Opera Mini

http://imgur.com/PZwCF

If you look carefully, bulk of the developing and the underdeveloped countries utilize the mobile web to access social networking sites. US (and some other developed economies) are lower down the scale.

Interestingly, the data transferred per user is a pathetic 7 MB (averaged over the month perhaps?) which means that operators are still being generous with their limits. However,  this is a crude approximation. For once, we have a clear proof that mobile internet is definitely a part of their value added services kitty but is NOT the revenue driver for them. They are offering it because there is no alternative.

This also explains their aggressive stance to get the 3G spectrum; primarily to add more voice customers than to offer data services.

If you look at the snapshot of the popular phones, Nokia is still leading the pack but majority of them are NOT smartphones. These java based handsets are pathetic in terms of functionality and at best useful for “checking the status updates” on Facebook.

A surprise entry is that of “Micromax” handset; they have capitalized on aggressive marketing and low price entry point.

Unfortunately, this does not portend good for the broadband initiatives. A cursory glance at the top sites (Google leads the pack) is only indicative. Google has benefited from being the default search engine on the browser and hence the port of call for any search. I barely use my handset for GPRS (or EDGE) for web surfing because smartphones (and their form factor) is basically useless to transact anything useful. For me, the only reason to invest is for email.

Nevertheless, this report can again be questioned in terms of “growth of users”. It is not clear about how the methodology has been arrived at and what has constituted the “growth in real terms”. However, one thing is clear. Most of the web sites focused on Indian content don’t have mobile strategies to counter the growth in the user base. Pathetic.

Indeed, with majority of the young adults unable to read/write or even engage in meaningful conversations on Indian polity, this “dumbification” was expected.

Facebook, although shows some presence (in terms of mobile access), mobile broadband is still “not hot” in US of A. There could be myriad factors but then Opera’s state of web access is best a “snapshot” of the handsets and it’s deal with the OEM‘s to bundle the product.

Related articles

• New mobile Web Google Maps highlights sorry state of native iOS app (arstechnica.com)
• Small world on small screens (opera.com)
• Google Maps For Mobile Updates With More Features (techie-buzz.com)
• Half of India uses Internet only through Mobile [Infographic] (trak.in)
• Mobile Web Content in East Africa [Report] (whiteafrican.com)
• Mobile Web in India grows 308% – Micromax one of the most popular mobiles to access Internet (trak.in)
• Opera to supply its mobile browser solution to Spreadtrum (opera.com)
• Book Review: Professional Mobile Web Development (books.slashdot.org)
• Web App Masters: Native or Web-Based Mobile Apps? (lukew.com)
• Maxis customers to surf the Internet up to six times faster with the Maxis-Opera Mini browser (opera.com)
• Opera Mini now sports Indian content by default! (trak.in)
• More Features in Google Maps for Mobile Browsers (mt-soft.com.ar)
• Google revamps Google Maps browser edition for iOS and Android (mobile-ent.biz)
• Saatchi mobile marketer: Mobile web is better value than apps (briefingmedia.wordpress.com)
• State of the Mobile Web (francescofederico.net)
• Why I’m Not Excited About Mobile Applications (samirbalwani.com)
• 58% Of Mobile Web Users Get Their Content Fix Through Browsers: Jumptap (techcrunch.com)
• Mobiltel joins the Opera Mini adventure (opera.com)

Related posts:

1. Opera: State of mobile web I am not here to be a party pooper but...
2. Mobile Number Portability: Some numbers There is a huge variance in the numbers being reported...
3. Broadband Blog- now mobile! There is a nifty Google Utility which allows you to...
4. Mobile Internet: Opera gets leg space in App store Forget the statistics, the “key words” or even foward looking...
5. Virgin India Mobile: sucks? So far, I have not had user reviews. A Google...

The beauty of the mobile browser is that it is cross platform. I have covered this browser (for mobiles) in earlier write ups too but I think the most significant advance is the pinch to zoom that has come in Opera Mini.

I am currently upgrading the app from Android Market; nevertheless, I suspect that financial agreement with Google stays. Of course, you could always sync with Opera Mobile (the buliker cousin minus the “pre-fetching” of content), but I prefer Mini because in India, the GPRS sucks. I think Opera has a lot to gain with HTML 5 specifications. This would eliminate Flash completely and possibly deliver the videos in real time reducing the overheads in terms of infrastructure.

Related articles

• Opera Mobile 11, Opera Mini 6 Mobile Browsers Released (ghacks.net)
• Opera Mobile And Mini For Android Updated – Sporting New Optimizations And Tablet-Friendliness (androidpolice.com)
• Opera Mini 6 and Opera Mobile 11 released (and Opera Mini 4.3) (my.opera.com)
• Opera Mini 6 and Opera Mobile 11 Available Today (phonescoop.com)
• Opera Mini 6 and Opera Mobile 11 released (slashgear.com)
• Opera Mini 6 and Opera Mobile 11 debut (go.theregister.com)
• Opera Mini and Mobile update – but which do you need? (onsoftware.en.softonic.com)
• Opera Mini 6 and Opera Mobile 11 Released for Java, Symbian, Android, BlackBerry, Windows 7 and Meego (techie-buzz.com)
• Opera Announces Opera Mini 6, Opera Mobile 11 (phonescoop.com)
• Opera Mini 6 and Opera Mobile 11 (mobilegameroids.wordpress.com)

Related posts:

1. Opera Mini The new version 4.1 has been released recently. I find...
2. Opera Mini Opera is an excellent browser. Period. Though, I fail to...
3. Opera Mini released The fourth beta of Opera Mini has been released.Amazingly, this...
4. Opera Mini: Growth in India I rarely cover the mobile Internet on this blog. Part...
5. Opera Mini takes the centre stage If for anything, I remain obessed about Opera. True, that...

