Indian mobile operators are counting on Internet services to boost revenue
by John Ribeiro
India had about 471.7 million mobile users at the end of September, but only 2 million, or 0.42 percent, use the Internet at least once a month, according to a survey by Internet & Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) and research firm IMRB International.
IAMAI is an industry body focused on promoting online and mobile value-added services in the country.
About 127 million of these subscribers have mobile phones that are Internet ready, but only 12 million have used the Internet on their mobile phones at least once in the last year, according to the survey results released Tuesday.
India's mobile subscribers had crossed the 500 million mark by the end of November, according to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI).
A large number of the new additions are coming from rural markets, as well as people attracted by the rock-bottom tariffs for voice in the market, analysts said.
Fierce competition among operators has pushed down tariffs to below 0.01 Indian rupees (US$0.0002) per second. Subscribers were previously usually charged by the minute.
To boost revenue, operators are focusing on value-added services, including Internet services. Some of them are planning to set up application stores. Aircel, a large operator, said on Tuesday that it had tied with Indian IT services company, Infosys Technologies, to set up a mobile application store around Infosys' Flypp application platform.
To address the problem of the high cost of Internet connectivity on mobile phones, some operators are also cutting rates and even throwing in free services.
Sistema Shyam TeleServices, a new entrant, for example, offered free access to a number of sites including Wikipedia, Yahoo, and some educational sites, besides throwing in free download limits as part of its inaugural package.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
LimoStars
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Votogo: Get more clients via the web
Votogo: Get more clients via the web, Online marketing consutlancy.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
ASSOCHAM Report Frowns on Social Networking...Misses The Plot
Industry-body ASSOCHAM has recently released a report on the damage to business due to misuse of social networking sites during office hours. The association has arrived at a fairly precise figure of "12.5% of productivity of human resource in corporate sector is misappropriated each day since a vast majority of them while away their time accessing social networking sites during office hours."
The report, prepared by the ASSOCHAM's Social Development Foundation, has other gems to offer including this:"Almost each day, an average corporate employee spend an hour, gluing to various social networking sites such as Orkut, Facebook, Myspace, Linkedin etc. for romancing or otherwise drive (sic) some satisfaction out of it. With this averagecorporate employee's each day working is reduced by an hour from 8 hour to 7 hour."
The industry body surveyed close to 4000 employees across a fairly wide swathe of the country, covering both the metros and smaller towns. Age-wise employees profiled ranged from 21 to 60 years. Not surprisingly the survey points to a growing affinity among the younger crowd to spend more time on the networking sites (93%), while the older generation prefers to spend more time on news sites (73%). Thereport further goes on to state that companies are dealing with the phenomenon in a variety of way, including banning the sites altogether. Some other companies allow networking sites, only forbusiness...but the report is silent on how the companies monitor if the messaging happening is for business or personal reasons.
Apart from the fantastic deduction on romance this report also goes on to make the claim that "84% of Internet users in metropolitan show signs of Internet addiction - they don’t take breaks at appropriate times, they spend more than a ‘normal’ amount of time online, and can get irritable if they are interrupted while surfing." While net addiction is a workplace reality, claiming 84% of all office workers in metros to have the addiction is to state simply that it is now an epidemic. This is far from the truth. The negative bias of thereport towards social networking does not do justice to the business potential of this phenomenon.
Social networking is "the" trend of 2009. Like all trends this one too has positives and negatives. On the positive side, it has never been easier to keep in touch with colleagues going way back when. Most of us realize the need to actively network as part of our professional lives. The ability to do it and to solvebusiness problems right from your desktop should actually be viewed as a great time-saver. For example: social networking is now emerging as one of the best ways to recruit talent. Companies like Cadbury's, Diageo and others are putting the social networking phenomenon to great use in their marketing campaigns. Our sister publication Forbes India recently introduced the Twinterview--which is interviews via twitter. Corporates the world over are figuring out interesting and innovative solutions on social networking to a whole host of issues dealing with human resources, marketing, brand-building...you name it.
