abhay 0 Report post Posted November 28, 2005 Kerala boy launches cheaper web conferencing serviceA 19-year-old college student in Kerala has launched web conferencing services at Rs 250 a month - much lower than the around Rs 20 per minute charged by a private venture. Computer whiz kid Stephen Antony, of Kollam district, launched his web conferencing services last week at a quiet function. The Tata-owned Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) - Microsoft Corporation venture is charging Rs 17 to Rs 20 per minute for its web conferencing services. "My services have already covered live events and one major event was when veteran playback singer MG Sreekumar led a group of singers in a four-hour musical night on the 13th of this month in Kollam. It was viewed through the web page of the hotel by more than 5,000 people across the world," said Antony. The second year chemistry student said the audience tool kit for his system was not limited to laptops and desktop computers but could be extended to people with General Packet Radio Service-enabled mobile phones and personal digital assistants or palmtops. "My system is not aimed at only the privileged corporate clients who have broadband connection but also works perfectly with the slowest 56 K dial up connection in rural India. It can be run for just Rs.250 per month. The format of my service works perfectly in all operating systems from Free Open Source Linux, Apple Operating system, Windows and many more," he said. Antony, who has been hooked on to computers since he was 10, has written two dozen software systems and also updated the M. Tech syllabus of the Mahatma Gandhi University in Kottayam. Last year Antony was in the news when gangsters were after him to write a software to bust a bank's ATM and was given police security. Early this year he developed an innovative search tool for the visually impaired. But his mother feels he deserves more praise and support. "Despite the wide publicity he has got with his software skills, no one has so far come to support him. We are worried because we survive on my husband's meager pension of which a lion's share goes for Antony's computer expenses," she said. Antony has written to many people in power, including the president, but says he has got no response. "I have written to several people on what I have done and am yet to get a response," he said. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
linuxguy 0 Report post Posted November 29, 2005 May be, he should approach google for help. They always help our brilliant people. We should have someone like him at the helm of a good ISP company! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
abhay 0 Report post Posted November 29, 2005 yup! as long as he is capable to get a resume as powerful as google want! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ashokjp 15 Report post Posted November 30, 2005 kewl guy, hope he gets his rewards. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
linuxguy 0 Report post Posted November 30, 2005 i wonder why he hasn't gotten more publicity... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