Image via Wikipedia

I have explored various other aspects of mobile internet in recent times. It would not be worthwhile to cry myself hoarse about the pathetic mobile access in India (which I have done repeatedly) but lets take a look at how the platforms are evolving based on the Mobile version of “broadband”.

Unfortunately, this write up draws inspiration from the western markets because the traditional mobile industry in India has not matured beyond the typical value added services of ring tones. I find it really hard to swallow if someone points me towards the mobile “games”. Yes, there are enough idiots to crow about the viability of mobile games as a money spinner but we could safely ignore them.Including the myriad “research firms” that pay money to get “quoted” in mainstream Indian press and financial dailies.However, it could be different if we have something like “Indian version” of Angry Birds. (Disclosure: I have that on my Android handset and ABSOLUTELY love it. With their shift towards in-game payment options), they would be justifying the huge surge of interest from venture capitalists.

This brings Indian media into picture. Over the past few weeks, I have been interacting with some people regarding “upgradation” of their web sites. They are badly coded examples of the worst case scenario of “Indian outsourcing”. I have tried, in recent times, to make a shift towards Drupal and understand that it is a sum of all aspects that needs to work in different browsers with cross platform compatibility. Unfortunately, they don’t realize the importance of having a proper mobile access stripped of advertisements.

Hence, a “mature” access device is unlikely to make a dent in India. The success of iPad hinges more from how Jobs has been able to “distort the reality” with his marketing gimmicks and how the whole ecosystem has been designed to keep the customers locked in. However, given the form factor, Jobs has been able to hit the sweet spot; a readable touch screen with mobile access.

There are people who swear by Flipboard but I haven’t really found a good RSS reader with capability of semantic linkages. Zeta has been launched recently with a lot of promise and cluster fuck advertising but since I don’t have an iPad, it is unlikely I would do any kind of a comparison between Zeta and Flipboard. I am stuck to Google Reader because thats unfortunately, the only in-browser app that works (others are plain useless with perhaps a bit of exception to RSS Owl or Blog Bridge).

Murdoch had launched “The Daily” with a lot of hype; but a few weeks later, there are people leaving him away in droves.There has been a lot of explaining behind this because arguably the fundamental reasoning behind iPad apps is flawed. For those who are watching the media space (and betting on Indian version of tablets) are going to be highly disappointed but well, they are unlikely to invest in resources which cannot be monetised (given the huge levels of piracy and nearly absent mechanisms of micropayments in this technology backwaters of the world).

So this effectively boils down to lack of developer interest in creating applications (hey what would you get with a huge army of morons and script kiddies who can’t even code a single line of software), lack of venture capital and inability to sustain a start up. (I strongly suggest that you read Shyam’s write up on the same issue). To quote selectively:

The main problem is that the Indian market for digital goods and services is tiny. In a non-existent market, neither product finesse nor pricing can make much of a difference. There is barely enough size in the digital domain to sustain large profitable companies.

Ironically, mobile companies are the only ones to push for content. However, therein comes the “platform interest”. Would you invest money in something that works across all handsets with rival operators? Or would you invest in something that would be locked up for your own network alone? Either way, the thorny issue does not yield any straight answers.

Hence, I find the obessession with pumping up digital content a tad boring. Not because I don’t want to consume but the options are sorely limited. Eve for 3G access, companies forbid “tethering” (not that no one cares a rats ass fuck about it) but they expect the 3g phones to have gigantic screens that would solve the issue. This would also explain that one reason why the prices are so high. Apart from the sunk costs, most of the operators are well aware that Internet access on mobiles would broadly mirror the broadband access on land lines i.e. a huge mass of zombified idiots would access only Yahoo or Facebook. It cannot be wished away because they would only cater to the mass of idiots without bothering about the “outliers” like us because there is no “real space” created.

No one wants to spend money to “change the habits” for content access. They would rather fill up the channels (and “news”) with “Bollywood flotsam” and fake celebrities prancing around either naked or raved out with hollow sockets floating around in public perception. (Okay well, I am biased since I find most of them really retarded).

Related articles

• Apple iPad 2 official release date in India may be announced in a couple of weeks (thenextweb.com)
• iPad May Be Magical. Apps Aren’t. Here’s Why. (gigaom.com)
• Zite – the best thing since Flipboard (paulacbrannan.wordpress.com)
• Doodle Jump Hits 10M Downloads; Promises iPad Version, Toys & More (mashable.com)
• SXSW 2011: Novelty of iPad news apps fades fast among digital delegates (guardian.co.uk)
• Duran Duran team up with Flipboard for ‘digital concert programme’ (mobile-ent.biz)
• Marketing to Women: Flipboard v. Pulse News Readers (jamiedunham.wordpress.com)
• Doodle Jump scores 10 million mobile downloads for two brothers (venturebeat.com)
• Why Android Tablets Are No Threat To Apple This Year — Our Q&A With Flipboard CEO Mike McCue (AAPL) (businessinsider.com)
• “Zite Personalized Magazine App for iPad” and related posts (ditii.com)
• Flipboard for iPad gets updated with Instagram and social search (mobile-ent.biz)
• Flipboard gains Instagram support, social search, and gets much faster (downloadsquad.switched.com)
• Flipboard Upgrade Boosts Speed, Integrates Social Search and Instagram (fastcompany.com)
• Mobile Gaming + E-commerce = a Win for Brands (adage.com)
• Could the iPad 2 replace traditional video game consoles? (tuaw.com)
• “Angry Birds Developer Suggests Console Games are Dying” and related posts (technobuffalo.com)
• Angry Birds Maker Predicts the Death of Console Gaming (nytimes.com)
• Angry Birds maker predicts the death of console gaming (venturebeat.com)
• EA Mobile teams with GetGlue for mobile game check-ins (mobile-ent.biz)
• Angry Birds boss believes console gaming is “dying” (Angry Birds HD) (gamesradar.com)
• Australian Government Wants To Classify Mobile Games (macstories.net)
• Who’s Playing Mobile Games? (ghdialogue.posterous.com)
• Angry Birds Exec: R.I.P. Console Gaming (pcworld.com)
• One in Three Mobile Phone Owners Is a Regular Mobile Gamer [STUDY] (mashable.com)
• Morbid Attractions (skulladay.blogspot.com)
• India userbase: Internet 100m, Mobile internet 40m (mahesh.com)
• Morbid Philosophy (alpup.blogspot.com)
• In Underground Jail, Symbols of Gadhafi Brutality (newser.com)

