We Have Not Marketed The Internet Medium Well In India

Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) is an industry body founded in January 2004 which represents various members of India’s internet and telecommunications ecosystem, such as online publishers, e-commerce firms, mobile marketing agencies, content and services businesses, large OEMs, handset manufacturers and network companies. IAMAI lobbies with the government and is also involved in growing the internet and mobile ecosystem in the country. In conversation with Techcircle.in, Subho Ray, President, IAMAI talks about how the body has been scaling up, the recent modifications to the IT Act and offers his expert comments on the country’s lagging internet uptake and challenges faced by e-commerce entrepreneurs.

How has IAMAI been scaling up and what is your agenda for the year?

Our membership has grown from around 14 in 2006 to 110 as of April, 2011. From a close group of large Internet players initially, we are much more broad based and representative of industry. We now aspire to represent the entire gamut of stakeholders in the digital space. The association has a truly democratic structure in all matters: we follow the principle of one member one vote irrespective of the size of the company.
We focus on areas including advocacy, consumer awareness and business development for our members and CSR activities. We have grown exponentially in the last five years in all areas of work: advocacy, market research, segment development and industry events.

What are your thoughts on the speed and uptake of internet in India?

We have not marketed the medium well in our country. Unless you are able to convince people about the usefulness of the medium, you will never be able to create the necessary pull for adoption.
There are differing numbers on the size of India’s internet base – the government says it’s around 12 million connections, Google India says it’s 100 million users and IAMAI says it’s 65 million users. Why are these numbers different?
The government talks about internet connections not users; Google talks about people who hit their site [probably]. We talk about a real consumer survey. Once the details and methodology are known, people can pick their relevant number. In any case, in the past five years, I have seen most researches on numbers converging. We should be able to talk more on converging internet user numbers once our annual internet in India report is published next month.

How is IAMAI acting as a bridge between the government and industry?

We have an excellent relationship with government agencies that we work with and it helps that none of the sectors we represent are very involved or dependent on the government.

After the recent modifications to the IT Act, what is the current mood of the internet players and what can we expect, going forth?

Some of the rules for section 79 of the IT Act that guarantee safe harbour for all the intermediaries appear to be tricky to comply with. We have made our views on these problem areas to the government clear and expect some movement on this soon.

TRAI issued a directive to operators regarding their activation of value added services without taking the permission of mobile users, as it had received 672 complaints. How are operators resolving the issue?

A TRAI directive does not leave any option so operators and M-VAS companies have to follow it.

What is your take on the current e-commerce market and challenges faced by entrepreneurs?

All entrepreneurs face challenges and e-commerce entrepreneurs are no different. I think the biggest challenge that they face today is selling the category itself. I, for one, would strongly advise them to collectively create and sell the category highlighting its key virtues in parallel with building their own individual brands.

How will the government’s proposed rules for FDI in multi-brand retail affect e-commerce in India?

Most importantly, it will encourage iconic names like Amazon to set up shop in India. This in turn will mean international best practices in terms brands, scale, efficiency and customer service. Of course, there will be some buy-outs, burn-outs and stand outs! However, we would not overestimate the importance of FDI in multi-brand retail in jumpstarting the e-commerce industry in India. E-commerce so far has grown on local steam and that is going to continue; secondly, FDI itself is not a sufficient cause for international brands to set shop in India.source

Religare Launches Mediphone Service On Airtel

Religare Technologies has launched Mediphone, a 24×7 medical assistance service on phone for mobile users in partnership with Airtel.

Religare Technologies is a public listed IT services firm of the diversified business group led by billionaire brothers Malvinder and Shivinder Singh. Fortis Healthcare which is a part of the group is acting as the knowledge partner for the new initiative. The service was soft launched earlier this month and since then has been receiving more than a 1,000 calls on a weekly basis, according to the company.

But this is not the first such initiative; earlier Aircel had also launched its medical consultation service on phone called Apollo’s Tele Triage (in partnership with Apollo) that provided basic consultation for Rs 45.

The service, which uses a software engine licensed from Medibank, an Australian company, basically allows Airtel customers to call and seek advice on their medical conditions from certified doctors. Although it’s basically meant for non life-threatening ailments, the service can also tackle emergencies. In case of an emergency, the doctor will advice the patient and will also help him with directions for reaching the nearest hospital in the vicinity.

The fee per consultation is just Rs 35 (much less than the money charged by a general physician these days) which is charged on the mobile phone bill /account balance depending on whether it is a postpaid or a prepaid connection. To use the service, Airtel users can simply call 54445 from their mobile phones.

“The service is targeted at bridging the healthcare divide,” said Ashish Vijh, Senior Vice-President, mHealth, Religare Technologies, according to Business Line.

