Hoax mail

SHOKOY NATAGPUAN SA CEBU

(MERMAN FOUND IN CEBU, PHILIPPINES)
think u most of u have received this mail
a photo of a merman
it is really curious and i beleive all you guys are waiting to see
whether this is true or false


This mail has been circulating in the internet from 2006 and still this is circulating among the people
This is a hoax mail

beware of these hoax mails
these might do some serious damage to you
you do not know untill you get in to the trouble
You will realise only when you really getting the results of what you did

To my knowledge these mails are somewhat harmless comparison to pishing mails

Security Suites 2008

Someone is out to get you . . . or at least your PC. The threats lined up against it have never been worse. But don't panic; there also has never been a better selection of security suites available to keep your system safe.

Your PC is constantly under attack. Network worms want use it as a base to launch further attacks. Malicious Web sites try to turn it into a remote-controlled zombie by exploiting weaknesses in the browser or operating system. Spyware does its best to steal your personal info. Phishing e-mails and Web sites hope to fool you into giving away your financial passwords. Luckily, you have a doughty defender fighting off these vermin—your security suite.

The absolutely essential elements of a security suite are antivirus and antispyware (preferably integrated into a single module) along with a two-way personal firewall. Spam filtering is important, too, unless you get your e-mail filtered at the server level. We also look for some elements of parental control, privacy protection, or both. Microsoft's OneCare started a trend for adding backup and performance tuning; a number of other suites have followed suit. So there are definite similarities among the suites. But current suites also shake out into two groups with very different styles. The "we do it all for you" gang will add almost any feature that's marginally related to security, while those in the "lean and mean" group stick to the essentials. Whichever style suits you, there are plenty of choices. What should you look for?

Firewall Protection in Two Directions

The firewall is critical. A personal firewall's first task is to put all of your computer's ports in stealth mode, making it completely invisible from the Internet. Of course, it should allow necessary communication among the computers within your local network. This isn't tough; the built-in Windows Firewall can do it. But not all suites pass this simple test.

The firewall should also control outbound communication, preventing Internet access by unauthorized programs. The old-fashioned way to accomplish this was simple: When a given program tried to access the Internet for the first time, the firewall would ask the user whether or not to allow it. The problem is that most users aren't qualified to answer that question. Some products try to solve this problem by predefining access for hundreds (or thousands) of known good programs. That cuts down on the confirmation pop-ups, but doesn't eliminate them. Others, such as F-Secure Internet Security 2008 and Kaspersky Internet Security 7.0, "solve" the problem by running with this feature turned off by default—a poor choice.

The smartest firewalls use a three-part strategy. They automatically allow access for known good programs and delete known bad programs. When a program doesn't fit either category, the firewall keeps an eye on its behavior and allows access as long as the program doesn't try anything sneaky. Clearly this takes a lot more programmed-in intelligence than the simple ask-the-user plan, but it's definitely better for the user. Norton Internet Security 2008 and Panda Internet Security 2008 are two good examples of this approach in action.

There's always the possibility that malicious software will attack your firewall directly to disable its protection. Firewalls (and security programs in general) should resist if malware tries to kill their processes, turn off their services, or otherwise disable the protection they offer.

Your firewall may or may not protect directly against Web-based attacks that exploit vulnerabilities in the operating system or browser. Some, like NIS 2008, actively block exploits and even identify them by name. But most rely on their malware-protection abilities to prevent the exploit from doing harm, even if it does manage to plant a malicious file on your computer.

How to activate SMART 3G

Hello Guys

If you have a 3G capable phone and are subscribed to SMART, here’s a step by step on how to activate this wonderful piece of technology:

Nokia 6630 and Nokia 6680
1. Main Menu - Tools - Settings - Network
2. Select Network Mode - Dual Mode - Press OK / Select Operator Selection and choose SMART 3G under Manual

Nokia N70 models and up
1. Main Menu - Tools - Settings - Network
2. Select Network Mode - UMTS - Press OK / Select Operator Selection and choose SMART 3G under Manual

* Nokia handsets will have a “3G” beneath the signal bar

Sony Ericsson
1. Main Menu - Settings - Connectivity
2. Mobile networks - Select Networks - Choose SMART with bubble - OK

* SE phones will have a small house with a purple icon beneath signal bar to semble 3G

Whipped Ocean ...Something we'll never see........Amazing

Suddenly the shoreline north of Sydney was transformed into the Cappuccino Coast. Foam swallowed an entire beach and half the nearby buildings, including the local lifeguards' centre, in a freak display of nature at Yamba in New South Wales.
One minute a group of teenage surfers were waiting to catch a wave, the next they were swallowed up in a giant bubble bath. The foam was so light that they could puff it out of their hands and watch it float away.





