Posts made by Amitav Sengupta

India’s second-largest telecom network company Vodafone India has launched two new combo plans in the prepaid segment. Undoubtedly, the plans are meant to counter the offerings of Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio.

The plans namely ₹549 and ₹799 do offer 3.5 GB and 4.5GB of high-speed data on per day basis. These are monthly prepaid plans with a validity of 28 days. Though these plans are just limited to certain telecom circles, one can expect them to be PAN-India.

Vodafone ₹549 Prepaid Plan:

If you look at the Vodafone ₹549 prepaid plan, the subscriber will get 98 GB of data with a daily limit of 3.5GB. Apart from the data benefit, the ₹549-prepaid voucher also offers unlimited voice calls (local, STD and roaming) and 100 SMS per day. The special thing about this bonus prepaid card is its 3.5GB 4G/3G data per day.

The ₹549 plan is a close competitor to Airtel’s ₹549 and Reliance Jio’s ₹509 plan. Of all, Jio’s ₹509 plan is the best one as it offers daily 4GB data at a better price and the plan is a PAN-India offering.

Vodafone ₹799 Prepaid Plan:

In similar lines, Vodafone ₹799 prepaid plan offers a total of 126GB of 4G/3G data with a daily cap of 4.5GB data. Apart from the data benefit, the plan also offers unlimited voice calls (local, STD and roaming) and daily 100 SMS. As said, the validity is just 28 days.

If you compare Vodafone ₹799 prepaid plan with Reliance Jio’s 799 plan, the latter offers 140GB of 4G data with a daily cap of 5 GB. Whatever may be the offering, the telecom operators are just launching the plans to counter one another.

However, the full credit has to be given to the new entrant Reliance Jio without which these lucrative offers might not have been the reality. The Indian telecom subscribers should be very grateful to Reliance Jio in every aspect.

Starting from unlimited calls to the latest offering of entertainment in the form of music, cinema and TV apps, Reliance Jio has shown the world what a telecom sector could do. Thanks, Jio!

Vodafone Latest Monthly Prepaid Packs:

Also Read: BSNL Launches ₹99 Unlimited Plan with 26 Days Validity

The regulatory body of Telecom sector, TRAI, has slashed the charges of Mobile Number Portability by 74%. After considering the views from different stakeholders, TRAI has decided to cut down MNP charges from ₹19 to ₹4.

With this reduction, the subscribers cannot be charged more than ₹4 for each successful port out. The TRAI has initiated the consultation process with the stakeholders in mid-December. Due to the rise in MNP traffic, there is definitely a need to cut down the cost of MNP operations.

Starting 2009, a charge of ₹19 was collected from the subscriber who is willing to port his mobile number to another telecom service provider. With the considerable increase in MNP traffic, the prescribed ceiling of ₹19 is further slashed now.

Per Port Transaction Charge - A Maximum of ₹4:

The TRAI’s latest move will the subscribers as the Mobile Number Portability is much cheaper now. It’s also declared that the telecom companies are free to charge a lesser amount but not strictly not more than ₹4.

To those who are unaware, Mobile Number Portability (MNP) facilitates the mobile telephone subscribers to retain their mobile number when changing from one telecom network carrier to another.

This facility was implemented nationwide on 20th January 2011 and is highly regarded as an important milestone in the telecom industry. Currently, the Port Transaction Charge is collected by the MNP service provider from the recipient carrier for processing each port request.

After porting, the customer is locked for a period of 90 days. That means the user should complete 90 days with the current telecom operator to be eligible for porting out to another service provider.

Back to the reduction in MNP charges, the telecom companies are welcoming this move. Speaking on this event, COAI Director General Rajan S Mathews said, it will be beneficial for both customers and operators as the cost of porting will be greatly reduced.

My Opinion:

Definitely, this is a welcome move and of course long overdue. Hope TRAI would also consider a revision of the lock-in period. Nations like Australia, Canada, United States, El Salvador etc. offer MNP for free and the procedure takes just 10-20 minutes. Hope TRAI takes a note of it.

Also Read: Mobile Number Portability: Biggest Gainer Vodafone & Biggest Loser RCom

The telecom companies are now set to another data war in the prepaid segment. Interestingly, Bharti Airtel rang the bell by introducing ₹199 tariff plan that offers 1GB data per day along with unlimited calls.

If you happen to observe the previous offering, ₹199 tariff plan offers unlimited calls and 1GB data for the entire validity period. The leading telecom company Bharti Airtel revamped the ₹199 prepaid tariff plan with an aim to offer 28GB data instead of 1GB data.

As per the new plan, the ₹199 plan offers unlimited voice calls (local, STD and roaming calls), 1GB daily data, and 100 SMS per day with a validity of 28 days. This is a BIG change initiated by the industry leader. Gone are the days, when the internet lovers were charged ₹250 per GB.

No doubt, this data war is a result of Reliance Jio. However, the new entrant’s ₹149 plan offers unlimited voice calls (local, STD and national roaming), 300 SMS, and just 4.2GB of data (with 150 MB daily limit).

Also Read: Airtel & Idea Offers Unlimited Calling and 1GB/Day Data for 84 Days

Reliance Jio ₹199 and ₹299 Tariff Plan:

In a counter-reply, the incumbent telecom operator Reliance Jio introduced two new tariff plans. As per the company, the Happy New Year 2018 plans are priced at ₹199 and ₹299. The new tariff ₹199 and ₹299 plans offer 1.2GB and 2GB data per day respectively with a validity of 28 days.

As usual, the unlimited voice calls benefit is included in the newly launched tariff plans. The new plans are meant for Reliance Jio Prime customers and offer unlimited internet with a FUP speed of 128 kbps.

Reliance Jio is widely popular for its ₹459 plan that comes with a validity of 84 days. If you are looking for a 28-day validity pack, then ₹199 plan is exclusively for you.

