Honest

FM favours global auction for 3G 13 Jun, 2008, 0022 hrs IST NEW DELHI: Finance Minister P Chidambaram and communication minister A Raja are learnt to be in favour of endorsing an international competitive bidding for allocating 3G spectrum. In a meeting on Thursday, Mr Chidambaram is said to have asked Mr Raja to put in place policies that will pave the way for auction of 2G spectrum, both for new players and existing operators. Also present in the meeting were DoT secretary Siddharth Behura and finance secretary D Subba Rao. The developments could not be confirmed as ET’s calls to Mr Raja’s mobile went unanswered. The decision by both ministries on 3G implies that international communication majors and new domestic players will be able to participate in the upcoming auctions. At stake were four things: Entry of global telecom majors who do not yet have a presence in the world’s fastest-growing telecom market, future profitability of incumbent telcos, the size of revenues accruing to the government from spectrum auction, and the cost of telecom services for the consumer. Sources said all these issues were discussed and both ministries had decided to endorse an ‘open global auction’, despite telecom regulator Trai and existing operators here being bitterly opposed to the move. The decision by both ministries also implies the issue of allowing foreign players may not be referred to the Group of Ministers (GoM) as recommended by the attorney general of India. Mr Chidambaram, in an earlier communication to Mr Raja, has said that 3G auction among existing license holders, as recommended by Trai, was not a workable option. He had also added that international competitive bidding model may be used with several clauses to ensure rollout of services and that the auction is restricted to serious contenders. While it could not be confirmed, sources said that during the meet, Mr Chaidmanbaram also empahised that all allotments of 2G spectrum beyond 6.2 MHz be auctioned. Currently, all telecom services in the country operate on 2G radio frequencies. If this is methodology is followed, additional chunks of spectrum to existing players will be awarded by an auction process as against the existing policy where additional radio frequencies are allotted when the service provider reaches certain pre-defined subscriber base. Sources added that during the meet, Mr Chidambaram also said that the prices raised by auction should be applied retrospectively to existing telcos who already hold spectrum beyond 6.2 MHz. While the finance ministry has been constantly demanding that 2G spectrum be auctioned, it is not known if Mr Raja and the DoT will agree to this as the existing policy entitles GSM players to a maximum of 15 MHz per circle and CDMA players up to 7.5 MHz/circle. Besides, any move to auction 2G spectrum would also require changes in existing guidelines and appropriate amendments to the existing license terms and conditions. The finance ministry had earlier sought that if the DoT fails to auction spectrum both for new players, cross technology license holders and existing players, then all players be charged a one-time fee of RS 1,312 crone for every MHz of radio frequency allotted to them. If implemented, this will imply that all new entrants, who have paid Rs 1,651 crore entry fee, which guarantees them 4.4 MHz of GSM spectrum, would have to shell an additional Rs 4,121 core. In a bid to ensure a level playing field, the finance ministry had also proposed that the one-time spectrum fee must be applied to existing telcos from the time their spectrum capacity crossed 6.2 MHz. On this basis, several leading GSM players will have to cough up over Rs 3,000 crore as they hold up to 10 MHz of radio frequencies. ET has not been able to establish if the Mr Chidambaram and Mr Raja had discussed this model during Thursday’s meet.

