What is a SIM Card ?

What is a SIM Card ? 

A SIM card or Subscriber Identity Module is a portable memory chip used in some models of cellular telephones. The SIM card makes it easy to switch to a new phone by simply sliding the SIM out of the old phone and into the new one. The SIM holds personal identity information, cell phone number, phone book, text messages and other data. It can be thought of as a mini hard disk that automatically activates the phone into which it is inserted. 

A SIM card can come in very handy. For example, let's say your phone runs out of battery power at a friend's house. Assuming you both have SIM-based phones, you can remove the SIM card from your phone and slide it into your friend's phone to make your call. Your carrier processes the call as if it were made from your phone, so it won't count against your friend's minutes. 

If you upgrade your phone there's no hassle involved. The SIM card is all you need. Just slide it into the new phone and you're good to go. You can even keep multiple phones for different purposes. An inexpensive phone in the glove compartment, for example, for emergency use, one phone for work and another for home. Just slide your SIM card into whatever phone you wish to use. 

High-end cell phones can be very attractive and somewhat pricey. If you invest in an expensive phone you might want to keep it awhile. Using a SIM card, it is even possible to switch carriers and continue to use the same phone. The new carrier will simply issue you their own SIM card. The phone must be unlocked, however, and operate on the new carrier's frequency or band. 

A SIM card provides an even bigger advantage for international travelers -- simply take your phone with you and buy a local SIM card with minutes. For example, a traveler from the U.S. staying in the U.K. can purchase a SIM card across the pond. Now the phone can be used to call throughout England without paying international roaming charges from the carrier back home. 

SIM cards are used with carriers that operate on the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) network. The competing network is Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), a technology created by U.S. company Qualcomm. As of fall 2005, CDMA cell phones and CDMA carriers do not support SIM cards in most parts of the world, though this is changing. A CDMA SIM card called the R-UIM (Re-Useable Identification Module) was made available in China in 2002, and will eventually be available worldwide. Expectations for the future include a cell phone market that supports both SIM (GSM) and R-UIM (CDMA) cards by default.

What’s a mobile phone virus?

What’s a mobile phone virus? 

A mobile phone virus or mobile malware - malicious mobile software - is a computer virus specifically adapted for the mobile phone environment and designed to spread from one vulnerable phone to another. 

A virus is a program code that replicates by being copied to another program. Viruses can be transmitted as attachments to an email or in a download file. Some viruses take effect as soon as their code is executed; other viruses can lie dormant. A virus that replicates by resending itself as an email attachment or as a part of a network message is known as a worm. 

Viruses can range from benign to quite harmful; they can erase data from the infected phone or send fake messages purporting to be from the phones owner. How prevalent are mobile phone viruses? The current security risk from mobile phone viruses and worms is low. 

Until many more smart phones or PDAs are in use, and users of these phones are regularly exchanging executable files, the risk will remain low. The mobile industry takes the threat of viruses very seriously and is continually monitoring its networks and working to protect users from any future risk from mobile phone viruses. There are also some simple measures that individual users can implement to protect themselves. 

What can I do to protect my phone? 

The following tips can help prevent problems with viruses on your phone: 

1. Switch to Bluetooth hidden mode. If your phone has Bluetooth capability, ensure that the Bluetooth capability is switched to hidden or invisible mode unless you specifically need it to be visible. This will help prevent other Bluetooth-enabled devices from finding your phone (unless you grant them the necessary permission) and will therefore help protect your phone from worms that spread using the Bluetooth wireless technology. 

2. Exercise caution before opening attachments. When accepting applications sent via Bluetooth, or opening MMS attachments, exercise caution, just as you would when opening an email attachment on your PC, because they may include harmful software. Ensure the application or attachment comes from a known source, and is wary of opening files that have unfamiliar text attached to them, even if they come from someone you know. 

3. Only download content from a trusted source. Trusted sources may include operator portals and other well-known brands that offer adequate protection against viruses and other harmful software. Be aware though that, as with emails, malicious or fraudulent users may be able to fake the appearance of a trusted source. 

4. Consider anti-virus software. Some software is available to prevent phone viruses. You may wish to consider downloading this software. 

5. Contact your phone manufacturer if concerned. If you think you have a virus, call the phone manufacturer’s care line. They can assist you confirm if it is a virus, and help fix the problem.

Intel's New processor

Intel's New processor

Intel Core i7 965 Extreme Edition Processor

"Highest performing processor on the planet"

Price: $1,299.99 Canadian

Rs. 51,125 Indian

Check out the most significant architectural change in the x86 architecture in 13 years, the Intel Core i7. Intel has completely reinvented their CPU design, removing the antiquated Front Side Bus and replacing it with the new Intel Quick Path Interconnect, delivering up to 6.4 GT/s. Also new to the Core i7 line is the integrated memory controller, supporting Triple Channel DDR3 Memory allowing for more maximum memory, up to 24GB on some boards, and faster access times. Located directly on the CPU die is 256KB per core of L2 cache and 8MB L3 cache shared across all four cores means the CPU can do more without having to access the main memory, further increasing performance. 

The Intel Core i7 processor is the latest in cutting edge processor technology for the desktop PC. Based on the new Intel Nehalem micro architecture, the Intel Core i7 processor delivers four complete execution cores within a single processor along with the rebirth of Intel Hyper Threading Technology, delivering unprecedented performance and responsiveness in multi-threaded and multi-tasking business and home use environments and the ability to simultaneously process up to 8 separate threads.

The unprecedented performance of the Intel Core i7 processor is made possible by each of the four complete execution cores delivering the full power of Intel Nehalem micro architecture. More instructions can be carried out per clock cycle, shorter and wider pipelines execute commands more quickly, and improved bus lanes move data throughout the system faster. This quad-core, eight-thread processor represents Intel’s continued leadership and drive of multi-core processing and more parallel computing.

Doing More with Intel Quad-Core

The Intel Core i7 processor is at the center of todays most interactive and content rich software experiences. The evolving set of threaded multi-media applications, including digital content creation, will shine as users are able to complete tasks faster. Game play can achieve even greater visualization and realism as tasks such as artificial intelligence (AI), physics, and rendering can be distributed across each of the four complete execution cores and run in parallel.

Code Name Bloomfield XE

Socket LGA1366

Fabrication Process 45 nanometer high-k 

Processing Cores 4 Cores

# Of Threads 8 Threads

Clock Speed 3.20 GHz

Internal Base Clock 133 MHz

CPU Multiplier 24x

QPI Speed 6.4 gig transfers per second

L1 Cache 32 KB x 4

L2 Cache 256 KB x 4

L3 Cache 8 MB shared

VID Voltage Range 0.85 V minimum

  1.225 V maximum

Maximum Current 110 A

Thermal Design Power 130 W

Memory Support DDR3-1333

DDR3-1066

DDR3-800

Memory Voltage Range 1.50 V minimum

1.65 V maximum

Supported Features Enhanced Intel Speed step Technology

Intel EM64T

Intel Virtualization Technology

Intel Turbo Mode Technology

SSE 4.2

Enhanced Halt State (C1E)

Execute Disable Bit (XD Bit)

Intel Thermal Monitor 2