Posts made by Mario D'souza

Taiwan-based consumer electronics company HTC Corporation has launched it’s HTC 10 evo in India. The new 4G smartphone is water, splash and dust resistant and will be available in India at a price of 48,990. Though the company launched HTC 10 evo in November 2016 in the United States, it couldn’t make it in India for varied reasons.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy C9 Pro, the First Smartphone from Samsung to Feature 6GB RAM

HTC 10 evo Specifications:

The HTC 10 evo is a premium built smartphone that has a metal unibody design. It sports a 5.5-inch touchscreen display having 2560X1440 pixels resolution with Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 810 octa-core processor and 3GB RAM, the smartphone has 32GB internal storage further expandable up to 2TB via microSD card slot.

One the photography front, HTC 10 evo sports a 16-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilisation, PDAF and an 8-megapixel front camera for selfies. The 4K video recording with Hi-Res audio is a great plus. Regarding connectivity, HTC 10 evo supports a single nano-SIM including Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, 3.5mm headphone jack, NFC, FM, 3G and 4G LTE.

Also Read: Sony Rolls Out Xperia XZ with 23-MP Triple Image Sensor Primary Camera at ₹ 49990

BoomSound Adaptive Audio:

It runs on the latest Android 7.0 Nougat operating system with HTC Sense. Moreover, the smartphone is backed by 3200mAh battery with Qualcomm’s Quick Charge technology for faster charging. The USP of HTC 10 evo is its BoomSound Adaptive audio that claims almost instant adaptability of the audio to sound levels around you. This gives the next generation audio technology that keeps you in the zone of the music.

The smartphone supports split-screen view and quicker multitasking for optimal performance. Clad in Cast Iron and Pearl Gold colours, HTC 10 evo is definitely the owner’s pride.

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

Noida-based Indian handset maker Lava International Ltd launched its first 4G VoLTE phone Lava 4G Connect M1 with a price tag of ₹3333 in India. Incidentally, this is the first Indian VoLTE feature phone indigenously manufactured in India.

Also Read: Xolo Era 2X with 4G VoLTE Support Launched Starting at ₹6666

Lava 4G Connect M1 Specifications:

Lava 4G Connect M1 is a hybrid phone that amalgamates the experience of a smartphone and durability of a feature phone. In simple words, the latest handset of Lava International has all the features that an average user will search for. It is super affordable, best battery back-up and 4G VoLTE enabled phone.

Coming to the specifications, Lava 4G Connect M1 has a polycarbonate body with a 2.4-inch display, powered by 1.2 GHz quad core processor and 512MB RAM and 3GB ROM, 0.3-megapixel VGA camera and 1,750mAh battery. It is pre-loaded with social media apps including Facebook Lite. Apart from 4G, Lava 4G Connect M1 supports other prominent connectivity options including 2G voice calling, EDGE, Wireless FM etc.

4G VoLTE Feature Phone with Reliance Jio Bundled Offer:

Launching the first 4G VoLTE feature phone, Mr Gaurav Nigam, Head - Product, Lava International, said: “The launch of this smart feature phone, we believe, will create possibilities for users as they will now be able to consume digital content and even do digital transactions. Furthermore, a sizeable segment of feature phone users in India who use their phone to only make calls will now be able to access the internet; to their advantage; and that too at affordable price.

Moreover, the company has got a tie up with Reliance Jio to offer unlimited voice and video calling, the internet and free access to Jio premium apps. The Lava 4G Connect M1 handset is available for sale only offline across all the retail stores and multi-brand outlets in India. Though there’s no official information on the date of its release, one could hope to grab the handset within a week or so.

Also Read: Lava X50 Plus with 4G VoLTE Support Launched at ₹9199

Reliance Jio Infocomm that shacked up the Indian telecom sector signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nagpur University to provide free Wi-Fi access for educational purpose. As per the MoU, Reliance Jio will offer Wi-Fi services at all the properties including affiliate colleges that fall under the jurisdiction of Nagpur University.

With this new initiative, all the teaching and non-teaching departments would be Wi-Fi enabled in Nagpur University and its affiliated colleges. As per the company, it would take not less than 3 months to completely set up Wi-Fi facility in this university. Reliance Jio would be issuing Jio 4G SIM cards to all the students, teaching and non-teaching staff.

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

Jio Targeting Next Generation User:

Though the campus is already equipped with high-speed internet, Reliance Jio will serve as the standby in case the lines break down for any unanticipated reason. As per the authorities at Nagpur University, Reliance Jio has not asked for any special permission to set up Reliance towers. If the telecom company wants to set up towers, it will be as per the guidelines and charged for the same.

