Vodafone’s move towards a point (Flex) based recharge method

Vodafone India has launched a new recharge method for prepaid customers called Vodafone Flex. It is a point (Flex) based recharge option where with one single recharge prepaid customers can buy Flex and use data, voice and SMS on the same pack with no pre fixed quota for all three services.

There are five packs under the Flex recharge option. The lowest recharge value is Rs119 with which a user can get 325 Flex, with Rs. 199 – Rs. 700 Flex, with Rs. 299 – 1200 Flex and with Rs. 399 – 1750 Flex. All these packs are valid for 28 day and unused Flex can be carried over to the next month’s recharge. One 'Flex' is equivalent to 1MB of data, 1 SMS or one minute of incoming call on roaming. With two 'Flexs' customers can avail a minute of local outgoing or STD call or a minute of outgoing call on roaming. So for instance the Rs 117 Flex plan can offer 135 minutes of outgoing calls and 55MB of data. Depending on the usage, the company claims that the new offer will provide up to 25% saving.

Nine years in the India market, Vodafone India has about 200 million customers and prepaid customers form 90% of their total customer base. Prepaid customers are key to Vodafone and the company came up with the new point based recharge scheme particularly to make things simpler for consumers, making it an easy way for the consumers to keep a tab on their usage. But at first it does seem a bit confusing as users will not just calculate the recharge amount now but also the ‘Flex’ therefore pre-paid customers are likely to take some time getting used to a whole new recharge scheme. Vodafone’s ongoing recharge options where customers can buy separate recharge coupons of varying validity for voice and data will be available too but the company is eventually looking to shift to the Flex recharge option.

Photo Credit: Reuters