Meenakshi of Hutch Mumbai, may her tribe increase.
It was a very crucial meeting with a high power team from an influential stock brooking firm in Mumbai. I had flown in that morning from Chennai to give a "live" demo of a WAP application on a mobile phone. An application that was ahead of its times - in 2001 ! Something that could complete an end to end stock brooking transaction, live from a phone handset. Mind you, I am speaking of 2001, much before the era of apps and smart phones where you would experience 3G only if in a space ship.
My phone service provider was Airtel and armed with a WAP enabled handset and the WAP service activated, I arrived close to the meeting location an hour in advance. In preparation for the meeting, I tested out the application only to realise that it was not working at all. A call to the office confirmed that all was well and there are no reasons for the failure. When I called Airtel I was told that WAP services are localised and not offered to roaming customers. In short, I was doomed.
I saw a store with a huge Hutch sign over it and met with a customer service officer, Meenakshi. She gave me a patient hearing - why was I in Mumbai, the demo, the WAP application and my failure to get WAP working in Mumbai.
There was only one solution, procure a Mumbai SIM and activate WAP and rush back to the demo. Possible but the WAP activation would take 24 hours. I asked Meenakshi what were the best options in response she said that the only option was for me to take her personal SIM card for the demo. I had a need but was embarrassed to ask her as to what the charges would be. She put me to further shame by answering without my asking that employees don't have to pay for WAP so I can feel free to use it for the demo and return it back once I was done.
I offered her my driving license, my Chennai Sim card, my credit card or anything she wanted as collateral for the SIM. She was not to be bothered about all this and asked me to just rush for my demo and wished me good luck.
The demo was perfect and I returned back to the store with a small token of appreciation from a music store, Rhythm Corner if I recollect. I also met with her supervisor, a gentlemen named Zubin Dubash and told him as to how he had a gem in Meenakshi. For her it was all in a days work.
I still feel that I did not thank her enough, if only I were given a chance to do so now, I will it all over again.
It was a very crucial meeting with a high power team from an influential stock brooking firm in Mumbai. I had flown in that morning from Chennai to give a "live" demo of a WAP application on a mobile phone. An application that was ahead of its times - in 2001 ! Something that could complete an end to end stock brooking transaction, live from a phone handset. Mind you, I am speaking of 2001, much before the era of apps and smart phones where you would experience 3G only if in a space ship.
My phone service provider was Airtel and armed with a WAP enabled handset and the WAP service activated, I arrived close to the meeting location an hour in advance. In preparation for the meeting, I tested out the application only to realise that it was not working at all. A call to the office confirmed that all was well and there are no reasons for the failure. When I called Airtel I was told that WAP services are localised and not offered to roaming customers. In short, I was doomed.
I saw a store with a huge Hutch sign over it and met with a customer service officer, Meenakshi. She gave me a patient hearing - why was I in Mumbai, the demo, the WAP application and my failure to get WAP working in Mumbai.
There was only one solution, procure a Mumbai SIM and activate WAP and rush back to the demo. Possible but the WAP activation would take 24 hours. I asked Meenakshi what were the best options in response she said that the only option was for me to take her personal SIM card for the demo. I had a need but was embarrassed to ask her as to what the charges would be. She put me to further shame by answering without my asking that employees don't have to pay for WAP so I can feel free to use it for the demo and return it back once I was done.
I offered her my driving license, my Chennai Sim card, my credit card or anything she wanted as collateral for the SIM. She was not to be bothered about all this and asked me to just rush for my demo and wished me good luck.
The demo was perfect and I returned back to the store with a small token of appreciation from a music store, Rhythm Corner if I recollect. I also met with her supervisor, a gentlemen named Zubin Dubash and told him as to how he had a gem in Meenakshi. For her it was all in a days work.
I still feel that I did not thank her enough, if only I were given a chance to do so now, I will it all over again.
Nice story Nagu - hope she gets to read this one day.
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