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India's 3G spectrum auction finally on for December, for real this time

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 16th 2009 @ 9:56AM

After stone-cold blowing past its original planned start window in January, India has announced that its huge 3G spectrum auction will finally kick off on December 7 of this year. Interestingly, operators MTNL and BSNL have both already begun their respective 3G rollouts, but they're not getting out of paying fair market prices: when the auction concludes, they'll need to pay the equivalent of the high bidder's price to keep their own slices of the airwaves. After the WCDMA 3G auction wraps up, both EV-DO and WiMAX auctions kick off two days later, which means the world's second most populous country is about to get a whole heck of a lot more high-speed wireless data -- or the promise of it, anyhow. [Warning: PDF link]

Tata DoCoMo launches per-character SMS pricing, and this headline just cost us close to a rupee

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 10th 2009 @ 7:36AM

Never mind "nickel and diming" -- Indian joint venture Tata DoCoMo is now rupee and paising (a paise is a hundredth of a rupee) customers who sign up for its new "Diet-SMS" messaging plan. Unlimited and ultra-high-allowance messaging plans are now commonplace in some parts of the world, but on the other end of the spectrum, Diet-SMS is actually a regression from the old practice of charging by the message -- you get charged by the character. The good news is they don't charge for spaces and characters are just a single paise each, which works out to about two-hundredths of a US cent at current conversion rates -- but still, the fact remains that a 160-character SMS costs Tata DoCoMo exactly the same to handle as a 1-character one. What's worse, you just know this is going to give rise to a new ultra-efficient shorthand notation that makes "LOL" look like a novella.

[Via textually.org]

Oh, by the way: September 7, 2009

by Chris Ziegler posted Sep 8th 2009 @ 12:24AM

Here's some of the other stuff that happened in the wide world of mobile for Monday, September 7, 2009:

Samsung's got a version of the Jet for its domestic Korean market, the clumsily-named "Haptic AMOLED." Unlike its international cousin, the Haptic AMOLED packs a T-DMB tuner (as just about all Korean phones do) and it's available in spicy pink and white shades for the usual carriers SKT, KTF, and LGT.
Did you know that AT&T used to have a stake in the Indian wireless market? Yeah, us neither, but they did prior to the Cingular merger -- and rumor has it they're looking to get back in by buying a chunk of state-owned operator BSNL, ostensibly because the market -- which is still in a heavy growth phase -- is seen as a powder keg waiting to explode.
This one's been going around for a few days, and with the carrier's full-court press on Android, it makes total sense: the Bluetooth SIG is reporting that the Samsung T939 Behold2 for T-Mobile will feature "Google Mobile services," which would fit in with an earlier user agent profile leak. [Via Cell Phone Signal]
There's a new Samsung i8910 HD firmware that's starting to hit some regions, and it's a good one -- it features an all-new 3D task switcher and a built-in weather forecast widget for TouchWiz. [Via PhoneArena]
Surprise, surprise: Toshiba is relaunching the mighty TG01 with Windows Mobile 6.5 next month, a move that was fully expected all along. If anything, there'd be riots had this not happened.
Sony Ericsson's Panel SDK for the X2 is now available, featuring new "Panelizer" tools to convert existing apps into panels in a few easy steps -- and starting in the next few days, devs will be able to submit their work for inclusion in the PlayNow arena.
Vodafone has launched a range of eight new self-branded devices that'll be available in time for the holidays this year, and as usual, they're positioned squarely at the lower end of the market. Some of them like the E71 ripoff 1240 (pictured) are straight-up KIRFs, while others like the "Crystal" member of the 533 Catwalk Collection are trying to ooze fashion and style without killing the wad of cash stuffed in your pocket. Whether they've succeeded in doing that... well, that's another question altogether. [Via Unwired View]

