Posts made by Mario D'souza

Sony changed its strategy once again by launching mid-range budget phones Sony Xperia and Sony Xperia R1 Plus exclusively for the Indian market.

Supporting the Make-in-India initiative, both the smartphones will be locally manufactured at Sri City facility in Andhra Pradesh. Starting November 10, these latest handsets will be available for sale both online and offline stores at a price tag of ₹13990 and ₹15990 respectively.

Realizing the importance of mid-range smartphone segment, the Japanese technology giant has launched Sony Xperia R1 and Xperia R1 Plus claiming it as “Designed for Indian lifestyle”. Both the handsets look similar in design except in RAM and storage capacity.

Sony Xperia R1 and R1 Plus Specifications:

Regarding the specifications, both handsets feature a 5.2-inch HD IPS display with 720p resolution. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 chipset, they are packed with different memory configurations. The Sony Xperia R1 offers 2GB RAM and 16GB storage space whereas the Xperia R1 Plus gets 3GB RAM and 32GB internal storage. Both the handsets support expandable microSD card slot up to 128GB.

Known for its imaging properties, Sony has loaded the 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and an 8-megapixel selfie camera. Backed by a modest 2620mAh battery, the handsets run Android 7.1 Nougat. Interestingly, Sony has promised Android 8.0 Oreo update for both the handsets.

Connectivity wise, these dual-SIM handsets support VoLTE, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.2, USB-C connectivity, FM Radio and GPS. Both the handsets will be available in Black and Silver colour variants.

What’s Your Opinion?

By incorporating an entry-level Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 chipset, the Sony has finally made its mind to grab the market from Chinese tech giants Xiaomi and Lenovo.

Also Read: Sony Xperia XZ1 with Inbuilt 3D Creator and Best LCD Display Unveiled

Aditya Birla Group-owned mobile network operator, Idea Cellular, launched a new postpaid plan to increase its subscriber base across the nation. The so-called Idea ₹399 postpaid plan is open only to the new subscribers.

This ₹399 tariff plan will definitely ignite the interests who love monthly plans instead of frequent prepaid recharges. As per the plan, the Idea postpaid subscriber will get unlimited voice calls and 1GB data per day for a monthly rental of ₹399.

Unlimited Calling + 1GB/Day Data @ ₹399:

Till now, all the telecom operators offered ₹399 recharge for its prepaid users. However, Idea Cellular has gone ahead and introduced unlimited calling and daily 1GB data offer in the postpaid segment. Surely, this is the first of its kind and the industry analysts hope that it will go well with the customers.

Earlier the Idea Cellular used to offer 10GB with its ₹399 plan in line with Airtel’s ₹399 plan. Later, the telco introduced Idea Data Jackpot Offer where the postpaid user can avail up to 10GB data per month at ₹100 for 90 days and thereafter 1GB data per month at ₹100.

However, the new ₹399 plan offers unlimited local and STD calls with the home circle. This means the user can make unlimited calls to any network when in his home circle. Incoming calls in roaming are completely free and outgoing calls while in roaming are charged.

Free Home Delivery of Idea Postpaid SIM:

Interestingly, the Idea Cellular offers 100 SMS per day and above all 1GB data per day for the entire billing cycle. All the prepaid benefits are equally passed to the postpaid segment. All you need to do is just order the new postpaid connection from the official IdeaCellular website. You need to furnish Name, Mobile Number, City and Pincode.

As soon as you submit the required details, the Idea representative will call you for further steps. Upon successful validation of the documents, you will get the postpaid SIM at your doorstep based on your convenient time.

Incidentally, Idea Cellular is also allowing the mobile number port-in to its own network under ₹399 plan. Hope the plan is open to the existing subscribers as well.

Unlimited & Commercial Usage Policy:

This ₹399 postpaid unlimited plan is subject to commercial usage otherwise known as a non-retail policy. Every telecom network is announcing its own Commercial Usage Policy. Under this policy, there are 2 conditions when the subscriber usage is termed as commercial.

1. If the customer calls more than 300 unique numbers in 7 consecutive days, it is termed as commercial usage.
2. And if the cumulative duration of incoming calls is less than 15 minutes during the 7 consecutive days of a billing cycle.

Under this commercial Usage Policy, if the subscriber usage is beyond 5000 minutes then it will be charged at 50 paise per minute.

When the telecom companies are offering unlimited calling and 1GB per day benefits to its prepaid users, Idea Cellular is to be appreciated for its daring step in offering the same benefit to its postpaid subscribers.

Also Read: Idea Cellular Joins the Race with ₹198 Plan to Offer Unlimited Calls and 1GB Data for 28 Days

Monsoons may have gone but it is raining offers from telecom companies. Vodafone India announced a special festive sale offer for its prepaid subscribers.

As per the news reported by The Indian Express, the second-largest telecom company has offered 90GB of 4G data and unlimited local and STD calls at just ₹399 only. This is really big news and the telecom company termed it as Vodafone Festive Sale Offer.

All Voice Calls Free for 6 Months:

Under this offer, all the voice calls (both local and STD) are free and the Vodafone subscriber will get 90GB 4G data with a validity of 6 months. No doubt, there is an intense competition and the telecom companies are resorting to aggressive pricing.

However, it is to be noted that PAN India’s only VoLTE operator Reliance Jio kick-started ₹399 plan offering 84GB of 4G data for 84 days. This plan is being countered by all the telecom companies including Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular in some or the other form. Incidentally, those plans were restricted to 84 days or 90 days.

The Vodafone Festive Sale ₹399 plan will be the trendsetter. However, it is to be noted that the benefits are limited for 4G users only. More inputs are awaited.

Also Read: Vodafone Offers 1GB/Day Plan for ₹244 with 70 Days Validity

Countering Reliance Jio:

These days when the incumbent telecom companies are launching some or the other offer, it is being termed as to counter Reliance Jio. Always, this type of generalisation may or may not be true.

