Olive FrvrOn with AAA Battery Arrives on Airtel

The phone is now being made available on Airtel and will come with a free connection. The handset will be available at a price of Rs. 1,299. Olive is also trying its best to promote the FrvrOn in the rural areas of India and according to a statement, has stationed 19 vans across various locations in the country to promote the handset.

 Villagers will also have the option to purchase the handset from the van. They would also give away a battery powered LED lantern as a free gift to the villagers. This offer would be initially valid only in some areas of West Bengal and would be expanded to other regions which are known to face electricity related issues. 

reference: techtree.com

Mobile technologies defined

What Is a GSM Wireless Network?

A Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network is a series of virtually interconnected tower and satellite relays that send and receive digital signals allowing people to communicate wirelessly across the globe. The signal begins with a cell phone that places a call, and travels to the nearest GSM tower. That tower communicates the signal to a satellite, which in turn relays that signal to the tower nearest the call's destination, where it is then received by the call recipient. The GSM wireless network is the most popular wireless communications system today.

Original cell phone technology operated on an analog system, similar to a short-distance radio wave. This meant that many people could use the same frequency, but the frequency would vary by location. During the 1990s, new wireless licenses were made available, and as carriers built their own networks, the switch was made to digital signals.

The digital communications networks were carriers for Second-Generation (2G) cell phone technology, which featured less call interference and increased call security, owing to the digitized signal. The phone's batteries lasted longer, and more calling features could be offered since the network was expanded. The biggest advantage, however, was that the efficiency of digital capacity lowered the startup cost of a new carrier, allowing smaller players to join the industry and offer real competition that leads to lower service prices.

As digital communications evolved and networks developed, standards were set that would allow towers to transmit the signal from any carrier, regardless of which carrier the tower belonged to. Thus began the GSM wireless network, which currently operates in 900 megahertz and 1.8 gigahertz bands in Europe, and 850 megahertz and 1.9 gigahertz bands in the United States, Canada, Australia, and South America. The adoption of uniform standards allows cell phones to operate abroad the same as they do at home.

The GSM wireless network system currently boasts coverage in 218 countries, serving over 3.8 billion customers. There are very few areas where GSM coverage is unavailable — usually very remote, rural areas — and specialized satellite roaming features are available to cover any gaps in coverage. The 89% market share of the GSM network means that new mobile technologies are usually created in accordance with GSM standards, and the GSM wireless network technology has evolved along with it.

What Is CDMA?

CDMA stands for Code Division Multiple Access. It is a technique used for digital communication, and wireless technology in particular, that involves multiplexing. Whereas conventional communication systems use constant frequencies, CDMA uses multiple access, or multiplexing. Accomplished through the specific type known as spread spectrum in this case, multiplexing uses varied frequencies to transmit audio signals. This, coupled with code division, which requires a certain code to send and receive the frequency, further protects CDMA communications from interference.

Radio systems, one of the earliest forms of telecommunication, required users to communicate on distinct frequencies. Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA), one form of early wireless communication, only allowed users to operate on a single frequency. When tuning in to a radio to get sound, for instance, the listener must select one frequency or another, and must tune the frequency to filter out noise in the spectrum. Another form of early radio communication was Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA). In this case, users could not share a frequency, and each user had to coordinate his or her turn on that frequency in order to communicate.

Both FDMA and TDMA posed restrictions for early users, particularly the military. As early as World War II, militaries recognized the high value in using wireless technology to communicate across vast distances. Military communication units did not always have the time to wait their turn to transmit sound, or to find the right frequency.

Some telecommunication systems allowed military communication units to transmit sound into the same spectrum their adversaries used. Military signals needed a unique identification through a distinct code to avoid interference from enemy communication. The receiver of that message on the other end could then retrieve the message based on its unique code in the spectrum.

What is EDGE?

EDGE is a wireless network technology generally considered the next step in the 2G network. The name is an acronym that stands for Enhanced Data GSM Environment. Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution is an alternative name that is also used. As both names suggest, EDGE is an improvement on the GSM wireless technology, which is second generation, or 2G, cell phone technology. Since EDGE is an improvement on existing technology and not necessarily a third generation, it is often referred to as 2.75G.

