Finally, Giesecke & Devrient contributes to Android!

Well, after some months of work, G&D has finally gone public on the project that it was developing on Android platform. As can be checked in the press release the contribution consists on code that enables any Android based phone with a microSD card slot (all of them, for the time being) to use a special microSD with a SmartCard embedded on it (check more info about the Mobile Security Card) to deploy security enhanced applications with the use of hardware Security Elements.
But this is only a start point as, it can be checked in this document, several SE may be added in the future... so if you have a good idea or want to work on that project just visit the Google Code page of the Secure Element Evaluation Kit (SEEK)!!

My new Dell Mini 9

Finally I did it and bought a fancy Dell Mini: 9? screen, 8Gb SSD and 1Gb RAM, accompanied by a megapixel Webcam, Bluetooth and Wifi connectivity and running Windows XP. What about WWAN? No way, the standard model from Dell website comes without one. Not only it comes without the Mini-PCI card but also lacks of the slot. I bought it barely used through eBay and it was a big deal for 170 euros. At the same time I bought a WWAN card for it, that cost me around 100 euros, before knowing that the Dell Mini had not the Mini-PCI slot. Now I know and what is more important, I know how to install one on the Wifi slot and connect an embedded USB Wifi on it. You can check how on this video.

So, once I realized I could not install the WWAN card on my Dell Mini I had to sell the card. Fortunately I did it for almost the price I paid for it, so now I am looking for the suitable WWAN card that may fit inside my Mini's back. Why do I want 3G connectivity? Well, I have used 3G external USB modems for some time with my laptop, and it was great, but with the Mini I can not imagine sitting on the train with the tiny netbook connected to an external modem. It breaks all the aesthetics of the Mini and most of the times I would forget the modem at home. As I commented some time ago I use a Simyo connection when I am traveling for pleasure, so I need an unlocked WWAN card in order to configure it to work with my Simyo. The other possibility I am considering is buying a Huawei e156 USB Modem and try to take the cover out, sold the USB PINs to the corresponding of the Mini-PCI slot and put it all under the back cover of the Mini. As soon as I have more info on the solution I will post it here.

The use of the Mini is great, it fits everywhere, weights around 1 kilo and the charger is slightly bigger of one of a mobile phone. For me this is an important point because if you have a 1 kilo netbook but the charger weights half a kilo it loses part of its sense! The battery performs well, although it does not reach the announced 4 hours, it is enough for a 3h+ flight from Tenerife to Barcelona. As you can check on the image it is great to work with it on the plane (even if you don't fly business ;-) ) so is ideal to bring it anywhere.

Malthus

I've been more than a month without posting and although I would have liked to write something more about the MWC all the travels and social compromises refrained me to do so.
I would like to write, nevertheless, about something that appeared in a conversation in one of my last business trips. It was about the present financial crisis and its relationship with the energy crisis. The argument was that as our hunger for oil and other resources is so big and our wastes would need three planets to be naturally degradated, we are facing the end of our economic and technological progress.
My point was that this is actually what was pointed by Malthus: The catastrophe in front of a peak on demand and scarcity of resources. Malthusian theories demonstrated wrong because they did not take into account one endogenous factor, i.e. Technological progress.
It is right that we have a problem of scarcity with the present resources and that this trend is not sustainable in the long run, but the solution is not stopping the wheel from spinning, but invest in research and apply an economic rationallity to the resources and reflex in its price the actual costs of consuming these resources.

From a Physics perspective we have not reach in any way the limit of energy consumption nor of space occupied: Only a small fraction of the energy that comes from the sun would be necessary to supply the present energy needs and vast areas of the earth remain deserted.
This does not mean that things will get on track alone and we have to do nothing. We have a tough task in front of us, but if we realize of the importance of the problem and strongly believe that altogether we can find a solution, it will come.