Related posts:

1. Mobile Internet: Opera gets leg space in App store Forget the statistics, the “key words” or even foward looking...
2. Broadband: Content would choke Content is the king. Really? I have reasons to doubt...
3. Content driving future growth It’s becoming increasingly clear that Reliance infocomm wants to straddle...
4. Content Services Telecom “revolution” needs mobile phone instruments. It appears to be...
5. Opera: State of mobile web I am not here to be a party pooper but...

The most important aspect of the smart phone is the OS AND the APPS (which means a developer ecosystem). As of now, we don’t really have an open source OS (except for the old Symbian; Android is not free really). Everyone loves to hate Symbian but after the exit of Sony, Nokia was the sole phone manufacturer supporting it.

An open source OS needs existing hard ware that could be ported. Unless people find a way to “hack around” or dual cores in mobiles become a reality to support multiple operating systems. Till then, we have to deal with these oddities of “not being able to hack around” unless you are brave enough to root it.

Smart phones provide a better revenue as compared to the dumb phones in addition to be able to deal with multi tasking and business applications. Slowly, as the email applications grow and social networking becomes second life for us, smart phones would expand it’s reach.

I have written about it as soon as the news broke and there has been mixed reaction towards the same.However, Scobeleizer disagrees. He may have a thousands of readers and an influential blogger, but his arguments (like others) sounds pathetic as if ass licking for Microsoft.

I am more likely to agree with this opinion because that’s what the truth is all about! Time alone would vindicate Elop’s stand (if at all this suicidal step was worth it). But a huge outrage of the news all over the Internet (including Twitter), clearly shows that Microsoft is no darling of the masses (or at least those who matter).

Related posts:

1. Nokia: Dying a slow death It dominates the low end market. It dominates the developing...
2. Nokia Mobile: Selling it’s soul to Microsoft One of the breaking news of the day is that...
3. E Governance and Open Source I can hardly add more to the benefits of Open...
4. Airtel: New Logo and stupidity There are things that don’t cease to amaze me. Top...
5. The sad crop of smart phones Blackberry was supposed to make good smart phones but the...

I don’t see the maturity of the market to choose a handset. Despite so many players in the market, it is difficult to spot trends in a spiked up heterogeneous market. Specially when buying a mobile entails some degree of peer pressure, “looks” and advertising playing a major role in the decision.

I don’t foresee a huge influx of smart phones and it’s apps although if the companies are really interested, they might step up the advertising spend. However, we all know that 3G was required for it’s supposed spectral efficiencies and not for data. Anyone who feels that 3G would revolutionize video calling and data usage is either an asshole or is a danger to society and locked up in a high security mental institution.

Related posts:

1. Mobiles :Your next PC? Rajesh Jain has posted a series of articles on Mobiles...
2. Indian Telecom: Changing fortunes Well, I was right in a way. Indian Telecom firms...
3. Indian Mobiles: Why not unlimited pricing? Verizon has introduced unlimited plans which was matched by rivals...
4. Mobiles: Not happening The entry of retail chains in selling mobiles has not...
5. Mobiles in India: New developments The next battlefield for eyeballs is not your desktop. It’s...

1) Smart phones and Android taking center stage with Nokia dying a slow death.

2) 2G spectrum scam

3) 3G mess.

There are tonnes of web sites scattered all around to tell you about Android’s home coming. I am not getting in the debate about what is good or bad but Apple (across the lines) remains aspirational because of it’s perceived value.

2G Spectrum scam has also been mentioned extensively with the political fall out affecting Congress and it’s cohorts; again the debate has been frittered away to be of any consequence.

3G Mess is bad. Really bad. Partly because it has been sold on lines of “only Internet access” you’d ever need. As mentioned in these columns (and comments) that none of the devices support advertised speeds of 21Mbps; more so, in absence of clear definition of what 3G speeds are, you would not really see much traction there. The operators have dreamt of fat profits accruing from the sales and perhaps are marketing different plans for mobile handsets and wireless modems. Docomo even explicitly prohibits “tethering” mobiles to laptops citing it as “violation of terms of use”; as it they can “prove it court of law”. Assholes.

4G is on the horizon and as such the media reports were peppered with what technology to choose. There are of course competing issues; I am not qualified enough to explain the merits/demerits of each.