Earlier, Religare Technologies had set up a phone and Web-based health information service called Healthline 24×7 aimed at helping callers with locations and directions of the appropriate medical service.

As of now, the service is available in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, J&K and Himachal Pradesh but Airtel plans to extend the service across India.source

Mobile Banking – Getting Customers Past Fear

Posted on  16 August 11  by  Anastasia Milgramm

During my recent search for a new bank, I discovered that several banks now offer a mobile feature that allows customers to make deposits by taking a picture of an endorsed check and sending it to the bank using a smartphone banking app.

And that’s not all.

Banking customers can also use smartphones to pay bills, receive updates and take actions via text message, make transfers, and easily reach service reps.  

And although the global mobile banking industry has doubled in recent years and is projected to reach 1.1 billion customers by 2015, sources point out that customers are still very reluctant to adopt mobile banking apps.

A Javelin Strategy & Research report outlines two specific reasons for this: 

1. customers don’t see the full value in these apps and
2. they have concerns around information security.  (In fact, between 2009 and 2010, the number of customers who rated mobile banking apps as “unsafe” increased by 54%.)

Does this mean that mobile banking apps are doomed?  Not necessarily.  Banks just need to change the way they position apps to customers to ensure that they give customers what they want.  After all, it wasn’t so long ago that we doubted the staying power of online banking – but the 60% of consumers who now bank on the Web prove that self-service shifts are inevitable.

A few thoughts on how to engage customers in the shift to mobile banking:

• Emphasize the app as a differentiating service channel.  CCC’s study of customer channel preferences demonstrates a rapid shift to self-service:  across the last 3-5 years, the percent of customers who use self-service has grown from 10% to more than 40%. It makes sense that self-service follows technological trends: first e-mail, then Web, then social media, now smartphones.  While some banks may wait for customers to gain confidence in mobile apps, true differentiators will proactively drive that confidence.
• Target tech-savvy customers first. A recent McKinsey study found that consumers can be characterized into groups based on the types of digital experiences they prefer. “Digital media junkies” (mostly younger men) are 3 times more likely than their peers to embrace new technologies across digital channels.  Pointing these customers in the direction of the mobile app may therefore be a smart move.  CCC members, learn how Cisco used segmentation to align different customer types with distinct channels.
• Proactively guide customers to the app. Customers may not realize how much value they can get from mobile app functionality.  To encourage use, guide customers to the app using e-mail messaging, targeted Web site language, or proactive mention by reps.  CCC members, read about best practices on guiding the customer experience in self-service channels.
• Address customers’ privacy concerns.  Read Corey’s three recommendations on how to ensure information privacy in service interactions. Be transparent with customers. Provide clear information on how customer data is protected on smartphones and be proactive in addressing threats.
• Allow customers to “experiment” with mobile banking before committing. Customers might not be willing to take the full plunge into mobile banking, but companies can benefit from offering varied mobile services, such as proactive text and e-mail alerts (reminding customers, for instance, when their balance is low), maps (allowing users to find nearby branches or ATMs), orstreamlined customer service functionality (providing easy access to reps via text message, social media, etc.).

Though customers still have doubts about mobile banking, I would argue that its future is clear. Sixty percent of customers now embrace online banking via PCs and, as smartphone functionality evolves, it is inevitable that mobile banking will follow.  Successful service organizations can differentiate and gain customer loyalty by being proactive in driving this movement, not reacting when it’s too late.source

MediaNama’s Recommendations To TRAI On Regulation Of MVAS

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has extended the date for submission of comments on its proposal to regulate mobile Value Added Services in the country, to the 23rd of August 2011. Please submit your comments to the TRAI at advbbpa@trai.gov.in or bbpa@trai.gov.in. Download the consultation paper here. They’re seeking answers to just 10 questions, so do write to them.

We’ve just completed our recommendations for submission (since the today was supposed to be the deadline). Click here to download our recommendations.

The executive summary is below, but we’ve explained our rationale for the recommendations, and specific responses to the 10 questions in the document. We’re open to feedback and suggestions for changes from you, our readers, so please feel free to write in. We’ll submit the final recommendations next week.

Executive Summary

1. MediaNama.com, the premier website for news and analysis of the digital ecosystem in India, welcomes the TRAI’s interest in ensuring the creation of a healthy and flourishing Mobile Value Added Services ecosystem, since this industry is an integral part of the nascent Digital ecosystem in the country, with the potential to impact the livelihood of hundreds of millions of individuals.

