01_08_chip_do_everything

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January 2008 Volume 5 Issue 2 Rs 125
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26 cellphones for
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Make your own
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Do Everything Online From managing your finances to
planning your holidays, everything
is quicker and easier when you do
it online.

Editorial
JANUARY 2008 | intelligent computing CHip | 7
I begin by wishing readers, advertisers, colleagues, management, and business
peers
a very Happy New Year. We at CHIP look forward to your continued support and
patronage in 2008.
The World Wide Web has passed through many stages of evolution. At first, web
pages were the equivalent of brochures. Websites then provided only information,
and
links to other pages having more information. The only form of user interaction
was an
email address with a Mailto link somewhere on the page. Forms came later. In the

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next stage, businesses looked at the web as a medium for offering services. Online

transactions and credit card payments began when payment gateways sprung up. But
people are still apprehensive about using their credit cards online.
City folk (especially those who spend long hours commuting), can t spare an hour

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to
stand in queues to pay utility bills. Do you remember the last time you walked
into a bank
or visited a travel agent? Do you ever visit the library to mine for information
during school
or college projects?
Thanks to the web, you can now do all this stuff online.
Yet, I do know some people who continue to stand in queues to pay electricity
bills,
because a stamped receipt gives them peace of mind, and proof that they ve paid

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their

bills. And there are some who are paranoid about using online services; they feel

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some
grubby hacker or smart kiddie out there is out to drain their bank accounts.
There s a particular website in India that changed people s attitude towards

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e-commerce. It s the website of the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism

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Corporation
(IRCTC). The website www.irctc.co.in became the largest e-commerce site in India
(in
terms of number of transactions), within a few months of its launch. It s not hard

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to see

why. When someone brings rail tickets to my doorstep the very next day, that s

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really

high on convenience! And it s the same with bank accounts, bills, air tickets, and

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hotel
reservations. Booking online is quick, and also gives us the chance to evaluate
options
from home, in the presence of family members.
This month s cover story is about the most useful online services in India. Our

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objectives are to show the convenience, ease-of-use, and speed these services
present,
and to build confidence in using them.
BOOKLET: We are adding more value to the magazine in the form of a booklet titled
CHIP

�Plus, which will accompany every issue of CHIP. This booklet will have content

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that s

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more application-oriented. For instance, the first CHIP Plus has some useful
workshops
on Microsoft Word.

COVER PRICE: As we introduce this addition, we also have to deal with stiff
inflation rates,
the increased cost of newsprint, and other allied costs. Though we grappled with
such
issues for over a year now, we did not increase the price of CHIP. However, from
January
2008 the cover price of CHIP is being revised to Rs 125.00. We will however strive
to
offer more value for every rupee that you invest in CHIP.
| Brian Pereira
editor@chip-india.com
When
someone
brings rail
tickets to
my doorstep
the very next
day, that s

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really high on
convenience
High on convenience
P.S. The CHIP Customer Care cell is standing by to address your queries and
grievances. Do get in touch
with Sarita Quadros at customercare@infomediaindia.com. Call 91-22-40302 805. And
you can subscribe to
CHIP online at eshop.infomediaindia.com.