Missed calls
Mr. Wali Ruhi has presented the darker side of "missed calls" (DS: 26 Jan), but he has missed the other side of the picture. Missed calls are often deliberately sent as signals to confirm various prearranged actions like acceptance, reminders, waiting for some one and other such situation through this ingenious cost free action. Why this is done? The reason in all probability is the high call charge of mobile phones. Unless and until this is brought down to a reasonable level, tendency of missed calls will go on increasing. This innovative signaling system is yet another product of Bengali intelligence; or call it cunning! One solution could be to allow a special rate which can be coded in by the caller for very short time calls say 25 paisa for a twenty five second after which the caller is automatically cut off. This is possible, and could be a remedy that can be tried by the mobile phone companies to reduce the number of missed calls. I seriously wonder if this practice will ever go away.
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