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

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

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bsnl_festive_offer

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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.