Many of us use Microsoft Outlook for managing emails, Tasks, Appointments, Reminders and much more purposes. One of our user had a problem with Outlook reporting that
"There was a problem reading one or more of your reminders. Some reminders may not appear. Cannot locate recurrance information for the appointment. "
In this case, you may be unable to retrieve old reminders, neither create new. Outlook will also not remind you of any task/appointment, etc. In other words, Outlook completely forgets our reminders. It may also not allow to create a reminder.
This may be caused due to some reminders have been corrupted due to some unknown reason.
Solution:
Try running the command "outlook /cleanreminders" in the following way : Click on Start menu, then on Run command, or directly press Windows Flag key and R key simultaneously to bring the run dialog. type the command "outlook /cleanreminders" without quotes and hit enter or click on OK. Your reminder problem may be solved now.
Another cause is that you may have more than one data files connected to your Outlook, and one of them may have been listed twice, or may have been corrupted. To resolve this you may try removing other data files that are not default. During this process you may be cautious not to loose data. You should not proceed if you don't have backup. And it should be performed by experienced technical persons only.
Showing posts with label Communications. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Communications. Show all posts
Friday, September 10, 2010
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Remove Downadup/Conficker/Kido Worm from your PC
Conficker worm is the most widespread worm in today's date. It has been making news since last few weeks.
This worm is one of the most deadly worm which attacks your network and modify your system settings. It gets launched automatically at system startup and stays in memory in stealth mode to prevent its detection. It spreads itself through pen drives, network holes and it also features a method of cracking administrator password.
Almost all the antivirus vendors have released separate tools to remove the worm. These standalone programs do not require any installation. Just download, unzip/extract if required and then run on the infected PC.
There are lot of tools available on web which can remove various versions of Conficker aka Downadup aka Kido worm.
Some Conficker Removal or Deletion tools are as follows:
1. Avert Stinger Standalone tool from McAfee
2. F-Secure Worm:W32/Downadup.AL Removal Tool from F-Secure
3. Symantec W32.Downadup Removal Tool from Symantec
4. Conficker Single PC Removal Tool from Bitdefender
5. Conficker Network Removal Tool from Bitdefender
You can download any of the above tools to remove conficker or downadup or kiddo virus from your computer safely. Leave a comment if none to the above tools works for you.
This worm is one of the most deadly worm which attacks your network and modify your system settings. It gets launched automatically at system startup and stays in memory in stealth mode to prevent its detection. It spreads itself through pen drives, network holes and it also features a method of cracking administrator password.
Almost all the antivirus vendors have released separate tools to remove the worm. These standalone programs do not require any installation. Just download, unzip/extract if required and then run on the infected PC.
There are lot of tools available on web which can remove various versions of Conficker aka Downadup aka Kido worm.
Some Conficker Removal or Deletion tools are as follows:
1. Avert Stinger Standalone tool from McAfee
2. F-Secure Worm:W32/Downadup.AL Removal Tool from F-Secure
3. Symantec W32.Downadup Removal Tool from Symantec
4. Conficker Single PC Removal Tool from Bitdefender
5. Conficker Network Removal Tool from Bitdefender
You can download any of the above tools to remove conficker or downadup or kiddo virus from your computer safely. Leave a comment if none to the above tools works for you.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Acer updates Aspire One netbook
New model has 10.1in screen and is XP-only
Acer has unveiled a new version of its Aspire One mini laptop with a larger screen and more memory.
Widely regarded as one of the more polished mini laptops launched in the wake of the Asus Eee PC, the Aspire had an 8.9in display and could only be fitted with up to 1.5Gb memory.
The new Aspire One ships with a 1,024 x 600 10.1in screen and can be fitted with up to 2Gb of memory. As with earlier models and most other so-called netbooks, it is based on Intel's 1.6GHz Atom processor.
However, while the original Aspire was available in versions with Linpus Linux, the new model appears to be available only with Windows XP. Also out is any mention of Flash SSD storage options, with the new specifications listing only a 160GB 2.5in hard drive.
Acer said that the new Aspire One combines style, great features and a new form factor to provide the best combination of ultra-portability and maximum screen size for navigation and data input.
As well as 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the Aspire one can be fitted with an optional internal 3G broadband modem, or a WiMax adapter in territories where there are such networks available.
Acer has kept the starting weight down to 1.18kg, but this is with the standard three-cell battery pack which will deliver up to three hours of use. Two larger six-cell packs are available, one rated at 4400mAh for up to six hours use, the other rated at 5200mAh for up to seven hours. Choosing one of these bumps the weight up to 1.33kg.
The new Acer Aspire One is expected to be available in February, but no pricing information was available at the time of writing.
Acer has unveiled a new version of its Aspire One mini laptop with a larger screen and more memory.
Widely regarded as one of the more polished mini laptops launched in the wake of the Asus Eee PC, the Aspire had an 8.9in display and could only be fitted with up to 1.5Gb memory.
