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Your mobile number follows

prasoon-kumar
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The mobile number portability (MNP) issue has been in the air for quite a while but it took about three years from the time the idea of implementing MNP arose to when it was finally done, leaving users worried whether it was ever going to happen. From January 20, 2011 onwards MNP is in operation across India, thus enabling mobile subscribers to change their mobile operator while retaining their number.

Users have to send an to 1900, and the present company will provide a unique code. This code should be provided to the new company while filling a detailed form at its outlet, website or IVR service. The cost for this process will be a maximum of Rs 19, which is payable to the receiving operator who at any rate wants to attract new customers and will consequently reduce porting charges or some times exempt the user from having to pay them, such as BSNL does.

Major mobile operators have already geared themselves to provide MNP to customers and it could take seven days for a porting request to be processed. Users can shift from GSM to CDMA, but cannot change states for now. Mobile number portability is just like getting a new connection in all other aspects; it’s just that you get to retain the number you had with your previous mobile service provider. The facility is available to pre paid and post paid customers. Once the mobile service has been changed, consumers have to stay with the same mobile service provider for three months, after which they can make the switch again if they so wish.

It is expected that all mobile operators will improve their service due to the loyalty churn that MNP will create, but this will happen only if the churn creates an imbalance in subscriber numbers. If the number of users lost is about equal to the number gained in a short time, changes in service cannot be expected. According to a Times of India report, Vodafone customers were leaving the service provider at quite a substantial rate even before MNP. In fact the churn was said to be 41 per cent but the company always compensated for it by acquiring new customers.

Mobile handset maker Sony Ericsson sues Clearwire for trademark similarity

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There are lawsuits galore in the smartphone world and Sony Ericsson is the latest to join in. The company has decided to go after WiMax operator Clearwire’s logo saying that it looks deceptively similar to its own. Sony Ericsson says its logo is well recognised in Europe but in the rest of the world people are likely to confuse the two companies’ brands, particularly since Clearwire plans to manufacture smartphones.

According to the complaint filed by Sony Ericsson in the US District Court, the only company with a Green Swirl logo was Sony Ericsson, and the design chosen by Clearwire is too close for comfort. The lawsuit requests the court to prohibit Clearwire from using the logo, and to make Clearwire compensate Sony Ericsson for any profits and damages that the company has suffered as a consequence of the wireless provider using the Green Swirl logo.

Though the logos appear different, when used as small dots on mobile handsets from Clearwire and Sony Ericsson, they might look similar. Sony Ericsson is looking for damages of at least $150,000. Clearwire had faced some financial trouble in November, after which it was forced to resort to cost saving measures including reduction of staff.

Zen Mobile launches triple GSM phone M111

The Mobile Indian Network
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Zen Mobile has launched a triple GSM phone called M111 in India. The device works on triple standby, or uses one card while two are on standby, and is available for about Rs 3,500. The candy bar shaped phone has a 2.4 inch screen and comes with detachable red and white panels so users may change the colour of their mobile.

At the launch of M111, Deepesh Gupta, the managing director of Zen Mobile, said, “Zen Mobile has always strived to offer products that create more value for its customers. With the launch of India’s first triple GSM SIM mobile phone we have taken a step further in offering convenience and utility at an unrivaled price to our customers.”

However, just this week Akai released a triple GSM SIM phone called Trio in India. Both Intex and a brand by the name of Lephone have two GSM + one CDMA phones as well.

Zen Mobile’s M111 has an ebook reader; a 1.3 mega camera with digital zoom; a video recorder; FM radio and 6-band equalizer in the music player. The phone’s memory can be expanded up to 8 and it supports both English and Hindi. M111 uses WAP, Bluetooth, and has a USB port as well. The phone has a torch, and uses a 1500 battery, which according to the company, supports the device for up to 280 hours on standby mode or for five hours of talk time.