MWg Enters India, Launches WinMob Handsets Singapore-based Mobile and Wireless Group (MWg) has entered the Indian market and unveiled their latest Windows Mobile handsets - the MWg Atom V and MWg Zinc II. The MWg Atom V is a full-featured, touch-screen operated device with in-built GPS, 3.5G HSDPA and onboard Wi-Fi. The handset is 14.95mm thin and comes in midnight blue hue. The front face of the device houses the 2.8" LCD screen, a scroll wheel and four buttons. The phone also features a 2.0 mega-pixel camera with auto focus and FM radio with RDS (Radio Data System) that provides data on the station, the current track on air from a station and traffic alerts. The Atom V features an Intel processor running Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 Professional at 520 MHz and will retail at Rs. 27888. The MWg Zinc II includes most of the features that the Atom V possesses with the addition of a semi-automatic sliding QWERTY keyboard and Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional powered with a 500 MHz processor. The Zinc II will retail at Rs. 34888. MWg offers both Atom V and Zinc II users a touch-driven interface called "Quick Menu". Each device has its own version of Quick Menu, which allows users to tap large graphic icons with their fingertips as well as flip between menus by dragging their finger across the screen making it easy to navigate the device without a stylus. Additionally, users have the flexibility of customizing the icons and menus to their own needs. "We see ourselves in a unique position of having inherited the premium heritage of a global brand and the agility and flexibility of a start-up," said Mark Billington, CEO of MWg. "As a start-up, we naturally work with like-minded and innovative partners to offer an engaging experience for our customers. Our devices are designed to complement the consumers' lifestyle needs." All MWg handsets will be sold in India through TouchIndia Telemarketing Pvt. Ltd., a strategic alliance and extended arm of Goldkist Singapore, and its appointed channel partners. Courtesy : Tech2

Motorola plans Bollywood tones for handsets 12 Jun, 2008, 1712 hrs IST, PTI HONG KONG: Betting big on Indian market, world's third largest mobile handset maker Motorola is planning to score music tones and tracks with a dash of Bollywood and regional flavour for its handsets. The US-based company says it would not be just Hindi movies, better known as Bollywood, but an amazing array of regional songs in local dialects and in foreign languages are also on anvil. The company has acquired Singapore-based Soundbuzz, said to be Asia's largest digital music company for the purpose of integrating Bollywood music in ring tones in its handsets. "Essentially, the idea is to give an ethnic flavour in the language of local Indians who are mesmerised by the Hindi filmy songs from Bollywood," Christ White, President, Media Applications and Service, Motorola Inc, told PTI in Hong Kong on the sidelines of the two-day 'Music Matters 2008' conference. Several handset operators took part in the two-day conference aimed at capitalising on the average user's craze for enjoying music via the handset. "Soundbuzz has an amazing catalogue and library of over three lakh Indian songs and it is a strategic alliance for us to capitalise on the Indian market," White said. The introduction of MP3-enabled handsets, even in some of the entry level models, indicates the company's ambitious project of exploiting the music rage among the handset users, said White. Most youngsters in India, when not conversing, are seen walking around with headphones plugged to their ears, listening to music, recalled White.

Ambani looks to remain major shareholder in RCom, MTN 12 Jun, 2008, 1545 hrs IST, PTI LONDON: Indian billionaire Anil Ambani hopes to remain a major shareholder in his flagship firm Reliance Communications and South Africa-based MTN after the two companies merge, a media report said on Thursday. The Financial Times reported that Ambani hopes to be a major shareholder in RCom and MTN after the firms combine in a reverse takeover. Quoting people familiar with the deal, the newspaper said, "Under the proposals, Mr Ambani will swap about two-thirds of his 66 per cent stake in Reliance Communications for shares in MTN and retain a stake of 20-25 per cent in the Indian cellular carrier." Ambani would pay an extra four to five billion dollars in cash to bring his stake in MTN to his target level of 34.9 per cent, the ceiling beyond which he would be forced to make a general offer for MTN, the newspaper said in an article published in its online edition. According to Financial Times, the cash amount would be raised through debt or by enlisting the help of private equity investors or a combination of both, although the private equity portion would not be expected to exceed two to three billion dollars. He continues to remain extremely bullish about Reliance Communications prospects and would like to remain present there while getting a bigger piece of the action in MTN," the report said quoting an insider. Last month, both companies had entered into "exclusivity talks" for a period of 45 days to explore the possibility of a merger. "Both parties are expected to complete due diligence within a week, with an announcement on any deal expected early next month," the newspaper said. The deal between RCom and MTN would create one of the largest mobile operator in the emerging markets with about 115 million subscribers spread across India, Africa and the Middle East. Under the reverse takeover proposal, RCom, would be taken over and become a subsidiary of MTN, but through the share swap Ambani would become by far the biggest shareholder in the South African company, the report added. Financial Times pointed out that Ambani is reluctant to surrender all of his exposure to RCom and is seeking to keep the 20-25 per cent stake to ensure that he would remain the biggest individual shareholder in the company after MTN. "If Mr Ambani's proposal to hold large stakes in both companies is accepted by MTN, the South African operator would end up with a stake of about 51 per cent in Reliance," the report said. The newspaper further added that Ambani has appointed HSBC and Barclays to lead the debt financing for his proposal to use cash to top up his stake in MTN beyond that achieved by the share swap to his target of 34.9 per cent. "The move comes amid speculation that Mr Ambani is angling to retain a senior position in Reliance Communications, where he is currently chairman, while also becoming the chairman or co-chairman of MTN," the newspaper added. Ambani is also being advised by Deutsche Bank on raising private equity financing for his bid. Further, Lehman Brothers and Lazard are also advising Ambani. MTN is being advised by Merrill Lynch and Deutsche Bank.