Boy in the bubble bath: Tom Woods, 12, emerges from the clouds of foam after deciding that surfing was not an option
It stretched for 30 miles out into the Pacific in a phenomenon not seen at the beach for more than three decades. Scientists explain that the foam is created by impurities in the ocean, such as salts, chemicals, dead plants, decomposed fish and excretions from seaweed. All are churned up together by powerful currents which cause the water to form bubbles. These bubbles stick to each other as they are carried below the surface by the current towards the shore. As a wave starts to form on the surface, the motion of the water causes the bubbles to swirl upwards and, massed together, they become foam.
The foam 'surfs' towards shore until the wave 'crashes', tossing the foam into the air.


Whitewash: The foam was so thick it came all the way up to the surf club
'It's the same effect you get when you whip up a milk shake in a blender,' explains a marine expert. 'The more powerful the swirl, the more foam you create on the surface and the lighter it becomes.' In this case, storms off the New South Wales Coast and further north off Queensland had created a huge disturbance in the ocean, hitting a stretch of water where there was a particularly high amount of the substances which form into bubbles. As for 12-year-old beachgoer Tom Woods, who has been surfing since he was two, riding a wave was out of the question. 'Me and my mates just spent the afternoon leaping about in that stuff,' he said.
'It was quite cool to touch and it was really weird. It was like clouds of air - you could hardly feel it.'




Children play among the foam which was whipped up by cyclonic conditions

Murali the Magician........

The leading wicket-taker crown in world cricket history has been grabbed again by the Sri Lankan top off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan. This was happened on today at Asgiriya cricket ground, Kandy. This record was owned to the world best leg-spinner Shane Warne (708) untill it was broken by Murali. England batsman Paul Collingwood was the record made victim.

Bob Marley - The legend of Music

Bob Marley is a real gift to the world of Music and his contribution is unique to the present.

Robert Bob Nesta Marley was born (February 6, 1945 – May 11, 1981) in the small village of Nine Mile in the Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica. His father, Norval Sinclair Marley, was a white Jamaican born in 1895 to British parents from Sussex. Norval provided financial support for his wife and child, but seldom saw them. Marley was ten years old when his father died of a heart attack in 1955 at age 60. Marley suffered from racial neglection as a youth because of his mixed racial origins.

Marley and his mother moved to Kingston's Trenchtown after his father's death. He left school at the age of 14 and started as an apprentice at a local welder's shop. In his free time, he and Livingston (one of his closest friend at that time) made music with Joe Higgs, a local singer and devout Rastafari who is regarded by many as Marley's mentor.

In 1963 Marley and his friends formed a musical gorup and started their musical career officialy. In 1970s is the Golden decade in his life and also the end of his life. His albums were released worldwide and sold well. At that period he made very popular songs

* Get Up, Stand Up

* I Shot The Sheriff

* No Woman, No Cry

* One Love

* Exodus


In July 1977, Marley was found to have malignant melanoma in a football wound on his right big toe. Marley refused cut off surgically, citing worries that the operation would affect his dancing, as well as the Rastafari belief that the body must be "whole". The cancer then spread to Marley's brain, lungs, liver, and stomach. After playing two shows at Madison Square Garden as part of his fall 1980 Uprising Tour, he collapsed while jogging in NYC's Central Park. While flying home from Germany to Jamaica for his final days, Marley became ill, and landed in Miami for immediate medical attention. He died at Cedars of Lebanon Hospital in Miami, Florida on the morning of May 11, 1981 at the age of 36. Marley received a state funeral in Jamaica and according to the Rastafari tradition.

Bob Marley was a member of the Rastafari movement, whose culture was a key element in the development of reggae. Bob Marley became the leading proponent of the Rastafari, taking their music out of the socially deprived areas of Jamaica and onto the international music scene. Bob Marley had 13 children and his final words to one of his son were "Money can't buy life".

His songs were mainly written to point out the shortcomings of the society and also for global unity, love and peace.

Jeff Thomson and Lasith Malinga

See the difference between Malinga and Jeff Thomson
Some people are saying Sri Lanka's fast bowler Lasith Malinga's bowling action is more similar to the former Australian fast bowler Jeff Thomson. But you can decide whether that statement is true or false when you watch these video clips.

• Jeff Thomson1
• Jeff Thomson2

Malinga, A true genuine side arm action bowler
There was nobody like him in the past
You cannot match him with the Jeff Thomson

nspiring a generation of cricketers

Sri Lanka's captain and vice-captain, Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, paid tribute to their team-mate and former leader, Sanath Jayasuriya, who bowed out of Test cricket at the age of 38 following his side's 88-run win over England in the first Test in Kandy.

After weeks of speculation in the local media, Jayasuriya made his announcement after scoring 78 in Sri Lanka's second innings to help put his side on course for victory. He later chipped in with one final wicket, that of Ravi Bopara, to finish his career with 6973 runs at 40.07 and 98 wickets at 34.34 from 110 Tests.

