Following TATA's NANO - the cheapest vehicle, now India is again in news for the cheapest tablet PC. Tablet PC is the smallest form of computer. The Indian Tablet PC named as Sakshat is meant for Educational purposes, mainly.
Kapil Sibal, India Human Resource Development Minister has unveiled preview with its earlier prototype available for showcase. The tablet PC will boast WiFi, and Touchscreen as main features. Considering the Hardware, Battery power and Price constraints, the device will be preloaded with Android Operating System which is increasingly gaining its popularity in handheld and mobile segments.
With its official release date in 2011, the government hopes to further reduce the price to $10-20 with subsidize and mass volume production by that time.
The tablet PC Sakshat is suitable for Internet browsing, reading e-books and viewing Multimedia.
Showing posts with label Mobile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mobile. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Monday, March 2, 2009
Create hidden private storage area on Pen Drives and Hard Disks - SafeHouse Explorer
If you want to protect your personal data from curious eyes, you need to hide and encrypt it on your USB memory stick, local hard drive or any removable media like ipod. In this way nobody can view it without your permission. Here is a free, reliable application, SafeHouse Explorer which hides, locks and encrypts any documents, spreadsheets, photos, videos and anything else. It uses super strong 128-bit advanced encryption technology which ensures total protection of your data. Moreover unlike other similar product, you can create unlimited number of private storage vaults as large as 2,000 GB each.
SafeHouse Explorer works with Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Server 2003, 2008 and
64-bit XP/Vista/Server and very easy to use. You can drag and drop file on to SafeHouse Explorer window for encrypting it (After creating a private storage vault). Your files are completely invisible until you enter your password. After you enter your secret password, you access your files using SafeHouse Explorer's familiar drag-and-drop Explorer-like interface.
With SafeHouse Explorer, you can protect any files residing on any drive, including memory sticks, external USB drives, network servers, CD/DVDs and even iPods.
Features of this 100% free, full featured application include:
* Complete full-featured stand-alone security solution.
* Hides, locks and encrypts documents, spreadsheets, photos, videos and anything else.
* Perfect for USB memory sticks and other portable media - even iPods
* Super strong 128-bit advanced encryption ensures your total protection.
* Unlimited number of private storage vaults as large as 2,000 Gigabytes each.
* Graphical password strength meter helps you choose strong passwords.
* Can be run directly from USB memory sticks without prior Windows installation.
Download SafeHouse Explorer from here
SafeHouse Explorer works with Windows 2000, XP, Vista, Server 2003, 2008 and
64-bit XP/Vista/Server and very easy to use. You can drag and drop file on to SafeHouse Explorer window for encrypting it (After creating a private storage vault). Your files are completely invisible until you enter your password. After you enter your secret password, you access your files using SafeHouse Explorer's familiar drag-and-drop Explorer-like interface.
With SafeHouse Explorer, you can protect any files residing on any drive, including memory sticks, external USB drives, network servers, CD/DVDs and even iPods.
Features of this 100% free, full featured application include:
* Complete full-featured stand-alone security solution.
* Hides, locks and encrypts documents, spreadsheets, photos, videos and anything else.
* Perfect for USB memory sticks and other portable media - even iPods
* Super strong 128-bit advanced encryption ensures your total protection.
* Unlimited number of private storage vaults as large as 2,000 Gigabytes each.
* Graphical password strength meter helps you choose strong passwords.
* Can be run directly from USB memory sticks without prior Windows installation.
Download SafeHouse Explorer from here
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Rs 500 laptop display on Feb 3
NEW DELHI: A $10 laptop (Rs 500) prototype, with 2 GB RAM capacity, would be on display in Tirupati on February 3 when the National Mission on
Education through Information and Communication Techology is launched.
The $10 laptop project, first reported in TOI three years ago, has come as an answer to the $100 laptop of MIT's Nicholas Negroponte that he was trying to hardsell to India. The $10 laptop has come out of the drawing board stage due to work put in by students of Vellore Institute of Technology, scientists in Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, IIT-Madras and involvement of PSUs like Semiconductor Complex. “At this stage, the price is working out to be $20 but with mass production it is bound to come down,” R P Agarwal, secretary, higher education said.
