Bob received a call from ‘XYZ’ Telecom Company saying he won cash prizes.At first he thought it was a scam but when the caller quoted the first eight digits of his SIM card, Bob believed him. Apparently bob was unaware that the first eight digits were identical for all XYZ telecom SIM Cards. Bob was asked to buy phone cards of the ‘XYZ’ Telecom and give the card numbers. He did it for a relatively good amount and then he started realising something was fishy. Upon contacting the telecom company Bob just find out he was the victim of a scam. It may sound really foolish of Bob but again this can happen to any one of us. Read more about these kinds of scams and what to do about it in my next post.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Zero paisa plan - A Free Lunch?
Videocon the latest entrant in India’s telecom market is heavily advertising its ‘Innovative’ zero paisa per second plan. The devil is in the details. Just take a look at their site
http://www.videoconmobiles.com/combo_offer.htm
In short you have to buy their handset to avail the 0paise/second and again it ranges from 10 mins to 30 mins for a period of 6 months to 1 year depending on the handset you buy. After all that hype about zero paisa per second I have to say it doesn’t live up to the expectations!
http://www.videoconmobiles.com/combo_offer.htm
In short you have to buy their handset to avail the 0paise/second and again it ranges from 10 mins to 30 mins for a period of 6 months to 1 year depending on the handset you buy. After all that hype about zero paisa per second I have to say it doesn’t live up to the expectations!
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM)
The SIM, which is an integral part and behind the success of GSM, is also supporting the UTMS/3G network in the form of USIM. This new form carries out the functions of the SIM, enabling the new range of data services in 3G network. The term USIM refers to a software application and not to the smart card device itself, which is actually known as the UICC.
Regarding security, the USIM is in charge of authenticating user to the network and also allows the authentication of the network by the user. USIM uses latest cryptographic technology for the authentication purpose which results in the protection of the users and networks against the mobile phone security attacks stronger than ever.
USIM maintains a phonebook database which can store thousands of entries and each contact can contain email addresses, a second or third phone numbers etc. The contacts are stored much more securely on USIM compared to those stored in phone memory.
Regarding security, the USIM is in charge of authenticating user to the network and also allows the authentication of the network by the user. USIM uses latest cryptographic technology for the authentication purpose which results in the protection of the users and networks against the mobile phone security attacks stronger than ever.
USIM maintains a phonebook database which can store thousands of entries and each contact can contain email addresses, a second or third phone numbers etc. The contacts are stored much more securely on USIM compared to those stored in phone memory.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Fixed Mobile Convergence
Fixed-mobile convergence (FMC) is a technology innovation which helps seamless connectivity between fixed and wireless telecommunications networks. This innovation allows the cellular phone to work smoothly with the fixed line network infrastructure and can be switched between wired and wireless networks.
FMC for voice should merge the capabilities of the desk and mobile phones to make an organization’s voice capabilities just as mobile as email and data, so mobile workers can be reached at a single phone number, manage a single voice mail box, access advanced desk phone features and transition calls to and from the desk phone no matter where they are. Since a single number and voice mail concept can be achieved by FMC, the clients and colleagues don’t have to try multiple numbers to reach mobile workers which creates communication delays.
How are organizations benefited by implementing enterprise FMC?
The current economic climate is encouraging businesses to become more mobile and at the same time reduce the overall operational cost. Since the mobile call charges are forming a major part in the corporate expenditure the implementation of the enterprise FMC can reduce the cost for the mobile calls.
The FMC solution is more helpful to the enterprise where the delay in communication costs a valuable business. The solutions to getting the office mails, data and applications to the cell phone have already been implemented by many of the organizations in order to increase the productivity. Considering the fact that the number of mobile/remote workers continue to increase, the organizations have proactively implement a significant solution to get the organization’s fixed voice services to mobile device. This will not only reduce the cost but also increase the employee satisfaction.
The extension-to-cellular is a PBX-based software solution that bridges the gap between the enterprise telephone system and external mobile networks. In this solution your mobile number is programmed in the PBX against your office number and when somebody calls your office extension the software accesses the user profiles to determine which phones and devices rings simultaneously or sequentially.
