Maizefarmer
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Posts posted by Maizefarmer
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You don;t mean the gall midge (rice gall midge) do you? - because what you are calling a เพลี๊ย is to the best of my knowledge a type of psyllid, though in Thai it is often used in a colloquil way to describe one or other of a whole bunch of creep crawly insect pests - yes, the gall midge has been a dam_n pest this year - far more than usual.
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Yup, they're regulated, - you need to get a permitt otherwise when you start it up some nosey neighbour will be on the blower and some or other official will come round and take it away from you.
Getting a permitt can be a bit tricky if you are living in certain areas - especialy if you live up North and/or next to a nature reserve.
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Yes - the Baht 200k story is a true story. I remember it clearly (and with considerable suprize) - it was around 2002/2003 - and was written up in the Bangkok Post. Said taxi driver was well rewarded by the owner of the cash.
This and similar stories about taxi driver honesty get printed from time to time in one or other of the papers.
Sorry this happened 3 days ago
Indeed it did (now in the Thai press) ... and it also happened in June 2003 (the sum then was 180k)
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28rai .......... rather small for a big Ford, but by the same token it's even less of a justification to tie up fast depreciating capital a new M5000. I'd get the Ford, work it and also rent it out if you can to recoup the capital outlay.
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Gents....thank you, this is TV at it's best. I am looking at buying an M5000 and your comments and working spreadsheet (TB) are invaluable.
I spent some time using/abusing tractors many moons ago, but that's about the extent of my expertise and knowledge, so please excuse my silly questions.
I am in countryside Surin, so it's typical flat, single crop per year rice farming land. Intended use is working and improving our own land and hopefully enough contracting for better than break even.
1. What are the 'must have' add on's and what is just nice to have?
2. Kabota service - is it necessary to get the machine to a dealer periodically or can service be done at home? Any significant specialized tools required?
3. Contract work - I understand some tasks are charged by hour, some by rai. Any guidelines on rates and 'best' return vs work/abuse on the machine?
Again, thank you all for your input.
Chinavet
You don't say how much land you guys will be working with your new tractor (which is one of the most imporntant issues when it comes to deciding on the size of tractor to purchase)?
Yes - the M5000 is a nice machine, and I don't say that lightly with 20years of hand on experience buying/selling and repairing tractors (it is well designed and well setup - excellent engine, gearbox and drive train), but I still feel folk are better off investing in a Ford 6610/7610 .... or similar. The Kubota gives you around 50hp, the 6610/7610 gives you anything from 75 tru to around 95hp depending on the model/year and engine installed. The Ford will consume more fuel and it wieghs a lot more, but that extra weight/size and power does convert into a significantly higher productivity rate, so at the end of the day the extra fuel cost is off-set by the extra work it is able to get through in the same amount of time.
The practical issue I have with Kubota is their maintenence cost and depreciation - basic maintencne is okay, but if something does break, it will cost you. Come sell it, the depreciation over the first year is really quite shocking.
By contrast, the Ford will cost little to maintain, parts are abundantly avaliable the length and breadth of Thailand and in 95% of cases (no matter what the part), on a same day bassis, and best of all - they keep their value and can increase in value if you buy carefully to start with.
The 6610/7610 comes in a variety of configurations - and some reading up before hand wil do you good when it comes to deciding which one to buy. There are various engine options, they come with a variety of gearboxes, hydraulic flow rates, lift capacities, some are 2WD, some are 4WD (4WD is a must), some have ZF front axles, some have Carraro front axles (Carraro is better, though ZF's will do fine - so long as it isn't a porous casting), some have been "opened" (refuled for more power - stay away unles you know your subject). So - yes, some caution is required buying a used Ford 6610/7610, but you're not likely to ever break a 6610/7610 gearbox or back axle, and they are "Thai tractor driver proof" by and large - something your M5000 will certainly not be - and if renting out or doing work for others is on the cards, then just forget the Kubota, it has to be a Ford.
....... I could go on all day about the virutes of Ford versus Kubota, all I want to say is - think it through carefully before committing yourself.
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Larsbo - always 2 sides to every story - we've heard yours: but lets assume what you have said is indeed correct (and no reason to doubt it), assault is a criminal offence in Thailand, and the police must hurry up now and decide which way they wish to proceed. Assualts and fighting involving ex-pats is one of those crimes they like to sort out unofficialy if they can - the problem here of course is that from what you have said it doesn't look like R has much in the way of financial resource to pay recompense if he was ordered to. How long ago did this happen?