EDGE is used for the purpose of wireless data transfer, such as sharing pictures and videos or browsing the Internet via a mobile phone connection. This is because the technology offers data transfer rates up to four times faster than ordinary GSM networks. As phones with Internet browser capabilities, such as the Blackberry® and the iPhone®, have become more popular, faster data transfer has become ever more important.

Because EDGE is an upgrade of GSM, it is easy for wireless carriers to upgrade their networks to offer it. The increase in data speed is achieved via more sophisticated coding, not by equipment, so new hardware is not usually necessary. Instead, a software upgrade enables the wireless carrier’s base stations to support data transfer speeds up to 384 kilobits per second (kbps).

EDGE first became available in the early 2000s. In 2003, Cingular began offering it as an upgrade to their GSM network. The wireless company also offered a mobile wireless Internet service for laptop users, which used a PCMCIA card to tap into the network. WiFi was therefore available to laptop users from almost anywhere that offered a strong cell phone signal.

Eventually EDGE became the standard, replacing less efficient wireless technology such as GPRS. Now virtually every cell phone company offers this technology. Likewise, EDGE will eventually be replaced by 3G technology such as WCDMA, which stands for Wideband Code-Division Multiple Access. As opposed to the EDGE technology’s data transfer speeds of up to 384 kbps, WCDMA offers speeds as fast as 2 megabits per second (mbps).

What is 3G?

The term 3G refers to the third generation of mobile phone standards as set by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU). 3G technologies allow mobile operators to offer more options to their users, such options include mobile broadband.

Compare 3G packages today mobile broadband

3G offers greater flexibility and services by making more efficient use of mobile bandwidth than its predecessor 2G.

The relationship between 2G and 3G is similar to that between dial-up to broadband or terrestrial TV and digital TV. In all of the latter examples, greater spectral efficiency has enabled more consumer choice and a more effective service.

3G and mobile broadband

3G enables devices such as mobile phones and mobile dongles to deliver broadband speed internet. Most new, top-of-the- range mobile phones are 3G enabled, making it easy to check emails and browse the web on the go.

While internet use via mobile phones has been slow to take off, mobile broadband via dongles, has taken off extremely fast. Mobile broadband allows customers to browse the internet, email and download files, music and video clips from their laptops and PCs wherever there's mobile coverage.

3G technology is made possible by two complementary technologies HSDPA and HSUPA (high speed download and upload packet access, respectively).

These technologies enable mobile broadband users to access download speeds of up to 7.2Mb and upload speeds of up to 1.76Mb via a mobile dongle, USB modem or MiFi.

Predecessors of 3G such as 2G and GPRS offered limited internet connectivity that was often costly and slow. Conversely, because 3G uses the airwaves more efficiently, it can offer speeds of up to 7.2Mb with prices start at just £10 a month

What Is an EVDO Modem?

An EVDO, or Enhanced Data Only or Evolution Data Optimized, modem is a device that helps carry mobile broadband. An EVDO modem can be a mobile SimCard, a USB device, a modem built into a laptop, or an external modem. The EVDO modem provides the ability to pick up EVDO signals, allowing users to connect to EVDO service providers.

These modems are wireless devices. They are inactive and inoperable unless you subscribe to a service provider that offers an EVDO connection. When you subscribe to a service provider, the EVDO modem receives a signal from the service provider so your device can connect to the internet.

The major difference between an EVDO modem and an ordinary modem is the large difference in speed. A traditional modem can only achieve Internet speeds of 128 kbps. An EVDO modem achieves transfer speeds of at least 600 kbps, with bursts of speed up to 2 mbps.

The modem is only the mechanism that receives data at this speed. The speed offered by the technology or service provider dictates how fast data is actually transferred to an EVDO modem. These operators charge subscription fees for limited amounts of data.

Generally, the high speeds on the EVDO network are achieved through 3G technology. EVDO is faster because the network sends data by splitting data into packets to save on bandwidth. The modem, or ‘aircard’, is the receptacle that receives this data transfer.

EVDO modems are versatile devices. They are offered as ExpressCards, USB dongles, and PACMACIA cards. Each of these different types of modems can be used on a range of data devices from phones to laptops.

courtesy: http://www.wisegeek.com/

Things You Should Know About Android

A few points to keep in mind before you go and get an Android phone

When the iPhone was launched, there was nothing quite like it. More than its finger-friendly capacitive screen, it was Apple's genius User Interface that complimented it so well. Other manufacturers clearly did not have such polished software that could match the iPhone's UI. They started slapping similar big touchscreens in their phones to compete with the iPhone, but didn't really manage to get the UI right. Remember the case of the LG KM990 Arena back then or even the recent Nokia X6? It clearly showed that simply slapping a capacitive screen doesn't really do the trick.

