Mobile number portability - What should you know.

The long-awaited mobile number portability (MNP) is finally here! The facility allows customers to change their cellphone operator without losing their phone numbers.The MNP launch, which was deferred four times due to reasons ranging from operators not being ready with their networks to security concerns, promises to open a new chapter for India's burgeoning mobile population.

As the country’s mobile customers gear up to this new-found freedom, here's a ready reckoner on MNP that endeavours to answer all queries about MNP. Can a CDMA ubscriber change to GSM network? What will be the cost of changing my service provider? How long will the transition take? This and many more such crucial queries on MNP are answered below.

What will you lose if you switch ?

Balance on prepaid cards. Similarly, in case it is a platform shift you will have to change handsets. This means if you decide to move from CDMA-to-GSM or vice-versa, you will also have to change your handset.

Does it allow a technology switch?

A subscriber can stay within same technology, GSM/CDMA. Also, change to CDMA or vice versa. Both post-paid and prepaid subscribers can go for it.

How long will it take to port a number?

Seven working days. Fifteen working days in J&K, North-east.

How expensive?

Changing your mobile service provider will cost Rs 19. This will be collected by new service provider.

Can you retain your number in another city?

No. You can’t change circles. This means subscribers cannot take their Delhi number to an operator in Mumbai. They can only change their operator within Delhi.

How frequently can you switch service providers?

A subscriber must be with a provider for at least three months. Next number change not before 90 days.

Will MNP help improve quality of service?

Analysts believe that this is likely to happen only if operators believe that the churn out of their subscriber base is so high that they need to improve their service or customer care, etc.

However, surveys have revealed that the net effect of number portability is practically negligible. This means most large operators gain and lose roughly the same number of subscribers, taking away any incentive to dramatically change quality of service or customer care or pricing owing to the threat of losing subscribers or the option of gaining subscribers.

Will switching operator help me cut my mobile bill?

Mobile phone tariffs in India are already extremely competitive and so moving to a dramatically lower bill is unlikely. Some consumers who are frequent callers, an equivalent of closed user group-or family members who are currently on different networks could now move to single network to take advantage of attractive tariff packages, including free calls within the same network, etc.

However, before you make any switch check whether your operator is providing a similar option.

What is expected in future?

Post-paid tariffs may drop. Telcos may offer discounted handsets.

How has MNP fared so far?

Trai figures say only 1.4 lakh subscribers, or 0.6%, in Haryana used MNP since November.

(TNN)

Ambitious project to green the desert to begin in Jordan

An ambitious project that aims to turn arid desert land into a green oasis took a step closer to becoming reality last week when an agreement was signed on the rights to develop a pilot system in Jordan. The Sahara Forest Project’s (SFP) first facility will be located on a 2,000,000 square meter (21,527,821 sq. ft.) plot of land in Aqaba, a coastal town in the south of Jordan where it will be a test bed for the use of a combination of technologies designed to enable the production of fresh water, food and renewable energy in hot, arid regions.

The partners behind the Sahara Forest Project are Bill Watts of Max Fordham Consulting Engineers, Seawater Greenhouse, Exploration Architecture and theBellona Foundation, an international environmental NGO based in Norway, who have been working on the idea since 2009.

In 2009, after first studies showed that the concept was feasible and economically viable, the project was presented internationally at the December 2009 UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, where it was well received. In June, 2010, Jordan’s King Abdullah II saw a project presentation during a visit to Norway and was impressed enough to say he was ready to facilitate its implementation in Jordan.

The main pillars of the project are saltwater greenhouses, concentrated solar energy, and cultivation of traditional crops along with energy crops such as algae, which all come together in one location to solve a whole range of environmental problems.

The SFP would use saltwater greenhouses to grow crops throughout the year in desert locations without any supply of freshwater. Seawater is evaporated from grilles at the front of the greenhouse to create cool humid conditions inside. A proportion of the evaporated seawater is then condensed as freshwater that is used to irrigate the crops, re-vegetate surrounding dry areas and provide water to the concentrated solar power plant.

The solar power plant is in turn used to generate electricity to power the pumps to transport the seawater from the Red Sea to the saltwater greenhouse and the fans to circulate the humid air within the greenhouse. The greenhouse will also be used to cultivate algae to absorb CO2 and provide biomass to be used for energy and food production.

The project partners say that, in essence, when these different technologies are put to use in a combined approach, the processes will start “feeding” each other and provide not only environmental, but also commercial benefits.

