Abhishek Speaks

Samsung to launch TouchWiz in India with Olympics

August 20, 2008 – 7:12 am

Samsung Telecommunication India (STI) , has announced to launch its fully touch screen, ultra-slim high lifestyle segment mobile phone in India - The Samsung TouchWiz [F-480] which is much hyped in the market and rumored as sharing similar looks with Apple’s iPhone. The TouchWiz is being said to be launched to coincide with the Olympics Game 2008 which will start on 8th August 2008 (08-08-08) in China’s capital city Beijing.

Sunil Dutt, Country Head of Samsung Telecommunications India while announcing the launch of this new phone said “Given the growing consumer interest in touch screen phones , the Samsung TouchWiz offers a brilliant full touch navigation experience; widgets with ‘Drag and Drop’ technology and User Interface with Haptic Feedback which makes the experience of using the phone highly interactive and easy.”

The Samsung TouchWiz has the easiest interface with ‘Drag & Drop’ technology, which allows users to add customised widgets from the left panel of the screen and dropped anywhere on the Home Screen of the phone. The common Widgets comprise of widely used multipurpose applications like clock, calender, alarm, music player, FM, games, profiles and so on., to enable user to set hotkeys on the touch menu for all the functions as they please. Haptic feedback offers a tangible feedback when a user makes a selection on the touch screen.

The phone is cased in a metal body with a leather cover, featuring a 2.8-inch TFT LCD display and has a whopping 5.0 MegaPixel Camera with face detection, image stabilizer, auto focus, CMOS video lens and Wide Dynamic Range (WDR). It also includes the ‘Auto Smile Shot’ feature - making its WorldWide debut with this phone - that enables the camera to detect when a person is smiling and automatically taking a picture when in the ‘Smile Shot’ mode.

The Samsung TouchWiz is equipped with 240MB of internal memory, which can be expanded upto 8GB via the expandable MicroSD memory card slot. It is compatiable with GPRS, EDGE with 3G functions, HSDPA (7.2Mbps) network and functions on GSM 900/1800/1900 and WCDMA 2100 Bands, giving it a wide compatiability with all networks.

Regarding the price The Samsung TouchWiz to cost Rs:20,990/- (Rupees Twenty Thousand Nine Hundred and Ninety Only) during its launch.

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Nokia N78 Launched in India

June 13, 2008 – 10:03 am

Nokia India recently launched their newest N-Series Multimedia Mobile Phone, The Nokia N-78 for Indian Market. The new multimedia device sports a 3.15 MegaPixel Camera; complete with Carl Zeiss lens, auto focus and video recording at 640×480 pixels. It also has a new feature, the ‘Location Tagger’ program, in which one can tag locations data to any picture clicked, using the built-in GPS receiver. It runs on the Symbian OS, the gadget is equipped with a 2.4-inch TFT screen that displays 16 Million colors at 240×320 Pixels.

The 3G phone is attached with 76MB of internal memory that can be expanded using a MicroSD Card. Other features of the Nokia N78 includes a secondary video-calling camera, support for Stereo FM Radio, Mp3 playback, 3.5mm audio output jack, USB 2.0, Bluetooth v2 and GPS support.

Lastly the gadget also claims to manage all this with a talk-time of around four and a half hours, and a standby time of up to a whopping 320 Hours. The price of this phone at retail stores is to be expected at Rs:19,999/- at the time of launch.

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New Apple iPhone comes with 3G & power packed

June 11, 2008 – 5:45 pm

Apple on Monday June 9th unveiled a new version of its popular iPhone, equipped with 3G Internet access and more business-related features.

“It’s incredibly zippy,” chief executive Steve Jobs said as he demonstrated the new mobile device at the opening of Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference in San Fransisco.

“We’ve taken what we’ve learned with the first iPhone, and created the iPhone 3G; and it’s beautiful,” Steve Jobs said.

The crowd cheered when Jobs said the iPhone 3G will cost just $199 (Indian Rupees: 8,500/- approx) with 8GB of memor. The 16GB model will sell for $299 (Indian Rupees: 13,000/- approx).

