CDMA operators association AUSPI today charged the GSM players with hampering their entry into GSM space as also defying the regulator's direction on dual technology by denying interconnection to RCOM and Tata Tele.
"The COAI has been trying to stop launch of fresh competition in the cellular market in every possible way. Its latest attempt to delay onset of competition by AUSPI members including Reliance Communications and Tata Teleservices... by denying them network on existing Points of Interconnections," AUSPI said in a letter to TRAI Chairman Nripendra Misra.
It said the move is not only illegal but also against the interest of consumers, as the full benefit of the competition will be delayed.
AUSPI has also submitted that COAI's representation is not the consensus view of GSM operators - a few members including Aircel and BPL have already opened GSM codes of member service providers.
The delay in interconnection is the handiwork of only few dominant GSM players with an aim to scuttle serious competition. It is a blatant attempt to defy DoT's and TRAI's directives, AUSPI said.
TRAI had earlier said the existing interconnections can be used for exchange of traffic for both CDMA and GSM technologies.
"On August 4, 2008, TRAI had again issued a fresh directive to the defaulting operators to open GSM levels allocated to our member service provider on existing PoI. COAI is contemplating to defy the fresh directive and questioning the TRAI's powers to issue this direction," it said.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Airtel, Vodafone have 3G edge over other players
In contrast, Vodafone marketing head Harit Nagpal said that Vodafone has already rolled out 3G services in Egypt, parts of Africa and Turkey—markets similar to India. “With a global subscriber base of 280 million, Vodafone’s 3G expertise is unmatched. We have the capability of handling migration of customers from 2G to 3G in markets like Egypt and Turkey. We will also see such migration in India. Moreover a strong leadership presence in metro cities, will give us an advantage over others,” he said.
Interestingly, Vodafone and Bharti Airtel are competitors in India, but this has not stopped the companies from extending their alliance to markets abroad. Jersey Airtel and Guernsey Airtel, subsidiaries of Bharti Enterprises, last year entered into an agreement with Vodafone to jointly offer telecom services in Jersey and Guernsey (islands in Europe, close to UK). (Bharti was granted licenses to operate 2G and 3G mobile services in Jersey and Guernsey in 2006.)
While the two rivals have partnered globally, they may not replicate the same model in India. Meanwhile, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone will begin selling the new generation 3G-enabled iPhone from August 22. This will also give them an additional edge over other operators.
Bharti and Vodafone, which account for a significant number of the high ARPU (average revenue per user) subscribers in India, will have a further edge as a large segment of their high end users already have 3G compatible handsets.
Interestingly, the move to partner Airtel and Vodafone marks a major shift in Apple’s global strategy of ‘one country-one operator’. With India emerging as the fastest-growing cellular market, Apple wanted to maximize its exposure here as Airtel and Vodafone have a combined subscriber base of over 120 million.
Interestingly, Vodafone and Bharti Airtel are competitors in India, but this has not stopped the companies from extending their alliance to markets abroad. Jersey Airtel and Guernsey Airtel, subsidiaries of Bharti Enterprises, last year entered into an agreement with Vodafone to jointly offer telecom services in Jersey and Guernsey (islands in Europe, close to UK). (Bharti was granted licenses to operate 2G and 3G mobile services in Jersey and Guernsey in 2006.)
While the two rivals have partnered globally, they may not replicate the same model in India. Meanwhile, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone will begin selling the new generation 3G-enabled iPhone from August 22. This will also give them an additional edge over other operators.
Bharti and Vodafone, which account for a significant number of the high ARPU (average revenue per user) subscribers in India, will have a further edge as a large segment of their high end users already have 3G compatible handsets.
Interestingly, the move to partner Airtel and Vodafone marks a major shift in Apple’s global strategy of ‘one country-one operator’. With India emerging as the fastest-growing cellular market, Apple wanted to maximize its exposure here as Airtel and Vodafone have a combined subscriber base of over 120 million.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
BSNL denies advantage in 3G field
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has denied any first mover advantage in the 3G arena, despite the award of 3G spectrum ahead of private sector players. Last week, telecom minister, A Raja, while announcing the 3G guidelines, had said BSNL/MTNL would be given 3G spectrum with immediate effect and would pay the eventual highest bid price only after the 3G auctions.