The project envisions three separate stages of development. In depth studies will be carried out throughout 2011, construction of a Demonstration Center is slated to start in 2012, and commercial-scale development is set to start in 2015.

Solar powered microcontrollers...

In a new, more efficient approach to solar powered microelectronics, researchers have produced a microchip which directly integrates photovoltaic cells. While harnessing sunlight to power microelectronics isn't new, conventional set-ups use a separate solar cell and battery. What sets this device apart from is that high-efficiency solar cells are placed straight onto the electronics, producing self-sufficient, low-power devices which are highly suitable for industrial serial production and can even operate indoors.
The autonomous microsystem was developed by the Semiconductor Components group at the University of Twente's MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology led by Professor Jurriaan Schmitz. The researchers collaborated with colleagues from Nankai University in Tianjin, China and the Debye Institute of Utrecht University. The research was made possible by the STW Technology Foundation.
Instead of manufacturing the solar cell separately, the design sees the chip used as a base and the solar cell applied to it layer by layer. According to the UT release, this results in a more efficient production process, uses fewer materials and ultimately performs better.
The production process has not been trouble-free with the researchers finding that the fragile electronics can easily be damaged. For this reason it was decided to use amorphous silicon or CIGS (copper - indium - gallium – selenide) solar cells. The manufacturing of these cells does not influence the electronics, and these types of solar cells also produce sufficient power to allow the microprocessors to operate in low-light or indoors. There is a catch though – the chip's energy use must be well below 1 milliwatt.
Tests have shown that the electronics and the solar cells function properly, and the manufacturing process is also highly suitable for industrial serial production with the use of standard processes.
The paper Above-CMOS a-Si and CIGS Solar Cells for Powering Autonomous Microsystems by J. Lu, W. Liu, C.H.M. van der Werf, A.Y. Kovalgin, Y. Sun, R.E.I. Schropp and J. Schmitz was presented at the International Electron Device Meeting in San Francisco in December.

NEVER back down !!!

One day a young lady was driving along with her father. They came upon a storm, and the young lady asked her father, what should I do?” He said "keep driving". Cars began to pull over to the side, the storm was getting worse.

"What should I do?" The young lady asked?

"Keep driving," her father replied.

On up a few feet, she noticed that eighteen wheelers were also pulling over. She told her dad, "I must pull over, I can barely see ahead. It is terrible, and everyone is pulling over!” Her father told her, "Don't give up, just keep driving!"　

Now the storm was terrible, but she never stopped driving, and soon she could see a little more clearly. After a couple of miles she was again on dry land, and the sun came out. Her father said, "Now you can pull over and get out."

She said "But why now?"

He said "When you get out, look back at all the people that gave up and are still in the storm, because you never gave up your storm is now over.　

This is a testimony for anyone who is going through "hard times".

　
Just because everyone else, even the strongest, gives up. You don't have to...if you keep going, soon your storm will be over and the sun will shine up on your face again.
　
This story touched me! I hope it touched you, too !!!

You are dead....

Heres another beautifull excerpt

“ It's another morning..

...I have to go to office.

Ohh, this is me. I shouted having a glance on my snap in today's news paper.
But what the HELL it is doing in the death column??

Strange.

One sec... Let me think, last night when I was going to bed I had a severe pain in my chest, but I don't remember anything after that, I think I had a sound sleep.

Its morning now,
ohh... It's already 10:00 AM, where is my coffee?
I will be late for office and my boss will get a chance to irritate me.

Where is everyone.??? I screamed.

"I think there is a crowed outside my room, let me check." I said to myself..

So many people... Not all of them crying.
But why some of them crying.

WHAT IS THIS??? I m laying there on the floor.

"I AM HERE" . I shouted!!! No one listen.
"LOOK I AM NOT DEAD" . I screamed once again!!! No one is
interested in me.
They all were looking me on the bed.

I went back to my bed room.

"Am I dead??" I asked myself.

Where is my wife, my children, my mom-DAD, my friends?

I found them in the next room, all of them were crying. still trying to console each other.


My wife was crying. she was really looking sad.
My little kid was not sure what happened, but he was crying just coz his mom was sad.


How can I go without saying my kid that I really love him, I really do  care of him. ??

How can I go without saying my wife that she is really most beautiful and most caring wife in this world..??

How can I go without saying my parents that I m . just because of u ??

