• You need to create an account at http://email.nokia.com and install the application by sending yourself a SMS from your account.
• Make sure there is a packet data connection on your cellphone, it doesn’t have to be active. Nokia Messaging just needs a packet data connection to continue the setup.

More info http://betalabs.nokia.com/betas/view/nokia-messaging-for-s60-5th-edition and http://thenokiaguide.com/2009/08/12/problem-solved-nokia-messaging-requires-packet-data-connection-for-setup/

For real internet access without a proxy you need to setup Reliance Smartnet (smartnet) on your cellphone. This is different than RelianceWAP (rwap) which works via a proxy and won’t allow your applications to access the Internet. The official way of messaging “ALL” to 55100 did not work for me as my phone was not found in their database.  I had to contact the Reliance customer service (*333) a couple of times for them to send me the settings or enter them manually. Once I had smartnet settings on my cellphone I recharged my number with Rs.303 which gives me unlimited data for 30 days. After the recharge I was able to access the Internet and run applications (eBuddy, Nokia Email, Opera, Skype, Facebook etc.).

After living in Gurgaon/Delhi for a month now I realize the pros and cons of roundabouts. They seem like a good idea because traffic doesn’t have to stop unless someone else has the right of way. During light traffic cars from multiple directions can go around the roundabout simultaneously without having to stop, unlike a traffic signal where they’d have to wait for a green. However, during heavy traffic when people are in a rush, drivers loose any self-control and attack the roundabout like chicken with their heads cut off. This results in total chaos and deadlocks. In such circumstances traffic lights would work better.

Therefore in conclusion, roundabouts in light traffic areas and traffic lights in heavy traffic areas.

I see a lot users having trouble with getting in to the modem/gateway configuration page a.k.a http://192.168.1.1.

Follow the steps below to get to the configuration page.

1. Disconnect the phone line from the modem.

2. Configure your TCP/IP settings in Windows by going into Network Connections and right-click on LAN:

3. Now click on TCP/IPv4 and then Properties:

4. Enter the values as shown and click OK:

You should now be able to access your BSNL modem/gateway. Remember to change these settings back to “Obtain IP address automatically” and “Obtain DNS server address automatically” once you have configured your gateway’s DHCP server. Read this post on how to do configure your DHCP server.

A lot of users are having problems setting up the Nokia Email app on their S60 phones using only WiFi. The application doesn’t let you pick an access point during email account setup. Therefore, you need to be connected to a WiFi access point BEFORE setting up your email accounts. To do this connect to a WiFi network and start browsing, this will force your phone to establish an access point using WiFi. Next, hide the browser (do not exit the browser application) and go back to your home screen. Now you can start setting up your email accounts using the Nokia Email application.

I have been looking for an all-in-one client for IM but have never been satisfied with any. Each one of them had their own strenghts, some had good UI, some were too complex and support for IM’s was patchy. But finally here’s a client that can handle pretty much any IM, Social networking app AND even IMAP/POP accounts. It’s brilliant, the UI is simple and yet powerful .. It manages to be very advanced without being complex and confusing. Best of all, its cross-platform and runs on Windows, Mac and Linux. Get it here.

There’s a firmware update for DNA-A211 also branded as ITI. Get it here.

If you have a ITI branded modem from BSNL, you probably wont find much documentation about setting it up for multi-use. The unit is actually an OEM product from SEMINDIA model # DNA-A211. This how-to will show you how to setup the router so that it automatically connects to the Internet on start-up, so that you don’t have to dial a connection.

First we shall setup the DSL connection:

1. Connect  to the modem/router through Wired Ethernet and enter 192.168.1.1 in the address bar. When prompted enter your username/password. It should be admin/admin by default. If you have forgotten the username/password, you can reset the modem by pressing the reset button on the back of the router with a pin for 10 seconds. If you can’t access the modem at 192.168.1.1 try this.

2. Click on Advanced Setup -> WAN. You should see the following entries. The one we are interested in is the first one as shown. Click Edit.

3. Enter the settings as shown below and click next.

Now to setup your wireless access, goto Wireless -> Wireless Bridge and choose the following:

Also ensure that your wireless is enabled by going into Wireless -> Basic:

Also ensure that your DHCP is enabled by going to Advanced Setup -> LAN and checking that your DHCP is enabled as shown below:

Now go into Management -> Save/Reboot. This will save the settings and reboot your router. On restart the modem will establish the connection and you can simply connect to the wireless network.

Hope this helped. If you have any questions just ask in the comments section.

Now that I am settled in India, I finally have time to update the blog. I was surprised by the penetration and popularity of broadband here in just a couple of years. Almost everyone who had dial-up has upgraded to broadband for the same price.  The speeds aren’t very fast but you can get upto 200KB/s consistently. 

The reason I came to India was to work in the family business and get some experience running a company before I go for my MBA. I was involved in the software field (undergrad & work) for 8 years and now I am working in the manufacturing sector. These fields technically are not even remotely related but from running a business view they aren’t very much different. A business is like a sailing ship for ex: the captain steers and the rest of the crew work as a team to get the sails in place. So you don’t need to be a technical wizard and know everything in that field to be able to successfully manage the business. However, you have to know enough so that people can’t fool you.

A person needs to act like a “sponge” when trying to understand the intricacies of business in a different field in a new workplace. I try to follow the “rules” below:
- self-learning
- talking to the employees about their work and learning from them
- listening to work related discussions, even though you can’t contribute much

Finally, do not feel self-entitled to be the “boss” right away. You need to show the employees that you are willing to work just as hard as they are and not just boss them around because your dad owns the business. I have been working for a week and I already feel excited about the work. Sure I don’t have the technical background but running your own business is very rewarding and gets me motivated.

I watched a great documentary on “Who killed the electric car ?” today. It really shows how much power corporate america has over the federal lawmakers. Its amazing how far oil companies and auto makers will go to maintain their control over people’s life and make them slaves to oil. And we as consumers believe what the corporations feed us using their media. Watch it here.