Byte Back

Value addition, truly

Dear Sir,

Congratulations on the forex software article on Madura Coats,''Cut your coat to the currency'' by Bharat Kumar, which appeared in eWorld dated November 28.

The article made for very interesting reading. It was a ''value-adding'' one since the reporter had obviously spent some time and effort in understanding the domain by meeting with experts in that area.

Basically, I learnt something new from the piece.

''Value-adding'' pieces are opposed to the ''value-subtracting'' pieces that we come across so often - by reporters/writers who have zero personal experience in that area and generally fill up column space by typing out random thoughts (often inspired by items they read in foreign magazines).

As a reader, these pieces waste my time and money - and I hate that!!

Keep up the value-adding work...

Arun Natarajan, Chennai

An eye-opener

Dear Sir,

I read with great interest the article ''Going grey with gusto'' by G. Rambabu in eWorld dated October 31, 2001. The article, which dealt with mobile phones in the grey market, was an eye-opener. I am interested in getting more information regarding the sourcing of these phones. I mean where do these ''duty free'' shops get their supply from? And in turn, where do their suppliers get their supply from? I think if anyone were to know the source of this and how the chain works, it would definitely help towards a clearer understanding of how these people operate.

Ritesh Purohit

BPL Mobile Cellular Ltd

Dear Reader,

Thanks for your response. Regarding your query, this is exactly what the mobile manufacturers have been asking the Government to do. To locate the sourcing of the ''grey'' phones and plug the loopholes. And also to impose severe penalties on the smugglers.

Unfortunately for them, however, the Government is yet to publicly announce that it is serious about stopping the inflow of smuggled mobiles into the country.