May will bring some more good news for cell-phone users. Not only will incoming calls be free-currently the airtime on incoming calls averages Rs 1.20 per minute-but even calls made to fixed lines will be cheaper. With the TRAI finally clearing the CPP (calling party pays) regime after five years, it is a double bonanza for cell-phone users.

But this spells bad news for fixed-line users-which incidentally includes most cell phones users as well. They will now have to pay more for calling a cellular phone according to the new tariff norms for calls originating and terminating between two networks. Tariffs on fixed-line phones will also be hiked through a cut in the pulse rate from 120 seconds to 90 seconds in metros and down to 60 seconds in non-metros (see graphic).

Going by this trend, eventually it will not matter whether you use a cell phone or a fixed-line phone. You will pay the same. Explains Anil Nayar, supervisory director, mobility, Bharti Televentures: "There will now be a differential of just a few paise between making calls from a fixed line or cellular phone."

This is likely to see a spiral in the already high talktime that Indians have clocked. An average post-paid subscriber in a metro talks for over 600 minutes per month-among the highest in the world. The figure drops to 200 minutes for pre-paid subscribers. Operators expect cellular phone usage to shoot up to levels of 700 minutes for post-paid subscribers and close to 300 minutes per month for pre-paid clients. And considering there are now more than 1.3 crore mobile phone subscribers in the country-with almost 10 lakh of these added in March alone-that could mean a lot of talking.

Some of these burgeoning numbers can, however, switch to WLL. The competition for mobile phones comes not from fixed lines any more but from its rival in the wireless space-limited mobile services-and this could mean cheaper rates for mobile services.

-Vivek Law

Aspirin Back in Action

Aspro, the 50-year-old analgesic brand owned by Boots Piramal Healthcare, is back in a new avatar after five years in quarantine. In 1998 amidst concerns about sideeffects of aspirin, it switched to a paracetamol base and called itself Aspro Plus. Now it is back to being an aspirin-based analgesic.

With aspirin back in favour as a blood thinner that can protect the heart, the company has been quick to jump ship. Aspro is already giving its competitors, including its own company's Saridon, a tough time in Bihar and the North-east, where the brand enjoyed popularity in its heyday. To tap its old pockets of brand loyalty, the company even plans to carry a sketch of the original model-who has since died-on the bright new boxes. At 65 paise per tablet, the new Aspro is 10 paise cheaper than Crocin, but 30 paise more than Disprin.