Apart from questioning the technology of $100 laptops, the main reason for HRD ministry's resistance to Negroponte's One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project was the high and the hidden cost that worked out to be $200.
The mission launch would also see demonstration of e-classroom, virtual laboratory and a better 'Sakshat' portal that was launched more than two years ago. Sources also said that the ministry has entered into an agreement with four publishers — Macmillan, Tata McGraw Hill, Prentice-Hall and Vikas Publishing — to upload their textbooks on 'Sakshat'. Five per cent of these books can be accessed free.
The mission, with an 11th plan outlay of Rs 4,612 crore, is aimed at making a serious intervention in enhancing the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education. The mission has two major components. One, content generation through its portal 'Sakshat', and two, building connectivity along with providing access devices for institutions and learners.
In this context, government would give Rs 2.5 lakh per institution for 10 Kbps connection and subsidise 25% of costs for private and state government colleges.
The mission would seek to extend computer infrastructure and connectivity to over 18,000 colleges in the country, including each department of nearly 400 universities and institutions of national importance. The mission would focus on appropriate e-learning procedures, providing facility of performing experiments through virtual laboratories, online testing and certification, online availability of teachers to guide and mentor learners, and utilization of EduSat and DTH.
Education through Information and Communication Techology is launched.
The $10 laptop project, first reported in TOI three years ago, has come as an answer to the $100 laptop of MIT's Nicholas Negroponte that he was trying to hardsell to India. The $10 laptop has come out of the drawing board stage due to work put in by students of Vellore Institute of Technology, scientists in Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, IIT-Madras and involvement of PSUs like Semiconductor Complex. “At this stage, the price is working out to be $20 but with mass production it is bound to come down,” R P Agarwal, secretary, higher education said.
Apart from questioning the technology of $100 laptops, the main reason for HRD ministry's resistance to Negroponte's One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) project was the high and the hidden cost that worked out to be $200.
The mission launch would also see demonstration of e-classroom, virtual laboratory and a better 'Sakshat' portal that was launched more than two years ago. Sources also said that the ministry has entered into an agreement with four publishers — Macmillan, Tata McGraw Hill, Prentice-Hall and Vikas Publishing — to upload their textbooks on 'Sakshat'. Five per cent of these books can be accessed free.
The mission, with an 11th plan outlay of Rs 4,612 crore, is aimed at making a serious intervention in enhancing the Gross Enrolment Ratio in higher education. The mission has two major components. One, content generation through its portal 'Sakshat', and two, building connectivity along with providing access devices for institutions and learners.
In this context, government would give Rs 2.5 lakh per institution for 10 Kbps connection and subsidise 25% of costs for private and state government colleges.
The mission would seek to extend computer infrastructure and connectivity to over 18,000 colleges in the country, including each department of nearly 400 universities and institutions of national importance. The mission would focus on appropriate e-learning procedures, providing facility of performing experiments through virtual laboratories, online testing and certification, online availability of teachers to guide and mentor learners, and utilization of EduSat and DTH.
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
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Next Generation SDXC (eXtended Capacity) Memory Card Delivering Up To 2TB Massive Storage
The global ecosystem of more than 1,100 technology companies charged with setting interoperable SD standards, SD Association, has developed the next-generation SDXC (eXtended Capacity) memory card specification, which provides up to 2TB (terabytes) massive storage capacity with read/write speeds to 104MB/s this year, aiming to provide users larger capacity and faster transfer speeds for expanded entertainment and data storage.
“SDXC combines a higher capacity roadmap with faster transfer speeds as a means to exploit NAND flash memory technology as a compelling choice for portable memory storage and interoperability,” said Joseph Unsworth, research director, NAND Flash Semiconductors, at Gartner. “With industry support, SDXC presents manufacturers with the opportunity to kindle consumer demand for more advanced handset features and functionality in consumer electronics behind the ubiquitous SD interface.”
“With SDXC, consumers can quickly download higher quality content to their phones, including games, video and music – giving consumers a richer media and content experience,” said James Taylor, president of the SD Association. “The SD interface already has proven itself valuable in mobile phones. Now, SDXC memory card capabilities will spur further handset sophistication and boost consumer content demand.”
