India plans to auction the airwaves needed to offer so-called third generation or 3G mobile phone services, the government announced, in a move that could raise billions of dollars.

All radio frequencies for providing 3G services would be offered through an auction process in which telecoms companies -- existing operators, licence holders and new international players -- could bid.

"The 3G licences will be granted through a controlled, simultaneous ascending e-auction, by a specialised agency to ensure transparency in selection process," Communications Minister Andimuthu Raja said late on Monday.

Raja, who gave no date for the auction, also unveiled guidelines for wireless broadband services -- called WiMax services -- and said this would help increase broadband penetration.

The government could easily raise more than three billion dollars through the 3G auction, industry experts said.

"The government has decided to release 3G spectrum in 2.1 gigahertz band with immediate effect," Raja told reporters in New Delhi.

The announcement of the immmediate release of spectrum for 3G mobile services puts India's mobile market -- the fastest growing in the world -- on track for a new level of wireless telephony.

The move dwill give mobile users access to high-end data applications on their phones, including high speed interactive gaming and internet access, video conferencing, video streaming and other multi-media features.

Raja said he wanted "healthy competition" and the auction would not be limited to India's exisiting 2G players.

"I want all the players to bid for it," he said.

Foreign firms would be allowed to bid subject to security clearances by the home affairs ministry.

The news marked a major change from sector regulator's recommendations that only existing operators be allowed to bid for 3G spectrum.

The ministry also announced it would let mobile phone subscribers keep the same number if they switch operators.

Read Each One Carefully and Think About It a Second or Two

1. I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you.


2. No man or woman is worth your tears, and the one who is, won't make you cry.


3. Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.


4. A true friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart.


5. The worst way to miss someone is to be sitting right beside them knowing you can't have them.


6. Never frown, even when you are sad, because you never know who is falling in love with your smile.


7. To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world.


8. Don't waste your time on a man/woman, who isn't willing to waste their time on you.

9. Maybe God wants us to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one, so that when we finally meet the person, we will know how to be grateful.


10. Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened.


11. There's always going to be people that hurt you so what you have to do is keep on trusting and just be more careful about who you trust next time around.


12. Make yourself a better person and know who you are before you try and know someone else and expect them to know you.

13. Don't try so hard, the best things come when you least expect them to.


REMEMBER: WHATEVER HAPPENS, HAPPENS FOR A REASON

Your dad read in the newspaper that most accidents happen 20 miles from home, so we moved 20 miles.

I won't be able to send the address as the last Sardar who stayed here took the house numbers with them for their new house so they would not have to change their address. Hopefully by next week we will be able to take our earlier address plate here, and that our address will remain same too.

This place is really nice. It even has a washing machine, situated right above the toilet I'm not sure it works too well. Last week I put in 3 shirts, pulled the chain and haven't seen them since.

The weather here isn't too bad. It rained only twice last week. The first time it rained for 3 days and second time for 4 days.

Ok, bye for now, I have to search for those three shirts again.


Warm regards,
Your first and only Mother,
Mitro Kaur.

The problems of "HE" and "SHE"..


The problems with "HE" as thought by "SHE"


If u TREAT him nicely, he says u are IN LOVE with him;
If u Don't, he says u are PROUD.


If u DRESS Nicely, he says u are trying to LURE him;
If u Don't, he says u are from VILLAGE.


If u ARGUE with him, he says u are STUBBORN ;
If u keep QUIET, he says u have no BRAINS .


If u are SMARTER than him, he'll lose FACE;
If he's Smarter than u, he is GREAT.


If u don't Love him, he tries to POSSESS u;
If u Love him! , he will try to LEAVE u.(very true huh?)


If u don't MAKE LOVE with him., he says u DON'T LOVE him;
If u DO!! He says u are CHEAP.


If u tell him your PROBLEM, he says u are TROUBLESOME;
If u DON'T, he says that u don't TRUST him.


If u SCOLD him, u are like a NANNY to him;
If he SCOLDS u, it is because he CARES for u.


If u BREAK your PROMISE, u Cannot be TRUSTED;
If he BREAKS his, he is FORCED to do so.


If u SMOKE, u are BAD girl;
If he SMOKES, he is GENTLEMAN.


If u do WELL in your exams, he says it's LUCK;
If he does WELL, it's BRAIN.


If u HURT him, u are CRUEL;
If he HURTS u, u are too SENSITIVE!!

PASS THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW

Who should be India's new Test captain?

Sachin Tendulkar's decision to turn down the offer to become India's Test captain just two days before his appointment was to be announced has left the national selectors in a quandary.

Tendulkar, the senior-most member in the Indian squad, was expected to lead the side against Pakistan and Australia but decided to opt out at the last moment. Sources in the Board of Control for Cricket in India said the Mumbai batsman did not want to be burdened with such a huge responsibility at this stage of his career, and he is also unhappy with the way the selectors have been treating senior players.

The selectors are thus in a dilemma over whether to burden Mahendra Singh Dhoni with the Test leadership so early in his career or name another senior player.

Besides Dhoni, Anil Kumble, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman are the candidates who will be discussed when the selectors meet on Thursday in Mohali to also pick the squad for the last three ODIs against Pakistan.

Dhoni, who has played just 20 Tests, was named skipper of the one-day team last month after leading India to the Twenty20 World Cup triumph on debut.

Former India captain and chief selector Ajit Wadekar feels Dhoni has done a good job so far in the ODIs and could prove to be a good skipper in Tests too.

Former skipper Ravi Shastri though has warned the BCCI against burdening the dashing Jharkhand batsman with Test captaincy, while Madan Lal and Sanjay Manjrekar believe the job should go to veteran Kumble.

What do you feel? Should Dhoni be made Test captain keeping the future in mind, or Kumble handed the reins? Or should India fall back on Ganguly's experience as leader?

Have your say