Ygyan develops world's first Internet television portal

Nanda Kasabe

PUNE: Ygyan Consulting Pvt. Ltd., a Pune-based management consulting firm
specializing in technology services, has just completed work on developing www.hellovol.com.
It is the world's first Internet television portal for the newly launched
Videocon Internet television.

The Videocon Internet television, currently available in a 21-inch
configuration, has a built-in 56.6 kbps modem that allows users to connect to
the Internet. The television has two modes, one that allows you to watch
television and the second to surf the Net.

The television also includes a remote wireless keyboard with a built-in
trackball. The television has a mail client, which allows users check their mail
online (through a mail service like Hotmail) or even offline (through IMAP).
Thus, a user can configure the TV to check his mail at a pre-defined time.

For the Internet television consumer, Videocon has decided to provide
value-added services like free e-mail, one-year Internet connection (unlimited
hours), an online personal information manager, news, stock quotes, and
favorites. All these are provided through the portal www.hellovol.com.

"Ygyan Consulting is exclusively developing and managing the
portal," Ygyan managing director Anant Padmanabhan told CNS. "We are
positioning this as an entertainment product and do not make any claims to
replace the home computer. Therefore, the emphasis on television specific
portals," he explained. Just two months after the launch of the Internet
television in the market, over 1,000 sets have already been booked. Ygyan
expects at least 3 lakh users in the first year itself. Ygyan has technical
tie-ups with Rediff.com, Indiabulls.com and MantraOnline for ISP support.

"Our portal will provide free email access to TV sets. This would allow
the TV user to register with Hellvol and access email, POP and IMAP,"
Padmanabhan pointed out. Another unique feature of the site is the Personal
Information Manager that offers Web-based calendaring and scheduling facilities
including an appointments diary and a to-do list. In favorites, the user will be
able to have his or her personalized home page with links to preferred sites.

Ygyan is building the transfer interfaces that allow users to have a single
sign on so that a single registration process automatically registers him with
Mantra Online and Hellvol.

Videocon is already planning the upgraded versions of the Internet
television, which will have more memory, an MP3 player and Flash. "We plan
to come out with the new version in the next six months. And those who have gone
in for the existing model need not worry. Their sets can be upgraded to
accommodate the added features," Padmanabhan said.