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BSNL announces 3G VAS services

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Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has announced the launch of its new Value Added Services for its customers across the nation. With this, BSNL becomes the first service provider in India to have launched specialised VAS services for 3G users.

Although these VAS services are primarily targeted at 3G users, some of these can also be used by the exiting 2G users.

“With the launch of these value added services BSNL services will receive a boost, and would transform communication for its users,” said Sachin Pilot, Union Minister of State for Communication and Information Technology.

SS Sirohi, chief general manager telecom, Punjab circle, hoped that the new services will “go a long way in boosting adoption and uptake of 3G services”.

The services launched include video SMS, an alternative to text SMS, where user can make a to 58877, record the video and send it to any subscriber with facility and subscriber of any network. This service is only for 3G users, but the receiver can be on 2G network also.

Live-Share (Live Video Sharing) allows users to create and share his video with family and friends instantly, via or on social networks like Facebook, Twitter and You Tube. It can be used by both 2G and 3G users.

Dial-a-Video is a service that allows 3G users to stream live music and movie videos, news, TV and cartoon of their choice. All the user needs to do is make a video call to ‘51010’ from 3G mobile and choose the type of video they want to see.

These are premium VAS services and the charges may vary from location to location. BSNL users can dial 9417024365 or visit BSNL website for more information on its VAS services.

Handset Review: Spice Mi310

nilabh-jha
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Spice Mi310 is arguably the best phone for budget conscious people. It offers the latest Android 2.2 version and comes with a capacitive touchscreen, which is fairly responsive.

The build quality of the phone is decent, given the fact that its price is on the lower side among the Android mobiles. The phone is not heavy as the body is partly plastic and part metal. The metal battery cover is slightly difficult to open but will not get loose with prolonged usage.

The worst part of the Mi310 is its camera which has in fact been degraded from 5 mega in the out going model to a 2 mega pixel one in this model. There is no flash either.

Rest of the features have not been compromised though and the overall the phone comes out to be a feature rich phone with A-GPS, Wifi, Wifi hotspot (connect five handsets to share your data connection), Bluetooth, (HSPA 7.2 speed), 3.2 inch touchscreen, and track pad.

The phone comes with a charger, a leather pouch and an cable. The only thing missing is a memory card, but still the phone is worth the money.

It has a 600 and the phone works fine when you open three four applications together but when you open more than four applications some lag will be encountered.

The track pad also works fine but is not of much use in a touchscreen device, that too with a responsive unit like this.

Being an Android device, the features of the Android are obviously there; you can setup your Gmail account once and every function like Gtalk, Android Market, and Youtube gets logged in automatically, your contacts with Gmail are also synced by itself.

You can download, as many games and apps you wish to from the Android Market. You can save these downloaded apps on the memory card.

Internal memory is 85 MB, which can be expanded up to 16 using a memory card. The battery claims to offer 310 hours of standby, but regular use with push email account and other usages you will get a decent one day of backup.

When you compare the Spice Mi310 with its competition, the phone stands out in its own league. Only Micromax Andro is cheaper than this handset but has a smaller 2.8 inch resistive touch screen (which is not as good as a capacitive one). The other option is Huawei Ideos, which also has a 2.8 inch capacitive touchscreen. But the phone is pricier than Spice Mi310, and retails for around Rs 8,500.

Dell XCD28, which will offer you better quality but a smaller 2.8 inch screen and older Android 2.1 version is the real option at this price bracket, however you will have to compromise, so Spice still remains a good option.

Verdict and Price

The spice Mi310 has a perfect blend of price and feature. While it is not the best Android device for sure, but for Rs 7,400 it is certainly a value for money unit considering the build quality and features.

Emerging alternatives to GPS

nilabh-jha
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Emerging alternatives to GPS

Ever heard people asking for Colgate when they want toothpaste? This is the case with GPS, one among many global navigation satellite systems (GNSS for short).

Although for now there is no alternative to GPS, which is owned and operated by the United States Air Force, as far as consumers are concerned,a few alternatives are fast emerging.

Russia is building GLONASS, which already works in that country. It is to expand across the world by the end of this year when two of the 24 satellites needed for it become operational.

Another alternative is the European Union’s Galileo. Unlike GPS, which was meant for the military and was only later extended for commercial use, Galileo is designed for the public.

