It's All About Updates

After a long delay finally Maharashtra and Goa circle will get the next generation BSNL 3G Mobile and Data services from 11th June.

The Pan-India 3G operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) is going to make its 3G debut in the Pune, Goa, and 55 other cities in Maharashtra and Goa telecom circle from June 11th.

Maharshtra’s cultural capital city of Pune will be the first city to witness the launch of the 3G mobile service by BSNL on 11th June while Panjim and Goa will get commercial 3G services from 24 June.

Apart from this BSNL will also enhance the services area to all the district headquarters of the Maharashtra and Goa circle along with 55 major cities by the end of July-2010.

In a bid to promote the postpaid mobile services, Tata Docomo, GSM services from Tata Teleservices has introduced a special offer of free GSM postpaid connection for all Tata Photon+ EVDO customers in Mumbai and Maharastra- Goa telecom circles.

Now all new and existing postpaid (retail and enterprise) customers of Tata Photon+ in Mumbai, Maharastra and Goa telecom circles are entitled to get a Tata Docomo postpaid GSM connection absolutely free – Zero Activation Fees, No Security Deposit and No Sim Value.

The operator also offers 25% discount on monthly rental of its GSM postpaid services and 100 MB Free data usage for 1st sixth months.

In an attempt to provide greater benefits to the GSM mobile service users, India’s first 3G mobile service operator Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) announced the launch of Free 3G Up-gradation for its 2G GSM Dolphin & Trump subscribers in Mumbai telecom circle.

Under the MTNL Mumbai ’s Free 3G Up-gradation Offer, its Postpaid and Prepaid (Dolphin/Trump) 2G subscriber will be automatically up-graded into next generation 3G services at free of cost.

After conversion of all 2G customers to 3G, the customers using 3G handsets will be able to make video calls in 3G coverage area. In addition to the above 3G facilities, if a customer wish to avail data services (3.5G Internet browsing and download), they can send ACT 3G by SMS to 555 or 444 for Dolphin and Trump customers respectively.The data services will be charged as per the default tariff or data plans subscribed by the customer.

Just Dial has now recently launched its US operations. Americans can call 1-800- JUSTDIAL speak to a live operator who can assist them with instant info on any business, product or service in their neighborhood, city or anywhere in America.

Just Dial has plans to expand into countries such as Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore and Hong Kong soon.

Having acquired almost a 90% market share Just Dial is clearly India’s No.1 in the local search space with presence on Phone (69999999), Web (justdial.com), WAP (wap.justdial.com) and SMS (53999). Just Dial is the first local search engine to venture on foreign grounds.

Mobile web browser firm Bitstream Inc. today announced that its BOLT browser recorded One Billion web page having launched for the mobile phones in February last year.

Anna Magliocco-Chagnon, CEO of Bitstream said “In July of last year Bitstream announced that BOLT climbed past 100 million Web pages rendered. The first 100 million pages are always the hardest. At our current rate of usage, BOLT servers are rendering 100 million Web pages every two weeks, and that rate is accelerating.

BOLT is now drawing new users faster than 1 million every month, another rate that is also accelerating. It’s extremely gratifying that after all our hard work and our dialogue with our users, we have built a mobile application that is highly reviewed, award-winning and popular around the world.”

Tata Teleservices Limited today introduced the BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone to CDMA customers on the Tata Indicom network.

The new BlackBerry Curve 8530 will be available at authorized Tata Indicom retail stores across India for a price tag of Rs 18990.Tata Indicom is offering free data services for two months along with the BlackBerry Curve 8530 customers can also enjoy watching free live TV for the first 3 months if they subscribe before 30th June, 2010.

The BlackBerry Curve 8530 is equipped with dedicated media keys, which are smoothly integrated along the top of the handset giving customers an easy, convenient way to control their music and videos. With high speed network access and its built-in Wi-Fi, customers can enjoy faster access to the Internet and extended data coverage.

Handygo today announced its partnership with Sony BMG for exclusive digital rights to 12 premium movies.

These include the latest Hindi flicks like ‘Rajneeti’ starring Katrina Kaif and Ranbir Kapoor, ‘I hate love storys’ staring Imran Khan & Sonam Kapoor, ‘Ayeisha’ staring Abhay Deol and Sonam Kapoor, ‘Crook’ staring Emraan Hashmi and Neha Sharma.