"Our system of processing orders is agonizingly long and cumbersome. This will nullify any head start on spectrum, which means we will not be able to launch services ahead of private operators", a senior BSNL official told TOI.
BSNL's statements seem to point at a potential 3G launch not before 2009-10 or closer to the end of the UPA government's tenure despite the head start in terms of spectrum allocation.
This apart, how BSNL/MTNL will embark on business case planning with no clue about the total project cost which depends on the final spectrum bid amount, remains a mystery. It is quite possible that in the case of 3G, the cost of acquiring spectrum could be as high as half of the total project cost, depending on the total number of blocks available.
However, BSNL has already placed an order for 3G and 2G equipment for 10 to 14 million lines with Ericsson. BSNL sources further confirm that an advance purchase order for 18 million lines has also been placed on ITI, which will be serviced by Alcatel Lucent in the west and Huawei in the south.
Earlier, BSNL chairman, Kuldeep Goyal had said BSNL plans to invest upto $3 billion per year over the next 3 years on overall capex. With the imminent allocation of 3G spectrum, it appears the company would want to expedite its equipment orders hoping to at least match if not beat the private sector to a 3G services launch.
While BSNL believes that it owes this priority allocation of 3G spectrum to TRAI's recommendations, this was denied by TRAI chairman, N Misra. "We did not even discuss the subject in our recommendations. We never made any distinction between public sector companies and the private sector," he clarified. Finally, whether DoT will be in a position to allocate this promised spectrum and whether this will translate into a competitive advantage for BSNL, remains to be seen.
"Our system of processing orders is agonizingly long and cumbersome. This will nullify any head start on spectrum, which means we will not be able to launch services ahead of private operators", a senior BSNL official told TOI.
BSNL's statements seem to point at a potential 3G launch not before 2009-10 or closer to the end of the UPA government's tenure despite the head start in terms of spectrum allocation.
This apart, how BSNL/MTNL will embark on business case planning with no clue about the total project cost which depends on the final spectrum bid amount, remains a mystery. It is quite possible that in the case of 3G, the cost of acquiring spectrum could be as high as half of the total project cost, depending on the total number of blocks available.
However, BSNL has already placed an order for 3G and 2G equipment for 10 to 14 million lines with Ericsson. BSNL sources further confirm that an advance purchase order for 18 million lines has also been placed on ITI, which will be serviced by Alcatel Lucent in the west and Huawei in the south.
Earlier, BSNL chairman, Kuldeep Goyal had said BSNL plans to invest upto $3 billion per year over the next 3 years on overall capex. With the imminent allocation of 3G spectrum, it appears the company would want to expedite its equipment orders hoping to at least match if not beat the private sector to a 3G services launch.
While BSNL believes that it owes this priority allocation of 3G spectrum to TRAI's recommendations, this was denied by TRAI chairman, N Misra. "We did not even discuss the subject in our recommendations. We never made any distinction between public sector companies and the private sector," he clarified. Finally, whether DoT will be in a position to allocate this promised spectrum and whether this will translate into a competitive advantage for BSNL, remains to be seen.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Indian mobile users can access Apple's iPhone from Aug 22
Apple's iPhone, the touch screen handset that acquired a cult status in the US and other western countries, will be available to Indian mobile users through Bharti Airtel at the stroke of midnight on August 21, giving competitors like Nokia, Samsung and others a run for their money.
Millions of Airtel subscribers will be able to purchase the iPhone at Airtel's Relationship Centres from August 22, a company statement said here.
"iPhone has been an iconic technological revelation of this year and Airtel has been at the forefront of innovation and customer delight in the Indian telecom sector," Sanjay Kapoor, President, Bharti Airtel mobile services, said.
IPhone is embedded with all 3G features and is twice as fast as the existing mobile phones. The phone also has in-built GPS system, that facilitates as a navigation and positioning tool.
US-based Apple has tied up with Airtel and Vodafone to bring iPhone in the country.
Asked at what price it will be available, Bharti Airtel officials declined to give details.
"Introducing iPhone in India further underscores Bharti's commitment to enrich the communication experience of Airtel users," Kapoor said.