Although India has a regional satellite navigation system of its own, called GAGAN, it is built only for aviation. China too is developing its own navigation system which is to be ready by 2020.

Some modern receivers are able to use either or satellites, providing more reliable coverage in urban and remote areas as well as indoors. GLONASS and GPS have about 50 satellites at their disposal. In indoor, urban canyon or mountainous areas, accuracy can be greatly improved if both the systems are used together rather than using GPS alone.

Moreover Russia is thinking of launching better satellites that, it claims, will double the accuracy of GLONASS.

As for consumer devices, CDMA operator MTS has released a mobile phone that uses GLONASS. Russia has also made it mandatory for all cars being sold in the country to include this navigation system.

There are already devices of major vendors such as ST-Ericsson, Broadcom and Qualcomm that support GLONASS along with GPS.

For us in India, the good news is that the Russian government is looking to form a JV for manufacturing GLONASS chips and devices here.

The European Galileo system will be partly implemented with 18 satellites by 2015, and by 2020 it will be fully operational with 30 satellites.

This system too is compatible with GPS. It is meant to provide measurements in metres and gives the height (or altitude) above sea level as well. Besides, it provides better positioning services at high latitudes compared to GLONASS. The recent upgrades to GPS allow similar high altitude accuracy levels.

Galileo will also offer a Global Search and Rescue (SAR) function. For this each satellite will be equipped with a transponder, which is able to transfer distress signals from the user’s transmitter to the Rescue Co-ordination Centre, from where a rescue operation is initiated. At the same time, the system will inform the user that help is on its way.

This feature is new and is considered a major upgrade compared to the existing GPS and GLONASS navigation systems, which do not give the user feedback.

Other benefits

The new technologies will not only result in more accurate and cheaper navigation; they will also end USA’s monopoly in this space.

Multiple technologies also assure backup support, an important feature particularly for the aviation industry, which has had to make large independent investments to ensure safety.

Delhi traffic updates on your mobile

nilabh-jha
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Have you ever wished that you knew about a traffic jam in advanced so that you could have chosen an alternate route. Do not worry, here is a solution, just subscribe to traffic alerts from Delhi traffic police.

The free service can be subscribed to by sending an to 0921 959 2195. Delhi Traffic Police will then send you information about traffic jams due to vehicle breakdowns, water logging, accidents, road blocks, or traffic diversions. To unsubscribe send to the same number.

The service is operated by Delhi Police, so don’t expect updates about Noida, Gurgaon or any other adjoining city.

Delhi Traffic Police also has Facebook and Twitter pages where you can look for traffic alerts and send your complaints about road blocks and traffic violations. You can post pictures that might help in prosecuting offenders.

Google Android will remain open source

rahul-gupta
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Android is and will remain free and open source, Google’s vice president Andy Rubin reiterated, putting an end to rumours of it becoming a paid platform.

Google delayed the release of a new source code for developers, setting off rumours that the company is changing its strategy for and that it will release a paid version of Honeycomb.

“We continue to be an open source platform and will continue releasing source code when it is ready. As I write this the Android team is still hard at work to bring all the new Honeycomb features to phones. As soon as this work is completed, we’ll publish the code. This temporary delay does not represent a change in strategy. We remain firmly committed to providing Android as an open source platform across many device types,” said Andy Rubin.

Use only authorised Nodo updates for WP7: Microsoft

prasoon-kumar
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Windows Phone 7 users have been cautioned by Microsoft not to use unauthorised solutions to get the Nodo update. Users currently receive a message on their phones whenever the updates are available. The latest Windows Phone 7 update from Microsoft, also known as Nodo, has features such as copy-paste and marketplace search.

Eric Hautala of Microsoft says in a Windows blog post, “We’re working hard to get this job done as quickly as possible. But I’ve noticed that some of you are turning to homebrew solutions to update your phone immediately. As an engineer and a gadget lover, I totally understand the impulse to tinker. You want the latest technology and you’re tired of waiting. Believe me, I get it. But my strong advice is: wait.”

The Nodo update was released last month. Taking advantage of the delayed roll-out, ChevronWP7, an independent software developer, released a hack for Windows Phone 7 that enables users to work around Microsoft and the wireless carrier.

Hautala also says, “It’s even possible your phone might stop working properly. Bottom line: unsupported workarounds put you in uncharted territory that may void your phone warranty. We’ve made a lot of progress in recent weeks, so I urge you to please be patient for just a bit longer and wait for your official update notification to arrive.”

