On my flights back to the United States and on my flights back to India, I do a James Bond. I start by twisting my watch's ear. After that, I take out my cash clip and place the India credit cards and currency at the back and the U.S. ones at the front (or the other way round). No, I don't do passports, sorry. Next, I flip open my mobile device, change SIM cards ( AT&T for U.S., Vodafone for India) because I don't like international roaming rates (do you?). I endlessly amuse curious onlookers and myself (hey, it's more fun than re-re-heated airplane fish). But this Bond act -- sans the gadgets or the companionship -- will be only half as right as Casino Royale. Forget the India-U.S. hike; if James Bond wasn't blessed by his government, he'd need a lot more N=1 mojo to do all the intercontinental acts he does. Like what, you ask? Let me focus on just two industries, and please let me grouse.

Financial Transactions

My bank in the United States doesn't really talk to my bank in India. My bank in India thinks it's so special because it kinda understands what my U.S. bank is saying in dollars (hello, try me, I'm better ... I speaketh Inglis). Every month, when my company transfers money from the United States to India, they remind me to adhere to " RBI norms" -- type up the same stuff, sign it, put a rubber stamp on it (I just don't get India's obsession with ink-dipped stamps) and have Parashuram (my office attendant, my hero) hand-deliver the "request" to their branch and then ... it's a black hole until the money appears. I go crazy playing peek-a-boo with my online account.

On the personal side (yeah, like I'm a different person!), the branch of my U.S. bank doesn't talk to its brother in India -- the India guys have no idea how much money they loaned me in the United States and the U.S. guys have no idea how I use their own bank's India credit card. Oh, don't I love them -- forget N=1, this is N=0. Here's a very simple first step: Make the two databases talk. More? Read "IT Matters" (Chapter 4) -- it's a rock-solid chapter that every business manager must learn to explain in his sleep.

Telecom Transactions

Skype is free, most VoIP will be free, the Internet will be free, phones will be free. But you already know that. Mobile devices easily latch onto any floating wireless connection and get you online. Your Blackberry talking device acts as a tethered modem and pushes heavy files from your laptop onto ether (same monthly price). When there's so much free love, why does your mobile phone provider want to put your international adventures on a leash? Dismally, everyone's overjoyed with their offerings of international roaming to select countries and select cities. Ladakh, anyone? Not enough satellites? Think again.

There is one such company: Iridium, which shot to notoriety after filing bankruptcy in 1999 because of "difficulty gaining subscribers." Interestingly, the company put 66 satellites up there so you can do voice-and-data stuff from anywhere in the world (literally). They spent an estimated $6B and sold themselves for $25M (their Web site now says they are profitable since 2004). It's not '99 and it's been 10 years -- can AT&T and Vodafone please call Iridium (again)?

And as for you, Mr. Bond ... Can't you see the world's got so many industries to fix before it gets all wired up with N=1 and R=G? Until then, use your time well ... read THE BOOK and call Austin to get back some mojo.