“SDXC is a large-capacity card that can store more than 4,000 RAW images, which is the uncompressed mode professionals use, and 17,000 of the fine-mode most consumers use. That capacity, combined with the exFAT file system, increases movie recording time and reduces starting time to improve photo-capturing opportunities,” said Shigeto Kanda, general manager of Canon. “Improvements in interface speed allow further increases in continuous shooting speed and higher resolution movie recordings. As a memory card well suited to small-sized user-friendly digital cameras, the SDXC specification will help consumers realize the full potential of our cameras.”
“SDXC combines a higher capacity roadmap with faster transfer speeds as a means to exploit NAND flash memory technology as a compelling choice for portable memory storage and interoperability,” said Joseph Unsworth, research director, NAND Flash Semiconductors, at Gartner. “With industry support, SDXC presents manufacturers with the opportunity to kindle consumer demand for more advanced handset features and functionality in consumer electronics behind the ubiquitous SD interface.”
“With SDXC, consumers can quickly download higher quality content to their phones, including games, video and music – giving consumers a richer media and content experience,” said James Taylor, president of the SD Association. “The SD interface already has proven itself valuable in mobile phones. Now, SDXC memory card capabilities will spur further handset sophistication and boost consumer content demand.”
“SDXC is a large-capacity card that can store more than 4,000 RAW images, which is the uncompressed mode professionals use, and 17,000 of the fine-mode most consumers use. That capacity, combined with the exFAT file system, increases movie recording time and reduces starting time to improve photo-capturing opportunities,” said Shigeto Kanda, general manager of Canon. “Improvements in interface speed allow further increases in continuous shooting speed and higher resolution movie recordings. As a memory card well suited to small-sized user-friendly digital cameras, the SDXC specification will help consumers realize the full potential of our cameras.”
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.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
DoT Announces 3G, WiMax Policy Overview
Finally, after a long wait, DoT announced the guidelines for the auction of allotment of spectrum for 3G and WiMax in the country. While spectrum in 2.1 GHz band was allocated for 3G auction, 2.5GHz and 2.3GHz spectrum bands were identified for WiMax. These services are expected to rollout in mid-2009.
In the case of 3G, the successful bidders will be allotted the spectrum for 20 years. Up to 10 players will be allowed in the 3G space, which includes foreign players. Those holding a UASL (Universal Access Service License), and have previous experience of running 3G services can bid for the spectrum.
In the first year of operation, operators will be exempted from the annual spectrum charge of 1% of the Adjusted Gross Revenue. Meanwhile, rollout obligations include covering 90% of metro area's within 5 years from date of spectrum allocation.
Some of the guidelines for WiMax spectrum allocation are similar to 3G, such as allowing UASL holders to bid and exempting operators from the annual spectrum charge of 1% in the first year.
In the case of 3G, the successful bidders will be allotted the spectrum for 20 years. Up to 10 players will be allowed in the 3G space, which includes foreign players. Those holding a UASL (Universal Access Service License), and have previous experience of running 3G services can bid for the spectrum.
In the first year of operation, operators will be exempted from the annual spectrum charge of 1% of the Adjusted Gross Revenue. Meanwhile, rollout obligations include covering 90% of metro area's within 5 years from date of spectrum allocation.
Some of the guidelines for WiMax spectrum allocation are similar to 3G, such as allowing UASL holders to bid and exempting operators from the annual spectrum charge of 1% in the first year.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Now Yoga Lessons on your Mobile
If you don't have time for an exercise regimen and are experiencing guilt pangs because of it (or the lack of), you might want to give this one a shot. Shemaroo has tied up with various mobile operators in India to offer actor Shilpa Shetty's Yoga for download to mobile customers.
Shemaroo says that the videos have been cut and edited such that each video captures one complete Asana. In Yoga, Asanas (postures) are categorized according to the benefits they provide like those for the back, stomach, neck and shoulder, and of course Pranayam (breathing exercises).
Also on offer are detailed write-ups explaining the benefits and description/s of each Asana. Apart from these videos, consumers can download Shilpa Shetty in her Yoga poses as their mobile wall-papers and screen-savers.
