News article by NDTV-HINDU on Tamizh Bloggers - Video!
Interview with:
Saturday, December 12, 2009
News article by NDTV-HINDU on Tamizh Bloggers
News article by NDTV-HINDU on Tamizh Bloggers - Video!
Interview with:
Friday, December 4, 2009
Switch to Google Public DNS server and speed up your browser speed.
Most of us has not probably come into contact with DNS, the Domain Name System, yet although they make use of it everyday on the Internet. DNS is basically a system to convert domain names into IP addresses.
The Internet Service Provider (ISP) is usually the one that is providing the DNS servers to the customer. This happens more often than not automatically. There are however reasons to switch to other DNS servers with performance, security and results are being three of the major reasons.
Google Public DNS implements a number of security, performance, and compliance improvements. We provide a brief overview of those enhancements below. If you're a developer or deployer of DNS software, we hope you'll also read the technical information pages on this site for more information on these features. Ultimately, our hope is to share our insights and inspire the community to adopt some of these features in all DNS resolvers. The changes are grouped into 3 categories:
- Performance. Many DNS service providers are not sufficiently provisioned to be able to support high-volume input/output and caching, and adequately balance load among their servers. In addition to load-balancing user traffic to ensure shared caching, Google Public DNS implements "smart" caching to increase the speed of responses. Google Public DNS independently resolves
domain names and keeps the resolutions in the cache until their time-to-live (TTL) expires, at which point they are automatically refreshed. The cycle of caching and refreshing is performed offline, asynchronously with user requests, so that responses are almost always available directly from cache. For more information, see the page on performance benefits. - Security. DNS is vulnerable to various kinds of spoofing attacks that can "poison" a nameserver's cache and route its users to malicious sites. The prevalence of DNS exploits means that providers have to frequently apply server updates and patches. In addition, open DNS resolvers are vulnerable to being used to launch denial-of-service (DoS) attacks on other systems. To defend against such attacks, Google has implemented several recommended solutions to help guarantee the authenticity of the responses it receives from other nameservers, and to ensure our servers are not used for launching DoS attacks. These include adding entropy to requests, rate-limiting client traffic, and more. For more information, see the page on security benefits.
- Correct results. Google Public DNS does its best to return the right answer to every query every time, in accordance with the DNS standards. Sometimes, in the case of a query for a mistyped or non-existent domain name, the right answer means no answer, or an error message stating the domain name could not be resolved. Google Public DNS never blocks, filters, or redirects users, unlike some open resolvers and ISPs
How to set DNS:
Control panel / Network connections/ Select active connection/ Properties /Internet Protocol/ Properties/ Select Use the following DNS server address/8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4 /OK and exit.
(Before you change your DNS settings to use Google Public DNS, be sure to write down the current server addresses or settings on a piece of paper. It is very important that you keep these numbers for backup purposes, in case you need to revert to them at any time. )
To test that the Google DNS resolver is working:
- From your browser, type in a hostname, such as http://www.google.com. If it resolves correctly, bookmark the page, and try accessing the page from the bookmark. If both of these tests work, everything is working correctly. If not, go to step 2.
- From your browser, type in a fixed IP address. You can use http://18.62.1.6/ (which points to the website http://eecs.mit.edu/) as the URL*. If this works correctly, bookmark the page, and try accessing the page from the bookmark. If these tests work (but step 1 fails), then there is a problem with your DNS configuration; check the steps above to make sure you have configured everything correctly. If these tests do not work, go to step 3.
- Roll back the DNS changes you made and run the tests again. If the tests still do not work, then there is a problem with your network settings; contact your ISP or network administrator for assistance.
Privacy
Users who use the Google Public DNS servers will automatically submit extensive data to Google that includes all the websites and other services on the Internet that they visit.
According to the privacy information posted on the project web page Google Public DNS records temporary and permanent data but does not “correlate or combine” these information “with any other log data that Google might have about your use of other services, such as data from Web Search and data from advertising on the Google content network”.