2. Mobile Value Added Services companies are currently operating as vendors to telecom operators, and the provisioning of their services and their fate is entirely in the control of the UASL/GSM/CDMA Access Service Providers. The MVAS business is already regulated by the authority through these Access Service Providers, and as such, we do not feel there is a need for further regulation of Mobile Value Added Services companies. Licensing is out of the question, since the digital content and services ecosystem is at a nascent stage, and licensing would act as a deterrent to entry of startups and smaller companies, which are often the most innovative.

3. The lines between MVAS, the Internet, Broadband VAS, DTH VAS, and services on connected devices (from tablets to cars and refrigerators) will blur in a ubiquitous environment, and any initiatives from the authority must take this into account: please view these services as being delivered over Internet Protocol, and not by platform company or access service provider. Digital Ubiquity is the future, and companies are Digital Service Providers, not just MVAS companies or Internet companies.

In that context, we would request the authority to initiate steps to break existing cartels, ease setting up of new businesses and unshackle these Digital Service Providers. This can be done by focusing on three changes:

a. Separation of ownership of identity of the Digital Service Provider from provisioning by Access Service Provider by creating a Common Short Code Registry, governed by a Common Short Code Registrar. At present, Digital Service Providers do not own the short codes they operate.
b. Separate billing for services/content from access charges, to bring transparency and standardization in consumer billing, and independence for the Digital Service Provider from Access Service Provider. We would recommend the removal of the existing revenue share mechanism as a means to ensure ubiquitous pricing mechanisms across digital platforms.
c. Enforce provisioning of independent mechanism for verification of billing, in order to address MIS issues, and bring billing for content and services in line with Mobile and Online Banking guidelines from the Reserve Bank of India. source

Haiti - Technology : Voilà, awarded for its mobile payment service T-Cash

After the award last January of the price "first on the market" for its service Tchotcho Mobile [2.5 millions of dollars], Haiti Mobile Money Initiative (HMMI) created in June 2011, has handed last Friday to the phone operator Voilà, a check of 1, 5 million dollars for "Second on the market" for its mobile payment service "T-Cash" in Haiti.

This award is part of a program initiated by the USAID-HIFIVE, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which aims to encourage, up to 10 million dollars, the development of mobile payment services in Haiti, like the existing service M-PESA in Kenya.

One of the important criteria of selection, required to the companies to competition, had to have at least 100 independent agents across the country that have recorded at least 1,000 transactions each. "The dossier submitted by Voilàg reatly exceeded this minimum [...] More than 150,000 subscribers already use T-Cash" has noted satisfied, Robin Padberg, General Manager of the Comcel.

Launched in December 2010, in collaboration with Unibank, T-Cash allows "to hold on its own mobile phone, a balance of 2,500 gourds to make deposits, withdrawals, local transfers, and other financial transactions such as buying or selling of goods and services," said Robin Padberg.

"The launch of mobile payment services in Haiti in a period as short, in a difficult environment, is the result of extraordinary efforts by all concerned: the mobile network operators, financial institutions and the Haitian regulatory institutions," said for his part, Greta Greathouse, Director of HIFIVE.

According Comcel, the telephone company Voilà, will invest all of these 1.5 million dollars in its distribution network T-Cash, in order to improve the accessibility of this service to the customers in Haiti.

Worldwide mobile connections to reach 5.6 billion

Worldwide mobile connections will reach 5.6 billion in 2011, from 5 billion connections in 2010, representing 11 percent increase, according to a report by Gartner. Mobile data services revenue will total USD 314.7 billion in 2011, a 22.5 percent increase from 2010 revenue of USD 257 billion. The report also says that worldwide mobile connections will experience steady growth through 2015 when mobile connections are forecast to reach 7.4 billion, and mobile data revenue will reach USD 552 billion.

"Mobile data traffic will increase significantly as more people will have access to mobile data networks, there is a migration toward smartphones and an increase in sales of media tablets,” said Jessica Ekholm, Principal Research Analyst, Gartner.

For generating the report, Gartner took into account four major mobile data traffic drivers: growth in the number of mobile connections, increasing availability of higher-speed data-centric mobile networks, smartphones, and data-consuming content and applications. In addition to the total number of connections growing, Gartner also expects that mobile data usage per connection will increase throughout the forecast period and that there will be a shift in mobile users' perception of mobile data around the world, as data plans go from being seen as a luxury, to being considered a nice-to-have service, to finally being perceived as potentially essential.

As per the report,  growing number of mobile connections will lead to higher demands on communication service providers' (CSPs') data networks as more people access the networks to use mobile data and to send text messages. "Data revenue will continue to grow but at a much slower rate, causing a decoupling between revenue and data traffic, and creating an increase in network costs for carriers as they try to sustain growing data traffic," said Ekholm.