Samsung's Mpower 699 makes Open Market Handset initiative a reality in India

by Chris Ziegler posted Aug 31st 2009 @ 5:35PM

Outside of the occasional heavy-handed bout of carrier locking and regional band incompatibilities, GSM customers around the world benefit from one huge technical advantage over CDMA: network independence. That's the problem the CDMA Development Group has been trying to solve with the introduction of the Open Market Handset initiative, and Sammy is now the first manufacturer in the world to roll out OMH-compliant gear. The Mpower 699's appearance and forgettable specs belie its ground-breaking guts, looking pretty much like any other low-end Samsung slider of the past few years -- but inside is an R-UIM slot that allows the phone to be used on any CDMA carrier in India where it's being launched for 7,100 rupees (about $145). If you're not happy with what you see here, fret not -- Sammy's promising a total of five more OMH phones in India by early next year, so it looks like this is the wave of the CDMA future. LTE aside, don't count these guys out -- CDMA's going to be around for a very long time to come.

[Via Unwired View]

Blyk looking to partner with a carrier for Indian launch

by Chris Ziegler posted Jun 11th 2009 @ 1:33PM

We'd just recently heard that Blyk was getting out of the business of starting its own regional carriers, but at the same time, the company said that it would continue to pursue partnerships with other carriers who already have infrastructure and subscribers in place -- and the first country to benefit from the refreshed business model might be India. A company spokesperson has told Mint that they "do intend to enter India but cannot comment yet on timing," saying that discussions with potential launch partners are still ongoing; additionally, it's rumored that the local division is already stocking up on senior execs to lead the business. Blyk's ads-for-minutes model seems to be seeing some success in the places where it's launched so far, and with India's hundreds of millions of mobile users just waiting to be tapped, this could be a gold mine if the local advertising market is ripe.

[Via mocoNews]

Samsung's E1107 packs solar power, not much else

by Chris Ziegler posted Jun 11th 2009 @ 10:26AM

ZTE already proved that solar power can make a ton of sense in the low end of the market, so we're not sure why Sammy thought it could get away with the "World's First Solar Phone" tagline here -- but at any rate, Asian, European, and Latin American locales can look forward to the E1107 hitting retail this month. The ultra-basic candybar claims to get 5 to 10 minutes of talk time for every hour sitting in the sun, and depending on how much you talk, that could be enough to take the place of a wall charger altogether. One look at the phone should tell you that there isn't much going on here gizmo-wise outside of the solar cells, but one nifty feature is a built-in fake call app that'll let you call yourself in a pinch to get out of an unwanted conversation. Sure, the iPhone already has an app for that, but is the iPhone solar? We didn't think so.

Tata, NTT DoCoMo unveil new branding in India

by Chris Ziegler posted Jun 10th 2009 @ 8:32AM

The term "DoCoMo" is usually accompanied by a barrage of wild, high-end mobile hardware, so we have a tendency to sit up and pay attention whenever the storied name appears on a carrier anywhere in the world. India's Tata Teleservices -- of which NTT DoCoMo holds a 26 percent share -- is set to launch a newly-branded GSM service as Tata DoCoMo in the southern part of the country this month, followed by a "gradual" expansion nationwide. The logo's pretty awesome, the name's pretty awesome -- now we just need some Japanese domestic market handsets to go along with it and we'll be in business.

BSNL next to bring 3G to India

by Chris Ziegler posted Mar 4th 2009 @ 1:44PM

Residents of Ambala, India have just been blessed with an exciting new reason to pay close attention to their overage charges -- and it's about time. Following MTNL's recent launch, fellow carrier BSNL has recently flipped the switch on its own 3G service, which is currently limited to the Ambala area. Data rates run between 2 and 3 rupees per megabyte -- about 4 to 5 cents -- which actually seems like an insanely awesome deal, all things considered. Considering the red tape developing up in the hallowed halls of government, it could be a long while yet before anything goes national, but hey, at least a few cities are getting blessed with the good stuff in the meantime.

[Thanks, Jeelz]

MTNL posts "Keep Out!" sign on its 3G network

by Darren Murph posted Feb 6th 2009 @ 9:55PM

Government-controlled Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL) just went live with the 3G network we've known was coming since December. All good, right? Not quite. The telecom firm is crying foul to the Department of Telecom, as it currently suspects that someone, somewhere is experimenting on its 3G spectrum. Reportedly, the unauthorized testing has caused disturbances for MTNL subscribers, and according to a company official, the disturbance miraculously stops every time the DoT visits the area to investigate. Sounds like an M. Night Shyamalan movie or something, doesn't it?