The Tamil movies include Singam, Raavan, Aadukalam, Sindubad, and Kadhal 2 Kalyanam; while the Telugu movies include Puli, Raavan and Kaleja.

The content will be deployed on the WAP platform across almost all operators including Airtel, Reliance, Idea, Tata, Aircel and Vodafone. Customers can play contests on IVR, download wallpapers, animations and music and enhance their overall experience and engagement with their favorite stars and also win various exciting prizes.

In a bid to promote the 3G mobile and data services, India’s National telecom backbone and pan India 3G operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has partnered with the Indian Railways.

As part of the tie-up, the New Delhi-Chennai Rajdhani Express will boast BSNL 3G logos and advertisements as a promotional vehicle. The 1st Rajdhani train was flagged off by Mr. Kuldeep Goel, Chairman and Managing Director of BSNL from New Delhi. The six-month campaign is expected to cover 34 locations across 11 States in India.

With the unique marketing initiative, all coaches of the New Delhi-Chennai Rajdhani Express were covered with vinyl sheets carrying advertisements of BSNL 3G services.

Always at the forefront of consumer packs, TATA DOCOMO launches yet another super efficient pack for its Karantaka circle.

Amongst its many plans, Tata Docomo has launched this one for to woo its ever growing consumer base of young users who SMS a lot. This launch now makes it possible to get 15000 sms for just Rs. 24 and this one is just not local sms but also STD. The validity is however for 30 days only.

But if you manage to complete your quote of 15000 sms then be prepared to shell out 60p per local sms while the STD sms will come at Re.1.20. So get going. Get your SMS voucher and start raining the SMS. After all its the season of monsoons.

TeleDNA Communications the leading VAS technology and infrastructure provider today announced that BSNL has successfully deployed TeleDNA’s SDP in South Zone to manage their 3G VAS based application services.

TeleDNA SDP platform has been developed to bring convergence between 2.5G & 3G services which will address the challenge of converting mobile contents and applications to carrier grade services.

TeleDNA SDP addresses the immediate challenges and paves the way towards an IMS-compatible services platform where multimedia services can be available across any kind of access networks.

India’s first 3G Mobile service operator Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) has launched special ISD calling packs for its prepaid 2G GSM and 3G customers in Mumbai telecom circle.

With the MTNL ISD Pack, Trump prepaid customers can now make ISD calls to any phone in USA and Canada at Rs.1.50 approx with per second billing benefits.

MTNL’s New ISD Packs comes at Rs.81 with talk time of Rs.19 as a main balance and Free 2400 Seconds to make ISD Calls to USA, Canada, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand and all countries having 001 access code with per second billing benefits.

The ISD Pack will be valid for 30 Days from the date of recharge and applicable to all Per Second and Per minute plan (2G and 3G) customers in Mumbai telecom circle.

As the 3G launch is gaining heat the GPRS feast has come alive. Now IDEA has come up with a unique scheme for its pre-paid customers.

A special recharge of Rs. 98 enables the user access to 2GB of free surfing every month. This offer is valid only for pre-paid customers and can be activated by a unique GPRS recharge.

However the 2 gb data cannot be consumed in a single day and the daily limit is 70 mb.While the 2gb data limit converts to roughly 200 hours of surfing on the GPRS enabled phone, Rs. 5 per MB will be charged for usage exceeding the 70 MB in a day.

Now just don’t call on your Idea mobile but do more wit just Rs.98 per month.

World’s leading mobile phone maker Nokia today announced the launch of its much-awaited Linux Maemo operating system based first mobile phone N900 in India at Rs.30,639.

The Nokia N900 is just as mobile computer which can also be used as a phone. From the dashboard or desktop, all it takes is a twist of your wrist to instantly access the phone app. Make a call, or choose another way to get your message across.

With Maemo on your device you can start multiple chats with your Ovi, Gtalk, Skype, and other IM contacts – then from the dashboard jump between your ongoing chats in the time it takes to tap the screen.

In a bid to empowered the rural parts of Maharashtra and Goa telecom circle with High Speed Broadband Internet connectivity at affordable rates, India’s National telecom backbone and state-owned telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) launches 2 new Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) broadband plans at Rs.150 and Rs.250 per month.

Under BSNL-USOF 150 plan, rural subscribers in Maharashtra and Goa telecom circle can access high speed 2 Mbps Broadband Internet with free downloads up to 1 GB per month, beyond free usage charges will be just 40 paisa/MB.

