Regulatory Move On Domain Centric Security – Perquisite Of BYOD Adoption In India

01:12:00
The dynamic nature of mobility space in last few years created lots of buzz. At one end, the unimaginable surge of Apple promoted iOS mobile operating system (OS) based mobile device, Google promoted Android mobile operating centric devices whereas on the other end the demise of Motorola, Nokia device business sellout, Blackberry problems. The dynamic changes in the mobile operating system attached device ecosystem offered Enterprises new opportunity to opt for newer mobile OS powered packed with innovative feature set to access corporate data. The adoption of iOS and Android mobile OS based devices by Enterprise also brought another frontier to play with transition from Blackberry ecosystem as well as opportunities for innovative companies to come up with new products, services or Applications around new ecosystem.


India experienced unprecedented adoption of Android mobile operating system based device adoption and captured defunct Symbian operating system space which used to be dominating the marketplace. The open source Android mobile OS attracted many domestic device players into ring which propelled adoption by increasing efficient manufacturing and delivery mechanism. The rise in low cost Smartphone also attracted Android Application ecosystem players to offer both horizontal and vertical application targeted towards consumer and prosumer’s.

The iOS mobile OS attached Apple device also gained traction in India with adoption of subsidy route by most of the service provider to tap in high net worth Indian mobile users as post paid user to increase their ARPU. Blackberry BB10 mobile OS lost market share in India but still regarded as first priority choice it comes to Enterprise prosumer’s. Enterprise prosumer’s adoption levels are also changing and they want to have single device which fulfill both consumer and prosumer centric requirements.


Post Mobile Value Added Service regulation enforcement by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), mobile VAS providers are required to take mobile subscriber authorization before pushing any paid applications or product or service. The mechanism of double consent impacted mobile VAS ecosystem players and the monthly activation of mobile VAS went down in high double digit month over month. It is also expected that the legacy mobile VAS service would experience further erosion in user adoption and subsequently revenue fall.

The disruption in legacy mobile VAS service and focus in data centric service by mobile service providers attracted many new and existing mobile VAS developers. The low entry barrier for new Smartphone users, content portability by Enterprise for mobile ecosystem, plug and transfer mechanism of mobility ecosystem pushing Enterprise Mobility ecosystem in new horizon. Most of the Enterprises are contemplating to offer their internal and external clients mechanism to access product portfolio, tracking, product feedback and mechanism to capture new business opportunities. The major problem attached with low adoption of Enterprise mobility in India is nothing but content digitization, interoperability, portability, availability, reachability, scalability and security.

Recent regulatory as well as IT department initiative on Cyber security, Malware free Network equipment, Equipment hosting, Lawful intercept is going to have major positives for many Enterprise to adopt enterprises application on multiple OS supported devices. The malware free network equipment is going to filter unwarranted malware used to spoof user information and lead to hacking. The mobile security at device level is going to develop internal filtrations to keep the device free from any eavesdropping and in-turn remove the possibility of being used as mobility device Botnet by hacker to launch( denial of service) DoS, ( Distributed denial of service) DDoS and many other attacks on Enterprise servers. The lawful intercept regulation is going to offer Enterprise to have more confidence on Lawful agency to take care of any misuse of Enterprise assets for any unlawful activities. The stringent security regulatory guideline around BFSI sector possess new opportunity for BYOD adoption as mobile commerce, banking are on the rise. The enablement of security regulation to mitigate any adware, malware and phishing attack would open more BYOD user’s adoption of new horizontal and vertical application. It would also give higher level of confidence to Enterprise segment to connect their database with device hosted applications to enable user, employee and partner to retrieve, update centralized information management system real-time.

The servers including database hosting requirements as well as support regulation defined by government regulator where application providers are bound to keep mobile user information within Indian Territory. The implementation of above mentioned compliance will enable Service Providers to have higher visibility on data protection, transit, interoperability, portability; SLA which is going ease out stringent process to get BYOD registered with Enterprise owned IT infrastructure. Blackberry initiative to support cross mobile OS applications would act as change catalyst for higher adoption of Enterprise mobility. One can only hope that Indian BYOD adoption is going to witness exponential growth post adoption of above mentioned regulatory enforcement. It is going to hurt ecosystem players financially to comply with regulatory guideline but it also carries multiple cascading positives.

Indian Mobile Users Are Struggling To Protect Privacy From Unsolicited Commercial Communications By Illegal Mobile Marketing Companies

01:10:00
In recent years, Indian mobility subscribers are getting lots of support from regulators. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) came out with multiple regulatory guidelines such as Mobile Number Portability (MNP), Mobile Value Added Service (MVAS) amendments, National Consumer Preference Registry (NCPR), Unsolicited Commercial Communications (UCC), and Roaming to enhance mobile user Quality of Service experience.