The new Aspire One ships with a 1,024 x 600 10.1in screen and can be fitted with up to 2Gb of memory. As with earlier models and most other so-called netbooks, it is based on Intel's 1.6GHz Atom processor.
However, while the original Aspire was available in versions with Linpus Linux, the new model appears to be available only with Windows XP. Also out is any mention of Flash SSD storage options, with the new specifications listing only a 160GB 2.5in hard drive.
Acer said that the new Aspire One combines style, great features and a new form factor to provide the best combination of ultra-portability and maximum screen size for navigation and data input.
As well as 802.11b/g Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the Aspire one can be fitted with an optional internal 3G broadband modem, or a WiMax adapter in territories where there are such networks available.
Acer has kept the starting weight down to 1.18kg, but this is with the standard three-cell battery pack which will deliver up to three hours of use. Two larger six-cell packs are available, one rated at 4400mAh for up to six hours use, the other rated at 5200mAh for up to seven hours. Choosing one of these bumps the weight up to 1.33kg.
The new Acer Aspire One is expected to be available in February, but no pricing information was available at the time of writing.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
The evolution of the Netbook
It's getting harder to tell the difference between a Netbook and a notebook.
Except when you look at the bottom line of the companies making them. Though initially thought of as a way to sell cheaper, less powerful companion devices to notebooks, Netbooks are beginning to lose their distinction, as evidenced by the new Netbooks unveiled at CES 2009. While it's good for consumers, the blurring of lines between the two could potentially be destroying the business models of PC manufacturers.
That lack of distinction between a Netbook and a notebook will become more clear as soon as Windows 7 arrives on the scene, likely in the next nine to 12 months. Microsoft's new operating system is designed to work on Netbooks and actually may provide a good experience for users on relatively low-powered devices, unlike Vista. That calls into question the value proposition of the Netbook category if the same OS is available on what are supposed to be two different kinds of machines, according to Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis for the NPD Group.
"What does that do to our business model? Have we (just) traded $799 sales for $399 sales?" he asked.
And the timing isn't great. "The unfortunate aspect is we're bringing these products out in a recession, which is likely to mean it's harder to (sell) these as an additional PC and not as replacement for something else you're going to buy," said Baker.
For the past year, when a laptop had a screen smaller than 10 inches, an Atom processor, and cost below $400, we'd call it a Netbook. Starting from essentially zero market penetration in late 2007, by the end of last year, roughly 10 million Netbooks have shipped, according to IDC. They now account for 7 percent of all portable PCs, an extraordinary growth rate in a short time. But exactly how the category is growing is the big question mark.
"The market is multi-faceted," said Loren Loverde, PC analyst for research firm IDC. "You don't get growth along a straight trajectory, more like growth in an amoeba. It stretches out in different directions and grows and absorbs different things."
What is a Netbook?
At first there appeared to be a semblance of agreement on what made a Netbook different, and its own category of computer. Intel launched the category with its Atom processor, which promised less computing power, but for far less cost. One Laptop Per Child and Intel led the way with low-cost notebooks intended for developing nations. But Asus broke the category open for consumers in late 2007 with its Eee PC, at first equipped with a tiny 7-inch screen, little chiclet keys, solid-state memory, and Linux instead of Windows.
Much has changed since then. A year later we have almost as many interpretations of a Netbook as we do manufacturers. Dell defines Netbook differently than Sony, who sees the market in a way that Acer and Hewlett-Packard do not. (And Toshiba refuses to see any Netbook market at all--at least in the U.S.)
Acer and Asus essentially agree on what a Netbook is: a low-power notebook with a 9-inch screen with a price point between $300 and $400. They're not meant for much beyond connecting to the Web. Those two Taiwanese manufacturers were first to market and have been rewarded handsomely for their efforts, capturing the majority of Netbook market share early on. Acer has done particularly well in Europe.
In late summer, Dell, the largest PC maker in the U.S. and the second largest worldwide, threw its hat into the ring, apparently to defend its territory. The Dell Inspiron Mini 9 was a normal Netbook, but the subsequent Mini 12 was puzzling. By grouping it with the Mini line it's being sold as a Netbook, but the 12-inch screen size is bumping up dangerously close to smaller traditional notebooks. At just under $600, it also appears to compete with the $699 Dell Inspiron 15.
Each PC vendor is trying to mold the Netbook trend in a way that fits with their own product line. Companies like HP are trying to draw a distinction between Netbooks through software: The Mini 1000 MIE has a custom interface designed to hide the fact that it's essentially a Linux device. Sony's also putting its touch on the idea, with the Sony Vaio P Lifestyle PC, an expensive device not aimed at the masses.
By each company tweaking their Netbooks a little here and a little there in the name of differentiating and adding more features that consumers want or expect, they're basically creating something that looks like yet another notebook PC.
At what cost?