Those who are unaware, Reliance Jio started a 100% cashback offer on every recharge of ₹399. This promotional offer is valid from October 12 to 18th. Under this offer, 8 cashback vouchers of each ₹50 will be credited to the account and that can be redeemable only after 15th November.

Taking on the sensational Jio Phone, Bharti Airtel today inked a deal with Karbonn Mobiles to announce Mera Pehla 4G Smartphone. Under this new initiative and partnership, the Airtel will offer Karbonn A40 Indian smartphone for an effective price of just ₹1399.

Launched in July 2017, the handset Karbonn A40 Indian is retailing at ₹3,279 on Flipkart and other stores. India’s leading telecom network Bharti Airtel has partnered with the Indian smartphone maker to provide My Smartphone Phone at an effective price of ₹1399.

Airtel ₹169 Recharge Benefits:

The Airtel is offering a bundled pack of benefits including unlimited voice calling and 500MB 4G data with ₹169 recharge that has a validity of 28 days.

Airtel My First 4G Smartphone Effective Price ₹1399 – Terms & Conditions:

If you are unaware, even Reliance Jio has used this effective price term in its offering. Here, in case of Bharti Airtel new initiative, the Karbonn A40 Indian handset will be priced at ₹2899. The company claims to provide cashback of ₹1,500 and thus arrived at the figure of ₹1,399.

As per the terms and conditions, the subscriber needs to make recharges of ₹169 for 36 continuous months. In this scheme, the customer will get a cash refund of ₹500 after 18 months and another ₹1000 after 36 months. That means a total cash back of ₹1500 after a period of 36 months.

Interestingly, you don’t need to return the handset for claiming cashback from Airtel.

Airtel 4G Karbonn A40 Indian Smartphone Specifications:

Regarding the specifications, Airtel My First 4G Smartphone has got a bigger 4-inch WVGA display with 480x854 pixels resolution when compared to Jio Phone.

Powered by 1.3 GHz Quad-core Mediatek Processor and 1GB RAM, the handset has 8GB internal storage expandable up to 32GB via microSD card slot. On the camera front, Karbonn A40 Indian mobile has got 2-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and camera modes including smile shutter, burst mode and Panorama shot. There’s a 0.3-megapixel front camera for selfies.

The smartphone has 1400 mAh battery that claims to provide a standby time of 240 hours and up to 4 hours talk-time on 2G network.

The Airtel 4G Mera Pehla 4G smartphone boots Android Nougat 7.0 and is pre-loaded with all the Airtel applications including MyAirtel, Airtel TV and Wynk Music.

Contrary to Reliance Jio Phone which is locked to Jio 4G SIM, the Airtel 4G Karbonn handset has dual-SIM support and can be used with respect to any network.

On the connectivity front, the handset supports Airtel VoLTE and 2G, 3G and 4G network. That’s great. If you happen to reside in Airtel VoLTE coverage, then you can enjoy VoLTE services of Bharti Airtel. It also supports other connectivity options such as Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Hotspot, and GPS.

What’s Your Opinion?

Airtel which is desperately looking to counter Reliance Jio has succeeded in its initiative. The company is looking for partners to develop affordable 4G handsets and this tie-up with Karbonn Mobiles is a first step in its journey.

Instead of engulfing in brutal tariff wars, the telecom companies should work towards creating an open ecosystem of affordable handsets to bridge the urban-rural gap.

Certainly, the Airtel certified Karbonn A40 Indian has a distinct advantage over Jio Phone leaving the cost factor. The access to all apps on Google Play Store including WhatsApp, Facebook, and YouTube is a big plus to Airtel My Pehla 4G Smartphone initiative.

However, the battery backup and mediocre camera is a big letdown.

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

India’s third largest telecom operator Idea Cellular has expanded its 4G coverage in Jammu & Kashmir. Till now, the Idea 4G is limited to the summer capital Srinagar.

Idea Cellular and Jammu & Kashmir:

With the latest expansion, Idea Cellular 4G services are available in about 27 towns including Srinagar. The other important towns with Idea 4G network are Kathua, Katra, Poonch, Rajouri, Udhampur, etc.

Also Read: Idea Cellular 4G Services Now in Jammu & Kashmir

Idea Cellular has concrete plans to add more than 100 4G sites in Jammu & Kashmir. Out of them, 60 4G sites are allocated for Srinagar alone. And the company will continue to invest in the development of network and distribution to expand Idea Cellular

Launching the Idea 4G services, Mr Sudhir Pradhan, Chief Operating Officer – Punjab, HP and J&K, Idea Cellular Ltd, said: “We are happy to launch our world class, high-speed 4G services for Idea customers in Srinagar. The Internet has the power to transform people’s lives and we are confident that Idea 4G will fulfil the infotainment needs of the local citizens.”

Prepaid Mobile Connection @ Jammu Kashmir:

If you are a local resident of Jammu & Kashmir, then grab the Idea 4G SIM from the Idea store based at Karan Nagar and/or other nearest retail store.

To the unaware, any prepaid mobile connection brought from J&K remains non-operational in rest of India. Similarly, prepaid connection brought from anywhere in India will not work in Jammu & Kashmir. The Department of Telecom (DoT) has banned prepaid mobile services in J&K on grounds of national security.

All the postpaid mobile connections will work irrespective of its telecom circle. If you are a traveller then you will experience a disconnection as soon as you cross the Ravi Bridge and reach Lakhanpur, the gateway of Jammu & Kashmir state.

To update, Reliance Jio is also expanding its 4G footprint in towns and villages in the valley state. The 4G services are being deployed on the National Highway 1D from Srinagar to Sonmarg.

Back to the topic, Idea Cellular 4G services are now active in most of the towns. The company is offering unlimited voice calls and 1GB data per day for a period of 84 days with ₹392 recharge. This offer is applicable to the Idea users who upgrade their 3G SIM to 4G.