The iPhone 3G - said to be two times faster than the first-gen iPhone - is designed for longer talk times, and takes advantage of the high-speed network to provide built-in GPS mapping, Jobs said.

It also includes Wi-Fi support, and push email service like the one in Blackberry devices, letting business users send and receive Microsoft Exchange Email.

Apple announced it will begin rolling out new version of the sleek smartphone devices on July 11, and make it available in 70 countries.

Bharti Airtel and Vodafone, who had both tieups with Apple to release the iPhone in India, said they will be offering the iPhone 3G here. Details of pricing and availability will be announced at a later date.

When will this later date come Though NO worries for me as I unlocked the iPhone & am using it from past 6 months or so, and also the new iPhone just has 3G for fast internet & I have 512kbps at both office and home, & the new one has GPS which I’ve got attached it in my Sony PSP. So let Bharti Airtel & Vodafone both just dream to launch iPhone in India for many more years, I wish them all the best lets see how they show their efficiency .

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Arun Sarin stepsdown from CEO post of Vodafone

May 28, 2008 – 2:49 pm

Dynamic Indian Arun Sarin 53 who headed Vodafone as CEO is stepping down from Vodafone and he will be replaced by Italian born 46 yaers old Vittorio Colao, the current Regional CEO of Southern Europe. Vodafone also posted a net profit for the year to March 31 of $13.25 Billion, compared with a net loss of about $10.37 Billion a year earlier when chanrges on its Italian and German operations hurt earnings. Besides which the company’s worldwide customer base has more than doubled from 120 Million to 260 Million under Sarin’s tenure and the company’s share price also has risen by about one-third over the same period. This shows how Dynamic Sarin was.

Sarin says “I’m delighted Vittorio is my successor. I have known him since 1997, He is a very capable manager, very hands-on driven.”

Arun said “I have done what I came here to do. The time is right and the time is now”

His resignation will be effective from July 29th 2008 after the share holders meetin, which would give him an exact five year tenure as head of what has become the world’s biggest mobile phone company by sales and the credit for the same should always go for Arun Sarin, a great business man & let me tell you I am also a fan of this person (not really fan but I feel happy when i see him, his dressing sense is truly something which i can’t express and the smile he wears makes all deals a success)

I Hope He does a lot more in Life and I also wish him All The Best for his Future.

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Indian Premier League-IPL Match Schedule 2008

April 17, 2008 – 9:05 am

Indian Premier League Match Schedule 2008

Date : Friday, 18th April,2008
Time : 7:00 PM, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : Bangalore Royal Challengers v Kolkata Knight Riders
Venue : M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore.

Date : Saturday, 19th April, 2008
Time : 3:00 PM local, 9:30 AM GMT
Match : IPL Mohali v Chennai Super Kings.
Venue : Punjab Cricket Assocation Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh.

Date : Saturday, 19th April, 2008
Time : 8:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : Delhi Daredevils v Rajasthan Royals
Venue : Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi.

Date : Sunday 20th, April 2008
Time : 3:00 PM Local, 9:30 AM GMT
Match : Mumbai Indians v Bangalore Royal Challengers.
Venue : Venue TBC, Mumbai.

Date : Sunday 20th, April 2008
Time : 8:00 PM local, 2:30 PM GMT
Match : Kolkata Knight Riders v IPL Hyderabad
Venue : Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Date : Mon 21st, April 2008
Time : 7:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : Rajasthan Royals v IPL Mohali
Venue : Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.

Date : Tue 22nd April, 2008
Time : 7:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : Hyderabad v Delhi Daredevils
Venue : TBC, Hyderabad .

Date : Wed 23rd April, 2008
Time : 7:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
MAtch : Chennai Super Kings v Mumbai Indians
Venue : MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai.

Date : Thursday, 24th April, 2008
Time : 7:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : Hyderabad v Rajasthan Royals
Venue :Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad

Date : Fri 25th April, 2008
Time : 7:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : IPL Mohali v Mumbai Indians
Venue : Punjab Cricket Assocation Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh

Date : Sat 26th April, 2008
Time : 3:00 PM local, 9:30 AM GMT
Match : Bangalore Royal Challengers v Rajasthan Royals.
Venue : M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

Date : Sat 26th April, 2008
Time : 8:00 PM local, 2:30 AM GMT
Match : Chennai Super Kings v Kolkata Knight Riders
Venue : MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai.