Recently, the telecom company announced an exclusive tariff plan for Xiaomi Redmi 5A smartphone users. Under this plan, the Jio user will get unlimited voice calls, 1GB 4G data per day, and 100 SMS per day with 28 days validity. Thus, the latest ₹199 plan is no more exclusive to Xiaomi Redmi 5A users and is open to general public.

Vodafone & Idea Cellular ₹199 Tariff Plan:

When industry leader and the new entrant are taking the battle to a whole new level, there is nothing much left for the other incumbent players except to launch me-too plans.

Both Vodafone India and Idea Cellular launched ₹199 tariff plan quietly without much fanfare. The plan offers unlimited voice calls including roaming calls, 100 SMS per day and 1GB data per day for 28 days. The newly revised plan will be effective from today across all telecom circles.

The only shorting with Idea Cellular and Vodafone India tariff plans is its daily voice calling FUP. With 250 minutes per day and 1200 minutes per week limitation, Vodafone and Idea Cellular are yet to offer true unlimited voice calling benefits.

Final Thoughts:

Data war is a good development for the customer. Gone are the days when the mobile data user used to spend more than ₹250 per 1GB of data. Now the telecom companies are offering unlimited combo plans under ₹199. Keeping its promise, Reliance Jio is also offering 20% extra benefit when compared to the incumbents.

However, there is a lot to do to with respect to minimizing the digital gap between the urban and rural India. Instead of fighting for the dominance in the urban market, the telecom companies should work towards spreading its footprint in the rural areas for the balanced growth of the nation. Just like roads and power, internet and telecom connectivity should be expanded across the length and breadth of the country.

None can predict the product line up of Xiaomi. In fact, the Chinese company has an excellent turnaround in this year 2017. Starting from its affordable Redmi phones to air purifiers and fitness trackers, Xiaomi has been making rapid strides in the Indian market. Known for maintaining value for money brand image, the consumer electronics is providing the right mix of hardware and features under sub 15000 price band.

The year 2017 witnessed so many phones from Xiaomi that it is quite difficult for an average enthusiast like me. Starting from Redmi Note 4, Redmi 5, Redmi 5A, Redmi 4, Redmi Y1, Redmi Y1 Lite, the list goes on. And it is really difficult to keep a timeline of its releases. Of all of them, Redmi Note 4 is the most popular smartphone.

As per a report, 3 out of the top 5 selling smartphones were from Xiaomi alone and this was achieved by Xiaomi Redmi Note 4. Prior to that Xiaomi took the smartphone market by storm with the launch of Redmi Note 3. Within a short span of time, Xiaomi joined Samsung to become India’s leading smartphone company. All this was propelled by Redmi Note series.

Xiaomi Mi A1, the Flagship Android One Phone with Dual Camera at ₹14999

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Replaced?

However, if the reports and leaks are to be believed, the successor of Redmi Note 4 alias Redmi Note 5 will not be launched. Unfortunately, Xiaomi is thinking to do away with the Redmi Note series. By knowing the news, all the Redmi Note fans in India and worldwide are deeply shattered. Why? What happened to Xiaomi? …these are the questions posed by the Redmi Note lovers.

Though it’s an unfortunate decision, one should not blame and get worried. If the reports are true, Xiaomi is now planning to replace Redmi Note 5 with Redmi 5 Plus. This is just a change in the name and branding. As per the insider reports, the Xiaomi has launched the bigger phone with similar specifications and branded it Redmi 5 Plus in China.

This is trending news that was confirmed by the super moderator on MIUI forum. Though the Chinese company has not officially confirmed it, it has dropped Note branding for the Redmi line-up. If one happens to believe the claims of MIUI forum super moderator, then the Redmi 5 Plus is a 5.99-inch with 2160x1080 pixel resolution (403 ppi) and thus a bigger phone in hand.

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus Specifications:

Though the best in class, Redmi 5 Plus still happens to be powered by Snapdragon 625 processor and Adreno 506 GPU. The other leaked specifications include Brightness 450 NIT, 3GB/4G RAM, 12-megapixel rear camera with f/2.2 aperture, and 5-megapixel front camera. The handset is equipped with a dual hybrid SIM and 64 GB onboard storage. As usual, it packs a massive 4000mAh battery for the ultimate battery life that can easily last a day.

Xiaomi Unveils Selfie-Centric Smartphones Redmi Y1 and Y1 Lite

This is the first Xiaomi handset to run MIUI 9.0.3 with Android 7.1.2 out-of-the-box. If one considers the pricing, the 3GB RAM + 32GB ROM variant would be available for CNY 999 (approx. ₹9700) and 4GB RAM + 64GB ROM variant at CNY 1299 (approx. ₹12700). As this information is based on leaks, one should consider it with a pinch of salt. It is unclear but can hit the Indian market anytime.

Conclusion:

Though this is based on rumors, the bigger phone Redmi 5 Plus has got the best display and design. It’s a damn winner. Without spending the price of the premium phone, you’ll enjoy the screen of Mi Mix 2 at an affordable price tag. However, the Snapdragon 625 looks to be an out-dated chipset. Definitely, one would expect Snapdragon 635. It seems the company has got an overstock of SD 625 chipset.

Till date, the Redmi Note series is considered to be a poor man’s flagship phone. However, in the name of big-screen, the company is taking a big decision. Let’s wait and watch for its acceptance.

Desh Ka Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 5A @ ₹4999, Gets Reliance Jio ₹199 Plan

BSNL, the state-run telecom company, has launched its first ever 4G VoLTE feature phone in association with Micromax. Taking cues from Reliance Jio Phone, BSNL has come up with Deshka 4Gfone and the handset will be available for sale at all retail outlets starting October 20th.