With Idea 4G mobile broadband, the subscribers can enjoy the Digital Idea offerings of Idea Music Lounge, Idea Movie Club, and Idea Game Spark seamlessly in J&K circle. The Indian telecom sector is witnessing intense competition with the entry of Reliance Jio and will lead the second wave of consolidation in the market.

Also Read: Idea Cellular Declares PAN India Mobile Broadband Operations

The big day, August 24th marked a new beginning for Jio Phone. Despite Jio server’s crash, millions pre-booked the much awaited Jio Phone. Though the exact figures are not known yet, it is expected that there would be not less than 3.5 million pre-bookings.

Tremendous Response for Jio Phones:

Most of the Jio Phone pre-booking happened on Jio.com website and through MyJio app. Unlike last time, there was a little rush at retailer outlets. Starting from the morning, the retail stores witnessed pre-bookings and surprisingly there was a limit of 40 booking per store.

Currently, Reliance Jio has announced that the company is temporarily halting the pre-booking of Jio Phones so that it may start its focus on the delivery.

Incidentally, all eyes are now on the delivery of the Reliance 4G Jio Phone handset. The telecom arm of Reliance Industries is procuring handsets from Taiwan and is making all efforts to deliver them at various locations in India.

Though there are many international airports across India, only a few locations will get the delivery of Jio Phones first. As per the report, the popular cities Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad will get the first shipment.

From these cities, the Reliance 4G Jio Phone handsets will be sent to the nearest Reliance Digital and Jio centres for easy distribution. The company has planned to use the logistic services of other firms too.

Jio Phone Registration Status Check:

If you had already pre-booked Jio Phone on 24th August, and are clueless of its booking status, then don’t worry. The company has got an exclusive toll free number 1800 890 8900. Just dial the number and select the language preference (Hindi and English) and share your registered mobile number details used while pre-booking.

If you are an existing Reliance Jio subscriber, then you can check registration status in MyJio app under Manage Voucher section.

Irrespective of the mode of pre-booking, a successful registration will get a confirmation message to the registered mobile number.

The message is as follows:

“Congratulations…!
Prebooking of India Ka smart phone jio phone is successful.
Payment of Rs.500 has been received
Transaction ID: NA if booked at retailer store
Voucher details:
Mobile Number: ‘your registered mobile number’
Count of Vouchers: 01,
Area Pincode <area pincode>
To know the status of your voucher, Please call 18008908900 from the mobile number submitted during Jio phone booking.”

Online Tracking of Jio Phone Booking Status:

Immediately after getting a successful registration message, you can track the Jio Phone delivery status. All you need to have is order id. The transaction or order ID is one and the same. If you happen to pre-book Jio Phone through a retailer, you’ll not have the order id information.

Back to the online tracking, the Reliance Jio has specified a link where one can track the shipment details.

https://www.jio.com/shop/viewOrderDetails

Alternatively, you can visit Jio.com and login to your account using the registered mobile number and password credentials. Here, you’ll find My Account option to track the Jio Phone booking status.

If all the above-mentioned methods don’t work for you then don’t worry. Simply give a call on the toll-free number 1800 890 8900 from your registered mobile number that was given at the time of booking Jio Phone.

Personally, I’ve seen many persons worrying about the confirmation messages. Due to the tremendous response, all the servers got cashed in no time and Reliance Jio is working on it. Give them some time, all your worries will be settled in a positive manner.

Last but not the least; Jio is working to provide a live chat option to address queries exclusively on Jio Phone.

Are you one among the millions of Jio Phone lovers who pre-booked the India’s 4G VoLTE feature handset by paying ₹500, then let us know your opinion.

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

Bharti Airtel, the Indian global telecom operator, launched a highly prestigious initiative “Project Next” aimed at transforming the customer experience. The telecom company aims to invest ₹2000 crore over the next 3 years in delivering all services across touch points in a digital way.

As per the new digital initiative, the company will launch several digital innovations and transform Airtel into a complete digital enterprise. It is to remind that the company had earlier announced ₹60,000 crore investment under Project Leap to improve the network.

By going through the trend, it’s high time to say that Bharti Airtel is facing competitive pressure and thus wants to enrich customer experience with investments in digital innovation.

Airtel Postpaid Promise:

Bharti Airtel unveiled “Postpaid Promise” that carry forwards the unused or remaining monthly data to the next billing cycle. This helps in zero wastage of mobile data for postpaid subscribers and hopefully delights the customers.

With the new version of MyAirtel App, the user can track the usage and carry forward the remaining data in an easy manner. Now, the customers can create customised solutions for the family without any paperwork. One can even switch from prepaid to their Family postpaid and can pool and share the benefits.

Additional Security:

The telecom operator has also improved security with Norton Mobile Security Suite that safeguards the user against all malicious and phishing websites even when browsed via Wi-Fi.

The Airtel Secure will allow the users to protect their handsets against accidental or liquid damage. The new accidental damage protection will enable the user to repair the handset. In fact, the Bharti Airtel will arrange a pick-up of the device and get it repaired from an authorised service centre.

Airtel plans to provide new in-store experience in lines with Vodafone India. The company aims to transform over 2,500 Airtel retail stores across India into the new Next-Gen Airtel stores.

Airtel VoLTE by the End-of-Year:

Speaking to the reporters, Mr Gopal Vittal, Chief Executive, Bharti Airtel, said: “We are clear that our VoLTE is in works and trails are on in 5 cities. Towards the end of the year, we should be able to launch it.”

There were rumours that Bharti Airtel would launch VoLTE (Voice over LTE) services starting today as Apple India support page listed Airtel VoLTE for iPhone 6 and above. So, with this latest update, Reliance Jio has more time to conquer the VoLTE services in India.