Gartner expects CSPs to increasingly start moving towards offering more flexible and more personalized data plans, which should help capture a larger mobile data user base. "What carriers currently need are innovative ways to increase data revenue while finding smart solutions to manage a growing demand in data," said Sylvain Fabre, Research Director, Gartner.

Gartner analysts said carriers should investigate the pros and the cons of more customized pricing plans, such as tiered pricing, a la carte and usage-based plans, carefully weighing additional costs and future benefits. As per Gartner analysts, CSPs should also look to offer increased flexibility in pricing and introduce add-on pricing models, in which users are able to add data access when they want to. These add-on pricing models could include paying for additional usage and additional speed, and a fee for Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) or for gaming.

“Carriers should focus on increasing the level of clarity and the transparency of their mobile data contracts in order to make the majority of customers feel more at ease in using data services. This is particularly important when it comes to data roaming. Offering clients various ways of being able to track and monitor their data usage would help carriers receive a larger amount of revenue from more profitable lower-usage, medium-pay users," said Ekholm. source

Comviva's Solution to Increase ARPRU By 41 Percent in Africa

Leader in providing mobile solutions beyond Value Added Services (VAS), Comviva, at the weekend said its Mobile Data Solutions could assist operators in Africa increase data volume by 41 per cent and increase Average Revenue per User (ARPU) by 20 per cent.



Mr. Sundeep Mehta of Corporate Communications unit at Comviva Technologies Limited, who disclosed this in a press statement said that Comviva's Mobile Data Platform deploys advanced optimization, data management and monetization techniques to enhance the user experience and stimulate revenue growth, whilst generating upto 45 per cent savings on bandwidth and upto 50 per cent on infrastructure investment.
He said, Comviva, with over 10 years experience in managing mobile data pipes for more than 80 operators globally across and over 40 countries, is ideally positioned to be the solution provider to evolve an operator's mobile data strategy.
The award winning, Comviva Mobile Data Platform (MDP), he said, is a comprehensive data suite offering acceleration, optimization, smart caching, video caching, P2P caching, policy and bandwidth management, DPI based profiling and inline billing.
However, the Vice President, Africa Region, Comviva, Mayank Sharma, was quoted as saying that Africa has witnessed the highest growth in mobile broadband globally and operators in the region need solutions that could complement their infrastructure with this growth.
"Comviva's comprehensive approach to mobile data management enables efficient and effective handling of the various types of data traffic," Sharma said.
Adding that Comviva's mobile data solutions enable all mobile users to exploit the true power of the Internet by addressing all profiles of traffic found on the internet, such as http, progressive http, and other data services such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Virtual Private Network (VPN).
"Our solution helps to enhance mobile internet experience by improving data download speeds," Sharma declared.
Further, the VP said that Comviva's Mobile Data Platform enables operators to focus on optimizing bandwidth and Capital Expense (CAPEX) investment; enhancing the user's service experience with personalization, policy and advanced analytics' engines, while adding to the monetization opportunities with improved ability to price on a differential basis.source

'Chote Miyan Bade Miyan' Series on STEL

S Tel, Apnakara Nijara Phone, aligned to its philosophy of simple, uncomplicated and hassle free offering, today announced a series of attractive tariff plan under a common umbrella of CHOTE MIYAN BADE MIYAN for its subscribers in Odisha. S Tel subscribers can now choose a plan of their choice to match their budget and specific needs from a plethora of larger (Bade Miyan) as well as smaller denomination (Chote Miyan) plans comprising of rate cutters, bulk minutes for every segment ( Local, STD, ISD ) along with SMS and GPRS packs. 



Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Shamik Das, CEO, S Tel said, "During recent surveys conducted by S Tel, it was found that most customers were not aware of the Special Tariff Benefits beings offered by various operators. More so, these offers were so confusing that they were not able to compare them as well. True to S Tel philosophy of offering simple and uncomplicated yet attractive products, company has created a simple bouquet of products under 2 ranges - CHOTE MIYAN and BADE MIYAN. It is a series of chosen product packaged to match customers largest to the smallest communication needs."

He further added ," S Tel will continue to position itself as 'simple' &'transparent' brand that speaks the language of the local people, 'belongs' to them, and seeks to 'uncomplicate' & 'demystify' the lives of mobile user. The brand's purpose is to inspire inclusiveness, which resonates in everything it does - be it our tariffs, VAS, customer care or distribution. S Tel's baseline 'Apnakara Nijara Phone' is a true reflection of this spirit."

From two ranges - CHOTE MIYAN and BADE MIYAN, all products under first range 'CHOTE MIYAN' come with 30 days validity and have in-built talktime of Rs.10. The customer can enjoy choice of products like - SMS Dhamal that gives first 100 SMS (Local + National) free every day or 1p/2s Calling Karnama , offer that allows first 10,000 sec of Local & STD calls@1p/sec , making STD call as cheap as Local call. Similar attractive offer in this range include - GPRS Ka Maza, Flat Rate Kamal, Local S Tel masti & ISD dhamaka.