Under USOF 250 Combo plan, rural subscriber will get rent free BSNL land line connection, 100 free local calls/month and access 2 Mbps Broadband Internet with free downloads up to 1.5 GB per month, beyond free usage the broadband

Tutis Media today announced the launch of ‘Tutis World Cup 2010′ mobile app.The application will go live by 8 June, 2010 and the application has been currently priced Rs 100 per download.

The application works for users without smartphones too.The features that would play post download of mobile application include News & Feature Stories around Football World Cup 2010,Fixtures with details like Date, Team Line Up, Match Preview & Review, Last 6 games, Goal Times,Latest Scores etc.

On this occasion, Mr Mahnish Patel, CEO, Tutis Media Streaming Pvt Ltd said, “ With the introduction of advanced technology, the entire mobile industry is undergoing a revolution. Tutis strives to break new grounds and will continue to launch new applications for sports lovers across India. Our customers can expect new and revolutionary applications in the coming months. ”

Today Sony Ericsson renamed its accessories portfolio to Extras. Through Extras Sony Ericsson will enhance the mobile phone experience for consumers via its products and in store.

Sony Ericsson has also introduced two new Bluetooth Headsets the VH110 and the VH410.Divided into four simple categories, Talk, Play, Listen and Go, the new Sony Ericsson Extras now makes it even easier for consumers to understand how to add a new experience to enjoy their handset.

The company claims Bluetooth Headset VH410 and VH110 are both made from recycled plastics and finished with water-based paint. The headsets also come in environmentally friendly and smaller packaging to reduce waste.

du,the integrated telecom operator in the UAE announced that it has signed a construction and maintenance agreement (C&MA) to build the first direct, high-bandwidth optical-fiber submarine cable system from the United Kingdom to India.

The EIG cable system, targeted to be operational in second quarter of 2010, is a 15,000 kilometer (9,000 mile) system that will connect 13 countries and three continents. Landings are planned in the United Kingdom, Portugal, Gibraltar, Morocco, Monaco, France, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, Oman, United Arab Emirates and India.

Global operators that are part of the consortium are AT&T; Bharti Airtel

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) partnered with Indian Railways for 3 months to publicize and strenghten brand image of BSNL 3G. Under this agreement as much as 25,000 square feet of BSNL advertisement creative would be wrapped onto Rajdhani Express with a special quality vinyl approved by RDSO. BSNL will take care for up-gradation, cleaning and maintenance of Rajdhani trains. BSNL has done a full train external vinyl wrap for the first time in India including internal media for captive visibility.

Research In Motion today launched the BlackBerry Curve 8530 for TATA Indicom customers. On buying BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone before 30th June TATA Indicom customers will get two months of free data services, TATA Indicom is also offering 3 months of free live TV. BlackBerry Curve 8530 is priced at Rs. 18,990.

The BlackBerry Curve 8530 smartphone measures 109 mm x 60 mm x 13.90 mm (L x W x D) and weighs 106 grams (including battery). It features features high speed network access, built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, trackpad and dedicated media keys which are integrated along the top of the handset.

ow BSNL EVDO customers can avail discounts by making annual payment in advance, similar to what BSNL's broadband customer are availing right now. BSNL has announced that a EVDO user can save two months rent by paying rent for ten months in advance.

For example, if someone has unlimited postpaid EVDO plan of Rs. 750 then in monthly option one has to pay 750 x 12 = RS. 9000 + 10.3 % Service tax = Rs.9927
But in Annual option scheme one needs to pay Rs. 7500 + 10.3 % Service Tax = Rs. 8272.5

This scheme is available for all EVDO Tariff Plans.

The Android based device, codenamed as Shakira, from Sony Ericsson was leaked recently. SEMCblog reports that it has bigger screen and size than X10 mini but smaller screen and size than original X10. Launch date, specs and other details about this device are not yet available.

Sachin Pilot, the Union Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology, has directed that quality of services being offered by BSNL be closely monitored. The exercise has been first launched in Rajasthan, Bihar, Maharashtra, Kerala, and North-East- I Circles.

Quality of service will be monitored in the areas of call drops, traffic congestion, downtime of telecom towers, promptness and effectiveness of customer service, broadband expansion, push marketing and expansion.