Wolfram Alpha launches educational apps for iOS devices

The Mobile Indian Network
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Wolfram Alpha, which has strong roots in mathematics and science educational content, has launched apps called Wolfram Alpha Course Assistants – for algebra, calculus and music. versions of the apps are also under development.

The Wolfram Alpha apps use a machine built by the company, which can help users solve complicated mathematical problems. The first for iPhone, which was based on the company’s core expertise, was priced at $50 though Wolfram Alpha was soon forced to reduce the price by 96 per cent.

The new apps are priced at $2 and $3 and they surprise users not just with the right answers, but also with a step by step explanation of the process by which it was arrived.

It occurred to us that the app could be used by students to cheat. But those who want to learn and are motivated will find the Wolfram Alpha apps incredibly helpful. With the help of these apps, education does not seem like hard work anymore as they teach students with tools. The flip side is that the hard work is done by the smartphone and the app, not by students.

MSI to bring Windpad tablet to India soon

nilabh-jha
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When MSI showcased its tablets at CES (Consumer Electronics Show) 2011, we knew that the new devices would make it to India as well, but the timing was not clear.

Now sources in the company confirm plans to launch these tablets in India, and expect that they will be released before March. The date could be as early as the first half of February. The devices are to run and Windows operating systems.

Here ‘s a deeper look at MSI ‘s Windpad line-up:

MSI WindPad 100A Android tablet

This 10.1 inch multi touch machine that is based on Android and weighs 1.6 pounds is powered by an ARM processor. It offers features such as a digital compass, locator, and Wifi with 3G. The new tablet is approximately half an inch thick at its thinnest, and can run for eight to ten hours on a charged battery. WindPad 100A has and HDMI slots for expanding memory and for data transfer.

MSI WindPad 100W Windows tablet

The 100W MSI WindPad 100W is slightly heavier than WindPad 100A Android at 1.76 pounds. It comes loaded with Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium operating system (not Phone 7,) and a 10.1 inch multi touch screen.

In addition to the features of the WindPad 100A, MSI WindPad 100W is equipped with the Intel Menlow Z530 and a 32 solid state hard drive.

MSI WindPad 100W tablet will be available in the first quarter of 2011 starting at about $500 (or Rs 22,500).

Samsung Star II to arrive in Feb

The Mobile Indian Network
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Samsung ‘s new Star II smartphone has been officially announced. More than thirty million units of its predecessor Star GT S5260 have been sold so far.

The new Samsung GT-S5260 Star II is more or less similar to its predecessor. Star II has a 3 inch TFT capacitive touchscreen display.

Samsung Star II will be released next month in Germany followed by other European countries, CIS, South America, India and the Middle East. The price of the device has not been announced, but is expected to be close to how much the original Star GT S5260 costs.

Star II has a 3 inch WQVGA capacitive touchscreen display with TouchWiz 3.0 user interface, which is similar to the original Samsung Star. This implies that widgets can be customised for the Star II with the same settings as they have in the old Samsung Star. The new device, same as its predecessor, has a 3.2 camera without flash.

What is new in Star II is Wifi 802.11 b/g/n wireless connectivity, and greater focus on social networking features.

Star II has a widget called Social Hub that integrates feeds from various social networks such as Facebook and Twitter, with the device ‘s phone book and similar data. Star II also has multi-IM 2.0 which offers the flexibility to log into multiple IM accounts such as Yahoo, Google Talk, AIM, MSN and Facebook Chat through a single app.

Typing should be easier on Star II thanks to Samsung ‘s QuickType T9 Trace keyboard. Also new is a 3.5 mm audio port for headphones, and a card slot to increase storage capacity.

Facebook’s decision to share users’s personal information on hold

prasoon-kumar
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The controversial Facebook decision to share users’ phone numbers and addresses has now been put on hold. The developers already have some access to users ‘ private information, though with their consent. The decision to share phone numbers and addresses of users with third party developers was taken by Facebook on Friday and it appeared on the company ‘s blog as part of information already available to developers.