Vodafone is offering a pack of Rs 99, wherein the user can download unlimited Shilpa's Yoga videos in one hour. The pack also contains a step-by-step procedure for each Asana. Similarly, Airtel, Tata, Reliance, BPL, and Idea are also offering Shilpa's Yoga content for download as a value-added service (VAS). Additionally, consumers can purchase the complete DVD for Shilpa's Yoga after sampling the videos on their mobile phones. Shilpa's Yoga Mobile downloads are also available at: http://wap.shemaroo.com.
Shemaroo says that the videos have been cut and edited such that each video captures one complete Asana. In Yoga, Asanas (postures) are categorized according to the benefits they provide like those for the back, stomach, neck and shoulder, and of course Pranayam (breathing exercises).
Also on offer are detailed write-ups explaining the benefits and description/s of each Asana. Apart from these videos, consumers can download Shilpa Shetty in her Yoga poses as their mobile wall-papers and screen-savers.
Vodafone is offering a pack of Rs 99, wherein the user can download unlimited Shilpa's Yoga videos in one hour. The pack also contains a step-by-step procedure for each Asana. Similarly, Airtel, Tata, Reliance, BPL, and Idea are also offering Shilpa's Yoga content for download as a value-added service (VAS). Additionally, consumers can purchase the complete DVD for Shilpa's Yoga after sampling the videos on their mobile phones. Shilpa's Yoga Mobile downloads are also available at: http://wap.shemaroo.com.
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.
Monday, June 23, 2008
SMS For Free With Peekamo
Peekamo has announced the launch of its mobile social network service. The launch marks the availability of this service in India which enables users to send and receive text messages on their cell phones for free.
The SMS-sponsored messages can be sent to individuals as well as groups, and a user's cell phone number does not show. Users of Peekamo can create a profile, find other users, and enjoy their benefits for free. This service allows Peekamo users, to connect with people outside their network as well.
Peekamo maintains that it solves the cost and technical problems of messaging with its universal platform for mobile to mobile, PC to mobile and mobile to PC text messaging.
Speaking about the service, Al Sajoo, Chief Executive Officer, Peekamo, said, "Digitalization of communication has ushered in certain innovations that have facilitated us to stay connected with our near and dear irrespective of which part of the world they are in. Our service has already garnered a good customer base in U.S and Canada and we are sure that this innovative service will be widely accepted and appreciated in India also."
Peekamo ensures that the service is 100% spam free. Advertisements though, are embedded into messages.
The SMS-sponsored messages can be sent to individuals as well as groups, and a user's cell phone number does not show. Users of Peekamo can create a profile, find other users, and enjoy their benefits for free. This service allows Peekamo users, to connect with people outside their network as well.
Peekamo maintains that it solves the cost and technical problems of messaging with its universal platform for mobile to mobile, PC to mobile and mobile to PC text messaging.
Speaking about the service, Al Sajoo, Chief Executive Officer, Peekamo, said, "Digitalization of communication has ushered in certain innovations that have facilitated us to stay connected with our near and dear irrespective of which part of the world they are in. Our service has already garnered a good customer base in U.S and Canada and we are sure that this innovative service will be widely accepted and appreciated in India also."
Peekamo ensures that the service is 100% spam free. Advertisements though, are embedded into messages.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Decoding BlackBerry: Encryption limit may hit 256 Bits
NEW DELHI: The government is planning to increase the permitted level of encryption for electronic data from 40 to 256 bits. This will allow decoding of electronic mails sent through BlackBerry. The matter is presently being examined by the National Security Advisor (NSA).
The move comes after Research In Motion (RIM), the makers of BlackBerry, expressed their inability to provide a solution to the government for decoding encrypted data, claiming that it itself couldn’t decode the mails sent through its system. RIM has, however, said that they would come with some solution by the end of this month.
“The government would involve third-party agents to crack the encryption code if RIM does not come out with a solution. It is, however, not possible for any third party to bring down the level of encrypted data at the prescribed level. To avoid technical ambiguity, the government may raise the prescribed limit for data encryption to 256 bits,” an official source said, adding that the matter has been referred to the NSA for its comments.