Mobile World Congress 2009, Barcelona

It is again here. The MWC 2009, the Congress of the Crisis, starts tomorrow. Today I have been in the booth as to check that everything was working correctly and I had a first impression of what was going in there. A lot of workers setting up the stands and changes in the presence of some exhibitors.
I will be in the G&D booth (Hall 8, Stand 8B65) these days and will try to meet as many people as I can and get first hand information of the industry. Forecasts say that there will be a fall in the number of visitors and also in the days of stay. Hope they are not very big and the Congress and the Exhibition keep the leading role they have in the Industry.
On the organisation, unfortunately this year was not included along the badge the four day ticket to use the public transportation system. Hope it is the only reduction in the reasonably good job that was done in the previous years and that the congress is celebrated here for some more years.

I will keep posting on the results from the MWC2009!

New Apollo Program

Some days ago I read in the Time magazine that Obama is really committed to start a New Apollo Program related to achieving for the US energetic independence. This is a Kennedy's size program and I really agree that a superpower like the US must be involved in any big achievement regarding this topic in the present time.
Europeans are really committed to the ITER initiative to find an alternative to Oil in Nuclear Fusion. The US has also relationship with this project but I see the approach of the US more broad. I guess that several different approaches will be established in the first times, then select two or three of them, the most promising, and progress them to final stages. Just then will be a bet for only one of them, but once it is seen its final viability.

And all this in a 10 years time frame. I think that this is fairly possible and it could bring two things to the present world: An objective to fight for in turmoil times and a long term solution to Oil dependence. I am sure it will not mean ending with Oil, oil is useful for several applications, but it can reduce the widespread presence of it. An in times of economic crisis public investment and spend is capital to find the way out.

Related to this today I found an interesting video in youtube on conmuting in DC...



Bravo Obama!

Tele2 (and Telefónica)

Last Wednesday, when I arrived home my Internet service was down. As I received an SMS from Tele2 informing that I should install the router once I lose my ADSL connection, I connected my new router. Of course, it did not work. A tried to go back and put my old ADSL router, but it did not work either. Not even the phone.
So it finally happened. I was without ADSL connection at home. Luckily, I own a Simyo card and thus I am not without Internet connection, although the pure 3G connections was a bit slow. The fact is that it is quite inconvenient to pay for a service and not to receive it.
Thursday morning I called Tele2 and they told me that this is an illegal practice by Telefonica and that I should complain because I should receive my former service until I am switched to the new one... I decided not to do so and loose hours hung of the phone talking with a telephone operators that has not too many possibilities to help me and just hope that, as promised when I signed for the Tele2 service, in 25 days I would have my ADSL service up.
Finally, on Saturday morning I received the redemptive SMS informing that my ADSL service was activated. I connected the router and started browsing!!
My happiness was short because when I did a speed test the results were not very impressive. The connection is more or less performing like the 3Mb line I had with Telefonica as can be seen in the following test results.



It improves the upload speed, that for the 3Mb "Duo" was of 320Kbps, but the download speed is more or less the same. The promised bandwidth in the Tele2 offer was 20Mbps, I was sure this was not been going to be achieved, but I expected a connection speed of around 8Mb.
The conditions of the DSL connection are not bad:

noise margin downstream: 15 db
noise margin upstream: 17 db
attenuation downstream: 39 db
attenuation upstream: 26 db

And following this article the connection should achieve ~11Mb.

So, to conclude this series of posts, a summary.

The timeline has been:
1st of October 2008 at 23:50. Started the migration process in the Tele2 website and received an email of confirmation stating that the process would take around 25 days.
6th of October 2008 at 19:36 Received an SMS stating that the process was already started and I would receive the Wifi Router at home in brief.
7th of October Received a letter with the contract inside to be returned to Tele2.
8th of October Returned it signed.
20th of October Received the Router package at home and an SMS informing that I have to connect and installed it when my present service goes down.
22nd of October Lose the Telefonica service
23rd of October I call Tele2 to complaint because the lost of service. They inform me that it has not been yet activated.
25th of October at 08:40 I received a SMS saying that my service is up. I connect the modem and it works!!