The iPhone was released in 2007 but even until early 2009 no other mobile OS makers were anywhere close to making a touch-optimized UI. Microsoft was just releasing paltry updates to their stylus-driven Windows Mobile 6 that made no major improvement with UI. The same was the case with Nokia and their Symbian Series 60 5th Edition, which initially seemed nothing more than a ported version from their non-touch devices. Palm was busy making the Web OS, but everybody was doubtful whether its scale or reach would be big as Apple's. Ultimately they released the Palm Pre, a CDMA phone in the US but its GSM version didn't reach Indian shore-at least not officially.


At the same time (i.e. the beginning of 2009), Internet search giant Google also made an entry into the mobile space. Known as Android, they wanted to play their game differently. Following their "Don't be Evil" corporate slogan, they made their Linux-based mobile OS Open Source. This meant anybody was free to download the source code from Google and change it to their liking, and put it in the device of their choice. But its not like you can download Android and install it on your Nokia in a few clicks, the way you would download and install Linux on your PC. It meant manufacturers, big or small, could easily take Google's OS and put it in their hardware.

Android was just that key piece of the puzzle that manufacturers needed. Instead of creating a fragmented market by spending time and money in developing an in-house OS, companies could now take this potent OS, and concentrate on building the hardware around it. Initially, Android phones were perceived for geeks and DIYers, but not anymore. If you use any recent Android 2.1 laden phone, you'll realize that the OS has matured well. Of late, we're seeing a lot of people rooting on for Android. Every opinion poll that we ran in the last few months, the numbers were on Google's side. Check them here, here and here. But it is important that you be informed with the key aspects of Android, before you pledge your support for it. So, here are 7 things you should know about Android.

Just because it's an Android phone, it need not be awesome


Google's operating system may have come close to the operating ease of an iPhone, but it needs good hardware to make it work well. There are some rotten eggs that sit along with the good ones in the market. Take the case of the LG GW620 for instance. With the iPhone, you know that their hardware is tied in well with the software, but in the case of Android it may not be the same. So don't just jump out there and buy a phone with Android, and hope that it is a good phone.

All Android phones need not be expensive

We discussed this towards the end of our review of the Samsung Galaxy S. When Samsung could sell the Wave, which had almost exact internals for a good Rs. 10,000 less, it makes us wonder whether it could actually be feasible for them to sell the Galaxy S at a lesser price than Rs. 27,500. The iPhone created a benchmark price of Rs. 30,000 that all "mega-phones" or "super-phones" like it could sell.

But on the other hand you also have the Samsung Spica i5700, a phone with a feature set comparable to an HTC Hero, selling at an affordable Rs. 12,500. What we're trying to say is that just because it is an Android phone, it need not be very expensive unless the hardware demands that price tag. Many of the phones featured in my previous article about phone pricing co-incidentally are Android phones.


On a positive note, we're going to see many new launches that lie in the Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000 bracket. Be it HTC's Wildfire, Samsung's i5800 Galaxy 3 or the Sony Ericsson XPERIA X10 Mini/Mini Pro. So, if you're under the impression that a decent Android phone is not within your reach, then you just might be surprised in a few months.

Different Androids mostly have different User Interfaces
You ask Nokia-lovers why they are hesitant on changing the brand, and more often than not, you'll hear them say they are used to the interface. While change may be good, it may not be received well by all. Probably on the other end of the spectrum are iPhone users, for whom the basic interface remains the same year after year, despite a new iPhone launch every year.

But with Android, it changes at the blink of an eye. Android 1.5/1.6 had a default interface that changed a little with Android 2.1 (Eclair), which again changed a little with Android 2.2 (Froyo). Now they say Android 3.0 (Gingerbread) is going to have a major UI revamp. But what's more scary is the way manufacturers have the flexibility to tweak the interface according to their liking. HTC gimps Android to a great extent with their Sense UI. Motorola has Motoblur, Samsung has TouchWIZ, while Sony Ericsson has Timescape and Mediascape. All these shells behave differently, and have different features. Manufacturers are doing so in order to differentiate their phones from the rest. So don't expect consistent UI and functionality with any Android phone you buy.