Jayasuriya made his ODI debut against Australia in Melbourne in December 1989, and his Test debut 14 monrths later in Hamilton. "It is a tremendous loss when you lose someone who's played for 18 years," said Jayawardene after the match. "He's been a batsman, a senior player, and a bowler, and his loss is going to be huge, especially in the dressing room."

Jayasuriya's form in Test cricket has been on the wane for the past three years, and it is widely believed that the selectors had been looking to blood a younger opener in his place. But Jayawardene praised his team-mate for going out on his own terms. "I think he's pretty happy with that decision", he said. "We just need to make sure that with the youngsters coming through, [that] we build another team and improve ourselves."

Sangakkara was even more fulsome in his praise of a man he first saw as a spectator at the Asgiriya Stadium during the 1996 World Cup. "That World Cup win probably inspired not just me, but a whole generation of young cricketers to try and play for Sri Lanka," said Sangakkara. "He changed the face of world cricket, especially in the one-day arena. He's a wonderful cricketer, a wonderful man and he's had a wonderful career.

"I think for me personally he's been a pillar of support," added Sangakkara. "He was my first captain and when I was struggling to make the side there was always positive re-enforcement from him, and never a negative word. We have the best memories of him in the dressing room. We'll miss him, but life and cricket moves on, and we'll look ahead with a new side."

The Legend Ends....

The great entertainer

Sanath Jayasuriya's second retirement from Test cricket attracted much less fanfare than the first did, some 18 months ago. It was also far happier: on that occasion he started the match silently fuming with the selectors for pushing him out. It all ended with a dropped catch, a painfully dislocated thumb, and a heavy defeat to Pakistan. He was not ready to walk away back then and it was a bitterly sad and unjust end to a great servant of Sri Lankan cricket. This time, though, he knew the time was right and he finished with a characteristically macho cameo, a brilliant 78 that played a crucial part in Sri Lanka winning the first Test by 88 runs.

Indeed, his innings on Monday afternoon neatly encapsulated all that has made Jayasuriya so valuable a player for so long. He may have a modest average by the standards of top Asian batsmen (finishing with 6973 runs at 40.07 in 110 matches), but right through a career that stretches back nearly two decades, Jayasuriya's runs were often hugely influential. He was, in short, a match-winner, possessed of that rare and precious ability - like Kevin Pietersen for England - to singlehandedly turn the tide of a game, stealing momentum. He did that in this Test, wiping away a 93-run deficit that many at the time thought was a winning lead for England. The rest of the top order may have finished the job, but Jayasuriya was the one who gave them an early wind and swung the match back onto an even keel.

However, though he proved in this game that he still has the ability to win games at home, there's no denying that it was the right time for Jayasuriya to leave the Test arena. As an allrounder he still has plenty to offer in the one-day and Twenty20 game, but in Test cricket his performances have been on the wane for some time now. The gaps between his big scores have grown wider. Age, inevitably, was taking a toll. While Jayasuriya's fitness has remained good, the reflexes were starting to slow, exposing him at the start of the innings. Also, there are younger players waiting in the wings, such as Upul Tharanga and Mahela Udawatte, who now need to be playing if Sri Lanka is going to progress.

Jayasuriya was offered a farewell Test by the selectors - the alternative being the prospect of being unceremoniously dropped - and he gladly accepted it. Characteristically, he made his goodbyes in low-key style. Jayasuriya is a national hero, a legend for many, but he has never sought the bright lights; he is a simple man, a very committed Buddhist. His retirement was announced to Sky Sports after his 78 with a casual air. There was no media release and no press conference. I asked him why, that evening. "Why do I need a press conference?" he queried back. "Murali had just broken a world record and that is far more important than me deciding to retire. If the journalists want a quote, they will find me."

Jayasuriya, though, will not be forgotten so easily. The first, simple reason for this is that for the best part of two decades he has been in the team. Most people in the country have little recollection of the pre-Jayasuriya era. In addition, there is the small matter of his style. In an era of increasingly sterile and mechanical professionalism, Jayasuriya batted like a fearless schoolboy in a park. When he started out, Sri Lanka ate biryani on match days and didn't bother employing coaches. He leaves a dressing room of bland pasta dishes, isotonic drinks, ice baths, physios, trainers, psychologists and analysts. Throughout he played the same way: if he could, he'd whack it to the boundary.

He was a player who routinely frustrated with soft dismissals, but he made up for those failures with innings so brilliant, so daring, so ludicrous, that you were often left in open-mouthed shock. When he walked out to bat, even non-cricket fans couldn't resist looking at the TV

All those fortunate to have watched Jayasuriya over the years have witnessed batting at its most brutal, compelling best. He was a player who routinely frustrated with soft dismissals, but he made up for those failures with innings so brilliant, so daring, so ludicrous, that you were often left in open-mouthed shock. When he walked out to bat, even non-cricket fans couldn't resist looking at the TV. There are few sights in cricket more spellbinding that Jayasuriya on song. Of all the wonderful players I have watched over the years, none has electrified a stadium like him. He was, quite simply, Sri Lanka's great entertainer.