As others have said, it's good you have followd the rule book in how you have responded. I doubt I'd be so passive in dealing with anyone, let alone a grubby ex-pat dive instructor who behave like that towards a family member, but they'd be left under no illusion one way or the other that they had outstayed their welcome. Most dive instructors I know are a transient bunch - here today gone tomorow (well, around for a season or so but most move on after a year or 2), and most don't have work permitts - does R? If not a word in the ear of a local immigration official (along with the obligatory teamoney to encourage him to follow through) may help to speed up his departure, though I have to say in most cases after all the paperwork is done they just send the guys on a visa u-turn trip (down to KL or where-ever and they then come back on a new visa).
Nothing to stop you taking out a private prosecution - though the cost would be prohibatively high .........
Have you had a word with his dive shop employer - agressive drunks who hit women often "play up" in other areas of there life as well (?).
.......... I really don't know what you can do. It's an alleged criminal offence in the hands of the police and I think you need to get them to decide what they are going to do. Sometimes an official/registered letter from your lawyer to the regional head cop outlining what happened, recalling the evidence you guys have presented and the fact that the investigating officer saw fit to take the accused's passport, but has done nothing else, could move things on a bit(?). It makes it clear that you do not want the matter to collect dust on some bookshelf, and then quitely blow over in due course. And make it clear that your wife will be happy to give evidence in court - thats a big issue in assault cases involving ex-pats - the cop's don't like processing all the paper work only to find one or other of the parties has gone home by the time the matter comes up for a court hearing. So make it clear that you guys will back the cops up and follow through with the legal process.
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Baht 5000 per rai - to clear of 1y old eucalyptus, and then replant with rubber - what does it cost?
Does this 5k include the cost of purchasing the rubber trees, does it include fertiliser? What is the cost per day of renting the earthmover? - couldn't you get a large tractor to rip the eucalyptus out (would be cheaper but a little slower than hiring a earthmover?). How many labourers are you employing to replant and at what rate per labourer per day?
What about the pile of eucalyptus trees left behind afterwards - what are you doing with them - paying to remove them (firewood?) or going to let the whole pile rot down?
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Never seen a farang beggar, but if one approaches me I would offer him an international phone call to ol' mom back home... ( me
holding the phone
)Thai beggars? Blind, old or disabled some coins, not over 10 ฿, young mothers with babies, children or healthy looking men just a glance.
Police or other people doing me a favor, what the going rate is (or after some sweet talk/ negotiation, less than that ).
Mf, would you mind to mention the tea money you pay for a container in Laem Chabang ? ( size or per occasion? )
CB
Varies - around 1500 - 2000. Thats to get the cranedriver to move things along nice a smoothly, so the agent and the truck doesn't sit around all day having his time wasted - when it comes to clearing through customs and sorting out the CIF duties - thats when the fun starts!
What you pay is all about how things are written down i.e the CIF code used and the scope that gives for "revision" - which means how goods are described and what arrangement can be arrived at regards recatorgorising and what that could save you and give the official you are dealing with. Anyhow, theres not to much scope to move figures when it comes to used ag spares and tractors - you're talking about single figure CIF percentages to start with (around 5% - 7% to be exact). What they like to target is one off high value imports, and imports that have high CIF values and lots of applicable CIF descriptions - thats what they like to see. It's no good moaning to the guy behind the desk - "teamoney" goes right up the chain of command to the very top.
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Yes - the Baht 200k story is a true story. I remember it clearly (and with considerable suprize) - it was around 2002/2003 - and was written up in the Bangkok Post. Said taxi driver was well rewarded by the owner of the cash.
This and similar stories about taxi driver honesty get printed from time to time in one or other of the papers.
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2 threads on the front page today, one about giving to beggers and another about paying teamoney - and following on each a range of statements and opinions.
Some folk get hacked off about giving to beggers, some get hacked off about giving to officials, some folk get pissed off with both, whiles others are happy to stomach one or the other (or both) and contrabute.
Speaking for myself, a quick few words with a ex-pat begger should usualy be enough to workout whether or not they're genuine - if they're genuine, yer, in many cases I have given in the past (along with some advice regards how to go about resolving the problem), if I think they're talking XXXX - just ignore them. Teamoney - sometimes I pay, sometimes don't. To Westerners many Westerners "teamoney" equals corruption - to Thai's and other Asians (places like China and India), "teamoney" is cultural - it's as much part of doing business as the official payments are. For me its a question of whats reasonable, and whats not e.g. I pay teamoney to get my containers offloaded at Leam Chabang on occassion, only because if I don't it's odd how the crane driver just doesn;t have the time to get it onto a truck when I want it done and I then land up paying storage fees (which will cost more than the teamoney - and he'll make sure it does!). It's no good fighting the system so I build the cost into the business.
