"Runner" was stopped by the base operator

Text / Chen Min

The first two batches of 19 privately-run enterprises that obtained the license of virtual operators have just started to enter the door of the telecom industry and are preparing to flex their muscles, among which the "runners" were stopped by the basic operators. They just like the naughty boys just entering the workplace, just about to show their ingenuity, was shouted by the teacher: you still practice basic skills now!

The only "fantastic bird" in the fictitious carrier's buddies was the snail move that was officially released within a day and was temporarily stopped. After something happened, someone applauded, someone shook his head. Snail exactly what rules violation? Who run the nerve of the virtual operator who ran the run? Virtual operators large-scale release number how far away from us?

Fight away virtual operator was halted

On the morning of May 21, the snail mobile company of Suzhou Snail announced the official launch of the 170th SIM card in 34 cities in 16 provinces and the "999 Free Card" half-year package with free voice and two-year clear flow of "999 Free Card" Open a friendly user experience. In terms of the number of cities involved, snail numbers are much larger than other virtual operators.

However, the dramatic scene appeared. On the evening of the same day, CEO Shih Hai, the snail CEO, announced in a WeChat group of virtual operators that the snail numbering operation was halted by the base operator China Unicom.

At that time, the snail and China Unicom did not make timely explanations for the reason of the "halt incident." The next evening, China Unicom official explanation is given: Suzhou snail has not yet agreed with China Unicom officially opened the business time.

According to Unicom, although Suzhou snail announced its official release number on its official website, according to the "Pilot Agreement on Resale Operation of Mobile Communications" signed by China Unicom and Suzhou Snail in October 2013, Suzhou Snail Business officially opened , Both parties need to confirm in writing. At present, China Unicom has not received the application for resale of mobile communications from Suzhou snail. Both parties have not yet confirmed the official opening of the business.

For this official explanation, some insiders think it does not reflect the full picture of the incident. For a time, speculation about the "deep cause" of the stoppage came one after another.

Informed sources close to both parties said that the virtual operator and the basic operator agreed in the cooperation agreement for three time periods: the first phase is a friendly user experience that needs to be limited to a few cities; the second phase is a trial Commercial numbers, the scope of the city involved can not be too large; wait until the user growth and other indicators of all the standards before they can enter the third stage, which is the official release of the stage.

"The basic operators want to steadily push the pilot process of virtual operators, snails launch operations will inevitably lead to awareness of the basic operators." The analysis of the source, although the snail also launched a friendly user experience simultaneously, but did not get the foundation Operators license to play a "official release number" in 34 cities propaganda wording, coupled with the promised "free" snails have some restrictions, and these conditions have been part of the competitors and users of complaints , So China Unicom and snail docking business more reason to take a stop measure.

Snail compensation program applauded bystander

Two days after the numbering operation was halted, the snail movement sent out a letter "Let Snail Free Card Users". This open letter mainly expresses the two meanings: First, to stop the incident Second, buyers who have already purchased a card can get a full refund, users who have already issued a refund and who have not yet issued a credit card number and who have not selected a number will also receive an apology of 100 yuan.

Snails said the users involved in the friendly experience recently received 999 free cards, and for 999 free card-related services for the experience, this part of the user will continue to enjoy the snail mobile previously released commitment to a friendly experience: in a friendly experience No reason to initiate a full refund during the period.

Snail also said that after receiving the official notice of China Unicom, snail free cards to suspend the number, there are about more than 7,000 selected users can not issue cards, tens of thousands of users have not had time to participate in the selection number, it is recommended that some users for a refund Operation, these users will also get an additional 100 yuan apology gold.

According to the promises of snails, the user who has issued a card with friendly experience can make a full refund; the user who has selected a card that has not issued a card and initiated a refund, and the user who has not selected a number and initiated a refund will receive two Alipay accounts within seven working days Pen amount: one for the refund, the other is a separate payment of 100 yuan apology gold.

After the snail moved to issue this note, the public began to turn to the snail.

To this incident, Shihai CEO Snail came forward again. "Because the snails can not be done within three days of issuing promises, apologize for indemnities. The first battle of the virtual quotient, behind the dark gun, snail losses, card-iron fans appeared, the whole industry, the user holding." Stone Sea said, "Snails please do not run too fast here is not the Internet industry completely market-oriented competition is to prepare for the introduction of market-oriented competition in the early."

Some observers believe that this "halt incident" may not be a bad thing, and it may be necessary to promote the sound development of the domestic telecom industry. "The snails have no hesitation in using the money to maintain the reputation of section 170 and give credit subsidies to the overall fictitious operator number 170," a veteran of the telecommunications industry encouraged the snails to say. "The spring of full market competition will come sooner or later."

Obstacles can not stop the virtual business scale release number is still early

In just a few days, the snail became the first bird to be shot, but also inadvertently gain a hundred times the publicity effect, seems to have become a virtual operator team in the "leader."

This unexpected gain of publicity effect only once, so no second virtual operator dare to use a similar appearance of action again come to bogey. With the precedent of the snail number being halted, other virtual operators can only slow down, make their own observations, conduct business within a small area, and then step by step in accordance with the instructions of the basic operators.

Insiders pointed out: This "stop event" reflects the game between the virtual operator and the basic operator, both the original carrier and the virtual operator have cooperative relations and competition, and the telecommunications industry is open to private enterprises The contradictions inevitably begin to be exposed. At the same time, the basic operators are not yet ready to make the virtual operators scale their numbers, either psychologically or systemically.

According to the relevant person in charge of marketing department of China Unicom, "China Unicom strongly supports the operation of virtual operators, but it takes time to prepare for the large-scale release of numbers. Now, any virtual operator still does not have the conditions for large-scale release." It is understood that at this stage, China Unicom, even with an earlier move and a more open mindset, is still testing with virtual operators to support virtual operations in many areas such as number card, customer service, IT system and finance. Business operation.

"Virtual operators inevitably encounter some resistance in the process of business promotion." A virtual operator staff member who declined to be named believes that the virtual carrier will inevitably suffer from the cooperation with the base operator Some tie down.

"At the same time, virtual operators themselves should clearly recognize that the telecommunications market is a very professional market.Although the virtual operators have their own main business around different play, but since we have chosen to enter the telecommunications industry to play on Need to follow the established rules and play here, "the staff member said.

According to the telecom market, the industry's long-awaited "virtual business scale release number" contest scene, I am afraid to postpone some time. However, the virtual operator agitation of the traditional telecommunications market, has begun to bear fruit.

The more flexible tariff plan is the most immediate change you can see now. In the snail move to "flow is not clear zero" after the concept of mass speculation, "no package", "traffic is not clear," "traffic can be shared," which almost became the virtual carrier tariff policy "standard ".

Of particular note is the fact that while such tariff schemes are controversial (they are all conditional, not really free, and not really outdated), such programs are being covered by China Mobile at The basic operators within the follow. In the new 4G package plan, China Mobile also introduced three-month zero-clearing and six-year-old zero-flow packets. The usage period of traffic packets has been extended from one month to a quarter and a half years.

For a time, several innovations on the tariff policy of virtual operators suddenly became a common phenomenon not uncommon in the telecommunications market. "This is the catfish effect brought by the virtual operators." The above-mentioned virtual operator staff said: "Although the virtual business operator is inevitably bound by the policy, the door to real market-oriented competition in the telecommunications industry will open sooner or later."