Leading cell phone makers like Nokia, Motorola and Samsung have stepped up their R&D efforts to bring feature rich phones in India to compete iPhones.
Vodafone is also slated to bring Apples's iPhone this year.
Millions of Airtel subscribers will be able to purchase the iPhone at Airtel's Relationship Centres from August 22, a company statement said here.
"iPhone has been an iconic technological revelation of this year and Airtel has been at the forefront of innovation and customer delight in the Indian telecom sector," Sanjay Kapoor, President, Bharti Airtel mobile services, said.
IPhone is embedded with all 3G features and is twice as fast as the existing mobile phones. The phone also has in-built GPS system, that facilitates as a navigation and positioning tool.
US-based Apple has tied up with Airtel and Vodafone to bring iPhone in the country.
Asked at what price it will be available, Bharti Airtel officials declined to give details.
"Introducing iPhone in India further underscores Bharti's commitment to enrich the communication experience of Airtel users," Kapoor said.
Leading cell phone makers like Nokia, Motorola and Samsung have stepped up their R&D efforts to bring feature rich phones in India to compete iPhones.
Vodafone is also slated to bring Apples's iPhone this year.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
All-screen clamshell concept phone: A glimpse of the future
Cell phone designers struggle with two mutually exclusive directions: How do you make a phone with the smallest possible size, but the largest possible screen? Apple's solution was to get rid of physical buttons. But eventually, many phones -- including, I believe, future versions of the iPhone -- will be all-screen clamshell designs.
A new concept design by designer James Piatt shows what this might look like. It's a compelling idea, and one that I believe is inevitable, simply because of the appeal of having the largest possible screen and the necessity of fitting inside a pocket.
As I wrote in a recent column, I also believe this is where laptops are going.
What do you think of this concept phone? Would you buy one?
Apple's iPhone 3G: Is it for you?
Apple products have always had an unusual charm to them. A lot of sophistication, elegance and refined taste go into creating an Apple product during its design phase. Even though I'm far from being a big Apple fan, their products tend to leave a lasting impression.
This article revolves around the widely hyped iPhone, set to be launched in India by Vodafone and Bharti Airtel sometime later this year. There weren't too many iPhone competitors out there in 2007; at least not in the Indian market but there were some available in international markets like LG Prada, BenQ's BlackBox, Meizu M8, Samsung F700 to name a few worthy competitors initially. However, you won't find any of the above mentioned so easily with legal retailers.
This article aims at highlighting the key features of the iPhone while comparing it to similar alternative solutions (with similar specifications) using a different OS. The OS is the key feature that creates a different user experience and smart buyers pay attention to this feature because switching from one OS to another is not an easy task especially when you need to familiarise yourselves in order to unlock the handset's full potential.
So let's begin our journey into what the Apple iPhone is all about and which other phones can provide a similar experience.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Introducing Ubuntu Mobile - full Internet, no compromise
Ubuntu Mobile
Introducing Ubuntu Mobile - full Internet, no compromise
Ubuntu Mobile is an Ubuntu edition that targets an exciting new class of computers called Mobile Internet Devices.Ubuntu Mobile, based on the world's most popular Linux distribution, and MID hardware from OEMs and ODMs, are redefining what can be done in mobile computing.
Ubuntu Mobile, a fully open source project, gives full Internet, with no compromise. Custom options may include licensed codecs and popular third-party applications.
Full Web 2.0/AJAX fidelity, with custom options of Adobe Flash®, Java, and more
Outstanding media playback so you can enjoy videos, music and photos with superior quality and easy navigation
A suite of applications that work seamlessly to meet every need of a digital parent, student or anyone who is on-the-go
Facebook®, MySpace®, YouTube®, Dailymotion®, 3D games, GPS, maps, in short, the full Web 2.0 experience delivered into your hands as a compact and powerful device that's easy and fun to use
The product of Canonical collaboration with Intel® and the open source community, Ubuntu Mobile is the software that makes it all possible.
Just the right stuff
Ubuntu Mobile just works, and it works just right.
Just the right applications provide an uncompromised Web 2.0 experience: Web browsing, email, media, camera, VoIP, instant messaging, GPS, blogging, digital TV, games, contacts, dates/calendar, simple software updates... and lots more.