That entertainment played a crucial role in cricket's growing popularity in Sri Lanka. A common Western misconception about Sri Lanka is that everyone is genetically cricket mad. On the contrary, the game was dominated for decades by Colombo's elite, and lacked island-wide appeal until the 1990s. Now, though, fuelled by the World Cup win in 1996, and international success, it is a binding force that cuts across class, creed and ethnicity. Jayasuriya, born and bred in the undeveloped deep south, played a central role in making that happen. Every nation likes homegrown heroes, and Jayasuriya's international success, especially his barnstorming 1996 World Cup, has been a source of huge patriotic pride.

As captain he took over from Arjuna Ranatunga in 1999 and also made his mark with a consensual and inclusive style. He created a family-like atmosphere in the dressing room , and until 2002 it suited the team well. However, as time progressed, the job became harder and increasingly politicised. As a batsman his approach was fearless, as leader he was far more cautious and self-doubting. With hindsight you can see that he slowly lost control of the team in the lead-up to the 2003 World Cup. To be a good Sri Lanka captain, you have to be willing to be sacked. Jayasuriya spent too much time on the fence and eventually it became clear that a change was required. He realised it, too, and resigned straight after the World Cup.

That is not what he will be remembered for. He'll be remembered for his crunching airborne square-cuts, leg-side swipes, and the sunniest of smiles. He enjoyed his cricket and he gave huge enjoyment to others. He was a simple and free-spirited batsman blessed with enormous natural talent. Fortunately, thankfully, Sri Lanka excused him his inconsistencies and allowed us all to marvel at his brilliance. He will be missed, sorely missed.

Mobitel announces USD200 million expansion programm

Sri Lankan state-owned mobile operator Mobitel has contracted China’s Huawei Technologies to install 800 additional GSM base stations as part of a USD200 million three-stage plan to double network capacity, extend coverage, add 3G services and sign up 750,000 new subscribers. CEO Suren Amarasekera said: ‘We more than doubled our customer base in 2006 and we forecast this year to be as good…In the first stage, all the key towns and cities will be covered…We will also cover key highways.’ Mobitel, a 100%-owned unit of fixed line incumbent Sri Lanka Telecom, had around 900,000 subscribers at the end of December, up from 420,000 at the start of the year. Sri Lanka's mobile market is estimated to have grown by 60% to more than 5.5 million subscribers in 2006. In August, its four cellcos – Dialog, Celltel, Hutchison and Mobitel – were all awarded commercial 3G licences.

Mobitel debuts 3G trial at International Buddhist Congress

Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel embarked on a field trial for its cutting edge 3G Mobile Broadband platform, which utilizes next generation High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) technology.

The dazzling speed Internet access at an impressive 1.6 Mbps was recently made available for the benefit of the several hundred fold foreign and local religious dignitaries in attendance at the 2-day international conference in Pallekele, Kandy.

HSDPA, the latest development in 3G, which is being trialed by Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel is several stages ahead of its 3G forerunners and allows multiple applications with mobile phones, laptops and personal computers. The trial service offers wide range of options within the scope of mobile broadband level connectivity together with full inter-operability with Sri Lanka Telecom Mobitel`s existing 2.5G network.

What is HSPA

High-Speed Packet Access(HSPA)

High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA) is a collection of mobile telephony protocols that extend and improve the performance of existing UMTS protocols. Two standards HSDPA and HSUPA have been established and a further standard HSOPA is being proposed.

Contents [hide] 1 Overview 2 High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) 3 High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) 4 Evolved High Speed Packet Access (Evolved HSPA, HSPA Evolved, HSPA+, I-HSPA,...) 5 High Speed OFDM Packet Access (HSOPA)

Overview

The two existing standards (HSDPA and HSUPA) in the family provide increased performance by using improved modulation schemes and by refining the protocols by which handsets and base stations communicate. These improvements lead to a better utilization of the existing radio bandwidth provided by UMTS.

High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA)

Main article: HSDPA

HSDPA provides improved down-link and heve some mm performance of up to 14.4 Mbit/s theoretically. Existing deployments provide up to 7.2 Mbit/s in down-link. Up-link performance is a maximum of 384 kbit/s.

For operational reasons, service providers may cap this rate to lower rates than the maximum 3.6 Mbit/s that most HSDPA handsets can transfer at. Voice calls are usually prioritized over data transfer. The Croatian VIPnet network supports the speed of 7.2 Mbit/s in down-link. In South Korea, a nationwide 7.2Mbit/s coverage is now established by SK Telecom and KTF. In Hong Kong, PCCW also provide 7.6Mbit/s coverage.