Priced at ₹2200, the new Micromax Bharat 1 phone will offer unlimited voice calls and data on BSNL network. Through this bundled tariff plan, BSNL aims to grow its user base as the handset comes with no strings attached, unlike Jio Phone.

Micromax Bharat 1 Phone Specifications:

If you are looking at the specifications of Micromax Bharat 1 Phone, it is simply an indigenously developed4G VoLTE feature phone. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 205 SoC chipset, the handset comes with a 2.4-inch QVGA display. Supported by 512MB RAM, it has 4GB internal storage and can be expanded further through a microcard slot.

On the camera front, the Micromax Bharat 1 4G VoLTE feature phone is equipped with a 2-megapixel rear camera and a VGA shooter in front for selfies. This is a dual-SIM handset and is backed by 2000mAh battery.

options include dual-SIM, 4G, VoLTE, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi hotspot.
Though a standard feature phone, the BSNL partnered handset provides access to 100 live TV channels and tons of movies and music as well. Moreover, it claims that there is a support of 22 local languages.

BSNL – Micromax Partnership:

Addressing the launch of Deshka 4Gfone, Mr. Manoj Sinha, Minister of Communication, Govt of India, said that the Bharat-1 feature phone will be pre-loaded with BHIM UPI payments app and BSNL wallet app.

Mr. Anupam Srivastava, CMD, BSNL added, “Connecting the last mile – to the Internet and relevant information – is an important strategy for both BSNL and Micromax. We are confident that Bharat-1 will help millions of users experience data and call experience like never before”.

Micromax Bharat 1 Phone Vs Reliance JioPhone:

If one compares Reliance Jio Phone with BSNL Micromax Bharat 1, there are a number of pros and cons. However, BSNL’s aggressive tariff plan of just ₹97 could be a game changer. Reliance Jio’s minimum recharge is of ₹153. In contrast, BSNL is offering unlimited voice calls, data, and free roaming for just ₹97.

Also Read: Jio4G VoLTE Feature Phone Unveiled for an Effective Price of ₹0

Till now, there is no detailed report on BSNL’s offering on unlimited data. As the state-owned telecom network operator is committed to launching 4G services in the next year, till then it might offer 3Gservices. Leaving it aside, unlimited calls at ₹97 is a welcome gesture.

Moreover, there will be no locking to a particular network as proposed by Reliance Jio. As a user, you have complete freedom as there is no SIM card or network lock, which implies that you can use Airtel or Reliance Jio or any SIM of your choice. This is definitely a big advantage over Jio Phone. Moreover, you don’t need to refund the handset.

In spite of many advantages, Bharat-1 is expected to face stiff competition from Reliance Jio Phone and Airtel Karbonn A40 Indian smartphone. If the reports are to be believed Reliance will resume the pre-booking of JioPhone soon. On top of this, Bharti Airtel will aggressively promote Mera Pehla 4G smartphone claiming it an affordable 4G smartphone.

Also Read: Airtel Mera Pehla 4G Smartphone, Karbonn A40 Indian at ₹1399

What’s Your Opinion?

Indeed BSNL working with a homegrown player is a welcome decision. Micromax Bharat-1 is a decent feature phone and BSNL bundled tariff of ₹97 is a great deal. Considering the vast reach and PAN-India coverage, BSNL should take this forward every nook and corner of the country. Hope it creates a new wave by connecting the last mile on the internet.

The Finnish Startup, HMD Global, launched the Nokia branded Android smartphones Nokia 6, Nokia 5 and Nokia 3 in India. Incidentally, these handsets will be Made in India smartphones.

Off all these three handsets, Nokia 6 is the most premium smartphone and is Amazon India exclusive with a price tag of ₹14,999. The other two handsets (Nokia 3 and Nokia 5) are offline exclusive and costs ₹9,499 and ₹12,899 respectively. The Nokia 3 can be owned without any need of registrations.

Also Read: Motorola Moto Z2 Play with Snapdragon 626 SoC Opens for Pre-Booking

Dual Channel Strategy:

It is interesting to note the dual channel strategy of HMD Global in selling its phones. The pre-booking of the handsets has already begun. Though an old brand, the Nokia has to compete with a number of phones from the new generation companies including Xiaomi, Samsung, Lenovo etc.

The HMD Global re-launched the brand with better build quality and Android operating system. Furthermore, the latest handsets will boot Android 7.1.1 Nougat out-of-the-box. The company also promises an Android O update for the smartphones.

Also Read: Budget-Friendly Motorola Moto C and Moto C Plus Formally Announced

Nokia 6 Specifications:

As mentioned, Nokia 6 is the premium handset of the three. With its unimetal body design carved out of 6600 Series Aluminium, Nokia 6 looks fabulous. The Corning Gorilla Glass protection and a fingerprint sensor are a big addition.

This 5.5-inch full HD IPS display has got 403 ppi pixel density and enjoys sunlight readability feature. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 SoC and 3GB RAM, the Nokia 6 handset packs 32GB internal storage space that can be further expandable up to 128GB capacity using microSD card.

The Nokia 6 sports a 16-megapixel rear sensor and 8-megalpixel front sensor respectively with f/2.0 aperture and LED flash. It is backed by a fast charging support 3000mAh battery. Connectivity wise, the device supports 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and micro USB port. The Dolby Atmos audio enhancement and dual speakers is a big plus.

Nokia 5 Specifications:

The Nokia 5 features a 5.2-inch HD display and built highlighted by Aluminium 6000 series body similar to Nokia 6. It has a fingerprint sensor embedded in the home button. The handset is powered by Snapdragon 430 processor and 2GB RAM but packs just 16GB inbuilt storage space.
It sports a 13-megapixel rear sensor and an 8-megapixel front sensor with f/2.0 aperture, PDAF and dual-LED flash. Nokia 5 is also backed by a 3000mAh battery with fast charging support.

