Apple approved Google Voice alternative Toktumi's Mobile VOIP

This Line2 app was just approved after a 3 month delay, partially caused by the Google Voice shenanigans Apple pulled back in July when they pulled out all the Google Voice apps from the App Store. This is really similar.

Toktumi works similarly to Google Voice, letting you use one virtual number to forward to your real numbers. It doesn't support SMS, and it costs $15, but it supports business features like phone trees and other filtering options. The Line2 app is by Sean Kovacs, the guy who made "GV Mobile", the Google Voice app we still use on our iPhones now.

Since Toktumi is a paid service, Apple probably believes it won't directly impact At&T business and it doesn't support SMS either which makes it a less preferable choice. At the same time, they might be interested in pushing toktumi ahead of Google Voice App to get as many users under this app and make it difficult for google voice to gain these customers.

Whatever be the case, the Mobile VOIP Application and the entire VOIP market in USA would face huge turmoil in 2009-2010. Lets hope we see some really good innovations and value addition to VOIP service.

IFFCO : Question Box provides a service in India

Airtel has entered into a strategic tie-up with IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertilisers Cooperative) for providing agriculture and allied information to farmers through mobile phones. The facility was formally launched by the Chief Operating Officer (Andhra Pradesh) of Bharti Airtel Limited, Rajnish Kaul, at a function at Anakapalle town, about 40 km from here on Tuesday.

Question Box provides a service in India and Uganda. In India, phone boxes are installed in slums and villages that connect users to operators that will answer questions. In Uganda, users can call in from any mobile phone and ask their questions.

The operators have access to a repository of previously asked questions (and their answers), and they can also occasionally consult the Internet. A special search engine and database were also built specifically for the project.

Another initiative, Avaaj Otalo, provides an audio community forum for farmers in rural Gujarat, India. Working with an organization that produced a popular radio program, Otalo provides a call-in number where farmers can exchange questions and answers. Users are also able to listen to archives of the radio program.

These projects differ in that Question Box avoids having to process users' questions by adding a human listener in the loop; Avaaj Otalo avoids processing by organizing their collection of audio prompts with into a menu. Both programs, however, have yet to deal with the problem of cost because they subsidize the service for users.

Otalo operates with a toll-free number and Question Box provides the phones to call from in India. In Uganda, Grameen Community Knowledge Workers provides the mobile phones.

Hewlett Packard with Mobile computing

Hewlett Packard, the world’s largest technology company, now has a portfolio encompassing hardware, software and services for enterprises, SMBs and consumers. Mobile computing will be one of the company’s key focus area for the future.

It believes that mobiles will soon be the main device to access information. All services, for example mobile payments and SMS for reality shows, though will need a robust back-end comprising storage and servers.

The Cooltown Innovation Centre in Singapore is a window to what the largest technology company in the world is busy doing. A digital home — a house as good as a digital media and entertainment hub — equipped with a virtual personal assistant to book flight tickets, arrange contacts and also receive and transmit instructions.

Apple made large concessions to China Unicom : 5 million iPhones to China

China Unicom has been selected as the sole distributor of iPhones in China, according to a report in the International Business Times today. While the deal has yet to be finalized, the company has purchased 5 million WCDMA iPhones without Wi-Fi from Apple at a price of 10 billion yuan (US$1.46 billion).

As for the iPhone, it is expected to sell for $350 and $700 for the 8GB and the 16GB versions respectively in China. The phone will obviously face stiff competition from well endowed similar looking clones (remember the Meizu MB, anyone?) that makes the iPhone look like an expensive brick. Then there are the new Android oPhone based phones, including the Dell one that is expected to land there soon.

The International Business Times report notes that Apple made large concessions to China Unicom in order to enter the massive Chinese market. To give some scale to the size of this sale, Apple reported during the 3Q 2009 conference call with Wall Street analysts that they had sold a total of 5.2 million iPhones in the last quarter.

Samsung ST550 and ST500 Camera Series: 2 LCD screens

Samsung launch of a new series of digital cameras with two LCD screens – an extra one at the front. This way, photographers can snap the perfect picture with themselves in it. The hidden 1.5-inch LCD in the front will also help photographers by displaying a countdown timer when the camera is in autotimer mode.