One big advantage with social networking is that, unlike other web and new media phenomena, it does not come with a age-restricter. Social networking cuts across age groups and appeals to the widest swath of online population. This is not something that should be frowned upon. Uni-dimensional reports like these only serve to create a negative impression in corporate minds about a phenomenon most CXO's are grappling to try and work out. This could be detrimental to the organization in the long run.
I believe social networking presents both an opportunity and a challenge. The opportunity is unparalleled in its ability to reach out to interest groups in the shortest most convenient way. The challenge is age-old, how to get your employees to work while at work. If you take away their social networking, are you really sure they will spend that extra hour on work?
The report, prepared by the ASSOCHAM's Social Development Foundation, has other gems to offer including this:"Almost each day, an average corporate employee spend an hour, gluing to various social networking sites such as Orkut, Facebook, Myspace, Linkedin etc. for romancing or otherwise drive (sic) some satisfaction out of it. With this averagecorporate employee's each day working is reduced by an hour from 8 hour to 7 hour."
The industry body surveyed close to 4000 employees across a fairly wide swathe of the country, covering both the metros and smaller towns. Age-wise employees profiled ranged from 21 to 60 years. Not surprisingly the survey points to a growing affinity among the younger crowd to spend more time on the networking sites (93%), while the older generation prefers to spend more time on news sites (73%). Thereport further goes on to state that companies are dealing with the phenomenon in a variety of way, including banning the sites altogether. Some other companies allow networking sites, only forbusiness...but the report is silent on how the companies monitor if the messaging happening is for business or personal reasons.
Apart from the fantastic deduction on romance this report also goes on to make the claim that "84% of Internet users in metropolitan show signs of Internet addiction - they don’t take breaks at appropriate times, they spend more than a ‘normal’ amount of time online, and can get irritable if they are interrupted while surfing." While net addiction is a workplace reality, claiming 84% of all office workers in metros to have the addiction is to state simply that it is now an epidemic. This is far from the truth. The negative bias of thereport towards social networking does not do justice to the business potential of this phenomenon.
Social networking is "the" trend of 2009. Like all trends this one too has positives and negatives. On the positive side, it has never been easier to keep in touch with colleagues going way back when. Most of us realize the need to actively network as part of our professional lives. The ability to do it and to solvebusiness problems right from your desktop should actually be viewed as a great time-saver. For example: social networking is now emerging as one of the best ways to recruit talent. Companies like Cadbury's, Diageo and others are putting the social networking phenomenon to great use in their marketing campaigns. Our sister publication Forbes India recently introduced the Twinterview--which is interviews via twitter. Corporates the world over are figuring out interesting and innovative solutions on social networking to a whole host of issues dealing with human resources, marketing, brand-building...you name it.
One big advantage with social networking is that, unlike other web and new media phenomena, it does not come with a age-restricter. Social networking cuts across age groups and appeals to the widest swath of online population. This is not something that should be frowned upon. Uni-dimensional reports like these only serve to create a negative impression in corporate minds about a phenomenon most CXO's are grappling to try and work out. This could be detrimental to the organization in the long run.
I believe social networking presents both an opportunity and a challenge. The opportunity is unparalleled in its ability to reach out to interest groups in the shortest most convenient way. The challenge is age-old, how to get your employees to work while at work. If you take away their social networking, are you really sure they will spend that extra hour on work?
The Top 10 Sites on the web in India
Part of my job is to understand what is happening in the constantly changing world of the Internet. I spend more time online per week than most people spend working, sleeping, and having fun put together. And while this is NOT always a good thing, there are several reasons why I love the World Wide Web. Aside from constantly changing content, new ideas popping up faster than I could ever hope to find them, and the connection of people from different backgrounds, there are several websites that make me really happy.
First there are several sites I did not include in my top ten list, because they are such a part of the fabric of my existence, they hardly count. This would include Facebook.com, Twitter.com, Wikipedia.com, Google (and the 10,000 different variations on the Google theme), YouTube, and the 15 different news sites I like to peruse. The sites I chose for my Top Ten list are super extra special. They actually have an emotional hold on me for one reason or another. Some are guilty pleasures. Some just make me feel smart when I am around other technically savvy people. Others inspire me and shape my world view. Some you may know, others may be new, but these are the winners of 2009 for me.
