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VoIP
on my phone
I
have read your article, “What can IP Phones do for you?”
on the Express Computer website and seek your guidance on
a certain matter pertaining to size. I have heard that there
are certain devices that enable you to make ISD/ STD calls
from a regular phone line, which is connected to the Internet.
By virtue of this, you can call another party with a similar
device installed at their end and speak to them over the regular
phone instrument and no charges are incurred except for normal
ISP charges. I believe it differs from other VoIP packages
available from sources such as Net2Phone, Net4India, etc,
in the following matters: You can speak over the normal instrument
vis-à-vis the mic/headphone combination required for
others, You don’t need a full duplex sound card and yet
achieve a normal two way phone conversation. There is no cost
incurred in buying air-time from such agencies. You merely
pay for the Internet connection. Please advise if this type
of service is permitted in India.
Sandeep Shriya
Mumbai
Brian Pereira replies:
While
there are many ways (and all sorts of devices) to make IP-based
calls, the government of India permits IP telephony to be
used in such a way that it has minimum effect on the revenues
of a basic telephone services operator. You are permitted
to make an IP call in either of the following ways:
1. PC to PC
2.
PC to telephone (abroad)
3.
Using IP-based terminals
Notice that you cannot use a normal PSTN handset to make an
IP-based call or to receive a call in India. Regardless of
the method you choose to make your IP call, you are still
going to pay some carrier/service provider, for use of his
medium. In reality, there is no way an IP call can be entirely
free. Even if you bypass the local telephone company, you
still have to pay the service provider. Then there’s
the cost of the terminal. It all boils down to the service
provider you choose. So do check what kind of method the SP
uses for IP telephony, what kind of devices are used, the
cost of the service and devices.
Gimme free Net access
It
is a common misconception that usage of technology is metro-centric,
a prerogative of the rich. But if you read the posting of
the Allahabad Internet Users Association, you will find things
otherwise. Especially since the strangulating hold of monopolistic
telephony providers has now been removed.
With reference to your story on ‘What Lessons can India
learn from Israel?’ (Express Computer, May 6, 2002),
you have rightly mentioned that a country smaller than most
Indian states has astounded the world by their technological
progress in such a short span of time. The entire country
is wired and free Net access provided to all citizens. This
is what is needed in India to provide a jump start to the
economy. Pramod Mahajan can surely achieve this as Dewang
Mehta has already set us on the path. But the Government of
India and BSNL have been very slow in responding to these
needs, as they feel threatened by the customer centric nature
of today’s market place.
RK Dhanvada
Via
e-mail
Viva IT People!
The
management and lifestyle columns in EC provide the reader
with interesting information. Management of technology is
very important for the progress of society and the nation.
Also leisure, stress management, humour, travel, etc, are
very important for the development of society. IT People is
doing a good job by opening up opportunities to Indian people
all over the world, helping people understand each other’s
cultures, religions and lifestyles, thus fostering friendship.
Sunil Pedgaonkar
Via
e-mail
The good old days
I
have been a regular reader of Express Computer since its inception.
But, of late I have observed that many of the earlier regular
features like C programming by Kanetkar, useful programming
tips, employment ads and other useful educational articles
are missing. I am very disappointed to see this. I would definitely
not buy Express Computer with so many missing features and
other useful educational tips/articles. I hope you will take
this into consideration.
Raviprasad Rao
Bangalore
CORRIGENDUM
In ‘CAD/CAM industry in need of certified, trained manpower’
(IT People, May 20, 2002), it has been wrongly mentioned that
Sungrace provides CATIA training. Sungrace offers training
on ‘SolidWorks’ (using SolidWorks international
curriculum), by instructors certified from SolidWorks Corporation,
USA.
In the ‘Product Launches’ page in the May 27 issue
of Express Computer, the name of a company was incorrectly
spelled as Socomec Siscon and the product was called Modulus.
The correct spelling is Socomec Sicon and the product name
is Modulys. We regret the errors.
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