A mail sent in this regard to communication minister A Raja and telecom secretary Siddharth Behura went unanswered. Country’s security agencies have earlier complained that messages transmitted through BlackBerry devices posed a risk as they couldn’t be traced.
The move comes after Research In Motion (RIM), the makers of BlackBerry, expressed their inability to provide a solution to the government for decoding encrypted data, claiming that it itself couldn’t decode the mails sent through its system. RIM has, however, said that they would come with some solution by the end of this month.
“The government would involve third-party agents to crack the encryption code if RIM does not come out with a solution. It is, however, not possible for any third party to bring down the level of encrypted data at the prescribed level. To avoid technical ambiguity, the government may raise the prescribed limit for data encryption to 256 bits,” an official source said, adding that the matter has been referred to the NSA for its comments.
A mail sent in this regard to communication minister A Raja and telecom secretary Siddharth Behura went unanswered. Country’s security agencies have earlier complained that messages transmitted through BlackBerry devices posed a risk as they couldn’t be traced.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Mozilla shows off Firefox Mobile interface concept - Video
Want to know what the upcoming Firefox Mobile web browser will look like? So do we. And the video above may or may not give us an idea. Aza Raskin, the head of user experience for Mozilla describes the concept interface shown in the video as a "conceptual mockup" of an "experimental UI." In other words, there's no gaurantee that the final version of Firefox Mobile will bear any resemblance to the concept. But then again, it might look exactly like this.
In a nutshell, the concept UI shares some features with Firefox 3, including tabbed browsing and the "awesome bar," which shows you results from your browsing history when you enter a URL. But there are a few aspects that have been designed with mobile devices in mind:
[via Mozilla Labs]
In a nutshell, the concept UI shares some features with Firefox 3, including tabbed browsing and the "awesome bar," which shows you results from your browsing history when you enter a URL. But there are a few aspects that have been designed with mobile devices in mind:
- You can navigate a page by clicking and dragging it. There are no scrollbars, which means more screen real estate.
- There are also no back, forward, refresh, or other buttons on the main screen. The web page takes up the whole screen.
- You can find navigation buttons by dragging the screen to the right, which brings up a series of buttons on the left side of the screen, including back, forward, bookmark, and page info.
- You minimize a window by dragging it to the left or right and clicking the zoom button. You can then navigate between open tabs or open a new one.
- When you reach the bottom of a web page, there will be buttons for performing specific functions like submitting a page to Digg or del.icio.us or mapping an address found on a web page
[via Mozilla Labs]
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Spice S-525 Launched in India
The Spice Mobile phone company has a launched a new low-priced music phone, the S-525. The handset comes with an FM recording feature that allows users to record their favorite songs at the click of a button, while listening to them on the radio station.
The mobile phone weighs 77g and measures 103.1 x 43.4 x 17.8mm. It sports a 65-K colour TFT screen and has several features such as scheduled on/off, sing-tones, 500 phone-book contacts, speaker phones, among others.
The phone also comes with the "mobile tracker" feature which is useful in case this phone gets stolen. It sends an SMS containing the thief's mobile phone number on another mobile number pre-defined by the owner. In addition, the mobile phone allows users to blacklist certain numbers to stop receiving calls from them.
The S-525 claims to offer up to 4 hours of talk time and up to 200 hours of standby time. Spice S-525 is available for a price of Rs. 2, 099 with a 1-year warranty, with conditions applied.
The mobile phone weighs 77g and measures 103.1 x 43.4 x 17.8mm. It sports a 65-K colour TFT screen and has several features such as scheduled on/off, sing-tones, 500 phone-book contacts, speaker phones, among others.
The phone also comes with the "mobile tracker" feature which is useful in case this phone gets stolen. It sends an SMS containing the thief's mobile phone number on another mobile number pre-defined by the owner. In addition, the mobile phone allows users to blacklist certain numbers to stop receiving calls from them.
The S-525 claims to offer up to 4 hours of talk time and up to 200 hours of standby time. Spice S-525 is available for a price of Rs. 2, 099 with a 1-year warranty, with conditions applied.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Asus rolls out the stylish M930 SmartPhone in India
Aimed at users who need ‘mobile office’, Asus, a leading brand in handhelds and laptops, has released the stylish new ‘chic’ M930 smartphone in Mumbai, India.