Dell VP of Consumer Sales and Marketing Michael Tatelman insisted at CES last week that it's "still too early to tell" if by selling Netbooks it is drawing customers away from buying traditional notebooks, which cost more and offer manufacturers higher margins.
"In some places it's a way to acquire new customers faster, in some places it's a companion device, and in some places it's a primary computer," Tatelman told a crowd of journalists while introducing the company's third Netbook, the Inspiron Mini 10 last week.
HP also insists Netbooks and notebooks are very separate. To which former Seagate CEO William Watkins promptly snorted and rolled his eyes at the idea in an interview last week. He summed up how the category's naysayers feel, saying, "A Netbook is just a low-end notebook."
By the midpoint of this year we'll be able to assess the damage the Netbook craze has done to traditional notebook revenues, said NPD's Baker. "We know there will be some (cannibalization), but we'll find out just how much."
source
Except when you look at the bottom line of the companies making them. Though initially thought of as a way to sell cheaper, less powerful companion devices to notebooks, Netbooks are beginning to lose their distinction, as evidenced by the new Netbooks unveiled at CES 2009. While it's good for consumers, the blurring of lines between the two could potentially be destroying the business models of PC manufacturers.
That lack of distinction between a Netbook and a notebook will become more clear as soon as Windows 7 arrives on the scene, likely in the next nine to 12 months. Microsoft's new operating system is designed to work on Netbooks and actually may provide a good experience for users on relatively low-powered devices, unlike Vista. That calls into question the value proposition of the Netbook category if the same OS is available on what are supposed to be two different kinds of machines, according to Stephen Baker, vice president of industry analysis for the NPD Group.
"What does that do to our business model? Have we (just) traded $799 sales for $399 sales?" he asked.
And the timing isn't great. "The unfortunate aspect is we're bringing these products out in a recession, which is likely to mean it's harder to (sell) these as an additional PC and not as replacement for something else you're going to buy," said Baker.
For the past year, when a laptop had a screen smaller than 10 inches, an Atom processor, and cost below $400, we'd call it a Netbook. Starting from essentially zero market penetration in late 2007, by the end of last year, roughly 10 million Netbooks have shipped, according to IDC. They now account for 7 percent of all portable PCs, an extraordinary growth rate in a short time. But exactly how the category is growing is the big question mark.
"The market is multi-faceted," said Loren Loverde, PC analyst for research firm IDC. "You don't get growth along a straight trajectory, more like growth in an amoeba. It stretches out in different directions and grows and absorbs different things."
What is a Netbook?
At first there appeared to be a semblance of agreement on what made a Netbook different, and its own category of computer. Intel launched the category with its Atom processor, which promised less computing power, but for far less cost. One Laptop Per Child and Intel led the way with low-cost notebooks intended for developing nations. But Asus broke the category open for consumers in late 2007 with its Eee PC, at first equipped with a tiny 7-inch screen, little chiclet keys, solid-state memory, and Linux instead of Windows.
Much has changed since then. A year later we have almost as many interpretations of a Netbook as we do manufacturers. Dell defines Netbook differently than Sony, who sees the market in a way that Acer and Hewlett-Packard do not. (And Toshiba refuses to see any Netbook market at all--at least in the U.S.)
Acer and Asus essentially agree on what a Netbook is: a low-power notebook with a 9-inch screen with a price point between $300 and $400. They're not meant for much beyond connecting to the Web. Those two Taiwanese manufacturers were first to market and have been rewarded handsomely for their efforts, capturing the majority of Netbook market share early on. Acer has done particularly well in Europe.
In late summer, Dell, the largest PC maker in the U.S. and the second largest worldwide, threw its hat into the ring, apparently to defend its territory. The Dell Inspiron Mini 9 was a normal Netbook, but the subsequent Mini 12 was puzzling. By grouping it with the Mini line it's being sold as a Netbook, but the 12-inch screen size is bumping up dangerously close to smaller traditional notebooks. At just under $600, it also appears to compete with the $699 Dell Inspiron 15.
Each PC vendor is trying to mold the Netbook trend in a way that fits with their own product line. Companies like HP are trying to draw a distinction between Netbooks through software: The Mini 1000 MIE has a custom interface designed to hide the fact that it's essentially a Linux device. Sony's also putting its touch on the idea, with the Sony Vaio P Lifestyle PC, an expensive device not aimed at the masses.
By each company tweaking their Netbooks a little here and a little there in the name of differentiating and adding more features that consumers want or expect, they're basically creating something that looks like yet another notebook PC.
At what cost?
Dell VP of Consumer Sales and Marketing Michael Tatelman insisted at CES last week that it's "still too early to tell" if by selling Netbooks it is drawing customers away from buying traditional notebooks, which cost more and offer manufacturers higher margins.
"In some places it's a way to acquire new customers faster, in some places it's a companion device, and in some places it's a primary computer," Tatelman told a crowd of journalists while introducing the company's third Netbook, the Inspiron Mini 10 last week.
