Android phone in India

Finally, the Android phone is set to be launched in India.

We will keep you posted as our apps for the phone get ready.

The price point of the phone (on contract with Airtel, a la iPhone), though, disturbs me a bit. At 30k, I am not sure its a steal, unless both Airtel and Google have some ace up their sleeve. At this price it mimics the iPhone plan. 10K lesser and it would have given iPhone (not exactly selling like hot cakes in India) some food for thought...

In the meantime, Google, can you please let Indian developers upload paid apps into Android?

Augmented Reality

As it is, we are living in "The Matrix" and to top it we have virtual reality, second life and now, this. Augmented reality.

By definition, Augmented reality (AR) technologies offer the ability to layer data--including images--over our perceptions of the physical world. While science fiction versions of AR usually involves high-tech eyewear, real-world AR is moving swiftly from the labs to the users via advanced smartphones. These handhelds offer everything a basic AR setup needs: a good display; a camera to see the world; and location-awareness.

But, this is the first step really and you will see a lot more as all these worlds converge. The only thing I am willing to say at this point, is, it will all be on your phone...

And heres how to do it

To stay ahead of the curve, I mean, as Apples 3.0 demonstrates.

While the rest of the world believed that launching zillions of "phone models" was the key to success, along came a "computer" and "mp3 player" company that made all of one (or three)models, yet is perhaps the most successful mobile phone company in the world.

Related read. While everybody believes that the web is the end for newspapers and newsmagazines (including us), the Economist sits pretty. Superb read.

Jai Hanuman

So, finally, after months of trial and error, we managed to get our first app on the marketplace. It is a very simple one, where we have tried to digitise the Hanuman Chalisa.

Lots of learnings, lots of missteps, but finally we made it. Do let us know how you like it.

But then again, this is the first one. We have a few more in the pipeline that will be up soon...

Mobile 2.0, a presentation

Check out this presentation on Mobile 2.0, (via Emergic)

Mobile 2.0: Design & Develop for the iPhone and Beyond

View more Microsoft Word documents from Brian Fling.

Coming up next, Context sensitive phones

What exactly is a context sensitive phone? It means, that the phone knows what you are doing - running, travelling or sleeping and then it adjusts certain parameters within itself - like brightening or lowering the display, magnifying contacts.
And both Apple and Google have filed a patent that signifies their intent... (via Fast Company)

Mobile as center of life

Heres a glimpse of the mobile phone as center of life in South Korea (link via). Read the whole piece - it tells the next steps for mobile phones. There is a vast pool of untapped potential for this device and we will see it being unleashed over the next few years.

Also, heres a solid piece by Niti Bhan on the potential in the MTN-Airtel alliance titled African potential, Indian Experience.