Webaroo has announced the launch of a new group messaging service in India, called "SMS GupShup".
The company says "SMS GupShup" is a free service that offers users a chance to create groups of any size, and communicate within them. The messages sent by the creator of the group are forwarded by Webaroo, at no charge, to all members of the group.
Using a single SMS message, users can join any group they want. Once a part of the group, the members will then automatically receive messages posted to the group as an SMS on their phone. Besides, users can use SMS messages to create their own groups, and also to invite friends, and post messages to the group.
Moreover, users can also run a poll, rating, and quiz within their group. The groups and their messages are available online at www.smsgupshup.com as an archive, except for private groups.
Talking about the service, Beerud Sheth, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, Webaroo, said, "SMS Gupshup is a fun, new, and powerful SMS service for users of any mobile phone. It is an ideal tool for connecting with friends, building new relationships, and forming mobile communities."
According to Webaroo, this free service can be used to stay connected with friends, to receive alerts and notifications, as well as to stay updated with news and current events. In addition, users can also receive weather updates or sports scores from their favorite sources.
source: Techtree.com
Monday, May 28, 2007
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Website Offers Finance Know How
A Web site called www.money4you.in has been launched under the aegis of the Indian Banks' Association (IBA) and the India Cards Council (ICC), developed in association with MasterCard Worldwide; marks a first-of-its-kind financial education initiative.
Supporting guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the online initiative aims at providing tools for greater financial inclusion to consumers. More importantly, it is aimed at close to 30,00,000 graduating youngsters joining the workforce each year, who need assistance with managing incomes and spending.
Meanwhile, the main objective is to empower the average person with financial information and guidance to make 'financially' informed decisions.
The content on money4you.in comprises comprehensive personal finance information, including tips on how to manage money and balance spending with saving. The Web site offers easy financial tools, budget calculators, and an interactive section with an on-line virtual financial wizard named 'Mani'.
Commenting on the initiative, Sinor, Chief Executive of IBA, said, "This initiative is aimed at empowering consumers in a manner that they are best able to make informed decisions. Through our member banks, we would encourage consumers to refer to the Web site for advice on financial matters."
Besides, the IBA, ICC, and MasterCard Worldwide claim to have developed a comprehensive outreach plan to further this education initiative, and make financial planning information readily available to consumers.
sorce: Techtree.com
Supporting guidelines of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the online initiative aims at providing tools for greater financial inclusion to consumers. More importantly, it is aimed at close to 30,00,000 graduating youngsters joining the workforce each year, who need assistance with managing incomes and spending.
Meanwhile, the main objective is to empower the average person with financial information and guidance to make 'financially' informed decisions.
The content on money4you.in comprises comprehensive personal finance information, including tips on how to manage money and balance spending with saving. The Web site offers easy financial tools, budget calculators, and an interactive section with an on-line virtual financial wizard named 'Mani'.
Commenting on the initiative, Sinor, Chief Executive of IBA, said, "This initiative is aimed at empowering consumers in a manner that they are best able to make informed decisions. Through our member banks, we would encourage consumers to refer to the Web site for advice on financial matters."
Besides, the IBA, ICC, and MasterCard Worldwide claim to have developed a comprehensive outreach plan to further this education initiative, and make financial planning information readily available to consumers.
sorce: Techtree.com
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Online Document of Living Species
The world's leading scientific institutions have come together to announce the launch of the Encyclopedia of Life (EOL), a global effort to document the nearly 1.8-million named species on Planet Earth.
This initiative will for the first time in history, enable scientists, students, and citizens have multimedia access to all known living species such as animals, plants, and other forms of life, as well as those that are just discovered.
The project worth $12.5-million is being jointly initiated by the Field Museum, Harvard University, Marine Biological Laboratory, Smithsonian Institution, and Biodiversity Heritage Library.
According to Dr James Edwards, Executive Director of the Encyclopedia of Life (EOL), "The EOL will provide valuable bio-diversity and conservation information to anyone, anywhere, at any time. It will ultimately make high-quality, well-organized information available on an unprecedented level. Even five years ago, we could not create such a resource, but advances in technology for searching, annotating, and visualizing information now permit us, indeed mandate us, to build the EOL."