Nokia 3 Specifications:

The budget smartphone Nokia 3 comes with an all-polycarbonate body and sports a 5-inch HD display (1280x720 pixels) protected by Corning Gorilla Glass technology. Powered by a 1.3GHz MediaTek MTK 6737 quad-core processor and 2GB RAM, Nokia 3 packs 16GB storage further expandable up to 128GB through microSD card slot.

It sports an 8-megapixel camera on rear and front ends with support for LED flash. The consumers should note that the device doesn’t have a fingerprint scanner. However, it has all the necessary connectivity options including 4G LTE with a 2650 mAh battery backup.

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi 4 Budget Smartphone Launched with Snapdragon 435 SoC for ₹6999

What’s Your Opinion?

The brand Nokia used to be known for its value for money. With the new strategy, HMD Global hopes to offer three unique features (design, brand, and pure Android experience) to its consumers. Let’s hope the company’s new strategy of “pure, secure, and up-to-date” blows away the other phones in the market.

Reliance Jio, the only VoLTE mobile network operator in India, announced a new promotional scheme where the select LYF smartphone users are eligible to get 20% extra 4G data till March 31, 2018.

Also Read: Reliance Jio with 109 Million Subscribers Plans to Add 1Lakh New Towers

In an attempt to push the sales of LYF handsets, the company announced the promotional offer. After observing the report published by CounterPoint Research that LYF has lost momentum, Reliance Jio has come up with this offer.

Reliance LYF Handsets:

Reliance Retail which owns LYF brand listed the 13 smartphones that are eligible for 20% more Jio data. They are LYF Water F1s, Water F1, Water 1, Water 2, Water 7, Water 7s, Water 8, Water 9, Water 10, Water 11, LYF Earth 1, LYF Earth 2, and LYF Wind 4S. In simple words, the Reliance Jio user should purchase any LYF handset priced between ₹6600 and ₹9700.

There is nothing technical to be legible for 20 percent extra data. Just purchase the Reliance LYF handset and insert the Jio 4G SIM in the device. Immediately after the activation of the Jio SIM, the services will be enabled. The extra 20% data will be credited within 48 hours in the form of a voucher.

20 Percent Extra Data as MyVouchers:

With every purchase of ₹309 or ₹509 recharge pack (Jio Dhan Dhana Dhan plan), the Reliance Jio user will usually get 4G data 28GB and 56GB respectively. However, with the latest promotional offer, the LYF handset user will get additional 6GB and 12GB data voucher respectively.

As the benefit is provided on rolling basis, the LFY handset purchaser can get the additional data benefit for a maximum of 6 times till March 31, 2018. The credit or validity of the voucher can be verified through MyVouchers section in the MyJio account.

Also Read: Reliance Jio Dhan Dhana Dhan Offer Gives 84GB Data for 84 Days at ₹309

1 Year Extended Warranty:

Under this new scheme, the LYF smartphones will also get 1 year extended warranty. Hope this promotional offer will definitely make a considerable impact on the sales of Reliance LYF handsets. Incidentally, the LFY brand was among the top 5 smartphone vendors of India.

The Apple of China, Xiaomi, is all set to become Apple of India offering the premium specs at affordable price. The Chinese handset maker has got equal popularity in Indian market with its affordable Redmi line up. The latest smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 4 has created a sensation when it went for sale on 23rd of this month. As per the reports, more than 2.5 lakh Redmi 4 units sold in 8 minutes through its official sales partner Amazon India and Mi.com site.

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi 4 Budget Smartphone Launched with Snapdragon 435 SoC for ₹6999

Xiaomi Redmi Hat-trick:

The Xiaomi India’s Director, Mr. Manu Kumar Jain described this achievement as Redmi Hat-trick. A sale of 2,50,000 units of the smartphone within in eight minutes is not an ordinary feat. This shows the love and admiration for Xiaomi brand in India. Recently on March 23, Xiaomi sold a total of 2.5 lakh units of Redmi 4A entry level smartphone. Back on January 23, Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 made a similar record within 4 minutes during its first sale.

As mentioned, Xiaomi is known for offering premium specs at affordable price. The latest Redmi 4 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 octa-core chipset. The handset is available in 3 variants with 2GB, 3GB and 4GB RAM with inbuilt 16GB, 32GB and 64GB storage space respectively with a dual hybrid SIM slot for further expansion. It sports a 5-inch HD display with Corning Gorilla Glass and 2.5D curved glass.

Also Read: ZTE nubia N1 Lite with MediaTek MT6737 SoC Unveiled at ₹6999

Impressive - Looks, Design, and Performance:

Starting at ₹6,999, the Redmi 4 all-new design which is very much similar to Redmi Note 4 has got impressive ergonomics. Undoubtedly, this is the best 4G VoLTE smartphone in a sub ₹10K range. With massive 4100 mAh battery, Redmi 4 is the beast both in terms of performance and battery. The imaging specs are another strong point. The 13MP rear camera and 5MP front camera enables the user to take excellent images in daylight as well as indoors. The addition of fingerprint sensor on an entry-level phone makes a huge difference in terms of acceptance.

Though the handset runs on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, the company promises Android Nougat preview and is definitely a steal. If you happen to miss the first sale, then don’t worry. You can make it through the next sale scheduled on May 30, 2017, at 12 noon on Amazon India and Mi.com website. I’m lucky enough to grab Redmi 4 3GB variant. Have you purchased the handset? If so let us know your inputs.

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi 4A with Snapdragon 425 SoC, 3120mAh Battery at 6K Price

Chinese handset maker Nubia Mobile, a subsidiary of ZTE Mobile Corporation, unveiled a new device nubia N1 Lite in India for ₹6,999. The eCommerce site Amazon India is the official sales partner. The handset comes in Black Gold colour and is available for sale on the online portal starting today.

