Reliance One world One Number

Reliance Infocomm (RIL) has launched the 1World.1Number seamless inter-standard international roaming service, featuring a single number on international CDMA and GSM networks.

In effect the caller line identification of Reliance customers will remain the same, even if they happen to be roaming on a GSM network - for instance in Europe.

With the new service, Reliance subscribers will not have to resort to call-forwarding whilst traveling from a CDMA to a GSM network and vice versa.

RIL says that with 11 major CDMA networks and 340 GSM networks under the 1World.1Number umbrella, it can qualify as the numero uno service provider in terms of offering the widest international roaming coverage at the lowest possible roaming rates.

For Reliance customers traveling abroad, they can subscribe to this new service at any of the Reliance WebWorlds. Customers will be provided with a SIM Card which together with a suitable GSM handset will enable them to roam on GSM networks. CDMA handsets can be used for roaming on CDMA networks.

Apple Anounces iPod Hi-Fi

Among a slew of products - Apple Computer has announced its iPod Hi-Fi, touting it as a high-fidelity speaker system which works seamlessly with the iPod to redefine the home stereo system.

Apple Computer says that its iPod Hi-Fi offers a superlative sound experience in an all-in-one design. The iPod Hi-Fi includes two custom-designed wide-range speakers, and a tuned ported bass system, making for reduced vibration and better sound quality. The device is powered from a wall socket or by six D-cell batteries, and can be controlled using the Apple Remote.

The Hi-Fi sports features such as handles for easy transportation of the stereo; removable front grille with precision-mounting clips; and touch-sensitive volume control buttons.

Hi-Fi incorporates seamless integration with all iPods via a dock connector; and includes features like Tone Control, Large Album Art mode and volume mirroring. It has a dual-purpose 3.5-mm auxiliary input which accepts either analog or digital signals for easy connection to a wide range of audio sources.

Steve Jobs, CEO, Apple Computer, said, "Apple is reinventing the home stereo with the new iPod Hi-Fi, the first iPod accessory that adds true high-fidelity sound quality to the iPod. iPod Hi-Fi s unrivaled acoustic performance and stunning design is at home in any room in the house."

Along with its iPod Hi-Fi, Apple has introduced a new leather case meant for the fifth generation iPod and all iPod nano models - made of fine hand-crafted Italian leather.

The iPod Hi-Fi is available from all Apple Authorized Resellers for Rs 27,700; and ships along with a removable grille, an AC power cord, ten Universal Dock adapters and the Apple Remote.

The leather case for iPods - both 30GB and 60GB models as also for the iPod nano is available for Rs 6,200 per piece.

Bharti Signed Deal with Nortel

MUMBAI: Bharti Tele-Ventures has entered into a five-year managed services agreement with Nortel to host contact center services for the subscribers of Bharti's Airtel GSM mobile, broadband and fixed line services.

According to a Bharati statement, Nortel will create a Network Operations Center (NOC) in New Delhi that would provide network design, integration, support and maintenance services for Bharti's contact center architecture.

A 24x7 'virtual storefront' voice portal based on Nortel's interactive voice response (IVR) solution will form the basis for Bharti's new contact center operation.

Calling a single number from anywhere in India, Bharti's wireless and wireline customers will be able to speak in English, Hindi, or four other regional languages to complete routine transactions and subscribe to new services while the system interacts with them in a natural, conversational manner.

Nortel has also designed the architecture for future interactive video response capability.

Bharti has also designed with Nortel an innovative 'per call' approach to paying for Nortel's hosted services, linking its contact center cost structure to network traffic, service levels and customer growth.

The Nortel solution also includes virtualization of the contact center infrastructure, world-class technology for call forecasting, call routing, call prioritization, multimedia, unified messaging, and IP-enabled video.

Airtel Goes Classical

In a step guaranteed to bring cheer to classical music fans, Airtel has made available to its subscribers more than hundred pieces of the choicest classical music from some of the country's best known exponents in the form of Ring Tones and Hello Tunes. The company says this is the first time such a rich variety of the country's classical music fare has been made available on the mobile music platform.

Speaking at the occasion, Hemant Sachdev, director - marketing and communications, Bharti Tele-Ventures, said that with Airtel Music Maestros, the company is promoting the country s rich classical music tradition and extending its reach from a niche audience to a much wider audience.

The chosen classical items comprise genres like Thumri, Dadra, Chaiti, Kajri, Kheyal, Bandish, et al, by stalwarts such as Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Pandit Jasraj, Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma Ustad Amjad Ali Khan, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Ustad Zakir Hussain, among others.

In order to avail the new service, Airtel subscribers can either call 678-517 to download the selection as Hello Tunes; or they can call 646-517 or alternatively log onto Airtel's live! WAP portal in order to download as Ringtones.

In another initiative, Airtel has launched Easy Music wherein subscribers can access up to 18,000 songs in 20 different languages. Subscribers need to simply walk into any Airtel Easy Music outlet, make their choice, and the retailer will download the song onto their phones.