Leading mobile operator, Idea Cellular, has tied up with U.S.-based cellular phone manufacturer, Motorola Inc. to provide user-ready Motorola handsets at economical price.

The Motorola C114 handset and a connection from Idea would be available at a total cost of Rs. 1465 ($ 33) along with free talk time worth Rs. 25 per month for one year.

All customers who choose Idea and Motorola will get full talk time on all recharges for recharge vouchers of above Rs. 199, a press release stated.

The Idea Motorola bundling offer is the best prepaid offer to customers who seek to be mobile. It is a reiteration of the value and savings we wish to offer our customers, said Vikram Mehmi, chief executive, IDEA Cellular Ltd.

Rural penetration of mobile telephony will be a focus and key growth driver for Idea Cellular. The Idea Motorola bundling offer has been conceptualized with the objective of reducing entry barriers to the largest extent. We are happy to align ourselves with it, he added.

We are committed to the Emerging Markets Handset Programme. A step forward in our efforts to connect the unconnected, the Idea Motorola offering will bring quality products closer to the consumer. This programme will also be pivotal in catalyzing the emergence of an entirely new market segment and enable India evolve to the next level of mobile connectivity, Allen Burnes, vice president, Corporate (High Growth Markets), Motorola Inc, said.

Motorola