The plan is to complete the project in the next decade, and as such, include further classification of the millions of species yet to be discovered. The pages, housed at www.eol.org, will provide written information, photographs, video, sound, location maps, and other multimedia information on each species.
Ralph E Gomory, President of the Alfred P Sloan Foundation, believes that EOL will provide citizens of the world a 'macroscope' of almost unimaginable power to find and create understanding of bio-diversity across the globe.
While initial work will emphasize species of animals, plants, and fungi, the design can be extended to encompass microbial life. To provide depth to the portal page for each species, scanned and digitized pages of scientific literature will be offered for detailed knowledge.
In addition, EOL will provide users an opportunity to personalize the learning experience through its "my eol" feature. There are plans to make the site available in all major languages, and connect scientific communities concerned with ants to Apples to Zebras.
Jonathan F Fanton, President of the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation, said, "The Encyclopedia of Life will be a vital tool for scientists, researchers, and educators across the globe, providing easy access to the latest and best information on all known species. Technology is allowing Science to grasp the immense complexity of life on this planet. Sharing what we know, we can protect Earth's bio-diversity, and better conserve our natural heritage."
source: Techtree.com
This initiative will for the first time in history, enable scientists, students, and citizens have multimedia access to all known living species such as animals, plants, and other forms of life, as well as those that are just discovered.
The project worth $12.5-million is being jointly initiated by the Field Museum, Harvard University, Marine Biological Laboratory, Smithsonian Institution, and Biodiversity Heritage Library.
According to Dr James Edwards, Executive Director of the Encyclopedia of Life (EOL), "The EOL will provide valuable bio-diversity and conservation information to anyone, anywhere, at any time. It will ultimately make high-quality, well-organized information available on an unprecedented level. Even five years ago, we could not create such a resource, but advances in technology for searching, annotating, and visualizing information now permit us, indeed mandate us, to build the EOL."
The plan is to complete the project in the next decade, and as such, include further classification of the millions of species yet to be discovered. The pages, housed at www.eol.org, will provide written information, photographs, video, sound, location maps, and other multimedia information on each species.
Ralph E Gomory, President of the Alfred P Sloan Foundation, believes that EOL will provide citizens of the world a 'macroscope' of almost unimaginable power to find and create understanding of bio-diversity across the globe.
While initial work will emphasize species of animals, plants, and fungi, the design can be extended to encompass microbial life. To provide depth to the portal page for each species, scanned and digitized pages of scientific literature will be offered for detailed knowledge.
In addition, EOL will provide users an opportunity to personalize the learning experience through its "my eol" feature. There are plans to make the site available in all major languages, and connect scientific communities concerned with ants to Apples to Zebras.
Jonathan F Fanton, President of the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation, said, "The Encyclopedia of Life will be a vital tool for scientists, researchers, and educators across the globe, providing easy access to the latest and best information on all known species. Technology is allowing Science to grasp the immense complexity of life on this planet. Sharing what we know, we can protect Earth's bio-diversity, and better conserve our natural heritage."
source: Techtree.com
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Google Expands Personalization With iGoogle
Google Inc. is stepping up efforts to allow its users to personalize how they search the Web, moving beyond the one-size-fits-all approach to search it already offers.
Officials told reporters at Google's Silicon Valley headquarters on Monday of moves to allow users to share their own writings, photos, lists and other creative efforts, as well as to give consumers personalized views of the Web through use of their geographical location and search history.
The world's top provider of Web search services is bringing together the more idiosyncratic approach to finding information on the Internet under the umbrella term "iGoogle", the new name for its enhanced personalized home page services.
"We want to personalize the traditional notion of search," Sep Kamvar, lead engineer for the personalization push, told reporters. "I am an eclectic person. But everyone is. We can't go about designing products for the average person."
Reinventing the classic Google.com home page—with its simple, uncluttered design—the company is introducing features that range from colourful new Web page designs to helping users publish their own creative content.
Google is borrowing or reinventing ideas that have already become popular features on many social network sites such as MySpace, Facebook, Flickr, Bebo and Photobucket, where users are encouraged to share their own creative work with friends.