Another highlight of this year was the final recognition of menace of telemarketing calls and sms (with sms rates being usurious and companies raking in huge profits from what is essentially free for them). I have written about it earlier but there are others in space who have written about it more extensively (Rajesh Jain on Telemarketing and SMS Spam[1,2,3,4,5])

Mobile Number Portability (MNP) would be a big issue in 2011. Although it has been launched in Haryana, there are not enough media reports about the impact of MNP on the same. Is it surprising? With telecom companies leading in advertisement spends, they hold enough leverage to influence reporting the issue. Hence I would remain blocked out on the same unless it becomes a major issue. However, they don’t give a shit to the users because there is no REAL choice between the service providers. Most of the new operators have yet not launched their operations (and hence got notices for the same) so it is difficult to comment on the same. I foresee a lot of activity in next year in terms of new players and mobile number portability to affect them. Yet, with the rise of cheap “chinese manufactured- Indian branded” hardware with dual and three SIM card slots, issues like MNP don’t hold much promise. Hence this too would remain a lot of hot air with some speculation towards “power to consumer”.

I have written extensively to TRAI, Department of Telecom and various stake holders in media about why need broadband and what is basic policy flaw in the system. This has also been a subject of my RTI applications being filed with them. At risk of sounding repetitive, we all need a proper system for growth of the nation and that is a foregone conclusion. However, the system is designed not to provide but to deprive the users from opportunities. If public good were at the heart of policy makers (and politicians), we would not have been a kangaroo republic (mistaken for a democracy).

I fail to understand the stupidity of media houses not to push for all inclusive growth in Broadband; since their own very future depends on it. I have briefly toyed with the idea of setting up a NGO; there is no scarcity of ideas that need to be implemented. What is lacking in this space is will to implement those ideas. The whole scenario is lumbering around like a giant iceberg. Yet as monotony in this space grows, Internet access is fuelled by explosive growth in social networking to Facebook’s data servers. Here in lies the rub. Media in India is even lacking in this space and focusing instead to try out experiments in their own walled microdomains expecting the advertisers to come on in hordes and expecting to rake in millions of dollars from advertising click throughs.

However, this dream lies shattered with corpses of media houses dotting the landscape instead. Content is supreme and while we retain the numero uno position for generating mountains of crap in terms of bollywood export, this has not found a “release” except from traditional channels of multiplexes and to some extent, DTH. Instead, we don’t have a Hulu or Netflix like player capitalizing on this aspect of delivery. 3g cannot do it. 4g cannot do it. Wifi perhaps. Broadband on wirelines- definitely.

This blog has also seen some write ups on the need to tone up internet exchanges, need for TRAI to jig up it’s broadband policy and a call for Public Internet cafes. Interestingly, we also saw NDTV’s programme on broadband which we linked on to and perhaps the first in a long long time coming in from mainstream media. TRAI did talk about “fair usage policy” although in context of telecom tariffs. Another highlight was my post on online education and something on cloud computing in respone to Chrome OS.

This, by and large, what I had written with some guest posts. I have already filed in RTI application with BSNL as listed and I am awaiting their response. My only aim to get to root on pricing on Broadband, the mess and perhaps get a better deal on it in the long run. The first step is perhaps to re-define broadband from it’s present definition. I am also planning to involve TRAI in this loop along with perhaps Department of Telecom and see how they differ. Although TRAI is the regulator, the real power lies with DoT. Yet, it is a blame game that they are likely to play. DoT would say that TRAI has to come up with regulations first. TRAI would say that DoT is the real boss and they have to come up with a “circular”. No one wants to work and consumer gets the fuck of his life.

I have seen the Indians from close quarters. They would suffer all the insults with great temerity and humbleness. Perhaps it is the servile attitude that is ingrained in their psyche. Neither we are going to see a good amount of activism to make the public institutions deliver nor are the companies going to make any efforts to tone up their services. It costs real money to keep up with after sales service which actually eats up the profits and hence customer service is perhaps the last of ideas on their minds.

This post by itself is a huge huge post in a long long time! Maybe perhaps, I have written about trends subconsciously which I feel would impact the telecom landscape in some way or the other. The market is not geared towards course correction but is littered with asymmetric information to disadvantage of consumers. Sadly proactive approaches, either at regulator level or mass media or even at consumer level is sorely lacking.

The new year is not going to change this scenario in any manner whatsoever.

Related posts:

1. Round up All in all, the recent announcements maybe a cause for...
2. Broadband Initiative for 2010 There were a spate of articles in lay press regarding...
3. India Broadband and Telecom Update There is a lot of noise in the media without...
4. Future Trends in Telecom in India Future Trends in Telecom in India Over the past few...
5. A Few Questions on Indian Telecom A Few Questions on Indian Telecom This little anecdote goes...

If that is the case, lets see what 300 crores can get. For once, they could have invested in better human resources, beef up their call centers (instead of out sourcing them to dick heads), lay down more lines for broadband, subsidize the access to resources and extend fibre to my premises, if at all.

Of course, those on mobiles would say that this is good serious money to tone up the network and perhaps improve the service delivery front.

No nothing of that sort happened.

Instead we have Sunil Bharti Mittal sporting a T Shirt emblazoned by his logo (in Delhi’s winter chill, perhaps) posing on for the cameras splashed on the news papers. Hey look, thats what serious money can get you. Publicity. Which also means that none of the “serious questions” would ever be raised.

Why this sudden change? Does Airtel want to reflect on it’s global image and makeover? I am not an expert in these matters but seriously, I don’t ever give a F to the logo change. No one gives a damn to a company they are dependent on for their mobile telephony needs and I see Airtel morphing into another BSNL, a tired run of the mill operator who has ceased to “delight”.