According to Me, top 10 websites in india.
Rediff
rediff.com
Rediff.com: India's leading website for the latest news and videos in India including Political News, Bollywood News & Movies, Indian Cricket News & Scores ...
Just Dial
justdial.com
Justdial Indias No.1 local search engine provides comprehensive updated information on all B2B and B2C Products and Services. Services available in all ...
BigAdda
bigadda.com
BIGADDA.com - Indian Youth Networking Site which connects you with your friends. Share your videos, photos, build communities & express yourself through ...
ibibo
ibibo.com
ibibo is a place to connect with your friends, followers and contacts. Play social network games, Multiplayer Games with friends and participate in reality ...
Indiatimes
indiatimes.com
Indiatimes: India News, Business, Movies, Cricket, Shopping, more...
Portal site; includes news stories under subject headings, and links to other information sources.
Naukri
Naukri.com
Search Jobs in India - Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata. Find career openings in top companies. Post your resume and find your dream job Now!
Bollywood Hungama
Bollywoodhungama.com
Bollywood Hungama is a leading Bollywood entertainment website, Get latest bollywood news, Bollywood Films, Bollywood Hindi songs & movies ...
Tech2
tech2.in.com
Tech2.com is India's Top Technology reviews, news, downloads, and prices site with information on PCs & Laptops, Gaming, Mobile Phones, Cameras & Printers, ...
In
in.com
Get In and get Free 10 GB E Mail, Latest Breaking News, India Music & International Music, Videos, Games, Books ,Shopping, Entertainment & more.
Way2sms
Way2sms.com
Send Free SMS to india. Send Free SMS to any mobile. India's First web to mobile Free SMS site. Group SMS , Free SMS Chat, Free SMS to any network ...
First there are several sites I did not include in my top ten list, because they are such a part of the fabric of my existence, they hardly count. This would include Facebook.com, Twitter.com, Wikipedia.com, Google (and the 10,000 different variations on the Google theme), YouTube, and the 15 different news sites I like to peruse. The sites I chose for my Top Ten list are super extra special. They actually have an emotional hold on me for one reason or another. Some are guilty pleasures. Some just make me feel smart when I am around other technically savvy people. Others inspire me and shape my world view. Some you may know, others may be new, but these are the winners of 2009 for me.
According to Me, top 10 websites in india.
Rediff
rediff.com
Rediff.com: India's leading website for the latest news and videos in India including Political News, Bollywood News & Movies, Indian Cricket News & Scores ...
Just Dial
justdial.com
Justdial Indias No.1 local search engine provides comprehensive updated information on all B2B and B2C Products and Services. Services available in all ...
BigAdda
bigadda.com
BIGADDA.com - Indian Youth Networking Site which connects you with your friends. Share your videos, photos, build communities & express yourself through ...
ibibo
ibibo.com
ibibo is a place to connect with your friends, followers and contacts. Play social network games, Multiplayer Games with friends and participate in reality ...
Indiatimes
indiatimes.com
Indiatimes: India News, Business, Movies, Cricket, Shopping, more...
Portal site; includes news stories under subject headings, and links to other information sources.
Naukri
Naukri.com
Search Jobs in India - Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata. Find career openings in top companies. Post your resume and find your dream job Now!
Bollywood Hungama
Bollywoodhungama.com
Bollywood Hungama is a leading Bollywood entertainment website, Get latest bollywood news, Bollywood Films, Bollywood Hindi songs & movies ...
Tech2
tech2.in.com
Tech2.com is India's Top Technology reviews, news, downloads, and prices site with information on PCs & Laptops, Gaming, Mobile Phones, Cameras & Printers, ...
In
in.com
Get In and get Free 10 GB E Mail, Latest Breaking News, India Music & International Music, Videos, Games, Books ,Shopping, Entertainment & more.
Way2sms
Way2sms.com
Send Free SMS to india. Send Free SMS to any mobile. India's First web to mobile Free SMS site. Group SMS , Free SMS Chat, Free SMS to any network ...
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