The clamshell smartphone comes equipped with a QWERTY keyboard for intuitive input, an ultra-wide WQVGA screen that also facilitates landscape display that goes easy on eyes. It provides support to GPRS, EDGE, WCDMA, HSDPA, Bluetooth 2.0, Wi-Fi and USB 2.0.
3.5G connectivity ensures faster download of Video, MP3 data. It also features one-step Quick Modem Setting that connects to Internet faster via the plug and play auto network configuration that lets the user plug in the SIM card and have a complete Internet setting.
M930 is a smartphone powered by Windows Mobile 6 Standard operating system, also featuring ActiveSync, MSN and the new Windows Live Spaces.
The highlight of the M930 is that the feature-packed phone comes with elegant and stylish ‘mirror reflective surfaces and sleek metal keys and lines’ unlike the bulky handhelds.
“The M930 is ASUS’ first communicator smart phone which is surprisingly compact when compared to other communicators in the market. Earlier, business professionals needed to carry bulky communicators for executive functions but now they have a better option in the form of the ASUS M930. The keyboard layout of the M930 is just like a laptop facilitating quicker and more convenient operation. It is also the only communicator with a web cam which we call ‘iCAM’ because you can type SMS, listen to music, write e-mails etc. while using the iCAM. Business professionals can also use the iCAM to have a video conference. ASUS has always believed in thinking from the customer’s point of view and this phone personifies that ideology, leading to the creation of the best smart phone for all end users,” said Mr. Edward Wang – Business Head, Mobile Communication Business, ASUS (India) on the launch of ASUS M930.
Other technical specifications of the Asus M930 smartphone include:
Business Applications include:
The Asus M930 smartphone is priced at Rs. 27,900/- (approximately) and is available across the country via India Digital Lifestyle Distributors Pvt. Ltd. (IDLDPL).
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.
"Sabka Spice" for Rural India
Punjab's premier telecom service provider Spice Telecom has today launched a handset combo offer comprising a handset plus Spice connection. The offer is called "Sabka Spice", and will be made available at just Rs 599 in a bid to make mobile telephony accessible to the rural populace. Under the "Sabka Spice" offer, the handset comes with a three-years warranty and a choice of Spice prepaid or postpaid connection.
The stylish Spice S 300 handset includes features such as: long battery life with promised talk time of 3.5 to 4 hours and stand-by time of 250 to 300 hours; Intelligent Audio Interface System that substitutes for LCD (alerts on the mobile are called out through this mechanism, meaning even those people who can't read can use the phone just by following audio alerts); choice of languages including English, Hindi, and Punjabi (even semi-literate rural consumers can use the phone with ease); speaker-phone that allows the phone to be operated even in noisy environments; universal charger (the phone can be charged using any mobile phone charger); speed dial that allows consumers to store oft-used numbers which could then be dialed with a simple push of the button; and intelligent LEDs comprising Red LED (on full charge, the color changes to green and missed calls are represented by blinking five times a second) and Blue LED (for network availability).
If the consumer opts for a prepaid connection, he/she gets the Spice S 300 handset along with three-years warranty. Additionally, he/she gets a Spice prepaid connection with SIM worth Rs 101, one-year validity worth Rs 198, or zero rental for one year worth Rs 148. Spice to Spice local calls cost 50 paise per minute; calls from Spice to other local GSM numbers cost 65 paise per minute; and calls from Spice to other local numbers cost Rs 1.10 per minute.
In the event the consumer opts for a postpaid connection, he/she gets the Spice S 300 handset with three-years warranty. In addition, he/she needs to pay a monthly fixed charge of Rs 35. Spice to Spice local calls cost 10 paise per minute while calls from Spice to other local numbers cost 75 paise per minute.
