Lightening fast email?

You must have seen and smiled at the latest rediffmail ads comparing itself with the legendary hoohaa mail (we all know which is the control set), re-emphasizing its forgotten lightening fast competencies. I remember seeing rediff.com boards all around the city declaring itself to be the fastest one around. It did find a substantial share of free signups, but that was the turn of the last century.

Over the past 6 years, other primary email service providers have worked hard in revamping their image, and thanks to the increasing capacity of the ISPs, life is a lot better now. The new entrant, the 1998 born google came in with its platter of innovations, and flooded the market with its own version of email, the gmail. Too many renegades like me dumped the legendary rediff.com to embrace the new and promising technology. After all, in the absence of exit barriers, all that resists change is inertia.

Though I have kept my rediffmail account (had passed on this email id at the times when slam books were a norm), the worst thing about rediffmail is that you have too many messages welcoming you every time you log in. unfortunately its not your fan mail, but mails from wannabe fans. And fans that want your business, whether you want their service or not. It may be argued that there are downsides of free services, so if you want a better spam free email, upgrade to rediff pro (and pay an annual fee)

This problem won’t be taken so well by the people who have options. Google has created a revolution of its won. And gmail is definitely incomparable. So where’s the competitive advantage for rediff?? The new outlook like interface may appeal to those with years of outlook experience (and works only with IE), but not too well with people who want hassle free service.

Music to the ears??

As a comment on the business standard article

Last year there was this news (my post) of some 330 licences to be awarded to radio FM players, with the expectation that it would result in the burgeoning expansion of already existing radio FM business. It has, and continues to have its share of success. But going by the report this comment is based on, its badly commoditized to the extent that once cant really differenciate between stations, unless they re-iterate “You are listening to..blah blah blah”. And with a break (which have badly increased in number), all people do is to swich channels hoping some other channel would be playing some a more palatable content.

This report talks about how Go 92.5 in Mumbai has revamped itself to Radio One, taking away its upscale image. I remember last year it played an interesting mix of Hindi and English music, and was my favorite. Unfortunately, those days are gone, for there aren’t many listeners like me. At least not on the roads, on the local trains, in the shops. Subsequently, it seems it has been revamped to suit the junta, and has only found a place in the existing list of options that the daily commuters have on their little devices.

When worldspace was launched, I had serious doubts regarding its success. You need additional hardware, and licences which could mean an outflow of some Rs 5000. I neither had the moolah or the penchant for such exclusive music. Somehow it has found some place in some exclusive outlets, and now I don’t find it an atrocious idea. It is a niche concept, and therefore commands a higher premium. And without ads, its actually music to the ears!!