Update:
Google Public DNS: Largest Public DNS service and receives 70 Billion requests a day
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Google Wave - Online tool for real-time communication and collaboration.
Google Wave is an online tool for real-time communication and collaboration.
A wave can be both a conversation and a document where people can discuss and work together using richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more.
What is a wave?
A wave is equal parts conversation and document.
People can communicate and work together with richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more.
A wave is shared.
Any participant can reply anywhere in the message, edit the content and add participants at any point in the process. Then playback lets anyone rewind the wave to see who said what and when.
A wave is live.
With live transmission as you type, participants on a wave can have faster conversations, see edits and interact with extensions in real-time.
There are tons of ways to use Google Wave--here are just a few examples to get you thinking.
Google Wave is currently available in a limited preview release.
Google Wave does not currently interact with your email.
We look forward to providing this functionality in the future.
Reliance Communications offers SMS at 1 paise each
A new frontier opened up in the telecom tariff wars on Friday, with Reliance Communications announcing that it will offer its customers the facility of sending SMSes for a mere 1 paise/SMS. The Reliance offer follows a ToI report on November 5, which revealed that while companies have been charging consumers 50 paise to Re 1 per SMS, it actually costs them less than a single paise to send.
This was followed by many representations to telecom regulator Trai by consumer organizations and members of Parliament seeking immediate intervention to lower tariffs. Last week ToI was told by Trai chairman J S Sarma that it would intervene to review SMS tariffs in view of the public pressure, representations and cost data. Within a week of these developments, Reliance has triggered off an SMS tariff war, which is expected to spread like wildfire across all major operators.
Reliance is offering SMS at 1 paise each or unlimited SMSs at Re 1/per day. The new SMS tariffs are add-on plans and are applicable for all Reliance mobile customers irrespective of CDMA or GSM network as well as prepaid and postpaid customers. Irrespective of their current tariff plans, consumers on the Reliance network can avail of the 1p/SMS plan by subscribing to a standard tariff voucher of Rs 11/month. The unlimited SMS plan can be availed on a daily deduction of Re 1/day from consumers prepaid balance.
Given that the cost of sending an SMS is just a fraction of a paise, this move will still allow telcos to make money while reducing the tariff burden on consumers in a significant manner. Speaking to ToI, Reliance Communications president Mahesh Prasad said that this competitive step may prompt the regulator to reconsider its stated intention to intervene in SMS tariffs.
Lower SMS costs are expected to catch the fancy of the youth and office-going consumers. This in turn will put pressure on other operators like Bharti, Vodafone, Idea, Aircel, Tatas and MTNL /BSNL to respond.
An average mobile user sends 25 SMSes every month, says Trai
This costs roughly Rs 25 a month at present
New tariff plan means mobile users will now pay no more than 25 paise a month for the same usage
This will be a reduction of 99% on today’s SMS bill
Courtesy: Shalini Singh | TNN
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Uninor Launched in India
Uninor is the brand name for Unitech Wireless - the joint venture company of India’s second largest diversified real estate major Unitech Ltd. and the Norway based world’s 6th largest mobile services provider Telenor Group. The company holds a pan-India UAS license to offer mobile telephony services in each of India’s 22 circles. It has also received spectrum to roll out these services in 21 of the 22 circles.
At present, the Telenor Group has invested INR 2620 crores through subscription for new shares in the JV company with an agreement to raise this to INR 6120 crores to hold 67.25% stake.
The company intends to launch its service in 22 circles in India by end 2009 under the brand name Uninor. This would make it the fastest to launch among the new operators with a window of only 6 to 9-months between creation of the Joint Venture (in March 2009) to service rollout (by end 2009).
PrePaid Plans:
Offers a Lifetime card for Rs.49 with atalktime of Rs.5.
