Indonesia will soon join Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines in making available Apple Inc.'s much coveted iPhone 3G mobile handset. PT Telekomunikasi Seluler (Telkomsel), the nation's largest cellular operator, is hopeful it can launch the product soon, Telkomsel president director Sarwoto Atmosutarno said.

Your comments: I use a Blackberry Bold with Telkomsel. As well as using a Huawei E220 HSDPA modem on the same Telkomsel account. For mobile browsing it is okay, not fast, just okay. So if you are stuck somewhere, you can at least read up on the news. Do not try streaming video, though.

Blackberry uses Blackberry APN, which I am told is a higher level of service (and pricier) than standard GPRS/3G. So when other people cannot browse, my Blackberry still can receive email and browse, I guess.

However I did a side-by-side comparison of a Huawei E220 on Telkomsel and on IM2. The result, IM2 gives me six times more bandwidth at 300Kbps (speed test) versus Telkomsel's barely 50Kbps. That's 3.5G for you!

Donald

I'd just say that if users can access a reasonably good WiFi connection then this can offset problems with GPRS. I agree GPRS connection is basically useless here (or, at best, unstable).

Ed

*Jaipong' ban in West Java

Again and again, the pornography bill is walking over everything. In my previous comments about Balinese art, I said the bill would not only ban one aspect of Indonesian culture, but most of it.

It is because the bill does not reflect the wishes of the people. Now they have banned the jaipong and ketuk tilu dances, the traditional dances from West Java.

It is very arrogant of whoever created the porn bill. We are proud of Indonesian cultural diversity, but you destroy it. Where are you taking our diversity?

Duli Muhlis Munawar

Depok, West Java

Seeing how women consistently get the blame for everything "lustful" that comes into men's thoughts, I could only laugh bitterly when the House passed the ludicrously dumb pornography law.

Now forward-thinking Indonesians should just sit back and expect things like this to happen. We are powerless. Forward-thinking is apparently not appreciated in Indonesia.

I'd say shame on you, Governor! I don't know if he reads the paper (I would be very surprised if he does), but someone should give him an article from this paper about how 90 percent plus women in Egypt are still facing harassment despite their fully clothed and veiled attire.

It is sickening to think that in this day and age, people in your office would think women are to blame for all sexual harassment and the "indecent thoughts" of men.

I guess your hands, feet and balls are tied to the institution that brought you there, huh?

Stefanni Mosiana

Import fertilizers as production falls -- Feb. 10, Online

The government has decided to import 500,000 tons of fertilizer to secure supplies, as production from local producers continues to decline due to insufficient gas supplies.

Your comments:

Dear President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, I am writing this letter to let you know that it is time to stop importing basic items from foreign countries, but instead empower Indonesian farmers to produce organic fertilizer on their own. It is easy to make and not costly.

Please do not keep subsidizing poor Indonesians, but instead provide them the opportunity to develop themselves.

I know you are a good president and are willing to help improve the poor's standard of living but it really needs a comprehensive system from the United Indonesian Cabinet to to do it.

Yayuk Mardiati

Iowa, US

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