Technology | Fone Arena

Ever Wondered What are the 2 Digit Codes In SMS you Receive?

Its more than a month that I was receiving promotional SMSs on my GMS number from various service providers and various utility services like Bill payments services, ICICI bank, SBI, Honda Motors but one thing I was noticing since last few days was, along with the company’s name in the sender field, I used to get a 2 digit Alpha code prefixed like AK-SBI, BM-ICICI. Have you ever wondered what are they? Recently I came across a release wherein I got to know that these 2 digit prefix are actually codes using which you can locate where the SMSs are originated from. The first alphabet reveals the operator name and the second alphabet on the code reveals area from where the message has been originated.

Continue reading “Ever Wondered What are the 2 Digit Codes In SMS you Receive?”

Mumbai can cheer. MTNL 3G service to launch today

After much wait and several delays (From December 2008 end launch to February to April end and now finally mid May), MTNL will finally launch its 3G service ‘Jadoo’ in Mumbai today.

MTNL’s Chairman and Managing Director R.S.P Sinha will launch the 3G service at south Mumbai’s five star Hotel Taj President. To launch the 3G service in Mumbai, MTNL has already set up 720 base transceiver stations in the Mumbai Circle.

This comes as good news for MTNL mobile users who did not succumb to switching over to a private operator. While MTNL has not revealed the pricing of the service yet, it is certain that services such as Video calling, Video conferencing, and Rich Multimedia experience, Video on demand, Mobile Internet speeds up to 7 mbps and Mobile TV will now be accessible to users. Continue reading “Mumbai can cheer. MTNL 3G service to launch today”

5 Free Group Messaging Services in India

Ever wanted to send free SMS to a group of friends inviting them for a party or a function? You keep sending such group invitation using your mobile and shelling a large amount of talk time? Just try out any of the below mentioned free group SMS solutions in India and save a large amount of talk time.

Mytoday is among one of the first services started by Netcore solutions which provided one of its kind services and followed it are many other services like Tagg, SMSGupshup, Vakow, GoogleSMSChannels, etc.

SMSGupshup – This is the service, that brought change to the Indian group messaging solution. Though, Netcore’s Mytoday was launched much prior to SMSGupShup but Gupshup was hit just because of its huge investment in advertising and marketing its product.

Tagg.in is another entrant in free group messaging solution in India followed by Rajesh Jain’s Mytoday and webaroo’s SMSGupShup. Tagg.in was initiated by another commerce graduate – Ashish Deora who was the founder of AOL broadband in India. Though Tagg.in also tried hard to market its product, it remained far behind Mytoday and SMSGupshup because of the downtime their service faced many times in the past.

Vakow is a service that you MUST have come across for sure, if you are a twitter fan. Apart from free group messaging solution, another advantage Vakow has over all other free group messaging services is that it used to update your twitter account using the SMS that you send to their 10 digit mobile number. But it seems even this service (sending tweets via SMS) has also now went down as I am unable to use it since last couple of months.

GoogleSMSChannels – A service that does not needs a description. This free group messaging solution is in testing phase of Google and as such tagged as ‘Labs’. Though Google was late to come out with such a service, but its definitely worth using once. The biggest advantage with Google SMS Channels is, unlike any other free group messaging solutions, it delivers the SMSs at a very fast rate and that is not all.. Its the only free group messaging services in India supporting SMS publishing of full 160 characters without any ads in the footer.

Group messaging lovers out there, now its your work to use the above mentioned services and rate them on the comments section below. 🙂

SMSFame: Send Unlimited Free SMS in India Without Ads

In the past, we have come across many free SMS messaging solutions, using which you can send free SMS to any number in India without incurring any charges and sometimes, you even have the ability to send SMS without even disclosing your name or identity. (It is useful while advertising a product or so) but the only disadvantage among such free messaging solutions is the receiver of the SMS will get the desired message along with an Ad that the free SMS providers add to make good the loss they incur for giving away free SMSing solution. Continue reading “SMSFame: Send Unlimited Free SMS in India Without Ads”

Now Easily Get your Exam Results Via SMS

Getting exams results only with a few steps is now made possible with the collaboration of IMImobile and National Network Education (NNE).This move has been initiated by National Network Education that has several online portals, providing results of several, central and regional, exams under a single place i.e. its web portal.

NNE have now went one step ahead by collaborating with a 2 way SMS service provider – IMImobile using which any student can request their marks by just sending an SMS – ‘RESULT’ to 56263. Continue reading “Now Easily Get your Exam Results Via SMS”

3G Services Launch Delayed Further in MTNL Mumbai

One of the most hyped term in Telecom industries, these days, is 3G services. And same is the situation with mobile phone lovers.

Everyone out there, is consistently eyeing on BSNL and MTNL to know when 3G services will be launched in their area. Continue reading “3G Services Launch Delayed Further in MTNL Mumbai”

HTC Snap: Ease your business communication

There is something about the HTC Snap™ that will make you go ‘va va voom’. Sleek lines and curvaceous rounded edges mark this debutant smartphone from HTC with a QWERTY keypad.

The handset is touted to be what users really need: Information segregation and making certain that they are not overwhelmed by mails they don’t need. Sounds really innovative and this is how it works!

HTC’s innovative Inner Circle feature allows HTC Snap users to press a dedicated Inner Circle key to bring emails from a preselected group of people to the top of their inbox, enabling important messages to be acted upon immediately.

