Come August and Union Communications and IT Minister A Raja said that the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) plans to introduce Mobile Number Portability (MNP). Mobile phone subscribers won’t have to go through the routine of intimating all their contacts of a number change because they switched to another service provider. Subscribers will have a single number no matter which service provider they choose and will continue to have the same number no matter how many times they switch between service providers. In a phase wise implementation MNP would be introduced in metros, followed by other cities by the end of this year. Finally MNP has been proved after talks about the same started all the way back since over a year now.

The Windows Mobile platform allows for multiple browsers unlike with your iPhone; if you’re unhappy browser, good luck doing anything about it. While most Windows Mobile handsets or users switch to Opera Mobile 9.5 from Internet Explorer. Torch Mobile, brings unparalleled web experience to Windows Mobile through its Iris Browser. It has an open-source “webkit” rendering engine (the same as the one used in Safari and Google Chrome) to Windows Mobile.

In any case do try the browser as it’s always fun trying new browsers and Iris has many features that should make it a worthwhile.

Here is a list of few its features:
- Fast, Powerful WebKit JavaScript(R) and HTML Rendering Engine
- Touch Screen Key or Mouse Cursor Control with Zoom Functionality
- Multiple Windows and Tabs
- Global Language Support
- Customizable Interface with Unique Personalized Special Effects Abilities
- RSS, SVG, XML, and Plugin Support including Flash Lite(TM)
- Advanced Security Features including SSL and Authenticated Proxy Support
- WML and XHTML Mobile Profile Support
- iPhone(R) Site Compatibility

Shaadi.com, the world’s largest matrimonial service from People Group, announces the launch of its voice services on mobile in 9 different languages. Shaadi.com members can now dial 57007 and access services in English, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada and Bengali. The service is priced at Rs. 6/min to search and listen to profile details, Rs. 10/interest expressed, Rs. 10 per profile forwarded through SMS and Rs. 10/min to connect and chat with an interested member. Members using Shaadi.com on their mobile will be able to search and listen to suitable member profiles, express or decline interest in other members, access their Shaadi.com messages, and do lots more simply at the touch of a button.

The service is available on all Vodafone networks and will be available eventually on all major telecom service network providers in India. Shaadi.com on Mobile is currently free of charge, with no monthly subscription fees involved except usage charges for all Shaadi.com members.

As you may know the fring team are out in Barcelona, working hard and spreading the fring love! We’re really excited to announce the news that last night fring won the Mobile Monday Community Award (emerging startups category) at the MoMo Peer Awards 2009. Following several elimination rounds which started with thousands of entries from mobile services & applications worldwide, fring was eventually shortlisted to one of 20 companies selected to battle it out for the coveted award in last night’s finals. A 3 minute, 3 slide Powerpoint presentation was all that stood between us and the prize, and we were delighted to find that the global Mobile Monday Community had awarded it to fring. The Community Awards were picks based on voting from all International Mobile Monday Chapters. What makes this latest accolade really cool is the fact that it represents recognition by other members of the mobile industry – a highly critical, expert (and clearly very clever) bunch of boys and girls. Thanks guys we’re really thrilled & very honored.

Following an early Beta phase, fring had its official launch at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona two years ago in 2007, so we’re celebrating our 2nd birthday at the event this year…and what better than a top industry prize like a MoMo Peer Award for a great birthday present!

A picture of Neal, fring’s International Communications Director collecting the award.

Hi There,

We have a new Twitter Add-on almost ready. Before we release it publicly we would very much like to hear your thoughts.

So, if you would like to be one of the first to have that add-on, send us your IMEI and handset model to earlyaccess [at] fring.com with the subject “Twitter early access”.

Please hurry up, we have a very limited number of invitations.

Note: This add-on is only availble for Symbian 9 devices.

Earlier in December I mentioned MTNL lauching 3G servies. They had a soft lauch and it was freely being provided as a demo of what a 3G service experience is.

Now MTNL has a tariff to those services and its a promotional offer for a period of 3months after which we could see the tariffs either increase or dip.

Here is a comparison of data charges in replacing network calls with VOIP calls.

Google has an Internet Bus Project and its here in India. Through this project Google aims to educate Indians about power of Internet. The project focuses on the four themes - education, information, communication, and entertainment. The Internet Bus will be loaded with useful and informative content in English and Tamil. Google said it will showcase how the Internet can make everyday life simple through services like search, email, social networking, maps and others. The Bus will cover numerous cities in Tamil Nadu over the next month and a half.

Here is the schedule that the Google Internet Bus will follow:

February
03 Feb Chennai
05 Feb Vellore
06 Feb Krishnagiri
07 Feb Salem
11 Feb Erode
12 Feb Tiruppur
14 Feb Coimbatore
18 Feb Dindigul
19 Feb Madurai
23 Feb Tirunelveli
25 Feb Nagercoil
27 Feb Tuticorin

March
02 Mar Pudukkottai
03 Mar Tiruchirappalli
06 Mar Thanjavur
08 Mar Kumbakonam
10 Mar Neyveli
12 Mar Cuddalore
13 Mar Tiruvannamalai

Following the enthusiastic response to our other localized blogs, we are happy to welcome Budi Putra to the fring team, Budi will be blogging for all our Indonesian fringsters.

Welcome to the fring team Budi, we hope you will soon feel at home

Bring it on! Talk, chat or interact with your new Indonesian blogger here:http://www.fringcall.com/indonesia/