As a norm, each student of the Nagpur University should take principal’s approval to avail free Wi-Fi facility provided by Reliance Jio Infocomm. In a statement, Mr SP Kane, Vice Chancellor, Nagpur University said that the students will be able to access vast knowledge in education and research areas through the high-speed internet. Moreover, the students will be trained in online skill-based courses for exploring job opportunities.

Teachers’ Day Jio Scheme:

Speaking on this occasion, Mr Bala Subramaniam Iyer, Vice President, Reliance Jio Infocomm, said: The group’s Teachers’ Day Jio Scheme is committed to fulfilling PM Modi’s dream of development in the education sector. The latest move will position Jio as a brand among four lakh students and hundreds of Nagpur University officials. In simple terms, Reliance Jio is targeting the next generation user! What a Jio sir Ji!

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

India’s leading telecom operator Bharti Airtel is in an aggressive mode. The company is offering several goodies to its subscribers. The latest offer to hit bull’s eye is its 4GB of 4G data at ₹149. Airtel which used to concentrate only on providing customer delight with respect to its service is now offering the best deals in the telecom industry.

Also Read: Jio Effect? Airtel to Offer 10GB 4G Data at ₹ 259 for New 4G Handset Users

New Pricing Model:

Starting with the new entrant Jio Infocomm’s 149 pricing, every other telecom operator is strategically designing their pricing keeping the number 149 in the mind. First, it was unlimited calling at ₹149. Now, Bharti Airtel has got 4GB of 4G data at ₹149 with a validity period of 28 days. All the telecom operators are offering exclusive discounts on 4G data as they are feeling the pinch of Jio’s freebies.

Bharti Airtel has also come up with a special ₹299 plan where the subscriber enjoys unlimited local and STD calling within its own network along with 4GB of 4G data. There’s nothing special in it. As the company is already providing unlimited voice on-net calls for ₹149, the ₹299 pack offers extra 4GB of 4G data for its loyal subscribers. It is to be noted that Bharti Airtel has not officially launched these special packs but are informed by an SMS to their users.

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

Bharti Airtel - How to Fight a Data War?

Some users are claiming that they received 4GB of 4G data along with unlimited calling on Airtel network for just ₹265. The readers are advised to check their inbox for the promotional SMS or visit the official recharge portal of Bharti Airtel and click on My Offers.

If the reports are to believed, Bharti Airtel is working on to introduce hourly voice and data packs in line with Vodafone India’s SuperHour plans. Hope the company does something for its postpaid subscribers when every operator is concerned about its prepaid users.

Also Read: Airtel Completes PAN-India 4G Footprint with 4G Services in Assam

India’s third-largest telecom service provider is all set to launch Digital Idea services to take on Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. When the whole nation is driven by entertainment, Ideal Cellular is still just limited to voice and data services. Realising the importance of entertainment, Idea Cellular is ready to provide full-fledged digital services.

The Aditya Birla Group telecom company is planning to start its own digital services within a week or two. The Digital Idea will be a home to the entertainment as it provides access to Idea Chat, Idea Music, Idea Games, Idea TV, and Idea Videos. As the Indian market is demand driven and there is a high demand in niches like entertainment.

Also Read: Idea Cellular to Offer Hourly Unlimited 4G/3G Data Pack at ₹22

Digital Idea Services from Idea Cellular:

Addressing the media, Mr Himanshu Kapania, Managing Director, Idea Cellular, said: “As we leapfrog from being a voice and data services provider to becoming a full-service digital solutions company, we continue to deliver on our promise of ‘changing lives’’ and become the catalyst in fuelling the Digital India movement.“

Idea Cellular has already made tie-ups and special agreements to offer Digital Idea content through a gamut of digital applications. The teleco will offer its own range of branded digital content to drive up data usage. Moreover, the company plans to schedule the launch of Idea TV, Idea News & Magazines, and Idea Storage in 2018. If the reports are to be believed then Idea Cellular is firm in entering video and music streaming, cloud storage, instant messaging, navigation, eCommerce etc.

Incidentally, the new entrant Reliance Jio Infocomm is the pioneer in delivering digital services in India through its services in the telecom space. It has already built its digital ecosystem that has been motivating the other telecom players to speed up the launch of own digital content services. It is expected that Aditya Birla Idea Payment Bank will see the limelight in the first half of 2017.

Also Read: Idea New Ultimate 349 Plan to Offer Unlimited Voice Calls for Postpaid Users

Better Late than Never:

Both Bharti Airtel (with a suite of Apps) and Vodafone India (with Vodafone Play) are trying to engage their subscribers by providing Reliance Jio-like digital services to a certain extent. Idea Cellular is trying to project itself that the Digital Idea is a value proposition different from its rival companies.

