Qualcomm’s Kayak “PC alternative” pictured

Qualcomm’s Kayak “PC alternative” pictured

John Morris (Nov 13, 2008)

http://blogs.zdnet.com/computers/?p=262

Qualcomm Kayak

Here’s a picture of Kayak, the “PC alternative” for emerging markets that Qualcomm announced yesterday. It looks pretty much the way the company described it: sort of a cross between the Apple Mac Mini–bring your own monitor, keyboard and mouse–and the OLPC’s XO laptop with its rabbit-ear antennae.

Qualcomm Kayak

Kayak has received a lot of coverage in the past 24 hours (here’s the Kayak press release), but it’s a bit misleading. Qualcomm isn’t going to start building netbooks. This device is a prototype that Qualcomm is demonstrating today at its analysts’ day in New York. The company hopes PC manufacturers, or more likely wireless carriers, will use this Kayak design to quickly build their own low-cost devices for markets such as India, China and South America using Qualcomm’s chips.

A chequered history for VoIP in India

Idhries Ahmad (Nov 07, 2008)

http://www.ciol.com/Technology/Networking/Feature/71108112345/0/

Analysts have blamed DoT for killing the VoIP industry in India and are now very unsure whether the technology will not make any sort of progress in the country

Internet telephony industry in India after years of suffocating strangulations looks to make a new beginning in the country.

The recent TRAI recommendations, which makes case for allowing Internet telephony on PSTN networks opens doors for industry, which analysts say will boost technological convergence, push competition and will drastically reduces voice tariffs in the country.

However the recommendations which allow ISPs to provide unrestricted Internet telephony (termination of Internet telephony calls on PSTN/PLMN and vice-versa) within the existing IUC regime is subject to DoT clearance.

The recommendations have been received with cheer from the majority of ISP for whom it is sign of hope after years of unnecessary state interventions.

TRAI has now permitted National Long Distance (NLD) operators to connect to ISPs through public Internet (Internet cloud) for unrestricted Internet telephony, on condition of mutual agreement between the ISPs and NLD operators for unrestricted Internet telephony.

Explaining the rationale behind recommending the removal of restrictions on Internet telephony, TRAI said the regulatory framework denied technological advancements to the common people. Level playing field issues were advocated against permitting these services under various licenses.

Click Here to read the source article.

Double quota in Nov for limited broadband plans from BSNL

Promotional Scheme For Broadband Customers As “Dipawali Bonus”

Avail Double Usage of free download for all BSNL Broadband plans in the month of November 2008.

In the month of November, the subscriber shall be permitted to avail double usage of free download i.e. twice of what is available in the plan normally. The scheme shall be applied for all Broadband Plans.

http://www.maharashtra.bsnl.co.in/
MHSchemes/bbdipawalibonus23102008.asp

Activate BSNL web conf before Nov 30, use free for 1 month

Activate BSNL web conferencing between Oct 01, 2008 and Nov 30, 2008 to avail of introductory offer – no registration fees or usage charges will be charged for a period of one month from the date of activation to each customer. The offer is available for all BSNL broadband subscribers on a first come first served basis. Details at http://www.bsnl.co.in/newsdetailed.php?news_id=425 BSNL Web Conferencing Service does not require expensive end points; all that you require are a PC, Webcam and an ADSL Connection. Ideally suited for users at all levels in large corporate houses, Small and medium businesses, SOHOs & quality conscious individuals to enhance collaboration, increase productivity and save costs. Plans available: Rs 0, 499, 999 and 1999 per month. Taxes extra.

Buy HP Compaq, pay Airtel for 10 mo, get broadband for 24 mo

Make an exciting world come alive with Airtel broadband.

Get ready to create a world full of excitement, challenges, thrill and pure entertainment with Compaq and Airtel Broadband. All you need to do is, choose any broadband plan to bring an interesting world to life.

http://airtel.in/applications/xm/Campaign_index.html

Activate BSNL in Oct, get 20% discount for next 6 months

BSNL offers 20% discount on rent for six months from the date of activation to all new customers of Broadband during the festive offer period from 01-10-2008 to 31-10-2008.

http://www.bsnl.co.in/newsdetailed.php?news_id=423

If the above link does not work, then try:

http://www.bsnl.co.in/newsarchive.php

This is a cached screenshot of the news item:

bsnl_festive_offer

If your browser auto resizes this image, it may not be legible. You may need to click again on the image for actual size.

