more.
11. What are currently your key focus areas?
Agriculture which includes Crops, Fertilizer, Seeds, Mandi Prices have already made people used to of Behtar Zindagi in Rural Industry. Now, our focus is towards Health and Education.
It’s really a good start in favour of rural india. the backbone of india. Good Luck !!