[edit] High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA)

Main article: HSUPA

HSUPA provides improved up-link performance of up to 5.76 Mbit/s theoretically. In Singapore, Starhub announced a 1.9 Mbit/s HSUPA Service as part of its new MaxMobile plan in 1 Aug 2007 [1]

Evolved High Speed Packet Access (Evolved HSPA, HSPA Evolved, HSPA+, I-HSPA,...)

Main article: Evolved HSPA

Evolved HSPA is defined in 3GPP release 7 (expected in 2007). It introduces simpler IP centric architecture for the mobile network bypassing most of the legacy equipment and enhances radio data rates.

High Speed OFDM Packet Access (HSOPA)

Main article: HSOPA

HSOPA is currently under development, aiming for maximum transfer rates of 100 Mbit/s for down-link and 50 Mbit/s for up-link.

What is 3G

3G is the third generation of mobile phone standards and technology, after 2G. It is based on the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) family of standards under the International Mobile Telecommunications programme, "IMT-2000". 3G technologies enable network operators to offer users a wider range of more advanced services while achieving greater network capacity through improved spectral efficiency. Services include wide-area wireless voice telephony and broadband wireless data, all in a mobile environment. Typically, they provide service at 5-10 Mb per second.

Unlike IEEE 802.11 networks, 3G networks are wide area cellular telephone networks which evolved to incorporate high-speed internet access and video telephony. IEEE 802.11 (common home Wi-Fi) networks are short range, high-bandwidth networks primarily developed for data.

In December 2005, 100 3G networks were operating in 40 countries, according to the Global mobile Suppliers Association. In Asia, Europe, Canada and the USA, telecommunication companies use W-CDMA technology with the support of around 100 terminal designs to operate 3G mobile networks.

Contents [hide] 1 History 2 Features 3 Standards 4 Evolution to 3G 4.1 Operators and UMTS networks 4.2 Network standardization 4.2.1 Release '99 4.2.2 Release 4 4.2.3 Release 5 4.2.4 Release 6 4.2.5 3G evolution (pre-4G) 4.3 Advantages of a layered network architecture 4.4 Mobile technologies 4.4.1 From GPRS to UMTS 4.5 UMTS and 3G terminals 4.6 UMTS terminals 5 Issues 6 See also 7 References 8 External links

[edit] History

In Europe, 3G services were introduced starting in March 2003 in the UK and Italy. The European Union Council suggested that the 3G operators should cover 80% of the European national populations by the end of 2005.

Roll-out of 3G networks was delayed in some countries by the enormous costs of additional spectrum licensing fees. See Telecoms crash. In many countries, 3G networks do not use the same radio frequencies as 2G, so mobile operators must build entirely new networks and license entirely new frequencies; an exception is the United States where carriers operate 3G service in the same frequencies as other services. The license fees in some European countries were particularly high, bolstered by government auctions of a limited number of licenses and sealed bid auctions, and initial excitement over 3G's potential. Other delays were due to the expenses of upgrading equipment for the new systems.

By June 2007 the 200 millionth 3G subscriber had been connected. Out of 3 billion mobile phone subscriptions worldwide this is only 6.7%. In the countries where 3G was launched first - Japan and South Korea over half of all subscribers use 3G. In Europe the leading country is Italy with a third of its subscribers migrated to 3G. Other leading countries by 3G migration include UK, Austria and Singapore at the 20% migration level. A confusing statistic is counting CDMA 2000 1x RTT customers as if they were 3G customers. If using this oft-disputed definition, then the total 3G subscriber base would be 475 million at June 2007 and 15.8% of all subscribers worldwide.

EMTEL Ltd, the second largest mobile telecommunications company in Mauritius (next to state owned Cellplus), has established the first commercial Universal Mobile Telecommunications Standard (UMTS) 3G network in Africa (the first test call was made on 16 October 2004). Full commercial services began in November 2004, making this the first commercial African 3G network. In north Africa, the first service of 3G started in Morocco in late March 2006, provided by the new company Wana. The other operator in the country should start its network in mid-2007. Vodafone Egypt (also known as CLICK GSM) was to provide the service in Egypt in mid-2006. In early 2007, Vodacom Tanzania switched on its 3G High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) in Dar Es Salaam. It is the second country in Africa with such technology, after South Africa. In March 2007, Nigeria awarded 3G telecommunication licenses to its three major GSM companies and a relatively unknown operator, Alheri Engineering Co. Ltd, to allow them to expand their scope of operation in the industry.

Rogers Wireless began implementing 3G HSDPA services in eastern Canada early 2007 in the form of Rogers Vision; expansion into western Canada is expected soon.

[edit] Features

The most significant feature of 3G mobile technology is that it supports greater numbers of voice and data customers — especially in urban areas — and higher data rates at lower incremental cost than 2G.