To help users create personalized features on iGoogle, the company introduced "Gadget Maker", which allows any user who knows how to upload a photo and fill out a simple Web form to publish their content without knowing computer coding.
Google introduced seven templates for creating personalized "gadgets"—publishing features—that include tools for publishing photos, sending virtual greeting cards or creating personal profiles or lists of favorite songs or films.
"I look at personalized search and I think it is one of the biggest advances we have had in the last couple of years," Marissa Mayer, Google's vice president in charge of search and user experience, told a news briefing.
Google's personalized home page, introduced two years ago, offers users the ability to choose from thousands of regularly updating Web features on one page. Tens of millions of users have signed up so far for the personalized approach to search and they are some of Google's most active users, Mayer said.
source: tech2.com
Officials told reporters at Google's Silicon Valley headquarters on Monday of moves to allow users to share their own writings, photos, lists and other creative efforts, as well as to give consumers personalized views of the Web through use of their geographical location and search history.
The world's top provider of Web search services is bringing together the more idiosyncratic approach to finding information on the Internet under the umbrella term "iGoogle", the new name for its enhanced personalized home page services.
"We want to personalize the traditional notion of search," Sep Kamvar, lead engineer for the personalization push, told reporters. "I am an eclectic person. But everyone is. We can't go about designing products for the average person."
Reinventing the classic Google.com home page—with its simple, uncluttered design—the company is introducing features that range from colourful new Web page designs to helping users publish their own creative content.
Google is borrowing or reinventing ideas that have already become popular features on many social network sites such as MySpace, Facebook, Flickr, Bebo and Photobucket, where users are encouraged to share their own creative work with friends.
To help users create personalized features on iGoogle, the company introduced "Gadget Maker", which allows any user who knows how to upload a photo and fill out a simple Web form to publish their content without knowing computer coding.
Google introduced seven templates for creating personalized "gadgets"—publishing features—that include tools for publishing photos, sending virtual greeting cards or creating personal profiles or lists of favorite songs or films.
"I look at personalized search and I think it is one of the biggest advances we have had in the last couple of years," Marissa Mayer, Google's vice president in charge of search and user experience, told a news briefing.
Google's personalized home page, introduced two years ago, offers users the ability to choose from thousands of regularly updating Web features on one page. Tens of millions of users have signed up so far for the personalized approach to search and they are some of Google's most active users, Mayer said.
source: tech2.com
Airtel offers FM radio service
AirTel has introduced Airtel FM, a new service that allows its customers to turn their mobile handsets into radios. A customer can listen to music of choice from the featured list on the go. This comes with Rs 30 per month charge. While listening is free thereafter, a song and other downloads costs Rs 10 per track, according to a statement.
source: thehindu.com
source: thehindu.com
Yahoo! Puts IM inside the Web
For those of you who prefer to surf the Web in Internet cafes, there's reason to cheer!
Yahoo! has announced beginning offering a Web-based version of its Instant Messenger (IM) that works inside a Web browser, thus doing away with the need to install and run a separate software program.
The service is sure to appeal to travellers and professionals on-the-go, not to mention those whose companies block IM software downloads on their internal servers for security reasons.
As of now, Yahoo!'s Web-based IM service is available in India, Brazil, Malaysia, the Philippines, USA, and Vietnam, with plans to expand to more countries within a year, sources at Yahoo! said.
A unique feature of Yahoo!'s Web-based IM is 'archive,' whereby users will be able to search back to find all of their previous conversations with any of their IM contacts. Another plus point is the service will allow users to manage 10 or more simultaneous conversations in just one IM window.
Announcing the service, Brad Garlinghouse, Yahoo!'s Senior Vice President in charge of Communications, said Internet is fast evolving from a static experience, where a Web page is just that, to one where a Web page behaves more like a traditional desktop computer application.
He said too many people have been restricted from using IM services till date, and that with the new service, Yahoo! intends to cast the IM net wider.
Garlinghouse also suggested that Yahoo! sees an opportunity in the new service as a possible intersection between social networking Web sites and real-time IM communications. However, he gave no timeline as to when such a thing might materialize.