By contrast it grates me no end if a cop pulls me over and comes up with some pathetic reason why I need to give him x amount before I can continue with my journey. But whats the difference - is there a difference?
Whats your take on "begging" and "teamoney" - do you see them as been any different, and when do you see the practise(s) as acceptable and when do you see them as unacceptable?
PS - by begging I mean an ex-pat begging, but include locals and make a distinction if you wish
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malct
There are so many issues to consider, and for each person the issues are both different and have different relivance/priority - whats an ideal set of circumstances for one, may not be an ideal set of circumstances for another - there's no right or wrong, but I wil share this with you: for most fo the ex-pats I have known who settled in Thailand (with the intention of staying out the rest of their days - whether they were retired or working), the primary motive was their relationship with a Thai girl. When the relationship brokedown, they had nothing to stay for - the motivation had gone, and they moved on - Thailand became just another of lifes' experiences.
Fair enough, nothing wrong with that, but I can't help feeling that an intention to emmigrate to live in another country, let alone one so diversly different from Western culture, should not be undertaken at the exclusion of the other criteria folk usualy take into consideration when making such a big desicion - considerations like those related to career, pension, health (we all get old), family & relatives back home, and last but not least, ones fiinancial circumstances if after 10 -15years one decides to go back "home" (???).
Spend as much time as you can in Thailand over a period of a year or 2 - do half a dozen trips or so, spend time living in "the sticks" (rural village enviroment - it's very different to living in a town/city) - for some the novelty wears off after a few years, for others it's exactly what keeps them in Thailand ...... spend as time as you can in Thailand before making the decision.
NB NB - learn to speak, read and write Thai - a lot of folk don't bother with the reading and writing part (and learn to speak only so much as the need to get by with) but I can assure you, learning to read and write makes a big big difference - and a very positive one at that, not least of which is how Thai's will relate to you and deal with you.
I wish you all the best - it's a great place to live in.
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As metisdead has said - go to a hospital - but I'd like add to his comments: if its only a perscription you want, don't go to a private hospital. Go to a state/government hospital - it will be a few thousand baht cheaper than going to see a doctor at a private hospital
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Table scraps an a couple hand fulls of crushed maize will do fine - and let them run around the yard eating insects. They'll be just fine and taste good - when the day comes, small wooden block and sharp axe, let it bleed a few minutes, get the feathers off ( a bit of hot water helps), gut and cook as normal ... job done. Nothing better for a Sunday roast! (or a piglet).
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.... better still: Swiss Franc 1000 note.
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Testing for gold content
- quite easy actually: you need a small flat piece of slate (black slate - best), a small bottle of nitric acid with a "dropper" - and last you need a small piece of reference gold i.e. a sample containing a verified 96,5% pure gold.
1) rub the known sample on the slate plate to get a small area with a thin layer of deposited gold.
2) a couple inches long side take the piece of Thai Gold jellewry and rub it on the slate as well.
3) apply a drop of nitric acid to each sample - observe colour change:
- If the purchased Thai gold and the reference gold turn the same colour thats good enough confirmation - it has the same amount of gold in it
- if the purchased Thai gold turns a darker colour compared to the reference, the gold content is lower/less
- if the purchased Thai gold turns a lighter colour compared to the reference - smile, say thank you and leave (you got more gold than you paid for!).
What turns the solution darker? - dissolving/dissolved base metals - any base metals, but copper and silver are most popular (pure gold is resistant to nitric acid) - the more base metal, the darker the solution.
if you do not have the requireds bits 'n pieces to test yourself, obviously testing in the shop you are buying from is a bit of a no-brainer, but if youre concerned ask the seller to give you written confirmation of gold content - and if you then want to get a NDT undertaken in another shop, by all means do so - and nearly all goldshops can conduct a "non-destructive test" on the spot - they do it every time I take in small gold bars purchased from Dubai duty free (dont think you can make money like this easily - yes, if you'd purchased gold at Dubai duty free say 6months or a year a ago, and you were selling it now to a dealer in China Town, you'd be doing quite nicely, but buy on your way out to Thailand on holiday, with the intention of selling the next day in Bangkok on arrival - nope, not likely unless there was a big shift in the gold price overnight)
As to what you do if it turns out that 96.5% Thai gold bracelet you purchased for your T'raak, turns out to contain only 92% gold - I don;t quite know - it would be like trying to resolve any other dispute under the trade "description of goods" act ....... my guess is it would not be easily resolved. You probably land up having to enter into some legal wrangling, the cost of which would negate any difference been claimed. In reality I wouldn;t have though there would be much you could do.
