Virgin's entry in Indian telecom network-Provides more benifits to youth

Get paid for attending incoming calls........When somebody mentions this, I would either think they are out of their mind or they are drunk. But in this case you have to believe me(As i'm neither). I was surprised when I saw this interesting news on a popular mobile magazine. The new revolution in Indian telecom networks.....One of the popular network providers in UK is here in indian market now, to provide better features and compete with leading providers like Bharathi Airtel,Vodafone(previously was Hutch)etc..It entered the Indian market with a different strategy. According to the chairman of Virgin Mobiles Sir Richard Branson this strategy aimed at attracting the youth(which is vital for any market,specially where india is concerned.)

I feel I can provide better information about this in the form of Q&A

• Are they collaborating with any existing network providers or they are starting a new network?
  

The Virgin Mobiles is being introduced in india by Tata tele services,which is well known for its CDMA network(With the name “Tata Indicom”)

• Does it mean all Tata indicom subscribers will be shifted to Virgin mobiles?
  

The answer would be “No”. They are not going to touch the existing users of Tata indicom. At the same time, even if any tata indicom user wants to shift also, he can't do that. For that he should get a new Virgin connection. Tata indicom and virgin are two seperate networks provided by the same provider.

• Is it a GSM Network or CDMA?
  

It is CDMA network provider, but it introduced some handsets which contain RUIM(Removable user identity module) .To make people understand I can mention RUIM as SIM of CDMA network.

• What are the advantages of choosing Virgin?
  

These are the advantages with this Network
(a) Every time you attend a call, That will add 10 paise to your balance
(b) If you can spend Rs 18/- out of your purse every month,you can get 100 messages per day free and also less local call rates on the weekends(39 paise,be it mobile or landline. Weekend means friday,saturday.sunday here). In normal package you have to pay Rs 1/- for local(for first 2 mins).After 2 mins you can call any local network for 50 paise(No extra charge). We can be more clear about it's package once it gets announced officially.
(c)All vergin mobile's RUIM's will have a secret folder where you can store personal messages with password protection.
(d)V Bytes-This is the option enabled on every vergin mobile,which takes you to the V bytes portal just by one touch.Mind you,This is applicable only for Branded Vergin mobiles.

• From where can I get a Virgin connection?
  

It's introduced only in 50 main cities(17 sectors) in india. It will take some time for it to spread its network across the country. First check whether your city is there in the list provided in the website or not. If it is there, then you can go to the retailer in your respective city and get new connection. If it is not in the list, you may have to wait for some more time.

• What type of handsets they are offering?
  

At present they have announced 5 different colour handsets

• V Bling
• V Sleek
• V kewl
• V Trendy(which is yet to be announced)
• Nokia 2505
• V Swing

These handsets range is from Rs 1999/- to Rs 4799/-,which include handsets having MP3 player. FM Radio,1.3 MP camera etc...We can expect better kind of handsets from Virgin mobile in future.

see more about the handsets here

• Where can i get more information about Virgin mobiles?
  

You can visit Virgin mobile's official website or can search on some popular web encyclopedias like Wikipedia.

• What is it’s growth strategy ?
  

It might use the technique of MVNO(Mobile virtual network operator),which was used by it in other countries and became successful. This means that, it will buy space from other network providers and sell it under their name.

See Vergin mobile press release here(Pdf)

I hope my attempt of clearing your doubts regarding this matter has been successful. If not, I would be more than happy to answer your questions or to get your feedback.

Beam your screen

I was trying to rip an old movie(Thalapathy) using MeGui software. I was new to ripping, hence I knew only the basics. These basics could help me rip normal DVDs which had good properties (brightness,colour,sharpness etc).When it comes down to old movies, they require some change of settings(like changing avisynth script for desired properties).Like I mentioned before, I was new to ripping, I didn't know what settings had to be changed to get a perfect rip out of this roadside DVD(According to rippers “Original” means DVD9 or DVD5). I asked one of my teammates to teach me the advanced settings in MeGui(I'm a member of releasing group “Team galaxy”).He was busy with his work and told me that he will teach me later. Since I had regular college from morning 8:40 to evening 5:00,I'm online usually after 5 pm only. By that time he would have left his office and wouldn't be available to teach me. I was disappointed that our timings did not match, at the same time I was searching for a solution to this problem. Surprisingly, one day I found him online at 7'o clock in the evening. I wanted to grab the oppurtunity. I asked him if he could teach me. The reply I got was”When I'm online you will not be available and when you are online I will not be available. I came online now because I have some work. I'm busy. If need be, you consult xxxx”(xxxx was my other team mate's name.I don't want to mention it here). I said “ok”.