Indeed, 24 days after requesting the service I had my service up and running!
Speed is not impressive, but it overperforms my previous service with Telefonica.
Price is the most competitive offer out there. It halves my previous payments to Telefonica.

So, I think that the change has been good... and will work to improve the speed complaining to Tele2... to be continued ;-)

Tele2 (II)

Today I have received the Wifi Router and the documentation for the setting up of my new Internet connection. Not so bad, 19 days after the request via the website. Anyhow, I have not received any call from my present provider, Telefonica, as to make me a counteroffer... I thought I would receive such a call as I received it when I was switching from Movistar to Vodafone in my mobile phones service.
As the planned timeline to switch was 25 days I expect to receive the SMS indicating that the service has been successfully started withing 6 days...

Tele2

Some days ago I started the process of changing my present Internet Service Provider. I was receiving this service from Telefónica, but after more than one year (the minimum time you have to be with them after a "free" installation of a fixed line) and the announcement that the 3Mb ADSL only would be upgraded to the 6Mb service after paying for the Antivirus service, even if you do not need it, I decided to quit from Telefónica and move to another provider. My election has been Tele2. It is quite a competitive offer, 29,9? for 20Mb ADSL without fixed line support. It cuts my present spending with Telefónica by a half, as I am paying around 62? for a 3Mb ADSL, fixed line and national calls for free. As I do not need a fixed number as I do not use it anymore I guess that is a great offer. Actually I am able to pay the ADSL, the Vodafone Mobile broadband and half my mobile bill for the same I was paying for a 3Mb ADSL formerly. Tele2 has not been a very valued ISP, but I guess that the recent acquisition by Vodafone will give them a better service for the customers. Additionally I expect a good offer for a dual or triple play service soon.

I must say that I have not the service already activated, but I will leave track of the process in the Blog as to be helpful to other users doing the same path.

I started the migration process in the Tele2 website on the 1st of October 2008 at 23:50. I received an email of confirmation stating that the process would take around 25 days.
On the 6th of October 2008 at 19:36 I received an SMS stating that the process was already started and I would receive the Wifi Router at home in brief.
Today, 7th of October, I have received a letter with the contract inside to be returned to Tele2. I will return it signed tomorrow.

Well, up today this is everything I have to say... will continue, hope so!!

From Palm Vx to Nokia N95. First Round

I have been evaluating what I am actually using on the Palm Vx and thus I would like to continue working on the N95. Beside applications like TinySheet or Adobe Reader, that I eventually used but were "optional" applications, the main functions and features I need and like are:

• Contacts
• Categories
• Search
• Notes
• Notes
• Categories
• Confidential Records
• Calendar-Agenda
• Repeating Events
• History
• Synchronisation
• ToDo
• Categories

I will start by the first, contacts. Of course, is the natural first application you use of your mobile phone. The thing I like most from the Palm application was the possibility to distinguish between categories (Personal, Professional, Restaurants...), to be able to search by any field, just clicking on the search button and finally the possibility to add notes linked to the contacts.

From my first exploration of the possibilities, I am able to export from the Palm Desktop software the contacts in vCard format version 2.1 (.vcf files). Then, I import them directly in the Contacts manager of the PC Suite and just synchronize with the handset. It imports successfully all the fields that I have defined in my contacts but unfortunately it is not able to manage the categories and I although I have found a good way to search the contacts, it does not look for all the fields (for instance the email).
The only workaround I have found for the categories issue is to use groups of contacts to distinguish them, but they are not backed up so this information is lost afterwards when synchronizing.
I must recognize that the search is fast enough and that the contacts manager of the PC Suite is nice, but the Palm Desktop way of managing contacts is quite better!!!

Palm 1 - Nokia 0. I will continue investigating...

