Saturday, September 6, 2008

Education World

TEACHER SUBMITTED LESSON PLAN
Of Mice and Men: Cast the Roles
Students play casting directors and use their knowledge of Steinbeck's setting, style, and characterization to create a cast of actors for a film version of Of Mice and Men.

CURRICULUM
The First 180 Days: First-Year Teacher Diaries
Shaundalyn Elliott and Rich Henderson are members of this year's freshman class. They are brand-new teachers starting what we hope will be rewarding and satisfying careers. As if being a first-year teacher isn't enough -- Rich and Shaundalyn have invited thousands of visitors into their classrooms this year! Each week, they will share with Education World readers their thoughts and feelings about their first 180 days!

SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS NOTEBOOK
Principals Are Key to Success of Technology Learning
Each week Editor-in-Chief Gary Hopkins presents issues, programs, and resources to help Administrators to succeed.

SITE REVIEWS
American Presidents
This site, a companion to the C-Span television series American Presidents provides information on all the U.S. presidents, including brief biographies and other pertinent materials.

WEDNESDAY January 31, 2001


BOOKS IN EDUCATION
For Black History Month: Three Stirring Biographies
Celebrate Black History Month with new books based on the lives of three influential African Americans: Harriet Jacobs, Harriet Tubman, and Rosa Parks. Although their personal stories differed, all three women played pivotal roles in the ongoing struggle for freedom and equality for all Americans.

CURRICULUM
Student-Led Conferences Hold Kids Accountable
Would you like to find a way to actively engage students in their learning process and increase parent attendance at conferences? Student-led conferences can accomplish those two objectives. Included: Highlights of research about student-led conferences.

SITE REVIEWS
Youth Net
At Youth Net, students can collaborate on projects. Youth Net hosts K-12 interactive projects free of charge on its server.

TUESDAY January 30, 2001


CURRICULUM
The Bancroft Arnesen Expedition: Two Teachers Take to the Ice to Expand Classroom Walls
Braving wind and ice, Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen attempt to become the first women to cross Antarctica. As educators, they realize that the expedition could serve as an inspiration to children. As they struggle to attain their lifelong goal, they share their experiences with kids through the Internet. Included: A teacher and her students share their reactions to this ultimate virtual field trip!

SCHOOL ISSUES NOTEBOOK
NCES Report Offers Support for Universal Pre-K
Education World news editor Diane Weaver Dunne explores the latest hot issues in the education environment today!

SITE REVIEWS
The Solution Site
This site, a companion to the C-Span television series American Presidents provides information on all the U.S. presidents, including brief biographies and other pertinent materials.

MONDAY January 29, 2001


LESSON PLANNING
Lessons to Celebrate Black History Month!
February is the annual observance of Black History Month, a time to recognize the achievements, contributions, and culture of African Americans. This week, Education World offers ten innovative activities to start your celebration of Black History Month -- and to help you incorporate the African American experience into your curriculum all year long! Included: Challenge students to create ABC books, murals, and more about famous African Americans!

TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM
Get Outta Class With Virtual Field Trips
You look outside the classroom window and see yet another in a long string of stormy days. Your students are getting restless -- they're tired of being cooped up in the classroom all day. Don't worry! Take them outside virtually with online field trips developed just for students and teachers. Come on, it's a beautiful day for a virtual field trip! Included: Links to field trips of all sorts, from museums to a farm. Plus tips for creating your own virtual field trips!

GREAT SITES FOR TEACHING ABOUT ...
Groundhog Day
Each week, Education World's Great Sites for Teaching About … page highlights Web sites to help educators work timely themes into their lessons. In recognition of Groundhog Day, February 2, we've selected the best of the Web for teaching about Groundhog Day.

SITE REVIEWS
The Snorkel
The Snorkel is a "support forum for K-12 technology leaders." The site uses different technologies and provides set-up information so users may incorporate them into their sites.