Similarly, BADE MIYAN, as the name suggests gives a larger benefit to its customers - a whopping validity of 90 days and in-built talk time of Rs.30. The second range packed with portfolio of products ranging from ISD dhamaka which gives to consumers lucrative first 5000 sec to Nepal& Gulf @10p/sec or Flat Rate Kamal with attractive tariffs as low as 30p/min for local calls & 40p/min for STD calls. SMS Dhamal, GPRS ka Maza, 1p/2p calling karnama or Local S Tel Masti complete the bouquet of choices in this range.

The details of CHOTE MIYAN BADE MIYAN series can be seen from table of benefits below:

Excited on launch of new series, Mr. Aravind Santhanam, COO, S Tel said, "S Tel prides itself in being an operator of choice for its subscriber making it truly "Apnakara Nijara Phone". With introduction of the 'CHOTE MIYAN BADE MIYAN' series, we have given our subscribers in Odisha the recharge options that cater exclusively to their usage requirements and budget. The series has been launched keeping in mind the different needs of the consumers ,be it rate cutters or bulk minutes ranging from SMS, Local, STD or ISD calls ,along with SMS and GPRS pack. S Tel has in the past & going forward will continue to bring unique and simple concepts to the consumer that will be packaged to meet their unaddressed telecom needs."

He further added, "With footprints across 112 census towns and 6070 villages in Odisha through 17,000 strong retail network and 63 distributors, S Tel customers can now ask for their favorite Bade Miyan or Chote Miyan plan from their convenient retail point."

In the recent past, S Tel had launched Ghar Baithe Mann Chahe plan chune, a unique 'Self recharge' concept for its subscribers. It also introduced a fascinating product to get connected to STEL - FRC 108. This pack enabled any new subscriber to come on board and enjoy free local talktime and free internet upto 90 days continuously for a mere Rs. 108.

Targeting the youth segment, S Tel introduced Mobile Internet services that provide Unlimited Download option across Daily, 10 Day and Monthly Plans. With each recharge consumer stands to get Free! Talk time. S Tel Adda WAP portal offers FREE browsing on subscribers WAP enabled phones where one can download ringtones, wallpapers, themes, videos, animations and games. S Tel has also introduced two Voice based service called Love Zone which provides love tips, shayari, and Mirch Masala zone that provides bollywood gossips, movie and music reviews and celebrity talk. This service is available on weekly subscription with unlimited usage.

S Tel also offers a basket of competitively priced VAS services on SMS and voice platform. S Tel's premium SMS alerts come at just Re.1/SMS. Consumer can subscribe to different SMS Subscription Alerts, Cricket, Jokes and Health at just Rs. 15 per month. At Re 1 they can also access voice portal services focused on mobile education, exam results, government jobs etc.
Subscribers can also make new friends with Hum Tum, a voice based chat service.

S Tel customer care in Odisha can be reached at +919132012345 from any landline or mobile number. Besides this, S Tel users can access the toll free customer care number 1212. source

Present and Future of 3G in India

The world is fast changing with increasing trends in the communication sector. Drastic shifts have happened in the way people used to communicate. The adoption of technology, not only in the metros but also in the rural areas is observed in today’s time. This is primarily due to the growing consumer awareness and adaptability towards newer technologies.

In today’s scenario, the increasing use and understanding of technology is augmenting the growth of the communications market in India. The communication market in India is fairly influencing the growth, especially of the mobile handset and service providers. Following are some interesting statistics supporting the same:

As of May, 2011, the mobile subscription base stands at more than 811 million in India which is the world’s second highest after China. The most interesting part about these millions of subscribers is that they are fast changing their preferences to a better mode of communication. No doubt about the fact that the 2G market in India is one of the fastest-growing mobile services markets in the world but the change to 3G is happening. An example of how big 3G is with respect to Indian markets is, GOI expecting INR 35,000 earned INR 67,719 crores against in the 3G spectrum auctions.

Here is an analysis of the present and future of 3G market in India:

Consumer Switch:

Elite subscribers in the high-spending tech-savvy segment are likely to shift from 2G to 3G services. A variety of consumers are shifting from 2G to 3G networks primarily in the urban areas where consumers have shown a higher preference for data services and have better affordability. Currently there are around 11 million 3G users in India but the number is expected to reach 400 million by 2015.

Pricing:

The pricing strategy adopted by various players is very competitive and cheap to start with. The current rates being offered at discounted prices for consumers to experience the service and then take a decision is being adopted. 3G is being looked at a long term investment with high returns.