The stylish Spice S 300 handset includes features such as: long battery life with promised talk time of 3.5 to 4 hours and stand-by time of 250 to 300 hours; Intelligent Audio Interface System that substitutes for LCD (alerts on the mobile are called out through this mechanism, meaning even those people who can't read can use the phone just by following audio alerts); choice of languages including English, Hindi, and Punjabi (even semi-literate rural consumers can use the phone with ease); speaker-phone that allows the phone to be operated even in noisy environments; universal charger (the phone can be charged using any mobile phone charger); speed dial that allows consumers to store oft-used numbers which could then be dialed with a simple push of the button; and intelligent LEDs comprising Red LED (on full charge, the color changes to green and missed calls are represented by blinking five times a second) and Blue LED (for network availability).
| |
If the consumer opts for a prepaid connection, he/she gets the Spice S 300 handset along with three-years warranty. Additionally, he/she gets a Spice prepaid connection with SIM worth Rs 101, one-year validity worth Rs 198, or zero rental for one year worth Rs 148. Spice to Spice local calls cost 50 paise per minute; calls from Spice to other local GSM numbers cost 65 paise per minute; and calls from Spice to other local numbers cost Rs 1.10 per minute.
In the event the consumer opts for a postpaid connection, he/she gets the Spice S 300 handset with three-years warranty. In addition, he/she needs to pay a monthly fixed charge of Rs 35. Spice to Spice local calls cost 10 paise per minute while calls from Spice to other local numbers cost 75 paise per minute.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
The Nokia N78 is Now Available in India
The Nokia Nseries N78 is now available in India. Nokia claims the device not only offers multiple experiences on one device but also helps merge experiences to create newer ones.
The highlight of N78 is its "Location Tagger" application that automatically tags location data to pictures, allowing users save pictures by date plus geographical co-ordinates. The phone offers the full suite of Nokia services such as Nokia Maps and integrated A-GPS.
Looks-wise, N78 comes in two colors: cocoa brown and lagoon blue and sports a signature sleek black surface. It is claimed to be the slimmest of Nseries devices and boasts a 2.4-inches screen, packing a 3.2 mega pixels camera with Carl Zeiss optics, and technologies including high-speed connectivity via WLAN and HSPDA 3.5G. Nokia has preloaded Maps of eight cities across India on to its N78 -- these are complete with points of interest across 52 categories such as bars, cafes, restaurants, hotels, etc. And, N78 comes with an integrated three-month navigation license. The N78 is also the first to feature widgets such as Weatherbug and RSS feed that are enabled by Web Runtime technology. The device supports microSD cards up to 8GB, internal speakers, and standard 3.5mm headphones.
The N78 comes with Nokia Original Accessories including the Nokia Stereo Headset WH-600 and the Nokia Bluetooth Speakers MD-7W. The headset has a headband style while the Bluetooth Speakers feature a click-and-go magnetic attachment system allowing consumers carry their music with them.
The Nokia N78 will retail for around Rs 19,999 (wonder why they didn't make it a round figure?).
The highlight of N78 is its "Location Tagger" application that automatically tags location data to pictures, allowing users save pictures by date plus geographical co-ordinates. The phone offers the full suite of Nokia services such as Nokia Maps and integrated A-GPS.
Looks-wise, N78 comes in two colors: cocoa brown and lagoon blue and sports a signature sleek black surface. It is claimed to be the slimmest of Nseries devices and boasts a 2.4-inches screen, packing a 3.2 mega pixels camera with Carl Zeiss optics, and technologies including high-speed connectivity via WLAN and HSPDA 3.5G. Nokia has preloaded Maps of eight cities across India on to its N78 -- these are complete with points of interest across 52 categories such as bars, cafes, restaurants, hotels, etc. And, N78 comes with an integrated three-month navigation license. The N78 is also the first to feature widgets such as Weatherbug and RSS feed that are enabled by Web Runtime technology. The device supports microSD cards up to 8GB, internal speakers, and standard 3.5mm headphones.
The N78 comes with Nokia Original Accessories including the Nokia Stereo Headset WH-600 and the Nokia Bluetooth Speakers MD-7W. The headset has a headband style while the Bluetooth Speakers feature a click-and-go magnetic attachment system allowing consumers carry their music with them.
The Nokia N78 will retail for around Rs 19,999 (wonder why they didn't make it a round figure?).
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