Screenshot of the homepage of smsmeon (above) and the new iPod Shuffle

Short codes for mobile phones have existed for a very long time. Who’s not familiar with Indiatimes’ 8888? All you needed to do is send a word to that number and you get to download pictures and ringtones.

Now comes a startup company called smsmeon that has begun using its short code of 56070 in a brilliant way. I believe they can strike gold.

Indians have always been averse to using their mobile phones to surf the Internet. Barely two per cent of them use GPRS. Many with BlackBerries, iPhones and smart Nokias use these gadgets just to make calls and send SMSes. These phones can do much, much more. But people here just refuse to use the extra facilities.

Last month I introduced you to Twitter, a service that helps you keep in touch with friends, relatives and complete strangers through your phone and the Internet. Twitter has not caught on in India as yet. It uses GPRS.

Indians are SMS kings and queens. Realising this, smsmeon gives you a personal mobile identity. SMS Doss to 56070. You’ll know what I am doing. Sms Doss Location and you’ll know where I am. Similarly, Doss Contact will tell you how to contact me.

All you need to do is visit www.smsmeon.com and book your keyword. I have booked ‘Doss’. It is great fun. You can leave witty messages, serious ones and even get naughty.

You can block your keyword (one word). Just send search your desired word to 56070 and follow the instructions that you get.

The service is great for business. Suppose a shop ShopnStop sells gadgets. All you need to do is send ShopnStop mobiles to get information on phones in the shop.

Businesses can acquire virtual identities and reach out to millions. The benefits of keyword-based marketing are immense. Businesses can add up to 25 sub-keywords. But on the website they have to fill in what response a customer will get.

Know your customer: Companies can quickly build a mobile phone customer database. When they log into the website they get to know who have enquired about them. They are called followers and the mobile numbers are listed.

Sales rise: If you advertise your keywords and sub-keywords in radio, TV and print, it has the potential to increase sales by leaps and bounds.

The best part is that the service is absolutely free.

World’s smallest music player

Last week the company that never sleeps, Apple, unveiled its new iPod Shuffle. Barely half the size of the old one, it can hold up to 1000 songs. It is so small that there is no place for controls.

The new 4GB Shuffle, costs around Rs 4,900. All the controls are on the ear bud. The ear bud has three clickable spots: + and - to control the volume, and a centre button that acts as a play/pause button. There is room enough though for a clip on the shuffle so that you can fasten it to your clothes.

The problem with earlier Shuffles was that they had no screens. You could not see what was playing. This Shuffle talks back! If you hold down the centre clicker for a second, you can hear a crystal-clear voice identifying the song and the performer.

This third-generation Shuffle comes with a tiny, three-inch white USB cord. Use it to charge it, and use it to load it up with music too from a copy of iTunes 8.1 (a required download before you can use the Shuffle on your Mac or PC).

The only drawback with the Shuffle is that you cannot use other earphones with it. Put another earphone and the thing will not play because all the controls are in the one that came with the Shuffle. Apple’s earbuds have always been a problem with me. They just don’t stay put in my ear. They keep falling off.

Send in your computer- related problems to askdoss@abpmail.com. The solutions will appear soon.

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