Handsets Sales:

The decreasing price of 3G enabled handsets is also aiding the whole business. The increasing affordability across different demographics in India is also one of the driving factors. Thus we expect the 3G market to grow invariably.

Tariff Plans:

The tariff levels in India are among the lowest in the world, and this is the primary reason for the wide adoption of mobile services in the country. The mobile penetration rate is expected to reach 97 percent by 2015, with the rural population expected to adopt mobile services.

Communication & Entertainment:

The increasing use of applications on 3G phones is set to drive the sales and awareness as well. This in turn will also act as a revenue generation business for TSPs in the future. The growing popularity of mobile entertainment is a significant growth factor as access to mobile games and video-based content would need high speed. This would result in increased adoption of 3G services.

Security Concerns:

The GOI has always raised a concern on the telecom handsets that is being imported in India. This has largely affected the TSPs’ network expansion and 3G rollout plans. However, the recent lift of the ban on importing equipment from Chinese vendors is likely to improve this situation.

On the whole, the future of 3G looks bright in India but again it clearly depends on factors such as availability of 3G handsets at affordable prices, attractive pricing schemes to suit the needs of Indian consumers and innovation & localization of mobile content. The telecom service providers will always need to deploy innovation and build a comprehensive value proposition to target consumers in India.source

3G Roaming Deal By Top Indian Operators

Three of India’s largest mobile operators – Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular – have reportedly struck an intra-circle roaming agreement that will allow them each to offer a countrywide 3G service. In a statement to the Hindu Business Line, Vodafone said it “has entered into a bilateral roaming agreement with Idea and Airtel in circles where we have not built our own 3G network. With this agreement, Vodafone / Airtel / Idea will bring a pan-India experience of 3G services to their customers.” The other two operators have yet to confirm the deal. Last year’s 3G spectrum auctions saw all the country’s operators fall short of acquiring nationwide coverage. Bharti, Aircel and Reliance Communications each own 3G spectrum licences in 13 of the 22 telecom circles, while Vodafone, Idea and Tata each have licences in nine circles.
According to the Hindu Business Line, the latest deal will see Idea use Vodafone’s 3G services in Delhi and Kolkata circles, while Vodafone will use Idea’s network in Andhra Pradesh and Kerala – plus Bharti’s network in Uttar Pradesh (West). Bharti and Idea will tie-up in Karnataka and Gujarat. The report notes that the operators have been “tight lipped” about the specific commercial agreements in the roaming pact, notably with regards to pricing. “This sort of arrangement is relatively new in the Indian market. Perhaps operators want to be sure on the outcome before highlighting them,” said Gartner analyst Shaily Shah. She noted also that “more such tie-ups amongst operators are in the pipeline.” source

How 4G changes our minds and businesses ?

 Ubiquitous, intimate computing: That is what a 4G network means to local software developer Carl Erickson, the president of Atomic Object.
Erickson was one of five mobile technology experts on a panel to discuss the implications of a 4G network at the first Mobile Monday Grand Rapids meeting at the JW Marriot.
About 100 people, with cell phones appropriately in hand, attended the event and tweeted questions and thoughts as the speakers discussed a "paradigm-shift in technology."
The event provides a space for mobile-technology lovers to hash out ideas and network in Grand Rapids.
"Hopefully more people are inspired to do something useful," said Doug Lang, of Red Pigeon. "We want MoMoGR to be about the progress of useful and meaningful mobile technology."
Lang organized the free event and admits the new Grand Rapids chapter, following Ann Arbor and Detroit, is looking for "geeks and gurus" but welcomes anyone who has a flair for technology.
As for the people who should be tapping into these meetings? Lang and Erickson said small business owners are missing out if they aren't realizing the potential of mobile devices.
"As a business person, mobile is lifeblood for us," Erickson said. "The most exciting market for us is entrepreneurs because businesses are now thinking: Is my application better on the web or mobile?"
"In 2009 the amount of revenue coming from mobile at Atomic Object was immeasurable but in 2010 it was 25 percent."
Other panelists included Jason Joseph of Spectrum Health, Joe Johnston of Universal Mind, Jonathan Engelsma of Grand Valley State University and Michael Weiden of Verizon Wireless, the sponsor of the event.
From the panelists rose some interesting questions about the nature of technology and the velocity at which it is changing: How long will broadband be relevant when "hotspots" are more useful? Should businesses be focusing on websites or mobile sites? Are next generation developers thinking ethically about privacy? How fast do our standards of connectivity change?
"The question of going to web or mobile is a very real question right now," Joseph, of Spectrum Health, said. "4G means health care delivery possibilities and access to physicians and patients."
Joseph described the barriers that hospitals face in the wake of new technology and the costs of deciding how to connect.
"Infrastructure in hospitals usually includes thick walls, old buildings and sometimes lead protection shields for MRI machines, which means in the basement I don't have service. Physicians who need life-saving emergency messages need data."
Johnston, of Universal Mind, supplied presentation graphs displaying how mobile technology is predicted to surpass the desktop in the future.
"Eighty percent of the Fortune 100 companies are deploying or testing the iPad," he said.
Mobile Monday events will take place once a month and the next event is slated for August 8. The focus will be how to pitch a mobile application service as a business venture.
For those who want to follow the virtual conversation, attendants are encouraged to tweet what they think at the meetings with #MoMoGR on Twitter.
"I came because I want to hear what people are saying about the mobile space," said David Valko.