HP also insists Netbooks and notebooks are very separate. To which former Seagate CEO William Watkins promptly snorted and rolled his eyes at the idea in an interview last week. He summed up how the category's naysayers feel, saying, "A Netbook is just a low-end notebook."
By the midpoint of this year we'll be able to assess the damage the Netbook craze has done to traditional notebook revenues, said NPD's Baker. "We know there will be some (cannibalization), but we'll find out just how much."
source
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
Army to launch its own mobile service!
Not one to be left behind, the Indian Army will next month launch its own mobile communication system christened 'Mercury blaze', says a PTI report.
An army spokesperson said the mega project is being handled by the Corps of Signals, who are currently weighing the system in terms of reliability and security, among other parameters.
The project was actually launched in January last year, and is expected to reach completion by end of this month.
Sources familiar with the project said the new system will replace the old wireless communication service used during counter-insurgency operations in the state.
They said that the sophisticated technology would ensure faster mobility of troops during anti-terrorist operations. Besides helping provide the best secured communication to troops, the system would provide data communication directly to operational areas.
The sources added that the system would enhance battlefield transparency, with troops being able to coordinate and carry out counter-insurgency operations in the best possible manner.
The countdown to the launch has begun, with a series of mobile towers and other infrastructure already set up across army formations in the country, including Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri, Doda, Udhampur, Jammu, and Poonch districts.
It is learnt that the new system was put to the test in the army's Nagrota-based 16 Corps operational area that spreads out from the South of the Pir Panjal range to the Jammu plains. And, the trial emerged error-free and successful, according to sources.
An army spokesperson said the mega project is being handled by the Corps of Signals, who are currently weighing the system in terms of reliability and security, among other parameters.
The project was actually launched in January last year, and is expected to reach completion by end of this month.
Sources familiar with the project said the new system will replace the old wireless communication service used during counter-insurgency operations in the state.
They said that the sophisticated technology would ensure faster mobility of troops during anti-terrorist operations. Besides helping provide the best secured communication to troops, the system would provide data communication directly to operational areas.
The sources added that the system would enhance battlefield transparency, with troops being able to coordinate and carry out counter-insurgency operations in the best possible manner.
The countdown to the launch has begun, with a series of mobile towers and other infrastructure already set up across army formations in the country, including Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri, Doda, Udhampur, Jammu, and Poonch districts.
It is learnt that the new system was put to the test in the army's Nagrota-based 16 Corps operational area that spreads out from the South of the Pir Panjal range to the Jammu plains. And, the trial emerged error-free and successful, according to sources.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
BSNL, Novatium roll out low-cost computer
‘Nova netPC’ is available in two packages of Rs.1,999 and Rs.2,999
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Chennai-based IT solutions company Novatium on Friday rolled out a low-cost home computing device that could help the former achieve a target of 9 million broadband connections across the country in the next couple of years.
At a press conference after the launch of “Nova netPC” on the BSNL’s network, Chairman and Managing Director of BSNL Kuldeep Goyal said affordability issues over buying a desktop PC or laptop would no longer stand in the way of broadband penetration, especially in rural areas.
Essentially, the user is provided with a set top box, keyboard and mouse while most hardware functions of a computer will be managed by a central server. Most of the widely used applications will be available to the user. The central server will facilitate access to the BSNL’s broadband conduit, for which the user will need to subscribe to any of the DataOne monthly plans.
Nova netPC, available in two packages (down payment of Rs.1,999 and a monthly charge of Rs.199, and an upfront fee of Rs.2,999 and monthly subscription of Rs.175), is available at BSNL’s outlets in the city.
Mr. Goyal said the total number of broadband users in the country was only 5.25 million, which was less than 1 per cent of the population. In developed societies, the penetration levels were as high as 60 per cent or more.
BSNL aimed to account for about 60 per cent of the 20 million broadband connections stipulated as target for 2010 by the government. BSNL, which now has 3 million broadband users, has equipped at a cost of Rs.1,600 crore 23,000 of its network of 30,000 telephone exchanges for broadband connectivity. BSNL enjoyed a 56 per cent market share in the broadband space, he pointed out.
“Negotiations with the Universal Service Obligation Fund, a body mandated with scaling up rural telephony, are in an advanced stage on providing near-free broadband tariffs and subsidised customer end equipment for rural users,” he said.
3G technology
BSNL’s plans for the immediate future include rollout of 3G technology on its GSM network (the national launch planned from Chennai now has been rescheduled to February), providing broadband on optic fibre for high-end users and facilitating wireless broadband (WiMAX) in 1,000 rural blocks.
Advance purchase orders for WiMAX equipment had been placed with suppliers.
Novatium CEO Alok Singh said the link-up with BSNL fitted in with the company’s vision of making computing simple and affordable and taking broadband to the nook and corner of the country.