How can I go without telling my friends that without them perhaps I have done most of the wrong things in my life.

 Thanks for being there always when I need them, and sorry for not being there when they really need me..

I can see a person standing in the corner and trying to hide his tears.
Ohh. he was once my best friend, but a small misunderstanding made us part, and we both have strong enough ego to keep us disconnect.

I went there..
And offered him my hand, "Dear friend. I just want to say
sorry for everything, we r still best friend, please forgive me."

No response from other side, what the hell?? He is still preserving his ego, I am saying sorry. even then!!!
I really don't care for such people.


But one sec.. it seems he is not able to see me!!!! He did not see my extended hand.

My goodness. AM I REALLY DEAD???

I just sat down near ME; I was also feeling like crying.

"OHH ALMIGHTY!!!! PLEASE
JUST GIVE ME FEW MORE DAYS."
I just wasn't to make my wife, my parents; my friends realize that how much I love them.

My wife entered in the room, she looks beautiful.
"YOU R BEAUTIFUL" I shouted.

She didn't hear my words, in fact she never heard these words coz I never said this to her.

"GOD!!!!" I screamed. a little more time plzzzzzzzzzzzzzz..
I cried.

One more chance please. to hug my child, to make my mom smile just once, to feel my dad proud on me at least for a moment, to say sorry to my friends for everything I have not given to them, and thanks for still being in my Life..

Then I looked up and cried!!!!

I shouted..

"GOD!!!! ONE MORE CHANCE PLEASE!!!!"

"You shouted in your sleep," said my wife as she gently woke me up. "Did you have a nightmare?"

I was sleeping..
Ohh ....
that was just a dream..

My wife was there. she can hear me.This is the happiest moment of my life.
I hugged her and whispered.. "U R THE MOST BEAUTIFUL AND CARING WIFE IN THIS UNIVERSE.. I REALLY LOVE U DEAR"

I can't understand the reason of the smile on her face with some tears in her eyes, still I m happy..

"THANK YOU GOD FOR   THIS SECOND? CHANCE."


SO, Now it's not late.. Forget Ur Egos, Past. and Xpress Ur love to others.

Be friendly. Keep smiling. for ever...

Dear Friends,

Keep your ego aside and express your love, care, appreciation, friendship, because you
won't get a second chance always .....

Life is the way you look at it !!!

Hey friends !!!!

Here is a beautiful story I red the other day. And It was wonderful. So would like to share with you this beautiful piece of splendor…..

 

Long ago in a small, far away village, there was a place known as the House of 1000 Mirrors. A small, happy little dog learned of this place and decided to visit. When he arrived, he bounced happily up the stairs to the doorway of the house. He looked through the doorway with his ears lifted high and his tail wagging as fast as it could. To his great surprise, he found himself staring at 1000 other happy little dogs with their tails wagging just as fast as his. He smiled a great smile, and was answered with 1000 great smiles just as warm and friendly. As he left the house, he thought to himself, "This is a wonderful place. I will come back and visit it often."

In this same village, another little dog, who was not quite as happy as the first one, decided to visit the house. He slowly climbed the stairs and hung his head low as he looked into the door. When he saw the 1000 unfriendly looking dogs staring back at him, he growled at them and was horrified to see 1000 little dogs growling back at him. As he left, he thought to himself, "That is a horrible place, and I will never go back there again."

All the faces in the world are mirrors. What kind of reflections do you see in the faces of the people you meet depends on you. You have a choice!

Little things.....count

Yes, you’ve heard it before. The little things count and this is such an important principle that I want to delve into it some more, the reason being, I don’t think people give this enough credit and thought. It’s easy to look over the little things and that’s probably why so few people do them in the first place.

Most us tend to think it’s the big things that make a big difference and that’s true, don’t get me wrong, but when you trace the sequence of events that eventually led to that big opportunity, you’ll realize it’s the result of a lot of little things being done before that contributed to it.

What do I mean exactly by these little things?

You know exactly what I mean.

Going the extra inch, winning in the margins, doing one more thing – that’s what I’m talking about. Whatever goal you’re trying achieve, look to see where you can do the little things.

What happens then when we take into account the little things is that we begin to foster great habits. It becomes second nature to pay attention to detail, become disciplined, have an “improving” mindset, and develop the action habit of implementation.

When you begin to notice the small things you can do and discipline yourself to follow through and execute them, you WILL see the benefits and that in turn will solidify all your habits.