What we can learn from TCP/IP

"I sent you an SMS to let you know I can't do it"

"I didnt get the message"

Time and again we see this common issue arise; sometimes simply as an excuse, but many a time, because the message is locked up in some digital chakravyuh, fighting hard to come out and reach the recipient, but not being allowed to move further due to various types of bandwidth bottlenecks, or because the receipient mobile is not available for that very instant.

Whatever the reason may be, it often leads to misunderstandings, conflict, trust issues and many a time a business loss.

Given that, what I find surprising, is that in typical SMS or eMail communications, how we shy away from responding to the original sender. "THANKS ...MESSAGE RECEIVED" ...

Thats something we must learn from our friend TCP ... the TCP of the TCP/IP fame...the protocol which is responsible for the internet... TCP or the Transmission Control Protocol provides reliable transmission of messages between programs running on 2 different computers. It is the protocol that major Internet applications such as the World Wide Web, email, remote administration and file transfer rely on. And the basic concept behind its reliability is simple ... "Acknowledgment of communication is the key to reliability" ....

On the right is an image showcasing "The 3 way handshake in TCP"


Imagine if we each of us simply responded with an 'OK' to the sender.

It would give us the freedom to believe that if an acknowledgement of some sort is not received, my message was not communicated. Saving us so many misunderstandings, conflicts and losses.

NDNC just got a bit "Smarter"

The National Do Not Call (NDNC) registry is a short sighted solution to the nation's tele-marketing woes. Its strange that in a country built on a pedantic education system, the real life solutions which are implemented never seem to identify educating masses as a possible option. 

Note: to those who implemented the NDNC: your intentions were great; However, its important to look at the impact on Indian business of all types... The fact is that Mass SMS solutions are used not just for Tele Marketing. Since a Bulk SMS plan (primarily for telemarketers) is sold for 5-6 paise per SMS vs a Bulk Priority SMS plan for 50 paise or more per SMS (For Priority SMS which routes around the NDNC), Most Indian firms(primarily SME's) were happily using the former for all their SMS needs: even for critical alerts...Customers usually would demand that decision due to the knowledge that a lower price is possible and most firms would jump at this opportunity to inflate margins; Rashmi Bansal and many others celebrate this spirit and call it "Jugaad"...

Well the NDNC was appreciated at first, but as it went along, it started having detractors. The ones who were affected: All the way from Solution providers, eventually to the ones who wouldn't receive Password change alerts, Medical Appointment Alerts, and so on and so forth became critics of the NDNC. A most interesting and worth mentioning example here is of a "Software Security" Institute which would send the password for newly registered  users via an SMS and since half the nation had parked their numbers into the NDNC these guys would wait endlessly for the SMS ... I found it really silly on the part of this Institute: apparently teaching cutting edge IT Security,  they could'nt take the basic effort to update their systems: Instead they put up disclaimers stating that this is not their fault but that of the govt. :).

But what else does one expect. In India, entrepreneurs and  businessmen are driven by profit rather than anything else. Most Indian Business firms start talking RoI on day 1. The usual plan is to create quick and dirty solutions, as long as they work... and move to quick and dirty solution No. 2. Well getting back to the point, a number of cool firms locked in SMS solutions for their effectiveness and also for the coolness factor involved. The day NDNC came in, these guys were on plan 5 and plan 1 got hit. Most didn't care sadly.

Thankfully, the NDNC solution has been modified and made a bit more flexible and smarter. Now it allows mobile subscribers to register into the NDNC; but also specify their options on industry types do they find worth their time.

One simply has to dial 1909 from the mobile or send an SMS as following:

START [OPTION] and send it to 1909.

There are a number of options to choose from. For example, if you’d like to block all calls and messages, your option code is ‘0’ (ZERO). In this case, you should send an SMS as START 0 to 1909. Other options are:

1. To block all calls and SMS except from Banking/ Insurance/ Financial products/ Credit cards category
2. To block all calls and SMS except from Real estate category
3. Block all calls and SMS except from Education category. Similarly,
4. Allow only health related calls or SMS
5. Allow only consumer goods including automobiles related calls or SMS
6. Allow calls or SMS only from Communication/ broadcast/ Entertainment/ IT related fields
7. Allow calls or SMS only from tourism and Leisure segments.

As an example, to allow calls and SMS's from the Health care Sector and to block everything else

Compose an SMS "START 4" and send to 1909

On an other front, I am happy that more people can benefit from Plus91 's SMS Based Appointment AlertsPrescription Reminders. Further now more patients can take advantage of our Information Therapy Initiatives such as My Fertile Time. 

Micro M2M

MicroM2M, when I heard the name, my first impression was a typical Machine to Machine Application, like the many other available today allowing for SMS based sensor control.
However what I saw, was something very different and a lot more in tune with what I would like M2M to be. Micro M2M is a text messaging service aimed at providing a cheaper alternative to SMS. It allows the sending of Messages, Images as well as Files through the Mobile Phone and uses GPRS as the carrier. Now thats pleasing to the eyes, ears and the pocket. After all who doesnt like to save the buck. Sounds like a Great Idea and a Useful Application. So am gonna download it and lets see how this works out...Will definitely let ya all know of how useful it does turn out to be...

// Nrip Nihalani