M1 PrePaid Super Top Up Card

For those who are not calling IDD and preferred to have free incoming calls. Using M1 Prepaid with Super Top Up card would be much cheaper as compared to that of SingTel Hot$100.

Super TopUP	Value	Peak	Off Peak	Peak/Month	OffPeak/Month
IDD Call	$30.00	187.50	375.00	112.50	225
Local Call	$70.00	437.50	875.00	262.50	525

When you opt to have free incoming call, the value will be deducted from the IDD call value, so there is no extra top up necessary as in the case of SingTel Hi Card. So you will have a total of around S$420 to S$450 spent on prepaid card for two years. With around S$18.75 spent monthly, having free incoming call and around 262.5 call minutes per month.

No.of Card	Price / Card	2 Year Total	Monthly	80 Min Plan	2 Year Total	Different
15	28	420	17.5	20.33	487.92	67.92
15	30	450	18.75	20.33	487.92	37.92

If you use 500 sms per month, you will have around 168.75 call minutes per month.

Super TopUP	Value	Peak	Off Peak	Peak/Month	OffPeak/Month
Local Call+100SMS	$65.00	406.25	812.50	243.75	487.50
Local Call+300SMS	$55.00	343.75	687.50	206.25	412.50
Local Call+500SMS	$45.00	281.25	562.50	168.75	337.50

Direct IP Dialling

Again, after reading on Direct IP Dialling which enables you to have direct ATA to ATA dialling, bypassing VOIP service providers at http://voipstuff.net.au/IPDialling.html, I started to try it out.

In my case, my ATA is configured to login to SingNet.com and my dynamic DNS is configured to be openix.no-ip.org, so according to the http://voipstuff.net.au/IPDialling.html , my SIP URI would be SIP:31045489@openix.no-ip.org , which I verified by calling from my Gizmo client. Of course, after :

1. Configuring my Linksys PAP2 ATA to accept IP calls following the instruction on the web page.
1.1 If you haven't already done so, log into your ATA and login as ADMIN\ADVANCED.
1.2 Select the SIP tab as in the image below.
1.3 Once you have clicked on the SIP tab, find the NAT Support Paramaters at the bottom of the page, then set the settings as follows:

Handle VIA received: no
Handle VIA rport: no
Insert VIA
received: no
Insert VIA rport: no
Substitute VIA Addr: yes
Send Resp
To Src Port: yes
STUN Enable: yes
STUN Test Enable: no
STUN Server:
stun.fwdnet.net:3478
EXT IP: NB, Leave blank,
EXT RTP Port Min: NB Leave
blank
NAT Keep Alive Intvl: 45

1.4 Switch tabs to the Line 1 Tab

Under NAT Settings, set NAT Mapping Enable: yes
Under SIP Settings, set SIP Port: 5060

1.5 Set the Proxy and Registration Settings
Set Ans Call Without Reg: yes

2. Configure my ADSL router to forward UDP 5060 to my ATA.
3. Creating a SIP Broker Alias

• Register an account at http://www.sipbroker.com/ as 31045489@openix.no-ip.org
• Login to setup SIP Broker Alias

Country : Singapore

SIP Broker Alias : 7889

• So that caller would dial *011657889

From my Gizmo client, I am able to dial my phone attached to my Linksys PAP2 ATA with the number *011 65 7889 .

Gizmo Project

While testing ENUM, I realised that on Gizmo client, I am able to dial another Gizmo account with just the number 17472540868 from the keypad. As my Nokia N770 could only use Gizmo as the VOIP client, I configured a secondary VOIP account with it, but unable to dial in. Only now I realised that it is possible to dial in to my N770 using Gizmo account.

In order to call the ENUM mapped number via sipbroker.com, on the Gizmo client, I have to dial 006591008709@sipbroker.com.

Testing Telephone Electronic NUMber Mapping

After reading ENUM on http://voipstuff.net.au/e164.org.html#top , I decided to give it a try.

Following the instruction, I created an account at gizmo project with my ID as 17470468990@proxy01.sipphone.com to be used as the SIP VOIP address, as my SingNet VOIP account could not be verified by e164.org. Also free email account could not be used to register an account there.

As I am mapping my phone number to my SIP URI, I click Phone Numbers, Add to register my phone number 91008709 after selecting Singapore as the country. and SIP://17470468990@proxy01.sipphone.com as the protocol.