The Chinese company has also launched the handset in other European and Asian markets including Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Spain, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi 4A with Snapdragon 425 SoC, 3120mAh Battery at 6K Price

Nubia N1 Lite Specifications & Features:

As per the specifications, nubia N1 Lite sports a 5.5-inch IPS LCD capacitive touchscreen HD display with 267 ppi pixel density. The handset is powered by a MediaTek MT6737 chipset with a quad-core 1.5 GHz Cortex-A53 CPU. For handling the system and graphics effectively, the unit is packed with a 2GB RAM and Mali-T7200 GPU.

With just 16GB of inbuilt storage, the nubia N1 Lite has the option of further expansion up to 32GB via microSD card. When the handset makers are providing the slot that can be further expandable up to 128GB, Nubia mobile has put a cap on it.

Coming to the optics, the nubia N1 Lite smartphone features 8-megapixel rear sensor with f/2.2 aperture, PDAF support and dual-LED flash. On the front side, it sports a 5-megapixel camera with soft-light flash and selfie beauty filters.

Probably, nubia N1 Lite is the cheapest handset equipped with a LED flash for its front camera. It also features a rear fingerprint sensor that can unlock the smartphone in 0.3 seconds.

As per the company, this dual-SIM handset is backed by a non-removable Li-Ion 3000 mAh battery that claims to deliver 500 hours of standby time and 24 hours of talktime. The connectivity options include 4G with VoLTE, hybrid SIM slot, WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS, micro USB support etc.

The nubia N1 Lite smartphone runs on Nubia UI based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and no information about its Android Nougat update.

Also Read: Intex Aqua Crystal Plus Packs Android 7.0 Nougat at ₹6799

Is Nubia N1 Lite Compelling Enough?

Addressing the launch of nubia N1 Lite smartphone, Mr Eric Hu, Country Head, nubia India, said: “nubia is committed to offer best in class technology across all price points to its customers in India. We are known for our camera technology across the globe and with N1 Lite we are offering category first front soft light flash and fingerprint scanner. The N1 Lite is dependable, tough, good looking and has performance power to be called an ideal companion.”

As expected, nubia mobile has launched the N1 Lite in sub-₹10,000 segment directly against Xiaomi Redmi 4 and Coolpad Note 5 Lite. Though the handset bears the striking similarity with other sub-₹10,000 smartphones, do you think the specifications are compelling? Let us know your take on the new nubia N1 Lite.

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi 4 Budget Smartphone Launched with Snapdragon 435 SoC for ₹6999

Indian startup Smartron unveiled the srt.phone starting at ₹12,999. The new phone is inspired by none other than the God of Cricket Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. This budget android device will be an exclusive product of Flipkart and is ready for sale. Sachin Tendulkar who is the brand ambassador of the company is also a strategic investor in the company.

Also Read: Vivo V5s - 20MP Moonlight Selfie Cam, 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM at ₹18990

The latest handset from Smartron will be available in two variants. The 32GB internal storage version is priced at ₹12,999 whereas the 64GB variant is priced effectively at ₹14,999. Currently, the handset is available only in Titanium Grey colour whereas it offers Sachin Tendulkar design back covers for free.

Addressing the launch, Mr Mahesh Lingareddy, Founder and Chairman, Smartron India, said, “It is a phone made for the future with Mastery at the Core. srt.phone is a gift from Sachin to his fans, hence, we made sure we have the best possible features to resemble his characteristics.”

Smartron srt.phone Specifications:

The Smartron srt.phone features a 5.5-inch full HD (1920x1080 pixels) display with 2.5D curved glass and offers good outdoor visibility. Powered by an octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 SoC and 4GB RAM, the handset has 64GB of internal storage. The Adreno 510 GPU will look after the graphics part in the handset.

Optics-wise, the handset features a 13-megapixel rear camera with f/2.0 aperture, dual LED flash and PDAF. The 5-megapixel front camera may not be the best but provides decent pictures to post on social media platforms. The fingerprint sensor on the rear panel is a good addition.

Incidentally, the internal storage cannot be expandable through microSD card. With reference to the connectivity options, the Smartron srt.phone offers dual LTE SIM slots enabled with 4G VoLTE support, NFC, dual-band Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, USB Type-C port etc. Powered by a non-removable 3000mAh high-density lithium-ion polymer battery, the handset supports Quick Charge 2.0 and the battery will last easily a day.

Also Read: Lenovo Moto G5 Plus in India Starting at ₹14999 on Flipkart

Touted Android O Update:

The Smartron srt.phone runs on the latest Android N operating system and the company promises one Android security update every quarter. Moreover, the handset is touted an Android O update. By going through the specifications, the srt.phone looks pretty good and a performer just like Sachin Tendulkar. Best of all, the company provides unlimited storage through T-cloud. It will not disappoint you in terms of performance as it is completely designed and engineered in India.

However, the phone lacks the premium feel due to its plastic body shell. Moreover, the selfie camera is not that great. Leaving that aside, the Smartron srt.phone steals your heart with its ultimate performance. Kindly post your valuable feedback.

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Creates a New Record with Million Units of Sale

Youtube Video

Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Communications (RCOM) has introduced a new first recharge of ₹148 that offers 70GB of 4G data with a validity of 70 days. Incidentally, this new first recharge tariff plan is valid only in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh telecom circle.

RCOM Super Value Tariff FRC 148:

This super value tariff pack provides daily 1GB of 4G data for 70 days along with ₹50 talk time. Though this first recharge pack is in tune with tariff plans offered by its competitors, it doesn’t provide unlimited voice calling benefits. As per the tariff, the RCOM users will be charged 10 paise per minute if the calls are within Reliance Communications network. For calls to other networks, the subscriber will be charged 25 paise per minute.