All unnecessary complexity in the user experience is eliminated.
Finger friendly, touch driven
Ubuntu Mobile is finger friendly, with no stylus needed. You drive Ubuntu Mobile with touch. Simply tap the screen or drag a finger to make gestures for intuitive navigation and control.
Tap an application with your finger to launch it, and tap menus and buttons to use them.
Swipe a web page to pan up, down or sideways.
Swipe a video, photo, song or thumbnail page to move to the next or the previous one.
Leveraging the MID
MIDs typically have the following features and attributes:
Small size/form factor
4 to 7 inch touch screen
Physical and/or virtual keyboard
Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth, GPS, WiMAX
2GB to 8GB Flash or disk storage, 256MB+ memory/512MB+ recommended
OpenGL 3D
USB, camera, head phone jack, speakers, microphone
Customizable
Clutter User Interface
Flash User Interface
Ubuntu Mobile is highly flexible and customizable. It is an ideal platform for the kind of product differentiation that reaches target users and penetrates key markets.
User interface in HTML, Flash, Clutter, Python with GTK, C/C++ with GTK and Java
Different application sets for different products or configurations
Integration with popular Web 2.0 sites
Internationalization and translation support to meet market requirements
Custom sets of licensed media codecs and third-party proprietary software for commercial partners
Custom engineering Ubuntu Mobile
Introducing Ubuntu Mobile - full Internet, no compromise
Ubuntu Mobile is an Ubuntu edition that targets an exciting new class of computers called Mobile Internet Devices.Ubuntu Mobile, based on the world's most popular Linux distribution, and MID hardware from OEMs and ODMs, are redefining what can be done in mobile computing.
Ubuntu Mobile, a fully open source project, gives full Internet, with no compromise. Custom options may include licensed codecs and popular third-party applications.
Full Web 2.0/AJAX fidelity, with custom options of Adobe Flash®, Java, and more
Outstanding media playback so you can enjoy videos, music and photos with superior quality and easy navigation
A suite of applications that work seamlessly to meet every need of a digital parent, student or anyone who is on-the-go
Facebook®, MySpace®, YouTube®, Dailymotion®, 3D games, GPS, maps, in short, the full Web 2.0 experience delivered into your hands as a compact and powerful device that's easy and fun to use
The product of Canonical collaboration with Intel® and the open source community, Ubuntu Mobile is the software that makes it all possible.
Just the right stuff
Ubuntu Mobile just works, and it works just right.
Just the right applications provide an uncompromised Web 2.0 experience: Web browsing, email, media, camera, VoIP, instant messaging, GPS, blogging, digital TV, games, contacts, dates/calendar, simple software updates... and lots more.
All unnecessary complexity in the user experience is eliminated.
Finger friendly, touch driven
Ubuntu Mobile is finger friendly, with no stylus needed. You drive Ubuntu Mobile with touch. Simply tap the screen or drag a finger to make gestures for intuitive navigation and control.
Tap an application with your finger to launch it, and tap menus and buttons to use them.
Swipe a web page to pan up, down or sideways.
Swipe a video, photo, song or thumbnail page to move to the next or the previous one.
Leveraging the MID
MIDs typically have the following features and attributes:
Small size/form factor
4 to 7 inch touch screen
Physical and/or virtual keyboard
Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth, GPS, WiMAX
2GB to 8GB Flash or disk storage, 256MB+ memory/512MB+ recommended
OpenGL 3D
USB, camera, head phone jack, speakers, microphone
Customizable
Clutter User Interface
Flash User Interface
Ubuntu Mobile is highly flexible and customizable. It is an ideal platform for the kind of product differentiation that reaches target users and penetrates key markets.
User interface in HTML, Flash, Clutter, Python with GTK, C/C++ with GTK and Java
Different application sets for different products or configurations
Integration with popular Web 2.0 sites
Internationalization and translation support to meet market requirements
Custom sets of licensed media codecs and third-party proprietary software for commercial partners
Custom engineering
Introducing Ubuntu Mobile - full Internet, no compromise
Ubuntu Mobile is an Ubuntu edition that targets an exciting new class of computers called Mobile Internet Devices.Ubuntu Mobile, based on the world's most popular Linux distribution, and MID hardware from OEMs and ODMs, are redefining what can be done in mobile computing.