Whenever users download a Facebook app, they are asked whether they are willing to share their personal information or not. The problem is that they trust the Facebook brand and consequently any app associated with it. They are also often in a hurry to load the app and don ‘t bother reading the fine print.

Rogue applications that are already on the prowl on Facebook may take advantage of the new regulations. In its latest blog post, Facebook has said it received requests from users to make the process clearer. The proposed feature has been taken temporarily offline and Facebook will get an improved version online soon.

Facebook has always been plagued with privacy concerns as the company has often made changes to the site, which exposed users ‘ personal information more than before. However, the company has always been responsive to user demands and complaints.

There have, in the past, been arguments in support of sharing sensitive data which say that information thus collected may simplify users’ shopping experience and could form the basis of several useful services.

4G services: Are we there yet?

prasoon-kumar
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Where services are concerned, the USA ‘s experience has been far from what was expected. “4G ” has just become a marketing term and those who really understand what it is are not happy about the development at all. Major wireless carriers in the USA are calling their networks 4G, which these networks are certainly not.

This problem did not occur when the industry was making the transition from 2G to because the criteria of such services were clearly defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This is the first time, however, that major US carriers are using their own marketing terms to sell mobile services which are faster but not yet 4G.

These networks still don’t offer 100 download speeds on mobiles and 1 on landline broadband connections, as 4G networks are supposed to as per the ITU. The defence of these companies is also not without basis as they named their services before the term 4G was defined by ITU. The confusion increased when ITU released a press release saying it was fine for these companies to call their services 4G.

One thing is for sure, the networks being employed by Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T are a substantial improvement over current technologies being offered to mobile broadband customers. For users the new networks may mean they will be able to download a full feature film within five minutes and will also be able to move from one wireless service zone to another without interruption in services.

Akai launches first triple GSM phone Trio

The Mobile Indian Network
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Akai Mobiles has announced the launch of its first triple phone called Trio.

Akai Trio will feature 3 GSM SIM slots and will cost about Rs 3,300 with a one year warranty.

Trio has a 5.1 cm (2 inch) TFT screen and 1.3 mega camera with digital zoom. Akai Trio supports two languages, and has an audio player with equalizer.

Other goodies include a sound recorder, video player and video recording capability. The phone also has an FM radio, with A2DP, USB port, ebook reader and games.

Akai Trio’s memory can be expanded to 8 and the phone has options such as speed dialling, conference call, and forwarding a call to the active SIM.

Trio uses an 1100 battery with talk time of 5 hours and of up to 400 hours. The handset is 109 x 44.5 x 14.3 mm in size.

Pranay Dhabhai, managing director of Akai India, said, “Akai is the first multi-national brand to be introducing a complete GSM mobile phone based on triple SIM platform. This concept has been ideated keeping in mind the conventional user who wants the utility of multiple connections without getting burdened with multiple handsets. “

We just wonder if it would have been a better idea to include one CDMA SIM instead of three GSM slots – that would certainly have increased the user ‘s choices.

Uninor Unlimited Music at Rs 2.50 per day

The Mobile Indian Network
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Uninor has come up with a unique service called Unlimited Music – a music platform through which customers can choose from a database of 250,000 songs by paying just Rs 2.50 per day. Caller tunes and ringtones can also be accessed through this VAS pack.

“With Unlimited Music you can start playing songs in the morning and keep the music on for a full day. Simply said, in Rs 2.50, your phone becomes your personal player, and one with a library of over 250,000 songs, ” said Olav Sande, executive vice president of Uninor ‘s western circle in India.

Uninor customers have to dial toll free number 52222 to request this service. Once he has subscribed to it, the user may browse through the list of songs and choose his favorites from various genres including Bollywood, International Hits, Popular Music and Regional Chartbusters. Uninor has provided this service in collaboration with Hungama as well as 30 regional labels. The Unlimited Music product from Uninor is likely to be promoted extensively and with aggressive advertising.

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