Blame it on my cynicism or year end blues or whatever. As this blog grows in it’s age (and perhaps maturity and depth), I see the same old jaded faces and “excitement” at the “fastest growing industry”. Lies and damned lies.

Perhaps the idiots would ever bother to ponder and reflect on the wasted 300 crores. As someone on Twitter had pointed it out that it resembles a worm squiggling over splattered red paint. I am not sure how accurate this comment really is but well there is a good take on Faking news.

Related posts:

1. Airtel Broadband: Ineffective marketing? Ever since it has introduced the new 512k unlimited plans...
2. Airtel Broadband Home Page Thanks to DontAsk on the India Broadband Forum… I managed...
3. Bharti Airtel: “Running Network Analysis” This was the update on a write up on The...
4. Airtel and Sunil Bharti Mittal – Untold Story Airtel and Sunil Bharti Mittal – Untold Story Sunil Bharti...
5. Airtel Broadband Offensive Advertisement This is just the worst form of advertising being done...

Docomo was supposed to launch it’s 3G services from today but it remains a classic example of how NOT to do things. First and foremost is that there ought to be a clear line of communication about the services, what it entails, the expected costs and charges and how the existing GPRS users are going to be migrated to 3G. Common sense dictates that customer care should be informed accordingly and be trained instead of a dumb shit moron trying to answer the queries from “educated and enlightened customers”. Instead, Docomo has failed to inform me in advance about the same. I registered for their “newsletter” but it seems that their backend has conked off. Who is their provider? IBM? Pooh pooh.

Spewing out the venom is not going to help here and neither going to make a difference to the dodos sitting at the top. But we have some expectation from a company that has made a big name for itself in Japan. Yet, at the same time, one should not forget that it is a the Tata’s pedigree which is at work and they are known to pick up the worst among the best for manning their services. This is reflected in their thought process, their work and general approach to telecom services.

Ideally, instead of ham handed approach, they ought to have been clear and transparent. They should have clearly mentioned the service areas, the expectations from their service, the expected speeds and network and the possible charges.

I have always opposed the 3G services and instead always argued for stepping up investments in wireline. The major reason is that 3G can support “fast speeds” but is limited to spectrum and when more customers join the party, it is going to be a major disaster for the company. This has been seen in mature markets where 3G is synonymous with pathetic services. Further, high costs for “unlimited access” is plain stealing. No one likes the crap of “fair usage policies”. For most, GPRS is decent approach because mobile broadband sucks.

Lets see what the company has to offer and how it plans to market it. It has set up a separate page for the same and I am wondering who okayed this kind of pure crap. (with loads of grammatical errors and mistyped words- emphasis mine).

Here’s from the horse’s mouth:

Now DO the new with 3G, at a refreshingly fast pace. Coming from the world leaders in 3G, Tata DOCOMO 3G is an all-new way to experience life on the go!
Life on 3G is definitely fastera, richer & exciting. With Tata DOCOMO 3G, your mobile phone is no more just a device that makes calls – it””s a TV, a theatre, a gaming console and a satellite camera all at once. Do much more with your smartphone than you ever imagined!

Now can anyone of these dumb fucks ever care to explain about “satellite camera”? PMSL

It also makes tall claims about playing “3D games”. And it speaks about “better network security”. WHOA!!

Here’s one for starters:

Selection_001 –

Here’s another monstrosity:

Selection_002 –

Instead of a cluster fcuk of news with overdrive of PR agencies to bombard the message, Docomo should be clear of what they want. Assholes.

I suspect that some research agency is behind their PR efforts. Here is what one dumb fcuk had to say about Tata Docomo 3G on DNA (Newspaper) and I quote:

Sujay Misra, managing director of AZ Research Partners, says one of the reasons for this is their subscriber-base is predominantly low-end. “You need to have the right instrument (high-end mobiles and smartphones) to get access to 3G services. Also, BSNL and MTNL have not bothered to educate their customers about the 3G services,” he said.

Really? Why would they even bother to put you on print? This is what you get from paying your way through, you moron?

Hence, Tata Docomo is a MONUMENTAL FAILURE even before it has seen it’s commercial activity. There are people crowing about this company getting it’s “first mover advantage” but other companies in the fray are investing in 3G for spectrum and more customers. Data services are not even on their minds. The reason? There is no dedicated system for “apps” and they are sold as “value added services” to shore up “extra revenue” but not at the expense of voice calls. They still make profits on voice calls. This is a heterogeneous market and no one size fits all. Despite the marketing chutzpah, voice still remains bread, butter (and jam) for these companies. Give or take SMS.

Related posts:

1. Aircel India: False start? This is owned by Maxis Telecom who had bought a...
2. Tata and the Missed Opportunity Tata and the Missed Opportunity Tata are one of the...
3. Tata Photon Plus: Open Letter to Tata Executive This is in response to Tata Teleservices “executive” commenting on...
4. Tata Dial-Up Experience and Eternal Wait for Telecom Revolution Tata Dial-Up Experience and Eternal Wait for Telecom Revolution It...
5. Tata Indicom and its idiocies Tata Indicom and its idiocies If you thought that private...

It seems like a redundant organization; I have emailed them on previous occasions but to no avail. Till the time it is backed by a proper law, this regulation is useless. For the same reason, it is not fair that people from the same fraternity are asked to draw up legislation that is required to govern them! No wonder, it is going to be pathetic because the law by itself would have enough gaping holes to allow an elephant to pass through.

