Samsung M30 and Airtel VoWiFi

Samsung M30 comes with VoWiFi a very useful feature for Indoor voice calls. This can be enabled by enabling at Settings->Connection->WiFi calling. I have tested it with Airtel and i know from friend that it works with Reliance Jio. It seamlessly hands off call between VoLTE and VoWiFi. So if you step out of your home then you will get connected to VoLTE. VoWiFi is indicated by a phone receiver symbol along with WiFi symbol on the top of your phone. It works with SIM 1 and SIM2.

After enabling there are few bugs which are there:

1. If one use bluetooth, the VoWiFi does not work (My VoWiFi provider is Airtel. Not sure whose problem is it). So switch off the bluetooth to enable VoWiFi.

2. It sometimes hang esp if use medium/maximum power saving or adaptive power saving. If you have used any of this and you do not see VoWiFi symbol you will need to restart the phone to get VoWiFi.

Enjoy VoWiFi and always buy a phone with VoWiFi going forward. This will ensure you have lesser call drop problem.

Getting Hypothecation Termination in Bangalore

In case you are looking to get the "Hypothecation Termination" for your vehicle in Bangalore, Karnataka (Electronic city KA51 is being mentioned here specifically) it has become quite simple even if you approach directly rather than through an agent (Agent charge Rs 1000/- and claims to deliver in flat 2 days).

Few things which you need to take care:

1. Form 35, filled by the financer (has to be submitted within 3 months of getting it from the financier), insurance copy, pollution control copy, RC xerox copy, aadhar or any ID proof copy and original RC  in a small plastic cover (which you can get at the Xerox shop near by).
2. You need to carry a self-addressed envelope (45 Rs stamp) for speed post to send back the RC.
3. The Xerox person will help you to put all in one bundle in a particular order.
4. Submit it at RTO frontdesk (Opp to where RTO sits) to check the submission and then pay the Rs 200/- fee.
5. After the payment, you need to get the signature from the RTO and submit back at the desk near the cashier or opposite where the RTO sits. Get an acknowledgement slip.
6. You can know the status of application here. In case it is stuck please get phone number of the personal and track to closure. The whole process may take a month. This happens automatically in case you go through an agent.
7. Once its verified, one should get the RC in a week's time to your home address.

Hope it helps someone to do it the proper way.

Buying apartment in Bangalore: A contrarian view

Buying apartment using a loan in  Bangalore is a bad idea. There are enough article on it. Simple logic for that if you pay 11% interest and the appreciation of property in bangalore is max 7% it just does not make sense. The rental return is 3-4%, hence even assuming rental income the return is not worth to invest in real estate and even a simple FD does a better return. Bangalore unlike Mumbai and Chennai can grow in concentric circles and as the outskirts develop the rate of buying a new apartment will turn out to be cheaper than buying an existing apartment in a well developed area.

Buying apartment for emotional reason is what drives most of the investment. Emotional reason can include reason of "settling down near the kids school", "proclivity to spend and hence the associated inability to save in anything other than real estate" and so on.    Assuming you have to made a decision to invest in an apartment
, is there a better fashion to invest so that it at least ensures that we do not lose the capital corrected for inflation when we want to exit.

The key here is to invest in apartment during the construction phase. In this phase you need to pick up a builder who usually deliver and does not cheat. The builder should be picking up only reasonable projects at a time and should not be stretching thin. The builder is not known to complete the structure fast and spend disproportionate time in the final stages before delivery. In this scenario you would have paid 90% of your payment as per the structure construction schedule and you will be in a double whammy situation of paying the rent and interest/EMI which squeeze your quality of life till you get the delivery of apartment. So having found a builder who is reasonable, pick a builder who spends more time on structure (this means you can pay the part payment from your saving rather than your loan) and lesser during the completion phase. This will ensure your interest outgo later will be minimized and can go directly to your bottomline. Now if you can find a builder whose part payment schedule matches with your savings profile, you can own an apartment without spending much on the interest. This means you can still end up with a return of 3-4% from rental (in case you plan to rent it out)+ 7% appreciation which is better than FDs if not better than large cap equity mutual fund. Assuming even 5% inflation, we will still be doing a better return than FD.