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

Some calling it as the largest data breach in the country, Reliance Jio is on the wrong side of the news. As per the leading daily The Indian Express, it is not clear whether all the 120 million odd numbers of available on it.

This breach was first reported by FoneArena and the news has been spreading like a wildfire. The website Magicapk has access to the data of Reliance Jio subscribers. The leaked data has all the information of the user including his Jio number, email, the circle from where it’s activated, and Aadhar number.

Aadhar Data Too Leaked:

On further investigation, the details of Magicapk website reveal that it is registered in India with no details about the owner of the web portal.

Also Read: Select LYF Handset Users to Get 20% More Reliance Jio 4G Data

The users are really worried about the security of their data. Some reported that this breach is limited to the early adopters of Jio 4G. Currently, the website is down or might have crashed. This could be due to the suspension of authorities too.

Responding to this data breach, Reliance Jio spokesperson asserted that law enforcement agencies are looking into it and will follow the strict action on it. The company also assured their subscribers that their data with the company would be safe. Let’s hope that this data breach is unauthentic.

The Government owned telecom company, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, now offers pre-FUP download speed post the data usage quota. Analysts consider this as an important step in retaining the broadband customers when there is a huge demand for wireless broadband.

BSNL Happy Browsing Offer:

As per the information, the BSNL Broadband has already sent an SMS to its broadband subscribers. The message says that the customer can continue browsing at higher speeds free of cost after crossing the monthly FUP.

Also Read: BSNL Kerala Launches FTTH BB Plans with 20 Mbps Speed

Interestingly, the state-owned telecom company has extended this benefit to all its broadband subscribers including the BB249 users. This new promotional scheme is titled as “Happy Browsing Offer” and is valid for the next 3 months starting July 2017.

Earlier, the company used to charge ₹50 for additional 2GB of data transfer at higher speed after crossing the FUP limit. For 20GB of additional data, ₹250 was charged excluding service tax.

BSNL Broadband Affordable Experience:

This promotional offer will definitely help BSNL in retaining its customers. As BSNL BB249 is an affordable broadband plan, it can add new customers too. It is to be noted that BB249 plan offers 2Mbps download speed with a FUP limit of 2GB. After crossing the FUP limit, the speed will be reduced to 1 Mbps. With the latest offer, the speed will remain 2Mbps irrespective of the FUP limit.

Apart from the popular BB249 plan, BSNL has got the highest subscription for its 675 plan with 4Mbps download speed. With the launch of “Happy Browsing Offer”, one can enjoy pre-FUP speed in spite of the FUP limits on all broadband plans.

Recent Plans from BSNL:

The state-run telecom operator is gathering all its resources to stay in the data-driven tariff war. After the successful launch of BSNL Chaukka 444 Unlimited Data STV, the telecom company has launched BSNL Sixer 666 Plan that offers 2GB daily data and unlimited voice calls for a period of 60 days.

Also Read: BSNL Sixer 666 Plan Offers Unlimited Calls & 2GB Daily Data for 60 Days

As most of the plans are meant for prepaid customers, the BSNL took this issue as a challenge. And now it offers six times more data than the previous ones for the benefit of postpaid subscribers. Really, a smart move to retain the highly esteemed postpaid customers!

Let us know you stand on BSNL’s new strategy.

Lenovo-owned Motorola has reportedly launched Moto E4 in India at ₹8,999. When everyone is expecting the release of Moto E4 Plus, the company silently unveiled the smaller variant of E4 Plus smartphone.

As reported earlier, the Motorola Moto E4 is targeted via offline stores. Confirming the news, Mumbai-based retailer, Mahesh Telecom tweeted an unboxing video of the Moto E4 on social networking site. Pricing wise, the smartphone has got an affordable price tag similar in lines with the US and Europe.

Also Read: Motorola Moto C Plus at ₹6999, Launch Offer 30GB Extra Data on Reliance Jio

Motorola Moto E4 Specifications:

The latest smartphone of Motorola bears a look similar to the Moto G5 series. It sports a 5-inch HD display with 720x1280 pixel resolution and 2.5D curved glass on top protected by the Corning Gorilla Glass 3 technology. Moto E4 comes with water-repellant nano coating and fingerprint sensor embedded on the home button.

Powered by 64-bit quad-core MediaTek MT6737 chipset (the international variant has Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 425 quad-core processor) and coupled with 2GB RAM, the Moto E4 has 16GB inbuilt storage space that can be further expandable up to 128GB via a microSD card.

In the optics department, the Moto E4 is equipped with a 8-megapixel rear camera with f/2.2 aperture and autofocus. For the selfie lovers, the phone has a 5-megapixel front camera that can also be used for video calling.

Better Specs but Smaller Battery:

Connectivity wise, the handset offers dual-SIM support, 4G LTE (including VoLTE), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v4.1, GPS, micro USB port, and NFC support. However, it sports a small 2800 mAh battery coupled with fast charging support. In contrast, the Moto E4 Plus sports a massive 5000mAh battery.

The Moto E4 boots the latest Android 7.1 Nougat out-of-the-box and will get Android O update. The Moto E4 lovers can pick up the handset multi colours including Iron Grey, Blush Gold and Oxford Blue colour.

With a little higher pricing on the board, the Indian smartphone enthusiasts would surely wait for the launch of Moto E4 Plus that has got big specifications.

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

Lenovo-owned Motorola has launched a new model Moto Z2 Play priced at ₹27,999 in India. Pre-booking of the handset started both at online and offline stores including Flipkart, Croma, Reliance Digital etc.

At first glance, Motorola Moto Z2 Play reminds the look and feel of its predecessor Moto Z Play. However, the closer look reveals notable changes in terms of design and unique features.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus with 6GB RAM, 128GB Storage Unveiled for ₹75K

Motorola Moto Z2 Play Specifications:

In terms of specifications, Moto Z2 Play is loaded with attractive specs. The second generation Motorola Z2 Play has got the unimetal body and is water resistant with a nano-coating on it. It sports a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display (1920x1080 pixel resolution) with 2.5D curved glass and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection.

