Apparently, Mobile number portability not much of a hit

I saw a report on NDTV: Mobile number portability not much of a hit

To be truthful, this report surprises me. The following are the observations given in the report.

1) Only over two percent subscribers have so far opted for the service --> Why is 2% such a bad number? The idea of number portability is if a customer does not like the service of a service provider, he can change the provider without changing his number. How do you determine if this is a hit? if 20% opted, does it become a hit? Isn't that idea idiotic? if 20% changed doesn't it say a really bad name for the mobile service providers in India? Should they be happy if only 2% opted for the service instead of 20%. This measure is only to ensure that an option exists for the customer and mobile service providers must do their utmost to retain them.

2) A key reason for the slow port-in and port-out is that 95 per cent of the country's mobile customers are in the pre-paid category says Samaresh Parida, director (strategy) of Vodafone India --> So pre-paid customers do not mind changing numbers as and when they want? Is that the interpretation. Is there any analysis to come up to this conclusion. My singular thought is a customer is happy to carry 2-3 prepaid numbers for himself in his dual SIM phones and uses the one that fits his need or provides him better service. I do not think any reasonable conclusion can be drawn from the statement above.

3) "In order to gain customers you need to be different. Quality of service and plans offered by most of the operators are almost the same," said Abhishek Chauhan, senior consultant for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) practice, Frost and Sullivan, a research and consulting firm. --> Possibly the one rational statement in this report.

Does India need more Banks?

Recently quite a bit of private corporations have started campaign for having their own bank. One of the big names being Reliance. RBI is planning to have quite a bit of rules and regulations involving these corporate houses.

I am not expert on economics of Banking. But I do wonder Does India need more banks? I am sure quite a few of will say a large population of our country doesn't have bank. and It is needed.

I can't help but wonder if these corporations will prefer to have their bank in cities or in villages. Personally I know where their preference will be.

If any of you have a better understanding, please do enlighten me.

The Gayle situation

From a fan's perspective, the whole situation around Chris Gayle is very dis-heartening. Gayle is one of the best all rounders for WI cricket in the current cricket scenario and to let an ongoing fued go on is quite sad.

Yes Chris Gayle did vent his opinions to a radio show and quite possibly was wrong in discussing it. It should be upto both the selectors and Gayle to put these differences aside and discuss what needs to happen instead of asking for apologies from both sides...if not for anything else, for WI Cricket.

An interesting article from Newsweek

An Interesting article from newsweek: It’s China’s World We’re Just Living in It

Congress party's reaction to Taroor's comments - Is it needed?

Shashi Taroor, in his brief experience as a minster has had his share of controversies, especially rubbing the Congress party in the wrong manner.

Here is another one in the same vein: I was misquoted, hence misjudged: Shashi Tharoor

Why does the Grand Old Party in India always act in this manner. What can't someone from the party critize on what he thinks was wrong committed by one of its premier leaders? Does this mean that none of Leaders in Congress have committed any mistakes in their lifetime? Were they always correct in every context and scenario? Why is it so difficult to accept mistakes, accept opnion (even though you don't necessarily think they are right) and move on.

I love Craigslist

Before I am came to US, i had never known about Craigslist. I had heard about it in some of the blogs that i had read previously. That is about it.

After coming here I realized the necessity, importance and usefulness of this site. I have to admit that majority of the items that I have bought in my house have been through craigslist ads and I have sold quite a bit of items out there.

It leaves me to wonder will this site be successful in India? It does have sites listed for major Indian cities, but I hardly see adverts like the way I see here. I wonder why?

What a bunch of wuss!!!!

Apparently i heard that the Australian Tennis team is not going to visit India to play their Davis Cup ties citing security reasons

Load of Crap!!! citing security for not visiting and playing India. It is as if the whole population, some 1,147,995,904, are waiting everyday thinking it is going to bomb every minute!!!

Boy o Boy

My suggestion to Microsoft

I am not good enough to give advice to Microsoft. I have the following suggestion though...

Please make your products more affordable in countries like India & China. By doing that the piracy threat can be better handled with more Sales and realization for Microsoft.

This is just my thought and this is not only for Microsoft but for all other IT majors who do business there

Credit Burden in India

Business Standard has featured the prevailing credit card rates in India. The figures are quite outstanding

Credit card Rates

ICICI Bank ---> 18.00-49.36
HDFC Bank ----> 36.60-39.00
Citibank -----> 18.00-42.00
StanChart ----> 23.88-40.80
HSBC ---------> 33.00-38.40

Supreme Court of India stayed the judgement of the National Consumer Commission, which had capped the interest rate chargeable on credit card holders at 30% yesterday

Banks contended that they are following RBI Guidelines and are allowed to price according to their business will. Banks claim that they are already stretched and are forced to keep the prices high or else they will have to raise the annual fees.

Imagine being charged 49% an year for using your credit card. I think this should be called extortion and nothing else. The truth is it is nice if RBI does not interfere in anything and everything though the present situation demands intervention.

Just some days back there were even cases of Banks hiring third party agents (goons) to get the money back, which starkly shows the awful situation.

"Terrorists are animals, we need animal rights" says Supreme Court Justice

Justice Pasayat, 3rd in Seniority in Supreme Court of India, said the following.

