Thoughts @ Amit Gupta » Internet & Mobile

Why I would recommend Flipkart

Amit Gupta — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 19:24:41 +0000

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.

Integrating FB social Plugin Like and Comment

Amit Gupta — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 16:37:00 +0000

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=”” for Facebook Comments

The result is the following implementation :

Google +1 for your blog

Amit Gupta — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 05:45:35 +0000

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 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.

upgrading of my blackberry 8520 firmware

Amit Gupta — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 06:11:20 +0000

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.

one year at indiatimes

Amit Gupta — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 19:18:15 +0000

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.

Installing canon sx200 IS zoom ex browser without CD

Amit Gupta — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 11:14:58 +0000

Hard disk crash or OS re installation is a nightmare I have gone through innumerable times And the worse part to it it restore the all the previously installed software (and off course the saved password on browsers). Anyways most recently I have gone through this last fortnight.

Now there are several of the softwares available (freeware obviously) of the shelf from respective sites and that’s the best way to get the updated version. And then there are many which come in form of CD with the products. They are the biggest pain point if you loose the CD’s over a period of time and they are not available on product sites. One such instance is Zoom ex browser (image management software for Canon powershot SX 200 IS). The official canon site only provide a upgrader software ~120-30 MB which requires the original (any version) of the software to be installed. An hour of soul searching with google baba leads to numerous workaround including creating and changing registry entry in system. But this was big #fail for me.

Finally , got a very old version of zoom ex uploaded on http: // foto-freeware.de / zoombrowser.php (Added space before and after every / to delink. Also download on your own risk , it worked for me though. ) Once I installed this , rest was a cakewalk as the updater from Canon (http://support-in.canon-asia.com/contents/IN/EN/0200106601.html) did the rest.

Update : For windows 7 user . Pls download update from here

But it still confuse me why can’t canon provide the drive support on the site itself , as in any case the software is a freeware.

Safeguard your SIM card against misuse

Amit Gupta — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 12:32:32 +0000

There seems to be a perfect synergy in the marketing and sales department of cellular companies. Both departments are supplementing each other in growing the subscriber base (And possibly redcuing ARPU).

The telesales ladies pushes hard to sell complementary ‘Golden’, ‘Platinum’ and matching/similar numbers to your current Mobile number in ever sweet voice. I have recd two such calls since morning. Good I have recieved two call in morning itself and now I can chill (My average incoming telesales call stands at 2). I am sure you want to know how have I managed this. Follow these simple rules to avoid telemarketing calls.

‘Amit Gupta : With the amount of free numbers offered by Idea cellular. It seems I can run a telephone exchange.Tell them I am happy in my job’ via my facebook and twitter update.

On other hand, marketing team is generating demand for new sim card in very innovative way. My latest bill from Vodafone displayed the ‘SMART’ way of safeguarding sim cards in 3 easy steps (This is the most prominent and colorful element on the page).

1) Go to nearest Store
2) Break the card in two
3) Hand it over to store employee

and then what…get a new sim card or connection Can’t believe what is the message Vodafone is trying to deliver with this creative. I found this message very confusing and misplaced.

Google Wave – a new wave of communication

Amit Gupta — Fri, 29 May 2009 17:38:52 +0000

Google announced to launch Google wave later this year. This is bound to create a wave across the Internet world. So what is exactly is a wave. In a simple words Google wave is a real-time communication platform. It’s a hybrid of email, instant messaging, web chat, social networking, micro bloging, file share all build into one interface.

Features of wave :

You can communicate and work together with richly formatted text, photos, videos, maps, and more.

Any participant can reply anywhere in the message, edit the content and add participants at any point in the process (contextual suggestions and spelling correction).

It supports the drop and drag attachments from desktop and thus enable the real-time file sharing to anyone in the conversation.

It’s also embeddable, so you can embed Google Wave conversations on any blog.

This could very well turn into a project management tool with all concerns sharing the progress realtime.

It’s also an open-source project with a lot of API integrations. So the possibilities of growth and integration with various web products are unimaginable.

There is more information which will flow in but as a user we have to wait for some more time to swim in the wave. But this will surely bring a mega shift in the internet communication and more. So beware Twitter and FB of the world there is a strong wave coming soon….

Image Credits and official page : Google Wave you can also sign up for Google wave update here.

