Tweet free with Airtel

Airtel mobile customers can now have free access to Twitter via http://mobile.twitter.com until March 1, 2012.

Bharti Airtel has made an offering to its 170 million mobile customers in India, who can now access Twitter on their mobile phones for free until March 1, 2012. According to Airtel executives, the offer by Airtel is a rare one in India, one which allows customers to enjoy free access to Twitter through web browsers (by visiting http://mobile.twitter.com) and post Tweets, keep up with news around the world, and follow friends, celebrities, and others they choose to follow.

Furthermore, even without activating GPRS, Airtel mobile customers can sign up for Twitter or subscribe to SMS updates of specific users (via short code 53000) on their mobile phones for free during the offer period.

Commenting on the development, N Rajaram, chief marketing officer, consumer business, Bharti Airtel, says in an official communiqué, "Today's discerning Indian customer is increasingly relying on the mobile device to access everything from e-mails and music sites, to social networks. In conjunction with this trend, we have introduced 90 days of free access to Twitter for mobile users in India on Airtel."

Rajaram further adds that this initiative will introduce new users to an exciting world of possibilities that mobile internet enables, thus providing an impetus to the data services market. He states, "Airtel has always been committed to deliver experiences that are innovative and relevant for customers. This launch reinforces our focus on this promise."

With over 100 million active users worldwide, Twitter is an information network that instantly connects people everywhere to what's most meaningful to them. Existing Twitter users can now view their timeline, find and follow accounts, post new Tweets, see Tweets which mention them, and reply to other users and re-tweet their Tweets for free on Airtel. Those new to Twitter can choose to sign up using their mobile number, or even subscribe to celebrity Twitter updates via SMS alerts. A microsite has been created for this purpose: www.airtel.in/twitter.