Thoughts @ Amit Gupta

Why I would recommend Flipkart

My personal online shopping is more or less restricted to travel, web products, movie booking , Bill pay etc which are very standardized products/services. I have made most of my online product purchases on non indian ecommerce sites (google, amazon , bestbuy etc) though I have few transactions in my name in erstwhile baazee.com (now ebay.in) way back in early 2000.

Why ? I think the primary issues being TRUST. Trust on the service provider and the product itself. In name of discounts and deals most of the online sites are selling cheap imitation of real products. Moreover the vendors also don’t have any great reputation. You have have no where to go incase the buy goes wrong.

The notion of buying online is looked only as buying cheap and not as an alternate market place which offers you choice of products at competitive prices. A place which will bring price and product advantage beyond the geographical boundries of your local market.

Offlate there is spurt in number of ecommerce sites and the way they are positioning themselves in the market. They seems to be taking onus of the business and are strongly backed by brick and mortar support.

I just bought a HP mini 8 Gb pendrive from Flipkart. It was such a nice and smooth shopping experience. So what is flipkart doing right or different in still nascent indian eCommerce space , so many other players are jostling for the market share.

What flipkart is doing right according to me :

• 24×7 toll free helpline (Build faith that you have human support in case something goes wrong online ; my transaction failed once)
• Delivery by Flipkart own network (Enhanced reliability)
• Shipped by Flipkart (Vendor is identified)
• 30 days return guarantee (Eliminate the fear of being cheated or duped with damaged product)
• Almost real time tracking of shipment (Timely delivery)
• Cash on delivery (Most Important as fear of using credit/debit card online is the biggest deterrent in the growth of online shopping)
• Promise less and deliver more (2 day delivery against promised 3-5 business days)

PS:

• The packaging was sturdy enough to withstand any transit
• The customer support staff  is very polite and helpful. They refer to customers on first name basis and come across as very friendly ; infact I have spoken to them thrice in these 2 days.

Tags: ecommerce, Internet & Mobile, online shopping

Integrating FB social Plugin Like and Comment

Facebook has made integrating of ‘Like’ , ‘Send’ and comments really a simple process with social plugin. I have implemented all three of them without using any plugin in my wordpress blog or creating an application ID on Facebook. You can find the complete documentation of the three social plugin on Facebook developer’s Page for social plugin.

Facebook like : You can customize the like and send button for your blog. The customization include format , width , color , font and option to hide / display facepile (Thumbnail of friend’s photo). You can generate the code from here.

Similarly you can generate the code for FB comments plugin from here. This is really social plugin as this enable comments by logging in from Facebook, Yahoo ,AOL & Hotmail.

I have implemented both of them on the individual post. The default setting for both Like and Comments is the top level domain or URL.  The problem with implementation is that the like and comments on any post are reflected on all pages.

This works for Like to a extend where visitors can like your website or blog but comments is a big fail in default installation. All comments across site might get jumbled up.

Here the fix I found working for me for both the codes.  

1. Replace href=”domain name” with expr:href=”data:post.url” for Facebook Like

2. Replace href=”domain name” with href=”<?php the_permalink(); ?>” for Facebook Comments

The result is the following implementation :

Tags: facebook, Internet & Mobile

Google +1 for your blog

Google launched +1 recommendation button for publishers yesterday. This could possibly be the turning point in the Google vs Facebook war to control the web. Facebook has taken a lead by share and like button but google +1 is a bigger counter to all this.

With Google controlling the major portion of publishers organic traffic they would be more than willing to install the recommendation button on their blogs and sites.

The implementation is really easy and even easier for wordpress blogs.

Step : 1 Select the desired size of the button. There are four option to pick from.

Step : 2 Copy and paste the code in your blog post or website.

The first part of the code goes just before the end of <head> tag in your blog /site. and the second part need to be inserted where you want the button to appear.

Fast Tube by Casper

Voila! you are done.

Google will display the +1 next to search results.

How would Google +1 help your blog :

a. Provide authenticity to your blog content

b. Crowd recommendation will boost your search engine read Google rating

c. For users ; they will get more refined and recommended results (Less of spam / ad page blogs)

If you’re a webmaster, you can get the +1 button code and learn more about implementation on Google’s +1 webmaster site.

Tags: +1, facebook, Google, Internet & Mobile

What is QR code

There is so much buzz around the QR code recently. Frankly I initially thought its some feature available with Blackberry phone , when I purchased one last year.

So what is QR code ?

By definition its Quick Response Code and look like a square bar code. The information stored on the QR code can be decoded or read by Bar code reader and mobile phones. Qr code can be used to add contacts to list, display  text, image or open a webpage by connecting to mobile web. 

All mobile platform supports QR code by native applications or  multiple free application available. Blackberry has build in a complete campaign around QR code. Ease  of adding contact to BB messenger. I love the concept and ad.