Makaan.com property survey on CNBC

Amit Gupta — Wed, 13 May 2009 11:59:17 +0000

Makaan.com conducted a National survey ‘My Vote. My Makaan’ in leading Metros and Tier II cities of India. The survey was conducted on the portal between 22nd to 30th April 2009 and saw participation from over 3563 property seekers nationally.

The survey results can be found at http://makaan.com/electionsurvey. The survey findings were also covered on CNBC Awaaz.

Abuse of Cost Per Click (CPC) Marketing?

Amit Gupta — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 08:28:04 +0000

Cost Per Click better known as CPC advertising is one of the most popular ROI (return on Investment) driven model in online world. Google has build in a complete empire revolving around this model.

This model provides a win-win situation to publishers (websites), ad-networks (like Google, Komli etc) and advertisers (sellers). Advertisers pays to the ad-networks only when a visitor (prospective buyer) clicks on the advertisement (thereby presumed he expresses interest in the advertiser’s services) on the publisher’s website. Thereby justifying the advertising cost as paid by the advertisers. On the same hand ad-networks are in position to calculate and display the ROI and compensation for publishers.

Now in a fair game, a visitor will click on the advertisement to know more about the services and contact the buyer subsequently (If he is interested). On every such click publisher get paid certain amount by ad-networks and advertisers are charged for that click.

Wonderful concept, so where is the abuse?

Now few advertisers are abusing the ecosystem by removing/reducing the requirement to click the advertisement in order to know the contact info etc. Thus avoiding the charges payable to ad-network and subsequently the publisher.

This short-term strategy will surely have long lasting impact on the ecosystem of publishers, advertisers and ad-networks. I am sure ad-networks would have all the systems and checks in place to avoid such content going live in the advertisement. Ad networks would spend more energy on building more checks to stop abuse, which would have otherwise gone in more constructive activities. All said and done, I believe there is an equal responsibility to be shared by the advertisers also for not abusing the product.

PS : I just found one more and this one is interesting. Skype installed on my system prompt me to call on the number displayed on ad for FREE and again without even clicking on the ad.

Everything I Know About Startups by Dharmesh Shah

Amit Gupta — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:12:45 +0000

This is an absolutely great presentation by Dharmesh Shah, co-founder of HubSpot, that was originally posted at OnStartups.

WordCamp India (India’s first WordPress Camp)

Amit Gupta — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 07:04:25 +0000

I’ll be attending the India’s first WordPress Camp to be organised on 21st and 22nd February. To know more and register for event visit :

http://wci.eventbrite.com

PS : Event is Co-hosted by Mayank Gupta. An internet freak , wordpress fan and my sweet little cousin. I’m proud of you.

Best of Luck …

Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1

Amit Gupta — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:13:32 +0000

I have just checked out Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 version and Firefox3. I would not be comparing them but there are certain new feature I liked about both of them.

But the most exciting feature to me is Actiities in IE8. I lets to do certain activities on the webpage you are working on. Its like talking to many other application from one page (uff.. internet making me lazzy and more demanding every day). Though the application integrated are few but all are worth mentioning.

See how useful a Live Map application can be for a real estate site. No clicks , No tabs and you get what you want. I have tried looking for Noida and a map was there (That too fairly close).

There are many more activities which can be done on a click like Google search , Blogging with Live Space and define with Encarta. Microsoft keep exploring…..

3G in India

Amit Gupta — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 17:56:13 +0000

Bharti , Vodafone to bring Apple 3G iPhone to India later this year and with Bharti on verge of launching 3G services (Subject to all statuary clearance) .

Hmmm… so would we get to see a revolution in the way people get to use mobile and mobile internet in India. The success will largely depend on the cost of acquiring the technology (Handset + Service). Indian consumers are very price senstive and to an extend slow adapter in terms of mobile innovations. Still we have very limited usage of GPRS and related applications.

Mobile services were launched in India by Airtel but the credit goes to Reliance to bring mobile phones to commener. Their runaway success can be largely attributed to attractive (read unbeliable low priced handset and call rates) offers they throw open to customers. And with 3G hanset promised to be priced sub 10K , I think there will be many takers.

I am of belief that Internet and Mobile are deadly combination and way for next generation of business. 3G will offer the speedy internet and open avenues to offer range of product and services directly to the mobile device.

Looks like tring tring time.