FRIDAY January 26, 2001


TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM
Software Bargains for Teachers!
Does buying software for the classroom make your head spin? How do you get what you really need at a price that won't break your budget? Education World takes some of the confusion out of finding and pricing academic software with a quick tour of three online companies that cater to educators. Included: Price comparisons and help selecting software to meet your needs.

CURRICULUM
Chess Clubs Give Kids New Skills -- and New Hope!
Volunteers are teaching members of the Young Masters Chess Club in Reno, Nevada, how to play the game of chess -- and much more! Chess is a tool for teaching other skills as well, such as concentration and critical thinking. And it can help build student self-esteem. Indeed, it's a game that can change kids' lives! Included: Links to great chess Web sites and other chess resources.

DIVERSITY NOTEBOOK
Diversity News Wrap-Up
The latest resources for urban, high-poverty, and rural schools from Education World columnist Ellen R. Delisio


Friday, September 5, 2008

Food Guide Pyramid

Food Guide Pyramid


The Food Guide Pyramid is one way for people to understand how to eat healthy. A rainbow of colored, vertical stripes represents the five food groups plus fats and oils. Here's what the colors stand for:

  • orange — grains
  • green — vegetables
  • red — fruits
  • yellow — fats and oils
  • blue — milk and dairy products
  • purple — meat, beans, fish, and nuts

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) changed the pyramid in 2005 because they wanted to do a better job of telling Americans how to be healthy. The agency later released a special version for kids. Notice the girl climbing the staircase up the side of the pyramid? That's a way of showing kids how important it is to exercise and be active every day. In other words, play a lot! The steps are also a way of saying that you can make changes little by little to be healthier. One step at a time, get it?

The Pyramid Speaks

Let's look at some of the other messages this new symbol is trying to send:

Eat a variety of foods. A balanced diet is one that includes all the food groups. In other words, have foods from every color, every day.

Eat less of some foods, and more of others. You can see that the bands for meat and protein (purple) and oils (yellow) are skinnier than the others. That's because you need less of those kinds of foods than you do of fruits, vegetables, grains, and dairy foods.

You also can see the bands start out wider and get thinner as they approach the top. That's designed to show you that not all foods are created equal, even within a healthy food group like fruit. For instance, apple pie would be in that thin part of the fruit band because it has a lot of added sugar and fat. A whole apple — crunch! — would be down in the wide part because you can eat more of those within a healthy diet.

Make it personal. Through the USDA's MyPyramid website, people can get personalized recommendations about the mix of foods they need to eat and how much they should be eating. There is a kids' version of the website available too.

How Much Do I Need to Eat?

Everyone wants to know how much they should eat to stay healthy. It's a tricky question, though. It depends on your age, whether you're a girl or a boy, and how active you are. Kids who are more active burn more calories, so they need more calories. But we can give you some estimates for how much you need of each food group.

Grains

Grains are measured out in ounce equivalents. What the heck are they? Ounce equivalents are just another way of showing a serving size.

Here are ounce equivalents for common grain foods. An ounce equivalent equals:

  • 1 slice of bread
  • ½ cup of cooked cereal, like oatmeal
  • ½ cup of rice or pasta
  • 1 cup of cold cereal

* 4- to 8-year-olds need 4–5 ounce equivalents each day.
* 9- to 13-year-old girls need 5 ounce equivalents each day.
* 9- to 13-year-old boys need 6 ounce equivalents each day.

And one last thing about grains: Try make at least half of your grain servings whole grains, such as 100% whole-wheat bread, brown rice, and oatmeal.

Vegetables

Of course, you need your vegetables, especially those dark green and orange ones. But how much is enough? Vegetable servings are measured in cups.

* 4- to 8-year-olds need 1½ cups of veggies each day.
* 9- to 13-year-old girls need 2 cups of veggies each day.
* 9- to 13-year-old boys need 2½ cups of veggies each day.