Continuous attempt by TRAI met strong resistance from service providers’ community as said regulations were considered by them as direct interference into their strategic and tactical business directions. TRAI managed to enforce mobile user friendly regulation and in-turn service providers invested millions of Dollars in the form of Capex as well as Opex without any direct revenue generation opportunity.

The implemented regulations intentions were considered by many analysts as milestone step by regulators to protect mobility users. Post Unsolicitated commercial communication (UCC) regulation, mobile user can initiate complaint against Telemarketing violating mobile subscriber’s privacy. If mobile subscribers registered themselves with National Consumer Preference Register (NCPR) by calling or sending request to 1909, then mobile subscribers would be entitled to escalate to regulatory bodies in case of their privacy violations. Mobile subscribers must remember that complaint must be done within 3 days of privacy violations. Mobile subscribers must take service request ticket number in order to make sure that their complaint or NCPR registration request are captured with service provider system. For NCPR registration activation implementation timeline is 7 working days whereas complaint resolution against unwarranted SMS or calls takes 7 days. Service providers verify complaint against mobile subscriber choice of NCPR. In case of the violation illegal Telemarketers receive notice as well as revocation of their telemarketer license. In case of complaint against Telemarketer using 10 digit mobile number instead of number starting with 140, regulatory impose heavy penalty and the owner of mobile number won’t be able take new number for two years.
In reality the enforced regulation somehow failed to impact the illegal mechanism to obtain mobility user information and use that information for mobile marketing activities. Generally, illegal Telemarketers manages to receive mobile user database from many sources where mobile users visits and register as web user and start executing mobile marketing call without any fear of regulation. Recently, TRAI even sent stern warning to BFSI sector to use defined practices to reach out to mobility user by adhering regulatory framework.



In practice many Enterprise are using bulk SMS mechanism through outsourced model to Telemarketing companies to reach out to mobility user in order to increase awareness about their existing or new products. Many illegal entities started feeling the pain of enforced regulation and even their business model were threatened given the high cost of mobile marketing including higher termination charges imposed by mobile service provider. In order to maintain their flagging profitability, many mobile marketing companies started taking contract from different sectors and started making unsolicited commercial call or sending SMS using 10 digit mobile numbers. By using existing user database which was developed over a period of time, Mobile marketing companies started procuring bulk voice as well as SMS plan based SIM and subsequently reduced their cost model drastically.

In order to further enhance their business, many illegal mobile marketing companies skipped standard process set by TRAI and also flooded service providers’ network with low revenue generating traffic. The new process inflicted major revenue leakage at service provider level and government also losing billions of Dollars. In order to safeguard business interest, Indian mobility user’s privacy was compromised and it is continuing unabated. None of the warnings or print media highlights being ignored by regulation offenders. The current penalty system defined by TRAI is too lenient for such companies as they are only interested in user data. On being slapped penalties, such companies close their shutter and open new companies. The loosely coupled regulation misses’ mechanism inclusion where service providers must be accountable to create awareness among Indian mobility users to enable them escalate the violation of their privacy with concerned regulatory bodies.



Indian mobility users placed in such an environment where most of them are not even aware that what rights they carry to protect their privacy. One can only conclude that “When Indian Mobility Users will get their due respect of their privacy”. Mobile subscribers must initiate escalation process to send across strong signal to illegal telemarketers and help mobile service providers as well as government to offer privacy, security to broader mobile subscriber base.

Indian Telecom Sector Non-Focus Towards Consumer Awareness- May Hurt Business Prospects

01:09:00
Indian Telecom sector is facing tough time for the last 3 years and is expected to experience reduced level of tough business environment. Telecom service providers blamed regulatory un-certainty for tough business environment and lack of product adoption by Mobile Subscribers but that is partially correct. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and Department of Telecommunication (DoT) India must be appreciated for coming out with mobile subscriber centric and supportive regulation such as Mobile Number Portability (MNP), Mobile Value Added Services (MVAS) and its amendment, Roaming and many more.

Indian regulator were forced to take such a drastic move as mentioned above post multiple and continuous reporting from media and mobile subscribers of unwarranted activation of services, billing and lack of customer support. Regulators moves were focused to bring in competitiveness among Mobile Service Providers and thus to bring back focus on service or network Quality of Service in order to retain or acquire new mobile subscriber. The current Telecom environment and its competitiveness are closely knitted with services or products which are influenced by enforced regulatory to the maximum level.
It raises a simple query that
  • How many Mobile Subscribers are aware about their rights?
  • How many of Mobile Subscribers are aware about the process of activate or deactivate any VAS services?
  • How many Mobile Subscribers are aware about the process to escalate Unsolicitated commercial communications violating their privacy?
  • How many Mobile Subscribers are aware about process to escalate billing related concerns to their service providers as well as to regulators?
Based on survey (1500 Mobile Subscribers), the results were shocking as less than 1% were aware of process and generic answer were that we try to get it resolve through customer care and being charged for the same.