Hardware wise, the Moto Z2 Play is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 626 SoC with 2.2GHz octa-core chipset. It also has 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage that can be expanded up to 2TB via microSD card slot. Most of the smartphones in this range are usually incorporated with Snapdragon 625 SoC. Motorola has offered 10% increase in terms of performance through its Snapdragon 626.

On the camera front, Motorola Moto Z2 Play has got a 12-megapixel dual pixel, laser autofocus with f/1.7 aperture. It is capable of recording 4K videos. However, the selfie camera is of 8-megapixel which also comes with dual tone LED flash.

Latest Android Nougat:

Leading from the front, the Moto Z2 Play is equipped with stock Android 7.1.1 Nougat out-of-the-box with minor customization. Connectivity wise, the handset offers 4G with VoLTE support, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and USB Type-C port.

The latest handset is backed by 3000mAh battery supporting Motorola’s TurboCharge technology. It supports the first generation Moto Mods ecosystem.

As an inaugural offer, the Lenovo-owned Chinese company has got some interesting discounts. The handset comes with 100GB free data from Reliance Jio Infocomm. One can avail 50 percent discount on select Moto Mods. The gift pack consists of an Armour box that includes Moto Protective case, Moto Style Mod and a screen protector.

Standout in Competition?

To initiate a quick sale, the Motorola has offered zero EMI rate and zero processing fee. However, the launch date and price may not do any wonders for the company. This is mainly due to the fact that it’s not a cutting-edge flagship smartphone from Motorola.

The near-perfect OnePlus has already announced the launch of its flagship device OnePlus 5. With 6GB RAM and Snapdragon 835, OnePlus 5 will definitely be a steal at 33K. Even one can consider OnePlus 3T by paying 2K or more.

Also Read: OnePlus 3T will go On Sale Starting Dec 14 on Amazon India at ₹29999

In that premium range, there are many options including Samsung Galaxy S7. Personally, I feel Motorola has overpriced the Moto Z2 Play at least by 3K or so. Let’s wait and watch how public will receive the Lenovo’s new product and its strategy.

The Taiwanese chipset manufacturer MediaTek announced the opening up of another centre in Bengaluru. In a bid to strengthen its presence in India, MediaTek is looking forward to investing $200 million in the next few years. The company has another facility centre at Noida apart from Bengaluru unit.

Chipset Solution for Consumer Products:

Apart from providing R&D, Sales & Marketing support, the new facility will strengthen MediaTek’s growing business in connectivity and home entertainment devices. Incidentally, the MediaTek company has been providing chipset solutions for wireless communications and consumer products like smartphones, HDTV, set-top boxes, blu-ray, routers, tablets, fitness bands, smart watches, and gaming stations.

The company has also expanded to other key sectors such as 5G, imaging, and automotive. As per the reports, the new facility is meant to meet the needs of the super-mind market.

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

The Next Generation LTE and IoT:

Addressing the launch of the new facility at Bengaluru, Mr Jeffrey Ju, Co-Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, MediaTek Inc, said: “MediaTek is about making great technology available to everyone. India is a shining example of how connecting billions of people and devices can help enhance how we all live, work or play.”

The MediaTek workforce at the Bengaluru Centre for Excellence has a strong expertise to develop new products and applications in the emerging technologies like LTE and IoT. Recently, the semiconductor company designed a new chipset that enables Voice Assistant Devices and smart speakers, including the Google Assistant.

The Chinese smartphone maker Nubia Mobile launched its first dual rear camera phone Nubia Z17 Mini in India for ₹19,999. Starting June 12, the handset will be on exclusive sale through Amazon India in Gold Black colour variant. The company has even started the pre-registrations on its official website www.nubiaZ17mini.com.

Nubia Z17 Mini - Impressive Design & Specs:

The smartphones from Nubia Mobile, a subsidiary of ZTE Mobile Corporation, are popular for their camera-centric handsets. This time the company has its first dual camera at the rear in Nubia Z17 mini. This premium mid-ranged smartphone is a successor to the Nubia Z11 mini.

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

As for specifications, the Nubia Z17 mini looks pretty impressive and looks identical to Nubia Z17. It sports a unimetal body design with 5.2-inch full HD (1080x1920) 424 ppi retinal-grade display. It has got 2.5D curved glass protected by Corning Gorilla Glass technology.

Powered by a 64-bit octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 652 chipset coupled with Adreno 510 GPU and 4GB RAM, the Nubia Z17 mini smartphone offers 64GB of internal storage that can be further expandable up to 200 GB via microSD card slot.

Dual Rear Camera - The Star Attraction:

As specified, a dual rear camera is the star attraction of the handset. Nubia Z17 mini is equipped with 13-megapixel dual shooters, with 0.1-second PDAF hybrid focus, LED flash and Optical Image Stabilisation, at the rear. One is meant to capture monochrome shots and the other RCB shots.

Also Read: HTC Desire 10 Pro Smartphone Launched in India at ₹26490

The sensor supports aperture adjustment from f/1.0 to f/16.0 that enables the photo enthusiast to take a breathtaking Bokeh effect. This Sony sensor has Sapphire Glass Protection and claims to record amazing4K videos too.

On the front, the Nubia Z17 mini sports a 16-megapixel camera with f/2.0 aperture and 80-degree wide angle lens for an extended point of view. It even includes 10 beauty filters for a perfect shot every time.

What’s Your Opinion?

The mid-range premium Nubia Z17 Mini supports all the required connectivity options including 4G VoLTE, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v4.2, GPS, USB Type-C port etc. The handset is backed by a 2950mAh non-removable battery and provides a decent backup. It has a support for fast charge technology. In terms of battery, the handset performs poor as its competitors are providing bigger batteries for the same price.

