Ashish Tulsian's Blog

For past few days we were in the process of expanding our technical team, so there was the need of (Technical) infrastructure to support them. In the process i discovered something which was around for a decade now or maybe older than that, i knew it earlier, got to know about it in between also but never realized its greatness !! I am talking about the Thin-client Technology which now-a-days is getting popular with BPOs, KPOs , call centres etc….but still waiting for its real boom.

although up till now the implementation of thin clients is really thin and only big organizations (Read: Who can spend more money) are implementing it but i cannot stop myself from “not calling” it thin-client technology but a Startup Technology. why?? Read on…

So What is Thin-client Technology by the way??

To keep it simple, its basically a Client-server architecture with a difference. Here all the Processing power(Processors), Memory(RAM), Storage(HDD), Peripherals (CD-ROMs ,FDD ,DVD Drive, Printers..etc) are vested with the Central Server and the Client node is a minimal machine with maybe an Obsolete processor, small RAM and no storage, or it can be summed up as a Monitor, Keyboard, Mouse and a Thin-client station. Client drives all its processing, memory and storage requirements from the server.

Talking about the cost cutting features of it….you can now guess all this:

• No primary storage (hard-disks, CDROMs, floppies) required on thin clients. Memory requirement is minimal
• Much more uptime and performance enhancement as no dependence on individual machines
  
• Can use an obsolete PC with few modifications and Thin client software.
• All user, network, resource and application management can be done on the central server. This not only reduces unnecessary system
  administration but also allows for better control over your organizations computing environment and user and access control.
• All applications like MS Office, Internet and e-mail applications, Oracle, SQL, IDEs for different languages and even ERPs and CRMs can be run from the thin client.
• Resources available on the network like CDROMs, FDDs, HDDs, printers, etc can be shared among users
• As all the data is kept on the server, only the server’s hard disks need to be protected and Backed up.
  
• Zero downtime for clients since all the data is available centrally
• UPS is required only on the server side. Even in the case of a power failure no data corruption or data loss can take place on the thin client node as all computing virtually happens on the serve. (this makes a huge difference in the cost per machine )
  
• Hardware and software need to be upgraded only on the server side.

In my opinion with BPOs already adopting it, BFSI sector do have a great requirement for it as security of data and time critical maintainance in concerned.

but here i will again say, this one is equally ideal for startups as it will turn most of your expenditure on sophisticated machines(servers) into a one time investment on which you can further expand with minimum expense(client machines).

(Do lemme know if you need any help in setting up a thin client ) !!

Tags: Innovation, Startups, Technology by ashish
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Memories of the brutal execution of Daniel Pearl(a Wall Street Journal journalist who was kidnapped in Pakistan in January of 2002) started breathing in fresh air again as i was watching the latest movie “Mighty Heart”. This one touched me so deep, as i was feeling that back in 2002 when these events took place, i already witnessed one side of it.

yes, it was early in 2002 when US armed forces announced the attack on iraq and our own news channel AAJTAK went live 24 hours to get us the updates running. There i was who used to switch on the TV for 2-3 times during the night to take break from my studies and watch every update. That was the time when one day Kidnap of Daniel Pearl was also a “breaking news” and as we were already witnessing allot of violence so it came up as just another news to me.

then as days passed the newspapers started flooding with the daniel’s pics and his articles on jehadi groups and then came the news that they have killed daniel pearl. seeing that I myself was bad-mouthing these terrorist groups for killing an innocent journalist….and all this footage i saw as it was happenening.

with this movie i realized the other side of it…the suffering of daniel’s pregnant wife Mariane…the way she handled the situation, their innocence, the fraud pakistani authorities did with them and every disturbing helpless elements of it.

i really feel that i takes a Mighty Heart for these journalists to get themselves into the most dangerous situations to get us the real piece of news and i think its not at all about their job or money but there is a certain level of madness and passion which makes them go beyond the limits and come out with something extra-ordinary. remember our very own Barkha Dutt who was present with soldiers in kargil or Aajtak crew(sorry not able to remem any name) who got us the live footage of iraq war.

A salute to Daniel Pearl, his family and likes of him !! (as for the movie…definitely a must watch..Angelina Jolie has done justice to the role…)

Tags: Me, Uncategorized by ashish
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This is an update to my last post named A PC with Internet @ Rs. 4500 !! Dream-to-Reality (in case you haven’t read…kindly have a look)…

Prashant just now showed me the financials of the complete plan which MTNL is going to offer to its Delhi and Mumbai subscribers. major change is that PC is not going to be of 4,500 but will be yours for 4,999. Details are as follows…

Tariff for the service is given below :-

1. Initially 500 customers will be provided in selected Areas only.

2. Booking will be done at Call Centre Numbers 22221500 / 1500 from 26.09.2007. Help line number is 1800- 115522.

The Best part is Subscriber has Nothing-to-Loose in case they dont like netPC , there is a Provision for BuyBack as well !! Read on:

• If the subscriber surrenders the netPC within first 3 Months then only Rs. 1,000 will be deducted and amount of 3,999 will refunded (provided no damage to the equipment)
• after 3 months the depreciation will be calculated @ Rs 200/month.

Dats amazing…even if you use it for 1 year by paying 4,999 then too if you surrender it back….Rs. 1,999 will be refunded…!!

for more details do have a look at MTNL netPC

Tags: Innovation, Marketing, Web by ashish
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Did somebody mention “NOT” to them??

with the recent introduction of NDNC (National-Do-Not-Call) Registry the irritation levels of the mobile subscribers were supposed to go down drastically BUT my experience says its happenening the other way round.