The netPC, which is protected with 11 global patents, had been around for over a year in Delhi and would shortly go commercial. In addition to 1,000 users in the capital, the netPC had been launched in Mauritius. In Chennai, where BSNL issued 8,000 new connections a month, Novatium targeted a sale of 1,000 units by January end.
Post-launch, Nova netPC devices were distributed to four BSNL customers.
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) and Chennai-based IT solutions company Novatium on Friday rolled out a low-cost home computing device that could help the former achieve a target of 9 million broadband connections across the country in the next couple of years.
At a press conference after the launch of “Nova netPC” on the BSNL’s network, Chairman and Managing Director of BSNL Kuldeep Goyal said affordability issues over buying a desktop PC or laptop would no longer stand in the way of broadband penetration, especially in rural areas.
Essentially, the user is provided with a set top box, keyboard and mouse while most hardware functions of a computer will be managed by a central server. Most of the widely used applications will be available to the user. The central server will facilitate access to the BSNL’s broadband conduit, for which the user will need to subscribe to any of the DataOne monthly plans.
Nova netPC, available in two packages (down payment of Rs.1,999 and a monthly charge of Rs.199, and an upfront fee of Rs.2,999 and monthly subscription of Rs.175), is available at BSNL’s outlets in the city.
Mr. Goyal said the total number of broadband users in the country was only 5.25 million, which was less than 1 per cent of the population. In developed societies, the penetration levels were as high as 60 per cent or more.
BSNL aimed to account for about 60 per cent of the 20 million broadband connections stipulated as target for 2010 by the government. BSNL, which now has 3 million broadband users, has equipped at a cost of Rs.1,600 crore 23,000 of its network of 30,000 telephone exchanges for broadband connectivity. BSNL enjoyed a 56 per cent market share in the broadband space, he pointed out.
“Negotiations with the Universal Service Obligation Fund, a body mandated with scaling up rural telephony, are in an advanced stage on providing near-free broadband tariffs and subsidised customer end equipment for rural users,” he said.
3G technology
BSNL’s plans for the immediate future include rollout of 3G technology on its GSM network (the national launch planned from Chennai now has been rescheduled to February), providing broadband on optic fibre for high-end users and facilitating wireless broadband (WiMAX) in 1,000 rural blocks.
Advance purchase orders for WiMAX equipment had been placed with suppliers.
Novatium CEO Alok Singh said the link-up with BSNL fitted in with the company’s vision of making computing simple and affordable and taking broadband to the nook and corner of the country.
The netPC, which is protected with 11 global patents, had been around for over a year in Delhi and would shortly go commercial. In addition to 1,000 users in the capital, the netPC had been launched in Mauritius. In Chennai, where BSNL issued 8,000 new connections a month, Novatium targeted a sale of 1,000 units by January end.
Post-launch, Nova netPC devices were distributed to four BSNL customers.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Nokia To Make Symbian Open Source
Wednesday, June 25, 2008: Nokia is planning to kill three birds with one stone -- Symbian. The big company Nokia from a small country Finland is planning to make some major changes in the mobile industry. The first step is to acquire the remaining shares in Symbian, the software company that develops and licences Symbian OS, an open operating system for mobile devices. Nokia, which makes 40 per cent of all phones sold globally, will pay €264 million ($410 million) for the 52 per cent of British-based Symbian it does not already own. Secondly, Nokia would gradually open up the Symbian platform, making it open source. And thirdly, it is bringing all the leading mobile players together for the Symbian platform.
Plans for the Foundation have already received wide support from other industry leaders. The industry majors who will be part of the foundation include biggies like AT&T, LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments and Vodafone. Membership of this non-profit Foundation will be open to all organisations. This initiative is supported by current shareholders and management of Symbian Limited, who have been actively involved in its development.
The Foundation's platform will build on the leading open mobile software platform, with more than 200 million phones, across 235 models, already shipped by multiple vendors and tens of thousands of third-party applications already available for Symbian OS-based devices.
Contributions from Foundation members through open collaboration will be integrated to further enhance the platform. The Foundation will make selected components available as open source at launch. It will then work to establish the most complete mobile software offering available in open source. This will be made available over the next two years and is intended to be released under Eclipse Public License (EPL) 1.0.
Plans for the Foundation have already received wide support from other industry leaders. The industry majors who will be part of the foundation include biggies like AT&T, LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments and Vodafone. Membership of this non-profit Foundation will be open to all organisations. This initiative is supported by current shareholders and management of Symbian Limited, who have been actively involved in its development.
The Foundation's platform will build on the leading open mobile software platform, with more than 200 million phones, across 235 models, already shipped by multiple vendors and tens of thousands of third-party applications already available for Symbian OS-based devices.
Contributions from Foundation members through open collaboration will be integrated to further enhance the platform. The Foundation will make selected components available as open source at launch. It will then work to establish the most complete mobile software offering available in open source. This will be made available over the next two years and is intended to be released under Eclipse Public License (EPL) 1.0.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Bundle Offer: Get Virgin Mobile's vTrendy With Lifetime Validity
Priced at Rs 1,499, the new vTrendy handset includes one-touch access to Vbytes -- Virgin Mobile’s VAS data portal.