The Nubia Z17 Mini runs on Nubia UI 4.0 based on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow and no word on Android Nougat update. Leaving the moderate battery pack aside, Nubia Z17 Mini has got all the specs that can compete with other dual-camera smartphones including Huawei Honor 6X and Coolpad Cool 1. Let us know your opinion on the latest Nubia Z17 Mini’s performance.

Also Read: Oppo Launches Upgraded Selfie Expert F1s with 4GB RAM and 64GB ROM at ₹18990

Reliance Communications Ltd, India’s sixth largest telecommunications network provider, has unveiled a special plan to mark the festive season of Ramadan. Indeed this is a great plan targeting data users with an equal emphasis on voice calling benefits.

Daily Data Benefit for 6 Months:

Though the plan is just limited to Maharashtra and Goa, it is expected that company will float the Ramadan Plan 2017 on a PAN-India basis. As per the plan, the recharge pack would cost ₹786 and offers daily 1GB of 4G data for a period of 180 days. The data benefit is limited to 4G handset users and there is no information on how much data is being offered to 2G and 3G handset users.

Coming to the calling, all voice calls would be charged a flat rate of 1paise per second for a period of 90 days. If the user wants to cut down the prices further, then he can avail rate cutters. One can opt for low STD calling and free on-net calls by using special rate cutters.

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

A Limited Plan:

Currently, the plan is valid from May 27, 2017, to July 23, 3017 and is restricted to Maharashtra and Goa telecom circle. As the Ramadan Plan 2017 is a special one, the company expects the customers to enroll in it at the earliest. This plan is applicable to both old and new subscribers of Reliance Communications.

Apart from the Ramadan Plan 2017, the telecom service provider introduced a few new plans starting from FRC 54, FRC 61, and FRC 148. Incidentally, the FRC 148 plan offers daily 1GB of 4G data and voice calls at 25 paise per minute with a validity of 70 days.

Reliance Communications, owned by billionaire Anil Ambani, is merging its wireless business with rival Aircel. Hit by the cut-price competition unleashed by Reliance Jio, RCOM posted its second straight quarterly loss. As a result, shares fell 15% on debt-servicing ability.

Also Read :RCOM Rolls Out ₹148 FR to Offer 70GB 4G Data for 70 Days

Idea Cellular, India’s third-largest mobile network operator becomes the third PAN India mobile broadband operator. The company achieves this feat by rolling out 4G services in Mumbai.

Incidentally, Reliance Jio, the new entrant, is the first telecom network operator to offer PAN India mobile broadband services across all the telecom circles. And, Bharti Airtel joined the list. Back to the topic, Idea Cellular offers 4G services in 20 circles except for Kolkata and Delhi. Here, the Idea is limited to the 3G network.

Also Read: Idea Cellular Rolls out 4G in Guwahati, Extends Coverage in NorthEast

Focus on Wireless Broadband Services:

Currently, Idea Cellular provides mobile broadband services across 6,000 towns and 100,000 villages on its 2G, 3G, and 4G network. As per an estimate, Idea services are now available to over 525 million Indians.

Highlighting the achievement, “Mr. Rajat Mukarji, Corporate Chief, Idea Cellular Limited, said: “The company has invested ₹7,800 crore in FY 2016-17 and is committed to investing another ₹6,000 crore in this financial year”.

The Idea Cellular has been focusing its investment in wireless broadband services and thereby expands its 2G (GSM), 3G (HSPA) and 4G (LTE) network transforming itself from being a pure mobility voice player to a strong mobile broadband operator with PAN-India presence.

Idea Cellular 4G Now in Mumbai:

Idea Cellular launches 4G services in Mumbai through 2100 MHz spectrum band. As Mumbai is the key area for Idea Cellular, the telecom network provider has upgraded over 50% of its existing 3,500 telecom sites with 4G services. The idea has more than 10 percent share (about 4.4 million subscribers) in Mumbai telecom circle. To further increase its base, the company is committed to adding 1000 sites by the end of this second quarter.

As a promotional offer, Idea Cellular puts forward free 10GB of 4G data for its prepaid and postpaid services. This Invitation Offer is valid for a period of 90 days (May 25 to Aug 22, 2017) and is applicable to all the idea users. Apart from this, the company has introduced 4G upgrade offer where the subscriber gets 4G free of cost and is entitled to get 4GB of 4G data for 14 days. Both the offers are lucrative enough to get data users on its board.

Also Read: Bharti Airtel Expands Future Ready 4G Network in Maharashtra and Goa

Incidentally, the telecom operator claims that its subscribers can enjoy high-speed broadband up to 34 Mbps. Apart from the freebies, the company also launched new tariff plans including ₹395 recharge that enables unlimited calling benefits with 1GB of 4G/2G data for a duration of 84 days.

For the customers who are interested only in local calling, Idea Cellular has got ₹192 plan. It offers unlimited local calling within Mumbai and Maharashtra telecom circles and 1GB of 4G/2G data with 28 days as validity period.

The Idea Cellular has got ₹50 discount for the first 6 months on its postpaid plans. However, this is applicable to only new postpaid users. Moreover, the subscribers are entitled to get a free pass to the Digital Idea Apps until the year end.

Idea Cellular Widens 4G Coverage in West Bengal:

On the eastern front, Idea Cellular widens its 4G footprint to over 100 towns in West Bengal. Now, the Idea subscribers can avail 4G services in 100+ towns of West Bengal including Asansol, Bankura, Berhampur, Darjeeling, Durgapur, Kalimpong, Kharagpur, Midnapore, Siliguri, etc.

Also Read: Idea Cellular ₹348 Plan Offers Unlimited Calls, 1GB Data Per Day

With this Mr. Anish Roy, Idea’s COO (Corporate), said: “Idea is confident 4G services will further boost its market presence and enable a digital lifestyle for the people of West Bengal”. Definitely, this will benefit over 6.3 million Idea subscribers in West Bengal region as they can now access high-speed 4G services.