After that, I entered the pin number given to me via a phone call. With that, Phone Number to SIP URI mapping is done.

Next, I have to configure my Linksys PAP2 to change the dial plan as described at http://faq.sipbroker.com/tiki-index.php to :
L:20,S:7,( x *xx 911S0 1[2-9]xx[2-9]xxxxxxS0 <:@sipbroker.com> [x*][x*]. <:@sipbroker.com> <#:>[x*][x*]. )

When done, I dialed 006591008709, my Gizmo5 client on my desktop ring instead of my mobile phone.

Help Desk Service Inconsistency

I always wanted to cancel my number ported to SingTel and return it back to Starhub as the voice quality of my SingTel mobile 96317889 which was ported back from Starhub is not good at all, but reluctant to do that as that would incur extra cost.

The helpdesk 1626 told me that it was my phone issue. But even after I purchased HTC Touch Dual which supports 3.5G, I was still getting poor voice quality as if it was a voip call.

Recently, as Singapore is migrating to Full Mobile Number Portability, and in order to retain my old number 91008709 from Starhub mobile, I was told to sign up an additional account with SingTel. I am afraid that I would end up with two poor quality mobile voice service and considering to have one with SingTel and another with Starhub.

So I made a call to 1626 SingTel helpdesk, asking the necessary procedure to have the number retention service cancel so that the number could be return to Starhub. The lady who answered the call insisted that she could not tell me anything, I would have to wait for the letter sent to us, "Everything is inside there". How could I believe that. So I asked to speak to the supervisor. The supervisor told me it was possible to cancel the number retention by phone.

As I was waiting for a call from SingTel on the offer to get both the numbers with SingTel without paying for the extra account, I did not ask to cancel the number retention.

Later, as my niece came to work in Singapore, and she would need to sign up an account, I decided not to wait any further. I called 1626 again. Unfortunately, the lady told me that I have to wait after 13 June 2008 when the Full Mobile Number Portability migration is completed, then I could go to Starhub to get back my number.

On Saturday morning, I called again, fortunately, a gentleman answered and told me it would be canceled within one working day.

As the quality of service of helpdesk is inconsistant, it all depends on whether we know the actual fact or not, and also our luck when we call, we might not get what we want although we know that it is possible. As long as the lady insists that I cannot and keep saying the same answer, I will have no choice. I was prepare to go to ComCentre as I cannot get through that lady. Fortunately, my call was answered by a well trained and good knowledge gentleman.

Similarly, Starhub helpdesk personals are not well trained although much better. As I need to be sure that I could get back the number I used before with Starhub mobile, I called to check with them the possibility of getting the same number back. The first time I called, I was told there was no quarantee. However, yesterday, when I called again, fortunately, the gentleman who answered my call, asked for my name and IC number and confirmed that the number is still under my name even though I switched to SingTel more than a year ago. And it is unlikely that the number will be released to other subscriber.

SingTel Prepaid Mobile Card

Recently it has come to my attention that in Singapore, if you use a SingTel prepaid mobile card, you can purchase a top up card called Hot$100 at S$28 and have a call value of S$72 for Up to 878 mins talktime of local calls and S$28 for IDD calls to be used within 50 days.

Even if you based your calculation on 16cents per minutes, for ease of calculation, you still can have 450 minutes of call during office hours (8am-8pm). If you based your calculation for comparison purposes, for two years, you would spend S$420 and getting around 270 minutes of talktime per month for local calls and 105 minutes of IDD calls. Whereas if you sign up a monthly subscription plan of 80mins out-going call with unlimited incoming call at S$20.33, it will cost you S$487.92. A different of S$67.92.

No.of Card	Price / Card	2 Year Total	Monthly	80 Min Plan	2 Year Total	Different
15	28	420	17.5	20.33	487.92	67.92
15	26	390	16.25	20.33	487.92	97.92

	Hot$100	Off Peak	Peak	Off-Peak/Month	Peak/Month
IDD Calls/SMS	$28.00	350	175	210	105
Local Calls/SMS	$72.00	900	450	540	270

If you send 500 SMS at 5cents per SMS, you will have around 176 minutes of talktime.

$47.00

587.5

293.75

352.5

176.25

So for around S$17.50 per month, without contract, are you getting much more call minutes than signing contract?

Why would anyone sign up with SingTel for the monthly contract plans?