If Idea Cellular provides Digital content then it has to face stiff competition from Reliance Jio Infocomm and Bharti Airtel as there are many popular services such as Hike, Jio Chat, Wynk Movies, Jio Play etc. If the incumbent telecom players don’t provide any innovative solution to their subscribers, then it’s highly difficult to protect their subscribers.Anyway, it’s always better late than never.

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

The much awaited Jio feature phone images were leaked on various social media platforms. Incidentally, Telecom Talk reported the leaked images of Reliance Jio 4G VoLTE feature phone on its website mentioning the tweets of the user.

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

Reliance Jio Feature Phone @ ₹1500:

It has been widely publicised that Reliance Jio would be launching 4G VoLTE feature rich phones under ₹1500. By looking at the leaked images, one can definitely conclude that Reliance Jio candy bar feature phone has got dedicated keys for MyJio, JioTV, Jio Cinema, and Jio Music. Though the image doesn’t show any camera but as per the reports, it has got basic optics to put on the front and rear cameras.

4G VoLTE Feature Phone - A Masterstroke:

No technical information (including the specs) has been shared about this VoLTE enabled feature rich phone. If this leaked information turns true then there would be a tsunami in the Indian telecom industry. Reliance Retail has already sold 7 million LYF handsets in India and has grabbed 5th spot in the Indian smartphone market. If Reliance can launch ultra-low-cost feature phone targeting the masses then it could be a masterstroke.

Though there is an enough demand for affordable smartphones, feature phones rule the Indian market with 55% market share. With this rumoured ₹1500 4G VoLTE feature phone, Reliance can easily penetrate much deeper into the Indian market. Currently, Reliance Jio has got 74.2 million subscribers in just 4 months of its commercial launch and can easily pocket 100 million subscribers if it can fix its connectivity problems.

Also Read: Reliance Jio Free Voice Call Offer Gets Clean Chit from Government

India’s second largest mobile network operator Vodafone India has launched its SuperNet 4G services in Aizawl, Mizoram. With this launch, Vodafone 4G services will now be available to the second least populous state in the country.

Vodafone 4G SuperNet in the Land of Hill People:

Incidentally, 91% of this North Eastern state is forested but Mizoram serves as a transit point for trade with Myanmar and Bangladesh. Strategically, Vodafone India has launched its 4G services in Aizawl after its roll out at Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. The telco has announced that it would extend its 4G footprint to other towns and cities of North East by the end of March 2017.

Also Read: Vodafone SuperNet 4G Services Now in North East and Assam

Addressing the roll out of Vodafone SuperNet 4G services in Aizawl, Mizoram, Mr. Alok Verma, Business Head – Assam & North East Circle, Vodafone India, said: “The state is a key market for Vodafone India, and as one of the leading telecom service providers, our 5.5 million customers in Assam & North East Circle have a lot to look forward to. 4G has the potential to revolutionise the mobile experience through powerful innovation that impacts how we work and live. We will soon expand our Vodafone SuperNet 4G services across Mizoram as well as other parts of Assam & North East in a phased manner.”

Vodafone 4G SuperNet Launch Offers:

With Vodafone SuperNet 4G, the subscribers can now access high-speed mobile internet on a wide range of devices including dongles, Mi-Fi and 4G enabled smartphones. As a launch offer, the subscriber is entitled to get 2GB of 4G data for free. Moreover, the users purchasing data packs greater than 1GB will get four times the 4G data with the same validity period.

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

Above all, the Vodafone India subscribers can now enjoy free access to Vodafone Play for 3 months. Just non-stop entertainment in the form of movies, live TV channels, music etc. The company is offering free delivery of 4G SIMs for postpaid subscribers. If you are a prepaid subscriber then just send an SMS <4GCHECK> to 199 and ascertain whether your phone or SIM is 4G compatible or not.

The Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi has sent out invites for Mi product launch on 19th January in New Delhi. Based on the invites, it looks like Xiaomi is launching Redmi Note 4 smartphone at the event.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 in India:

The Xiaomi’s Redmi series is the most successful one in the Indian market and has got a huge fan base. Redmi Note 4 will be the successor to the company’s highly successful smartphone. Though the Redmi Note 4 was unveiled in China long back, but its release was delayed for the Indian market.

