Broadband Blog » EVDO

Late night thoughts on recent developments

Administrator — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 17:04:59 +0000

Bharati has bought over Zain telecom in Africa. The exact details are “obscured” and frankly, I didn’t really bother much over the period of time because it was a “meh” news. I believe that Bharati has done the right thing because even if this is “over valued” deal, it would add to it’s stature. All the more, it would help Bharati to negotiate (on very favorable terms) for the 3G equipment only for the scale. Because size DOES matter.

All the more Bharati Telecom now needs to step up it’s customer acquisition for 3G and retain it’s existing customers before the mobile number portability is cleared for final implementation. This MNP would benefit the newer players in a big manner because the existing customer are fed up of the tardy implementation of the customer care by existing operators.

This is a familiar rant here for the regular readers on the blog and frankly, I am at pains to point out anything new or even “exciting” development. There is NONE. All the more, few operators are crying hoarse about EVDO or fancy WiMax (and some operators claiming that the existing technologies would not be able to support the data requests), some of them talk about “blazing speeds”, some like Tata Photon Plus are reducing their prices for the modem and very gladly claim that they would shift the existing customers to “higher speed slots”. Some like Reliance are still persisting with hollowed out infrastructure. Puke.

Assholes. Thats the word that comes on top of mind recall.

Now this is purely a personal opinion. We are a desperate nation. A hungry nation. An impatient generation. My “forefathers” would have been happy to accept the present state of affairs. When standing in a long queue was the norm for landline connections. One needed the “right approach” and ability to swing the deal in your favour. When the bloody lineman was the God because it was “His” mercy that your telephone worked.

We are a far cry from the “bastards”. But that mentality lingers on. It still does.

Maybe, in the backdrop of Bharati buying out the majority stake in Zain assumes more significance. For the first time, a company has thought big. They are planning big. They are now overturning the rules of the game on to favor themselves. I hate them for keeping the pace out; be it broadband or be it mobile service.

Although, “not exciting” but nevertheless, a significant development.

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Administrator — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:01:35 +0000

I have been out of the wireless broadband loop for long. Any pointers to the kind of speeds or services? Here is the thread on the Indian Broadband Forum.

I have been always opposed to the wireless broadband initiatives because they fail on many counts. For plain vanilla surfing, it sounds like a good idea. But when it comes to the crunch, these fancy ideas fail in execution. Comments are on.

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3G Phones India: The coming of “Jesus”?

Administrator — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 06:02:27 +0000

This is the stuff of legend. Much like the Christianity, the Apple iPhone is based on lies and subterfuge. I have waxed eloquently from the perspective of an awe struck bloke; about the possibility of what technology can do and deliver. Even for that matter, the design of the handset.

People from all walks of life are now complaining of a tactile “feedback” and that these touch phones may not be the answer to one and all. Who knows? It only depends on which side the advertising dollars have been stuffed up one’s puckered (or gaping) hole. And that you mumble about the next BIG thing coming- like the resurrection or the BIG “O”.

To make matters easier for you to follow here, I am referring to the newly launched Samsung Instinct. It claims to have got it’s bearing’s right. It runs on EVDO networks, has better memory storage but lacks iPhone’s acceleratometers. It does everything whatever an iPhone does…well almost. It doesnt give you a blow j*b as yet. Neither does an iPhone.

I wouldn’t see these phones here in India unless Samsung is smart enough to launch them across the world where 3 G services are available. A much better idea would be to provide a soft launch and make it run on the lousy EDGE networks that we have here in India. Then slowly exert pressure on the operators to upgrade their networks to 3G. It works both ways and I am sure there would be a lot of interest in the blogosphere who would want the next mannah from the heaven to be rolled out.

Hmm. But what are you going to use it for? What makes the phone better than a costly brick? So far, I have had no special luck with my broadband because I dont have a “sticky” content. 2 Mbps or more to check emails? You must be f***ing crazy to waste loads of bandwidth. How much p0rn can a man consume in a day? Games? The latency of online networks would kill you before you can blink an eye. Then what?

I am not inclined to comment on the legality of downloading movies and watching them. The debate over torrents is acrimonious. Again it depends on which side of the big moolah you are on.

Hence, all these touch phones and EVDO thingy remains on the fringes of lunacy. Most of the companies here in India cannot ensure decent connectivity even in the best of the times. Even there in US of A (God Bless America!) Sprint has had to cut back on jobs to save their rat infested ship from sinking.

We haven’t heard of the dire straits of Indian companies for all practical purposes. After all, there would be a ceiling to a growth unless they design something like a blow up that also doubles up as your mobile phone. Or a diamond studded vibrator that could truly be a girl’s friend with a mobile phone built in. (Or something like this)

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Mobile Internet

Administrator — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 18:12:36 +0000

This is indeed the “future”; even though I don’t suck up to the idea of wireless. Wireless cannot support the applications; much like the streaming video. BSNL’s EVDO was launched recently and there were couple of first hand reviews from early time suckers claiming about the 2 Mbps thoroughput. It’s hard to believe that from a sarkari outfit but then let’s give them benefit of doubt. There are enough dim wit wonders in this world who would not have been born had their fathers cared to use the “other” hole. Most of these dimwits work for Airtel Broadband

Dirty jokes apart, I am clearly excited about the new age mobile applications. iPhone has shown the way and Google’s Android looks much like a rip off the iPhone interface. Unless, you wish to name it as Android and make a fast buck by calling it “open alliance”. The idea sucks but there are a lot of people gung ho about the “possibilities”. I am more inclinded towards the browser because this is one software that connects to the Internet and beyond. The OS (Operating System) becomes redundant for all practical purposes.

I am linking on to a video of Opera Mini (featured on Opera Watch for starters) and the rendering engine is awesome. Unfortunately, much of the “compression” takes place at Opera’s servers before it serves the web page on your handset which raises privacy concerns. However, I must admit that these are “white man’s concerns” and everyone makes money off the big idea as to what people are surfing in real time. Whether you are watching p0rn or doing Internet Banking.

There is a lot to be discovered.

I wasn’t surprised to read that HDFC and Reliance have created a virtual credit card. Now your mobile would become a payment gateway. This is an old concept and I had first reported about rumours that Tata was planning to launch something similar to this. SMS based transactions, if authenticated, are the safest bet to pay your bills because that would work irrespective of your mobile handset. Tatas, as usual, lost a golden oppurtunity to monetise their network spend and instead fell flat needing the star couple to advertise. Pooh. Dimwits conceptualised from the wrong “holes” need to get back to their roots for proper and effective marketing.

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