The state-run telecom operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is all set to counter private telecom companies by introducing new combo plans. With Reliance Jio’s Dhan Dhana Dhan disrupting the market, the incumbent operators started showering offers to its users.

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

3GB Daily Data Benefit for 3 Months:

BSNL’s new revised plans undoubtedly claim that it is better than any other telecom company. As per the Triple Ace STV333 Plan, BSNL subscribers will enjoy 3GB of data per day with a validity of 90 days. When every operator is limiting its users to 1 or 2GB FUP, BSNL has come up with 3GB daily usage limit with a whopping 90 days validity period.

Apart from Triple Ace, BSNL also launched two other plans, namely, Dil Khol Ke Bol and Nehle per Dehla. As per Dil Khol Ke Bol STV349 Pack, the users will get unlimited local and STD calls within its home circle and 2GB data for 28 days. By home circle, it refers calling to BSNL and other operators within its telecom circle.

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

Nehle Per Dehla STV395 Pack:

Similarly, the Nehle per Dehla STV395 pack offers 2GB of daily data benefit, 3000 free minutes of calls in the same BSNL network (local and STD), and 1800 minutes of calls to other networks (local and STD) for a period of 71 days (to be specific 10 weeks). If the user exhausts the free benefits, then each call will be charged at 20 paise per minute. Interestingly, all the above-specified plans will have 3G data speed and post the FUP limit; the speed will be throttled to 80kbps to prevent any billing shock.

Surprisingly, the state-run telecom company revamped its popular STV339 plan to offer 3GB of daily data benefit (earlier it was 2GB) along with unlimited BSNL calls (on-net) and 25 minutes to other networks (off-net) per day with a validity of 28 days.

As per the latest reports, the BSNL is working on framing new plan to offer free off-net calling too without any restrictions. Hope these new plans from BSNL will make a mark and satisfy its subscribers.

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

South Korean handset maker Samsung launched its flagship smartphone Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ in India. The company will take pre-orders of Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ on the eCommerce portal Flipkart and on its own online Samsung shop and will start shipping from May 5th. In India, these flagship smartphones are priced at ₹57,900 and ₹64,900 respectively.

Also Read: Google Pixel, Pixel XL Phones Available to Pre-Order on Flipkart

Samsung Galaxy S8 and Samsung Galaxy S8+ Specifications:

Though launched globally last month, this Indian variant is available in two different screen sizes. The Galaxy S8 has got a 5.8-inch screen and the Galaxy S8+ with a 6.2-inch screen with 2960X1440 pixels on Super AMOLED display. Both the smartphones have the dual-edge curved display with 18.5:9 aspect ratio and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. Moreover, it is to be noted that Indian variant phones are powered by Samsung Exynos 8895 SoC instead of Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 SoC.

As a part of pre-booking offer, Samsung has got a tie-up with Reliance Jio. The handset owner will get 28GB + 28GB of data per month at ₹309 monthly for a period of 8 months. Termed as Reliance Jio Double Data Offer, Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ users can avail this offer as a bundled package. Apart from this offer, Samsung has also offered a wireless charger along with the handset.

Also Read: Water Resistant HTC 10 evo Now in India for ₹48990

Powered by Samsung Exynos:

Both the Samsung phones are powered by Samsung Exynos 8895 SoC and 4GB RAM and come with 64GB inbuilt storage expandable up to 256GB via microSD card. Optics wise, Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ smartphones feature 12-megapixel “Dual Pixel” rear cameras with optical image stabilization and f/1.7 aperture. It sports 8-megapixel front camera with f/1.7 aperture. It supports 4K video recording at 30 fps.

Connectivity wise, the flagship phones have a built-in hybrid dual-SIM configuration, 4G LTE (Cat. 16), Wi-Fi 802.11ac, Bluetooth v5.0, USB Type-C, NFC and GPS. It has got all the premium features including IRIS scanner, fingerprint scanner and facial recognition. The smartphones support wireless charging and fast charging. Powered by 3,000mAh and 3,500mAh battery packs respectively, Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ are competent enough to provide talk time up to 24 hours and 4G internet usage up to 15 hours.

Bixby Virtual Assistant:

These flagship smartphones run on Android 7.0 Nougat with Samsung’s TouchWiz UI. The best thing about Galaxy S8 is it features Bixby, the company’s latest smart AI assistant. One can place calls and recommend a restaurant nearby using Bixby virtual assistant. If the reports are to be believed, Samsung has incorporated Artificial Intelligence and optics capability for these higher end smartphones developed at Bangalore R&D facility.

Samsung Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+ smartphones come in five different colours including Midnight Black, Orchid Gray, Coral Blue, Arctic Silver, and Maple Gold. The specs seems to be luring, let’s grab the handset.

Must Read: OnePlus 3T will go On Sale Starting Dec 14 on Amazon India at ₹29999

None can deny that Reliance Jio has given new dimensions to the Indian telecom sector. With 100 million subscribers in its kitty, Reliance Jio announced the new Jio Prime Subscription Plan in the last week. Under this new plan, the Reliance Jio subscribers can enjoy all the benefits of Reliance Jio Happy New Year Offer.

Jio Prime Membership Plan of ₹303:

Effective from April 1st, the existing subscribers can continue their free goodies by paying a one-time fee of ₹99 till 31st March 2017 and choose a monthly pack of 303. As per the ₹303 plan, Jio subscribers can enjoy daily 1GB of 4G data and unlimited free voice calling for a period of 28 days. That means, apart from unlimited free voice calling, you will get 28GB of 4G data with 28 days validity at just ₹303 monthly recharge.

However, the ₹303 plan is also available to non-Jio Prime users but they get just 2.5GB of 4G data and unlimited voice calling for 28 days period. These benefits will be available for one full year i.e. until 31st March 2018.