Date : Sun 27 th April, 2008
Time : 3:00 PM local, 9:30 AM GMT
Match : Mumbai Indians v IPL Hyderabad
Venue : TBC ,Mumbai .

Date : Sun 27th April, 2008
Time : 8:00 PM local, 2:30 PM GMT
Match : IPL Mohali v Delhi Daredevils
Venue : Punjab Cricket Assocation Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh.

Date : Mon 28th April, 2008
Time : 7:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : Bangalore Royal Challengers v Chennai Super Kings
Venue : TBC ,Bangalore .

Date : Tue 29 th April, 2008
Time : 7:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : Kolkata Knight Riders v Mumbai Indians
Venue : Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Date : Wed 30th April, 2008
Time : 7:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : Delhi Daredevils v Bangalore Royal Challengers
Venue : Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi.

Date : Thursday 1st May 2008
Time : 3:00 PM local, 9:30 AM GMT
Match : IPL Hyderabad v IPL Mohali
Venue : TBC,Hyderabad.

Date : Thu 1st May, 2008
Time : 8:00 PM local, 2:30 PM GMT
Match : Rajasthan Royals v Kolkata Knight Riders
Venue : Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.

Date : Fri 2nd May, 2008
Time : 7:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : Chennai Super Kings v Delhi Daredevils
Venue : MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai

Date : Sat 3rd May, 2008
Time : 3:00 PM local, 9:30 AM GMT
Match : IPL Hyderabad v Bangalore Royal Challengers
Venue : TBC, Hyderabad.

Date : Sat 3rd May, 2008
Time : 8:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : IPL Mohali v Kolkata Knight Riders
Venue : Punjab Cricket Assocation Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh.

Date : Sun 4th May, 2008
Time : 3:00 PM local, 9:30 AM GMT
Match : Mumbai Indians v Delhi Daredevils
Venue : TBC, Mumbai .

Date : Sun 4th May, 2008
Time : 8:00 PM local, 2:30 PM GMT
Match : Rajasthan Royals v Chennai Super Kings
Venue : Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.

Date : Mon 5th May, 2008
Time : 7:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : Bangalore Royal Challengers v IPL Mohali
Venue : M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore.

Date : Tue 6th May, 2008
Time : 7:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : Chennai Super Kings v IPL Hyderabad
Venue : MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai.

Date : Wed 7th May, 2008
Time : 7:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : Mumbai Indians v Rajasthan Royals
Venue : TBC,Mumbai.

Date : Thu 8th May, 2008
Time : 3:00 PM local, 9:30 AM GMT
Match : Delhi Daredevils v Chennai Super Kings
Venue : Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi.

Date : Thu 8th May,2008
Time : 8:00 PM local, 2:30 PM GMT
Match : Kolkata Knight Riders v Bangalore Royal Challengers
Venue : Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Date : Fri 9th May, 2008
Time : 7:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : Rajasthan Royals v IPL Hyderabad
Venue : Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.

Date : Sat 10 th May, 2008
Time : 3:00 PM local, 9:30 AM GMT
Match : Bangalore Royal Challengers v Mumbai Indians
Venue : M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore.

Date : Sat 10th May, 2008
Time : 8:00 PM local, 2:30 AM GMT
Match : Chennai Super Kings v IPL Mohali
Venue : MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai.

Date : Sun 11th May, 2008
Time : 3:00 PM local, 9:30 AM GMT
Match : Hyderabad v Kolkata Knight Riders
Venue : TBC,Hyderabad.

Date : Sun 11th May, 2008
Time : 8:00 PM local, 2:30 PM GMT
Match : Rajasthan Royals v Delhi Daredevils
Venue : Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.

Date : Mon 12th May, 2008
Time : 7:00PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : Mohali v Bangalore Royal Challengers
Venue : Punjab Cricket Assocation Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh.

Date : Tue 13th May, 2008
Time : 7:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : Kolkata Knight Riders v Delhi Daredevils
Venue : Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Date : Wed 14th May,2008
Time : 3:00 PM local, 9:30 AM GMT
Match : Mumbai Indians v Chennai Super Kings
Venue : TBC,Mumbai.