Fruits

Sweet, juicy fruit is definitely part of a healthy diet. Here's how much you need:

* 4- to 8-year-olds need 1–1½ cups of fruit each day.
* 9- to 13-year-olds need 1½ cups of fruit each day.

Milk and Other Calcium-Rich Foods

Calcium builds strong bones to last a lifetime, so you need these foods in your diet.

* 4- to 8-year-olds need 2 cups of milk (or another calcium-rich food) each day.
* 9- to 13-year-olds need 3 cups of milk (or another calcium-rich food) each day.

If you want something other than milk, you can substitute yogurt, cheese, or calcium-fortified orange juice — just to name a few.

Meats, Beans, Fish, and Nuts

These foods contain iron and lots of other important nutrients. Like grains, these foods are measured in ounce equivalents.

An ounce equivalent of this group would be:

  • 1 ounce of meat, poultry, or fish
  • ¼ cup cooked dry beans
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon of peanut butter
  • ½ ounce (about a small handful) of nuts or seeds

* 4- to 8-year-olds need 3–4 ounce equivalents each day.
* 9- to 13-year-olds need 5 ounce equivalents each day.

Whoa! That's a lot to swallow. The good news is that your mom, dad, and the other grown-ups in your life will help you eat what you need to stay healthy. There's more good news — you don't have to become a perfect eater overnight. Just remember those stairs climbing up the side of the new pyramid and take it one step at a time.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

Bollywood Dhamaka Old Is Gold

ALL NEW UPDATES CAN BE FOUND AT OUR NEW LOOK SITE


BELOW YOU WILL FIND OLD STORIES

22nd October 2006 Stories
Salaam-E-Ishq video trailer online
Baabul second video trailer
Listen to song promos from Baabul
Yeh Mera Dil from Don already on You Tube
Farhan Akhtar broke the Don
Bagham Bhag video trailer
Write your review of DON
Write your review of Jaan-E-Mann
Guru new video trailer
Dhoom 2 wallpapers and stills
Dhoom 2 detailed character sketch
FILM PREVIEW: DHOOM 2 (2006)

20th October 2006 Stories
Sole purpose of Jaanemann is to entertain
Time Out London gives a thumbs up to Don
UK media ready shows for Diwali and Eid
Premiere Of Don - The Chase Begins Again
First Look: Bagham Bhag
Don the wait is finally over
Celebs Chew Up Views on Diwali Celebrations
Don of a new genre: Movie review
DON rocks its UK Previews!
Dhoom 2 to release with 4 other films
Listen to the full soundtrack of Dhoom 2
Mr Khujli songs online now
Bollywood Stars on Special Olympics International Cricket Cup
News tidbits for today
Dharmendra comeback film back in production
Ajay Devgan to star with Nana Patekar
Shah Rukh finally gets his poster autographed
Sholay remake release blocked by courts

19th October 2006 Stories
Urmila and Manisha grace Paulomi Sanghvi preview click here
Malaika & Sunil Shetty inaugurate 109°F fashion store click here
Shilpa Shetty sizzles for Rocky S at Blenders pride fashion tour click here
Will he be Shoaib Actor?
No Bollywood for Brett Lee
Lady Chatterjee is back with more music
Shah Rukh Khan The Don on Bollywood Tonight
Amitabh Bachchan watches Shah Rukh Khan’s Don?
Hrithik Roshan unveils Anaidas Nayaa pop album
Amrita Rao inaugurates Kipling store in India
Akshay,Preity and Salman scorch the ramp for Lycra MTV style awards
Hot pictures of Ashley Scott
700+ new hot pictures of Jessica Alba
300+ quality pictures of cars
30+ new sexy pictures of Kirsten Dunst
40+ new sultry pictures of Rachel Bilson
170+ new glossy pictures of Lacey Chabert
20+ new heart-thumping pictures of Sophie Ellis Baxter
30+ new sexy pictures of Tina O'Brien