source

Drippler Reaches More Than 150,000 Downloads On Android

Drippler, a free update service for gadget owners, recently hit 150,000 downloads on the Android Market. Drippler created an application that allows Android users to stay updated with their mobile phones for more than 30 different models. Drippler has a model specific "Updater" app that Android users can install on their droid and receive updates on apps, games, firmware updates, reviews, accessories and more.

Matan Talmi the CEO of Drippler stated, "With Android's massive growth, users are constantly searching for the latest apps to download, usage tips, accessories and ROM updates. We're here to save them the hassle of searching and make sure they are always up-to-date. We will soon support many more Android models, and eventually provide a Drippler Updater app for any model on the market."
Recently, the Updater was featured by Sprint on their list of recommended apps for Android Market. Some of the top Drippler apps downloaded on the Android Market are for the Samsung Galaxy S, HTC Evo 4G and Motorola Droid X. The app features the latest updates, news and rumors about the device. Users can browse by either the 'Latest' updates, or the most 'Popular' ones. The app also features a desktop widget, and Facebook and Twitter sharing. Following a major update to the app, a regular user of the app stated,"I've loved this app for months and the update is incredible. It's great."
Drippler does not just cater to Android users; users of smartphones, tablets, video game consoles, and other gadgets can also use Drippler to their advantage. Drippler provides consumers with personalized updates on their gadgets, keeping them up-to-date with the latest gadget updates, news & rumors. Creating an account is easy and free at drippler.com. Once selecting the relevant gadgets, Drippler takes care of the rest.
For more information on Drippler visit http://drippler.com 

source

Prepare for IIT with Tata Docomo Tutor on Mobile

It also content to Class X, XII, IIT and Engineering students. Podcast of conference are also available on various subjects.

Tata Docomo has launched a service called Tutor on Mobile (TOM), which is a knowledge marketplace packed with premium educational content, and easy learning mechanisms.

The service gives content on educational and career related topics, and provides tutor content to Class X, XII, IIT and Engineering students, enabling students to learn on the move. Students can also take mock tests through this service.

The service has been launched in association with Voicetap Technologies (a 2 year old technology start-up founded by INSEAD and IIT alumni), and enables subject experts to broadcast their knowledge to the world by hosting Knowledge Conference Calls and make money doing so.

Tutor on Mobile (TOM) uses Voicetap's proprietary oneTAP platform to aggregate and deliver content across various mediums including IVR(interactive voice response), IVVR (interactive voice and video response), Web, WAP and SMS, so depending on users handset capability the service will be delivered according to the choice of the user.

The content provided is in the form of videos, text, images, live interactions, pod casts (voice broadcast) or even knowledge conferences, where one can join an experts session (virtual class room, both voice and video).

Talking about Voicetap's first major launch in India, Mrigank Tripathi, founder and chief executive officer, said, "With college admissions season on the brink, Voicetap team has already hosted series of Knowledge Conference Calls on Delhi University Admissions, Engineering College Admissions and Career Counseling Sessions and has a whole series planned on admissions, career and other such topics".

Gurinder Singh Sandhu, head corporate marketing, Tata Teleservices Limited, said, "The service liberates from a classroom session to a complete mobile way of learning a language and we hope our subscribers will reap the benefits of the application in the days to come."

Voicetap currently has over 60 expert partners, who have signed up for TOM to reach out to new customers. TOM will let users search for various topics on which they want to acquire knowledge.

The knowledge will be provided to users through SMS, WAP, Web, IVR and IVVR. Customers can subscribe the service by three different ways, first by sending a free SMS to 'TOM' to 5333300, secondly through SMS link for free and thirdly, through website tom.tatadocomo.com (to be used for only previews and uploading user videos).

Currently the service gives menu options through the WAP site mentioned above. And soon the service will also be available through application which will give better menu options.

