New deals from Matrix Cellular Services

Company press release, August 20, 2003

New Delhi

Matrix Cellular Services, India's first and only global communication solutions company providing pre-activated, local mobile phone connectivity to international travellers from India, has special long- and short-term mobile phone connectivity deals for American Express Corporate Gold Card members travelling to USA and UK.

Identifying expenses

American Express Corporate Gold Card members are either part of senior management of companies or owners of business houses, who are frequent international travellers. For this segment of business travellers, mobile phone usage is one of the biggest expense sources besides air travel and accommodation expenses.

Traditionally such travellers have been dependent on international roaming on their Indian mobile phone connection, or on pre-paid cards when they arrive at their travel destination. Both options are expensive and inconvenient propositions because international roaming charges are very high and pre-paid connections offer limited talk time.

Matrix Advantage

# Pre-activated connections: Matrix offers pre-activated, local US and UK mobile phone connections in India to American Express Corporate Gold Card members travelling to the US or the UK.

# Economical and convenient: The mobile phone connections are economical and convenient, which gives members freedom from using international roaming on mobile phones. Usage of local mobile phone number brings down the mobile phone bill significantly.

# Special tariff plans: Through a unique combination of hire charges and talk time tariffs, Matrix has designed special plans for American Express Corporate Gold Card members.

# Payment in Indian rupees: Members have the convenience of paying in Indian rupees. The bill is charged directly to their Gold card, saving them the inconvenience of tracking mobile phone bills. Travellers also save on foreign exchange.

# Free Incoming Calls: Members receive free incoming calls when they are in the UK

# Convenience of carrying a local number: If a couple of people are travelling together they stay in touch locally rather than it being an international call for both.

# Per Second Billing: Members pay only for the duration that they talk, unlike in international roaming where minute or 30-second pulse rate applies

# No V.A.T.: Members save on Value Added Tax @ 17.5% since they take the connection outside the European Union, in India

For members travelling to the UK

Matrix offers special annual contracts and short term deals for American Express Corporate Gold members travelling to the UK. Members can get the trendy Nokia 7650 for just 50 pounds by taking an annual contract. Those cardholders opting for the short-term scheme get a UK SIM card free for a companion travelling with them.

For members travelling to the USA

A common problem faced in the USA by international travellers using international roaming is patchy coverage and unclear reception. This is because USA uses CDMA technology for mobile phone connectivity and has recently started using GSM technology. Since the GSM network does not cover all the states, travellers using GSM phones face connectivity problems.

Matrix will provide American Express Corporate Card Members with digital phones that work on the CDMA technology, offering seamless connectivity across the USA. The phones are part of the special deals that Matrix is offering to the corporate cardholders. Cardholders also get talk time worth $400 absolutely free with every deal they take from Matrix.

Gagan Dugal, Managing Director, Matrix Cellular Services says, "Usage of international roaming on mobile phones often leads to cash burn for international travellers. Matrix's services take care of such problems by offering economical and convenient pre-activated local mobile phone connections in India. By using Matrix's special offers, American Express' Corporate Gold Card holders will save at least 25% on their mobile phone expenditure when they are in the UK or US."

Matrix Cellular Services

Matrix Cellular Services is India's first and only global communication solutions company providing mobile connectivity to international travelers from India. Matrix offers local mobile numbers for USA, UK, Canada, Australia, France, Brazil, New Zealand, China, South Africa, Japan and Nepal. The company's core user group consists of business and leisure travellers, and students going abroad for studies. Matrix's turnover for the financial year 2002-03 stood at Rs. 22 crore.

The most cost-effective international mobile solution, seamless connectivity, per second pulse rate, separate international number, instant activation, billing in Indian rupees, delivery anywhere in India, special offers for students: these are some of the benefits that Matrix's customers enjoy.

For more information, contact:

Anil Nagwani

Accord Public Relations

New Delhi

anilnagwani@accordpr.com

011 24311163, 24320132/33

9811268046