18th October 2006 Stories
Bipasha & John at Popley's new statue unveil ceremony Click Here
Preity and her Zintadil attitude
Aarti Chabbria in a new avatar as Anamika
Sherlyn Chopra is the latest cover girl
Cook it like Esha Deol
Indira and Kiran get rave reviews
Addite Turns Positive for Dulhan on Zee
Vatsal Sheth Lives the HOSTEL Life
Sunny Deol Goes Shopping in London for Aalim!
Saarthi Completes Fabulous 400 episodes
Have you made a film?
Madhur Bhandarkar’s eunuch problem
Shah Rukh Khan suffers death in Pakistan
TV Queen to take on Ramu and Gabbar

17th October 2006 Stories
First Look: RGV's Sholay
Don cinema listings times for the UK
November TV listings for Zee, SET Asia, MAX
Bollywood actor websites launched
Bollywood actress websites launched
300 movie websites online now
600 hot wallpapers of Hollywood babes

16th October 2006 Stories
Shahrukh Khan unveils his Tag Heuer DON watch
Arjun Rampal at TT show for Blenders Pride fashion Tour
Shilpa & Kim grace Nisha Jamwal festive collection preview
King Khan dances for Khaike Paan song at DON bash

15th October 2006 Stories
Shah Rukh to star as baddie in Dhoom 3
Daughter of Munna Bhai takes up law
Arshad Warsi gets ready to fire again
Ujjwal to make film titles Life TV
Bhagam Bhag sold for a huge sum
Akbar Khan making film about Taxi Driver
Umrao Jaan tops music charts
Baabul video sees Rani looking glam
Official preview of Umrao Jaan
Official preview of Kaafila
Official preview of Mr. Khujli
Wallpapers: Mr. Khujli

14th October 2006 Stories
First Look: Baabul
First Look: Dhoom 2

Mythological Ravan new to Sundays on ZEE TV
Urdu movie Dulhan Banti… to premiere on ZEE
Four huge premieres on Sony & MAX in Nov
Ehsaan The Happiest Guy on His Birthday
Johny Aala Re Now with a Brand New Anchor
Jaan-e-Mann Now Out of Controversy
The Squashy Album - Jaan-e-Mann is the Winner All the Way
New Movie Stills: Umrao Jaan (2006)
New Movie Stills & Wallpapers: Baabul (2006)
Win Don Cinema Tickets
Win Krrish DVD
Win Umrao Jaan soundtrack CDs

13th October 2006 Stories
SRK releases a book on him - Still Reading Khan Click Here
Audio release of Apna Sapna Money Money Click Here
Jaan-e-Mann and UFO tie-up party Click Here
Big B celebrates birthday with his Fans Click Here
The Mocha Film Club Click Here
Film Club Story Click Here
Ramachandran directs Sanju and Asha Click Here
Sangeet Sivan talks about Money Money Click Here
Rahul Roy has a boy problem Click Here
Katrina Kaif is a dacoit Click Here
Ramu buys babe Nsha a gym Click Here
Amrita is more of a hit for Shahid than Kareena Click Here
Watch the premiere of Golmaal on Sony Click Here
How Arjun Rampal bagged 'Don'! Click Here
Priyanka talks about her role in DON Click Here
Amitabh to get highest French award Click Here
STAR Plus seals five-year contract for 'KBC' Click Here
Dhoni’s New Look by Bollywood’s Stylist Hakim Aalim Click Here
Film Preview: Parzania (2006) Click Here

12th October 2006 Stories
Apna Sapna Money Money Click Here
4 trailers of Umrao Jaan Click Here
Movie Review: Mannat(2006)Click Here
Gaurav Chopra and Saumya Tandon Dance to Shankar Ehsaan Loy's Tune! Click Here
Kahii To Hoga actor swaps serials Click Here
Star Plus bring together all the families Click Here
Film Preview: Yatra (2006) Click Here
Punjabi films out do Bollywood in UK Click Here
What’s wrong with Indian Cinema? Click Here

