Hutch is now Vodafone

I know it’s a bit late but we all knew this was coming. Hutchison Essar has now changed to Vodafone Essar. The Hutch brand has been receiving a makeover like no other. It feels like the mother of all brand makeovers. With over 400,000 stores changing their shop boards, hoardings and billboards screaming, “Pink is now Red”. It’s a message that has to reach out to the millions; even those who didn’t know what was going on in the background. Hutchison Essar had its management taken over about 4 months ago by Vodafone; a mobile service provider spread over Australia and the European countries. Vodafone has invested over Rs. 300 cores ($75 million approx) in assuring its customers that it’s only a change in name and that the service will only be getting better. I feel most should be glad that Vodafone has stepped in and it’s just a matter of time that the mobile industry sees a network boom with many other foreign network brands seeking to make an entry into one of the largest mobile consumer markets in the world.

Standard Memory Card for All

Nokia, Samsung, and Sony Ericsson are thinking of collaborating on having a “Universal Flash Storage specification”. If this works out then we won’t be facing memory card format issues for the many memory hungry gadgets we own. It’s going to be long before this happens; something like in the next year, so don’t get too excited till the official word is out. Also add to that we’d have to have devices that support the new Universal format and all of our old memory cards would just turn useless. These talks include even other big memory manufacturers; names like Micron Technology Inc., Spansion LLC, STMicroelectronics NV, and Texas Instruments Inc.

By the time this actually happens I feel we’ll have waste bins full of memory cards.

Apple’s new ravishing iPod line-up

Couple of day’s back Apple launched their new range of iPod in India. Apple’s spokesman said that it was their best iPod line-up; with the PMP version of the iPhone, the iPod touch teaming along with the all new Nano. The iPod Classic and the Shuffle were also launched in their new generation outfits. All the iPod’s feature an all-metal housing made with anodized aluminum and polished stainless steel. With this new range it seems iPod has finally arrived but not quite at the music quality end, though they claim better audio quality.

I had a chance to use the iPod Nano, Classic, and Shuffle. While these were for display at the launch the Touch was missing. The Nano emerges a pure winner with 5 hr video playback from a 2-inch screen. The company says that the new range will be available in the market from this week onwards. Also drawn from a hint at the press event; the company will undertake some serious bit of marketing during the upcoming festive season (Diwali) to boost sales.

The iPod Nano is available in silver, black, blue, & green flavors; the 4GB costs Rs. 8,800 while the 8 GB costs Rs. 11,400. As for the iPod Classic its avail in black & white, the 80 GB costing Rs. 14,500 and the 160 GB costing Rs. 20,400. The iPod Touch featuring WiFi and a 3.5-inch screen is avail in two capacities 8GB and 16 GB costing Rs. 17,700 and Rs. 23,600 respectively.

Texas Instruments DLP Projectors for Mobiles

Texas Instruments (TI) unveiled its projector for mobile at the CTIA Wireless 2007 Show. The technology makes possible to enjoy movies on anything that can be used as a screen. Code named “Pico” projector, can project DVD quality video while being housed in a cell phone. Pico uses a Digital Light Processing processor (DLP), three lasers, power supply, and is 1.5-inch long; it can be easily housed in any of today’s mobiles. For more details on DLP technology head over to this link for a DLP Video Demo.

TI also showcased a working prototype through a fake handset to prove that it’s possible. With not many specs disclosed, TI claims that Pico can power images similar to that of a Widescreen LCD.

fringtones!!! fringing in rhythm ♪♫♪

Along with the release of Auto-roaming; fring brings you “fringtones”. Now you can set a ring-tone for an incoming call or a message-tone for message received. Also the silent mode or vibrate, features in fringtones. You can either choose from your own set of ringtones or make a choice from our range of fringtones. Click here to download for free ringtones for your phone.

Please update your fring to the latest to enjoy fringtones. (http://www.fringcall.com/download/).

Available only on Symbian phones, both Symbian v8.x & v9.x. Windows Mobile will be soon supported just a little patience .

More Handsets Supported: Symbian 9.1 & 9.2 Joins In

We shall have many more fringsters join our reputed mobile VOIP service now that list of support handsets has increased. The official list includes handsets from Nokia running Symbian version 9.1 and 9.2 platforms.

Here is a list of supported handsets:

Symbian 9.1

1. Nokia 3250
2. Nokia 5500 Sport
3. Nokia E50

Symbian 9.2

1. Nokia 6120
2. Nokia 6121
3. Nokia 6110 Navigator
4. Nokia 6290
5. Nokia N76
6. Nokia E90

So invite your buddies to fring along by a few easy steps.
Log into fring: Click Options > Add new contact > Select contact from your address book > Click Add.

OR

You can help yourself to our download page by clicking here

Thanks for your valued feedback and requests, we hope to see many!!!

fring now Auto-Roams (WiFi or 3G)

fring brings to its fringsters one-of-a-kind feature; auto-roaming for mobile VoIP. This feature will make use of the dual-mode power of WiFi/3G devices. Now fring will automatically connect to Wi-Fi networks in range or access the 3G/GPRS network. This way you’re connected to the fring network at the highest quality and at the least connecting cost.

fring will constantly monitor available wireless channels 3G, GPRS/CDMA, or Wi-Fi (already configured) and switch between them automatically based on their reception availability. Priority will be given to free Wi-Fi connection. The switch happens when the user is not on a call while keeping his/her online status intact. Here’s an example of how fring Auto-Roaming works. You walk into your home/office/coffee-shop; fring will identify the Wi-Fi network and connect to it automatically. As long as you’re in the Wi-Fi coverage you’ll be connected to it, the moment you’re out of range fring will auto-switch to 3G/GPRS/EDGE.

Who can auto-roam with fring? For now fring auto-roams on supported Nokia (Symbian 9.1 & 9.2) devices. So here’s what you do to set Auto-Roaming. Download the latest version of fring. Choose your preferred network (Wi-Fi first, 3G first, Wi-Fi only, 3G only, or “Always ask”). Go to options –> settings –> connection manager –> settings. Your dual-mode fring supported handset will now auto-roam.

Stay tuned! Coming to Windows Mobile handsets soon.

Please do give us your valuable feedback on this new addition to fring.

Note: The Auto-roaming service will be applicable to Symbian 9.x handsets only.