RIM promises to solve BlackBerry issue by June-end: Raja 12 Jun, 2008, 2223 hrs IST, PTI NEW DELHI: Telecom Minister A Raja on Thursday said makers of Blackberry Smartphone, which has run into trouble with Centre over security issues, has assured DoT of coming out with a solution by month-end but Government is also open to solution by other companies to crack the data encryption. "By June-end some solution must be there. Research- In-Motion (RIM) has promised us. Otherwise government will invoke other jurisdiction, some other companies have approached us saying they wanted to display solution (on decryption of data) and we are open to that also," Raja said. "RIM, makers of BlackBerry smartphone, itself has said it would come out with a solution within a stipulated time. Security purpose is of paramount importance to the country but we cannot simply bar Blackberry when other countries are operating it," he said. Refuting that there is soft corner for Balckberry, he said, "We cannot agitate against Balckberry... We need service but the question is subject to the security, how the needs can be fulfilled.. how many countries have banned. The service is essential.., we will find some ways." "RIM wanted some time... We have given them. If they want extension, we may give them... if nothing comes out we will go for other options... we cannot close the service, he said.

^^^ In India their are buyers for every product my dear friends. As the above handset is launched specially for Rural India. So their could be many buyers for the same. Regards.

^^^ @Umesh LOL, I was thinking about black marketing instead of black colour. Actually I didn't responded to anil's message, as karan had asked that if the handset available in black, so i responded to Karan. See the time difference in anil's post any my post. Its only 1 minute. Anyways, my comments on BLACK MARKETING of products still help some of our friends who are reading this thread. Regards.

3G operators must go rural 12 Jun, 2008, 0026 hrs IST NEW DELHI: Telcos in the upcoming 3G auctions will not be allowed to restrict these high-end services to just metros and large cities. The department of telecom (DoT) has decided that service providers will be subject to ‘spectrum hoarding cess’ of 2.5% of the amount they bid for 3G spectrums, for every quarter, if they fail to meet the stringent rollout obligations stipulated by the government. This implies, successful 3G bidders cannot roll-out limited services, nor sit on the radio frequencies allotted to them. The DoT has also finalised the rollout norms. Under this, within three years of being awarded 3G spectrum, the telco’s services should be available in a minimum of 30% of all district headquarters and cities and towns in that circle, off which at least 10% should be in rural areas. At the end of five years, the telco’s services must be present in 90% of the metro area and 50% of all district head quarters and cities and towns, of which a minimum 15% should be in rural areas. “If operators do not achieve their roll out obligations, they would be given one year within which to fulfill their roll out obligations. Within this one year, the operators would be fined a spectrum hoarding cess of 2.5% of their winning auction bid per quarter. If operators do not complete their rollout obligations even within this one year, their spectrum assignment would not be canceled and spectrum allotted via an auction to a new operator,” the DoT said in an internal note. The DoT note also adds that the period of spectrum allotment, based on the auctions would be 20 years from the date of allotment of radio frequencies. “If the period of existing telecom licence of a successful bidder is expiring before this period of 20 years of spectrum allotment/licence for 3G services, its existing UAS licence will be extended to a date of 20 years from the date of 3G spectrum allotment at a price. This price would be determined by multiplying the number of years of licence extension required by the pro-rata annual licence fee of the UAS licence,” the note added. The DoT, in another note, has also said that the government could raise about RS 1840 crone by extending the licence period to Telcos who successfully bid for 3G spectrum. As reported earlier by ET, state-owned Telcos BSNL and MTNL need not participate in the upcoming 3G auctions. Instead, they will be allotted one block of spectrum at the price paid by the highest bidder. The DoT has also finalised the base price for third generation spectrum — Rs 160 crore for metros and category A circles, Rs 80 crore for category B and Rs 30 crore for category C. ET has first reported last year that these base price figures, which are double that prescribed by telecom regulator Trai, would be adopted by the DoT.