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About 1/3rd of that - no shortage of micro/ultralight flying oppurtunities.
As for doing a Senior Comm .... nice but then what? Lot of time and money spent but the work oppurtunites (at least for ex-pats in Asia) are nill unless you happen to stumble across a missionary service, parachuting school or similar that doesn't need to satisfy the otherwise strict insuranace requirments. There are guys around with frozen ATPL's who can't do anything much more than teach PPL's
Senior Com? - worth it if you're working towards ATPL and/or a full time flying career and are prepeared to do the dogs work while you build hours up, but just for the hel_l of it, nope.
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Try this experiment, put some petrol in a small dish, throw a lighted cigarette in it, it does not go boom, puts out the smoke.
Good advice "garyh"
hopefully my children don't read your postRight - now try this experiment: hold lighted cigerrete 2" above same dish of petrol - and see what happens! - it might ttak 5secs, it might take 20secs, or it might take a couple minutes, but all it needs is the vapour density to reach a certain point!!
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Thanks for all the replies guys.
I saw a lawyer today and had a few papers drawn up.
I have the Singaporean non paying loan guy in a much better position now. As he is of Chinese origin, he will probably not like what is going to happen,
As per someone's advice here I have had a lawyer draw up a post contract for the afore mentioned loan (which he, the Singaporean) is willing to sign. I also have his bank details, address here in bkk as well as in Singapore, and his identity card number and copy of it as well.
I have had contact with Singapore and some friends are going to help me there as well.
I have one brain cell mingled together with thousands of others and I am playing it Jai yen yen.
Macanello
.....yes, play by the rules - and good luck.
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Can you post up a picture of the sprinkler you are using (and how many of them), and the total area (square feet or sqaure meters) - and I'll be happy to make some suggestions?
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rjhklein
Your pipe/tube diameter is fine - no prob's there.
This pump you have .... that code/model number you provide - sounds like its one of these domestic type water supply pumps, the ones that look like a large upside down buck, with an accumulator volume to switch the pump on when a tap is turned on in the house - is this the type of pump it is??
If so, the first thing you will have to do is remove the accumulator section - complelty, but even then, my suspicion is it's not going to do the job for you - look at the amperage or wattage rating - my guess is it'll by around 1 1/2 Amps (at most), and/or around 250 - 300watts.
Never mind what it says about max pressure or volume - I have found the figures they give are always optimistic - they simply do not enough power to drive a sprinkler - change it for dedicated pump unit.
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Chessplayer
" …..I have read an article before that telecoms, for the GSM enabled ones too, do not record the IMEI number, because it will slow down the communication process.... "
Okay – but, er ……. how does this conflict with anything I wrote?
"As for the logical flaw, You stated one can use the IMEI to track down people, when with the SIM card people can simply change it. Nowadays, mobile phones can be as cheap as the price of two SIM cards. They can be discarded just as easy. From this logical flaw, many of the reasoning and conclusion in your post crumbles."
Do they ……how?
You may have misread/misunderstood completely what I said ……….
Firstly, did you understand my reply as implying that an IMEI number is a default parameter/criteria in the GSM/BSS “handshake” for a link to be established(?)
I went on to clarify what I said by illustrating it against the background of just one of the call setup/link establish procedures in the overall initiation “handshake” that takes place between the handset and the BSS (Base Station) – and that part was in respect of “billing”. I said that it is the SIM card details (to include the actual phone number – which is on the SIM card) used to setup a call, not the IMEI – so how did you read my comments to imply that the IMEI was part of the default criteria to setup a call?
Secondly …………..
" ..... As for the logical flaw, You stated one can use the IMEI to track down people, when with the SIM card people can simply change it. Nowadays, mobile phones can be as cheap as the price of two SIM cards. They can be discarded just as easy. From this logical flaw, many of the reasoning and conclusion in your post crumbles....."
I don’t see how my comments crumble …….. what you have said above is correct, but how does it conflict with what I stated in my earlier post?
