Vodafone India’s $2 unlimited GPRS plan a bluff?

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The euphoria stirred up amongst Vodafone India customers after the announcement of unlimited GPRS for just Rs 95 ($2) a month has backfired badly after customers uncovered serious flaws in the service.
Vodafone India hasn’t had a GPRS pack until only very recently when it introduced the unlimited GPRS Pack for a Bonus Card of Rs 95 in some Indian states.
Major limitations, however, such as inaccessibility of emails, no mailbox services and no push mails with Vodafone Live have agitated Vodafone customers.
The problem with Vodafone Live is that customers can’t run third party applications as it doesn’t support protocols like IMAP and POP3 necessary for emails to work.
A Vodafone customer, Susheel Kumar who recently bought the plan is angry saying, “this is a kind of bluff to trap the customers, but what’s the point as Vodafone cannot retain them. Forget unlimited access, they cannot even provide the basic services which any GPRSD customer would go for. I am thinking of switching over to any other operator where I can find these services. Vodafone is going to lose customers.”
Indeed many customers seem puzzled and disappointed with Vodafone over the issue. With Mobile Number Portability (MNP) coming to India, many customers have also said they are thinking of switching to other operators.
Moreover, the carrier’s major competitor, Bharti Airtel has an Rs. 99 ($2) GPRS plan offering 2GB – a plan rapidly gaining popularity.
Vodafone India has not come out with any official comment on the issue, but have responded to customers via Facebook, albeit vaguely.
Just a few samples from the page:
“Saksham I have activated Rs 95 Bonus Card for free GPRS on mobile …… I am using it services, it is good and speed is fast… but I am not able to use MSN live messenger, E-buddy or Nimbuzz messenger application…. it says that ” connection error ” every time..Plz help
PS: I use Nokia E51”
“Sahil paying rs199 for 100mb makes no sense…instead its better to use airtel which gives everything along with 2gb usage just for rs 98……
AND @ Ashish.. when i called up the CC they said they cant assure VL connection thru opera mini also as it is a third party app…and tht recharging with 199 is only option.”
All Vodafone India could do was respond:
“Could you provide your details at http://tinyurl.com/yexnmb6 or else you may share the same here. We’ll get back to you with GPRS plans that best suit you.”
“Vodafone Essar, India Hi Saksham,
Your feedback is valuable. We Have forwarded the same to the concerned team. Keep watching this space for any updates”