Date : Wed 14th May,2008
Time : 8:00 PM local, 2:30 PM GMT
Match : IPL Mohali v Rajasthan Royals
Venue : Punjab Cricket Assocation Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh.

Date : Thu 15th May, 2008
Time : 7:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : Delhi Daredevils v IPL Hyderabad
Venue : Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi.

Date : Fri 16th May, 2008
Time : 7:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : Mumbai Indians v Kolkata Knight Riders
Venue : TBC, Mumbai.

Date : Sat 17th May, 2008
Time : 3:00 PM local, 9:30 AM GMT
Match : Delhi Daredevils v IPL Mohali
Venue : Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi.

Date : Sat 17th May, 2008
Time : 8:00 PM local, 2:30 PM GMT
Match : Rajasthan Royals v Bangalore Royal Challengers
Venue : Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.

Date : Sun 18th May, 2008
Time : 3:00 PM local, 9:30 AM GMT
Match : IPL Hyderabad v Mumbai Indians
Venue : TBC,Hyderabad .

Date : Sun 18th May, 2008
Time : 8:00 PM local, 2:30 PM GMT
Match : Kolkata Knight Riders v Chennai Super Kings
Venue : Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Date : Mon 19th May, 2008
Time : 7:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : Bangalore Royal Challengers v Delhi Daredevils
Venue : M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore.

Date : Tue 20th May,2008
TIme : 7:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : Kolkata Knight Riders v Rajasthan Royals
Venue : Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Date : Wed 21st May,2008
Time : 3:00 PM local, 9:30 AM GMT
Match : Mumbai Indians v IPL Mohali
Venue : TBC,Mumbai.

Date : Wed 21st May,2008
Time : 8:00 PM local, 2:30 PM GMT
Match : Chennai Super Kings v Bangalore Royal Challengers
Venue : MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai.

Date : Thu 22nd May,2008
Time : 7:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : Delhi Daredevils v Kolkata Knight Riders
Venue : Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi.

Date : Fri 23rd May, 2008
Time : 7:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : IPL Mohali v IPL Hyderabad
Venue : Punjab Cricket Assocation Stadium, Mohali, Chandigarh.

Date : Sat 24th May, 2008
Time : 3:00 PM local, 9:30 AM GMT
Match : Delhi Daredevils v Mumbai Indians
Venue : Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi.

Date : Sat 24th May, 2008
Time : 8:00 PM local, 2:30 PM GMT
Match : Chennai Super Kings v Rajasthan Royals
Venue : MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai.

Date : Sun 25th May, 2008
Time : 3:00 PM local, 9:30 AM GMT
Match : Bangalore Royal Challengers v IPL Hyderabad
Venue : M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore.

Date : Sun 25th May, 2008
Time : 8:00 PM local, 2:30 PM GMT
Match : Kolkata Knight Riders v IPL Mohali
Venue : Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Date : Mon 26th May, 2008
Time : 7:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : Rajasthan Royals v Mumbai Indians
Venue : Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur.

Date : Tue 27th May, 2008.
Time : 7:00 PM local, 1:30 PM GMT
Match : IPL Hyderabad v Chennai Super Kings
Venue : TBC,Hyderabad.

First IPL Semi Final
Date : Friday, 30th May, 2008
Match : Semi-Final - TBC v TBC
Venue : Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai.

Second IPL Semi Final
Date : Friday, 31st May, 2008
Match : 2nd Semi-Final, Semi-Final - TBC v TBC
Venue : Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai.

Indian Premier League 2008 Final
Date : Sunday 1st June 2008
Match : Final - TBC v TBC
Venue : Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai.

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Apple to Launch 3G iPhone Very Soon

March 31, 2008 – 11:43 am

Apple Inc is expected to launch a High-Speed Wireless Version of iPhone in the 2nd quarter. I am very excited to get this NOW..!!! I was planning to buy the Apple iPhone 16GB this month but this news is making me to wait more and more to get the Gadget ! It is expected to produce as many as a whopping 8 Million of these 3G version devices in the 3rd quarter.