By using the radio spectrum in bands identified, which is provided by the UTI for Third Generation IMT-2000 mobile services, it subsequently licensed to operators. 3G uses .6 MHz channel carrier width to deliver significantly higher data rates and increased capacity compared to 2G networks.

The .5 MHz channel carrier provides optimum use of radio resources for operators who have been granted large, contiguous blocks of spectrum. On the other hand, it also helps to reduce the cost to 3G networks while being capable of providing extremely high-speed data transmission to users.

It also allows the transmission of 384 kbit/s for mobile systems and 2 Mb/s for stationary systems. 3G users are expected to have greater capacity and better spectrum efficiency, which allows them to access global roaming between different 3G networks.

[edit] Standards

International Telecommunications Union (ITU): IMT-2000 consists of six radio interfaces

• W-CDMA
• CDMA2000
• TD-CDMA / TD-SCDMA
• UWC (often implemented with EDGE)
• DECT
• Mobile WiMAX ^[1]

[edit] Evolution to 3G

Cellular mobile telecommunications networks are being upgraded to use 3G technologies from 1999 to 2010. Japan was the first country to introduce 3G nationally, and in Japan the transition to 3G was largely completed in 2006. Korea became the first to adopt 3G Networks soon after and the transition was made as early as 2004, leading the world in communications.

[edit] Operators and UMTS networks

As of 2005, the evolution of the 3G networks was on its way for a couple of years, due to the limited capacity of the existing 2G networks. 2G networks were built mainly for voice data and slow transmission. Due to rapid changes in user expectation, they do not meet today's wireless needs.

"2.5G" (and even 2.75G) are technologies such as i-mode data services, camera phones, high-speed circuit-switched data (HSCSD) and General packet radio service (GPRS) were created to provide some functionality domains like 3G networks, but without the full transition to 3G network. They were built to introduce the possibilities of wireless application technology to the end consumers, and so increase demand for 3G services.

[edit] Network standardization

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) defined the demands for 3G mobile networks with the IMT-2000 standard. An organization called 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has continued that work by defining a mobile system that fulfills the IMT-2000 standard. This system is called Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS).

The evolution of the system will move forward with so called releases. Each release will introduce new features. The following features are examples of many others in these new releases.

[edit] Release '99

• Bearer services
• 64 kbit/s circuit switched
• 384 kbit/s packet switched
• Location services
• Call services: compatible with Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), based on Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM)

[edit] Release 4

• Edge radio
• Multimedia messaging
• MeXe levels
• Improved location services
• IP Multimedia Services (IMS)

[edit] Release 5

• IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS)
• IPv6, IP transport in UTRAN
• Improvements in GERAN, Mexe, etc
• HSDPA

[edit] Release 6

• WLAN integration
• Multimedia broadcast and multicast
• Improvements in IMS
• HSUPA

[edit] 3G evolution (pre-4G)

• The standardization of 3G evolution is working in both 3GPP and 3GPP2. The corresponding specifications of 3GPP and 3GPP2 evolutions are named as LTE and UMB, respectively. 3G evolution uses partly beyond 3G technologies to enhance the performance and to make a smooth migration path.

There are several different paths from 2G to 3G. In Europe the main path starts from GSM when GPRS is added to a system. From this point it is possible to go to the UMTS system. In North America the system evolution will start from Time division multiple access (TDMA), change to Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) and then to UMTS.

In Japan, two 3G standards are used: W-CDMA (compatible with UMTS) used by NTT DoCoMo and Softbank, and CDMA2000, used by KDDI. Transition to 3G was completed in Japan in 2006.

[edit] Advantages of a layered network architecture

Unlike GSM, UMTS is based on layered services. At the top is the services layer, which provides fast deployment of services and centralized location. In the middle is the control layer, which helps upgrading procedures and allows the capacity of the network to be dynamically allocated. At the bottom is the connectivity layer where any transmission technology can be used and the voice traffic will transfer over ATM/AAL2 or IP/RTP.

[edit] Mobile technologies

When converting a GSM network to a UMTS network, the first new technology is General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). It is the trigger to 3G services. The network connection is always on, so the subscriber is online all the time. From the operator's point of view, it is important that GPRS investments are re-used when going to UMTS. Also capitalizing on GPRS business experience is very important.

From GPRS, operators could change the network directly to UMTS, or invest in an EDGE system. One advantage of EDGE over UMTS is that it requires no new licenses. The frequencies are also re-used and no new antennas are needed.

[edit] From GPRS to UMTS

• Home location register (HLR)
• Visitor location register (VLR)
• Equipment identity register (EIR)

From GPRS network, the following network elements can be reused:

• Mobile switching centre (MSC) (vendor dependent)
• Authentication centre (AUC)
• Serving GPRS Support Node (SGSN) (vendor dependent)
• Gateway GPRS Support Node (GGSN)

From Global Service for Mobile (GSM) communication radio network, the following elements cannot be reused

• Base station controller (BSC)
• Base transceiver station (BTS)

They can remain in the network and be used in dual network operation where 2G and 3G networks co-exist while network migration and new 3G terminals become available for use in the network.