Click here for broadband plan and tariffs

http://www.bsnl.co.in/service/dataone_tariff.htm

Click here to register online for broadband

http://www.bsnl.co.in/service/dataoneform.php

News, Announcements and Promotions from Various ISPs

Airtel Broadband, Broadband Pacenet, BSNL DataOne, Hathway Cable, IOL Netcom, MTNL Triband, Net4, Pacific Internet, Reliance BroadNet, Sify Broadband, SpectraNet, Tata Indicom, YOU Broadband.

Free BSNL CLI dialup access from Sep 01 to Oct 31, 2008

Update: Nov 14, 2008

BSNL extends free CLI based dial up internet access for two months

http://www.bsnl.co.in/newsdetailed.php?news_id=432

BSNL had offerd free CLI based dialup internet access for two months w.e.f. 1st September 2008 to 31st October 2008 for PSTN customers of BSNL. This offer has been extended for another two months on BSNL landline from 01 November 2008.

BSNL offers free CLI based dial up internet access for two months

http://www.bsnl.co.in/newsdetailed.php?news_id=420 (Sep 09, 2008)

In case the news link above does not work, click here:

http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&q=free+CLI+
site%3Awww.bsnl.co.in&btnG=Google+Search&meta=

Then click on Cached.

BSNL offers free CLI based dialup internet access for two months w.e.f. 1st September 2008 to 31st October 2008 for PSTN customers of BSNL.

For details of this service click here:

http://www.bsnl.co.in/service/internet_tariff.htm

From

Tariff for Account free Internet Dial up access based on CLI

http://www.bsnl.co.in/service/internet_tariff.htm

Usage charges for Internet access through BSNL’s sancharnet: 10 paise per minute

Note:

(1) The subscribers will be charged at these usage charge over and above normal PSTN dial up charges.

(2) The Internet access is free for a period of 2 months from 1st September 2008 to 31st October 2008.

Tariff for Internet Access Local Calls

The tariff for internet access local calls [Calls made to internet access nos like 172XXX] are given below:

Peak Hours
Period (Hr) 0730-2230
Pulse (Seconds) 450

Off Peak Hours
Period (Hr) 2230-0730
Pulse (Seconds) 900 (600 seconds for E10B exchanges)

Service Tax as applicable shall be extra.

Apple iPod Touch – the poor man’s iPhone 3G?

Recently Mobile Magazine raised a very pertinent issue: Apple iPod Touch offers nearly all the features of Apple iPhone 3G at a fraction of the price.

How Can Apple Differentiate the iPod touch?

Michael Kwan
Sep 03, 2008

http://www.mobilemag.com/content/100/337/C16086/

Plan disparity between MTNL Mumbai and Delhi

Among unlimited broadband plans, Unlimited 256 Kbps and Night Unlimited 256 Kbps upto 2 Mbps plans are the most popular.

The tariffs for such plans at MTNL Mumbai are:

http://mumbai.mtnl.net.in/triband/htm/tariff.htm

DSL NU 849

256 Kbps – 2 Mbps
Monthly Free Data Download 1.25 GB
Rs 849 per month
Night Unlimited timings are 0000 hrs to 0800 hrs.

Trib Unlimited Plan-1

256 Kbps – 256Kbps
Monthly Free Data Download Unlimited
Rs. 2500/- per month

Estimation of future global IP traffic growth

Visual Networking Index

http://www.cisco.com/en/US/netsol/
ns827/networking_solutions_sub_solution.html

Introduction

Cisco has developed a model for the estimation of future global IP traffic growth. The worldwide leader in networking technology for the Internet, Cisco has a unique ability to gather and interpret IP network data as a result of its broad experience with customers and global reach.

Today networks are an essential part of business, education, government, and home communications. Many consumer and business IP networking trends are being driven largely by video and social networking and collaboration (i.e., Web 2.0 technologies), which combined are termed “visual networking.” The Cisco Visual Network Index is the company’s ongoing effort to forecast the growth and use of IP networking worldwide, and it is based on Cisco analysis and independent analysts’ forecasts.

DataOne Home Plans Combo 199, Combo 299, Flexi 350

BSNL has introduced DataOne Home Plans Combo 199, Combo 299, Flexi 350, the tariff below is effective from 1st August, 2008.

http://www.bsnl.co.in/newsdetailed.php?news_id=396

Please note this URL may change.

Try http://www.bsnl.co.in/newsarchive.php

Or Try the Google cache

http://www.google.co.in/search?hl=en&
q=%22Flexi+350%22+site%3Awww.bsnl.co.in&btnG=Search&meta=

and click on the “Cached” link.