Many other analysts have said they expect Apple, which is holding a developer confrence in June, to launch an advanced iPhone around that time.

Avi Greengart, an analyst said it would make sense for Apple to bring out this High Speed 3G iPhone in June around around the time it launches an upgrade to iPhone software.

Apple has said it expects to have sold over 10 Million iPhones by the end of 2008. It also said in January that it had sold more than 4 Million iPhones since the phone was launched in June.

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Railway Budget: Lower Freights, Easy Travel, Cheaper fares

February 28, 2008 – 5:19 pm

In his last full Railway Budget presentation, Railways Minister, Lalu Prasad Yadav offered everything from cheaper fares, lower freights to inclusion of technology in everyday rail life. Lalu had maintained that his Budget would focus on the common man. His Budget has promised the aam aadmi facilities such as more passenger trains, faster and easy travel procedures (ticket-booking and transport), reduction in passenger fares and fuel freights, discounts to females and senior citizens; to name a few. His Budget may have been directed to deliver part of his aforementioned promises.

Fare cuts

The Railway Minister has introduced a 5% cut in sleeper class as well as second class fares. Further fares for AC I, AC-II and AC-II have been cut by 7%, 4% and 3%, respectively.

All passengers above 60 years of age will now get a 30% discount, while females above 60 years would get a 50% discount.

Freight – related initiatives

The freight on petrol and diesel has been cut by 5%, while those on fly ash have been cut by 14%. The Railway Minister has cut the highest freight rate classification to 200. He sees the FY08 coal freight loading at 336 metric tonne. Yadav sees the total FY09 freight loading at 790 metric tonne as against 785 metric tonnes in FY08. He estimates around 310 metric tonne of additional freight loading in the next three years.

Easy Travel/ Better facilities

The Railways would be launching the Go-Mumbai Card/ Smart Card facility soon for easier ticketing for commuters. Besides, there will be an increase in ticketing counters to 15,000 in the next two years from the current 3,000 now. The number of auto ticket-sale machines would go up by 6,000 in the next two years. Yadav plans to look at leveraging the telecom boom for ticketing purposes. In this regard, trials for mobile ticketing have already started. The Railways plans to display online information in overnight trains of long distance.

For the convenience of commuters, especially senior citizens, 50 large stations across the country will have lifts and escalators, while 30 bigger stations would have multi-level parking system. The Ministry plans to run the Mother-Child Healthcare Express in alliance with the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

Apart from the facilities to the consumers, for those interested in joining the railways, the Group-D railway examinations would be taken in Urdu also, where it is the second language.

Technology updation

Lalu Prasad Yadav announced that the Government would introduce low maintenance and more comfortable stainless steel coaches from 2010. He said that Rs 4000 crore would be spent on green toilets for 36000 coaches in the next 5-year plan. All the trains will be run via online control in the next two years, Yadav promised. The trains would be linked via software communication by 2009.

The Railways need Rs 250,000 crore worth of funds over the next five years for IT upgradation, Yadav said. CCTVs and metal detectors would be put up at all stations, he informed. He will look look at multi model parks for Railways at various locations, he said.

Infrastructure updation

The Railways will start 53 new passenger trains. It will upgrade its infrastructure in the next seven years at the cost of Rs 75,000 crore. These funds would be employed to further develop saturated transportation lines. It plans to set up a 20,000 km high-density network. The work on connecting road for Pipavav Port has been completed, Yadav said. 25 tonne and 30 tonne axle-load trains will now be allowed for iron ore transport, he informed.

The Railway Minister informed that their 100 million tonne-worth business will come from the cement industry; which he targets as 200 million till 2011. Also, he aims to raise the annual steel traffic to 200 metric tonne in 2011 from the current 120 metric tonne.

Further, 50 new terminals would be developed for storage. He announced Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) for for links to Mundra, Kandla and Krishnapatnam ports.

The Railways will introduce new coaches in all Rajdhani trains by 2010-11. It will start making steel coaches from FY09. The level of platforms would be upgraded for passenger convenience. It will manufacture 20000 wagons in 2008-09, each having capacity of 22.9 tonnes. Lalu Prasad informed that 50 big terminals have been planned in Mumbai, Pune and Ghaziabad. Concor would set up 8 depots. Railway wagons would be available on lease here on, Yadav said. The Ministry has 15 licensed operators for container trains. It plans to increase container train operators to 50-55 trains. Yadav said that the Railways would have a new wagon leasing policy.