Articles related to FMC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterprise_FMC
http://www.it-director.com/enterprise/technology/content.php?cid=11361
http://www.damovo.co.uk/mobility.html
FMC for voice should merge the capabilities of the desk and mobile phones to make an organization’s voice capabilities just as mobile as email and data, so mobile workers can be reached at a single phone number, manage a single voice mail box, access advanced desk phone features and transition calls to and from the desk phone no matter where they are. Since a single number and voice mail concept can be achieved by FMC, the clients and colleagues don’t have to try multiple numbers to reach mobile workers which creates communication delays.
How are organizations benefited by implementing enterprise FMC?
The current economic climate is encouraging businesses to become more mobile and at the same time reduce the overall operational cost. Since the mobile call charges are forming a major part in the corporate expenditure the implementation of the enterprise FMC can reduce the cost for the mobile calls.
The FMC solution is more helpful to the enterprise where the delay in communication costs a valuable business. The solutions to getting the office mails, data and applications to the cell phone have already been implemented by many of the organizations in order to increase the productivity. Considering the fact that the number of mobile/remote workers continue to increase, the organizations have proactively implement a significant solution to get the organization’s fixed voice services to mobile device. This will not only reduce the cost but also increase the employee satisfaction.
The extension-to-cellular is a PBX-based software solution that bridges the gap between the enterprise telephone system and external mobile networks. In this solution your mobile number is programmed in the PBX against your office number and when somebody calls your office extension the software accesses the user profiles to determine which phones and devices rings simultaneously or sequentially.
Articles related to FMC
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterprise_FMC
http://www.it-director.com/enterprise/technology/content.php?cid=11361
http://www.damovo.co.uk/mobility.html
Fixed – To –Mobile
Most of the people around the world use the mobile phones as their preferred device for communication and the percentage of the mobile phone calls are drastically escalating over the period. The cost of calling from a fixed line to a mobile phone was expensive in the past due to the charges which adds to make the connection between two technologies, the mobile and the fixed line.
The invention of the F2M GSM gateway was a good news for the business category since this can reduce the total cost of fixed to mobile phone calls. A GSM gateway connects to a business telephone system in the same way that a traditional analog PSTN or Digital ISDN line does. A GSM Gateway uses the SIM cards to enable calls directly to the mobile phone network. The mobile phone tariff used in the gateway will determine the cost of calls.
The GSM gateway hub contains normally two or more mobile SIM cards. When the user makes the calls from the fixed phone to a mobile, it will land in one of the SIM card installed in the gateway and then connect to the PLMN network as a mobile to mobile call which will reduce the call rates.
The telecom providers offer this service in two flavors. One offering is, the customer purchases the device with a onetime charge and will be there after charged for the usage. In the other offering the customer subscribes this as a managed service where the provider manages the equipments and the volume of calls landing in the hub. In this case the customer will be charged a monthly recurring fee in addition to the usage charge.
There are different types of GSM gateways in the market which can be used with different fixed line technologies like PSTN, ISDN BRI, ISDN PRI etc. Legitimacy of using these devices is based on the telecom rules and regulations in each country.
The invention of the F2M GSM gateway was a good news for the business category since this can reduce the total cost of fixed to mobile phone calls. A GSM gateway connects to a business telephone system in the same way that a traditional analog PSTN or Digital ISDN line does. A GSM Gateway uses the SIM cards to enable calls directly to the mobile phone network. The mobile phone tariff used in the gateway will determine the cost of calls.
The GSM gateway hub contains normally two or more mobile SIM cards. When the user makes the calls from the fixed phone to a mobile, it will land in one of the SIM card installed in the gateway and then connect to the PLMN network as a mobile to mobile call which will reduce the call rates.
The telecom providers offer this service in two flavors. One offering is, the customer purchases the device with a onetime charge and will be there after charged for the usage. In the other offering the customer subscribes this as a managed service where the provider manages the equipments and the volume of calls landing in the hub. In this case the customer will be charged a monthly recurring fee in addition to the usage charge.
There are different types of GSM gateways in the market which can be used with different fixed line technologies like PSTN, ISDN BRI, ISDN PRI etc. Legitimacy of using these devices is based on the telecom rules and regulations in each country.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Bluetooth Vulnerabilities
When I visited Kuwait for a vacation, I was surprised by seeing the traffic jam caused by the youngsters trying to send messages to the mobile phones in their vicinity using Bluetooth. The act of sending unsolicited messages over Bluetooth to Bluetooth enabled devices is known as Bluejacking. This is harmless and the Bluejacker usually sends text messages and simply waits for a reaction from the recipient.