Makaan Mobile

Amit Gupta — Thu, 29 May 2008 10:33:45 +0000

Know your customers and the environment in which they operate. At Makaan we found out that our customers (property providers) are not very tech-savvy and don’t have regular internet access, infact only little fraction of our total customer universe are internet friendly. But the irony is that thier customers (Property seekers) are more and more depends on new age mediums for the needs.

So the challange was to build a product which will bridge this gap and property seeker & providers can be brought closer. The answer was in mobile phone which is a integral business requirement of people in property business. So through Makaan Mobile benefits internet is brought to people with no access of Internet.

Makaan Mobile application is a First SMS based application which enable property provider to advertise for the property and recieve responses directly to his mobile. The application also manages all the listings and the responses of the advertiser.

To know more about Makaan Mobile visit www.makaan.com/mobile . This application is supported on all GSM networks in India. You can also download the application from the link below :

A Year That Was…

Amit Gupta — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:13:00 +0000

These line are generally written on the turn of the year. You might think that I am possibily two months late. But I am talking about completeing a year with Makaan.com

Now when I look back at this amazing year it gives me a feeling which can’t be expressed in words. But whats so amazing about this year and this job. There has been complete transormation from the kind of work I’ve done in the past. I have lived my dream of creating an online business.

On the day of joining makaan team strength was three including Aditya (Business Head) and (Chetna). Now we have grown over 125 as a team. Aditya has shown immence confidence in me and handed me an additional responsibily of Managing the software team along with my Product Management responsibility.

And we have done our best to proove him right by delivering a best in the category product within the short span. We have worked for 10-12 hours in a day for 4 months in a strech. We launched the site on August 15, 2007, Independence day of India in less than 6 Months of my joining.

And I must say that I have got an amazing team to support Saleem, Deb, Veeru , Amit , Sandy and Nikhil.

Dilli ki Sardi

Amit Gupta — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 10:42:02 +0000

“Tarpaye tarsay re…saari raat jagaaye…pyaar tera …Dilli ki sardi” These line from hindi film says all about the character of Delhi Winter. This year tempratures in delhi has been below than the normal. I am still enjoying hot water bath and my cosy layer of quilts. Weekends are best spend at homes being a couch potatao munching popcorns and watching television. BUt next weekend will be not so comfortable. I have to shift home. So there are so many things will have to be rearranged and taken care of. Cable TV, internet connection , addresses all across and so much to do. Coming back to Delhi weather, at this hour the best thing I can think of is a steaming cup of hot coffee…But for that also need to get out. Wish I could order this to some coffee joint over internet. Related posts: Internet Explorer 8 Beta 1 A Decade of Relationship Related posts:

Let’s go shopping. Yahoo!

Amit Gupta — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 06:21:09 +0000

Three more days of agonizing wait when I’ll get to see my bank account buzz with my monthly funding (My Salary But of course). On my shopping list would be grocery, vegetables, household stuff and woof… my account will be looking like a desert by 10th of the month.

This left me wondering what people with fat balances have on their shopping list. Many like to sprulz on themselves, some like to go on world tour, few will buy private planes and liners and for fewer it will mean real serious business.

So when I heard that Microsoft is planning to go shopping . I knew that they gonna spend some cool money. The company in question is none other than the internet giant Yahoo. And $45 Billion for the bargain is no small money by any chance. If this deal goes through it would be the largest transaction in the online world after the Times Warner-AOL deal.

But think of the synergies of the merged entity. And all of this to combat GOOGLE. Google has been the biggest headace of both Microsoft and Yahoo since early days. Google has changes the rules of the games and in style. Whatever they have planned , made sure they executed it to perfection. All their creations and acquisitions are ruling the internet.

Future will tell what would be the outcome of the deal or the merged entity but one thing for sure that internet is not meant for the weak hearted shoppers.

Life in Google Age

Amit Gupta — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 15:48:35 +0000

The above image may look a bit funny or a bit too exaggerated but I believe that we live in Google Age. To me Google is synonym to Internet. Google as homepage tells me that I am connected to rest of the world and my system is breathing.

It’s the nerve cell of information for millions like me. From finding a store next door to information on stars millions of light year away everything can be goggled. I like to Google myself and would feel on top of the cyber world the day googling Amit Gupta will show me on top of Google search. To me that is the symbol of being arrived on Internet.

Can’t think of a life without Google. Happy Googling!!!