New Bulk handling facilities would be erected for cement, the Rail Minister said. There would not be a busy season surcharge for cement transported in bulk via new facilities, he promised. There would be a new policy for bulk handling terminals, he said. There will be a special focus on door-to-door and value added services. Yadav has planned SBUs (Strategic Business Unit) for cement, steel, coal and container sectors. In addition, Rs 1 lakh crore worth of PPP (Public Private Partnerships) have also been planned over the next five years.

Railways would introduce fire prevention devices in coaches on a pilot basis. The anti-fire gear would cost Rs 7,000 crore, if the pilot is successful, Lalu Prasad Yadav said.

Past Performance

According to the Budget Report, the Railways have a cash surplus of Rs 25000 crore in FY08. Its operating ratio is at 76%. Its work force stood at 14 lakh workers in FY08. The Minister informed that reduced fares increased volumes and profits.

The Railways has earned a cash surplus of Rs 25000 crore in FY08. Its operating ratio is at 76%. Its work force stood at 14 lakh workers in FY08. Yadav informed that reduced fares increased volumes and profits.

The Railways have Rs 68788 crore for five years as cash surplus, Lalu said. The Rail Corporation’s dividend stood at Rs 88 he said.

Looking back at last year, the Rail Minister said, that they had offered lean season discounts and also, peak season had attracted surcharges, he said. The Railway Fund Balance is up at Rs 20,480 crore, Lalu informed. The Railways has adopted its tariff to up market share and revenues, he said. The April-December freight loading revenue is up 8-10% at Rs 34,700 crore, he said, adding that revenue from passenger fares has increased by 14%. Its property would fetch Rs 4000 crore in 2008-09, Yadav said. He also informed that 233 million tonne loading was done in the year and its additional earnings of Rs 2000 crore were on freight service.

Some highlights of the Railway Minister’s speech:

• Sleeper, II class fares cut 5%
• 10 Garib Raths in FY09

• Fares for AC-I cut by 7%, AC-II 4%, AC-III 3%
  Freight on fuels cut 5%
  Rs 68788 cr for 5 years cash surplus
  Dividend of Rs 88 rupees
• There were lean season discounts offered
• Peak season attracted surcharges
• Railway Fund Balance up at Rs 20,480 cr
• Railways adopted tariff to up market share; revenue
• Apr-Dec freight loading revenue is up 8-10% at Rs 34,700 cr
• Railways will look at leveraging telecom boom for ticketing
• There will be an increase in ticketing counters to 15,000 in 2 years from the current 3,000 now
• Revenue from passenger fares increased by 14%