Also Read: Jio Effect: Airtel Offers Unlimited Calls and 1GB Data Daily at ₹399 for 70 Days

Apart from the first recharge 148, the telecom company has also launched two plans namely FRC 54 and FRC 61. Under the FRC 54 pack, the user will get daily 1GB of 4G data for 28 days and the voice call charges are same as that of FRC 148.

Cheapest 4G Data Offer:

According to the company, FRC 61 plan offers daily 1GB 4G data for 28 days and the on-net call charges are 1 paise per 6 seconds and 1 paise per 2 seconds for calls to other networks (both local and STD). Though these first recharge packs are of super value but limited to the new users of Reliance Communications. When the incumbent players are extending the benefits to all prepaid users, RCOM is sticking its strategy to the new customers.

Though the new packs don’t have unlimited calling facility, they provide value in terms of data. For example, the largest telecom network Bharti Airtel has ₹349 plan that offers unlimited voice calling and daily 1GB of 4G data for a period of 28 days. It is relatively a higher end pack when compared to RCOM’s FRC ₹54 pack. What’s your take on RCOM’s latest first recharge?

Also Read: BSNL Triple Ace STV333 Offers 3GB Data per Day for 90 Days

After officially withdrawing Summer Surprise Offer, Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio announced “Dhan Dhana Dhan Offer” starting at ₹309. As per the new plan, Jio Prime subscribers will get 84GB of data for a period of 84 days with the first recharge of ₹309.

Also Read: TRAI Asks Reliance to Withdraw Jio Summer Surprise Offer

Jio Dhan Dhana Dhan Offer

All the users can now visit the official website Jio.com or My Jio App and do the first recharge of ₹309 and is limited to one recharge only. The plan will effectively offer 1GB of data per day. If the subscriber wants 2GB of data then he/she should recharge with ₹509. This higher recharge will give 168GB of data for 84 days. Those who’ve already subscribed Jio Summer Surprise Offer cannot add “Dhan Dhana Dhan Offer”.

Apart from the data, Reliance Jio users will get other benefits like unlimited voice calling, SMS and Jio apps subscription for the said 84 days period. Interestingly, Reliance Jio has got some good news to non-Prime subscribers too. They can get the same benefits of 1GB and 2GB daily data by recharging with ₹408 and ₹608 respectively.

The same recharge plan is applicable to the new customer. Both the Jio non-Prime customer and the new user can get the benefits of a Jio Prime Membership by paying for a recharge starting ₹408.

Also Read: BSNL Extends Validity of STV 26 Unlimited Voice Calls by 3 Months

What Next for Incumbent Players?

With the new Jio Dhan Dhana Dhan Offer, the incumbent telecom service providers will have a tough call to retain its subscribers. Both Bharti Airtel and Vodafone India moves TRAI alleging Reliance Jio against continuing its Summer Surprise Offer. Within hours, Reliance Jio has officially unveiled new plans to dispel unnecessary confusion in the market.

As of now, there is no change in ₹149 plan. Though ₹149 plan is the cheapest plan available with Jio, there was an unprecedented demand for ₹303 plan and now ₹309 will occupy its place.

Also Read: Telenor Offers Unlimited 4G Data at ₹103 with 60 Days Validity

Have you contacted the customer care department of Reliance Jio Infocomm?
Make a call to their support / Helpline - 1860-893-3333

You can even tweet Jio customer care. Twitter @jiocare or https://twitter.com/jiocare

Just elaborate your concern.

Though Chinese by origin, Xiaomi is very much Indian by heart. It has got so many successful products for Indian market. After the recent success of Redmi Note 4, Xiaomi has launched an entry level Redmi 4A at a price tag of ₹5999 aimed to run on Android Marshmallow OS MIUI 8.

Xiaomi Redmi 4A Specifications:

Though Xiaomi had launched this entry-level version in China a long back, the company took considerable time to make the offering more special. Xiaomi Redmi 4A sports a 5-inch HD display with 1280x720 pixel resolution screen on its top. Powered by quad-core 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 SoC, the handset is coupled with a 2GB RAM and Adreno 308 GPU 500MHz for graphics and has 16GB inbuilt storage space.

Also Read: Swipe Elite Sense with Snapdragon 425 Chipset Now On Flipkart for ₹7499

The default 16GB inbuilt storage space can be further expanded to 128GB using microSD card slot. Moreover, the handset allows the usage of a hybrid SIM slot. This limits your usage with respect to SIM cards. You can either use secondary SIM (for 2G calls only) or memory card (expandable up to 128GB) but not both. However, Xiaomi has offered 4G VoLTE feature on B3, B5 and B40 network bands. This is a pretty big deal who wants to avail Reliance Jio 4G VoLTE services.

Perfect Moments & All Day Battery Life:

Regarding the imaging properties, Xiaomi Redmi 4A has a 13-megapixel rear camera with f/2.2 aperture, a single LED flash, HDR to capture crisp and sharp photos. It intelligently detects the panoramic shot. The front selfie camera supports 5-megapixel lens with f/2.2 large aperture. Along with 4G VoLTE, this super-affordable handset is equipped with Bluetooth 4.1 801.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi, and GPS features.

The best thing about Mi India phones is its big battery life. Even in this entry-level smartphone, Xiaomi has offered non-removable 3120mAh high capacity battery that guarantees 7-day standby time and the best performance throughout the day. Its polycarbonate body offers a smooth matte finish and is the lightest handset in Redmi series line.

Also Read: Lenovo Vibe B 4G LTE Phone with Entry Level Specs Launched for ₹5799

2nd Manufacturing Plant in India towards #MakeInIndia:

The Xiaomi has added Dual Apps for the handset that allows you to create and sign into dual accounts for any app. Say for example; you can sign-in WhatsApp, Facebook and much more and switch the accounts at the ease of your fingertips. Available in Gold, Rose gold and Dark grey colour variants, the Xiaomi Redmi 4A is an exclusive product of Amazon India and Mi India store.