SKS Microfinance to provide cheap handsets to poor 11 Jun, 2008, 2207 hrs IST, PTI NEW DELHI: Leading microfinance lender SKS Microfinance will join hands with Nokia and Airtel for providing cheap handsets to the poor. "This is our pilot project. We are in the process of it and the MoU is soon to be signed," Vikram Akula, CEO of SKS Microfinance said here on Wednesday. The company will launch the project in Andhra Pradesh first. "As much as 15 per cent of the customers of SKS are already having handsets. We expect 75 per cent of our customers to go for these cheap mobiles," SKS chief operating officer M R Rao said. The company has also approached the Reserve Bank for mobile banking, on which there are regulatory constraints, he said while announcing the performance of the company in the last fiscal. The NBFC also has plans to venture into newer areas of microfinance and is planning to provide non-financial services like food, consumer durables, health, disaster management to the poor. He said the company has extended unsecured loans worth Rs 1,616 crore among 1.9 million consumers during 2007-08. "Our fast-paced inclusive growth this year has been powered by a third round of equity infusion worth Rs 147 crore in January and Rs 1,267 crore raised against that as debt by partnering with leading banks of India," Akula said. The non-banking financial company has attracted several investors like Seattle-based NGO Unitus, SIDBI, private equity firm Sequoia Capital, Silicon valley Bank, Columbia Ventures Corporation among others. It has also raised Rs 1,700 crore from institutions like SIDBI, Corporation Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC, HSBC, Bank of India, Yes Bank, Indian Bank, IndusInd Bank, Karur Vyas Bank.

And here is the pic of the mobile handset Spice S-300. Its without LCD screen my dear friends. Regards.

^^^ That might be the seen of Delhi my dear friend but Spice C810 is still available easily in Mumbai. Regards.

Two more RAIN songs for you my dear friends. Haye Haye Ye Majboori, Ye Mausam Aur Ye Doori, Mujhe Pal Pal Hai Tadpaye ! Teri Ddo Takayaan Di Naukari, Ve Mera Lakhon Ka Sawan Jaye !! & Ghata Chaa Gayee Hai, Bahar Aa Gayee Hai ! Yeh Rut Humpe Yun, Meherbaa Ho Gayi Hai, Mohabbat Meri Ab Jawaa Ho Gayee Hai ! Ghata Chaa Gayee Hai, Bahar Aa Gayee Hai ! Mein Pyaasa Rahi, Tu Panghat Ki Raani, Bujha Pyaas Meri, Teri Meherbaani ! Ghata Chaa Gayee Hai, Bahar Aa Gayee Hai !! Haye_Haye_Yeh_Majboori_.mp3 Ghata_Chaa_Gayee_Hai.mp3

Another two RAIN songs my dear friends. Tera Mann Tersa Re, Paani Kyun Barsa Re ! Tuney Kisko Yaad Kiya ! Megha Re Megha, Megha Re Megha !! & MeghaRe MeghaRe, MeghaRe MeghaRe ! Mat Pardes Jaa Re, Aaj Tu Prem Ka Sandes Barsa Re !! Tera_Mann_Tersaa_Re_Paani_Kyun_Barsa_Re.mp3 Megha_Re_Megha_Re.mp3