The UMTS network introduces new network elements that function as specified by 3GPP:

• Node-B (base station)
• Radio Network Controller (RNC)
• Media Gateway (MGW)

The functionality of MSC and SGSN changes when going to UMTS. In a GSM system the MSC handles all the circuit switched operations like connecting A- and B-subscriber through the network. SGSN handles all the packet switched operations and transfers all the data in the network. In UMTS the Media gateway (MGW) take care of all data transfer in both circuit and packet switched networks. MSC and SGSN control MGW operations. The nodes are renamed to MSC-server and GSN-server.

[edit] UMTS and 3G terminals

3G handsets usually have cameras, music players, video players, contactless smartcards for payment functions (wallet phones), Web browsers, email clients and more. This shows that the UMTS system is based on layered services and future applications can be supported without too much impact to the underlying radio access network.

[edit] UMTS terminals

The technical complexities of a 3G phone or handset depends on its need to roam onto legacy 2G networks. In the first countries, Japan and South Korea, there was no need to include roaming capabilities to older networks such as GSM, so 3G phones were small and lightweight. In Europe and America, the manufacturers and network operators wanted multi-mode 3G phones which would operate on 3G and 2G networks (e.g., WCDMA and GSM), which added to the complexity, size, weight, and cost of the handset. As a result, early European WCDMA phones were significantly larger and heavier than comparable Japanese WCDMA phones.

Japan's Vodafone KK experienced a great deal of trouble with these differences when its UK-based parent, Vodafone, insisted the Japanese subsidiary use standard Vodafone handsets. Japanese customers who were accustomed to smaller handsets were suddenly required to switch to European handsets that were much bulkier and considered unfashionable by Japanese consumers. During this conversion, Vodafone KK lost 6 customers for every 4 that migrated to 3G. Soon thereafter, Vodafone sold the subsidiary (now known as Softbank).

The general trend to smaller and smaller phones seems to have paused, perhaps even turned, with the capability of large-screen phones (similar to the Apple iPhone - interestingly EDGE, not 3G) to provide more video, gaming and internet use on the 3G networks.

[edit] Issues

Although 3G was successfully introduced to users in Europe, Asia, South America and Africa, some issues are debated by 3G providers and users:

• Expensive input fees for the 3G service licenses
• Numerous differences in the licensing terms
• Large amount of debt currently sustained by many telecommunication companies, which makes it a challenge to build the necessary infrastructure for 3G
• Lack of member state support for financially troubled operators
• Expense of 3G phones
• Lack of buy-in by 2G mobile users for the new 3G wireless services
• Lack of coverage, because it is still a new service
• High prices of 3G mobile services in some countries, including Internet access (see flat rate)
• Current lack of user need for 3G voice and data services in a hand-held device
• High power usage

Convert docx files to doc, pdf, odt and txt

here at Zamzar and I am happy to announce support for online conversion of the new Microsoft Office 2007 DOCX format. The format is based on open XML standards and will undoubtedly be great for future interopability, but what happens when you’re stranded with a .docx file and no copy of MS Office 2007 to view it with ?

Well you can now use Zamzar to convert docx files into any one of the following formats (including older versions of MS Office which only open .doc files):

doc - Microsoft Word Doc odt - OpenDocument Text Doc pcx - Paintbrush Bitmap Image pdf - Portable Document Format

png - Portable Network Graphic ps - Postscript Doc txt - Text Doc

To convert from docx simply head over to Zamzar, select the docx file you want to convert from your computer and enjoy !

Note: Conversions won’t work for .docx files created with pre-release versions of MS Word 2007.

Happy Converting !

Tiny Node

Introducing TinyNode

Shockfish SA has developed the TinyNode platform with real industrial application in mind. Our mission is to bridge results from academic research with industrial needs in the area of wireless sensor networks.

The design philosophy of TinyNode is to provide a platform for both academic projects and industrial applications. The TinyNode 584 core module is a versatile lowest-power sensor node and comes with an array of extension hardware offering a wide set of connectivity, storage, energy and interfacing options.

Buz Net

The development of the BusNet system is looking to provide a way for constant road condition monitoring.

SrilankaroadA good road system provides many benefits - vehicles consume less fuel on well maintained road surfaces, smooth movement of traffic cuts travel time, and the reduced traffic congestion reduces environmental pollution. In countries like Sri Lanka, the lack of funds is a factor, as well as the lack of monitoring and reporting systems. The BusNet system is looking to addresses these two issues. It provides the ability to trigger the maintenance system into action before the road conditions deteriorate beyond the safe and acceptable level which reduces the cost of repairs.

