TeNet develops low-cost biometric ATMs

Submitted by Karthik on 29 June, 2006 - 02:04

TeNet has developed a low-cost ATM featuring a fingerprint identification system specifically targeting users in rural India.

Grammteller, unlike other ATMs is meant to be a cash dispenser, which plugs into a kiosk PC, which acts as a tunnel between the dispenser and the bank server thus bypassing use of the 'switch' used by ATMs. The 'financial transaction switch' is an enterprise server that connects the ATM to information from various sources, which then dispenses with the switch, thus reducing the cost of the machine to about Rs. 50, 000. The server is encrypted and runs on a proprietary format developed at IIT-M.

The ATMs are being tested in Chennai at the moment.

Full story: CIOL

Airtel planning to launch triple play in November

Submitted by Karthik on 26 June, 2006 - 19:16

Following recent announcements by BSNL and MTNL, Airtel have now announced plans to launch triple play services in November.

Bharti group Chairman Sunil Mittal said the company was in the process of finalising commercial arrangements for offering “triple play”, which was currently being extended to its fixed-line customers in Gurgaon on a pilot basis.

“When we go into the final commercial mode, which will happen in the next 4-5 months, then anybody who has an Airtel connection can get triple play,” Mittal said.

Story: Business Standard.

BSNL, MTNL to roll out WiMAX pilot projects

Submitted by Karthik on 24 June, 2006 - 12:04

MTNL are said to be planning WiMAX pilot projects in Delhi and Mumbai. Similarly, BSNL are said to be planning projects in Rohtak and Chennai.

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has not yet assigned frequency spectrum for WiMAX services. Once TRAI assigns spectrum for WiMAX and decides on its pricing, MTNL will offer WiMAX commercially to its subscribers. This will, of course, depend on the success of its pilot projects.

Link: Indiatimes Infotech.

The Indian gamer?

Submitted by Karthik on 24 June, 2006 - 11:19

However much of a misnomer it might be, the Indian gaming scene has seen a lot of press off late including an article on Wired.

Tangible progress will be marked by the first Indian participation in the Electronic Sports World Cup, which kicks off June 30 in Paris. Earlier this month, 162 regional qualifiers from nine Indian cities came to New Delhi -- including 8-year-old Rohan Karir, a TrackMania prodigy -- to compete for 10 tickets to Paris and a shot at some of the $400,000 ESWC prize money. All told, more than 20,000 Indians competed, making it one the biggest national gaming tournaments ever.

Article link: Wired.

MTNL's IPTV content to carry anti-piracy fingerprint

Submitted by Karthik on 23 June, 2006 - 20:08

Time broadband service who are apparently the primary content providers for MTNL's forthcoming IPTV rollout, have tied up with Verimatrix to add user-specific watermarking to all digital content.

Verimatrix, developer of the most widely deployed IPTV content protection system with tier one operators, today announced at CommunicAsia 2006 that its Verimatrix Content Authority System (VCAS) and patent-pending VideoMark(TM) user-specific forensic watermarking will be deployed on the Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) Delhi network. Time Broadband Service of India is providing the content delivery network as the first broadband content partner for state-owned incumbent MTNL's IPTV service, which is the first commercial video-tier rich-media service in India.

Also of interest is the brief mention of H.264 compatible set-top boxes. Related link: X264 library.

Full story: VoIP magazine.

Hathway expanding

Submitted by Karthik on 19 June, 2006 - 15:39

Indiantelevision.com has an article on Hathway's expansion plans in areas like Chandigarh, Mohali and Kanpur. While the article mainly concerns Hathway's cable television arm, a mention is made of plans to introduce a VoIP service on its broadband network as well:

Hathway is creating another arsenal for its fight against DTH. Plans are on to launch VoIP (voice over internet protocol) services by the end of the fiscal. Having built a two-way infrastructure for broadband, this is a natural progression for the MSO. "We had tested for analogue telephony with Bharti but feel VoIP is a better route for us. VoIP test is going on in Mumbai. We plan to launch at least in two cities this fiscal. We can bundle cable TV, broadband and VoIP services to customers which will add to our revenue streams," says Jayaraman.

Link: Indiantelevision.com.

VSNL to set up 24x7 WiFi access in 68 railway stations

Submitted by Karthik on 17 June, 2006 - 03:44

VSNL plans to set up 68 cyber-cafés all across key railway stations in India. The first of these cyber-cafés was recently opened in Bangalore railway station.

The cyber cafés will enable all Tata Indicom subscribers access the internet using their existing accounts. Each of these cyber cafés will be equipped with 10-20 high-end multimedia PCs with flat panel monitors and will remain open on a 24x7 basis.

Tata Indicom will also create select Wi-Fi areas, providing wireless internet access to passengers on their laptops or Wi-Fi-enabled PDAs.

Story: Business Standard.

BSNL broadband to roll out "triple play" services in Pune

Submitted by Karthik on 13 June, 2006 - 19:30

BSNL plans to launch triple play services in Pune on Independence Day. Apparently, a similar initiative is being undertaken in Bangalore as well.

Pune will become the first city in the country when the BSNL will launch multi player services through broadband connection on August 15. Here are some of the features that are on offer:
* Bouquet of cable channels
* Video on demand
* Video conferencing
* TV-to-TV SMS
* E-classes

VSNL to take on USTR over bandwidth issue

Submitted by Karthik on 25 April, 2006 - 10:19

Internet and telephony major Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) is planning to take on United States Trade Representative (USTR) on allegations that VSNL is creating artificial shortages of bandwidth in and out of India.

USTR, which deals with trade and anti-competitive practices, has accused VSNL of creating bandwidth crisis. In its ‘Telecommunications Trade Agreements’ report, the organisation has also alleged that VSNL was responsible for bottlenecking of bandwidth, in turn, preventing US operators from serving Indian customers.

VSNL to invest in an undersea cable to Europe

Submitted by Karthik on 25 April, 2006 - 10:09

Tatas-owned Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited is planning to lay an undersea cable between India and Europe, covering about 10,000 km, at an investment of over $300 million (about Rs 1,350 crore).
When contacted, senior VSNL officials confirmed the plan and said that the company was expecting to have enough demand for bandwidth by 2008 and keeping this in mind VSNL has undertaken the major project.

Story: The Hindu.

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