Somehow, Somewhere Mobile Service Providers are still missing the link of getting connected directly with Mobile users. Mobile Service Providers analyzed any product or service or application adoptions based on the said offerings activation factor but they must realize that it is difficult to analyze a particular product success when multiple products are hosted and mobile users are not aware.

In most of the new product launch, 6 are going for broadcast messaging to all active MVAS user base or print media such as newspapers or TV advertisement. Mobile Service Providers at an average spend around 5% of their total revenue in ad spend but at the same time they failed to create an awareness among mobile subscribers which focuses on mobile subscriber rights. Different Mobile Service Providers are offering multiple toll free numbers as well as message formats to retrieve automated information for mobile subscribers. Most of the Mobile subscribers don’t remember those toll free numbers or finds it hard to replicate the message format to retrieve information but are forced to rely on Customer Care.


Isn’t it true that, there is “NO” print media or TV communications from Mobile Service Providers creating awareness about mobile subscribers daily Telecom related problem such as product performance, activation /deactivation request, and billing issue. Mobile Service Providers argue that they are running customer care (CC) and also advertise their customer care number through multiple medium. It raises another query around consumer awareness through print media, campaign management and TV advertisement for above mentioned issue. How many times, any mobile subscribers have seen any print media awareness program regarding MVAS, MNP, Roaming and Billing?

The Subscriber feels helpless post continuous attempt to launch simple complaint. It triggered negative response from subscriber to subscribe or renew new mobile value added services such as music, ringtone, Infotainment post double consent enforcement under MVAS regulation amendment. Under double consent regime, service providers must take mobile subscriber consent before charging subscriber for any services or products. The recent drastic fall in MVAS activation and exponential rise in MVAS deactivation is nothing but early warning system. The telecom ecosystem players must realize that it’s not regulation but lack of offered value attached with offered value added service or lack of awareness about offered services or products.

Indian Mobile Service Providers do not have an alternative but to improve on consumer awareness program without fearing that awareness is going to create an environment where mobile subscribers will be deactivating already running services or product but instead of that it will attract many new mobile subscribers to adopt existing or new services.


The further delay in adopting proactive approach towards Mobile subscriber awareness program by Mobile Service Provider will have cascading impact on Telecom ecosystem players. They would be rest assured that in any circumstance their concerns would be resolved on the fly and that is going to trigger higher adoption of new or existing services or products.

In my point of view, the current state of Indian Telecom Sector offer highest level of opportunities for innovative proposition to bring back rapid eroding value added subscriber base.

Microsoft Owned Nokia Devices Most Likely To Lose 2nd Spot In Indian Device Market By Q3, 2014

22:52:00
The recently published IDC report on Indian Mobile Market flashes many hidden happenings which is going to unfold in next 6 months. It’s encouraging that Nokia came back to top 5 players of Smartphone with average monthly shipment of 350K cornering 6% of Smartphone market. Prior to Nokia Device acquisition by Microsoft, Microsoft played smart move by using Nokia as vehicle to launch Android Smartphone to recapture lost ground and they succeeded a bit. Given the released shipment and timing of their Android enabled Smartphone clearly indicate that the adoption was lukewarm.


In the meantime, their Feature Phone shipment went down drastically and that impacted their overall device market share which is currently at 13%. Interestingly, domestic player’s calibrated focus on both Smartphone and Feature Phone brought them in striking distance to claim 2nd position in Indian device market.

Post Microsoft acquisition, their consumer campaign turned to focus technological superiority and highlight prosumer benefits such as document editing and all. They missed to capture that those target segment is already captured by iPhone and Samsung high end devices.


With the growth reviving and Nokia Chennai plant taxation issue will limit them to continue procuring device from the plant and would be forced to procure it from their manufacturing plant or partners located in APAC region. It is going to squeeze their operating margin as Nokia device segment major strength in Feature phone market is very low end devices where domestic player are positioning their products aggressively. In my point of view, Microsoft owned Nokia device is going to lose their 2nd spot very soon and I feel that Q3, 2014 Mobile tracker will show that. I would not be surprised that if that happen in Q2 only.

I strongly believe that Microsoft should change their strategy for Indian Mobile sector if any way they are willing to recapture Nokia lost glory and brand.

Indian Smartphone Shipment May Cross 100 Million in 2014

23:55:00

Recently, CMR and IDC came out with very different Smartphone shipment figure for Q1,14. All newspapers published IDC report today and brought cheer for many domestic Smartphone players. Many raises concern about falling feature phone shipment and put the blame squarely on falling Smartphone price point. In my point of view, Smartphone growth in India is still to come and expecting blowout quarter in second half of year. The recent months observed that all leading device manufacturers started flooding feature filled 3G device under $150 and high specifications premium Smartphone in the range of $250. The drastic fall in price point is going to propel the adoption of data centric device and thanks to Mobile operators for their changed goal of data centric product launches. The report highlighted that overall device shipment fall of 10% Q-o-Q and in one way indicating that India is shifting towards Smartphone.


