Tech News Beats

ICANN – Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, is all set to approve use of non English language for website names.

All along since Internet’s inception English or ASCII characters has been used for website names. Though this technically complicated, the governing body for domains is about to approve the use of local languages.

It is estimated that there are around 1.6 billion internet users now worldwide. With usage of local language for domain names, this number is expected go up further. Non English language domains are know as Internationalized Domain Names or IDN. So soon we can see websites names in Hindi, Bengali, Kannada, Chinese, Russian etc

for more info visit: http://www.icann.org

Broadband connection is slowly catching up atleast in urban areas of India. Now there are many people who are interested in having unlimited internet connection at home. With cost coming down, internet usage has become more affordable. Now lets check what are the options available for us. Below is a list of broadband service providers which we can choose depending on our needs, cost and service.

1. BSNL Broadband Dataone:  BSNL broad connection was launched in a few select cities namely Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Bangalore in 14/01/2005. List of cities BSNL broadband service is available.

To use a BSNL broadband internet connection one needs the following:

1. BSNL basic phone with connection
2. Standard 10/100 Ethernet Port
3. ADSL router (available from BSNL for purchase or on rent)

One can apply online or download the application from BSNL website. Lets now check the tariff and various plans of BSNL. I use BSNL Dataone . I am ok with connection but I am not very happy with the speed and disappointed with the support. BSNL support is really a concern.

If you are normal home user or professional user who do not require very high speed and bandwidth may go for BSNL Dataone UL 750. It gives unlimited internet connectivity at Rs 750/month. With tax and modem rent it may come just above Rs 800.

2. Airtel Broadband: Broadband service from Airtel will be argued by many is the best. But what I think in terms of product Airtel and BSNL may be neck to neck but in the service section Airtel may be little more responsive. BSNL being a government undertaking, the service department is very lethergetic. You will have to be on top of it to get your work done.  Check the various schemes and tariff for Airtel Broadband. One can also apply through this link.

3. Reliance Broadband: Reliance Broadband has some unique features like you can choose the speed depending on the work you are doing. Like While checking emails you can choose a lower speed and pay less. While downloading videos you can choose a higher speed. Customer response time is quite good but there are lots of complaints against their product and dissatisfied customers. So do you survey properly. Check various Reliance tariff and plans.

Website: http://www.rcom.co.in

4. Tata Indicom Broadband: Tata Indicom broadband is available in both pre-paid and post-paid scheme. Tata Indicom DSL is heavily advertised product but may not be able to justify its performance against its visibility. Earlier tariff used to be cumbersome but they seems to have rationalized now.

Website: http://tataindicombroadband.com/

5. MTNL: MTNL provides service only in Delhi and Mumbai.
To apply for telephone connection you can download application and internet connection. MTNL provides various internet related services. MTNL offers both pre-paid and post paid connections. Pre-paid connections are basically dial-up connection. Internet through telephone lines are available in two schemes. Rs 700 per month charge unlimited internet usage is worth it.

Website: http://www.mtnl.net.in/

Always on Cable Connection:

1. You Tele: You Broadband provided various economic and attractive internet connection schemes via cable network. Check the plans and tariff.

2. Hathway: Hathway provides broadband internet connection over cable television wires. Hathway was the first cable ISP India. Their service is currently available in Mumbai, New Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, Nashik, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Mysore and Baroda. Check the tariff and plans. But it has come to notice that due to sub nodes at many places connection speed can be low at many places.

Websites: http://www.hathway.com/

3. Sify Broadband: Sify broadband used to be part of the tainted Satyam Computers. But now it is part of the new owner Mahindra Satyam.

4. Zeenext: Zeenext is another cable broadband provider from the Zee (Essel) group. But internet speed here seems to be as slow as dial up. Most of the forums and review sites are full of dissatisfied customers. you may not like to go for this.