Googli !

- Googli -
This post is not about cricket!! there are plenty of them already on blogs.
Read on for some demystification…
It starts at Mysore. I and my friends were having a stroll on Devaraja Urs road, the main street of Mysore. I was looking for the AirTel shop. As I am internet enthusiast, I desperately wanted to activate GPRS on my phone.
After some searching, we were at the AirTel showroom. A decent demure type girl welcomed us...
Me: Mam, I want to activate GPRS on my card.
Girl: GP… what?
Me: GPRS… to surf internet on phone?
Girl: Ok, yes, where do you stay?
Me: Hootagalli… Infosys. But why?
Girl: We don’t provide internet in some sectors, but don’t worry, it is available in your sector.
Me: Good, so what is the charge?
Girl: 750 pm for full access and 150 for limited one…
Me: (750 !! that’s a lot)
What will I get in limited access?
Girl: You can access only googli …
All of us: Huh??? !!
Me: Google you mean?
Girl: Umm… googli.com, only that will work…
By this time we all were laughing over this googli!

The point is:- Google is a HUGE brand. For many of us, a solution to problem may start at google.com. Microsoft is shaken, Yahoo is feeling the heat… as Google is marching ahead. Google has a habit of surprising people by introducing innovative products which add great value to user. Everybody is so hooked to Google that searching is transformed as googling!
But wait a minute, is google search really that good today? I object.
Because of Google, all other top players (msn.com and yahoo) realized that the one who rules internet search can easily rule other sectors on internet. This made msn and yahoo put efforts and capital in better search engine technology. And if you see today, the other search engines might perform better. I have personally realized this. In many cases, google results were not as relevant compared to other results.
There was a time when google was far better than others…this time gave google a strong grip over users. This grip is still working as advantage for google.
So, the story so far is that everyone is making their search engine better. So the best way to search is to use a meta search engine – a engine which sits on top of other search engines and delivers combined results. Interesting idea, isn’t it?
I found it interesting, and as result of it, I came up with my own meta search engine!!
It is in its very primary stage, but a working model can be accessed on: http://varuda.com/meta
It is no good compared to other top meta search engines (mamma and metacrawler), but it works.

Now for my GPRS activation… Rs.750 pm was out of question. And Rs.150 just for google.com was plain stupid. What is the point in being able to access google.com but not the links which it delivers! Now I have moved to Maharashtra and enjoy full access gprs at cool Rs.150 pm.

As usual, comments are welcome.

To 3G or Not to ...

To 3G or Not to ...
Yes, that is the question.Still dont get it? Dont worry, let me tell you some background:Like there are versions of Windows, there are versions of Mobile networks. Unlike Windows though, with each new version, they become less & less buggy. Presently all the GSM (Airtel, Idea etc) n/ws are 2G and all the CDMA (Mere papa ka sapna, sabka paisa aapna) n/ws are 2.5G. That is 2nd or 2.5th 'G'eneration. 3G is the next generation.
Indian network operators are now brainstorming over the question: To go for 3G or not. 3G networks have high data rate, better utilization of cellular spectrum. This means, for common man, voice will become clearer, less conjunction of network and Mallika Sherawat wallpapers will be downloaded at a brisk speed. And most important, two way video conference and video/audio streaming. 'Working Moms can make a video call on a phone placed at home, and watch the baby'( - as advertised by some operators). But Indian operators are not sure. The reason behind this confusion is poor response from customers in the countries where it has already been implemented i.e. UK and USA.
Vodafone was the 1st to go 3G in UK with 'watch your baby while you are away' business model. The penetration rate hasent been that well.Later, few n/ws in US adapted 3G. Media overstated the capabilities of 3G saying 'watch live streaming TV on move', seriously, that was too much. Yes, 3G is for video streaming, but not TV for god's sake. Watching TV on a tiny mobile screen, pixeled picture..you cant even make out who is reading the news..nor can you read stock ticker running at the bottom of the screen. To hamper even more, Nokia and other groups came up with DVB-H (Digital Video broadcasting) technology made specially to watch TV on move. They launched models with big wide screens (such as N7710) and obviously it has better performance. In USA, consumers are not happy the way 3G services are charged, even that is a down side.

Now the Desi story:
Why Indian operators are considering 3G? Every day, voice call prices are coming down. Operators are making very less profits out of it, that too in the cut throat competition. The way to go is by making money in Value added services i.e. the SMS ones..have you ever thought of a million Rs.4 SMSs generated out of popular TV shows and cricket scores. All the 4 digit SMSs deduct Rs.4 from your account, this is a big money making machine for operators. On similar grounds, 3G offers a host of money making services. But the problem is, 3G services require 3G enabled handsets, unlike SMS services. Plus, considering response from the west, they are skeptical about this up gradation.
To solve this problem, big daddy Nokia and others are coming in picture. Nokia announced to launch 15-20 3G enabled models in Indian market over a period of a year. Another factor is cost. But due to mass manufacturing, handset market prices arent necessarily guided by manufacturing costs... but by how much consumer is ready to pay. If manufacturers and operators tie up and decide to make money out of volumes (of handsets and services) this business model is sure to work. It is proven that avg Indian consumer is, if I can use, 'stupid'. Indian consumer is lured by anything that is advertised very well. People buy mobile phones paying for the facilities they are never going to use. One more helping factor and the most important one is 'Content'. With Bollywood, Tollywood and Cricket matches, there will be vast content available to be used over 3G services.
Looks like everything will workout well for operators and manufacturers. We will soon see people watching streaming videos(and surfing fast internet) on mobile phones while their way to offices and back, not worrying about traffic jams.
Personally, as I am avid user of GPRS on my phone, I will love to see 3G coming in India ASAP. Will you like it too?
This is my 1st ever blog and comments are most welcome. And it wont deduct Rs.4 from your balance...so what are you waiting for, start commenting now!!