I would like to highlight that the economic environment in India worsened at the start of 2014 and thanks to high CPI, WPI and high unemployment rate coupled with political uncertainty. The downturn in economy impacted the rural India the most and reduced the buying capacity of user. I strongly believe that post certain policy clarity and subsequent investment by Corporate is going to help generate jobs and will have cascading impact on India gadget buyers.

In my point of view, IDC projection of 80.57 million by year end is on the conservative side. I believe that with the economic revival on anvil as all indicators are positive side coupled with low price point offering from all major Smartphone player is going to attract new as well as replacement market. Needless to say that India will definitely observe spike in feature phone shipment too. The expected bumper Q3, 14 holiday season will help India cross 100 million Smartphone shipment milestones. The trend is good news for budget and feature rich device manufacturer whereas will put margin pressure on global players.

How Education May Change Tagline In India – Everyone Must Contribute – Tushar Singhal

23:50:00
In India, more than 90% of children get admitted into primary schools but in due course 40% of them opt out due to multiple social thresholds and financial problems. The education system of India in turn supports only 54% children and enables them the ladder to achieve literacy but this 54% comprises of only 34% girls & 54% boys.


The dismal figure exists even after the government is spending 3% of its GDP as well as charging education cess from taxpayers to promote education among households which cannot afford to send their kids to schools. The figure itself raises multiple queries around Indian education system and it’s hierarchy of achieving right to education law passed by law of land. Some of the basic but non avoidable systems are not being taken care off and they are:

  • Non availability of basic hygiene.
  • Very Low to Non Existent Infrastructure especially in rural India.
  • Lack of Qualified Instructors and Non-Availability of funds for Upgrading the Mechanism of Information Transfer To Students.
  • The Focus on students is minimal as the Average Teacher :: Student Ratio is around 1:40 and in some of the non developed states it goes as low as 1:80.
  • Lack of focus by school authorities to offer indirect intelligence enhancement tools to students to increase their IQ factor.
  • Lack of promotions by government authorities to procure latest hardware and software to make students well versed with the same.

In order to solve the above problems, Government promoted private sectors to open School and Colleges to increase the literacy at all levels but it backfired as private sectors always look to open such centers in locations which carry capital benefits and this forced me to believe that creating a few more schools or allowing hundreds of colleges and private universities to mushroom is not going to solve the crisis of education in India. Education system in India is failing because of more intrinsic reasons.


The core issue of Indian education system lies in teaching methodologies and missing link of knowledge transfer at every level as opposed to teaching skills. The difference between Indian education system compared with that of developed countries revolves around memorizing vs practical based learning wherein developed countries focus on the latter part.

In any scenario, if the government and also the citizen of India would like to have a better future then Indian education system must be overhauled from root with major focus on achieving end product instead of announcing programs and subsidy.

It’s always easy for everyone to raise questions but what exactly being citizens of India are we doing for our potential future as well as generation? Here are some of the recommendations I am proposing which I am following as well in order to contribute towards my homeland

  • Funding one child’s education in one’s neighborhood such as the driver’s, maid’s or anyone’s kid. In India, there are 43 million taxpayers and if even 50% of the taxpayers opt for the same then more than 20 Mn children will get education and in future will turn out to be major contributors. The individual opting for such activities can be promoted with tax breaks.
  • There are more than 7.5 Mn SMB/SME in India and they should come forward and fund 10 students’ education and in turn get tax breaks from government. It will simply put more than 70 plus million children back to school.
  • It is being observed that many Indians are opting for gadget exchange program to buy new gadgets. It is advisable that one should also try to gift the same to children who need the same to increase awareness about new technologies.
  • Its widely known that many NGOs are involved which get government funds to increase benefits of education in remote rural India but it must be tagged with commitment vs. delivery model.
  • It is also advisable that Public school students must be allowed to access Private school labs and other infrastructure which inturn will convert Indian education system into Common schooling with no disparity among masses and classes.
  • And many more suggestions can be given but I believe that if all of us start taking the first step then the major change will come automatically.
Although India has already shown its skills in ITIL sector but it must adopt the changing environment around the world in order to be competitive and for that all of us must focus towards giving the right approach to society. One can earn millions but satisfaction really comes when one does something which brings cheers on many faces. Just imagine if we can make one kid successful it is going to bring happiness and prosperity to the whole family. The initiative is not only going to improve the literacy but also bring out millions of Indians out of poverty. This is the time to make the move. So together let’s begin.