My new N95

I have just acquired a Nokia N95. It cost me around 180? and a contract for 18 months with my present provider (Vodafone). I think it is a good deal as although it is a year old handset, it is still considered one of the best from Nokia. Anyhow, the path to this phone is quite long.

First of all I must declare that I was an Anti-Nokia guy. I do not like the brands that achieve a big market share because they usually have not very good behaviors. This way of thinking was also propelled by a disastrous Nokia 6288 that drove me crazy for a long time, with frequents restarts and things that never worked. Finally, some months ago, I was given a brand new 6120c by my friend. I was skeptical but it was an affordable HSDPA enabled phone and it served as a device for connecting to Internet when traveling with my laptop. I reserved it to this only use, but the continuous problems that the 6288 gave me forced me to start using the 6120c as an everyday phone. Then I discovered the Opera Mini browser, the Symbian s60 OS, the easiness of use... and I became a convert. But, there is always a but, then I spend some holidays in Portlligat and I was take a picture with my feed in the water and my hand in my pocket. The problem was that when I took the hand out of the pocket the 6120c came with it and fall into the Mediterranean...

So, I had to acquire a phone. I am an old user of a Palm Vx. I bought it more than 8 years ago and I have been using it because is the only PDA that I have found reliable and usable. I have tried some Windows-based and they have never convinced me to make the switch. I had and iPhone for some time and although I found it really usable and of a superb design and performance, the fact that it was a proprietary system really dislikes me. So, after the positive feedback from the Symbian S60 and the need to join the PDA into a phone, I decided for the N95 because the affordable price. The only thing that rests unsolved, by the moment, is the text entry question. With the Palm Vx I was used to the graffity writing, so, when I had to enter data I just wrote it down the screen. For longer uses I had a foldable keyboard that was also very helpful. The N95 has not touchscreen and the only fast way to write data is to tap it with the predictive software. Notwithstanding I am trying to get a Bluetooth foldable keyboard for when I am traveling.

I will try to analyze and describe the migration steps in the blog as if it is useful for future users doing the same step.

Israel

These days I am on a business travel in Israel. I must say that I have become a converted. I really find this country interesting and that its people is doing a hard work in order to get along. For sure, there are things I do not like about "the problem" but this young country is able to show the rest of the world incredible things, like how in 20 years they have formed the most wealthy region of startup and technology (IT, security and bio) enterprises. For sure there are some things to change, and to regret, but I am optimistic about it. Hope to come back some more times and show how this economically flourishing country becomes the flourishing of democracy in Middle East.

Magic Black Box

As I previously introduced, for the Austrian last business travel I prepared a device as to impress my colleagues ;-) From this aim resulted the Magic Black Box, also known as I.M.W.V.S. (Integrated Mobile-Webcam Visualization System) :-D. Is basically a device to display in a computer screen a Mobile Handset display. It is useful to beam this screen and make live demos with big audiences.

In the following picture you can have and idea of the external look of the MBB.



Here a screenshot of how a beamed screen would look like.



Components

There two main components for building this device:

* Lifecam VX-3000
* Cardboard Box

The webcam original look



The displaying software and webcam features can be found at the Microsoft Website

The original cardboard box look



Assembly



This is the camera with its base unscrewed as to reduce the volume occupied. Note that there is a piece at the bottom of the camera, where the screw was attached, that may be used to pin the camera vertical if a suitable hole is done at the bottom of the cardboard box.



This is the cardboard support as to keep the camera fixed even when the box is moved.



These are views of the situation of the camera inside the box. The clips in the sides are removable so if the box must be transported unfolded it is easy and fast to unmount it.



These slits are where the folding handset is put in. They are, of course, in the side in front of the camera.




Final views of the present Magic Black Box configuration with a folding handset. Note the hole to pass the webcam USB cable by.
Further Developments
It would be quite interesting to improve it allowing to suit different handsets thant the folding ones!!!