What's special about them is that they help you take self-pictures - thanks to its dual LCD (one each at the front and back). The ST550 and ST500 are the two camera models that will feature this technology.Both cameras feature a 12.3 megapixel sensor and a 27mm wide angle Schneider Kreuznach lens with 4.6x optical zoom.

The 1.5-inch TFT LCD located on the front of the camera is common to both camera models. This display can be used for shooting self, with self-timer, for shutter info, function info as well as children modes. In fact, while taking self shots, there is no need to even press the shutter button - just a big smile will trigger the cameras to take the picture, says Samsung.

The camera also has decent HD video recording capabilities with 1280 x 720 resolution at 30 fps. The digital cameras will be marketed as model numbers ST550 and ST500 in the UK, while they’ll hit market shelves as the TL225 and TL220 respectively in US stores. The former model includes an HDMI socket, and comes in black, gold, orange, and purple. The latter model comes in silver, red, or blue.

BlackBerry Curve 8520 Price List : Codenamed BlackBerry Gemini

BlackBerry Curve 8520, one of RIM’s unannounced smartphones, has just appeared in several live photos. And, surprisingly, it doesn’t have a traditional trackball.There’s a new berry on the block, and this one’s supposed to be “designed for India.”

No, that thankfully doesn’t mean it has a torch which can double up as the headlamp of a truck. It’s cheaper, is available on prepaid connections for the first time and is a bit more rugged. It was officially supposed to be in stores from last Friday, which means you should, by now be able to pick it up from Airtel outlets in most metros.

Codenamed BlackBerry Gemini (yes, this is the Gemini, not the 8325), the new handset lacks 3G connectivity – like all the other GSM Curves currently available.But this may be compensated by the very nice overall design, the rubberized sides and dedicated multimedia keys.

If you already use a Blackberry Curve 8900 (Javelin) or a Bold 9000, then there’s not much point “downgrading” to the new Curve 8520 “Gemini”. If you’re looking to switch from a Curve 8300 series phone or are interested in buying your first Blackberry, then the 8520 is a very interesting proposition.

Virgin Mobile data card for Internet in India

In sync with its commitment to offer innovative products and services catering to the lifestyle of the Indian youth, Virgin Mobile today made its entry into the data devices segment with the launch of vLink.The sleek white colored device priced at Rs 2100/- only will be the first in the data devices segment to offer style and dual purpose of CDMA USB Modem and 1 GB data storage.

So now it doesn’t matter if you’re in Nainital or Chinchpokli you’ll be able to access the Internet anytime, anywhere!

And what’s more is that unlike any of the other USB devices in the market, this one allows you the convenience of prepaid. So recharge how much ever you need, whenever you need!

The new data card would be available at a price tag of Rs 2,100. It has two tariff plans — Rs 801 per month (for unlimited data usage) and Rs 349 per month.

This is the first unutilized balance roll over facility for data usage in the Indian market. This plan comes at a competitive 25p/min peak hour rate and a 13p/min off peak hour rate**.”

India has a total internet user base of 49.40 million, skewed towards the ‘younger’ India. The proportion of net users ‘under 25’ years of age is the largest chunk accounting for 52% of the total internet user base in India.

Samsung Marine cell phone for Rs. 7030

Samsung today announced the introduction of Samsung Marine (B2100), its first “Outdoor Phone” in the Indian market. According to a press release, the phone is encased in anti-shock urethane material, and is built to withstand the bumps, bangs, scrapes and even withstand dust and water.


Sunil Dutt, Samsung India Country Head said in a statement “Samsung Marine is the perfect companion for consumers who enjoy active outdoor activities.”

According to a Samsung press release, this cell phone model targeted towards those who live their life outdoors meaning those who are adventurous and require a robust handset.

Featuring the IP57 certification, the phone provides dust protection and water protection (under up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes). Samsung Marine is adaptable for tough environments, including rain, fog, humidity, sand and extremely hot and cold temperatures, etc. – and is tested under specifications defined by the US Department of Defence with Military Standard 810F (MIL-STD-810F).

Samsung has announced its ‘Samsung Marine’ cell phone handset at a price tag of Rs. 7030 in the Indian market.