KATHMANDU: Nepal Telecom (NT) has started its Caller Ring Back Tone (CRBT) services in Lumbini, Dhaulagiri, and Gandaki zone from Asad 1.

Previously, CRBT service was available only within Kathmandu Valley. Along with CRBT service initiation, NT customers in that

zone will be able to download their favourite songs, music, and clips. CRBT services can be applied through the use of SMS, Website and IVR medium.

To download the CRBT service, one can either

go to the website www.crbt.ntc.net.np or send SMS on 1455 to download the required CRBT which will cost Rs 1 per SMS, while by calling in the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) on the number 1609 the CRBT can be downloaded but it will cost Rs 3 and the cost is excluding taxes. IVR technology was introduced by Nepal Telecom in 2004 for SLC result enquiry

According to NT, except the charges of SMS and IVR the charge per CRBT will be Rs 10. “Soon CRBT services will be available in all

the remaining regions;

currently, we are busy

doing the required testing of the technology in these regions, “said NT deputy manager Anil Joshi.

CRBT is an intermittent audible indication to the calling party that a dialled telephone number is ringing. A ring back tone is a

status indicator that the dialled number is available and that all connections through the appropriate network or networks between the originating and destination devices either have been made or are to be made available, and that the call can be connected if someone answers the call.

The ring back tone generally starts and stops at the same rate as the ringing tone of the called telephone, but generally is out of phase, i.e., staggered in time. Personalized ring back tones recently have become popular, especially in cell phones.

Dozens of music genres and hundreds of selections are commonly available for both the ring back tone and the ringing tone.

The service generally is on a subscription basis and carries an additional charge per tone selected.

ZTE snaps up two UMTS deals

KATHMANDU: Chinese equipment vendor ZTE Corp has announced it has won two UMTS network supply contracts — one with Spice Nepal Private Ltd (SNPL, or Mero Mobile) and the other with SkyTel in Mongolia. Under the deal with the Nepalese firm, ZTE will build a W-CDMA network covering six main zones in the country, with Phase I of the project scheduled to be completed by October 2009. In Mongolia, the Chinese vendor will roll out a nationwide commercial UMTS network for SkyTel. ZTE had previously built a CDMA2000 1xEV-DO network for the Mongolian operator. — Agencies