Loacl@ Re.1
STD@ Rs. 1.50
SMS@ Re1 (Local) Rs.2 (National)
ISD@ Rs.6.40 (Class1) to Rs.550 (Class6)
Providing variety of Value Packs like AfterNoon Saver, Morning saver, Night Saver, SMS / Call with Daily rental packages, long duration call and STD Saver packages.
Can recharge with the denominations of Rs.10 / 20 / 30 / 50 /100
Contact Nos.:
Uninor Customer can dial 121
If you are not then please dial the number corresponding to the circle / state.
| Circle | Call center number (10 digit) |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | 9059090590 |
| Bihar | 9122091220 |
| Kerala | 9061090610 |
| Karnataka | 9060090600 |
| Orissa | 9124091240 |
| Tamil Nadu (Incl. Chennai) | 9171091710 |
| Uttar Pradesh (East) | 9125091250 |
| Uttar Pradesh (West) | 9058090580 |
http://www.uninor.in/
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Kanakku - A free online spreadsheet and calculator
Kanakku is a free web 2.0 application that is a combination of a spreadsheet and a calculator. This application is designed to be used on either IE 7+ or Firefox (Safari seems to be compatible, but further testing is ongoing). All operating systems that use these browsers should be able to use this Website.
This website does not use accounts. You are free to use this website without registration.
File can be saved or opened into the application. Please note that currently only csv (e.g. comma separated value) file extensions are supported.
The application can be used in a variety of ways. Like a spreadsheet, mathematical formulas can be written in each cell. These formulas can be evaluated by pressing the enter key, and the corresponding answer to the formula will be displayed to the user. The type of formulas used by this application can be determined by looking at the function keys on the calculator. As of now, this application can handle arithmetic, trigonometric, and statistical functions. The user can also select multiple cells and select a functional key on the calculator. If the function selected by the user is a unary operator (only one operand or multi selection is needed) then the answer will be automatically displayed. Binary operators require a multi selection to be made, then the desired binary operator should be pressed, and this is followed by making the final multi selection.
http://www.kanakku.com/
Monday, November 23, 2009
SMS rates are set to crash!
NEW DELHI: SMS rates are set to crash with telecom watchdog TRAI reconsidering its longstanding policy of non-interference on tariffs. Following an expose by TOI on November 5 that SMS tariffs are 50 to 100 times higher than what it costs service providers, a top TRAI official said, “We are going to issue a consultation paper to review telecom tariffs within 20 days to a month.” This means consumers can expect substantial relief in SMS tariffs latest by March.
According to the official, the move would have come sooner had the regulator not had its hands full with a consultation process on controversial 2G spectrum issues. The widespread proliferation of texting is expected to spin off into far higher levels of internet usage. Experts confirm that a crash in SMS tariffs could be the first step to generating demand-side pressure for wireless broadband access.
The cost of an SMS is a fraction of a paisa. This is because an average SMS consists of 1KB data, which takes a fraction of a second for transportation and termination. This revelation by TOI knocked the bottom out of claims that India has among the lowest telecom tariffs in the world.
Trai has so far refused to regulate rates under the belief that competitive markets were at work and tariffs reflect costs. However, in the SMS arena, competition has clearly failed to move prices closer to costs. The practice of pricing SMSs high has been prevalent for several years while Trai has chosen to look the other way. This, despite the facts stating otherwise in Trai’s own cost data from its IUC regulation of August 2006.
Source:TNN 23 November 2009
TATA DOCOMO Offers Per-Second Billing for Roaming Across India
NO MORE ROAMING CHARGES!
