It's Spreading...and it's Spreading Wildly!

A new mobile phone virus has been found in the wild that can spread from cellphones to PC. The virus infects (as usual) a Symbian OS phone either thru Bluetooth or after being download and then infects a Windows computer when the memory card from the phone is used on the PC. This will then propagate to the internet and vice versa.

The new mobile phone virus, dubbed SYMBOS_CARDTRP.A, propagates on Symbian Series 60 devices. Once the mobile phone virus infects a PC, it will eventually launch WORM_WUKILL.B, a worm that attempts to spread the infection to other PCs.

SPEED UP!

After being thrown into circles yesterday, I finally got some tangible results. Now my DSL speed is 768 kbps! When I jumped into the DSL bandwagon last year and subscribed to  Globelines Broadband, I got 386 kbps for my P1995.00 monthly subscription. Fair enough for me since it's waaaay fast compared to dial-up. Even when rival PLDT myDSL bumped up their speeds last May 2005, I was confident then that my DSL provider would not let me down. So, on September 20, 2005, I checked out <a href="http://www.globelines.com.ph">Globelines'</a> website to see for any promos or to that extent, anything that would interest me. Then I saw that they've updated the broadband packages that they're offering, this time, the P1995 has 768 kbps! So, I immediately called Globelines' customer service and ask if I could have my speed bumped up, and they said all I have to do is to go to the nearest Business Center and fill out a Service Modification form and wait for my speed to increase, pretty easy huh?! NOT!!! The next day, before going home, I went straight to the Business Center here at Habay Road, Bacoor, Cavite. To my surprise, the customer service representative told me that I have to pay 2 months of my current monthly fee as to preterminate my DSL subscription so I could avail of the new speeds. Even when I told her that I already called their HOTLINE she still insist that it's going to be a termination of service and that there might have been a MISCOMMUNICATION between me and the girl on the phone I talked to the night before. So, I just told her never mind and I'll just come back after two months to have my service upgraded. When I got home, I called the Globelines Customer Service Hotline right away and asked for clarification. Still, what the guy told me was the same thing the girl the night before told me, that it's just a SERVICE MODIFICATION! He told me that he'll call me back to clear things up with that girl in the Business Center. True enough, after 30 minutes, the guy told me that everything has been settled and all I have to do is to go to the Business Center and just fill up the necessary forms. Then after 2 minutes from the guys call, the girl from the Business Center called up and told me to drop by anytime (pretty long huh?). So, I went, but when I got there, she told me that I don't have to pay the pretermination fee anymore but I still have to have my line disconnected to avail of the new speeds (man this is getting irritating!). So I told her the guy on the phone told me otherwise. So, she told me that she'll clear things up first with their head office and she'll just call me the next day (which is today). Fine! When I got home, again, I called up the HOTLINE and reported the Business Center girls incompetence, even them at the HOTLINE could not believe it happened. Today, I got a call from the Business Center girl and told me that everything's all right and that my speed has now been updated. Whew dude, it's that simple, she just doesn't know what she's supposed to know. Just imagine how unproductive it would be to a very big company to send someone to remove the hardware from my house and eventually install it back again! What do you think?

PLDT will Acquire DREAM Satellite

Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company is buying DREAM Satellite. This is to augment the telecommunications firm's plan to go into the Direct-To-Home (DTH) service. Acquisition of Dream Satellite would enable a joint venture between PLDT and America's largest direct-TV provider, Echostar Communications Inc., to finally take off.

PLDT and Echostar are planning to invest $85 million in pay TV operations in the Philippines through satellite receivers, not the traditional cable system that is prone to piracy and signal theft.

Philippine Multi-Media System uses PLDT's Mabuhay Satellite to broadcast content to more than 100,000 subscribers nationwide. Dream Satellite is considered more expensive than the traditional cable providers.

Sources said that if talks with Dream failed, PLDT would open negotiations with other direct-to-home providers such as Pacific Cable Inc. and GV Broadcasting.

Under the plan, the joint venture between PLDT and Echostar will provide clients with home antennas. It will also supply more than 2,000 video and audio channels.

Free OPERA Anyone?

OPERA browser is now FREE! The ads at the top is now gone and is now part of the competition between Firefox & Internet Explorer. Try it now!

The WiFi Hotspot

NOTE: This blog was supposed to be posted last September 17, 2005 Saturday -- This is the first time I've accessed the internet thru a Hotspot and man am I bored. If you are wondering what a Hotspot is, well, it's a wireless access to the internet using a broadband connection outside your home e.g. cafe's & malls. I was sooooo excited to use it, since I also know that I have universal access to WIZ hotspots (Globe's Wireless Internet Zone) because I am a Globelines subscriber and they have this WorldPass thing where in I can use the same userid and password that I use in my Globelines DSL account. Ok, I plugged my notebook pc into the only power socket I've seen in Starbucks ABS-CBN. Found a 91% WiFi signal and figured out (which is the most common form of learning for me) how to log in and access the internet. But when I entered the userid and password of my WordPass account, I was denied! OMG! Now, how do you think will I be able to surf the net and let time pass by, while my wife enjoys herself with the company of her highschool friend? Good thing I am also a subscriber of Globe's Mobile Phone service (it only shows how a die-hard Globe subscriber I am huh?), and with it, with just a few taps from my phone's keypad, I was able to acquire a userid and password. Whew, that was some "universal Access" huh?!

5 cents IDD from Globelines!

TOLD YOU! After the Philippine government approved the implementing rules of VoIP it wouldn't take long before the telcos will release their own versions of VoIP. It was Bayantel that released it first, then followed PLDT and now Globelines has released their own version. Globelines has three different types and pricing schemes for the subscribers and public. They have reduced the 40 cents charge for their landline subscreiber to 20 cents per minute, 10 cents/min for those who'going to use their all-in-one prepaid card Globe1 and 5 cents for Globelines Broadband subscribers through the softphone that will be available for download starting September 20, 2005. So why the heck subscribe to those VoIP services, when I can get the same price advantage with my own phoneline.

The New iPod Nano -- the iPod mini killer

Apple has recently launched the iPod Nano, the iPod mini Killer! Yup, the iPod mini is now obsolete and will be replaced by this new spanky iPod Nano. Very small and thin, with colored screen and click wheel. Although the click wheel center button is bigger than the usual. It will use the same connector for the dock but the headset jack will be at the bottom of the unit. I will come with 2GB & 4GB sizes. And comes in two colors as well, Traditional White and the new Black. Enjoy!

Updated my Speedtouch 580(i) Firmware

I've just updated the firmware of my ADSL modem/wireless router from 4.2.7 to 4.3.2.6 It's got a new UI to start with. At first I thought I did something wrong, and praying nothing bad will happen (like going to have a big useless paperweight) and luck was on my side. No I guess I can't call Globelines Broadband customer support since they don't even know I have a Speedtouch 580 with me hehehe.

And so, it has begun ... VoIP in RP

PLDT just announced a new service for subscribers of both their DSL service and landline service. It's VoIP in the flesh. Cheaper rates to the US and other selected destinations. As low as 8 cents/minute. Either use the soft-phone thru the PLDT DSL website or use the ordinary PLDT landline phone using a pre-defined prefix num. And so, it has begun....

Finally, a Disney Channel

From here to there and back again. I went back to my old Home Cable provider after learning that they have Disney channel back in their line-up. It's what really made me move to SKY cable in the first place. Now, I'll be giving SKY cable a call to have thier services for me discontinued.