PCO to VCO
Now BSNL Landline Phones with Video CallsReuters

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL), the state owned Telecommunication Company made yet another history by making its most popular Public Call Office (PCO) to Video Call Office (VCO).

BSNL has announced the launch of the landline phone with video call facility and be primarily made available in the north and west part of the country.

In a statement released to the press, Upadhyay, CMD BSNL said, “This new initiative leverages the Broadband strength of BSNL. BSNL always strives to reach the benefits of technology to the common man. VCO is a definite step in that direction. Video PCO is expected to bridge the distances between loved ones and expected to increase the economic output of the country”.

BSNL will also open VCO outlets in 12 states in the country namely Maharashtra/Goa, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir. VCO calls can be made within the country and the VCO booth will charge 3.00 for video call for 45 seconds.

Speaking at the inauguration of the BSNL new service, Sam Pitroda, Advisor to The Prime Minister of India, said this initiative of the BSNL would help to narrow down the existing gap between the rural and the urban.

According to the statement, BSNL is the first in the country to offer high quality video call facility to the common public. SIS Limited, Ahmadabad based ICT solutions is the technology partner of BSNL in this initiative.

BSNL is planning to convert 770 PCOs into VCOs initially. The aim is to have 10,000 VCOs in the country, said A K Jain; BSNL's Senior General Manager for Broadband according to Tech 2.