TATA DOCOMO Offers Per-Second Billing for Roaming Across India
Company’s Industry-changing ‘Pay-for-what-you-use’
Pricing Paradigm Extended to Roaming Calls as Well
+ Introduces 1 paisa per second for all incoming and outgoing local and STD calls, to any network, to mobile or landline phones, while roaming
+ No ‘packs’, hidden charges or upfront payments to avail this unique offer
+ Best-in-the-country offer sure to become yet another industry benchmark
+ With this, company brings in simplicity in tariffs in roaming space as well
Delhi, 22 November 2009: TATA DOCOMO, the GSM brand of Tata Teleservices Limited, today
announced the extension of its industry-changing ‘Pay-for-exactly-what-you-use’ pricing
paradigm to roaming services as well, introducing per-second billing for all calls made or
received while ‘roaming’ across the country, at its existing tariff of 1 paisa per second—for
both pre-paid and post-paid subscribers. The move is set to redefine the very concept of
making calls while ‘roaming’ in India, much as TATA DOCOMO’s per-second billing offer did for
local and long-distance calls a few months earlier, when the company launched commercial
operations.
From Monday, while roaming, subscribers can make calls across India at 1 paisa per second,
across all 15 Circles where TATA DOCOMO has launched GSM services, regardless of which
network or type of phone the call is made to. Furthermore, incoming calls while roaming will
also be charged on a per-second basis, at 1 paisa per second. With TATA DOCOMO set to launch
its GSM services pan-India this year, this game-changing roaming option will be available across
the country.
Redefining the Roaming Paradigm
“We are delighted to announce yet another industry-defying offer to our subscribers—a
transparent and pack-free roaming tariff plan of 1 paisa per second for all incoming & outgoing calls, both local and long distance, to all networks and types of phones (mobile or landline).
TATA DOCOMO subscribers will need no special packs or pay any hidden charges to avail this
offer,” Mr Deepak Gulati, President, TATA DOCOMO, said. “This is in keeping with our
promise to offer innovative and honest services to our subscribers across the country, he
added.”
“When a subscriber is roaming, most telecom operators in India charge a minimum of 50-60
paise per minute, even when the call duration is less than a minute. Under the TATA DOCOMO
roaming offer, subscribers will be charged only for what he or she uses—at 1 paisa per second.
For instance, a 15-second call made or received while roaming will elicit a charge of 15 paise
only—not up to Re 1 on a per minute basis, as is the industry norm,” Mr Gulati said.
End of Confusion in Tariffs
“The roaming value proposition offered by TATA-DOCOMO is a unique and revolutionary idea
which symbolizes the spirit of simplicity, innovation and inventive acumen. This offer for all
our subscribers who roam across the country is another moment of triumph for the TATA
DOCOMO subscriber—and we firmly believe it will create a paradigm shift in the overall
telecom experience for the customer and provide a service that is refreshingly different,” Mr
Gurinder Singh Sandhu, Head, Marketing, TATA DOCOMO, said. “We have always believed
that in a market that is cluttered with many operators and confusing options, it is our
simplicity and transparency that will liberate subscribers,” Mr Sandhu added.
Mobile Number Portability in India, from Dec,31 - TRAI Notification
Finally, India will introduce mobile number portability on Dec 31, 2009
a move that could further intensify the stiff competition in the world's fastest-growing wireless market and push call charges lower.
Mobile Number Portability (MNP), which allows users to retain their number even if they switch operators, will be introduced in two phases, the telecoms regulator said, first in the metro cities and the so-called Category A telecom zones and in other areas by March 20.
MNP helps in "increasing competition between the service providers and acts as a catalyst for the service providers to improve their quality of service," the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) said on its website.
The regulator also notified certain charges associated with MNP and said switching charges for users must not exceed 19 rupees.
Four new firms including ventures of international telecom operators Telenor, Etisalat and Batelco are set to start services in India this year and MNP would make it easy for them to lure existing subscribers.
TELECOM REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF INDIA
NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 20th, November, 2009
TELECOMMUNICATION MOBILE NUMBER PORTABILITY
PER PORT TRANSACTION CHARGE AND DIPPING CHARGE
No. 116-5/2009-MN --------------- In exercise of the powers conferred by
sub-section (1) of section 36, read with sub-clauses (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v)
of clause (b) of sub-section (1) of section 11 of the Telecom Regulatory
Authority of India Act, 1997 (24 of 1997), the Telecom Regulatory
Authority of India hereby makes the following regulations, namely:-
1. Short title and commencement.
(1) These regulations may be called
the Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability Per Port Transaction
Charge and Dipping Charge Regulations, 2009.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in clause (b), these regulations shall
come into force on the 31 day of December, 2009. st
(b) Regulation 5 of these regulations shall come into force from the
date of publication of these regulations in the official Gazette.