Let me write the tech bit again, in different wording and see if the wording I use this time round makes it clearer – I’m not sure if you find conflict with some of my technical comments, or the reasoning around issues like billing, security, monitoring ect ect ……
The IMEI number is embedded into the handset at the manufacturing stage – to be exact it is embedded into an EPROM. To change it would require isolating the EPROM, from the rest of the pcb components, then zapping and re-flashing it (with a new IMEI) – which would require a procedure and level of knowledge well beyond the scope your average Indian GSM phone owner – and even if they could, the problem they then have is what IMEI number to replace it with?
Although the IMEI is a network operator defineable requirement to make/receive a call, it is nearly always an internal handset requirement i.e. take the IMEI out of the handset software/hardware, and the handset will not boot through all it’s internal switch-on/switch-off and go/no-go procedures. Liken it to removing a couple lines of code from the folder on your computer that holds the OS for your wireless card – it may well appear okay, but when it comes to trying to establish a link while roaming, no matter what you do, no matter how you adjust settings through the “user interface”, it just will not establish the link. I don’t know if that’s a good analogy, but it’s all I can think of off hand – I think it makes the point(?).
…… drifting off the point – let’s back to the point: the use and/or recording of the IMEI is not GSM Standard requirement - it is left to the network operator to determine whether or not they wish to make use of it.
Let’s also understand that “use” & “recording” can be treated as 2 separate issues – and dare I say it for fear of taking these notes to a tech level that most are not going to be able to relate to (in which case, what’s the point of writing anything), “use” and/or “recording” of the IMEI can take place at Level 2, Level 3 or even Level 4 of the whole setup process. “Levels” are different software layers involved when setting up a GSM call through a BSS – some levels relate to setting the call rf characteristics i.e. telling the handset what power to transmit at (remember the big marketing slogan used in Shin – “2Watts” – well, just for interests sake, when you make a call, the BSS tells the handset what rf power to set it’s self at – it depends on the distance between the handset and the BSS, which the BSS calculates with a sophisticated math log in a couple microseconds – sometime it’s just millwatts, sometimes its 1watt, and sometimes (very seldom) it’s the full 2watts (I just mention that out of tech interest – it’s not really relivant). Some levels handle the software to tell the handset what channel to go to (GSM calls take place on one of any number channels between an upper and lower frequency), another level interfaces with the network operators billing and accounting software (so that billing can be sent to the user at the end of the month – or so that the network knows that it is dealing with a pre-paid subscriber), and lastly, one thing carried out at one of the levels, which I think most folk will find very interesting to learn, is the decision to use the A5 (1,2) cipher, or not.
Yes, I mean’t to say, “or not” – because - and I think folk will be suprized to learn of this: the A5 (1,2) ciphers used for voice encryption are the most "time & hardware/software/memory" intensive components of setting up a link between a handset and a BSS – so what do a lot of operators do during high call volume times – and this includes the operators in Thailand – they simply switch off the A5 (1,2) components of the call setup process!!!.
So much for security – and it's not just occassionaly, it's large part the time during working hours/weekdays, Thailand’s GSM calls are not ciphered – they are still digitally modulated (GMSK modulation), yes - but they are not ciphered (I have listened to GSM phone calls in Thailand in the past!!) - and again, just out of interest - its a GSM Standard up to the perogative of the network operator to use/not use (in fact some Asian operators are not even trusted by the internatonal controlling body for GSM, with up to date versions of A5, x.x. !!)
Understand how I have used the words “use” and “recording”, their correct context and they role various parts (like the IMEI component) play, and when and how they are used.
The IMEI number may not be recorded, or used by the operator, but it may still be used in one of the “layers”, and it used by the phone it’s self.
Was all the above tech stuff relivant ? - perhaps not, perhaps I am still missing just what it was that you felt crumbled my statements?
…...and your comment “…Nowadays, mobile phones can be as cheap as the price of two SIM cards. They can be discarded just as easy……” !!!!!!
That goes without saying chessplayer- disposing of the handset puts any investigation or effort to trace/monitor/locate/follow a user (for whatever reason), back to square one - well not complelty, but for the purposes of the point you were making – yes, you are correct, throwing the phone and SIM away is as good as getting a new phone and new SIM card every time you make another call. I know this, it obvious to all readers (and phone users!).
I was adding additional info to the OP’s opening thread …………… now, in what way does much of the “reasoning and conclusion in your post crumble…….”
Technically, my comments are accurate – well, as accurate they need be for the purposes of this discussion - trying to keep it readable and understandable for most.