According to comScore Data, nearly 46 percent of Web users in India log on from Internet cafes. And, globally, Yahoo! comes in at second position in terms of Instant Messaging services, with approximately 88.5 million IM users worldwide.
source: techtree.com
Yahoo! has announced beginning offering a Web-based version of its Instant Messenger (IM) that works inside a Web browser, thus doing away with the need to install and run a separate software program.
The service is sure to appeal to travellers and professionals on-the-go, not to mention those whose companies block IM software downloads on their internal servers for security reasons.
As of now, Yahoo!'s Web-based IM service is available in India, Brazil, Malaysia, the Philippines, USA, and Vietnam, with plans to expand to more countries within a year, sources at Yahoo! said.
A unique feature of Yahoo!'s Web-based IM is 'archive,' whereby users will be able to search back to find all of their previous conversations with any of their IM contacts. Another plus point is the service will allow users to manage 10 or more simultaneous conversations in just one IM window.
Announcing the service, Brad Garlinghouse, Yahoo!'s Senior Vice President in charge of Communications, said Internet is fast evolving from a static experience, where a Web page is just that, to one where a Web page behaves more like a traditional desktop computer application.
He said too many people have been restricted from using IM services till date, and that with the new service, Yahoo! intends to cast the IM net wider.
Garlinghouse also suggested that Yahoo! sees an opportunity in the new service as a possible intersection between social networking Web sites and real-time IM communications. However, he gave no timeline as to when such a thing might materialize.
According to comScore Data, nearly 46 percent of Web users in India log on from Internet cafes. And, globally, Yahoo! comes in at second position in terms of Instant Messaging services, with approximately 88.5 million IM users worldwide.
source: techtree.com
Yahoo!'s India Our City & India Maps
Yahoo! India has launched two new exciting products for the Indian market, including Yahoo! India Our City, and Yahoo! India Maps.
The company said the Yahoo! India Our City beta is an innovative, next generation Web 2.0 mash-up application from Yahoo!.
According to company sources, this is the direct outcome of the internal Hack Day event organized at Yahoo! India R&D, where the idea was first conceived.
David Filo, Co-Founder of Yahoo!, said, "Yahoo! India Our City provides an interesting, rich, and dynamically updated perspective of a city as seen and experienced by people at large. Users can use 'Our City' to explore photos, videos, events, news, weather, blogs, and share events, photos, videos, and trip plans with others.
The product aggregates both editorial and user generated content, and is currently available for 20 cities across India. These include: Tier 1 cities like Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, for which Yahoo! has a differentiated offering; and Tier 2 cities such as Bhubaneswar, Bhopal, Madurai, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and many more that do not have any noteworthy city portals.
Meanwhile, the Yahoo! India Maps beta boasts unique features, providing street level search functionality along with street maps, satellite maps, and an additional feature of hybrid maps. Users can search over 170 cities, 4,785 towns, and over 220,000 villages across India. Detailed search as per street name, locality, city, and district is also possible.
Filo said, "Yahoo! India Maps enables you search by street name, locality, city, district, and state. It searches by airport code (BLR, BOM), businesses and services like hotels, ATMs, petrol pumps in cities, etc. It also helps you view satellite maps of these places, take a print out, and carry the map with you."
Yahoo! India Maps uses AJAX Map APIs of Yahoo!. The map data is provided by CE Infosystems (Map My India), and is compliant with the guidelines as provided by the Government of India.
In a separate development, Yahoo! has inaugurated its new R&D facility in Bangalore that boasts 2.2 lakh square feet floor space with a seating capacity of 1,600.
techtree.com
The company said the Yahoo! India Our City beta is an innovative, next generation Web 2.0 mash-up application from Yahoo!.
According to company sources, this is the direct outcome of the internal Hack Day event organized at Yahoo! India R&D, where the idea was first conceived.
David Filo, Co-Founder of Yahoo!, said, "Yahoo! India Our City provides an interesting, rich, and dynamically updated perspective of a city as seen and experienced by people at large. Users can use 'Our City' to explore photos, videos, events, news, weather, blogs, and share events, photos, videos, and trip plans with others.