Bluesnarfing and Bluebugging are the other two vulnerabilities which have been exploited by the hackers to access the data in the Bluetooth enabled phones.
Bluesnarfing refers to the act of hacking the Bluetooth device and gaining access to the private data. The information that can be accessed in this manner includes the phonebook and associated images, calendar, and IMEI. The best way to reduce the Bluesnarfing attack is by setting your phone in non-discoverable mode.
Bluebugging is the art of accessing the mobile phone commands using Bluetooth technology without notifying or alerting the user. This security issue allows a hacker to make phone calls, send and receive text messages, read and write phonebook contacts and even connect to the internet.
Bluetooth technology has put more effort on the security issues so that the users can use this technology without any fear. Some of the major Bluetooth product manufacturing companies form a governing body to drive development of Bluetooth wireless technology, and implement and market the technology in their products. The main tasks for the Bluetooth SIG are to publish Bluetooth specifications, administer the qualification program, protect the Bluetooth trademarks and evangelize Bluetooth wireless technology.
Bluesnarfing and Bluebugging are the other two vulnerabilities which have been exploited by the hackers to access the data in the Bluetooth enabled phones.
Bluesnarfing refers to the act of hacking the Bluetooth device and gaining access to the private data. The information that can be accessed in this manner includes the phonebook and associated images, calendar, and IMEI. The best way to reduce the Bluesnarfing attack is by setting your phone in non-discoverable mode.
Bluebugging is the art of accessing the mobile phone commands using Bluetooth technology without notifying or alerting the user. This security issue allows a hacker to make phone calls, send and receive text messages, read and write phonebook contacts and even connect to the internet.
Bluetooth technology has put more effort on the security issues so that the users can use this technology without any fear. Some of the major Bluetooth product manufacturing companies form a governing body to drive development of Bluetooth wireless technology, and implement and market the technology in their products. The main tasks for the Bluetooth SIG are to publish Bluetooth specifications, administer the qualification program, protect the Bluetooth trademarks and evangelize Bluetooth wireless technology.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC)
Telemarketing has emerged as one of the simplest and cost efficient tool for marketing products. A large number of these ‘telemarketing’ calls and SMSs are unsolicited, i.e. the receiving party does not want to receive such calls or messages. Such messages disturb the recipients, intrude into their privacy, and impose a cost in terms of time and effort. We can term such type of calls or messages as Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC).
Unsolicited commercial communication means any message, through telecommunications service, which is transmitted for the purpose of informing about, or soliciting or promoting any commercial transaction in relation to goods, investments or services which a subscriber does not want to receive. Why most of the telemarketing calls are made to the mobile phones is because the subscribers have their mobile phones with them at all times and hence can be reached any time.
After receiving a lot of complaints from the subscribers the governments and TRAs imposed a regulation on the telecom operators to maintain a registry of subscribers who doesn’t want to receive such communications. In the year of 2007, TRAI, telecom regulatory authority of India commissioned a common repository, NDND Registry, with the primary objective to curb unsolicited commercial communication.
After the establishment of NDNC registry, Telephone subscriber (Landline or mobile) who does not wish to receive UCC, can register their telephone number with their telecom service provider for inclusion in the NDNC. For customers who would like to register/de-register their request for NDNC registry may dial 1909 or SMS to 1909 with keywords 'START DND' for registration and 'STOP DND' for de-registration.
Unsolicited commercial communication means any message, through telecommunications service, which is transmitted for the purpose of informing about, or soliciting or promoting any commercial transaction in relation to goods, investments or services which a subscriber does not want to receive. Why most of the telemarketing calls are made to the mobile phones is because the subscribers have their mobile phones with them at all times and hence can be reached any time.
After receiving a lot of complaints from the subscribers the governments and TRAs imposed a regulation on the telecom operators to maintain a registry of subscribers who doesn’t want to receive such communications. In the year of 2007, TRAI, telecom regulatory authority of India commissioned a common repository, NDND Registry, with the primary objective to curb unsolicited commercial communication.
After the establishment of NDNC registry, Telephone subscriber (Landline or mobile) who does not wish to receive UCC, can register their telephone number with their telecom service provider for inclusion in the NDNC. For customers who would like to register/de-register their request for NDNC registry may dial 1909 or SMS to 1909 with keywords 'START DND' for registration and 'STOP DND' for de-registration.
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