Giving a boost to PM Narendra Modi’s Make in India campaign, Xiaomi announced 2nd manufacturing plant in Andhra Pradesh Sri City. Let’s hope Xiaomi makes every Indian smile for its achievement.

Must Read: Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Creates a New Record with Million Units of Sale

Bharti Airtel Payments Bank received over 1,50,000 registrations of savings accounts in West Bengal starting its official launch in January 2017. As per the reports, more than 70 percent of these savings accounts are opened in rural areas of the state.

Also Read: Airtel Payments Bank to Extend in AP, Telangana and Karnataka

Airtel Payments Bank Vast Coverage Network:

In fact, the company has got tie-up with many retail outlets to accept payments through its Airtel Payments Bank. Currently, Aarambagh, Balaram Mullick & Radharam Mullick, Bazaar Kolkata, Bhojohori Manna, Foodmart, Khadims, Manyavar, Spencers are encouraging the customers to pay the amount through Airtel Payments Bank.

Apart from partnering with the multi-chain retail outlets, the telecom network is working on designing a model to accept payments by all the retailers including small and medium Kirana stores, grocery/convenience stores, pharmacies, bakeries, restaurants, parlours etc.

Highlighting the achievement, Mr Shashi Arora, MD & CEO of Airtel Payments Bank, said: “We are pleased with the encouraging response our services have received from customers across West Bengal. Given Airtel’s deep distribution reach across the State, we have been able to take our banking services to unbanked regions. We will continue to build on this momentum and contribute to financial inclusion in the State.”

Also Read: Airtel Payments Bank Creates New Wave with 10000 Savings Accounts in 2 Days

Making India a Cashless Economy:

The best thing about Airtel Payments Bank is its ZERO processing fees to encourage cashless transactions. However, if you would like to withdraw money from your Savings Account, you need to shell out ₹5 to ₹25 for a transaction value less than ₹4000. And if it is more than ₹4000, it would be 0.65 percent on total withdrawn amount.

Starting November 2016, Airtel Payments Bank has become quite successful and is available in more than 200 villages. With a network of over 2,50,000 Airtel retail stores to serve as banking points and one million merchants, Airtel Payments Bank is here to stay and encourage cashless India. In fact, the Bharti Airtel has a target of expanding the service to over 5000 remote villages in India.

Also Read: Airtel 4G Now in Durgapur Using Dual Spectrum Bands of 2300MHz and 1800MHz

Taiwanese multinational electronics giant ASUS launched its ASUS Zenfone 3s Max in India. Priced at ₹14,999, the handset will be available both online (Amazon.in and Flipkart) and offline stores in Black and Sand Gold colour variants. The new handset is the successor of the popular ZenFone 3 Max released in the last year.

ASUS Zenfone 3s Max Specifications:

If one has to say something about ASUS Zenfone 3s Max then its 5000mAh battery is the main USP. This battery powerhouse can easily last for 3 days on regular usage. The handset’s reverse charging feature enables it to be used as a power bank for other smartphones.

Coming to the specifications, ASUS Zenfone 3s Max has a unibody metal design and features a 5.2-inch HD IPS 2.5D curved display with 1280x720 pixel resolution. Powered by a 1.5 GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6750 processor coupled with Mali T860 GPU and 3GB RAM, ASUS Zenfone 3s Max has 32GB internal storage space and further expandable up to 2TB via microSD card.

Also Read: ASUS ZenFone 3 Receives Android 7.0 Nougat Update

Optics wise, ASUS Zenfone 3s Max has a 13-megapixel rear camera supporting dual-tone LED flash, f/2.0 aperture and an 8-megapixel front camera for selfies and a fingerprint sensor on the front. Regarding connectivity, the latest handset from ASUS supports hybrid dual-SIM, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, 3.5mm audio, 5-magnet speaker etc.

For Today’s Fast-paced World?

ASUS Zenfone 3s Max runs on the latest Android 7.0 Nougat out-of-the-box with ZenUI 3.0 skin on top. As per the company, the new Zenfone 3s Max serves the needs of today’s fast-paced world with its powerful battery. Along with tasteful aesthetics and superb camera making, the handset is well-suited for the needs of today’s users.

Also Read: Record 250000 Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Units Sold in the First Sale

Chinese multinational smartphone maker ZTE Corporation launched its new handset ZTE Blade A2 Plus in India. The smartphone will be available for sale via Flipkart starting from February 6th at a price of ₹11999. ZTE Blade A2 Plus comes in Gold and Silver colour variants.

The handset ZTE Blade A2 Plus boasts a mammoth 5000mAh battery that supports fast charging and can last easily up to 2 days (as per the company). It sports a metal unibody with a fingerprint scanner at the back.

Also Read: ZTE Blade A610s and ZTE Blade A610 Plus with 5000mAh Battery

ZTE Blade A2 Plus Specifications:

Regarding specifications, the ZTE Blade A2 Plus sports a 5.5-inch full HD (1920x1080) pixels display with 2.5D curved glass. Powered by a 64-bit 1.5 GHz Octa-core MediaTek chipset and Mali T860 GPU, the handset bears a 4GB RAM with 32GB onboard storage further expandable up to 128GB via microSD card slot. The company released two RAM variants (3GB variant in its home country along with the 4GB RAM version).

Optics-wise, the ZTE Blade A2 Plus features a 13-megapixel rear camera with PDAF, dual-LED flash and 1080p video support. An 8-megapixel selfie lens with LED flash is another addition to its optics department. Connectivity wise, the handset includes many features including hybrid dual-SIM, 4G VoLTE, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, GPS etc. The USP of the handset is its big 5000mAh battery that can be doubled up as a powerbank.