Spice S940 brings out the student in all of us

by Darren Murph posted Jan 28th 2009 @ 6:59PM

Before you ask -- no, this candybar isn't specially equipped to help you cheat on tests, it's actually helpful for studying. Imagine that, right? The Spice S940 reportedly comes loaded with the ability to make / receive calls, take snapshots with its two megapixel camera, tune into FM radio, play back multimedia files and access an online portal that provides preparation for the CAT, IIT and a few other professional exams. Moreover, the "email2sms" feature beams your emails to you by way of text message, and the included "friend finder" is sure to go over well with the social networking fanatics. And hey, Rs 5,999 ($122) ain't bad for a digital study guide.

Vodafone bringing BlackBerry Storm to India

by Darren Murph posted Jan 18th 2009 @ 3:43AM

Not much to say in addition to the information-packed headline, but yeah, RIM's BlackBerry Storm is coming to India courtesy of Vodafone. The handset is expected to go on sale January 15th for Rs 27,990, which -- at $574 using present day conversion charts -- should shut any American up about high phone prices.

[Via Cellpassion]

Bureaucratic drama: India wants to double 3G license prices

by Chris Ziegler posted Jan 5th 2009 @ 10:31AM

Just as carriers (and would-be carriers) were likely scraping up the necessary 20 billion rupees to plunk down for a national 3G license over in India, the government wants to switch things up double down. The country's Finance Ministry has apparently asked the Department of Telecom to ask for some 40 billion rupees as a minimum bid price now -- that's about $840 million for those who don't have the Indian rupee-to-American dollar conversion table memorized -- which would automatically require Cabinet and regulatory re-approval, ensuring a delay of the January 30 date that had been previously scheduled for bidding to begin. Confusingly, the Finance Ministry indicates the proposed change is a response to lukewarm demand for licenses from foreign, non-Indian companies; the thought is that doubling the minimum might force out some local players and reignite interest from some global wireless heavyweights. Weird how that works.

[Via mocoNews]

Rolls-Royce converted into mobile cellphone store in India

by Darren Murph posted Dec 25th 2008 @ 9:51PM

We've heard that this here Rolls-Royce has been rolling throughout India for a good while now, but it's just too absurd to not pass along. As you can clearly see above, this high-end automobile has been thoroughly abused with a paint can and a slew of decals, but it's easily the most unique cellphone store we've ever laid eyes on. We mean, who wouldn't be interested in buying a gently used handset out of the back of a Phantom?

[Via Autoblog]

Indian government hoping to weed out IMEI-less handsets

by Darren Murph posted Dec 22nd 2008 @ 6:32PM

Nokia has already taken upon itself an initiative to cull the widespread adoption of knockoff handsets (also referred to as Fokias in the underground) in India, but now it seems the nation's government is stepping up to help out. Reportedly, over 25 million Chinese-sourced handsets in India are making / receiving calls without an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI) number to identify it, and authorities believe these phones enable terrorists to communicate more easily in undetected fashion. Recently, it moved to delay a ban on IMEI-less handsets from January 6, 2009 to March 31, 2009, though it seems as if a special IMEI-loading software could enable those with knockoffs to continue using them lawfully. Way to think green, India.

[Via OnlyGizmos, thanks Annkur]

MTNL brings India the 3G love it's been missing out on

by Darren Murph posted Dec 11th 2008 @ 1:55PM

The Indian government controlled Mahanagar Telephone Nigam (MTNL) is bringing to India something much of the world has been enjoying for years: 3G. That's right, as of this week, select parts of Delhi -- Connaught Place, Sanchar Bhawan, Rajaji Marg, India Gate, Pragati Maidan, Delhi Gate and Minto Road in particular -- can tap into those lightning fast 3G speeds that we've grown so accustomed to elsewhere, and if all goes to plan, 3G will hit Mumbai and Chennai "early next year." Also of note, the extra G is being made available gratis for now, but it's expected that a tariff will be implemented once it gets customers' hooked. And hooked you'll be.

[Via PCWorld]