11th October 2006 Stories
Munisha Khatwani is the new entry in VaidehiClick Here
The truth about Shah Rukh Khan's Anita!Click Here
Circuit will become Big Brother host Click Here
'Don' goodies to be given away through UK media Click Here
Former sex symbol returns to movies Click Here

10th October 2006 Stories
Malaika Arora meets Nirvana contest winnersClick Here
Big B reveals look of Gabbar Singh Click Here
Kareena & Karisma grace Maheep Kapoor's preview Click Here
ZEE TV launches new series of 'Cinestars...'Click Here
Zee and Sony want Amitabh too Click Here
I don't feel like coming back to acting: Amol PalekarClick Here
Abhishek sure knows how to dump a girlClick Here
Interview: Himesh ReshammiyaClick Here
Movie Review: Waris Shah Click Here
How the 'Don' makers first met! Click Here
The DON night for British-AsiansClick Here

9th October 2006 Stories
Movie Review: Gafla Click Here
Movie Review: Jaana Click Here
Movie Review: Iqraar By Chance Click Here
Movie Review: Mere Dil Leke Dekho Click Here
Movie Review: Bhoot Unkle Click Here
Movie Review: Zindaggi Rocks Click Here
The all new Gabbar SinghClick Here
Aashish, Samitha on Zoom Click Here
New horizons for model Kanwal Toor Click Here
Nasir Kazi has come a long way Click Here
Ae..Ae..Ae..Phasaa… Click Here

7th October 2006 Stories
Neeraj Pathak Hits Click Here
Isha Koppikar and Watches Click Here
Sushmita Sen and the married Men Click Here
Movie Review: Dil Diya Hai Click Here

6th October 2006 Stories
The Swiss bliss in Mumbai Click Here
Maverick joins Sankranti of Mughal-e-Azam fame Click Here
Jackie to appear on Bollywood Tonight Click Here
Kkushi – The Third Generation to hit Bollywood Click Here
Zindaggi of Cinema Goers will Rock this Friday Click Here
Hollywood guy showing Neha what to do Click Here
ZEE & B4U go mad about Shah Rukh Click Here
TV18 to venture in film production Click Here
Jolie and Pitt in India for film Click Here

Event Photos: Dilwale Dulhania's 500 weeks Click Here
Event Photos: Zindaggi Rocks Press Conference Click Here
Wallpapers: Vivaah Click Here

5th October 2006 Stories
Aamir Khan not going to the Academy Awards Click Here
Sex kitten Mallika is dumb says Rahul Bose Click Here
Babe Urmila is getting trendy now Click Here
It is the time to sleep with Sameera Click Here
DON is the biggest release in North America Click Here
Bollywood fans propose Shilpa in droves Click Here
Soundtrack: Umrao Jaan (2006) Click Here
Stills: Apna Sapna Money Money Click Here
Stills: Bhoot Unkle Click Here
Stills: Mannat Click Here
Stills: Fool N Final Click Here

4th October 2006 Stories
Jackie and cast of Bhoot Unkle have a blast Click Here
Jaan-e-Mann is definitely going to rock Click Here
Shah Rukh is busy till September 2008 Click Here
Amisha Patel to ignite Zee Muzic all this month Click Here
Interview: Ruhul Amin Click Here
Mithun is doing a Bengali film Click Here

3rd October 2006 Stories
High Quality Wallpapers: Don - The Chase Begins Click Here
Event Photos: Umrao Jaan music launch Click Here
Photos: The men behind the Don Click Here
High Quality Stills: Umrao Jaan Click Here
High Quality Stills: Love Guru Click Here
High Quality Exclusive Wallpapers: Hrithik Roshan Click Here
High Quality Exclusive Wallpapers: Shilpa Shetty Click Here
High Quality Exclusive Wallpapers: Diana Hayden Click Here
High Quality Exclusive Wallpapers: The Challenge Click Here
Sexy Wallpapers: Eva Longaria Click Here
Sexy Photos: Mandy Moore Click Here
Secy Photos: Shakira Click Here
High Quality Posters: Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Click Here
Old Event Stills: Priyanka Chopra is Ebay Style Diva Click Here
Classic Photo: Hrithik Roshan with father Rakesh Click Here