Not all run the latest version of the OS


Android version 1.5 (called Cupcake) released on April 30th 2009. Then came 1.6 (Donut), 2.0/2.1 (Eclair) and 2.2 (Froyo). That's three OS revisions in just a year's time! We're already hearing that 3.0 (Gingerbread) is expected by the end of the year. Google is going at a blazing pace with updates to Android. Sounds good initially, but when you see many old phones still using Android 1.6 (in India, at least), it is of course natural to feel disappointed. Because unlike the way software say, like Firefox, instantly updates on the PC whenever newer versions are made available, it's not the same with Android phones.

There are two hurdles that the OS must pass through before it reaches the consumer. After Google releases a new version, it releases the source code. Since manufacturers customize the UI, bundle different apps etc., they need to take that code and make all the changes necessary for their UI rendition to work with it. In many countries - fortunately not ours yet - the operators also have dedicated menus that need to be hard-coded into it. For example, in the US, Verizon has their V-cast entertainment suite, or telecom operator '3' has its own services bundled in the phone's menu itself.

Then there's the confusion on the part of the manufacturer too. Since Google keeps throwing up new versions every few months, manufacturers are reluctant since by the time they might finish their work with one version, a newer version may already be on the verge of releasing. So I presume they might even sit it out till substantial improvements are offered in a new version.

This is one of the reasons why Google had released the Nexus One. Being a Google phone, it received updates as soon as Google released them. But with any other phone you buy, there is a good chance of delay till it finally gets to your phone. But we're saying that's not necessarily a bad thing. After all the Android 2.1 phones that we've used, we have little to complain. So it's advisable to buy one that runs Android 2.1 at least.

Of fragmentation and app incompatibilities

A lot has been said about Platform fragmentation. It is causing certain apps to work with only certain handsets. The first reason behind fragmentation are the constant OS updates. For example, the official Twitter app for Android works on devices with Android 2.1 or above. Almost 50 percent of Android phones in India currently run Android 1.6. Thus this app won't install on these phones.

The second problem is of screen resolutions. Initial Android phones sported an HVGA (480 x 320 pixel) resolution. Then there are phones with a lower QVGA (320 x 240) res; like the XPERIA X10 Mini/Mini Pro, HTC Wildfire and Tattoo. The higher-end phones like the Nexus One, Milestone etc. support a higher 800 x 480 (WVGA) pixel one. If that wasn't enough, now Samsung's upcoming Galaxy 3 i5800 has a WQVGA (240 x 400 pixel) resolution. Android 3.0 is also touted to support a higher (1366 x 768 pixel) res.

When phones have different resolutions, the app developer needs to customize it for each one of these types. Otherwise incompatible apps will not be shown in Android's app store. In our experience, HVGA and WVGA resolutions seem to have the most compatibility for apps as of now. This ought to change, as more cheaper Android phones with low resolution displays are flooded in the market, developers will tend to make it compatible with these resolutions too.

Higher processor speed does not necessarily mean a smoother Android operation

Try using an XPERIA X10, which has a 1 GHz processor and then a Milestone with a 600 MHz one. In my experience, the Motorola Milestone's operation was swift and snappy, while the X10's was laggy at a few places. Thus do not assume that a higher processor will automatically translate into a faster performance. Since Android gets optimized for faster performance with every version, it also depends on which one you're using. (FYI: the XPERIA X10 ran Android 1.6, while the Milestone ran 2.1) Then comes the amount of RAM and the presence of the a dedicated graphics co-processor etc.

Not all apps are free and you can't buy paid apps in India yet

You can get free as well as paid apps on the iPhone App Store. You can purchase paid apps with an International credit card even in India. While most apps on the Android Market are free, there are quite a few that have paid ones that unlock advanced features and/or remove the advertisements. Unfortunately, paid apps aren't supported in India yet; there are only a few countries that do at this point. So, you wouldn't be able to see those apps in the Android Market, even if you're willing to pay the asking price in dollars.
 
reference: http://www.techtree.com/India/Features/Things_You_Should_Know_About_Android/551-112462-899-3.html