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India
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![[India] Mobile Number Portability is here. What you should know](http://www.techexplorer.in/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Rs.png "[India] Mobile Number Portability is here. What you should know")
Note: This is an India-specific post.
It is here. Mobile Number Portability – which essentially means you can switch your mobile service provider without changing your number. MNP is operational from today (20 Jan, 2011) and is available to both post-paid and pre-paid customers of GSM as well as CDMA services. As much as the MNP brought delight among the masses, many are confused about how to go about it. Here are some basic details about the MNP:
- You can change your mobile service provider without changing your number only within your current service area. i.e. If your old number is registered in Mumbai, you can’t change your provider in Delhi. You have to make a switch to the new service provider in Mumbai only.
- Switching to the new service provider costs 19.
- After you file an application, the process can take up to a week (up to 15 days if you’re in J&K, Assam or in North Eastern service areas)
- Once you are switched to the new service provider, you have to remain with the new provider for at least 3 months.
Telecom providers in India are already offering very competitive tariffs and MNP is going to fuel it more. Eventually the end customer is going to breathe free. People who make frequent calls to a small group can switch to a same service provider to avail attractive offers, thanks to MNP.
MNP helpline numbers:
- Vodafone – 18001234567
- IDEA -18002700000
- MTNL Mumbai -1800221503
- Airtel -18001031111
- TataDocomo – 18002660000
Times are changing fast and with every passing day, technology is penetrating our lives deeper and deeper. Although India is still considered to be a third world, reports indicate enormous growth in the number of Indians getting connected with the world through Internet. Youth in India is now aware of latest technologies and gadgets and are embracing latest trends just like their counterparts in the developed nations.
Owing to the ever increasing demand of digital music, in the era of iTunes, iPhones and iPads, one of the best Indian musicians, Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy launched their own iPhone app to increase their reach among fans. For those unaware, Shankar has worked tremendously with the musical maestro A R Rahman in his early years and the trio has given their best in films like ‘Kal Ho Na Ho’, Dil Chahta Hai’ and ‘My Name is Khan’.
Shankar said,
It’s time to be knowledgeable about the trends and see a little bit of the future. We are always in awe of iPhone and iPad applications, so we thought why not we have our own applications? It’s a first of its kind in our country and I am sure once people will start downloading the application, they will love it.
The iPhone App will include news, videos, making of music footage and also some new compositions to get feedback from fans. Shankar added, "The application will contain exclusive materials, but not necessarily film music." The app will be available soon. [Y! News]
Last month, India’s IT Minister, Kapil Sibal demonstrated the country’s very own Android based tablet ‘Shakshat’ priced at a mere $35 (
1600 approx.). Recent news is coming in that HCL Technologies have been given the contract by the Indian Government to manufacture 100,000 units of these low-cost tablets to be readied before January 10, 2011, the official launch date decided by the government.
Although HCL Technologies have earned their fame in the sub-continent for the most part, the quality of devices has not yet impressed major user base. But looking at the sole purpose of the Indian government to uplift the rural academical institutions by providing latest technologies at low cost, little quality was bound to be compromised.
But then again, it is a 30 crore project and the tablet looks decent enough in the hands-on demo by Kapil Sibal (video below). Now some basic tech-specs of Sakshat:
- It will be available in 3 versions (5 inch, 7 inch and 9 inch) with only the 7 inch version available in the first phase.
- Android OS
- 2 GB RAM
- Wi-Fi
- Camera
- USB port
- 2 Watt power system (for efficient performance in areas with poor electricity supply).
- Pre-installed apps like media player, internet browser, PDF reader, etc.
Hands-on video demo of the $35 Android tablet – ‘Sakshat’
India is the fastest growing mobile market in the world and it continues to reign when it comes to number of mobile handsets sold annually in the recent years. But as with all good things, there’s much baggage involved in the form of mobile spam. Even the ‘National Do not call’ initiative didn’t work too well and there’s hardly anyone can do anything about the voice and SMS spam forced down their throat.
A Pune based start-up, Optinno developed a mobile application, smsBlocker to control SMS spam on mobile phones. The application has some sort of definitions file that checks over 6000 SMS spam variations and silently blocks them. It can further be customized and filters can be set as per user’s preferences.
The app currently supports Nokia, Sony Ericsson and Samsung phones and costs as low as $2.00 (Rs. 99/-) only. However, you can get it for free till July 5th, 2010. Get the app and give your views about it.