Addressing the launch, Mr Sachin Batra, CMO, ZTE India Terminal, said: We want to bring the best phones that industry has to offer and at an effective price”. The company has already gathered the support of 69 million tech-savvy consumers and it aims to cross 100 million by 2017.

ZTE Blade A2 Plus Competitors:

At this price and specifications, ZTE Blade A2 Plus smartphone is a good buy but will face stiff competition from Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 and Lenovo K6 Note.

Also Read: Xiaomi Launches Redmi Note 4 in India Starting at ₹9999

The state-owned telecommunications company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited announced a promotional plan to offer free voice calling for 3 months at ₹439. This offer is exclusive to prepaid subscribers across the country. The public sector undertaking company is leaving no stone unturned to retain its subscriber base amid rising competitive intensity fuelled by tariff wars.

BSNL ₹439 Prepaid Plan:

Under the new promotional plan, the BSNL prepaid subscribers will get free voice calling for a period of 90 days by paying a one-time amount of ₹439. The free voice calling is applicable to all networks across the country but has a fair usage policy attached to it. With this, the subscribers can only make 30 minutes call per day to other networks. There is no limitation with respect to voice calling on BSNL network.

The government-owned telecom operator has also launched ₹149 plan where the prepaid users can make free voice calling that has a validity of a month. As said, the users can only make a 30-min call to other networks under Fair Usage Policy. Both the promotional plans are effective from today on PAN India basis.

Also Read: CMD Anupam Shrivastava Confirms BSNL 4G Rollout in 2017-18

Free Voice Calling But with Limitations:

And it is offered through all BSNL retail distributors and the company’s customer service centres located across India. However, the plan is limited to only new and port-in customers through Mobile Number Portability. This could bring a sense of dissatisfaction from the existing customers of BSNL.

Addressing the launch of a promotional offer, Mr Anupam Shrivastava, Chairman & MD, BSNL, said: “BSNL has always been a front runner in providing better and economical services to all their customers and this is one of the many such endeavours. Customers are coming forward to get our service which has helped our company to increase our market share by 1% since March 2015 even in these hyper-competitive telecom services market.”

An Answer to Jio’s Pricing?

Since the entry of Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio Infocomm’s disruptive pricing, the telecom companies are witnessing a slowdown in their revenues. Hope BSNL can make some revenue and stay in the business with these customer-centric plans.

Also Read: BSNL Starts Offering Unlimited Free Calling at ₹99 with 300MB Data

The country’s second largest telecom operator Vodafone India has toughened the tariff war by offering four times more 4G data at its normal price. Celebrating the mark of achieving 200 million subscribers, the company has launched bonanza offers for its SuperNet 4G customers.

Vodafone India 4GB of 4G Data at ₹250:

In the new offer, the Vodafone India subscribers purchasing 1GB of 4G data with 28 days validity will now get 4G of data at the same price of ₹250. Similarly, 22GB of 4G data pack will cost ₹999. Earlier, the customers used to get only 10GB of 4G data for that price. The company has also reduced the pricing of some 4G data packs namely 6GB for ₹350, 9GB for ₹450, and 35GB for ₹1500.

Also Read: Vodafone SuperHour Plan to Offer Unlimited 4G/3G Data Starting at Just ₹16

Unlimited Data @ ₹16 SuperHour:

The four-fold increase is clearly evident in ₹250 pack. Moreover, offering 35GB of high-speed 4G data at ₹1500 seems to be a measure to intensify data tariff war. Recently, the Vodafone India has also rolled out unlimited data plan of ₹16 SuperHour and has challenged the new telecom entrant Reliance Jio. When the leading telecom player Bharti Airtel is offering 1GB of 4G data at ₹250, Vodafone India’s latest move will clearly make it a winner in this ongoing data tariff war.

Addressing the launch of new 4G data plans, Mr Sandeep Kataria, Chief Commercial Officer, Vodafone India, said: “Our customers are consuming more of content and video online. With these packs, our rapidly growing base of 4G customers across 17 circles can enjoy much more of mobile internet. They can access four times more of their favourite content online for the same cost in a truly worry free manner.”

As per the release, the new recharge packs can be availed both online and offline. However, the Vodafone India subscribers are requested to check the pricing as it may vary from circle to circle. Will this offer be enough to prevent mass migration of the subscribers to Reliance Jio? Let us know your opinion.

Also Read: Vodafone Play Ties up with Eros Now to Offer Premium Movies

Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio has partnered with American technology company TiVo Corporation to deliver TV service in India. With this partnership, TiVo’s CubiTV is powered to provide hybrid television to Indian users through High Definition and 4K set-top boxes (STBs).

TiVo’s CubiTV - A New Experience:

The CubiTV will enable Reliance Jio Media Pvt. Ltd (RJMPL) in unified access to linear TV with PVR, Video on Demand, Catch-up TV, and network PVR, content alongside access to over-the-top services.

Commenting on the deal, Mr. Michael Hawkey, Senior VP and GM of user experience, TiVo, said: “TiVo’s deal with RJMPL further demonstrates our product innovations to offer hybrid television and content discovery solutions in markets like India where rapid digitization is occurring. TiVo will help deliver a new set of features and functionalities for companies like RJMPL that will give consumers access to a whole breadth of new experiences.

Currently, CubiTV provides the latest advancements in Television and has greater acceptance in Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom. Similarly, the Reliance Jio Media Pvt Ltd (RJMPL) is offering its LIVE TV services through built-in App. As of now, the Jio media services are offered free under Jio Happy New Year Offer until March 31, 2017.

Currently, Reliance Jio is providing more than 360 channels to millions of users across India. Though it was claimed that Reliance Jio would launch DTH services but nothing has been confirmed till now except the partnership withTiVo’s CubiTV.