The product aggregates both editorial and user generated content, and is currently available for 20 cities across India. These include: Tier 1 cities like Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, for which Yahoo! has a differentiated offering; and Tier 2 cities such as Bhubaneswar, Bhopal, Madurai, Chandigarh, Jaipur, and many more that do not have any noteworthy city portals.
Meanwhile, the Yahoo! India Maps beta boasts unique features, providing street level search functionality along with street maps, satellite maps, and an additional feature of hybrid maps. Users can search over 170 cities, 4,785 towns, and over 220,000 villages across India. Detailed search as per street name, locality, city, and district is also possible.
Filo said, "Yahoo! India Maps enables you search by street name, locality, city, district, and state. It searches by airport code (BLR, BOM), businesses and services like hotels, ATMs, petrol pumps in cities, etc. It also helps you view satellite maps of these places, take a print out, and carry the map with you."
Yahoo! India Maps uses AJAX Map APIs of Yahoo!. The map data is provided by CE Infosystems (Map My India), and is compliant with the guidelines as provided by the Government of India.
In a separate development, Yahoo! has inaugurated its new R&D facility in Bangalore that boasts 2.2 lakh square feet floor space with a seating capacity of 1,600.
techtree.com
International Roaming to Cost Less
Hutch has introduced 'Basic International Roaming' wherein Hutch customers can receive calls and SMS in over 180 countries across the world, without having to pay high deposits.
According to Hutch sources, the maximum security deposit charged for the service has been brought down from a high of Rs 10,000 to Rs 1,500 only. Apart from the security deposit, a monthly rental of Rs 99 is payable to avail the service. The mentioned charges are exclusive of service tax.
Speaking on the launch of the service, Samuel Selvakumar, Director of Operations, Hutch, said, "Hutch has launched this service with a very low deposit, so that families can enjoy their summer holidays abroad, while staying connected with friends and family at home. With more and more Indians traveling abroad during school holidays, Hutch now provides them with added connectivity while on-the-move."
Availability of the new service is based on the discretion of Hutch credit services, sources said. And, it takes 48 hours to process each roaming subscription request.
For details on the new service, SMS ROAM to 123 (charges of Rs 3 per SMS). Alternatively, Hutch customers can call Hutch Care at 111 or 98860 98860 from their Hutch phones.
To activate 'Basic International Roaming' SMS ACT BIR to 111 (toll-free), or call 111 (toll-free) from your Hutch phone.
VSNL to 'Connect' Visitors to India
If Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) has its way, global travellers will not lose out on the 'connect' factor while in India...
According to an IANS report, this Tata Group company is ready to roll-out roaming wireless broadband services to international travellers over the course of their stay in India.
The upcoming service will facilitate seamless roaming/usage within the VSNL wireless broadband network in the country. As such, foreign visitors will be able to access high-speed wireless broadband, using their home country accounts/identities.
As part of the roll-out, VSNL has tied-up with Singapore's second largest info-communication company, StarHub. Hence, all StarHub customers (mobile/broadband/cable) will be able to use wireless broadband services at over 200 Tata Indicom Wi-Fi Hotspots across the country.
And, plans are underway to add other global Wi-Fi operators to VSNL's list of roaming partners.
VSNL, a global communications services provider, is the only Indian member in the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), which is a global consortium of the world's leading wireless operators.
source: Techtree.com
According to an IANS report, this Tata Group company is ready to roll-out roaming wireless broadband services to international travellers over the course of their stay in India.
The upcoming service will facilitate seamless roaming/usage within the VSNL wireless broadband network in the country. As such, foreign visitors will be able to access high-speed wireless broadband, using their home country accounts/identities.
As part of the roll-out, VSNL has tied-up with Singapore's second largest info-communication company, StarHub. Hence, all StarHub customers (mobile/broadband/cable) will be able to use wireless broadband services at over 200 Tata Indicom Wi-Fi Hotspots across the country.
And, plans are underway to add other global Wi-Fi operators to VSNL's list of roaming partners.
VSNL, a global communications services provider, is the only Indian member in the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), which is a global consortium of the world's leading wireless operators.
source: Techtree.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)