British Telecom was making fraudulent claims (as per the report) and the other “competitors” crowed and brayed to the council to retract it’s misleading claims. UK has allowed for last mile access which means that both incumbent and the company taking advantage of the same are locked in over the same set of customers. Which ultimately means that although there is a strong incentive for oligopolies, the need to grow their customer base would ultimately make them competitive.

In Indian scenario, these bastards get together on a fancy platform and whine about ‘lack of infrastructure”. Unfortunately, it needs some action of ground. Agreed that the corruption is all time high and that companies have ganged up together to throttle the gateways, still if you create enough demand for your product, there is bound to be growth in business. Mobile telephony did not happen in thin air. Companies promoted it heavily; mobiles have grown to a large extent (although the exact numbers are disputed), a genuine “demand” for SMS was created (although there is next to nothing in that space in terms of applications) and it’s now after a “critical mass” of population, has it become profitable. Although I would still dispute the notion of “cheapest fares” which is essentially crap claim.

The same has to be done for Broadband. UK remains a bad example of telephony regulation. Although it is “developed” but large swathes of this tiny nation are lying in the dark (in terms of broadband coverage). BT has feasted on taxpayers money just like our home grown BSNL. Yet, some of the organs of government DO work there.

More on BBC coverage.

Related posts:

1. British Telecom firms Scoring the need for “expansion”, Brit firms have been expanding...
2. Indian Telecom:Combined offerings DTH or Direct to Home is getting better and better....
3. A Few Questions on Indian Telecom A Few Questions on Indian Telecom This little anecdote goes...
4. Snippets from the Telecom Situation in India Snippets from the Telecom Situation in India At the height...
5. More Mess in Indian Telecom More Mess in Indian Telecom The recent cabinet decision for...

Dear Sir,

This refers to Shyam Ponnapa’s write up on BS dated 05/110/2009 (Managing Spectrum Efficiently).

The big question. Why do we need 3G? Why not focus on the land line business alone for broadband access? Or better still. Community Wifi?

The arguments for doing away with this are many. Community Wifi is deemed to be a security risk but then countries like Singapore have implemented this on a large scale nationwide. The mobile phones required to access 3G invariably have Wifi access too. Unless, the telecom companies are expecting surefire hits like Apple iPhones or flood of other smart phones to access the Internet, it is not happening.

We don’t have accurate numbers about the likes of Reliance and Tata who are offering their 3G access. If initial reports are to be believed, they are plagued by “line of sight” hassles, ‘network congestion’ and lackluster customer support. To top it all, it has the access limitations which means that broadband access, even on the 3G spectrum would be capped for very obvious reasons.

We have enough bandwidth in the country but as anyone would testify, we have problems in implementing the “last mile access”; having a contentious set of issues like 3G is not going to solve the persistent problem of “last mile access” because no one is interested in sinking money for a long term.

We can have a fair idea from the existing companies like Airtel or Vodafone who charge exorbitant rates under the present implementation of “mobile internet”. What is the guarantee that they would lower down the prices once they pay fancy sticker prices in 3G auction?

3G, would most likely be used for carrying more voice traffic because none of the players harbours any disillusionment about the “mobile broadband” across the length and breadth of the country.
The market for value added services is locked up within the “walled garden” of the existing players; it is unlikely that 3G access would “revolutionize” the content.

This pretty much sums up what I have always alluded here and my opposition to 3G remains.

Related posts:

1. Future Trends in Telecom in India Future Trends in Telecom in India Over the past few...
2. Broadband in India: WimaX ready? The last mile access is the holy grail; this is...
3. India Broadband and Telecom Update There is a lot of noise in the media without...
4. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Over the past few years,...
5. Telecom Muddle in India – Part 2 Telecom Muddle in India – Part 2 Over the past...

The “bastard” of this company is trying to grab attention like an unwanted company. It makes tall claims about it’s “superior network coverage” and it’s “young outlook”. Pooh. Who the f*** cares about it anyway? On what basis has it made these claims? It’s hard to discount it, nevertheless, we could take it with a pinch of salt anyway.

Their website is an overdose of flashturbation. Its a bad idea to attract the dudes who have no decent access to broadband. In anycase, it chokes on my crappy bandwidth of BSNL at home.

I have no clue about the new “execs” at the helm of the affairs but if their CEO is a rich bored millionaire who has nothing else to do excpet launching himself in hot air balloons or dance with skimpy chicks, it speaks a lot about the professional attitude of a company. It doesnt promote the seriousness with which it needs to be taken; instead I have a creepy feeling that they are just fly by night operators.

The idiots need to realise it that a strong message doesnt go by having whacky advertisements. Drop down the prices, subisdise the cost of the handsets and bleed the new players by being able to offer services based on quality. I still have to come across a subscriber of this company who has said anything positive about there efforts. I wouldnt be surprised if they give in free mobiles with a rider of a locked in period. Unless they have enough balls to do it.

Related posts:

1. Virgin India Mobile: Lots of press Fact is that if Richard Branson tries to sell “anything”,...
2. Virgin India Mobile: New take They came with a bang and ended up with a...
3. Virgin India Mobile: Launches legal Why would a company choose it’s name as “Virgin”; I...
4. Virgin India Mobile: sucks? So far, I have not had user reviews. A Google...
5. Virgin India Mobile: New service that never happened Virgin Mobile was deflowered by Department of Telecom for not...

I still cannot understand the “mobile story” and “fastest growth” crap. More and more people are migrating towards parallel connections instead of the trickle down effect as expected. Agreed that “lifetime incoming offers” have appealed to the segment of population who keep their mobiles only for incoming calls, the precentage is far and few inbetween. We have no break up of the demographic profile and if the trends are to be seen, much of the money and the effort is being poured in the metros where there is more of a spending power as compared to other cities.