Another aspect is Bangalore is that there are pockets of high sqft cost  area and relative low cost area. Pick a low cost area if that is where you saving profile matches rather than stretching to buy in a costly area. Worst case you can rent the apartment in the area you bought and rent it in the area near office/school. This will ensure you are covered for the worst case scenario of sudden rental increase. The rental difference between any two area in bangalore is hardly 10% which from return perspective will take a max 1% hit on your capital. The rough cost of construction for a high quality construction in Bangalore (for a low rise) is 2800-3000 per sqft in bangalore (electronic city area at least). So any addition to it is for the premium for land and all the facilities. So keep your cost of acquiring the property near it. And the right pick is one where you get the max value for money.

The third aspect is buy slightly higher sqft house if your budget allows and if you are willing to stretch. This will ensure that you do not find yourself crammed the day you move in to the new house and you think of then buying a even bigger and newer house.

Having said this contrarian view, it still makes sense to rent and stay unless you are driven by emotional reasons.

Applying fastag in Bangalore

I recently applied fastag in Bangalore. This is done by ICICI Bomanahalli branch. One can contact Ram @ 8951879026 to get the form. The filled application form along with RC, KYC document, Cheque of minimum 500/- and passport size photo is needed to apply. It takes a week before one gets a confirmation SMS on your registered mobile. The account number in this mail can be used to register a new account and access the status of your account.


They are supposed to hand deliver the RFID but it does not happen and you will have to go to Bomanahalli branch to collect it. Ram would claim he will deliver in a day or two and that day never arrives :(. This i am told is because there is large number of new request that the sales person is fully involved in getting new customer rather than servicing the RFID delivery. The RFID tag itself is in short supply at ICICI bangalore due to the sudden surge in demand due to demonetization. If you visit in person at the branch after confirmation of tag availability they will give you in 10-15 mins.

Another option is to visit BETL office near electronic city toll bridge. Here again due to recent surge in demand one cannot get the tag.

What is CRiOS and OPiOS?

Recently i have been seeing this as web browser in the web tracker. It looks like it is chrome browser version of IOS and Opera browser verison for IOS. It seems if one does

if (Request.UserAgent != null && Request.UserAgent.IndexOf("crios",StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase) > -1)
{
    this.ClientTarget = "uplevel";
}

to check on the chrome version of IOS and hopefully same may apply for the other browser as it comes with that as the file name

OPiOS/9.2.0.88656 was an Opera Mini for iOS Update
Release date: Tue., 03. Feb. 2015
Source: http://blogs.opera.com/mobile/2015/02/drag-open-new-tabs-search-better-opera-mini-9-2-ios/

Surrendering BSNL landline

Recently i moved to a different location and unfortunately there was no option for BSNL connection as the resident association it seems had refused BSNL due to the latter's inability to provide requisite free intercom connection to the security guarding each block. So i thought of surrendering the connection and getting back the advance amount. I was surrendering in J P Nagar, Bangalore. The procedure was simple as mentioned below:

1. You need to give an application of surrender in CSC of BSNL. In Jayanagar 4th Block, the office behind the CSC on the 9th Main road (https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/BSNL+Telephone+Exchange/@12.9250648,77.5766183,15z/data=!4m5!1m2!2m1!1sBSNL+jayanagar!3m1!1s0x0000000000000000:0xd95f46f1640f888f) connecting Jayanagar bus stand to 24th Main road.
2. Then you will get a form which needs to be filled and it also include details on your IFSC code of the bank where money need to be transferred as well as present address. 
3. After the form is signed in the First floor and getting a seal you need to submit in the accounts section. They will in turn adjust the pending amount and give a note on what is the amount of refund.
4. Though IFSC code was provided i got a cheque sometime back in the address mentioned in the form.
5. This can be submitted to the bank to get your pending amount. The whole process took around 2 months.
6. One aspect i found was that they gave me a corporation bank cheque and i could drop in any branch of SBI (where i have an account in some other town) and it got credited to my account. The whole process of dropping the cheque was made automatic with a scanned copy of the cheque and receipt details provided to you for tracking.

Hope it helps some of you.

Eureka Forbes service center in Bangalore

Eureka Forbes service center near hosur road/electronic city is near the kudlu gate and as indicated in the google map image below. The service quality is mediocre but then one have no choice w.r.t. other agency nearby.

Ultra service center

Ultra service center in Bangalore is along the Lalbagh Road slightly ahead of the passport registration center office in Lalbagh road. Pls note that this is a one way and you have to come through the lalbagh road and there is a small road to the right after ashwini darshan and hi tech car opp slightly earlier than honda scooter showroom and Aadhar registration office of Alankit.