Also Read: Reliance Jio Prime Membership – Free Benefits, Enrolment and Procedure

₹499Jio Prime Membership Plan:

If you happen to run out of 4G data, then there are booster add-on data packs to enjoy high-speed mobile data. In the lines of ₹303 plan, Reliance Jio has also got ₹499 plan that allows the user to enjoy 2GB of 4G data per day along with free voice calling benefit. With the ₹499 plan, the Reliance Jio user can enjoy 56GB of 4G data within 28 days of the period. Whereas, the Jio non-prime users, will only get 5GB of 4G data in the same period.

₹149 Jio Prime Membership Plan:

The lowest monthly plan available with Reliance Jio is ₹149 plan. The telecom operator has modified this starter plan to a great extent. Jio Prime members will get 2GB of 4G data, unlimited free voice calling and 100 SMS with a validity of 28 days.

In the case of Jio non-prime users, the plan offers 1GB of 4G data, unlimited free voice calling and 100 SMS with a validity of 28 days. It is to be noted that the modified 149 plan is available only in the prepaid segment. All other plans have their presence in the postpaid category with better provision of 4G data.

Survival of the fittest:

The Jio Prime membership subscription has officially started today. You can visit the nearest Reliance Digital or any authorised store to sign up. One can even become a Jio Prime member by making the payment through Reliance Jio’s official website. It is very clear that Jio Prime membership plans are ahead of non-prime plans. Hope the incumbent players can match these plans and give a tough fight for their survival.

Also Read: Airtel Launches Bundled Prepaid Packs to Offer Free Voice Calls Across India to Counter Jio

Reliance Industries Chairman Mr Mukesh Ambani today announced the launch of a new Jio Prime Membership program. Apart from rolling out the new plan, Mr Mukesh Ambani made some big announcements pertaining to Reliance Jio.

Also Read: Welcome Offer Ends and Reliance Jio Happy New Year Offer Starts

Reliance Jio Sets New Records:

Taking the centre stage for the third time, Mr Ambani announced that Reliance Jio crossed the 100 million customer mark within 170 days of its commercial launch on September 1. Statistically, over 7 subscribers are added every single second on Jio network within these 170 days.

In these 170 days, Reliance Jio has created so many records. Airtel reached the 50-million landmark in about 12 years and took another 3 years to reach the 100 million milestone. Similarly, country’s second and third-largest telecom network providers Vodafone India and Idea Cellular took 13 years each.

As per the latest reports, Jio subscribers consumed a mammoth data of over 100 crore Gigabytes during the last month. It has been estimated that Jio users make more than 200 crore minutes of voice and video calls every single day.

Also Read: Reliance Jio Fiber 1Gbps Broadband Tariff Starting at ₹ 500 per Month?

Reliance Jio Prime Enrolment:

While coming back to Reliance Jio Prime Membership, this is a unique plan launched by Reliance Jio where the subscribers can enjoy the present benefits of Reliance Jio Happy New Year till March 31, 2018, by paying a nominal one-time fee of ₹99. The monthly rental of this plan would be ₹303. That is, by paying an effective rental of ₹10 per day, one can enjoy the present benefits of unlimited voice and video calling and 1GB of 4G data per day.

The new prime program can be subscribed by the existing customers between March 1 and March 31. It can be availed through My Jio app or Jio.com official website or through a Jio store. Moreover, the subscribers will be given unlimited access to Jio premium apps worth ₹10,000 providing wholesome entertainment.

Reliance Jio Future Plans:

Reliance Industries Chairman Mr Mukesh Ambani clearly stated that Jio tariff would be applicable from April 1 and the telecom company is committed to providing unlimited free voice calling to any network across India with no roaming charges and no blackout days. He further stated that Reliance Jio will match the best selling data offers provided by rival competitors by giving 20% more data.

By the end of 2017, Reliance Jio is committed to investing extra ₹30,000 crore to cover 99% of India’s population by expanding its 4G VoLTE network in all the major cities, towns and villages across the length and breadth of India.

Hope Reliance Jio will make the incumbent operators keep luring the customers with their competitive pricing.

Also Read: Reliance Jio Plans Rs 999 VoLTE Feature Phones Bundled with Free Voice Calling

India’s leading telecom operator Bharti Airtel has upgraded its 4G network in Maharashtra and Goa by deploying a new 4G capacity in the 1800MHz spectrum. This will give enhanced HD video streaming experience along with better indoor and outdoor network reception.

Also Read: Bharti Airtel Turns Aggressive, Now Offers 4GB of 4G Data at Just ₹149

Currently, the telecom company has got 4G TD-LTE network on 2300MHz spectrum band. The new 1800MHz spectrum of FD-LTE in combination with 2300MHz spectrum will give a better advantage to Bharti Airtel in terms of network coverage and data speeds.

Free 10GB of 4G Data:

To celebrate the inaugural offer, Bharti Airtel is offering 10GB of 4G data for free to its prepaid customers. If you have a 4G enabled device, then just visit the nearest Airtel Store and claim your 4G SIM to get free 10GB of 4G data.

Addressing the launch, Mr Vidur Rattan, Chief Executive Offer – Maharashtra & Goa, Bharti Airtel Limited, said: “We have rolled out a future-ready network across Maharashtra and Goa, with enhanced capacity and latest technology. We are expanding 4G network presence to over 400 towns across the two states under Project Leap and remain committed to the digital vision of the two states. “

Bharti Airtel: A pioneer in 4G Services:

Starting with Kolkata, Bharti Airtel is the front-runner in rolling out 4G services in the country. Under Project Leap, the company is committed to investing 60000 crores over the next three years for enhancing its customer experience across the length and breadth of the country.

Also Read: Airtel Payments Bank offers free 1 Min Talk-time for Every Rupee on First Time Deposits