Monday, June 23, 2008: Virgin Mobile has introduced its vTrendy handset - a colour screen phone loaded with FM radio. With every vTrendy phone, users will get lifetime validity recharge and a starter user kit. Weighing 65gms, vTrendy is loaded with features which include one-touch access to Vbytes - Virgin Mobile’s data portal, speaker phone, organiser, phonebook memory of 500 contacts and additional 150 contacts on RUIM (SIM) card, to name a few.
Commenting on the launch, P Madhavan, chief sales and distribution officer, Virgin Mobile India, said, “Youth today are faced with a situation where they have no stylish CDMA handsets in the price range of below Rs 1,500. Even a GSM service provider’s handset bundled offer does not really appeal to them because of lack of attractive handsets. vTrendy is a ‘no compromise deal for youth’ since it combines a stylish handset to suit their budget, is loaded with features such as FM radio, 65K colour and long messaging service (LMS) and is bundled with an offer tailored just for them.”
According to Deval Parikh, chief officer, handsets, VAS and procurement, Virgin Mobile India, “This stylish looking, light weighted, sleek and feature rich handset has been especially designed to appeal to our young audience who consider personal devices an expression of their style statement amongst their peer group. To add to our users delight, vTrendy has a one-touch access to Vbytes, Virgin Mobile’s VAS data portal, where users can get unlimited access to Virgin Mobile selected content and other applications for a simple charge of Rs 5 per day.”
With a price tag of Rs 1,499, vTrendy is available across 15,000 outlets nationally and over 1,000 modern retail outlets including The Mobile Store, Univercell, Croma, Convergem, Big C, Vishal Mega Mart, Vijay Sales and Sangeetha, to name a few. Apart from this, the handset will be made available in 34 kiosks in high traffic malls across the country.
Monday, June 23, 2008: Virgin Mobile has introduced its vTrendy handset - a colour screen phone loaded with FM radio. With every vTrendy phone, users will get lifetime validity recharge and a starter user kit. Weighing 65gms, vTrendy is loaded with features which include one-touch access to Vbytes - Virgin Mobile’s data portal, speaker phone, organiser, phonebook memory of 500 contacts and additional 150 contacts on RUIM (SIM) card, to name a few.
Commenting on the launch, P Madhavan, chief sales and distribution officer, Virgin Mobile India, said, “Youth today are faced with a situation where they have no stylish CDMA handsets in the price range of below Rs 1,500. Even a GSM service provider’s handset bundled offer does not really appeal to them because of lack of attractive handsets. vTrendy is a ‘no compromise deal for youth’ since it combines a stylish handset to suit their budget, is loaded with features such as FM radio, 65K colour and long messaging service (LMS) and is bundled with an offer tailored just for them.”
According to Deval Parikh, chief officer, handsets, VAS and procurement, Virgin Mobile India, “This stylish looking, light weighted, sleek and feature rich handset has been especially designed to appeal to our young audience who consider personal devices an expression of their style statement amongst their peer group. To add to our users delight, vTrendy has a one-touch access to Vbytes, Virgin Mobile’s VAS data portal, where users can get unlimited access to Virgin Mobile selected content and other applications for a simple charge of Rs 5 per day.”
With a price tag of Rs 1,499, vTrendy is available across 15,000 outlets nationally and over 1,000 modern retail outlets including The Mobile Store, Univercell, Croma, Convergem, Big C, Vishal Mega Mart, Vijay Sales and Sangeetha, to name a few. Apart from this, the handset will be made available in 34 kiosks in high traffic malls across the country.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Everything Over IP
Ever since the popularity of VoIP, the whole business of communications over IP has undergone a sea change. In this story, we look at everything that can be carried over IP, including fragrances
Saturday, April 05, 2008
It's well known how IP has changed the way people communicate. After data communication the buzz was VoIP. Now VoIP has become an integral part of our lives and people are hooked on to VoIP without even realizing. Now the latest buzz is Video over IP as well as on mobiles. In this story we look at some of the hot communication trends taking place over IP and some of latest developments which will pave the way to what we like to call 'Everything over IP.'
TV on the move
The announcement by MTNL to offer a bouquet of interactive personalized television and video phone services in Mumbai and Delhi has had two effects-for one, it has served as a wake up call to the telecom industry that the time is ripe to converge telephony, TV and Internet to create a new slate of value added offerings to Indian customers. The second, larger effect is to tell consumers that they've entered a new era where video and TV can reach to them anywhere, anytime through Internet. When Vint Cerf, regarded as the father of the Internet and co-inventor of TCP/IP visited India last year, he sported a Tee which said, "IP on everything", a rather rude message with a serious thought that Internet Protocol had already become the single most pervasive standard to communicate data and entertain world's connected billions. Hand in hand with its recent mobile TV offering, MTNL has also launched, in partnership with Aksh Optifibre, a new service called V Spyk, a video phone service in Mumbai and Delhi. For Rs 499, subscribers are being offered IPTV, VoIP as well as 50 MB broadband services.