Another two RAIN songs my dear friends. Badal Yu Garajta Hai, Darr Kuch Aisa Lagta Hai ! Chamak Chamak Ke, Lapak Ke Yeh Bijli Hum Pe Gir Jaayegi !! & Aakhir Tumhe Aana Hai, Zaraa Der Lagegi ! Baarish Ka Bahana Hai, Zaraa Der Lagegi !! Aakhir_Tumhein_Aana_Hai.mp3 Badal_Yun_Garajata_Hai.mp3

Here are another two super hit RAIN songs. Barkha Raani, Zara Jamm Ke Barso ! Mera Dilbar Jaa Na Paaye, Jhoom Ker Barso !! & Tip Tip Tip Tip Baarish, Shuroo Ho Gayee ! Maaney Ya Na Maaney, Meri Tu Ho Gayee !! Barkha_Rani_Zara_Jamm_Ke_Barso.mp3 Tip_Tip_Tip_Tip_Baarish_Shuru_Ho_Gayee.mp3

My dear friends, as we all know that MONSOON has already arrived in South and West India and soon it will cover rest of India also. Everywhere it will be raining and raining only. Then how could we live without some RAIN SONGS in this MONSOON. So lets have some great RAIN SONGS. Here are two great Rain Songs. Lata Ji Rimjhim Girey Sawan, Sulag Sulag Jaaye Mann ! Bhigey Aaj Iss Mausam Mein, Lagi Kaisi Ye Agan !! & Sona Karey Jhilmil Jhilmil ! Rupa Hansey Kaisey Khilkhil ! Aha Aha Vrishthi Pade Tapur Tupur ! Tip Tip Tapur Tupur ! Vrishthi Pade Tapur Tupur...Tapur Tupur !! You can get MP4 Video Caller Tunes of the above songs HERE Sona_Karey_Jhilmil_Jhilmil_NEW.mp3 Rimjhim_Girey_Sawan.mp3

^^^ @Fasal My dear friend LG RD6600 is a good handset. Their are many threads about LG RD6600 in our beloved Rimweb in which you can have many reviews of 6600 users. You can search for the same and decide. Regards.

HP Enters Smart Phone Market with iPAQ 900 After a delay of nearly ten months, HP (Hewlett Packard) has finally announced shipping its iPAQ 900 Series smart phones. At the HP "Connecting Your World Conference" at Berlin, Germany, the company launched it's iPAQ 900 series of smart phones aimed at business customers. While the phones are scheduled to ship around June 30, launch dates and prices may vary from country to country. The phones come with Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional and also feature a QWERTY keyboard, a 2.46-inches display with QVGA plus resolution, and a 3 mega pixels camera for digital imaging with HP-owned Snapfish. The smart phones support 3G, UMTS/HSDPA, quad-band GPRS, WiFi with VoIP software function, and Bluetooth. They offer better GPS navigation with A-GPS chips. Hands-free operation and device commands option are made possible with built-in Cyberon Voice Commander and Voice Reply functions. With the iPAQ series, HP has entered the market for smart phones but it has a serious competitor in Apple's newest iPhone 3G that offers faster access to Internet and email besides a host of business features and significantly, support for 3G, WiFi, and EDGE networks. Courtesy : Techtree

Here is another great RAIN SONG my dear friends. Sona Karey Jhilmil Jhilmil ! Rupa Hansey Kaisey Khilkhil ! Aha Aha Vrishthi Pade Tapur Tupur ! Tip Tip Tapur Tupur ! Vrishthi Pade Tapur Tupur...Tapur Tupur !! Link 1 : http://rapidshare.com/files/121674109/Sona...mil_Jhilmil.mp4 Link 2 : http://www.adrive.com/public/e5c88d2d4ea0a...d8b6d1de5a.html Size : 1.7 MB You can get MP3 Ringtone of the above song HERE