Some WP7 users have already got the official Nodo update on their phones, but Microsoft is still testing the new software on HTC Surround, Samsung Focus and LG Quantum.

Apple behind PlayBook launch delay: Report

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Research In Motion had delayed the launch of its PlayBook tablet because of Apple, according to a report that said Apple had consumed most of the touch panel supplies for iPad 2, forcing RIM to delay the launch of PlayBook. PlayBook was originally scheduled to be released in the first quarter of 2011, but its launch was then postponed to April 19.

The delay might prove costly for RIM as Pad 2 was launched in the intervening period and is already a runaway hit among users. Even otherwise, Apple has huge cash reserves with which it can pre pay its suppliers to make sure they give preference to its orders. Apple also manages to get favourable pricing from its suppliers.

An analyst had earlier suggested that RIM was probably struggling with the battery life of its tablet. RIM, though, contradicted the theory.

The operating system of PlayBook, QNX, is still under development and is expected to be shipped without a native email client, which is similar to that of the outlook feature in our PCs.

GameStop contemplating video gaming tablet production

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GameStop, a USA based video game and entertainment software retailer, is contemplating producing its own tablet which will be created keeping video games in the mind.

GameStop president, Tony Bartel has recently said, “If we can work with our partners and the OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and they come up with a great tablet that is enabled with a great gaming experience and coupled with a controller, then there’s no need to go out and develop our own.”

GameStop is also looking at Bluetooth controller compatible tablets.

GameStop had earlier acquired Stardock’s Impulse digital distribution and SpawnLabs.
It intends to expand towards downloads platform, just like Apple.

GamaSutra has also quoted Bartel as saying that his company is becoming a hybrid company as its users consume games on a wide variety of platforms.

So far only iPad has seen brisk sales in the tablet market, whereas Xoom from Motorola and Galaxy Tab from Samsung have been big on hype but short on sales.

Meanwhile, Research in Motion is also coming with its own tablet, the Playbook, which is to be launched on April 19th. PlayBook’s prospects are looking good but it is not targeted at the gamers.

Notably, Bartel had earlier expressed his unhappiness about the low price of games. So we can safely assume he will try to increase the price of the games.

It is likely to be a big challenge for him to bring a new tablet to the market and sell costlier games to the users. Users can only wait and watch.

Opera gets 100 million users in March

rahul-gupta
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Web maker Opera Software has announced that its mobile version, the Opera mini, has 100 million users in the month of March 2011. Earlier, Opera Mobile and Opera Mini browses together had crossed the 100 millionth mark in a month some time back.

Opera has a major market share in India with up to 60 per cent of total mobile internet using population in the country opting Opera Mini.

India ranks third in terms of total Opera users in the world preceded by Russia and with Indonesia being at the top position. These numbers straightaway translate into the growing interest in smartphones and mobile browsing among Indian mobile phone users.

A big part of the users choice goes to the innovations that the free browser is putting in for the benefit of customers like the Opera Turbo, which boosts the internet browsing speed by optimising web pages according to device and connection.

Along with that, today Opera has also announced the launch of the Opera Mail feature which the company claims to be the best of the lot and of course come free of cost.

Give a missed call to know IPL match scores

anil-satapathy
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DNA Infoline, an information service provider, has introduced a free service “Miss call pe Score” for the Indian cricket fans during this IPL Cricket Season that is starting from 8th April.

To take advantage of the service, the cricket fans will have to dial 09004444444 from a mobile phone.

“After the call, the phone will automatically disconnect and in some moment, DNA Infoline’s application based on our Keygoe System will send the with the latest score to the phone number from where the call would have come,” said Hariharan Iyer, sales director (South Asia) Donjin Communication.

The service is based on Keygoe System by Donjin. DNA Infoline had initiated the “Miss call pe Score” service during the ICC World Cup in the western part of India. During the ICC World Cup, it received around nine crore calls. On an average around 12 to 18 lakh call per day were made by the cricket fans seeking the latest score. The Indo-Pak semi-final match itself resulted in 1.32 crore miss calls.

Due to the anticipated huge traffic of calls for DNA Infoline “Miss call pe Score” service, the company has deployed 16 PRI lines which would mean that at any given point of time during the IPL match, 480 calls will be serviced simultaneously.

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