Just goes to show that if I do get some inside info I should publish it on that day! Well I got hold of this info a couple of days back. Nokia Messaging Service which till now was free in India is set to go paid.
My sources told me that Nokia has been in talks with the big carriers in India and by the end of December, we will see the first roll out of the Nokia Messaging Service as a paid service on carrier networks. Since the market for S60 is low in India (S40 outsells S60 in India), an S40 version of Nokia Messaging will also be released.
What I’m wondering is what happens to all of them who have a lifetime subscription to this service courtesy Nokia, will they have to ‘pay’ for it or will it continue to be free for them? I broached this with the Nokia Messaging team on Twitter but I’ve not got any response so far.
Atleast one thing I am sure of, if the price of using this service is high, the number of subscribers Nokia has built up for this service will leave. Additionally if pre-paid (pay as you go customers) aren’t made allowed to subscribe for this service, there will be further fall in numbers.
What do you think about the NMS going paid? will you be using it if you have to pay for it? Let us know, leave your comments below.
A little hint for you guys, one of the top 3 carriers will be the first one to offer it at a fee in India.