My dear friends, as we all know that MONSOON has already arrived in South and West India and soon it will cover rest of India also. Everywhere it will be raining and raining only. Then how could we live without some RAIN SONGS in this MONSOON. So lets have some great RAIN SONGS. Here is the first and very RARE Video. Watch Amitabh Bachhan and Maushmi Chatterji enjoying the RAINS on MUMBAI ROADS. Rimjhim Girey Sawan, Sulag Sulag Jaaye Mann ! Bhigey Aaj Iss Mausam Mein, Lagi Kaisi Ye Agan !! Link 1 : http://rapidshare.com/files/112575370/Rimjhim_Gire_Sawan.mp4 Link 2 : http://www.adrive.com/public/193cf777b1cfa...daa24067c5.html Size : 2.1 MB You can get MP3 Ringtone of the above song HERE

@Karan My dear friend, LG RD6600 is a good handset. And why you think that it will be available in Black. Actually the days are gone when their was black marketing of the products. Now a days we should not pay even a single penny extra over and above the company price. And you must visit only company Web World and not Web World Express (Franchisee) for the correct rates of LG RD 8000. As these franchisee may sell the product on higher prices then company owned Web World. Take my example. I had purchased LG RD5430 @ Rs.4200/- two year ago from Reliance Web World (Company Showroom). For the same handset Reliance Web World Express (Franchisee) had quoted me for Rs.4650/- at that time. See the difference of Rs.450/-. So in my point of view, you must consider visiting and purchasing your handset from the Company Web World Outlet only. Regards.

iPhone 3G's Business Model Tough on Unlockers The new iPhone and the way it will be sold look set to shut down a small industry that arose to make the first version of the iconic phone available around the world. The original iPhone, which launched in June last year, was initially available only in the U.S. and only for use on AT&T Inc.'s network. In little more than a month, however, enterprising hackers found a way to "unlock" the phone to make it usable on other networks, including networks in other countries. IPhones soon flowed out of the U.S., and analysts have estimated that one-third to one-half of the phones sold never made it onto AT&T's network. "I saw it in action and I had to have one," said Ernesto Zeivy, a 50-year-old restaurant owner in Mexico City. He had one friend buy an iPhone for him in San Diego for $500 and another unlock it using software downloaded from the Internet. Apple announced a new iPhone Monday for use on 3G, or third-generation, data networks. It will stem the flow of unlocked phones in two ways. First, the phone will be sold in more countries. Apple added five countries beyond the U.S. for the first phone, but the second one will go on sale in 22 countries on July 11. Apple has said it will add more countries at a rapid clip and reach 70 by the end of the year. That takes away one of main incentives for unlocking. Second, Apple is abandoning the unusual arrangement under which the iPhone was being sold. Customers could buy them from a carrier or from Apple without activating them on a service plan, and that meant customers could go home and unlock the phones - and never sign up with AT&T. "Anyone can unlock it without paying anyone anything," said Blas Caballero, another iaPhone user in Mexico. "It's so easy. A minute-and-a-half, and all you have to do is push a button," said the 32-year-old Argentine, who owns a bar in Mexico City. He bought his iPhone in New York. The new phone will be subsidized by carriers, which accounts for its lower price: $199 for the 8-gigabyte model, down from $399. This brings the phone's marketing in line with standard industry practices. The carriers plan to make back what they spend on the subsidy through service fees, which means they likely will require two-year service contracts from everyone who buys the phone. AT&T said buyers will have to activate service before leaving the store with an iPhone. "It's looking pretty bleak for unlockers," said John McLaughlin, founder of Uniquephones.com, a New York-based company that sells unlock codes for cell phones. After being warned away by AT&T's lawyers, it doesn't help unlock iPhones. Unlocking software is available free online. Apple tried to secure the device technically with its software updates, but couldn't. It's the requirement that buyers of the new phone sign up for service in the store that will be hard to get around, McLaughlin said. Freeit4less, a company based in Syracuse, Utah, has posted prices on its Web site for unlocked 3G phones at $100 above store prices, but chief executive Kyle Jourdan said the company is not accepting any pre-orders given uncertainty surrounding the activation requirement. "We're just crossing our fingers and hoping for the best," Jourdan wrote in an e-mail. He speculated that Apple or AT&T may sell unsubsidized phones, which would leave an opening for his company. Freeit4less has sold about 121 unlocked first-generation iPhones and 5,104 licenses for unlocking software, Jourdan said. Federal law allows consumers to unlock their own phones. But selling someone the means to unlock a phone and unlock another person's phone may be illegal. At least one U.S. carrier has won civil cases, not involving iPhones, against unlocking businesses. AT&T charges customers who break a two-year contract within the first month a $175 early termination fee plus the $36 activation fee. That would bring the cost of the new iPhone to $411 for an unlocker, just slightly more than the old model's $399 price. That math may mean it is still attractive to unlock iPhones for use on other networks and that AT&T will lose money on unlockers. Analysts estimate AT&T plans to subsidize the phones by more than $200 each. But Ralph de la Vega, head of AT&T Mobility, said Monday that it and Apple are working on "penalties" for users who buy phones and don't activate them within 30 days. AT&T could, for instance, bar buyers who repeatedly buy iPhones and break the contracts from buying more. One major incentive for unlocking remains, especially for Europeans. Those who travel to other countries with unlocked phones can use local prepaid service plans rather than paying exorbitant international roaming fees to their home carriers. Uniquephones.com helps unlock 10,000 British cell phones of all kinds every day, McLaughlin said, with travelers being a core customer group. Courtesy : Tech2