Fast Tube by Casper

But the QR code can be used for more interesting use. Few examples :

1.  Talking Resume (Combination of print resume and QR code redirecting to youtube ) . Watch the  creative way to use QR codes on a intern resume. www.victorpetit.fr (Sup de Pub Student, Lyon, France).

2 . Profile Photo on Social Profiles (Business promotion by @mayank)

3. Link to download applications (Android Market ) – One click Download

Android market offers one click download to almost all applications. The same code can also be extended to print and online campaigns. Check out the QR code for Facebook app

And many more ….

Interestingly term QR code itself is a registered trade mark of Denso Wave Incorporated and Denso Wave owns the patent rights on QR codes, but has chosen not to exercise them. Kudos

One last thing and most important thing. How to get a bar code for you ?

QR Code for http://amitguptaz.com

There are ample of online QR Code generator which offer this service for FREE.

a) http://www.qrstuff.com/   Customize the foreground color of the QR code and get a printable code. The site also give option to get QR code on various products like mugs, t-shirts etc.

b) http://www.quikqr.com : Simple interface with option to create a QR code for a webpage

Go ahead get a QR code for yourself.

Update : A mailer today suggest one more utility

Tags: internet, Marketing & advertising, Mobile, QR code

Incomplete map of India on google

Totally condemn the way Google repeatedly treat the map of India. J & K is and will remain integral part of India.

And , not showing it part of any other country also is not solution.  Correct your maps Google.

Tags: Google, India Insight & Beyond, map

upgrading of my blackberry 8520 firmware

Few months back I joined the Blackberry train and bought a 8520 for myself. I found the phone quite handy and feature loaded even without subscribing to blackberry plan. The handset works smoothly using the standard mobile internet (GPRS) connection except for the push mail.

Following application are seamless on blackberry 8520 on GPRS , practically every application which is NOT made for blackberry only

- Gmail

- Google Maps

- Google Search

- NGpay

- FourSquare

- UberTwitter

- Gtalk

Fantastic phone !!!

I am now subscribed to the Basic Blackberry plan with Idea (email only plan). The only difference is the push mail of enterprise mail (NOT enterprise solutions plan)

Only one issue I faced is regarding the up-gradation of firmware. I got the handset with firmware v.4.6.1.314 (You can check the version Main Menu > Options > About) pre-installed on it. There is an option to check for any updates being released for the handset (Main Menu > Options > Advanced Options > software update). It showed that the firmware is updated ; whereas all the new blackberry boys and girls ion my office got v5.0 installed on the handset.

Solution : A quick search on internet leads to few links.

Blackberry official site with details of the most recent firmware version releases for the handsets (https://www.blackberry.com/Downloads/browseSoftware.do)

BlackBerry Handheld Software v5.0.0.1168 (EastAsia)

Package Version: 5.0.0.1168
Consisting of:

• Applications: 5.0.0.681
• Software Platform: 5.2.0.67
• File name: 8520wifijEastAsia_PBr5.0.0_rel1168_PL5.2.0.67_A5.0.0.681_Singapore_Telecom_Mobile_Pte_Ltd.exe
• File size: 116.41MB

Some more search and the steps for installation were posted all over the net

1. Download the file to PC (with blackberry desktop manager) and install the same.

2. Deleted the VENDOR.XML file located at:  C:\Program Files\Common Files\Research In Motion\AppLoader\VENDOR.XML

3. Disconnect PC from the internet

4. Connect the handset to PC and run the Blackberry desktop manager

5. Voila! 20 -25 mins and the firmware upgraded to v 5.0.0.681

6. Enjoy !!!

Only thing missing on screen is the lock screen button in menu. The phone can be locked by a long press of  ’A’ key or the pause button on the top of phone.

I am loving the new interface.

Tags: blackberry, Internet & Mobile, Mobile

Birthday celebration

what a day… celebrations round the clock literally.  cakes ..yes three cakes , chocolate facial, party , outing and full dhammal and masti. This was one of the most memorable birthday celebration.

Thank you everyone for all your good wishes and making my birthday so special. Have look at the video featuring
Archana , Pushpinder , Varun , Manraj , Rahul (the cinematographer with his TamTung loaded with Android 2.2) and everyone from team communities.

Fast Tube by Casper

The celebration extended to well late into the day with Vikas, Neha , Priyanka, Vihaan , Tisya and My dear wify.

Some of the photos are uploaded here

Tags: Amit, Birthday, indiatimes

one year at indiatimes

29 September 2010

oh  just realized it’s been a year i have logged out of makaan.com and signed into times internet limited.  The year has been full of excitement and challenges.  I pulled my self out from a state of non working and retirment and had a stupendeo fantabulous time working with team communities. 

Its been an amazing experience and fun to work  in the socialbookmarking and email space and much more. And as a mayor of Indiatimes :)  i thank everyone for the  encouragement and the support extended to me.

errr… do this starts looking like a farewell mail to you…..then you are wrong, picture abhi baaki hai mere dost.

Tags: indiatimes, Internet & Mobile, Job, Makaan