Then I consulted xxxx. He asked me what the problem was with my rip?(I had already ripped it and got the worst rip I had ever done). I told him that the Brightness was very less and contrast was a bit high than normal. Then change the Avisynth script,he told me.....But I didn't know what settings had to be changed. I asked him if there was anyway in which he could help me out since I was absolutely clueless. He understood my problem and asked me to install”Beamyourscreen”(Which is our topic now).I went to www.beamyuorscreen.com and installed the 7 days trail version of it.

I wondered what he wanted to do. I informed him after i finished installation. He told me to register on that site and I did the same. Then I opened the application and it asked me the login details. I logged in. He asked me to send the link which was given in the application and also told me to activate the remote control option. I really didn't know what he was trying to do until I observed my mouse pointer moving without me moving it. Then i realised that i had given him the access to my mouse and keyboard. Doesn't it sound interesting? He changed the settings in the script using his mouse and keyboard. I found it very interesting. If you use this application you can access other's computers (of course if only they agree for that).Use your keyboard and mouse to access his/her computer. I have used it and found it ultra cool....So i want all of you to check this out.

Register and Download Beamyuorscreen(7 Days trail) here

Check some more screenshots here

My Experiences with Fedora

I had been using windows for around 1 year since I got my system.In fact I got original Xp home edition for Rs.3000/-(I didn’t want to encourage piracy…..).There was a linux fever in my college’s hostel(I stay out of the hostel.Had enough of it in my first year).I heard much about linux that it’s a good OS but the only problem is that its not user-friendly. Just to open a video file you have to give some commands which is very tedious process in fact(of course only in GNome environment).”Except for these things linux is better than windows…..”-my friend told me.I wanted to see how difficult linux was.I thought “I have dealt with windows for these many days….what difficulties will I face if I use linux? I can play with linux..there is nothing like what all these people are saying….”

Then I went to my friend who told me about linux and got the DVD to install fedora 8 on my system.I came home thinking that I can prove everybody wrong by using it efficiently.I kept the DVD into my DVD drive and started installing fedora on my genuine windows system.Then started the real story.I couldn’t understand even a single step which was given in the installation guide.There was something called swap,home etc…in partitions.I couldn’t figure them out properly.I didn't have any clue of what to do.Then I had to call my friend who had experience with linux.He told me some commands…no use…they didn’t work….After some time he told me “You have some problem with your partition lay out…..Let me come and check that..till then don’t install linux on your system”.I told him just “Ok”.

Next day,my friend came to my place and gave some commands and some how finished that installation.I felt so happy when I saw fedora working on my system.Then I realized the fact that linux is entirely different from windows(which I was using till then).I really had tough time working on it.My roommate warned me when I had a thought of installing linux only.He said “it’s not that its too difficult to handle.But you should be able to remember some commands(which you don’t need to do on windows)”.I told “ok…that’s no problem…I have good memory power" very confidently(looks like over confidence right.........!!!!).

But my friend who installed linux on my system gave me a shock.He said that "I don’t know how to configure broadband on linux".I didn’t know what to do…Because I can't survive without internet here.Fortunately I met a guy who had loads of experience with linux on some site….I asked him how to configure broadband.He told me some simple steps which I followed and got connected to my BSNL broadband.Finally I got some experience(in fact just 2 days…he he) on linux….

(Rest will be continued)

Earth hour

Here is my contribution in spreading public awareness regarding the campaign “Earth hour”. This is the campaign started by WWF(World Wide Fund for Nature).This campaign’s main objective is to save resources which in turn give raise to reduce climate changes. organizers are inviting all corporate, business, institutional people to switch off their lights and unnecessary appliances at least for one hour in the whole year.Last year this was held on 31^st march 2007 from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm and this year it is back with the same concept. .This time the day is coming on march 29^th from 8pm.I request all the readers to think about it and participate in earth hour.For one hour stay somewhere outside the house and save resources.more than just one hour per year,please try to switch off appliances when they are unused.This may bring a lot of difference.

So,join hands for earth hour and be a part of the great campaign.be proud of saving resources for our successors.Create awareness in others too and make the campaign successful.

Visit earth hour website and sign up now