MUMBAI: Music is one of the few features, which is being pushed aggressively by various mobile operators. Himachal Pradesh based integrated telecom VAS solution provider Cellebrum.com Pvt. Ltd has launched a customised background music (BGM) solution as its latest offering, allowing users to play music in the background during a call.

Cellebrum.com has tied up with leading operators like IDEA Cellular, Spice Telecom and Reliance Telecom at the national level and is offering BGM to its existing subscribers.

The VAS solution provider is also running a pilot programme for Airtel for its landline services in the Madhya Pradesh Circle.

It is upbeat about its BGM, which is played by the operator in the background of a call. The background music is a value addition to mobile peer to peer calling wherein a subscriber is allowed to create his own ambience during a call by playing music in the background.

This customized solution in which, a call, when answered, is accompanied by music in the background. The caller can choose his music from a variety of sounds provided.

This solution is different from CRBT solution, where music is played
before the call is connected. In BGM, music is played after the call is connected. Technically, it is a conference service, which involves the calling party, called party and the music playing entity, which is also, part of the conference. This entity is responsible for playing back music
during the conversation.

BGM has the ability to boost the ARPUs of cellular operators due to the low cost at which it is being offered. However, this cost varies from operator to operator. There are three kind of charges -- the activation charge, the chosen background song and the per minute cost of the song.
Today, over 170,000 mobile subscribers across the network of IDEA Cellular and Spice Telecom have tried using the BGM service.

In order to use the service, the user needs to dial a prefix (say 234) before the phone number, for the call to be connected with the Music M-vironment (BGM). Without the prefix, the call will be connected as a normal phone call. Users can always change background sound at will by dialling provided IVRS (Interactive Voice Response Services) Interface.

It is important to note that the caller has to be within the coverage area of the home network. It is an IVR based service which will not be accessible outside home network.