How to activate Partial DND & receive SMS from selected categories

Starting September 27th, the Do Not Disturb (DND) regulations from TRAI will kick-in, meaning mobile users who have subscribed to the National Do Not Call Registry will stop receiving unsolicited SMS or Calls from telemarketers, financial institutions, advertisers and any other pesky services that harangue users by sending such messages.

While this is a good (and long overdue) move by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India which will guarantee some peace of mind to consumers, there is a flipside to it as well. Mobile users will also not receive “informational” messages from various services providers or institutions. For example, you will receive (not sure though) any SMS about the call taxi that you had just booked or the confirmation SMS from an eCommerce site that you made a purchase on.

Though the unsolicited messages menace is a genuine one, there are some messages that users will actually need and await for. How to address that, you might ask.

Well, there is a way to implement Partial DND i.e. selectively activate the do not disturb services for a particular category. Details below:

3G Spectrum Auctions Done – Vodafone doesn’t get AP

The auctions for the 3G Spectrum across the various telecom circles in India concluded today with the Government garnering a whopping ~70,000 Crores in bids. A total of nine companies participated in the bidding for 3G spectrum – all of the biggies and the wannabes in the scorchingly growing Indian Telecom Market. But only seven came away with a grin, and a huge bill to foot!

A clutch of 13 circles were bagged by Bharti Airtel and Aircel whereas 12 circles went to Reliance Communications. Idea Cellular got 10 circles, Vodafone and Tata Teleservices 9 each whilst STel got 3 circles. Etisalat DB and Videocon were left empty-handed.

However, due to the extremely high-profile nature of the circles it bagged, Bharti would have to shell out nearly Rs 12,300 crore for the 13 circles whereas Aircel, which also got 13 circles owes only around Rs 6,500 crore. Vodafone would pay approx. Rs 11,600 crore, Reliance Communications approx Rs 8,600 crore, Tata Teleservices approx. Rs 5,900 crore and Idea Rs 5,800 crore to pick up the 3G spectrum.

‘Tie’ Another Day!

I presume most of you have viewed the latest Vodafone ad for Call Conferencing. This ad reminded me of my college days. We were nearing our Graduation and as the ‘Interviews’ loomed large up ahead, we realized that we didn’t know how to tie a Tie

Only one dude amongst us – Mr. S – knew it and what more, he had an entire repertoire of Knots! Well, not exactly many but he knew more than one. So he was in great demand one day as few of us came equipped with brand new ties and implored him to teach us the knottings. Now one thing you must know about Mr. S is that….he’s left-handed! So while for some it was confusing, for some it made it easier. Why? Well, for those who viewed his tying the tie from in-front-of-him, it seemed as if a mirror-image and that made it easy. And for those who viewed it side-by-side, it was a helluva job to replicate the knots. Didn’t get me? Try it out yourselves

We didn’t have the same level of fun as in the Ad but it was a unique experience for each of us. And after each one of us managed to finally get it, or thought we did, it was evaluation time for Mr. S and he was frankly flabbergasted at what he saw! None of us had got it right!!! It finally took umpteen sessions and quite a few interviews until we all got it right!

Here’s the Vodafone Ad for those of you who haven’t seen it. Unlike other Vodafone ads, this one has dialogues innit but it is funny nonetheless!!!

P.S: I have saved a tie with the perfect knot intact. I just wear it and tighten it. Saves the whole tying up business

Arun Sarin steps down as Vodafone Chief – Indian Media is "shocked" & "stunned"

On Tuesday May 27th 2008, there were reports that Arun Sarin was to step down as CEO of Vodafone:

Arun Sarin, the chief executive who safeguarded mobile company Vodafone’s dominance among mobile operators by expanding into emerging markets, announced his departure on Tuesday, saying he had achieved all he had set out to do. He will be replaced by his deputy, Vittorio Colao, in July.

Analysts welcomed the smooth transition at the top of the world’s largest mobile phone group by revenue but said that it had come slightly earlier than expected. [Reuters]

Later the same day (and even today) News channels on TV were reporting the same and associating exclamations such as “stunning” and “shocking” with it! E.g.: “Arun Sarin — stunned the corporate world by stepping down as the CEO of one of the world’s biggest telecom company” [Times Now]. I wonder what is so stunning in that? Sensational-ism? Gather-Eyeballs-ism? Sarin had achieved what he had set out to do – make Vodafone one of the biggest Telecom companies in the World (It is the biggest in terms of revenue). He took over when Vodafone was facing turbulent times and with his stratagem of consolidating into emerging markets and reducing tariffs and introducing new revenue segments. He spearheaded Vodafone’s takeover of Hutchison Essar last year which turned out be his biggest success.

The Pug is Back…

Everyday I want to fly, stay by my side
Everyday I want to dream, stay by my side
Every morning I wish I could just play
Wish the mornings would just stay…..

In case you’re wondering who I’m talking about or which song is the one up above – Itz the Vodafone Pug

The lovable Pug is back again on TV in a new series of commercials for Vodafone and this time around, he’s company to a young girl. With the tagline of “Happy to Help” the ads show how the pug helps out the girl in time of need, be it fetching her sock/tie or fetching a fishing aid/first-aid kit [My personal favourite is the stamp-licking bit]. The ads symbolize the customer-friendly spirit of the brand and they do so with zero dialogues! As it is itz Visually appealing, but its the pug that makes it all the more wonderful!

The lyrics above are from the song that plays in the background of that song. A Google search reveals little though about the artiste or the band but methinks its a new recording made for the purpose of the Ads. Itz available on the Vodafone microsite as well as for usage as Callertune on its network. Listen to it below:

The ads (both the newer and older ones) are available on the Vodafone microsite for download; plus there are wallpapers, screensavers, music clips and e-cards also.