I have three telephone connections; one for regular use, the other a landline for broadband access and the thrid for calling up other Reliance numbers. Overall, I fail to understand as to how they would account for the “churn” or the “fastest growing segment” because I have never been enamoured of using the VAS. The operators know that there bread and butter segment is the voice calls and I am sure that they would implement the VoIP solutions to cut down on their costs. Everything else is flotsam and media generated hype.

In the same vein, most of the other handset manufacturers are clearly not making any efforts to address the cost of the handsets. Barring the advertising costs, if they implement open source solutions for the newer PDA’s, it can reduce the cost of the handsets to a large extent. Google’s Android would effect this to a large extent; though, I would reserve my comments on it till the time I actually get to use it. It’s still in the nascent stage; I am sure it would mature with the next release as they learn from their mistakes.

Vodafone has not addressed the GPRS connection charges; I still have to come across a reliable operator who can ensure a seamless connectivity across the major highways. I would want to access the Internet on a long boring journey; it remains a pathetic experience to even open up the mailbox. I don’t favor the mobile net on the move partly because of my bais for broadband and partly because it’s assinine to peer in the small screen. Unless of course, one has an iPhone and Safari which makes it a pleasure to surf on the small screen. Brilliant conceptual implementation.

The elections are nearing and I am keeping my fingers crossed for some semblance of the maturity on the following government to provide a clear direction to the broadband access and policy. We can do a lot more once we have a reliable connectivity. We dont need fancy laptops for kids in rural India to demonstrate the “modern with rural” mating. Its assinine to pour in money for something which just remains a showcase and earns you f***ing brownie points for “corporate social responsibility”.

This is just a loose string of thoughts as I was travelling back down. Although, it is a fascinating experience to see the rural landscape change. We realise that there is a lot of untapped potential and there is a chance to “change”.

Related posts:

1. Late night thoughts Hutch has finally made a deal with the Vodafone (and...
2. Some thoughts about Airtel Broadband Some thoughts about Airtel Broadband Bharti Televentures is the fixed...
3. General Thoughts The high international call rates are under threat- if VoIP...
4. Random thoughts Blogging has become “phenomenon”. I was surprised to read that...
5. Future Trends in Telecom in India Future Trends in Telecom in India Over the past few...

He does some numbers on the mumbo jumbo that is Value added services and I am more inclined to believe these stats as compared to the crap that gets dished out in the media. All in all, it is not the billion dollar industry but a more sedate estimated $200 million dollars. The number of subscribers may be “booming” but the real revenues are not. The mobile industry is playing a volume game and the new entrants realise it.

I feel that as the market matures and regulation becomes more pro active (i.e. there are no two centres of power- TRAI and DoT), it would be more fruitful for the customers. For starters, we would have more representation in the regulation from the customers; a real watchdog on lines of Ofcom who would penalise the lousy shit heads called as honchos and fair play instead of favouritism to likes of Reliance.

VAS (value added services) would help to extend the utility of the handset. Instead of downloading ringtones (which is an absolute no brainer), the likes of m Commerce might take roots. I had written an article on the same ages ago; Tata had plans to launch it in India. Somewhere along the line, the lost that game and became just another company with a fancy mobile telephone infrastructure.

If the market has to grow, there has to be a shift towards the basics. m Commerce can happen via secure sms based transactions. If the acceptance grows, I am sure there would be a good amount of money to be made in this.

Related posts:

1. Mobiles: Value added services Shyam Somanadh has an interesting take on the value added...
2. Mobiles in India: New developments The next battlefield for eyeballs is not your desktop. It’s...
3. Mobiles in India: The next future? I don’t like to be optimistic. Like every “big” story,...
4. Mobiles in India: A rip off! I have the numbers finally. Something that I have been...
5. Indian Mobiles: Why not unlimited pricing? Verizon has introduced unlimited plans which was matched by rivals...

They have fudged the numbers, dodged the taxes and take all of us a big ride. Thats the reality of big businesses all over the world.

Related posts:

1. Indian Telecom:Numbers and Links Everyone is happy that Indian Mobile revolution has triggered millions...
2. Indian Telecom- Mobile developments I have been looking at the evolution of mobile phones...
3. Bharti throws its hat in the ring Clearly, the future of the telecom business is fixed line...
4. Indian Mobile Telephony: Mess galore This was to be expected. The spectrum issues played out...
5. Mobile Gaming Rashmi Bansal has an interestiing take on Mobile Gaming on...

I am becoming a twitter whore myself. Although, I must confess that this novelty does wear off after some time. This is a perfect marriage of Internet with the mobiles with device updates on your cell phone. I have accumulated over 300 sms’s over the past 3 days. There are a variety of people posting in over a million thoughts in a day which makes this a very powerful medium indeed. It makes sense to send a group SMS over the period of time to the people you wish to stay in touch with.

Another beauty of You Tube is that one never knows what they might stumble upon. This enriches the novelty of the medium and makes it very interesting. It is perfectly geared to the demands of the new Gen X which has short attention spans and I love the short and sweet clips. It is a powerful dissemination medium as well. I am not sure about the numerous You Tube clones; there are a number of Indian websites as well. I am wondering as to where do they find the user base to generate the content from.

If I had time enough, I would be integrating this main blog with the microblogging; although, I indulge in it more to let off my steam than serious professional blogging. This might change in the future as newer technologies emerge and I am willing to get a slice of the same. Internet is truly a great leveller; it provides the unfettered access to the available information. That’s why I have always believed in providing an unlimited access so that people can benefit from these technologies. It is a matter of time though.

