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Chikka launches voice-based mobile VAS

Chikka Asia launches Audio Content Delivery Platform which delivers voice content to mobile users.

Chikka pioneered a hard-hitting subscriptionbased celebrity texting service in 2003 that instantly became the country’s single biggest mobile VAS service. Launched by Smart Communications as "Startxt," the service has since been made available to subscribers in Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong thru international carriers. MMS and picture messaging services have also since been added to the bigger "StarPortal."

Enter 2005, Chikka pioneers again by launching its voice-based mobile VAS platform branded by Smart Communications as "StarCaller."

"After only one month, StarCaller has met a very encouraging response from mobile users who are choosing to get real celebrity voice calls on a subscription basis. Now the equally exciting part is that one can actually forward these voice calls or audio content. Remember singing telegrams? Now think Birthdays, Anniversaries, Valentines, Christmas, New Year and all those great occasions. The various greetings we get on our phones will never be the same again," Garrovillo said.

Computer control via 3G phone

Toshiba to introduce "Ubiquitous Viewer" software allowing 3G phones to connect to and control PCs. The company plans to release the software worldwide and KDDI will be first to offer it in March. More here.

India Book House to promote books via mobile

India Book House is planning to explore options to exploit its content through mobile.  The company is planning to promote its famous book series - Amar Chitra Katha by offering mobile content such as logos, ringtones, MMS, SMS quizzes and games, and mobile greetings.

Other mobile marketing initiatives from India:

: Sachin Tendulkar mobile content in your cell

: Bollywood movie promotion

: Mobile Marketing opportunities in India

Mobile Banking in India

A brief look at the mobile banking services in India. Currently services include SMS based account information and payment services. For example ABN Amro India has launched its Mpower mobile banking and payment platform where consumers can make mobile payments at merchants equipped with Mpower terminals, with the bank validating the transaction data before sending the customer a return SMS message with approval for the payment.  More here. 

KSF for mass adoption of mobile banking services in India:

But there are bigger barriers. Interoperability, fraud and security are other major concerns. To secure interoperability and enhanced usability, versatile chips are a must, which can connect several banks and carriers simultaneously. Mobile banking might take off in India if banks initially offer some services for free.

"Banks and service providers need to work closely to streamline customer interfacing systems and enhance user experience," says Atul Bindal, CMO & director, Bharti Tele-Ventures.

From users' perspective, technology is on its way to aid growth. Koreans, known to be tech-savvy, use mobile banking in a big way. Some of them already avail of double-slot mobiles that have two SIM cards a regular one and another that's a credit/debit card SIM. About 3.3 million transactions were reported by Bank of Korea in 2004.

Related:

: Reliance Infocomm plans to launch m-commerce services

: Booking train tickets in Delhi

Indian gaming company launches valentine games

Mauj a mobile gaming company in India has released 7 love games based on Bollywood film classics. The company has marketing rights for 800 international games and has claimed to develop over 20 original titles every month, spending between Rs 3 lakh and Rs 10 lakh for developing each game. Games are available through Indian mobile operators like Hutch, Idea and Tata Zone. 

For the amorous folk, it has developed seven mobile games — Heer Ranjha, Romeo and Juliet, Laila Majnu, Salim Anarkali, Sasi Punnu, Rapunzel and Lovelinks.

“We were looking at ways and means on how to innovate. Earlier, we had developed games on special occasions like Republic Day, Diwali and Chistmas. So Valentine’s Day was one occasion, where we thought we could innovate,” Arun Gupta, chief operating officer, Mauj, says.

So now you can become a hero to Heer, Juliet or even Laila, literally at the click of a button. “You can kill the goons and fight with Heer’s brother as Ranjha or even help Majnu to collect hearts, letters and roses and deliver them to Laila,” Gupta says. “You can also save Anarkali from getting entombed,” he adds.

Other related content:

The company has also developed ringtones, wallpapers and themes based on these classic tales. While each game download costs between Rs 50 and Rs 200, the ringtones and wall papers come at a price of Rs 10 each.

Click here for other Bollywood themed games developed by Mauj

Other related info on the Indian mobile gaming market:

: Tom Online buys Indiagames

: Gaming content in India is distinctly Western flavor, and now companies such as Paradox Studios are concentrating on bringing more Indian content on to mobile and PC based games. The company is currently making games on Bollywood movies and Indian heroes.

: Casino on your mobile

: IndiaGames introduces Ganesha Aart on your mobile

: Nokia launches mobile gaming competition in India

Filipino insurance company offers SMS services

The Philippine Health Insurance (PhilHealth) is offering “TxtPhilHealth” service to overseas Filipino workers and their families, allowing them to use SMS to check their their identification, remittances, and other benefits with PhilHealth. 

i.Game to deliver mobile games in Taiwan

Mobile Media, one of the leading independent providers of global wireless games ties up with Taiwanese wireless service providers i.Game, to deliver java games and other mobile content to i.Game's 1.5M wireless subscribers. i.Game delivers mobile entertainment services, specializing in interactive educational content.

WiFi to take off in India

From Rediff:

Wi-fi is set to take off in India after being written off initially, with metros and small towns likely to see a large increase in the number of hotspots. The trigger is the government's move to delicense the 2.4 Ghz and 5.1 Ghz bands, on which the wi-fi platform works.

Hotspots are locations that are wi-fi enabled, which means one can log on to the Internet at these spots without using cables. Under the new notification, the 2.4 Ghz band can now be used to provide both indoor and outdoor wi-fi, while the 5.1 Ghz band can be used for indoor and adjacent campuses.

Any service provider can establish, maintain, possess and deal with wireless networks operating on these bandwidths without a licence. At present, of the nearly 300 public hotspots in the country, over 80 per cent are in Bangalore. Also, less than 1 per cent of the world's hotspots are in India.

Wi-fi access tariffs in the country, which are currently among the highest in the world, are likely to crash as standalone service providers enter the race to offer these services.

Related:

: Wireless VoIP held back by handset costs - In a new study suggests it will take a number of yrs before WiFi phones hits the mass market. Also according to a recent report from Infonetics Research, worldwide WiFi VoIP handset revenue totaled $45M and 113,000 units were sold last year.

: NYT rounds up on the WiFi phone scene.

: Kiwi Wireless provider Woosh to introduce wireless VoIP service.

Click here for other WiFi related stories.

South Korea's Grand Telecom Plan

An interesting read on the recent developments happening in the telecom industry in South Korea.  South Koreans are very technology savvy and open to new applications such as VoIP, multiplayer and mobile gaming and no wonder the country has one of the most advanced mobile Internet markets and broadband networks in the world.

Text Message to vote in Thailand

Don't forget to vote -  Thailand's Election Commission asked all the mobile phone companies to send SMS to remind people to vote in the election.