Ubuntu Mobile, a fully open source project, gives full Internet, with no compromise. Custom options may include licensed codecs and popular third-party applications.
Full Web 2.0/AJAX fidelity, with custom options of Adobe Flash®, Java, and more
Outstanding media playback so you can enjoy videos, music and photos with superior quality and easy navigation
A suite of applications that work seamlessly to meet every need of a digital parent, student or anyone who is on-the-go
Facebook®, MySpace®, YouTube®, Dailymotion®, 3D games, GPS, maps, in short, the full Web 2.0 experience delivered into your hands as a compact and powerful device that's easy and fun to use
The product of Canonical collaboration with Intel® and the open source community, Ubuntu Mobile is the software that makes it all possible.
Just the right stuff
Ubuntu Mobile just works, and it works just right.
Just the right applications provide an uncompromised Web 2.0 experience: Web browsing, email, media, camera, VoIP, instant messaging, GPS, blogging, digital TV, games, contacts, dates/calendar, simple software updates... and lots more.
All unnecessary complexity in the user experience is eliminated.
Finger friendly, touch driven
Ubuntu Mobile is finger friendly, with no stylus needed. You drive Ubuntu Mobile with touch. Simply tap the screen or drag a finger to make gestures for intuitive navigation and control.
Tap an application with your finger to launch it, and tap menus and buttons to use them.
Swipe a web page to pan up, down or sideways.
Swipe a video, photo, song or thumbnail page to move to the next or the previous one.
Leveraging the MID
MIDs typically have the following features and attributes:
Small size/form factor
4 to 7 inch touch screen
Physical and/or virtual keyboard
Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth, GPS, WiMAX
2GB to 8GB Flash or disk storage, 256MB+ memory/512MB+ recommended
OpenGL 3D
USB, camera, head phone jack, speakers, microphone
Customizable
Clutter User Interface
Flash User Interface
Ubuntu Mobile is highly flexible and customizable. It is an ideal platform for the kind of product differentiation that reaches target users and penetrates key markets.
User interface in HTML, Flash, Clutter, Python with GTK, C/C++ with GTK and Java
Different application sets for different products or configurations
Integration with popular Web 2.0 sites
Internationalization and translation support to meet market requirements
Custom sets of licensed media codecs and third-party proprietary software for commercial partners
Custom engineering Ubuntu Mobile
Introducing Ubuntu Mobile - full Internet, no compromise
Ubuntu Mobile is an Ubuntu edition that targets an exciting new class of computers called Mobile Internet Devices.Ubuntu Mobile, based on the world's most popular Linux distribution, and MID hardware from OEMs and ODMs, are redefining what can be done in mobile computing.
Ubuntu Mobile, a fully open source project, gives full Internet, with no compromise. Custom options may include licensed codecs and popular third-party applications.
Full Web 2.0/AJAX fidelity, with custom options of Adobe Flash®, Java, and more
Outstanding media playback so you can enjoy videos, music and photos with superior quality and easy navigation
A suite of applications that work seamlessly to meet every need of a digital parent, student or anyone who is on-the-go
Facebook®, MySpace®, YouTube®, Dailymotion®, 3D games, GPS, maps, in short, the full Web 2.0 experience delivered into your hands as a compact and powerful device that's easy and fun to use
The product of Canonical collaboration with Intel® and the open source community, Ubuntu Mobile is the software that makes it all possible.
Just the right stuff
Ubuntu Mobile just works, and it works just right.
Just the right applications provide an uncompromised Web 2.0 experience: Web browsing, email, media, camera, VoIP, instant messaging, GPS, blogging, digital TV, games, contacts, dates/calendar, simple software updates... and lots more.
All unnecessary complexity in the user experience is eliminated.
Finger friendly, touch driven
Ubuntu Mobile is finger friendly, with no stylus needed. You drive Ubuntu Mobile with touch. Simply tap the screen or drag a finger to make gestures for intuitive navigation and control.
Tap an application with your finger to launch it, and tap menus and buttons to use them.