The catch is on the free incoming call. If you have more than 270 minutes of incoming calls per month, then you might want to sign up the subscription plan with free incoming calls.

However, for some reason that you are unwilling to sign up any contract, you can still pay S$18$0.60 per day or S$438.00 for two years, so on average you would spend S$34.50 ~ S$35.75 using Hi Card with Hot$100 with Free Incoming Call.

Another point is buying of mobile phone bundled with the subscription plan.

List Price	$598.00
Contract Price	$298.00
Bundled Value	$300.00
Monthly Price	$20.33
2Year Value	$487.92
minus	$300.00
Value of Plan	$187.92
Monthly Price	$7.83

Suppose you wanted to buy a Palm Centro with a list price of S$598.00, and the bundled price is S$298.00 if you sign up the 80 mins plan of S$20.33 monthly, you are paying the different of S$300 over 24 months, the actual amount you pay for the plan is S$187.92 or S$7.83 per month for 24 months.

Realizing this, would you keep paying the standard rate without buying a mobile phone set?

Full Mobile Number Portability

Many years ago, I signed up with SingTel mobile and then switched to Starhub when the contract expired as Starhub was having free incoming call plans. At that time, I paid S$10 for number retention to keep my SingTel mobile number 96317889 while having a new number 91008709 with Starhub. The number retention service later became free of charge.

When I moved to Upper Bukit Timah and the sign of Starhub was bad, I switched back to SingTel mobile with the old number retention service canceled from Starhub and released back to SingTel mobile. I got my 96317889 back as my primary number and my Starhub mobile number 91008709 with number retention.

I am satisfied with number retention as it allow us to be contactable no matter how many times you change from one to another service provider without having to pay extra.

Unfortunately, with advances in Technology, IDA came up with Full Mobile Number Portability system which is not able to have number retention at the same time. So creating new revenue for the local service providers as we have to sign up another account to retain the other number.
Forward the secondary number to the primary number so that we do not have to carry two handsets.

To 130000 people who has been switching from one service provider to another, there is no benefit at all, but additional cost of at least $20.33 per month. Total revenue created for service provider is S$2,642,900.00 if we opt to keep the second number, with the minimum monthly subscription plan of S$20.33 assuming no charge for SIM card.

In case of Starhub subscribers, they are recommended to take up Shareplus which is S$10.70 per month and S$37.45 for the SIM card.

One way we can do is to wait till the second number to be recycled back to the consumer and call the new owner to inform our contacts to call us on the number we are holding on.

When I call or send short messages, I can easily identify myself, so I am not concern with Full Mobile Number Portability of showing my caller ID. I am concerned with not reachable by my friends and contacts who might not update their records.

It seems that IDA has only the new subscribers and service providers in mind when deciding on the new system.

So we have to comply with the new system and not to keep the second number by giving up one of the number.

When we deploy any IT project, we would consider the existing environment, and provide a smooth transition.

If this is a IT project, I am sure any IT solution provider would consider that fact that some users are having two numbers over the years ( 6 or more ). Some of the contacts might be oversea and almost impossible to keep track of. To send notification is almost impossible. So we would have some way to inform the caller with a bounce message announcing the new number instead of "the number is no longer in used". We would have put the reachability or availability in high priority for existing users. And for new users, we would not provide such service similar to number retention.

So If we have the say in the transition, we would propose a cut off date after which no more new number retention is allowed while the Full Mobile Number Portability is implemented. And the users are offer an announcement service which they can subscribe for a certain period, instead of simply asking them to sign up another account so that they can do the forwarding again. We would also let them choose to sign up another account if they prefer to do so.

Children

When the children come to stay with me, in order to let the children enjoy a clean environment to stay, I have to clean up the place. I did it so willingly. Then I realized that out of love, parents do things voluntarily for the children, give them good food, good education and forgive them for their ignorance and short comings.

End of the day, as children return home from work, telling you their encounters, you are rewarded.

Back to Palm Treo 650

Switching to HTC Touch Dual running Windows Mobile 6 based on a few reasons:
1. Singtel helpdesk keeps saying that the pool voice quality was due to my phone.
2. 3.5G support on HTC Touch Dual
3. Video call function supported on HTC Touch Dual

After switching, the same problem of voice quality still exist. Singtel configured my number to be of pool quality similar to VOIP as I am using MIO plan, not sure why.

