racoma.com.phJ. Angelo Racoma on technology, economics, writing, problogging, and getting things done

When LG launched its KU250 three years ago, their marketing mantra was 3G for the masses. True enough, 3G-enabled phones were quite expensive back then. The KU250 phone aimed to break this barrier by offering a phone that could be used for mobile browsing and also computer-tethering (connecting the phone as a 3G modem) for just above PhP 6,000.

Fast forward to 2010, mobile manufacturers have realized that social networking applications are the killer apps for mobile, and that WiFi has become commonplace, even in developing countries. And so, Nokia has come up with the C3, somewhat a lesser-featured sibling of the E72 and E63.

The Nokia C3‘s biggest highlights are the QWERTY keyboard and WiFi connectivity. An additional feature would be the built-in social media applications, which enable mobile use of FaceBook, Twitter, Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Google Talk and Yahoo! IM, among others. This makes it easier (and cheaper) for mobile netizens to manage their online presence and communicate.

Perhaps the best feature of the Nokia C3 is its price. Nokia announced it at about 90 Euros in February, 2010. Locally, it’s available at official retailers at PhP 7,290. Nokia ran a one-day promo that gave buyers a PhP1,000 discount last July 31. At PhP 6,290 for a WiFi-enabled Nokia phone with QWERTY, the promo sent people lining up for their C3 at retailers, even up to closing time. The promo seems to be a success.

My only gripe with the Nokia C3 is that it runs on the Symbian Series 40 (or S40) platform, instead of my favorite S60 platform. This means that the installable applications will be a bit more limited than if it were running S60 or even S90.

Still, with a price like that, the C3 gives more users the opportunity to stay connected through more means, in this case WiFi. Dubbed “Blackberry for kids,” The Nokia C30 is sure to be a hit with mobile phone users who want a shift from the usual candybard with numeric-keypad form factor, or those who prefer a physical QWERTY keyboard to a soft on-screen keyboard like those on the iPhone and Android phones.

Find more of the latest mobile phone reviews at the Dialaphone website.

My Bayantel DSL connection has been slow lately, and I’ve been experiencing some intermittent connections. That would’ve been okay if my connection were just for personal use, but since I use it for work, then I can’t afford to be cut off just when timing is critical. I’ve had important chats, VoIP calls and upload cut off and it while it would usually take a few clicks to reconnect (via router) there are some cases when the connection would be down for five minutes or more.

One other thing, I can’t seem to download using bittorrent anymore. Files that used to take 30 minutes to 1 hour of download (like a 350+ MB Linux .ISO file) would now take days. This is disappointing.

I recently received a call from Globe telemarketers (I wonder where they get my contact info) telling me they have a package almost similar to my current Bayan DSL, but only faster. For PhP 1,295 I get a 1 MBPS connection, a landline subscription and some free gadgets like an inkjet printer, webcam and headset.

Personally, I don’t care for the gadgets. I already have an inkjet printer (which also serves as my scanner and copier), and most of my computers have built-in webcams and mics. What I have been looking for is a package that also gives free hours or minutes with local WiFi providers. Globe broadband does offer free one hour Globe WIZ access per month with the PhP 1,295 package. That’s not much, considering that only costs about PhP 100 or so prepad, and that I could connect using my HSDPA enabled mobile phone (thru bluetooth) for only PhP 20 per hour (P5/15 minutes x 4).

I’m not so sure about the reliability of Globe Broadband connection in my area (UP Village), so I would like to get inputs from those who do have experience with Globe. This might help me decide whether to stick to Bayantel or switch.

If you’re a Smartphone user, you should try out Fring. It lets you chat and talk via Yahoo IM, Google Talk, and a host of other IM networks via 3G, GPRS or WiFi. You can even make and receive calls via Skype, Google Talk, FWD and GIZMO over WiFi and 3G networks. Now that’s cool. Imagine if all mobile phones could access these VoIP networks via WiFi. Free calls for everyone!

fring™ is a mobile internet service & community that enables you to access & interact with your social networks on-the-go, make free calls and live chat with all your fring, Skype®, MSN® Messenger, Google Talk™, ICQ, SIP, Twitter, Yahoo!™ and AIM®* friends using your handset’s internet connection rather than costly cellular airtime minutes.

Call quality is above average, and this is highly dependent on the network speed, and of course, the processing capability of your smartphone. On WiFi networks, Skype and SIP calls are good, albeit with some lag, which is expected.

And if you’re an avid IM user, you would love how Fring can keep you connected anywhere there’s a WiFi hotspot or 3G connection. I’ve been using this at my home wireless network for the past few days, and I don’t even have to turn on my computer(s) to IM or VoIP.

Fring has versions for Symbian, Windows Mobile and UIQ, and even the iPhone. That includes most Nokia, Motorola, SonyEricsson, O2, and a host of other Smartphones.

Inspired by a couple of posts by Jeremy Wagstaff (Power Thieves and Power to the Consumer) I thought of compiling a list of establishments in Metro Manila that freely let users plug in their electronic devices like mobile phones, laptops, ultraportables and other devices for charging.

I know that with battery technology and computing architecture these days, you should be able to squeeze out at least three hours of life from your laptop or ultraportable. But there are just those days when you need extra juice.

These establishments usually offer either paid or free WiFi access, whether it be in-house, part of a WiFi hotspot network, or have neighboring establishments that have wireless access.

Here are a few I know. I’ll even include those that charge for electricity. Please feel free to leave a comment if you know of other places.

Quezon City
* Seattle’s Best, Katipunan – some tables even have power outlets for laptop users who want to get the most out of their Globe WIZ (paid) connection.
* Mocha Blends, Matalino Street (near Heart Center) – they charge PhP 50 for every device plugged in.

Any others?

There several things that have gone _live_ as I write this. But let me just talk about one of them (the others deserve some major noise, so I’ll announce them later when they’re already running smoothly). Remember I recently applied for SkyDSL’s DSL+WiFi package? My account is active now, but not without some hitches.

I applied at the BayanCenter by filling up a form (just my name, telephone number and signature, actually). I was an existing DSL subscriber, after all. After a day I got a call from Sky DSL’s technical staff and they gave me the username and password to my account. Username was actually my telephone line’s account number, and the password, a randomly-generated number. They advised me to wait for activation, but I tried and tried logging in via the airborneaccess.net Horizon account manager, to no avail.

So I called up Sky DSL’s customer service (411-2000) to follow up. They said I should click the *Blast WiFi* link on the airborneaccess.net homepage to sign up. I realized that the username/password combination they gave me was for registration and not for WiFi access itself. They should’ve told me that in the first place! I guess the same process goes for PLDT DSL and Smart BRO subscribers.

(Incidentally, did you know that you can access Airborne Access using Blast prepaid internet cards? Just append @wifi to the username.)

So after activation, I tried checking my account via the *Horizon* link. Still, it wouldn’t accept my username and password. I was increasingly becoming frustrated. But then I tried checking using the *Wingspan* link (for prepaid), and lo and behold–I was able to gain access. Apparently, Airborne Access treats SkyDSL subscribers as something similar to pre-paid accounts rather than the unlimited Horizon accounts. I just got confused, since my previous _promo_ account with SkyDSL was a Horizon account.

I was able to use my account at a public Airborne Access hotspot this afternoon, and I can say I’m glad to have an unlimited account again–without having to pay the regular Horizon rates. Boo yah!