Google phone is coming to India, but not the original one. Google will introduce a “mini” version of the Nexus phone, with less price, and lesser features.

This was revealed by Ankit from CNBC-TV 18 after an “editorial meet” with Google India head Shailesh Rao. Ankit wrote:

Nexus One will not come to India in its US avatar, the India specific Google Phone may be a stripped down version and priced lower!

I am glad that Google is not making the same mistake that Apple did. Since we do not have cell phone contracts to give subsidized phones, selling the same phone or on same price will not work in India.

So, obviously, a different type of phone,  with lesser number of features will do better here. I am confident about this matter after seeing the response to touch screen smartphones from samsung from Indian customers.

Competing with Samsung’s cheaper touchphones is a different game  altogether. I dont think google can bring such a drastic change to the price of Nexus phone.

Source: Labnol

Everything is going well in the Indian cellphone market, minus the news about scams on spectrum allocation.  Overall, I am happy with how we use cellphones, again, minus the customer service that sucks most of the time.

But, is there room for improvement ?

Can we boost smartphone usage, using cell phone contracts, like in other markets around the Globe ? Now, don’t ask me what is the use of increasing smartphone usage. I have only one reason, a lot of Indians, like me wants to use smartphones but they are not affordable.

With contracts, the service providers will give you phone at a subsidized rate, if you sign a contract with them to use their network for say, next 12 months or so. Service providers will get their profit with the increased usage of data and by many other channels while you are using their service. Well, this may include some evil methods too, I am not sure.  That is why I asked, do you think it is good for Indian customers.  I dint mean to ask, is evil good for Indian customers though

This is not just cellphones, netbooks with 3G simcard included, to stay connected 24/7 are going to be the next big thing, pretty soon, and then there are tablets like iPad coming in. All these things will be affordable if Indian service providers consider this option .. but as an Indian customer, are you ready for this game ?

chavez -el-v ergatario- mobile-phone-1

Hugo Chavez, the socialist President of Venezuela, launched a new cell phone on Mothers Day. His first call on the phone was to his mother.

The phone costs $15, and may be is the cheapest phone in the world. Interesting ? hmm , okay, here is something else that will make you go crazy, the meaning of the word Vergatorio is Penis … shocked ??

I have no clue why he chose that word. He even joked on his TV show saying, ”Whoever doesn’t have a Vergatario is nothing,”  now, that’s what we call CRAZY !!

The phone has a camera, WAP internet access, FM radio and MP3 and MP4 players for music and videos. Fair enough for a $15 phone. Now, we should wait for the review of this phone. Once the review is out, let’s see what’s the future of this phone is. Will this Vergatario phone reach India some day ? a phone with cam, fm, video and mp3, for less than Rs.1000 !!

Can’t believe it ? Read the news here

Palakkad is a district in Kerala, which is green green and green. It’s 135km away from where I am now ( Cochin ). I visited my roomie’s village last Sunday. It was a fun drive on the bike and yea…… in the heavy rain.

I don’t have a digi cam yet. These pics are from my roomie’ 2.0 MP Cell Phone Cam. Is it really worth to spend few thousands on a digicam with little photographic skills ?.

PS: Thanks to Ruhii.

Happy Independence Day

Update : They changed the plan, new price is Rs.999 per month, for unlimited STD to reliance mobiles.

Reliance Mobile has launched a new plan, for both postpaid and prepaid customers. Free Unlimited STD calls to any Reliance mobile in India

I have two cell phones now : why ?

I keep recharging my Vodafone prepaid phone to make STD calls or rather STD “Call” (you know what it means right?).
It’s something that gives trouble to my monthly budget. Now, here is Reliance with it’s new plan : Free STD that too Unlimited !!. So, the very next day, I bought a new reliance connection with LG handset ( which was the cheapest model). I have no doubt, this is the best plan for me. The handset + connection costs almost close to what I spend every month for mobile recharge.

Thank you Reliance !! Continue reading →