2nd October 2006 Stories
Star Interview: Rimi Sen on Karan Nath Click Here
Rahul Bose in The Road to the Sky Click Here
Star Interview: Koena Mitra on Cruise and Khans Click Here
Aki Narula has designs on Don Click Here
Dia Mirza has positive vibes Click Here
Farhan and Ritesh to present for BBC Click Here

1st October 2006 Stories
American Blend out in theaters Click Here
Govinda makes Jamnabai Narsee dance Click Here
Sanjay Dutt joins in celebrations for Aalim Click Here
Iqraar By Chance releases on 6 October Click Here
Sameer Hanchate's different approach for Gafla Click Here
Shilpa Shetty endorsing an alcohol product Click Here
Take Saif and Abhishek for Achanak remake Click Here
Lara's smoking film has been shelved Click Here
More music cheaters in Bollywood Click Here
Nominees for Bollywood Music Awards 2006 Click Here
Event Photos: Govinda At Raas Garba Festival Click Here
Press Release Photos: Iqraar By Chance Click Here
Movie Stills: More from Don Click Here

DVR Technology

One of the greatest television innovations of the last few years has been the digital video recorder. For many people, this device is even better than the invention of high definition television - HD . Considering that the DVR makes it possible to watch television at your own pace and to break free from any time constraints or schedules for viewing television, this viewpoint is not much of a surprise. DVRs are proving incredibly popular because they make it so easy to watch television and to be able to watch the shows that people really want to see. Having the ability to easily record a program makes it possible to record a lot of programs that are of extreme interest to you so that you can watch only the most appealing programming when you get the time to sit down and watch television. Even if you have all the free time in the world, having the ability to easily record television makes it possible to watch the programs you want to watch even if more than one great show is playing at the same time. For example, if you are a huge fan of primetime television and have trouble deciding which show to watch each night because they all seem appealing, you can extend your prime time television watching out over the course of the day, even watching shows aired at night during the middle of the afternoon.

Brings New Life To Television Recordings

One of the greatest television innovations of the last few years has been the digital video recorder. For many people, this device is even better than the invention of high definition television - HD . Considering that the DVR makes it possible to watch television at your own pace and to break free from any time constraints or schedules for viewing television, this viewpoint is not much of a surprise. DVRs are proving incredibly popular because they make it so easy to watch television and to be able to watch the shows that people really want to see. Having the ability to easily record a program makes it possible to record a lot of programs that are of extreme interest to you so that you can watch only the most appealing programming when you get the time to sit down and watch television. Even if you have all the free time in the world, having the ability to easily record television makes it possible to watch the programs you want to watch even if more than one great show is playing at the same time. For example, if you are a huge fan of primetime television and have trouble deciding which show to watch each night because they all seem appealing, you can extend your prime time television watching out over the course of the day, even watching shows aired at night during the middle of the afternoon.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

3G Mobile

3G phone: The Motorola V1150 UMTS compatible mobile phone with a 2MP digital camera and a VGA video camera built in at the CeBIT technology trade fair on March 10 in Hanover, Germany. Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images

If you're planning to buy a fancy PDA-phone or a 'smartphone' in the near future, check whether it's 3G compatible. If it isn't, it will either be obsolete by the end of the year, or certainly won't be as much fun to use.

For, five years after they first made an entrance and enticed a host of European telecom companies to bid over �100 billion in license fees, and then go bust, the next generation of mobile technology (3G) is finally here.