I like the transcriber of windows mobile 6, it is very convenient as you can write continuously, with practice, it is very satisfying to input text fast.

It is fun to have video call. However, most of the time the other party could not hear me properly, so I have to switch back to voice call. While I was in the toilet, I have to ensure that it was not video call before I answered the call.

However, the function I needed most is the search capability of the data on the phone. On WM6, the search is fast enough, but when you have a few similar records and try to read them one after another, you will notice that you have to wait around 10 seconds to get to another one. Whereas on Treo 650, you can go to the next record almost instantaneously.

So finally, I switch back to my old Treo 650. I am considering buying Treo Centro although Palm is disappointing in the area of 3.5G and the resolution of the camera.

My conclusion is that HTC Touch Dual is a good phone running wm6 and is fun for people who has some compelling reason running wm6, but not for people who need fast and simple search functions of memo, contacts, calendar and nothing else.

Migrating from Palm OS to Windows Mobile 6

Recently purchased HTC Touch Dual together with recontracting my SingTel MIO subscription and evaluating the possibility of migrating to WM6 from Palm OS. I used to think how to do exporting of all my data from Palm Desktop and import into Outlook and encountered a few issues such as Memo data are not imported properly, a CRLF is required to be added at the end of each Note. Only yesterday I realised that I can switch synchronising my Treo650 with Outlook instead and all the data can be synchronised with WM6 device without problem.

Lock Your Cheque Book

I always think that it is safe to have your cheque books lying around as long as there is no signature on it until recently. A company hired an accountant, and found that he worked for five working days and took 7 blank cheques, forged the two signatures of the directors, banked in the cheques into a new account opened just for this purpose, withdrew a total amount of S$120,000. And closed the account.

Although the signatures are not very similar, three banks have the cheques cleared. I was told to warn people about the person: Alex Lim Seow Kok, Singaporean IC: S1164640I

Qmail SMTP for Dynamic Users

All this while, we do not provide services for home users, when users tried to send email from home, they get rejected with rbl as the dynamic IP addresses are listed. The solution is to have SMTP listening on port 587 submission port.

The Secret Law of Attraction

The secret law of attraction highlights the points of positive thinkings and positive emotions very well. The point of not using negate statements. By using music and pleasant memories to switch from negative emotions to positive emotions.

Huawei E220 HSDPA Modem

This morning while trying to connect to the Internet via my Huawei E220 modem on my ASUS EEE PC, I was unable to get connected. Tried it on my Acer Notebook and Desktop PC also failed.

I found that there is a new version of firmware at :
http://www.huawei.com/mobileweb/en/file/download.do?f=14362&ctype=1

Although I was not sure of the new feature or enhancement, I thought it might help to resolve my problem. Also the date of 14th Jan 2008 convinced me to give it a shot.

However, after updating, I was not able to get connected. Then I remembered that I added Maxis connection while I was in Bukit Mertajam, so I deleted both entry and recreated the SingTel connection. And it worked. I am still not sure whether it was due to the fact that I have two connections created.

On the XP, Mobile Partner was installed after the upgrade. So I uninstalled the Mobile Connect.

Unable to edit /etc/fstab

As I was trying to recover the issue of modifed /etc/fstab with the Label / missing, we found that the /etc/fstab file was not writable using single user mode despite the fact that the filesystem was mounted as read write. We were also unable to access it in rescue mode booting from CentOS 4.5 CD.

We then tried to upgrade to CentOS 4.6 instead, but also encountered so problem. Finally we decided to boot Knoppix 5.1 to try editing the file. Booting from Knoppix and mounting the /dev/sda2 on /mnt, we are able to modify /etc/fstab, changing Label=/ to /dev/sda2. I later found that I could use e2label /dev/sda2 / instead.

K3B Error on CentOS 5.1

Yesterday, my customer told me that the CentOS 4.5 server was unable to start after reboot. I found that he modified the /etc/fstab. In preparation of recovering the system, I downloaded the ISO image of CentOS 4.6 DVD on my newly installed CentOS 5.1 server. When I were trying to burn the ISO image with K3B, I encountered the following message:
unable to anonymously mmap 33554432: Resource temporarily unavailable
the problem was resolved after the following steps:
Click Settings , Configure K3B
Click Writing, Advanced,
Under Writing Applications, tick the check box for Manual writing Buffer Size: 4MB
Apply, OK