Indian Express Reports:

"In a clear departure from the view taken by Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan on the checks and balances needed to tackle terrorism, a senior judge of the Supreme Court today strongly deplored “how human rights activists carry out protests and hold dharnas, if rights of Terror suspects are violated.”
“We speak of upholding human rights. What we are worried is violation of the rights of terrorists, the people who kill innocent people with AK-47 and AK-56 on streets,” said Justice Arijit Pasayat. “He (a terrorist) is not fit to be called a human. He’s an animal so what is required is animal rights.”

Justice Pasayat, No 3 in the court by seniority, added: “Since he (terrorist) destroys the very basis of the citizen in this country...they have to be treated like terrorist and not like ordinary criminals.”

I am conflicted here. Both my mind and heart say that this statement is so very true. Though I should admit, a lone corner of my mind says that if we treat terrorists like animals, then what is the difference between them and us?

Saving v/s Spending

This present economic situation/crisis brings various thoughts in my head. There has been a bail out passed in the US Congress and the banks have started receiving money from the treasury.

One things makes me go bonkers? Why is this whole emphasis placed on Consumer spending to bring the economy back? Why is there no emphasis on saving money for yourself, for your future?

Why is it not taught to individuals/companies/corporations that they also need to save to ensure that they remain afloat, their company/corporation will remain afloat?

Any ways an interesting article to read in NY Times...Bailout Is a Windfall to Banks, if Not to Borrowers

The article puts forward the fact that those banks who has got govt money are not interested in pumping back money to the common man, rather ensuring that they remain in good position for future. This in itself is not wrong, but does this serve the purpose for which the money was provided to the banks? That is the question that needs an answer

Another cricketer to write his book!!!!

And of course create controversies...

Matty Hayden retires...Now you can except him to give outrageous commentary and deeply insightful comments in local Melbourne radio...

Looking forward to it...

Note: Sarcasm apart, a superb cricketer..I will definitely miss him on field...I am fairly confident I will not be missing him off it.

My sincere thanks to Seattle Maintanence Crew and Emergency Services

Seattle, in general, Washington state is seeing huge amount of snow for the past one week. It is predicted that there is more to come.

I sincerely thank all the crew who is working 24 hours to get some of the services in place...

The power crew, the Metro/sound Transit service, USPS, Water services...They have been phenomenal especially when they know that they can get stuck up any time.

We have a library

"We have a library" says Anou, who runs the NGO Project Why.

Read the whole post to know the whole story.

Why am I writing this? Project Why is an NGO that I like and I support in my small means possible. It will be wonderful if some of you who read the post can subscribe to children's magazine and contribute in your own small way.

I think I am not asking for much. Well what did I do. Today, I subscribed to Gokulam, A children's magazine in English for an year to Project Why. Well, What did it cost me... Exactly Rs.140/-...something that we would spend on a day out...

I am sure many children in ProjectWhy will read this book and have the pleasures that I had when I was a child and would wait a whole month to get the new month's edition.

To those who are interested,

Project Why address

Anouradha Bakshi
Project Why
C 15 Chiragh Enclave,
New delhi
110048

Crappy Journalist Awards

This year I bestow upon 2 journalists (English News Channels) in India the following awards

(Music in the background)

Rajdeep Sardesai ---> "Masala Man" of the year

Barkha Datt --> "Masala Woman" of the year

Note: I apologize to all the Hindi news journalists. All of them can be awarded this because of the continuous clutter of live crap delivered minute by minute during the Mumbai attack of Terrorists.

What a sham?

Major newspapers and websites are carrying a predominant headline today "ICICI Bank home loans to be cut by 1.5% to 11.5% for home loans less than 20 lakhs". I thought "Wow...that is good news for the people who have taken home loans from ICICI who have seen their floating Interest rate go from 7.5% some 3 years back to 11.5%. That is a huge sum that one has to pay for his loan."

Then I read the fine print. It is only for new home loans. This a fantastic sham isn't it? For those who are paying 13% now see no respite. But someone new can be entrapped in this. And all it takes will be a few months before ICICI will review these new guys to pay 13%. There is no guarantee to the customer that his rates will not be revised the next day the home loan is sanctioned.

I think it is always better to opt for a home loan with a Nationalized bank instead of relying on private banks. You may be go through a lot of pain to get a loan, But atleast you will not have to have the lose your sleep over whether the revision will happen the next day or the day after.

What annoys me the most is Banks like ICICI get away with this!!!!

Windows Live Skydrive

Today i saw this interesting feature in Windows Live >> Windows Live Skydrive, A windows feature by which you can keep your documents in Internet for later use, or share documents with your friends by sharing your document work space via Internet. I think it is a nice feature and I reckon I will be using it a lot.

Why don't you all try using it and let me know what you think about it?

Mumbai resilient, city will bounce back: Congress

I am not sure what should I say...What should I feel? Otherthan how many more times such an incident should happen to create a more safe atmosphere in India...

I will my readers share their opinion on this statement....

Same Story

http://puranijeansaurguitar.blogspot.com/2008/09/another-blast.html#links

What are you doing to overcome the present economic crisis

It is said that "economic sense" begins at home.

I am interested to know what each and everyone of you are doing to save money and make the best of what you have. Do share and let everyone who read this blog know.