Continuous monitoring of a road network's surface condition requires a vast monitoring solution. In Sri Lanka, it is impractical to deploy a large number of sensors; however researchers have found a way to use the current public transportation system to gather data. The buses in the public transport system travel the roads frequently and are able to gather the required data. By utilizing the public transportation system, the researchers at University of Colombo, have an establishedBusnetarchitecture infrastructure that allows them to use fewer sensors on the vehicles but gather data from different locations as the buses all have central points from which the regional networks span out. Although sensor boards and motes are relatively inexpensive, the cost is still to high for developing countries. These vehicle mounted moving sensors gather data that covers a large geographical area. When the buses arrive at the bus stations, which also function as data collection centers, the gathered data is transferred through the wireless sensor network to the base station. The data collected is used to study and determine long term changes.



The BusNet system consists of three main components: Sensor Units, Sub Stations and a Main Station. BusNet uses Crossbow's MICAz Mote and a variety of sensor boards. The sensors gather the required data along the bus route which is stored with the GPS coordinates of the collection points. Once the bus reaches a sub station, the data is relayed over the wireless sensor network to the sub station which routes the data back to the main station over the bus system's network. The substations act as routers gathering the data and sending it to the main base station. By using the public transportation infrastructure, BusNet allows for cost reduction as not as many sensor nodes are required, and it is easy to provide maintenance on the nodes (changing batteries, etc.) as the buses return to the station every day.

Busnetdata_2The accelerometer on the sensor board is capable of measuring both vertical and horizontal acceleration. Researchers have conjectured that the normal component of the acceleration has a correlation with the road surface condition. For example, if the bus goes over a pot hole this would cause a significant change in the normal component of the acceleration. The collected readings are transmitted over the BusNet to the central collection point at the Main Station and maintenance can be dispatched if necessary. To make this data useful, researchers at the University of Colombo's School of Computing have collaborated with the Department of Physics to factor out attributes such as the suspension system, weight of the vehicle, size of the tires, etc. that may have an impact on the acceleration readings and have created an analytical model to estimate road surface conditions. The plan is to create a neural network to estimate the roughness of the road surface based on the acceleration data. The sensor units on the BusNet are given a threshold value of acceleration that indicates significant deterioration of the road surface so that the data collection can be triggered by that value as the sensor unit has memory constraints and such a triggering point conserves storage space.

This system is still in development, however, the concept is innovative. BusNet is a novel approach in building a vehicle based data network. It is a viable solution for sensor network applications that are delay tolerant and are used for predictive and preventive maintenance. It sets up a communication infrastructure, enables additional monitoring solutions and provides a solution to observe a vast area with fewer devices. The road surface monitoring system it hopes to offer will enable developing countries like Sri Lanka to create a better road network infrastructure and sustain it

Wireless Sensor Networks

A wireless sensor network (WSN) is a wireless network consisting of spatially distributed autonomous devices using sensors to cooperatively monitor physical or environmental conditions, such as temperature, sound, vibration, pressure, motion or pollutants, at different locations.[1][2] The development of wireless sensor networks was originally motivated by military applications such as battlefield surveillance. However, wireless sensor networks are now used in many civilian application areas, including environment and habitat monitoring, healthcare applications, home automation, and traffic control.[1][3]

In addition to one or more sensors, each node in a sensor network is typically equipped with a radio transceiver or other wireless communications device, a small microcontroller, and an energy source, usually a battery. The size of a single sensor node can vary from shoebox-sized nodes down to devices the size of grain of dust.[1] The cost of sensor nodes is similarly variable, ranging from hundreds of dollars to a few cents, depending on the size of the sensor network and the complexity required of individual sensor nodes.[1] Size and cost constraints on sensor nodes result in corresponding constraints on resources such as energy, memory, computational speed and bandwidth.[1]

Wireless Sensor Networks

A wireless sensor network (WSN) is a wireless network consisting of spatially distributed autonomous devices using sensors to cooperatively monitor physical or environmental conditions, such as temperature, sound, vibration, pressure, motion or pollutants, at different locations.[1][2] The development of wireless sensor networks was originally motivated by military applications such as battlefield surveillance. However, wireless sensor networks are now used in many civilian application areas, including environment and habitat monitoring, healthcare applications, home automation, and traffic control.[1][3]

In addition to one or more sensors, each node in a sensor network is typically equipped with a radio transceiver or other wireless communications device, a small microcontroller, and an energy source, usually a battery. The size of a single sensor node can vary from shoebox-sized nodes down to devices the size of grain of dust.[1] The cost of sensor nodes is similarly variable, ranging from hundreds of dollars to a few cents, depending on the size of the sensor network and the complexity required of individual sensor nodes.[1] Size and cost constraints on sensor nodes result in corresponding constraints on resources such as energy, memory, computational speed and bandwidth.[1]

Welcome

Welcome to the world of Sensor Networks