Swipe a web page to pan up, down or sideways.
Swipe a video, photo, song or thumbnail page to move to the next or the previous one.
Leveraging the MID
MIDs typically have the following features and attributes:
Small size/form factor
4 to 7 inch touch screen
Physical and/or virtual keyboard
Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth, GPS, WiMAX
2GB to 8GB Flash or disk storage, 256MB+ memory/512MB+ recommended
OpenGL 3D
USB, camera, head phone jack, speakers, microphone
Customizable
Clutter User Interface
Flash User Interface
Ubuntu Mobile is highly flexible and customizable. It is an ideal platform for the kind of product differentiation that reaches target users and penetrates key markets.
User interface in HTML, Flash, Clutter, Python with GTK, C/C++ with GTK and Java
Different application sets for different products or configurations
Integration with popular Web 2.0 sites
Internationalization and translation support to meet market requirements
Custom sets of licensed media codecs and third-party proprietary software for commercial partners
Custom engineering
iPhone: ‘It’s the user experience, stupid’
The best thing to come out of this week’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona has to be David Benjamin’s account in EE Times of a “blue-ribbon panel of human behavior and technology experts” struggling to understand the success of Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone.
You would have thought that the title of the panel — It’s the User Experience, Stupid — would have told the experts all they needed to know.
And according to Benjamin the panelists did agree that the iPhone — 77 percent of whose users described themselves in a market survey as “very satisfied” — represented a model for other mobile handset makers to follow.
But the fun starts when they try to apply the lessons of Apple’s success. Benjamin writes:
One direction, advocated by Lucia Predolin, international marketing and communications director for Buongiorno S.p.A. of Milan, Italy, is to manipulate users by identifying their “need states” — including such compulsions as “killing time,” and “making the most of it” — and fulfilling them subliminally.
Adobe’s [Anup] Murarka [director of technical marketing] proposed a more technological approach to improving the user experience, satisfying the mobile phone subscriber through better interface design.
Sarah Lipman, co-founder and R&D director for Power2B, suggested an almost mystical solution, somehow tapping into users’ “neural networks” to navigate a mobile phone interface “using touch and pre-touch input.”
Lipman, to her credit, gets the money quote of the session:
For users, “the content is the core,” said Lipman somewhat ruefully, “and we have to get out of their way.”
You would have thought that the title of the panel — It’s the User Experience, Stupid — would have told the experts all they needed to know.
And according to Benjamin the panelists did agree that the iPhone — 77 percent of whose users described themselves in a market survey as “very satisfied” — represented a model for other mobile handset makers to follow.
But the fun starts when they try to apply the lessons of Apple’s success. Benjamin writes:
One direction, advocated by Lucia Predolin, international marketing and communications director for Buongiorno S.p.A. of Milan, Italy, is to manipulate users by identifying their “need states” — including such compulsions as “killing time,” and “making the most of it” — and fulfilling them subliminally.
Adobe’s [Anup] Murarka [director of technical marketing] proposed a more technological approach to improving the user experience, satisfying the mobile phone subscriber through better interface design.
Sarah Lipman, co-founder and R&D director for Power2B, suggested an almost mystical solution, somehow tapping into users’ “neural networks” to navigate a mobile phone interface “using touch and pre-touch input.”
Lipman, to her credit, gets the money quote of the session:
For users, “the content is the core,” said Lipman somewhat ruefully, “and we have to get out of their way.”
Monday, February 4, 2008
New Scientist Technology Blog: Signal bars - what are they for?
New Scientist Technology Blog: Signal bars - what are they for?: "Signal bars - what are they for?
There's an icon in the corner of every mobile phone's screen that we are all familiar with. But do we really know what those signal bars mean?
That question was raised for me by this Signal bars - what are they for?
There's an icon in the corner of every mobile phone's screen that we are all familiar with. But do we really know what those signal bars mean?
That question was raised for me by this"
There's an icon in the corner of every mobile phone's screen that we are all familiar with. But do we really know what those signal bars mean?
That question was raised for me by this Signal bars - what are they for?
There's an icon in the corner of every mobile phone's screen that we are all familiar with. But do we really know what those signal bars mean?
That question was raised for me by this"
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