While private telecom providers are still reeling from the head start that public sector companies seem to have achieved, it seems like TRAI may object to MTNL's IPTV service since they are a basic service operator while IPTV is a value added service. Meanwhile, IP is being harnessed in creative ways to move video and TV content, releasing it from constraints of place and time. The most compelling product in this space is Slingbox (a creation of India based engineers of Sling Media), a set top box which allows users to transfer all TV feeds from cable or satellite operators to any PC, laptop or mobile phone, anywhere in the world via Internet.
A competing product is Hava from another India-based developer, Monsoon Multimedia, which adds Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g) to provide wireless home networking capability. Even without these add on devices, it is possible to receive a variety of TV feeds via the Internet. The most compelling of these free web services is Joost, a creation of Niklas Zennstromand and Janus Friis, inventors, who in an earlier era, invented P2P with Kazaa. Joost has already tied up with a 100 TV channels including MTV, CNN and Sony Pictures, and in the months to come, the Net is slated to become the chosen vehicle to reach television content to customers wherever they are.
A recent report of Springboard Research conducted across 6 metros in India found that over 85% of mobile phone users in the country were ready to invest in new handsets to be able to get their most popular TV content on-the-move. With Indians buying mobile phones at 8 million a month, it is clear that the potential for IPTV in India may become one of the fastest growing markets for mobile and Net based services.
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| With vendors launching cell phones that support Mobile TV, it is all set to become the next big thing |
Telepresence
Ever since Cisco launched its Telepresence solution to provide real life experience in video conferencing, there has been a lot of buzz around such solutions and other vendors have also joined the bandwagon. HP came out with its Halo telepresence solution, Nortel has started providing telepresence services and so are many other video conferencing companies such as Polycom and Lifesize.
HP this month launched its new telepresence offering called Halo Collaboration Studio. The product is meant for enterprises with geographically dispersed workforce and the product can be easily installed at remote locations without the need for any expertise. Just like other Halo products, this solution too uses Halo Video Exchange Network with a dedicated collaboration channel that consists of an HP collaboration software and a high-definition collaboration screen. Since Halo is a managed end to end solution, enterprises do not have to worry about maintenance and upgradation of their infrastructure.
In India too telepresence is catching up, and March 08 saw Polycom launching its RealPresence Experience High Definition solution and Tata Communications launching Cisco-certified TelePresence network services in India.
Video conferencing on mobiles
Modern cellphones enable you to do everything a regular desktop PC does, with the added advantage of mobility. Lately the buzz has been around technologies that allow video conferencing between two cellphones, and between a cellphone and a PC. The latter happens over the Internet. Now many of the latest camera-equipped cellphones are ready for video conferencing as they are designed with a rotating camera. Some also ship with a compact stand which houses a camera lens. You can mount a cellphone and initiate a conference call. You will be able to see the participant and yourself on the cellphone screen. Your images will be transmitted to the viewer on the other side via the camera on the stand.
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| Scent-Dome devices come with a cartridge containing 20 scents. By mixing these, the device creates fragrances according to the content |
Mobile video conferencing is no longer limited to mobile phones. Vendors are also launching similar portable mobile video conferencing solutions. Tandberg has come out with a device called FieldView which is meant to provide real time collaboration amongst experts and field agents. This can help enterprises in making quick decisions and get expert advice instantly on the situation. The company is targeting companies in manufacturing, education, research and development.
IP storage for video surveillance
Demand for video surveillance has increased considerably in enterprises. This has been due to reasons such as the need to meet compliance standards or the fact that enterprises can easily deploy IP cameras and use their existing cabling for carrying video signals. Enterprises are readily deploying web based IP surveillance solutions as they provide several advantages over traditional CCTV solutions. Administrators can remotely view and manage IP surveillance systems, the system itself is fast, ease of use, etc. Further, IP video surveillance is also being used as proof in lawsuits and at times is required to meet compliance. However, it also causes problems such as storing images generated from IP video surveillance, as even a single IP camera can generate more than 20 GB of data in a single day. Also, as a video surveillance system performs constant write operations on a storage disk, using common storage devices such as NAS can degrade the performance of a video surveillance system as these devices are designed for environments where balanced read/write operations take place.
To solve such issues vendors are now offering dedicated storage solutions for video surveillance. These storage solutions are designed to work with existing infrastructure of an enterprise and can support thousands of cameras working together. They support features such as replication, clustering, thin provisioning, load balancing and failover. Vendors are now also providing a complete solution for video surveillance which includes everything from an IP camera to a media server as well as a storage solution.
