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L.N. Revathy

There's more brewing for the mobile phone user, going by what's happening in the telecom scene. Here's a peek into the action.

A PEEK into evolving technology is always fascinating, even if one cannot see how radically it can change the end-user's life subsequently.

Wifin Technologies, for instance, has something brewing that it says can have far-reaching implications for the mobile phone user.

Wifin's technology team leader Paramasivam, or Param as he is called, says the company is leveraging the opportunity provided by the emergence of larger, colour-screen programmable phones and wireless-enabled PDAs (personal digital assistants) to provide a `mobile streamer' service. This service will offer the mobile phone user `live streaming of financial information over wireless networks.' In other words, he can constantly download the market information he needs.

So what is new about being able to access financial information on the mobile phone, you might ask.

Param says streaming technology on a mobile/PDA platform is `new'. It has been there for the desktop, but the challenges in a mobile environment are totally different.

In mobile streaming, the processor power is relatively less when compared to the desktop. The system's memory is limited and the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) capability too is limited because a mobile handset is basically used for messaging information.

With Wifin's mobile streaming in place, says Param, the user will be able to get information online. It will be an online, real-time streaming.

Param says Wifin has worked out a proprietary algorithm to make streaming possible on the mobile telephone and PDAs. "We are waiting for an appropriate time. Once we break the ice, I am confident that this enabling feature in a hand-held device will take off," he says. "If one can keep in touch while on the move, negotiate business, take pictures, why not keep track of market-related information, be it stock, bullion or commodities?"

Param says Wifin decided to pitch into this space as data circuits open tremendous opportunities for streaming data. While the desktop experience is replicated on mobile handsets, here there will be significant data compression. This is because hand-held devices do not enjoy the bandwidth luxury enjoyed by a desktop PC. The user experience, however, will be similar to a desktop solution.

The information module will send out `tick-by-tick' price almost without delay. Alerts can be set up with conditionality and it will be possible to have the chart as well.

The technology will be made available on all platforms - Microsoft Windows CE.Net, Symbian and J2ME/Brew (common in the US).

According to Param, the competing solution is the Reuters Paging service, which has been the most popular device. "But the paging method induces a 60 to 90 seconds delay. It can stream out only limited instruments since it uses the broadcast method. Again, paging service requires additional device, the customisation is limited and so is the geography. That is not so in mobile telephony or PDAs," claims Param.

If these announcements are any indication of what the industry has in store, mobile phones are all set to pack that much more. And more's definitely merrier, says the user.

lnr@thehindu.co.in

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