There is no point going there unless it is urgent else they now offer home service in Bangalore where you can register yourself through their toll free number 1800 102 2040.

Transfer gas connection from parent to son/daughter in Bangalore

I had recently done this process for transfer. I followed the process to T as specified in the website of Indane gas but found that the actual requirement in ground is different. After 5 trips to the local gas dealer I have finally transferred it. This process is applicable for transfer from Father/Mother (Transferor) to Son/Daughter (Transferee) while the parent is staying with you. Let me put down the process and hopefully it will save time for others.




1.  Use the format below. Cut and paste it to a word document and fill the details. They are expecting a printed document with signature not a handwritten document.

FORMAT FOR TRANSFER OF DOMESTIC LPG CONNECTION

To,

Name & Address of the Distributorship: 

From: Name of the Transferor:-

Address of the Transferor:- 

Subscription Voucher (SV) number:-                dated           Consumer No: 

Name of the Transferee:- 

Address of Transferee:- 

Relationship with Transferor:- 

Type of Transfer/

Regularization (Tick

The appropriate Box[ ])

[ ]Type A:- Transfer by Subscriber to Family member

[ ]Type B:- Transfer outside family

[ ] Type C:- Transfer without consent letter from Transferor

[ ]Type D:- Transfer to the next of kin in case of death of subscriber

[ ]Type E:- Regularization of connection (LPG equipment held without possessing SV).

Declaration of Transferor (Strike off if not applicable)

I Mr/Mrs/Ms   __________________                   , am no more in need of the above mentioned LPG connection and request you to transfer the same to the transferee. I hereby authorize you to handover the security deposit amount held in my name to Mr/Mrs/Ms  _____________________. I hereby confirm that I will not have any claim at a later date on you in respect of the said LPG connection or the equipment/ security deposit towards the same.

Name:                                    Signature:                                 Date: __________             Place: Bangalore

Declaration by Transferee / Regularized customer

I Mr/Mrs/Ms  __________________ an Indian Citizen above 18 years of age, hereby confirm that I will submit documents required by the LPG connection, deposit security amount for loan of the LPG equipment as per your terms and conditions. I request you to transfer the above mentioned LPG connection in my name OR issue subscription voucher in my name for the equipment presently held by me without SV (Strike out whichever is not applicable)  

I hereby undertake to indemnify M/s Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) /BPCL/HPCL against any claims whatsoever arising in respect of the LPG connection transferred / regularized in my name and the equipment / security deposit thereunder

I also affirm as under:-

·         That I am not in possession of LPG connection of IOC/BPCL/HPCL for my domestic use, either in my name or in name of any of my family members residing with me in the same dwelling unit.

·         That my household is independent of other households or kitchens if any within the same address

·         That if any information/declaration given by me in this undertaking or any documents submitted by me for availing this LPG connection whether in support of KYC/Identity/date of birth/residence proof/ Death certificate etc., shall be found untrue or incorrect or false, IOC/BPCL/HPCL would be within its right to withdraw the supply of Gas/terminate the LPG connection/seize the equipment/forfeit the security deposit & that I would have no claim, whatsoever against the IOC/BPCL/HPCL for such withdrawal/termination/seizure/forfeiture.

I hereby verify and confirm that what has been stated above is true to the best of my knowledge and nothing material has been concealed therefrom.

Name: ______________________ Signature_________                      Date:__________            Place: Bangalore

Declaration by Distributor

I confirm having physically verified the above premise on _______________ and found it to be independent household with separate kitchen at the address _____________________________________

Name of the visiting Distributor’s representative ________________________

Signature _____________                                                                                    Distributor’s seal and signature

2. Fill the above form and submit with the following document. Pls do not miss anything:

• RR Number of the electricity connection
• Rent agreement( in case on rent )
• Aadhar Card copy
• Bank linkage to Aadhar number (if already done nothing needed to be submitted else a cancelled check with IFSC code and account number details needs to be submitted)
• Proof of residence (BSNL telephone bill or ration card)
• Ration card
• Original Subscription Voucher (SV) 
• Identity Proof  (please use passport as it needs to show the son/daughter relationship to tranferee)

3. After all this documents are submitted go and collect the new SV voucher in 2-3 days.

4. wait for 2 weeks for the transfer to get affected.

5. Register through IVRS to book new cylinder

Pls note that the new customer number starts with CX and you should use only the digit after the CX while registering the customer number through IVRS. Hope it is useful.