ISPs have a long way to go, says PC Quest survey
Internet services have a long way to go before customers could expect high quality of services and lack of bandwidth, busy telephone lines and inefficient help desks remain areas of concern, a survey has shown. Out of many national and regional ISPs tested by the computer magazine PC Quest, five players made impression in the `shootout'. Out of them, Satyam Online won in three cities and remained strong second or third in most of the other places. MantraOnline won in two cities and put up strong performances in other cities. Sigma Online put up strong performances in the South and in Mumbai. It, however, lost in Bangalore because the registration process did not work and there was no helpdesk.Trial offer of unlimited access from Satyam Info
Satyam Infoway Ltd has launched a special trial offer of unlimited Internet access at Rs 49 for a connection for 21 days. This offer - Garma Garam - is available from July 3 to 10 in Mumbai. On purchase of this pack, every user will get a coupon enabling a Rs 99 discount on renewal of any Satyamonline product, thus connections come free of cost for the subscriber. Satyam had earlier announced `UnLtd' that offers consumers unlimited Internet access for Rs 198 per month for both domestic and commercial users.
LG, galaxyofhealth.com in pact for health e-shop
LG Electronics India has signed an agreement with leading health portal galaxyofhealth.com to sell a specific range of products on the latter's "health e-shop". The new health e-shop would sell all products "related to medicine, health and fitness including books, fitness equipment and non-prescription medicines".
DoT clarifies on free phone calls for MPs
The Ministry of Communications has said that the decision to provide a third free phone to the MPs, with the facility of 50,000 free calls for using the Internet, was made on the request of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs. A release issued by the PIB clarified that the cost of these free calls will be borne by the Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha Secretariat and not by the Ministry of Communications.
TRAI releases consultation paper on USO
TRAI has released a consultation paper on Universal Service Obligation (USO), which analyzes the existing and future scenario and present approaches, methodologies, and options for achievement of the USO. The consultation paper, determines the requirement of funds to be raised through imposition of Universal Access Levy (UAL), by employing several approaches and costing methodologies.It also suggests establishing an independent agency reporting to TRAI for the purpose of administration of funds collected by the UAL. The paper is available at www.trai.gov.in.
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