After struggling with BSNL customer service for a long time, I am out now. I have a reliance netconnect again. This time its cheaper and better. Like any early adopter I had a netconnect in 2008. It was expensive, slow and had struggle to connecting on Linux. No wonder my tutorial got page views. I stopped using their service in 2009.

This time around it was easier. I had to connect to a windows PC (to download linux installer which wasn’t view-able on Linux for some reason) and copy the files off USB modem/drive :(

Install it on my Ubuntu. Then just run the executable and I am connected. That was easy.

Software is available online on Huawie software downloads page as well or you can download it from my personal backup.

Good to see device manufacturers supporting Linux OS officially at last.

For last six months I have been collecting the data about my internet usage on phone. I was doing this to decide on data plan. This is related to only the data usage on cellular networks and not on WIFI. Its 2G only and was captured using 3G watch Dog.

What does data say?
Daily average (both upload and Download) : 16.4 MB
Monthly average (both upload and Download): 492 MB
Heavy usage day: Thursday (27.6 MB)
Least usage day: Tuesday (11.6)

Conclusion:
I use way less than I thought. I will continue using the same plan. I don’t need any upgrades.

Data visualizations was done using manyeyes matrix chart. Click here or on the image above to interact.

Pibb is a great way to communicate online, it brings together the familiarity of forums, power of blogs, flexibility of email and convenience of instant messaging in one browser window. All messages are delivered in real time, then archived automatically for later search/viewing. This feature set makes Pibb ideal as a communication back-channel for conferences, for use as a support tool, or for community based private/public discussions

I have been using Pibb last two days. Even though Pibb has not picked up in terms number of users. It has the capability and features. It could be a great support tool. It can be used to support your open source software or service. Or it can be used to give one to one suggestions. If not anything it could be used as online meeting too. It has the search and save functionality.

More over it is Open Id enabled. Which means if you have a wordpress.com or AOL or livejournal.com url. Then you can just login and start communicating. It has Pibb me functionality for one to one communication.

Here is very good presentation by Simon about OpenId. It explains everything about OpenId a common user should know. Its big but very simple and direct.

You must be tired of using multiple IM clients to chat with your friends on multiple systems. If you had already known about unified IM software you would have used Trillian , GAIM or Pidgin etc. They all are installable softwares. What if you wanted to carry them on your CD or USB. You either need to go to Gaim portable or Easy Message. Easy Message of just 200kb is the smallest IM client. You can carry it even on a floppy disk (??).

The features include

• MSN style status bar notifications
• Supports ICQ, Yahoo, MSN and AOL
• POP3 mail notifications
• sound notifications
• hotmail integration
• proxy/firewall support
• international character support
• automatically import your accounts contacts and groups
• saving groups and contact list

It does not support Gtalk or Jabber. That just one -ve point. Otherwise its most suitable application to have on you USB drive.

Easy Message | Features | Download