The “revenue” comment regards why operators don't force IMEI onto users as a “go/no-go” requirement are correct (and you were correct too in noting the reason i.e. it's primarily time based)
But you have boldly told me “reasoning and conclusion in your post crumble…….” – fair enough, but just where/what did I write that doesn't addup - other than making the observation that you do, that disposal of the handset is a GSM users solution to just about all (but not all) technical efforts to monitor them – that of course is obvious, and I would have thought doesn’t even require mentioning ….. just, what is it that I have missed?
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Doubt you can rent for an hour - I would think it would be at least a day.
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Thank you, Maizefarmer, now I can spend the afternoon digesting that
... I know, I know .... useless but interesting information - if you're up to know good, buy a satellite phone handset (they're no bigger than GSM handsets nowadays - and most of them are also GSM tri-banders) - just make sure it isn't a Thuraya - the Thuraya sat system is works on spot beam technology with embedded GPS!!! (yawn - more useless information).
You can buy them over the counter with cash in many countries nowadays (they don't cost much more than a high-end GSM handset - with used ones been cheaper than high-end GSM handsets) - no reg or id needs to take place, or be seen, no contract has to be signed - you get a SIM card, and you can refill it just like a GSM phone.... and they work in the middle of no-where and where ever - just one problem: cost of making calls - still a bit more than a GSM phone (but its fast dropping).
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Why has India blocked 25 million handsets - it has to do with the fact that those handsets do not have recognisable or valid IMEI numbers - dial *#06# on most handsets and you will see your IMEI number.
The IMEI number identifies your handset to the international GSM Association - every handset manufacturer is issued with blocks of IMEI numbers for use with the GSM handsets they manufacture. These IMEI numbers identify handsets whose electronics conform to the GSM Ass standards, whose manufacturers have paid their IP and licensing dues - and who satisify a whole bunch of other internationaly agreed criteria. Each handset is issued with a unique alpha-numeric IMEI number when it's OS is loaded during production and will follow that handset around for the rest of its life, wherever in the world it goes.
Unfortuneatly, network access in different countries is controlled by the network operators e.g. Shin and/or Orange in Thailand (amongst others) - it is not controlled by the international GSM Ass.
What's the relivence of that?
On the one hand, it means that phones manufactured by manufacturers who have not been allocated IMEI numbers can compete with legitmate manufacturers, do not have to produce products that meet international standards ect ect ...... alot of these phones come from factories in China - they are counterfiet handsets.
Secondly, they are handsets that cannot be legitamely identified - the IMEI number unlike a SIM card or SIM ID number which can both be changed, the IMEI number cannot be changed (well it can - but the processs is well beyond the scope of "mom & pop" handset/SIM card sellers - it requires getting into the HAL kernels of the device) - they are handsets which cannot be followed around by the GSM system. Changing a GSM tel number, by changing the SIM card, does not help crooks avoid been monitored - GSM surveillance monitors the handset IMEI number as well. But, if the handset is not telling the GSM system what it's IMEI number is, and the user then changes their SIM card, there is now no way to associate/follow and monitor the handset and it's user/owner.
So - why didn't operators do this a long time ago?
Revenue - it's all about revenue. No IMEI number does not mean cellphone/mobile fraud - usage and accounting is associated with the SIM card numbers, not the handset (thats why you can put a SIM card into any handset and it will work if the account is paid up) - so operators are not loosing money through phones that do not have IMEI numbers, but they will if they block those handsets handsets from network access - and in the case of India, they will now be loosing the revenue from around 25 000 000 mobiles overnight. Thats big time revenue ........ and it's not as if the operators who have chosen to do this willingly - nope, the telcom authorities in India have forced it on them (security, anti-terrorism ect ect .....)
There is of course a downside from a security/anti-terrorism perspective - no intelligence at all is worse than oppurtunistic intelligence.
So what now?
Well, I'm sure other countries are watching ......... if this works out okay in India I think others may follow suite - Pakistan for sure - what about Thailand? Nope - I dont think Thailand ever will: the operators in Thailand are at each others throat for revenue, and CAT (Comms Authority Thailand) I suspect would never want to admitt how many counterfeit handsets are on the local market (and have therefore been smuggled into the country) - between them, the police and the DIP (Dept of Intellectual Property) they get more than enough hassle from the USA each year regards anti-counterfeiting policies and the amount of c/f goods on the Thai open market - to now admitt and add x million c/f phones have also been identified won't look good on Thailands record.
... its a funny old world,
Lotto Lee In Pattaya ?
in General Topics
Posted
Don't know if its all gone but he certainly was spending wildly on silly things in the first few years.