Utterly lame plan

       Your TOT admitted that its plan to build a third-generation (3G) yuppiephone network was so lame that not even the government wanted to look at it; board spokesman Ratian Srimongkol said his colleagues had optimistically submitted a plan to spend 29 billion baht on 3G, but the government wasn't even bothering to look at it; because it is vital to start 3G service by Dec 5, your TOT will now withdraw the current plan and re-submit an earlier plan, which calls for upgrading 533 base stations used by its teensy little cute mobile phone company Thai Mobile ,aka SuthepNet; it would allow people along the Airport Link route to use the 3G service, assuming that the Airport Link ever opens.
       Ranongruk Suwanchawee, high on the list for consideration as one of the best Ministers of Information and Communications Technology Minister of Thailand this entire year, also found time to defend the nation's security;rushing from her already frantic schedule of bringing the very highest technology to her country, she demanded that the court block all those horrid and wicked websites with copies of "that audio clip" of Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva; the file is an obvious, immediate threat to Thai national security,she pointed out, even worse than the other 17,000-plus websites she has personally banned since March, and thus demanding her personal attention; in keeping with the modesty of them minister, almost the entire country managed to withhold its gratitude.
       True Corp said it was just kidding about selling 100,000 Apple iPhone 3G handsets this year; if early demand for the Wi-Fi-outfitted phone holds up, it now expects to sell at least 150,000;deputy chief commercial officer Papon Ratanachaikanont said early demand was "surprisingly positive" and "beyond our expectations" and,"We are now facing a supply shortage," even though Apple has agreed to direct some shipments from other countries to Thailand, and even though there is no 3G service on which to use the phones to their potential.Nokia Thailand said it was certain the sales of yuppiephone handsets would pick up soon, although the company was managing to weather the economic storm; general manager Shumit Kapoor estimated he would increase sales by maybe one percent this,after earlier predictions the market would shrink by five per cent.
       Sorayud Petchtrakul, adviser to Industry Minister Charnchai Chairungrueng, explained that Thailand was as far behind in auto planning than in phones; the whole concept of eco-cars,which is still in the planning stages like 3G phones, is already outdated.
       Electronics makers in Southeast Asia got way out in front of their governments,predicting that the recession is basically over and just watch their dust as they quickly recover between now and New Year's Eve; Anusorn Muttaraid, director of Thailand's Delta Electronics , told the Reuters business agency that his new orders are steadily increasing, and "I think the weakness in electronic component demand has hit bottom in the second quarter;" Taiwan laptop makers are revising forecasts for PC shipments between now and the holidays, while orders for semiconductor materials from Japan outpaced sales for the fourth quarter in a row; the disconnect between the technology businessmen and the rest of the world was illustrated beautifully by the timidity of Adithep Vanabriksha of Aberdeen Asset Management in Bangkok, who said:"We have to monitor whether demand is growing through next year or it's just only because their clients want to replenish their inventories;" electronics makers have no such doubt.
       The Osaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry sent a business delegation to Thailand; OCCI vice-chairman Makoto Kato said that Japanese investment threatens to flood out Thailand with high-tech companies and life-science labs - once the recession ends in both countries; the end of economic problems will encourage a whole new wave of Japanese investment, he said, in hightechnology and value-added industries.
       Mitsubishi Motors of Japan told the Industry Ministry that in support for a little investment help, it would love to product lithium-battery cars in Thailand,where "a little help" means investment privileges, help with supply lines and free import of motors and batteries from Japan; the planned car would travel 160 kilometres before being plugged into the mains for a recharge.Robert Bosch Thailand began selling a fully sealed auto battery, designed to last more than 18 months without maintenance including top-ups; general manager Yingyuad Whangprayoat said the battery uses "calcium production technology."
       Young US-born businessman Peter Austin Onruang opened up an office in the main Phloenchit Road area to market the Magicjack telephone gizmo, which provides a US telephone in any Thailand location for $20 a year, or less than 700 baht in real money; Mr Peter has produced a series of Thai-language adverts and infomercials as part of what he says is a tough job in getting full acceptance by major vendors in Thailand.