“Recognizing that people are being overwhelmed by an avalanche of email, the HTC Snap introduces Inner Circle, an HTC innovation that makes it easy for people to prioritize messages from the most important people in their lives at the press of a button,” said John Wang, Chief Marketing Officer, HTC Corporation. “The HTC Snap represents the latest step in HTC’s mission to create a range of innovative smartphones, each with specific benefits designed to both surprise and delight our customers.” Continue reading “HTC Snap: Ease your business communication”

What Will be the Fate of 3G services in India?

3G Telecom Services- One of the most hyped and most talked term in the field of mobiles and telecommunications using which a mobile phone user can experience seamless data transfer of upto 2-8 MBPS. If you have a 3G and Video calls supported handset, you can even make video calls to a compatible device without the hassle to think about using Webcam and sitting behind your laptop or computer screens once you have 3G services activated.

Continue reading “What Will be the Fate of 3G services in India?”

Security Issues Hovers Over 3G Services

Its really sad to know that, after the launch of 3G services with lots of hardships, they are now being convicted to create some security issues for the nation. As of now, there are no ways to monitor 3G calls on real time basis and the Intelligence Bureau is concerned about how secure they are (3G services) for the nation.

Reportedly, its been said that, the Intelligence Bueareu of the country wants to halt 3G services in the country until such real time monitoring mechanism is implemented, whereas telecom companies are of the view that, such monitoring mechanism should be implemented by the security agencies of the country as they are concerned about such security issues.

Well, as of now, there are no such official notice about pausing the services but its for sure that 3G will be a hot point of debate in the days to come.. Hope everything goes well! 🙂

Samsung Valencia unveiled

The Samsung Valencia, a Windows Mobile powered handset was unveiled at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona recently at the Microsoft counter and surprisingly not at the Samsung counter.

Specs & features:

• 393 MHz processor

• 128MB RAM

• 128MB ROM

• 320×240 QVGA display

• 3G

• AGPS Continue reading “Samsung Valencia unveiled”

BSNL Launches 3G Services in Chennai, India.

Mobile telephony has entered the Third Generation in India with the launch of 3G services in Chennai, India. Today the 3G services were officiated by the first call being made by The Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nade, Shri M. Karunanidhi and the call was received by the IT & TELECOM Minister A. Raja.

“Considering the need for faster penetration of 3G, and the need for telecom access to rual areas, the Government policy will allow telecom infrastructure sharing between commercial telcos as well as infrastructure providers,” Mr.Raja said. DoT also plans enable mobile number portability (MNP) in major cities by August, and in other towns by end of this year. Bids have been invited of providing MNP switches

Continue reading “BSNL Launches 3G Services in Chennai, India.”

Toshiba TG01 Another iPhone killer

Known so far for their incredible and reliable gadgets, Toshiba entered the mobile phone market with a bang yesterday with the Toshiba TG01.

The largest screen possible 4.1-inches with a WVGA (800 x 480 pixels) resolution and a slim 9.9mm body makes this one of the better picks amongst mobiles of this category, G1, iPhone or BlackBerry Storm.

This doll runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon platform using a Windows Mobile 6.1 OS and has a customized 3D UI. Continue reading “Toshiba TG01 Another iPhone killer”

Beware of hoax SMS says Airtel

Bharti Airtel posted an advisory on their website, advising subscribers to beware of certain ‘Unsolicited fraudulent SMS’s’ circulating on the network. According to the Airtel disclaimer, the recent chain of messages informs recipients that they have ‘won a prize and need to call to collect their prize’. On calling the number in the text message, subscribers are billed a high amount (up to Rs. 500/min). Airtel said they noticed these SMSs in one of their circles and are advising subscribers to ignore them. Airtel also warned that replying to such SMSs could result in viruses being downloaded on the subscriber’s phone.

After spam and phishing mails, spam SMSs are making their presence felt. Such SMS hoaxes are not a new phenomenon in India and cash in on the recipient’s incredulity by making use of ‘get rich quick’ themes and ‘free gifts’ to allure mobile phone users. Continue reading “Beware of hoax SMS says Airtel”

Interesting facts about Mobile phones in India

As the spread of mobile increases, it makes you wonder about the fine line between what is perceived as luxury and necessity.

One mobile – Necessity

Two mobiles – Luxury

No Mobiles – Happiness

On 17th January 2009, the TDSAT (Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal) held a Seminar in Pune on the topic Disputes resolution in Telecom & Broadcast from where certain interesting facts about Mobile phones emerged.

**India has 374 million telephone lines

**Off this 336 million are Mobiles!

**336 million Mobiles are distributed amongst 250 million GSM and 36 million CDMA

**Around 10 million mobile lines are added every month Continue reading “Interesting facts about Mobile phones in India”

Reliance Mobile launches GSM services in Punjab

Reliance Communications Monday announced the launch of its GSM mobile services in Punjab, becoming the first telecom operator in the circle to have both GSM and CDMA services for mobile users.

“The service will cover 460 towns, 11,741 villages and a number of national, state and other highways, tourist and religious places throughout the state,” Reliance regional hub head Arvind Kumar told reporters at the launch.

The Punjab circle GSM market is dominated by telecom majors Airtel and Idea (till recently Spice) and the entry of Reliance is likely to make the competition even more keen.

Offering a Reliance GSM prepaid SIM card for a one-time charge of just Rs.25, Reliance officials said the inaugural offer to subscribers would provide 100 percent savings to the sub-Rs.300 users. Continue reading “Reliance Mobile launches GSM services in Punjab”