Related posts:

1. BSNL Broadband:Stupidity BSNL took ages to move it’s dead cankerous sore butt...
2. BSNL Broadband: Why it isnt revolutionary I have been missing out on real incisive comments on...
3. Opera Mini released The fourth beta of Opera Mini has been released.Amazingly, this...
4. Chinese Broadband and Indian Oppurtunity I must admit that I am fascinated by China. Not...
5. BSNL Broadband Hoopla There are hosts of complex interrelated issues that need to...

There have been reports of people using Twitter to update the quake affected areas or duing tech conferences. Technology has a way to touch our lives in many ways that we don’t realise. Ideas keep on popping up in cyberspace and so does their execution.

Humans have always networked from the days of “GOPHER” and the old “ARCHIE” and “VERONICA” search engines. It was fun to set up a Bulletin Board System, much like the community calling card. The present day Web 2.0 and the millions of VC funds have brought in likes of Facebook and Orkut to the fore.

We have indeed come in a long way; the present broadband rush has truly brought in more degree of interaction than we could have imagined earlier.

Related posts:

1. Opera Mini released The fourth beta of Opera Mini has been released.Amazingly, this...
2. Virgin India Mobile: sucks? So far, I have not had user reviews. A Google...
3. Cheers to broadband forum! Over the period of time, I was tracking the general...
4. Virgin India Mobile: Now in Google Search The blog posts are in top 10 of the search...
5. Comment Moderation I have been getting comments here on this blog, probably...

I decided to lodge another complaint at their store. Unfortunately, a pretty ass was very blunt in telling me that I can jolly well shift to another operator if I find their service patchy! I am hardly inclined to deal with women on weighty matters like network issues when at best they serve to spice up the showroom with their thrusting bosoms instead of applying their minds to sort out a genuine issue. I think, they are under mistaken impression that a man is DUMB all the times!

Vodafone India has found a very troubling customer for sure. I would not rest unless my case is solved out and I get my money’s worth. Whether it takes an inbuilding solution or setting up a new tower or whatever, I should get my rights. When they advertise that the network follows, I wonder as to what it takes to provide for a customer delight. Anywhere else, the same set of bozos would have their balls fried up on hot coals. They can get away here in India because they are used to deal with dead dimwits. They have just found their waterloo.

As Google indexes these steady stream of write ups, I wonder what their official motto would be. Would they actually eat the crow and do something about their pathetic network?

Related posts:

1. Vodafone India: Sucks I have been with Vodafone for over three years now....
2. Hutch becomes Vodafone This is another example of foreign imperialism. Slowly we ought...
3. Vodafone India: Sucks to the MAX! If there is any survey for dissatisfied customers, HUTCH (and...
4. Broadband India: Fight against the Indian ISP’s This is the front opened up by this blog and...
5. Broadband India: Fight against the ISP’s Part 1 This is a mail from the broadbandforum and I am...

Related posts:

1. Mobiles :Your next PC? Rajesh Jain has posted a series of articles on Mobiles...
2. Mobiles in India: New developments The next battlefield for eyeballs is not your desktop. It’s...
3. Mobiles/Broadband: Which increases GDP? A brilliant post from Atanu Dey on his blog regarding...
4. Mobiles to pump water! I came across this amazing video on CNN-IBN. Check this...
5. Linux on Mobiles I am not happy with the current crop of handsets....

The finance minister (may his tribe decrease) has introduced a “National Calamity Contingent Duty” on the mobiles; they are bound to get more expensive by about 1%.

Perfect timing eh, Mr Moron?

Related posts:

1. Apple- Mobile phones? Now this is one of the hottest topics across the...
2. Mobile Phones: The future This is linked from Boing Boing (one of the highest...
3. Mobile phones- boon or bane? Arundhati Roy has this strange habit of shooting from the...
4. Recall 2005. Part 1 Mobiles: The quest for consumer has been brought in focus....
5. Indian Telecom- Mobile developments I have been looking at the evolution of mobile phones...

I feel that the “top up” thingy should be declared illegal because you have two plans running concurrently offering the same speeds. They should migrate the existing customers to the present price plan because it makes no sense to pay higher prices for something that doesnt cost much. No one is willing to look into this because the company and the regulator seem to share the same relationship as a client and a prostitute. As long as the right money comes in, the whore mongering goes on with everyone looking at the other way. Unfortunate.

Either way, I have been arguing that the current prices donot reflect the existing price slabs across the world. Most of the major telcos in the developing world have shifted away from the 256k plans and have focussed on higher bandwidth options. Further, the prices across the spectrum are way to expensive in terms of purchasing parity; which effectively means that there is an open loot going on.

Airtel can easily slash down the prices for access; offer unlimited plans with bundling of voice calls and along with that create demand to cater to the new customers. Airtel still advertises mobiles as a lifestyle product; it should be placed as something utilatarian instead of being aspirational. Thats the whole irony of it. Dimwits have access to bucket loads of cash to burn.

Related posts:

1. Airtel Broadband: Suckers Airtel recently reduced the price for 512kbps; I got a...
2. Some thoughts about Airtel Broadband Some thoughts about Airtel Broadband Bharti Televentures is the fixed...
3. Sucky Airtel Broadband I have been on Airtel Broadband ever since I moved...
4. Airtel Broadband: Update It’s confrmed that Airtel is offering a “top up” plan...
5. Airtel Broadband: a pleasant surprise! After writing in a scathing post on Airtel, someone up...