For those who want to access the Net -- and that's really why you want a PDA-phone -- the 3G offers data speeds of well over 2 Mbps, which is over 10-20 times faster than what's available today on mobile phones that have GPRS facilities, or even on land lines that have what passes for broadband in most homes in the country today.

While there are already 20 million customers who have migrated to 3G mobiles (this was around six million last June), from the 2G GSM-platform globally, the state-owned Mahanagar Telecom Nigam Ltd has already floated a tender to four million lines of 3G equipment in India.

Market leader Airtel is currently surveying the market to see what capacity it wants to roll out with initially. By the end of next year, there could well be three operators offering 3G services in the country.

Since 3G is seen as a pricey technology in what is essentially a price-sensitive market, how well it will do on introduction will depend upon what kind of tariff plans are offered to customers, including the cost of the handsets.

While no local player has firmed up business plans as yet, no price plans can be indicated. But the European experience offers some valuable pointers on both costs of instruments as well as tariff plans.

3G-compatible handsets that cost around $700 last year are already down to around $300, and are expected to drop below $200 by the end of the year. By 2008, industry is looking at this halving.

The per line costs of a 3G network, similarly, have fallen dramatically, and are around 30 to 40 per cent higher than that for a conventional 2G network today.

But the advantage is that for the same amount of spectrum (the airwaves over which telecom signals are carried), a 3G network can carry over four to five times more voice traffic than a 2G network can, apart from giving high speed data access -- the effective costs, therefore, come down to levels that are not too much higher than existing 2G networks.

In Europe, 3G service companies have been dropping voice tariffs dramatically, though in return for a certain minimum bill size per month. Packages offered to customers committing to use 1,000 minutes a month in Europe are charging voice tariffs that are around half those available today on conventional 2G networks.

As a result, European telecom firms are looking at getting an average revenue per user, or ARPU, which is between 25 and 40 per cent higher than of a 2G bill.

Will price-sensitive Indian consumers shift in large enough numbers to a 3G system? While there's no doubt the market is low-value with each customer yielding just Rs 400 a month to the mobile phone companies (after deducting the licensing revenue share), around 5 to 10 per cent of customers pay monthly bills of more than Rs 1,000 per month.

Since most European 3G telecom firms are comfortable with customers who pay 25 to 40 per cent more than the average, this means potential 3G networks in India can bank upon a market of at least two to three million to begin with, and a lot more if they offer voice calls at a price lower than that offered by existing 2G networks.

Industry experts, however, are of the view that around 10 per cent of the existing 50 million mobile subscribers will move to 3G once it is introduced.

Over the past one year, according to data just released by IDC, non-voice revenue (basically SMS and surfing) for mobile phones grew by 139 per cent over the year.

This constitutes 5 per cent of current ARPUs and is expected to jump to 10 per cent within the next 12 months.

Another potential market that is growing by leaps and bounds today, and which could readily switch to 3G, is the current broadband Internet one, since speeds offered are many multiples of what is currently being offered.

And since the government has not allowed private providers to use MTNL [Get Quote]/ BSNL's existing copper lines to access customers, broadband Internet simply has to ride on a 3G backbone.

Airtel, which has an existing broadband customer base of around 100,000, says the growth is around 10,000 per month.

The only hitch right now could be a regulatory one with both GSM and CDMA (Reliance [Get Quote] Infocomm, primarily) operators locked in a battle over allocation of the 3G spectrum.

While GSM operators argue that the 1920-1980 and 2110-2170 Mhz spectrum frequency is the global standard for 3G operations (whether by GSM or CDMA players), the CDMA operators want this frequency for their current non-3G operations.

While the telecom regulator appears in favour of granting the CDMA operators what they want, the telecom ministry has not yet made up its mind on the matter.

This decision will determine whether Indians get to use 3G or not by the end of the year.

3G phone: The Motorola V1150 UMTS compatible mobile phone with a 2MP digital camera and a VGA video camera built in at the CeBIT technology trade fair on March 10 in Hanover, Germany