The service is free for the first month as promotional plan. From the second month onwards, users have to pay Rs 15 per month for all the content including podcasts. There will be no data charges as the browsing is free. However, if one needs expert advice then that will be charged separately based on the expert he/she chooses.source

Now, book your train ticket on cellphone

Your phone can double up as a train ticket now with the Indian Railways launching ‘m-ticket’ service, which does away with the need for paper tickets and printouts. If you have internet (GPRS) activated on your mobile, all you need to do is visit a new website called indianrailway.gov.in launched on Friday, and register for the service. An SMS will bring the link of a tiny mobile application to your phone. Using GPRS (mobile internet), install the “App”, and you will never need to bother about carrying tickets for train travel anymore.

All you need to do is show the ticket examiner the ‘mobile reservation voucher’— an SMS containing your reservation information and back it up with a valid photo ID.

“With mobile phones becoming gadgets for business productivity and entertainment besides telephony, railways had to make its services available in this space,” said a railway ministry spokesman.

The website is still weeding out minor kinks involving page loading and user registration, but the railways are surging ahead with the plan for mobile devices. Travel agents and such bulk customers have been barred from using the service, as each ID can book up to eight tickets per month.

While currently the mobile application is compatible with most GSM and CDMA phones, sources said officials are deliberating specific applications for Blackberry and iPhone. Mobile ticketing is just one aspect of the website. Passengers can also book retiring rooms in advance.source

Mobile rechargers to resume work from tomorrow

Coimbatore, Jul 9 (PTI): The one-week-old strike by Mobile Recharge and Retailers Association here will end tomorrow,even as 200 association members observed a one-day fast here today, in protest against reduction of commission by major mobile service providers. In a resolution,the association said it has decided to sell recharge coupons and Easy recharge from tomorrow or just after the fast in the evening, considering the problems being faced by the public. Nearly 5,000 retailers are on strike since one week in reduction of commission charges from 3.8 to 3.3 per cent by major service operators, without any proper communication. In another resolution,it said members would stop activating SIM cards of operators like Airtel, Aircel and Vodafone until further orders. It also decided to remove signboards of these operators from their shops. source

China Mobile puts more pressure on Unicom

China Mobile Ltd said 5.6 million iPhone users had access to its wireless network by theend of May, putting increasing pressure on China Unicom (Hong Kong) Ltd, Apple Inc's officialpartner in the country.

Wang Jianzhou, chairman of China Mobile Communications Corp, the parent company of the carrier,revealed the figure in an interview with Chinese newspaper China Business News in early July.

In May alone, almost 700,000 iPhone 4 users were added to China Mobile's network, to the delightof Tim Cook, chief operating officer of Apple Inc, Wang told the newspaper.

Cook paid a low-profile visit to China Mobile's headquarters in Beijing last month, and industryanalysts speculated that he might have discussed launching an iPhone to support China Mobile'sfourth generation time division long-term evolution (TD-LTE) technology.

China Mobile, whose third-generation (3G) network technology isn't supported by the iPhone, hasaggressively promoted collaboration with Apple in the upcoming 4G era. Currently, China Mobile'siPhone users can only run their device on the 2G mobile network.

"The advanced 4G TD-LTE technology could be beneficial (for China Mobile) to attract and maintainhigh-end mobile phone users," Wang said.

China Unicom, China's second-biggest telecom operator, is still the only carrier in China that offersApple Inc's iPhone series with a service contract. However, the company faced increasingchallenges from its domestic rivals.

China Telecom Corp Ltd, the smallest of the country's three telecom carriers, also plans tointroduce a Code-Division Multiple Access version of the iPhone in the Chinese market.

"It is a trend" for rival carriers to offer services based on the iPhone, chief executive officer of ChinaTelecom Chang Xiaobing told Bloomberg News at the end of May. "We don't have a choice in this,and must be ready to face this environment."

China Unicom also changed its terminal strategy from solely relying on the iPhone to promotingmultiple smartphone models made by different manufacturers.

The company issued a definition of "a 3G Internet mobile phone" in May, saying those devicesshould feature a 3.5 inch screen, a central processing CPU of 600 MHz or more, and should havepowerful multimedia capabilities.

The ZTE Blade V880 was the first 3G Internet mobile phone model introduced by China Unicom inJune. The price of Blade V880 is 999 yuan ($155) and the model has daily sales of 4,500 units,becoming China Unicom's second most popular 3G mobile phone, after the iPhone 4.

China Mobile had 611 million subscribers at the end of May, of which 32 million were 3G users. Thecompany aims to attract more than 50 million 3G users by the end of the year. China Unicom had22.1 million 3G users in May, while China Telecom came in third with 19.7 million.source