(30 April 2008 6:00 pm)

MUMBAI: Tata Indicom has launched a range of value added services based around the Indian Premier League (IPL), offering not only match updates but also giving subscribers a chance to win prizes by taking part in various contests.

The offer includes Know your IPL; IPL Scores; IPL Anthem; IPL Subscription Fever; IPL Dhamaka on SMS; and IPL Play and Win formats.

The service is available on all Tata Indicom numbers (whether mobile or landline) through SMS or Dial 12900 services.

Tata Teleservices (Maharashtra) GM, Shashank Pore says, "The BCCI launched the Indian Premier League (IPL) on the lines of football's English Premier League and the National Basketball League (NBA) of the US, unleashing an yet unknown craze.

"Adding to the same fervour, Tata Indicom has launched a host of interesting value added services providing information about IPL to update the customers."

Shashank adds: "It is an easily accessible reservoir of information related to IPL that is available at all times. The subscribers also stand a chance to win exciting prizes, including official IPL merchandise, by participating in IPL Dhamaka and IPL Play and Win.

The company adds that the mobile telephony market is showing a lot of promise, where value added services are increasingly a growth area.

It is attracting wireless operators, handset manufacturers, content developers, music and film companies, cartoon artists, game makers and musicians for ring tones, music, gaming, sports, mobile imagery, WAP, wall papers, logos, SMS based contests and streaming audio and video.

The IPL offerings are –

Know your IPL – A zone to know everything about the league,including team information, match schedules, player profiles and owner's profiles. Call charges: Rs. 6 per minute.

IPL Scores – SMS CRI to 58282 or dial 12900 for Cricket scores. Call charges: Rs. 6 per minute, or Rs 3 per sms.

IPL Anthem – One can SMS WT28759 to 12800 to set the official IPL tune as your welcome tune for your callers for free.

IPL Subscription Fever – Offers score updates andtrivia about the players along with match schedules and more.

IPL Dhamaka on SMS – Offers IPL alerts on SMS and chance to win an assured prize for a free subscription for a month. One can win daily prizes of watches, weekly prizes of mobile phones and Ipod and a grand prize of IPL merchandise.

IPL Play and Win – Tata Indicom Voice station brings a contest. One has to play this question and answer contest to score like a cricket match. The highest scores will win passes to IPL matches every week.