NEWS / MOBILE PHONES

Mobile Dating Grips Youth in Mizoram

23 Oct, 2006, 10:00 am IST | IANS | Mobile phones

After speed dating, a formalised matchmaking process, short message service (SMS) engagement has become quite a rage among youth in Mizoram.

According to the youth in Mizoram, it is one of the best ways of finding their Mr or Miss Right and hundreds are signing up for these silent parties.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and Airtel are the only service providers in the region helping users especially youngsters to find dates, keep in touch with friends, share photos, and update their blogs—all via cell phone.

Mobile dating took off in Mizoram, especially in the capital city just a couple of years ago when the mobile phone made its debut in the state.

With the mobile subscriber base of just a little more than 40,000 in the capital city alone, it has already struck a chord among the teenagers.

"You might put something in a text which you wouldn't dream of saying directly to someone," Zodin Mawia, a cell phone user said. "Ever since I took up the SMS habit, I spent more than Rs 1,000 per month for just SMS only".

"Mobile phone dating gives us a chance to know more about our date before a real introduction takes place and that too without stepping out," he pointed out.

The service's popularity is also increasing as BSNL and Airtel charges a mere 90 paise for an SMS.

The mobile phone dating, however, has its flip side as well. Many youngsters here complain that the person they meet after the dating is not up to the mark.

Moreover, the church has not approved the trend in this predominantly Christian state.

According to the BSNL deputy general manager C. Lalmachhuana and Airtel northeast corporate in charge Anjuli Chittranjan, company officials were very careful in verifying the identity of the subscribers, before allotting a mobile connection.

"We take much care in rejecting the people below the specified age group to procure the connection," they said.

Tags: sms , BSNL , Airtel

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