No 3G video calling on iPhone 4 in INDIA

Users in India can make video calls using WiFi, but not over 3G as the application that enables the service has been locked by Apple.

The Apple iPhone 4, which is being regarded as the most unique device, is not capable of making video calls over a 3G mobile network despite being a 4th generation smartphone.

Users in India can make video calls using WiFinetworks, but not over 3G as the application which enables the service is locked by Apple.

The Apple spokesperson in India said, "FaceTime, the application that allows video calling on the Apple iPhone 4, is a closed user application that allows people having iPhone or compatible Apple hardware like the iPad 2 and forth generation iPod touch running FaceTime application to have video calling."

"3G cannot be used to make these video calls; only WiFi data is supported by the application. The application allows seamless connectivity between other Apple products though," he added.

iPhone 4 nevertheless has all the necessary hardware, including a front facing camera and 3G capable quad frequency network band, to allow 3G video calling over the mobile network.

Many applications like Frring, Tango me and Oovoo can be used as third party solutions to curb this problem of calling over 3G mobile networks.

Along with that, these applications offer both free and paid services and allow cross platform compatibility as well, which means that an iPhone 4 user can call another iPhone, or even another operating system that supports these third party applications.

There were some issues related to video calling with Frring but with the new update for the iPhone 4, Frring users on iPhone 4 get to make better quality video calls.

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Dance, music learning goes online!

Times are changing. Earlier, it was distance learning in traditional education. Now, it is learning music and dance online! Especially by those Indians who stay abroad but want to keep their ties with the rich cultural heritage of their country intact. Video conferencing via Internet, 3G technology, YouTube and many such mediums are increasingly making this trend popular.

Gone are the days when music and dance were learnt in Gurukuls. Poorva, a scientist in Chicago, who took a fancy for music after a surgery, learnt it for a while in Patna. She told TOI, "Music helped me a lot in my recovery, and now that I am going back to Chicago I would be taking my lessons from my guru via video conferencing. I am taking along with myself lots of his CDs and DVDs so that I can practice music there by my own."

Jaspreet Kaur, a vocal singer who learnt music here for two years from 2001 and is now settled in Australia after her marriage, keeps in regular contact with his guru here with the medium of webcam.

Rajiv, a singer and director of Ninad Centre of Arts, an NGO that teaches music and dance, says most of his students who have moved out of Patna, maintain regular contact either via phone or Internet, "I even e-mail some of the recordings to my students as required, said Rajiv, adding, "Technology has changed the whole scenario of learning music. With the invention of digital instruments like tanpura, tabla and nagma machine, learning music and dance at home has become very simple. Students can practice even in absence of qualified instrument players." These instruments are available in market for Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000.

Vikrant Pandey, 14, currently studying at Oshawal high school in Kenya, had taken three-year vocal music training during his stay in Patna. He now uses various DVDs, YouTube and mobile phone to learn music. "Whenever we have to give any performance in Kenya, we sing on phone to our teacher and he guides us from Patna. Technology has made it possible for us to continue and learn music without many compromises."

Shefali Mishra, who has done graduation in Kathak from Patna and is now doing MBBS at Kolhapur, said, "It is difficult but various videos available at YouTube make it easy. Now, when we have 3G-enabled mobile phones, we can even see our gurus performing live for us and teaching us 'mudras' and explaining each time we make a mistake. Skype is also a big relief."

Neelam Chaudhary, a famous Kathak dancer and disciple of Pandit Birju Maharaj, says, "Learning music and dance in the initial or final stage is possible by such mediums. But to get full 'talim' through such media is impossible. For perfection, teacher's guidance and company is necessary." Chaudhary, a senior government official, also runs a dancing school for youngsters in the city.

Another famous Kathak dancer from Patna who is now settled in London, Stella Uppal has set up a dancing school in which some of the city youngsters take dance classes by applying modern technology.

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Docomo's 3G Wi-Fi hub

Why buy a personal 3G SIM card when you can buy one of Tata Docomo's new 3G Wi-Fi hubs? It allows you to connect upto 5 wireless devices at 3G speeds!

What is it?

Your very own gateway to freedom. Freedom from wires and freedom from buffering. If you have tried to view a YouTube video of the baby getting scared of his sneezing mom, you'll know what we mean. This pocket device will work as a portable router for up to five devices and can connect using either a CDMA Tata Photon Plus SIM card or a 3G SIM as well. Either way, you will get enough bandwidth to watch your favourite videos without cooking dinner while they load!

So what's new?

We have had internet USB sticks for a while now and more recently, even 3G versions of them. But the 3G Wi-Fi Hub flexes its muscles by being able to shoulder the load of multiple devices connected to it. Any sort of Wi-Fi enabled device can be connected in a jiffy and while speeds may be compromised depending on number of devices, our tests with four connected devices showed a drop of speed from 1.3Mbps to 350kbps on the Photon Plus SIM card. However, streaming videos was a pleasing experience with almost no buffering of standard-def uploads.

Can I use 3G yet?

Sure you can, but not in some parts of the country yet, including Mumbai. But sweat not, since this device is ready for both CDMA and 3G. If you live in a city that is still off the map for Tata Docomo 3G, just use the Photon Plus SIM card and still get greater than normal speed for surfing and maintaining your virtual farm.

How long until it runs out of juice?

The claimed battery life of four hours was almost met by our own tests and we exhausted the unit after about three hours and a few minutes. It can be charged via USB or a traditional power outlet without any interruption in the signal strength. Very nifty.

So, you're making me buy one?

You could get faster speeds via LAN-based Wi-Fi but for travel and portability, this is ace.

Verdict

Easy to connect, simple to use and with tariff plans that won't make you bankrupt, it's hard not to recommend this pocket-friendly Wi-Fi hub.

Price: Rs 5999

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