The social Enterprise

Before the Magic Black Box appears... a very good article on the Social Software applied to the Enterprise.

Excerpt:

"The discussion eventually brought us to an even broader question: Why should enterprises go social, and what are the compelling reasons for adoption? On the surface there are immediate benefits, but from experience we know that consumer technologies do not directly map into the enterprise. In this post, we explore the reasons for the social enterprise, look at what social technologies fit and raise various concerns related to adoption."

"As a rule, what is good for individuals is not good for companies and the other way around. This is because both are selfish and it is the tension between the two that drives capitalism. The same is true for technologies; consumer products have not traditionally been needed by companies, with the exception of communication tools."

"Apple, for instance, is known to be very secretive about its plans. Does it give them a competetive edge? Likely yes. How does the introduction of blogging and open social tools to the enterprise impact that? More leaks are likely to occur. Information has an amazing tendency to find its way forward through the human network. The challenge then, is to define a set of policies and rules that ensure that nothing classified gets out. This is not simple."

"New social tools can enable companies to be more agile and self-organizing. The have a chance to break down the walls of complex, ineffective hierarchies and to empower employees to get things done. These tools are simple, fun, engaging, and inspirational. Bringing fresh winds of change to the stale corporate mentality is a good thing and should be welcomed."

Convergence

Convergence was one of the buzzwords of 2007 in the Telecomunications world. Convergence between fixed and mobile services (FMC) , billing convergence or technological convergence.
The fact is that Telecom Operators are offering their customers different products that are billed separetely. For instance, Internet ADSL access, cable TV, fixed Telephony service or even Mobile Telephony. This situation has made that the Telco Operator may bundle Dual or Triple Play offers to the customer and bill them altogether. There is also an opportunity to create technology mixed solutions, like Femtocells that use the legacy fixed network and ADSL access to increase the Mobile Network access or Pay TV solutions over the ADSL connection... this is what convergence, at least in a restricted sense signified to the Telco Operators.

The present year, in the Mobile World Congress, one of the hot issues was the Near Field Communications (NFC) technology and the services associated, that is, Mobile Ticketing, Identification and Payment. This technology enables the possibility to put, securely and once issued, inside the mobile phone the applications needed to deploy these services. This situation positions the Mobile Operators as key players in a new group of payment services. And this is not new for them, at present they are charging the subscriber for the services that they use when browsing the Internet, like streaming TV or ring-tones and music download. This technology presents the opportunity to make the same in the real world.
This new position can take convergence to another stage. Once the physical platform, credit cards and SIM cards, converge, what will be the difference in putting a payment application on one or the other? The Telco Operators may start competing with the Credit Card issuers (mainly banks) for the customers as to offer them the more number of services. Maybe we can see in the near future some Telco Operators start issuing credit cards and some bank enter the business of Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) as to offer Telecommunication Services to their own customers.

I am sure that not all the Telco Operators will enter the bank industry, as well as most of the banks will not start their own MVNO, but it will be interesting to see how this enabling technology that is the NFC affects the business arena between banks and telcos, and also all the supplier industry for both sectors Converge.

Technological Darwinism

Today I've read and article on the recent achievement of a teenager with the iPhone. It seems that this guys have connected the iPhone to the forbidden networks of Orange, Movistar and Vodafone. This is not a great novelty because each day thousands of cellular phones are unlocked in order to work with any network provider and in fact, it is a feature, the unlocking mechanism, guaranteed by the GSM standards in order to boost competition. The news, for me, comes from the fact that the unlocking procedure has engaged a token I did not now yet. It is the TurboSIM. What is the TurboSIM? Well, I would say it is something like a parasite in the biologic scale. It presumably filters the Cellular Phone - SIM Interface communication in order to take profit of it and send the suitable commands to get some functionality. It would be nice to see how it works (it is announced as Open Source) and which is the very change for the market dynamics the providing of such a "revolutionary" token but it looks like by now it is impossible to get one!!