Google adds IMAP support to GMail - Atlast !

We can now download GMail messages to our computer or handheld device including iPhone and keep them in sync with online GMail service. Google has announced support for IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol). After enabling IMAP in your Gmail account, you need to configure your mail client or wireless device to download Gmail messages.

This was a long overdue feature desired from Gmail. Here are more details.

http://mail.google.com/mail/help/about_whatsnew.html
http://mail.google.com/support/bin/topic.py?topic=12760

Here is the list of supported clients from GMail help topics:

Mail Clients

• Outlook Express (Windows)
• Outlook 2003 (Windows)
• Outlook 2007 (Windows)
• Apple Mail
• Windows Mail
• Thunderbird 2.0
• Other*

Wireless Devices

• iPhone

Mobile Phones

• For help accessing Gmail for mobile, please visit https://mail.google.com/support/bin/topic.py?topic=1580

- Neeraj Sharma

India mobile market expected to heat up further on new policy and licenses

This week Indian Department of Telecommunications (DoT) gave nod to current CDMA technology service providers to offer services in GSM technology as well after payment of license fee and by allotting additional bandwidth to these operators. This is under DoTs Unified Access Service Licences (UASL) policy against which many existing and new operators had applied for licenses and spectrum.

Biggest gainers so far is Reliance Communications who has nationwide CDMA service and limited GSM services in few circles. Tatas who are second largest CDMA operator plan to start GSM services if granted the required spectrum. GSM operators will be allowed to provide cellular services using CDMA technology although as of now no GSM players plan to offer CDMA services. The decision has left CDMA operators happy and GSM operators and Cellular Operators Association of India (Group respresenting the GSM players like Bharati Airtel and Vodafone) fuming.

Reliance Communications is the biggest gainer as it had applied for nationwide GSM license last year and have been in parallel gearing up its network to offer GSM services. They have within days of the ruling paid Rs16000 odd million (Rs1600 crores) fee required by the DoT after which it may be launching nationwide GSM services as early as 6-8 weeks. They will get 4MHz spectrum in each circle to offer GSM services.

Bharti AirTel is still waiting for additional spectrum for catering to its growing base of subscribers and to offer new generation services. DoT also raised the bar for GSM operator's eligibility for allotment of additional spectrum. They will need to have a larger subscriber base than what was mentioned earlier for additional spectrum allocation.

Bharti which has the largest cellular subscriber base in India's fast growing cellular market may start loosing out to Reliance Communications which is known for its aggressive marketing and pricing.

Mobile services are among the cheapest in India. While the prices remain low, both CDMA and GSM players have been adding millions of subscribers every month and with shortage of spectrum and crowded networks quality of service is a big challenge that the operators are facing.

- Neeraj

Microsoft launches new range of Zune players and new SW for current users

http://www.zune.net/en-us/meetzune/holiday2007.htm

Three new digital media players announced today (availability November 2007):
Zune 4GB (Flash memory based) $149
Zune 8GB (Flash memory based) $199
Zune 80GB (Hard-drive based) $249

Zune 80GB hard-drive model has a new 3.2-inch screen
Zune 4GB and Zune 8GB flash models will be available in pink, green, black and glossy red.

These players are supposed to have better Wireless sync and sharing features compared to the original 30GB Zune. For current Zune users also SW upgrades have been announced which will be available some time in November for download.

This expanded range from MS is expected to do better in terms of taking some market share from Apple. Lets wait and watch for more gadgets for this coming holiday season.

First Blog - An Introduction

I am totally new to blogging. Let me first introduce my self. I am Neeraj Sharma and an Electronics Hardware Engineer from Bangalore India. I am working in area of Electronics HW design for Datacom and Telecom products for around 11 years since I graduated from Regional Engineering College (NIT) Jalandhar, India. My focus area have been printed circuit board (PCB) and system design. I have work experience in India, Belgium, Canada and USA.

I like any thing electronic and hardware is my passion. I like to own and review gadgets and try to keep up to date with what is happening in field of electronics, gadgets and computers. I love to fix broken stuff. Other than electronics, I love the World Wide Web, photography, reading and travel when I get a chance.

I will attempt to keep this blog updated and put stuff of interest to like-minded people and web surfers interested in technology. I look forward to your opinion on the subjects. Have a great day.