2. Definitions . In these regulations, unless the context otherwise
requires,-
(a) “Access Provider” means the holder of a Cellular Mobile
Telephone Service licence or Unified Access Service licence
and includes a service provider providing fixed wireline or fixed
wireless service in addition to Cellular Mobile Telephone
Service;
(b) "Act" means the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
Act, 1997 (24 of 1997);
(c) "Authority" means the Telecom Regulatory Authority of
India established under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Act;
(d) “dipping" means use of query response system of the
Mobile Number Portability Service provider for obtaining
Location Routing Number for routing a message to the called
number,
(e) “Dipping charge” means the charge payable by an Access
Provider or an International Long Distance Operator, to the
Mobile Number Portability Service provider for each dipping;
(f) “Location Routing Number ” means the code assigned to
every Access Provider for the purpose of implementing Mobile
Number Portability;
(g) “Mobile Number Portability” means the facility which
allows a subscriber to retain his mobile telephone number when
he moves from one Access Provider to another irrespective of
the mobile technology or from one cellular mobile technology
to another of the same Access Provider;
(h) “Mobile Number Portability Service provider” means an
entity who has been granted a licence under section 4 of the
Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 (13 of 1885) for providing Mobile
Number Portability Service;
(i) “Per Port Transaction charge” means the charge payable
by the Recipient Operator to the Mobile Number Portability
Service provider for processing the porting request in respect of
a mobile number;
(j) “Recipient Operator" means an Access Provider who will
be providing mobile telecommunication service to the
subscriber after porting and includes his authorised agent;
(k) all other words and expressions used in these regulations
but not defined, and defined in the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885
(13 of 1885) and the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India
Act, 1997 (24 of 1997) and the rules and other regulations made
thereunder, shall have the meanings respectively assigned to
them in those Acts or the rules or such other regulations, as the
case may be.
3. Per Port Transaction charge.-- The Per Port Transaction charge shall
be rupees Nineteen.
4. Dipping charge
( 1) The Dipping charge shall be such as may be
mutually agreed between the Mobile Number Portability Service provider
and the Access Provider or International Long Distance Operator, as the
case may be, who desires to utilise the query response system of the
Mobile Number Portability Service provider.
(2) Each Mobile Number Portability Service provider shall, by an
agreement with the Access Provider or International Long Distance
Operator, as the case may be, arrive at the Dipping charge within thirty
days from the date of publication of these regulations in the official
Gazette.
(3) In case the service providers are unable to arrive at a mutual
agreement under sub-regulation (2) within thirty days of publication of
these regulations in the official Gazette, the Authority shall on reference
from such service providers or suo-motu fix the Dipping charge.
5. Reporting Requirement:
(1) Each Mobile Number Portability
Service provider shall report the Dipping charge to the Authority within
seven days of entering into an agreement under sub-regulation (2) of
regulation 4.
(2) Any subsequent change in the Dipping charge shall be reported to the
Authority by the Mobile Number Portability Service provider within
seven days of coming into effect of such change.
6 . Intervention and Review:
(1) The Authority may, by order or
direction in writing, from time to time, intervene, for the purpose of
protecting the interest of the subscribers or the service providers or for
monitoring and ensuring compliance of these regulations so as to promote
and ensure orderly growth of the telecom sector.
(2) The Authority may review and modify the Per Port Transaction
charge and Dipping charge at the end of one year from the date of these
regulations coming into force.
the Telecommunication Mobile Number Portability Per Port Transaction
Charge and Dipping Charge Regulations, 2009 (9 of 2009).
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