• FY09 freight loading seen at 790 MT vs 785 MT in FY08
• FY08 rail operating ratio at 76.3%
• Trials for mobile ticketing have already started
• Railways to launch the Go-Mumbai Card/ Smart Card
• Online information display in overnight trains of long distance
• Rs 4000 cr to be spent on 36000 coaches for greent toilets in next 5 year plan
• Low mainenance and more comfortable stainless steel coaches to be introduced from 2010
• To have online control of trains in 2 years
• To link trains via software communication by 2009
• New coaches in all Rajdhani trains by 2010-11
• To start making steel coaches from FY09
• Level of Platforms to be upgraded for passenger convenience
• 30 Bigger stations to have multi level parking system
• 50 large stations to have lifts / escalators- for convenience of senior citizens
  233 million ton loading was done in the year
  Additional earnings of Rs 2000 cr on freight service
• To upgrade infrastructure in 7 years at Rs 75,000 cr
• 310 mn tonnes of additional freight loading in the next 3 yrs
• 75000 cr in next 7 yrs to further develop saturated transportation lines
• To up auto ticket sale machines to 6,000 in 2 years
• Plan to set up 20,000 km high density network
• FY08 coal freight loading seen at 336 MT
• Work on connecting road for Pipavav Port completed
• 25 tonne and 30 tonne axel load trains allowed for iron ore transport
• 100 mn tonne business from cement industry
  200 mn target targeted till 2011
• 50 new terminals to be developed for storage
• SPV for links to Mundra, Kandla, Krishnapatnam ports
• 25-30 tonne axle load trains to be started
• Annual steel traffic aim of 200 mt in 2011 vs 120 mt now
• To manufacture 20000 wagons in 2008-09
• To manufacture wagons having capacity of 22.9 tonnes in 2008-09
• 50 big terminals planned in Mumbai, Pune, Ghaziabad
• Concor to set up 8 depots
• Wagons would be available on lease here on
• Have 15 licensed operators for container trains
• To increase container train operators to 50-55 trains
• To have new wagon leasing policy
• New Bulk handling facilities to be erected for cement
• No busy season surcharge for cement transported in bulk via new facilities
• To have new policy for bulk handling terminals
• Special focus on door to door and value added services
• No busy season surcharge for bulk cement transport via new facilities
• SBUs (Strategic Business Unit) planned for cement, steel, coal, container sectors
• Rs 250,000 cr worth of funds required by the Railways over the next 5 years for IT upgradation
• 1 lakh crore worth of PPP (Public Private Partnerships) planned over the next 5 years
• Will look at multi model parks for Railways at various locations
• Railway property to fetch 4000 crore in 2008-09
• CCTVs and metal detectors to be put up at all stations
• 60 yrs and older passengers get 30% discount, female above 60 get 50% discount
• Plan fire prevention device in coaches on pilot basis
• Anti-fire gear to cost Rs 7,000 cr if pilot successful

• Mother-Child Healthcare Express to be run in alliance with Rajiv Gandhi Foundation

• Group-D railway examinations to be taken in Urdu also, where it is the second language

• To start 53 new passenger trains

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Biggest point fall in History of Indian Stock Market

January 21, 2008 – 6:00 pm

It was a highly dramatic, scary, speculative, panic, volatile & what else ??? Witnessing the biggest point fall in the History of Indian Stock Market (NSE & BSE) till now. Today is regarded as the worst day for Investors as Investors wealth is down by a whopping Rs.6,63,975.46 Crores This is a Great loss to the Market capitalization of Indian Companies that too in just a single day. Sensex going below 17,000 but managed to recover more than 700 points in closing trade & closed down 1408.35 points or 7.41% at 17605.35 & Nifty down 496.50 points or 8.70% at 5208.80.

BSE was shut for a brief period of time though it resumed trading immediately, and recovered 700 Points from the days low. This fall was followed by the Major Asian Indexes fell accompanying the U.S Markets. Hope we recover soon.

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NANO from TATA’s is launched atlast: One Lakh Rupees Car

January 10, 2008 – 5:58 pm

TATA Motors have launched the most awaited People’s Car - “TATA NANO”. Ratan Tata, Chairman of Tata Group said that the car would be manufactured at the Singur plant later this year & also regarding the price he said it would be Rupees One Lakh for dealers (Excluding VAT)

Ratan Tata also said that it was too premature to talk about EBITDA margin of the small car, But they will offer a wide variety of variants with several upmarket options. TATA have been approached by two countries to launch the “People’s Car” and they may be looking at Africa, Latin America & South East Asia to Launch the car.

The company will not sacrifice the profits and there is a strong business case for the small car.

So far, they have invested Rupees 1,500-1,700 Crores in the small car project. The car will comply withBharat III & Euro 4 emission norms. He also said that the car meets all safety & standards including crash test, offset & side crash.

Hope this Car Quenches the thirst of Middle Class Indian People

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Nokia N96 - Truly Dynamic

December 23, 2007 – 6:49 am

Nokia N96 which is expected to release in Jan 2008 in India. The N96 looks very similar to Nokia N81 & N95 as this can be slided both the ways just like N95 & feature wise none less than any N-Series.

The news is that the Phone has a 7 Mega Pixel camera, Internal memory of 8GB with Connectivity of GPS & Wi-Fi and also with a stand which helps to view videos more comfortably without holding the phone & obviously other features like Bluetooth & Mp3 are always there..

Here are some of the pictures of N96…

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