Synthesized Scent over IP
There has been a lot of talk about how soon physical interactions over IP would be possible and also a lot of research has been going on this subject, to provide Touch-to-Touch, Motion-to-Motion and similar interactions. Last year a project called touch (http://phy2phy.wikidot.com/touch) demonstrated a device which allows two users to touch each other's fingers over the Internet. However, when these products would be commercially available, is hard to say at this point. There have been a few commercial products launched that deliver aroma over your desktop. A company called TriSenx has created a device called Scent Dome which has cartridges of 20 scents and by cleverly mixing these; it releases fragrances that provide a unique experience to users. So, whenever a user goes to a Scent Enabled Website (SEC), the device will spray the fragrance into the air as specified in the content, thus bringing a tinge of reality to the otherwise virtual experience. Another company, called Telewest, is soon going to release ScentMail which will use the same device to let users send fragrant email.
Similarly, another company, called AromaJet, is creating a device called Pinoke which will provide a new gaming experience by spraying aroma according to the environment in a particular game. As aromas trigger new emotions in human beings, such devices could make games even more addictive.
Teredo Tunneling
NAT has been used to overcome ipv4 address shortage as it acts as an interface between Internet and the local network. It translates private address of local network to the public address of ISP. Now that ipv6 is a reality, overcoming the ipv4 to ipv6 transition is an important issue. This issue was resolved to certain extent by 6to4 protocol, that could be implemented on NAS.
Teredo Tunneling is a protocol that gives ipv6 connectivity to nodes that connect through NAT devices that do not understand ipv6. In this protocol, ipv6 packets are encapsulated into ipv4 UDP datagrams that can route through NAT and ipv4 Internet. Teredo was introduced because 6to4 protocol, that is most common ipv6 over ipv4 protocol, was economically and technically difficult to implement on most NAT devices. Teredo in turn is implemented on nodes itself that can easily understand the encapsulated packets and thus gain ipv6 connectivity without NAT being ipv6 aware.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
MobileNXT.com is Launched
MobileNXT Online, in partnership with MobileNXT Teleservices, has launched an online specialty retail store dedicated to mobile phones and accessories.
MobileNXT.com claims to have a range of mobile phones with over 250 handsets to choose from and accessories ranging from memory cards, head sets, mobile carry cases, and batteries to Bluetooth devices.
Built with Web 2.0 features, the site encourages user-generated content; making it social and interactive. It has detailed product specifications, customer ratings, reviews, and shopping features like phone comparisons so users can make informed purchase decisions, say the Web site owners.
As a special launch offer, MobileNXT.com is offering mobiles with a shipping charge of Rs 2.
Rahul Sethi, business head of MobileNXT Online, says that MobileNXT.com is being launched as an end-to-end mobile ecosystem, which covers the online and offline space seamlessly, enabling visitors to research and buy a phone from this ecosystem. They intend to have a comprehensive range of handsets and accessories with complete information, detailed expert reviews, and more.
Bangalore-based MobileNXT currently has 22 retail stores spread across India. The company plans to expand its footprint in the country through more stores.
MobileNXT.com claims to have a range of mobile phones with over 250 handsets to choose from and accessories ranging from memory cards, head sets, mobile carry cases, and batteries to Bluetooth devices.
Built with Web 2.0 features, the site encourages user-generated content; making it social and interactive. It has detailed product specifications, customer ratings, reviews, and shopping features like phone comparisons so users can make informed purchase decisions, say the Web site owners.
As a special launch offer, MobileNXT.com is offering mobiles with a shipping charge of Rs 2.
Rahul Sethi, business head of MobileNXT Online, says that MobileNXT.com is being launched as an end-to-end mobile ecosystem, which covers the online and offline space seamlessly, enabling visitors to research and buy a phone from this ecosystem. They intend to have a comprehensive range of handsets and accessories with complete information, detailed expert reviews, and more.
Bangalore-based MobileNXT currently has 22 retail stores spread across India. The company plans to expand its footprint in the country through more stores.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Aksh Optifibre to widen its IPTV reach with BSNL
Cable and optical fibre manufacturer, Aksh Optifibre, has entered into a deal with state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL)for delivery of Interactive Personalised Television (IPTV) on its broadband network in the north Indian market.
As per the deal, the company needs to have 10,000 subscribers in the next nine months across 20 cities in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh (West) in north India, a press release stated here today.
BSNL has a total landline network of 40-million across India, and six-million in north India, which indicated the immense potential in the market for IPTV services, the release said.
The incremental cost for acquiring, creating content and subscribers is expected to be Rs 500 crore.
The project would be funded through resources raised from the international market, the release said .
In January, the company had concluded a global depository receipts (GDR) and foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCB) issue of USD 40-million to part finance the IPTV and Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services in Delhi and Mumbai, the release said.
Aksh-tel, Aksh Optifibre's IPTV delivers television programming, which comes with a high-quality reception and several unique add-on features.
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