Here is a cached screenshot of the news item:

bsnl_dataone_flexi350_combo_299_199

If your browser auto resizes this image, it may not be legible. You may need to click again on the image for actual size.

Flexi 350

N.A is short for Not Applicable / Not Available

1. Bandwidth: 256 kbps
2. SU/MU: Single User
3. BB Fixed Monthly Charges: Rs.350
4. Landline Fixed Monthly Charges: As per existing plan
5. Download/Upload Limit: 1.8 GB
6. Free Calls: As per existing plan
7. Call charges per MCU: As per existing plan
8. BB usage charges per MB
   beyond free download/upload limit: Rs 0.80
9. Night Unlimited: NA
10. Maximum Usage Charges for BB incl. of FMC: Rs 1500
11. Security Deposit: One month rental

Combo 299

N.A is short for Not Applicable / Not Available

1. Bandwidth: 256 kbps
2. SU/MU: Single User
3. BB Fixed Monthly Charges: Rs. 299
4. Landline Fixed Monthly Charges: As per existing plan
5. Download/Upload Limit: 1 GB
6. Free Calls: Nil
7. Call charges per MCU: Rs 1.00
8. BB usage charges per MB
   beyond free download/upload limit: Rs 0.90
9. Night Unlimited: NA
10. Maximum Usage Charges for BB incl. of FMC: NA
11. Security Deposit: One month rental

Combo 199

N.A is short for Not Applicable / Not Available

1. Bandwidth: 256 kbps
2. SU/MU: Single User
3. BB Fixed Monthly Charges: Rs.199
4. Landline Fixed Monthly Charges: As per existing plan
5. Download/Upload Limit: 250 MB
6. Free Calls: Nil
7. Call charges per MCU: Rs 1.20
8. BB usage charges per MB
   beyond free download/upload limit: Rs 0.90
9. Night Unlimited: NA
10. Maximum Usage Charges for BB incl. of FMC: NA
11. Security Deposit: One month rental

Use Thunderbird Portable to mirror Gmail on pendrive

The two interfaces

An email server stores, receives and sends email on our behalf. Most of us manage our email accounts in one of two ways. Either via a web interface or via an email client. The advantage of accessing our email via a web interface as in Yahoo!, Hotmail, Gmail etc is that there is only one copy of our mail folders (so no problems with copies being out of sync) and mostly we preview everything before downloading.

Low bandwidth access

Because this form of access is so bandwidth friendly, webmail services such as Yahoo!, Hotmail, Gmail etc are able to offer us such accounts for free. Of course, these DO cost money to operate but the expense is defrayed by the fact that these sites gain traction and hence can benefit by offering account holders related products and services. At the very least, the high level of engagement generates a commensurate number of ad impressions.

High bandwidth access

The advantage of accessing our email account via an email client (POP/IMAP access) is that we can read and reply to our mail offline. This can help those who have time-based Internet access plans or those who have their own computer but no Internet access. Because an email client must synchronize mails offline, the process tends to be heavy on the bandwidth requirements and fundamentally inefficient because even unwanted mails and attachments get synchronized.

Wireless Internet Basics

Wireless Internet refers to Internet access options where the “last mile” connectivity is wireless in nature. The advantages of having a wireless last mile are mobility and greater ease of deployment. The disadvantages are lower security and performance.

Fixed Wireless Internet works via a dish antenna receiving signals from an elevated line of sight tower within 50 km. Or via Satellite. Mobile Wireless Internet works via Bluetooth, WiFi, Mesh networks, WiMAX, GPRS, 1xRTT, EDGE, EV-DO and HSDPA.

A very approximate way of describing the mobile options would be to say that access via Bluetooth is like a television remote, which works only within a room. Access via WiFi is like a cordless phone, which works only within a building. Access via mesh networks or WiMAX is like a mobile phone without roaming, which works only within a city. While access via EDGE, 1xRTT, EV-DO or HSDPA is like a mobile phone with roaming, which works across the country or at least wherever the cellular signal exists.

Latest browsers offer greater security and efficiency

Browsers keep getting better and better. The latest and best browser seems to be Firefox 3. But Internet Explorer still enjoys the highest market share

http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp

Review: Strong, innovative Web browsers emerge

http://ap.google.com/article/
ALeqM5jrTJ2xmceQU6D6HK9R35lzNyBbhAD91HAHT02

With all the recent attention on the new Firefox 3 Internet browser, it’s easy to miss two strong, innovative rivals. Add it all up, and Microsoft Corp.’s market-leading Internet Explorer has some impressive challengers.