BSNL to bring smartphone features like chatting, video calls to landlines

The special facilities on mobile phone like chatting, messaging (SMS), video calling and personal ring back tone (PRBT) will soon be accessible on landline phones.

BSNL upgrading landline exchanges in Rajasthan for chatting, video calls (Getty Images)

State-owned BSNL is upgrading telephone exchanges in Rajasthan to make landlines work like smartphones -- enabling SMS, chatting and video calls on them, a company official said.

The exchanges are being upgraded with Next Generation Networking (NGN) technology and the work has started in Bundi district.

The special facilities on mobile phone like chatting, messaging (SMS), video calling and personal ring back tone (PRBT) would now be accessible on landline phones, telecom district manager (TDM), Bundi BK Agarwal said.

Agarwal said the landline phone would be required to be upgraded with IP phone to avail of these facilities. Besides, he added, customers would now be able to avail of landline services and plans by connecting the number via mobile phone from anywhere.

Calls on landline can now also be received on mobile handsets ensuing they are not missed when one is off-premises, he said. Agarwal further said that the 2G towers are also upgraded to combo BTS that would now provide 3G services.

He added that 86 mobile towers including 20 in Bundi city are being upgraded and now fast internet services would be accessible even in rural areas.