I too used to double the space of my harddisk with the same disk compression utility known as DOUBLE SPACE / DRIVE SPACE in 1994. When I have 256 MB Hard Disk Drive and works on Windows 3.0 / 3.1 @ashok My dear friend, your post remembered me of my old days. Regards.

Spice Launches S-525 FM Phone Spice Mobiles has launched the Spice S-525, adding to its line of affordable mobile phones. Touted as an FM phone, the S-525 has a 65-K color screen and features FM recording facility, where one can store select songs while listening to FM radio. The phone also comes with features like mobile tracker, scheduled On/Off, Sing-tones, 500 phone-book records, speaker phone and a universal charger. The phone is priced at an MRP of Rs. 2099. Courtesy : Tech2

TRAI again warns against foreign bid in 3G spectrum auction 11 Jun, 2008, 0015 hrs IST NEW DELHI: There seems to be no end to the ongoing controversy over allowing new domestic entrants and international majors to enter the upcoming auction for 3G spectrum. Telecom regulator TRAI has sent yet another communication to the department of telecom (DoT) warning the government against any proposal to allow international majors to bid for 3G spectrum. TRAI, which had recommended that the 3G auctions be limited only to existing telcos, is bitterly opposed to the plan of both—communications minister A Raja and finance minister P Chidambaram—to have an international auction. So far, DoT has been unable to bring out the 3G policy due to its differences with TRAI. TRAI Chairman Nripendra Misra in his latest communication to the DoT secretary Siddharth Behura has warned that allowing new players to bid for 3G spectrum will give these companies a backdoor entry to offer 2G services in India. (Currently, all mobile services offered in India run on 2G or second generation cellular networks). TRAI’s logic: Successful 3G bidders will compulsorily have to acquire a UAS licence before they can begin operations. The UAS licence entitles them to 4.4 MHz of start-up 2G spectrum. TRAI has also argued that the claims of 342 UAS applicants who are currently waiting for spectrum in different states cannot be overlooked ‘because the grant of UAS licence is strictly on the basis on seniority which is the date of application’. Mr Misra has also said that allowing international majors may result in a scenario where only one or two of the existing 12 plus operators in a circle will get 3G spectrum. “This will result in migration of high value/creamy/layer of subscribers from the existing operators to these 1-2 operators. This may result in creating chaos in the telecom sector apart from effecting the balance sheet of existing operators in a major way,” the TRAI chairman added. TRAI has also told the DoT that since new players, if allowed, would launch 3G services in phases, subscribers of these operators will initially get these high-end services only in select areas where they have networks in place. “This will result in subscriber dissatisfaction as this subscriber will not be able to get any mobile service in areas where 3G network has not been rolled out. On the other hand, the existing licensee needs to provide only an overlay 3G network over their existing 2G network. This apart from facilitating a faster rollout will also ensure that the subscribers are able to at least a voice based services in the whole of the service area.”