As a victim of telemarketing companies i used to receive more than “20 calls” (just imagine !!) a day for things ranging from credit cards to personal loans to insurance etc..etc..  and on some days even more than 20. i started feeling like a Call Center employee (an in-bound one ) whose job was to pick up the call, provide the calling ladies with the info they are asking for and try to solve their problems (read: help complete their targets).

yes , it happened to me on occassions when the sweet calling voices  asked me to add one more credit card to my wallet so that she will be able to compelete her target for this week.

Huh!!…finally the launch of NDNC was a relief (atleast i thought so..). but as per the current scene the things are getting worse. sample this convo:

Phone: Tringgg…Trinnngg !! (a gurgaon number)

Me: Hello?

Ms. X: Hello sir, i m calling on behalf of XYZ Bank and our bank is offering you a lifetime free credit card.

Me: [a bit Irritated] Thank you, i dont need it but tell me one thing HOW THE HELL YOU DARED TO CALL ME…dont you know about Do-Not-Call list??

Ms. X: [smiling..probably] yes sir i know and your number was not on NDNC..dats y i called !!!

and i was knocked out at the first question only….this really came as a surprise to me. Instead of this she could have told me DIRECTLY saying : “i called you because you are a fool who dint care to get registered on NDNC and we are going to harress all those people like you till they get their numbers registered”

suddenly she was sounding so wise and i was so Dumb & Stupid. so i kept the call at once and got my number registered with DNC for Hutch, but surprise was waiting for me the other day as well.

sample another convo the very next day:

Phone: Tringgg…Trinnngg !! (again a Gurgaon number)

Me: Hello?

Ms. X: Hello sir, i m calling on behalf of XYZ Bank (same bank) and our bank is offering you a lifetime free credit card.

Me: [Irritated like Helll..] HOW THE HELL YOU DARED TO CALL ME…I am already registered with NDNC Registry and i can screw you people for calling me like this. yestereday also i received a call from your bank….Grrr…Grrr…..

Ms. X: [smiling (again)....probably] yes sir, you might be on that list but your number has not been updated with the list yet and …dats y i called !!

Me: [furious] What the hell not updated…so that means you will keep bugging me like this till its not updated?????

Ms. X: Maybe Yes…[and...Disconnected]

She kept the phone and left me wondering

Has NDNC Registry given the telemarketeers a new excuse to bug mobile subscribers who have not registered??

Why is anybody (TRAI) not asking Tele-Marketing companies from where did they manage that database for calling ??

Shouldnt they be screwed for calling anyone only??

Let me have your views on it…..

Tags: Marketing, Mobile by ashish
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Yes it’s true…if you are SHOCKED..then too…it’s TRUE
and people behind this are our own MTNL guys (whom we generally keep cursing for something or the other) ..

MTNL in association with Chennai-based Novatium, is launching its Rs 4,500 PC, which will be there with an Internet connection for just a small monthly fee.

But how are they cutting the costs so low?? :O
That is where the Innovation lies…Computer to be called “netPC” will be a similar looking BOX which we call a PC but its a no-frills attached device that is not going to have a regular CPU or any storage hardware but it will be connected to a Centralized Local Server which is going to perform all the functions like Processing, data storage, running applications etc and will provide the Internet Access as well.

The best part is that according to Novatium the user will be free to choose between the Linux and windows as the operating systems..

now that’s what i call a Complete Package !!

so its going to be as simple as getting a Cable connection to your TV Set or a Broadband connection to your computer….and what i feel is that with this they can sell alott of other content based subscriptions to the netPC customers like Games, softwares, educational packages and even Cable TV connection (Why Not !!).

offer sounds greatt…so now lets see how good it turns out to be.

and yes….as of now netPC will be available to the MTNL Delhi and Mumbai customers only..so guyz Watch-out…

Tags: Innovation, Marketing, Web by ashish
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Ahh….am not talking about the business but something which was nagging me for a long time now and now after i have done it, this “Loooong time” is haunting me.

I am talking about setting up this Blog… :O which i planned to start somewhere in 2005, then gave it a serious thought in 2006, then gave it Very Serious thought in September of 2006(followed by few actions towards it) and which now in October of 2007 i am able to setup and start !!

While doing it i was asking myself a few questions which will provide you a good insight into my own psyche (i know nobody is interested !) …but still…

But why i wanted to blog?

may be because I am an Observer, a Learner, an Entrepreneur, maybe a Mentor to people who don’t know very few things that i know (By chance).

so i want to voice my thoughts about the things which i am observing, happenings which are making me learn, ways i am carving out, solutions i am working on and blog was the best way to do that…(oh have i started explaining you the benefits of a blog…sorrry !!)

So what was the BIG DEAL in starting this blog??

Ans. Lack of time, i was running too busy (Read: Sheer Laziness and shifting the “Today’s Job to Tomorrow” attitude).

So what happened now? am i not busy or am i out of work?

Ans. Now i am learning to take out sometime for this (Read: learning to get rid of Laziness man !! …dats it !! )

Hope to serve something better than the crappy stuff above here and thanx for reading this one too (if you have by any chance reached here reading!!)

Tags: Me, Uncategorized by ashish
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