Also Read: Xiaomi Unveiled Redmi 4 Pro, Redmi 4, Redmi 4A Budget Smartphones in China

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 sports a 5.5-inch full HD display with full metal unibody design and comes in Gold, Grey, and Silver colour variants. The smartphone has two storage options – 2GB RAM+16GB ROM and 3GB RAM+64GB ROM in China. Redmi Note 4 sports a fingerprint sensor, 13-megapixel rear camera, and 5-megapixel front camera for selfies. A mammoth 4100mAh battery to power the handset is the main USP of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4.

What to Expect?

As the company has patent issues with Ericsson, it might include Snapdragon 625 SoC. Based on the RAM + ROM, Xiaomi might start with a price tag of 10K as it did with Redmi Note 3. The Xiaomi’s January 19th launch event doesn’t give any hints but surely one can expect some leaks in coming days.

Also Read: Xiaomi Adds Black and Blue Colour Variants to Redmi Note 4

Nokia 6, the first Android-powered smartphone to carry the Nokia name has been announced by HMD Global. The parent company of Nokia, HMD Global, has restricted its exclusivity to the Chinese market and will be available only via retailer JD.com at 1699 CNY (₹17K) in the first half of 2017.

Nokia 6 Specifications:

Regarding specifications, Nokia 6 represents the modern design using 6000 series aluminum. It sports a 5.5-inch full HD (1920x1080) display with 2.5D Gorilla Glass protection. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 SoC processor and 4GB RAM, the smartphone packs 64GB internal storage further expandable up to 128GB via microSD card.

On the optics front, the new Nokia 6 has a 16-megapixel rear camera with phase detection autofocus (PDAF) and dual-tone flash. There is an 8-megapixel front camera with f/2.0 aperture for selfies and a fingerprint sensor embedded in the home button.

Backed by a non-removable 3000mAh battery, Nokia 6 runs on Android 7.0 Nougat out-of-the-box. The Android handset has twin speakers with Dolby ATMOS technology support for enriching audio performance. Connectivity-wise, the Nokia 6 supports dual SIM, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS.

Relook at its Strategy:

The Nokia 6 marks the first step for Nokia brand into Android smartphones but it’s sad that Nokia 6 is not coming to India. Hope HMD Global will relook into its strategy.

Starting today, Vodafone India will offer unlimited 4G/3G data starting at ₹16 for one hour. Similarly, the subscribers can avail unlimited on-net voice calls (local and STD in Vodafone network) at just ₹7 for an hour.

Vodafone India, the country’s number-two telecom network service provider, has recently crossed 200 million subscriber mark. To celebrate the occasion, the company announced ‘The SuperHour’ pack through which the subscriber can enjoy more services without any limitations.

Vodafone SuperHour Plan - A Big Pack @ Nominal Price:

Addressing the launch of SuperHour pack, Mr. Sandeep Kataria, Chief Commercial Officer, Vodafone India, said: “We are breaking all shackles that concern customers in their use of the internet with SuperHour. With unrestricted repeat purchase, the customers can make every hour SuperHour on Vodafone SuperNet, our best network ever.”

The Vodafone SuperHour packs can be repeatedly recharged through online and retail touch points unlimited times a day. Under this pack, the Vodafone 4G/3G subscriber can access unlimited data at just ₹16 per hour. While a 2G customer needs to pay just ₹5 per hour. Moreover, the user can enjoy unlimited Vodafone voice calls (local and STD) for ₹7 an hour.

Interestingly, the Vodafone subscribers can access thousands of HD videos and movies on Vodafone Play App through this nominal priced SuperHour pack. The customer can use and download as much data as he can for an hour at a fixed price of ₹16 including multimedia content on the network operator’s exclusive Vodafone Play app.

Offer Limited, Not PAN-India:

Currently, this SuperHour scheme is not available in Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, and Punjab circles. Hope this innovative offer from the British firm makes a big difference in preventing the mass migration of people. We request the Vodafone subscribers to check the price of the SuperHour scheme in their circle before recharging.

The country’s number two telecom network operator Vodafone India has tied up with Eros International Plc to offer premium content entertainment on Vodafone Play. With this tie-up, Vodafone Play subscribers can watch everything in HD including 14000 plus titles from Bollywood, Hollywood, and regional movies.

Vodafone Play 1 Million+ Downloads:

Vodafone Play is an exclusive app for Vodafone India customers that offer non-stop entertainment with more than 150 live TV channels and a library of movies. It has got TV channels, music and movies in many languages including English, Hindi, and regional languages. The App allows the subscribers to stream their favorite TV shows and music videos absolutely free.

Free 400MB Data:

Recently, Vodafone Play has crossed 1 million+ downloads on Google Play Store and Apple Store. Thus, Vodafone announced 400MB complimentary data for downloading Vodafone Play. However, this offer is limited to the first time users only.

Eros Now High-Quality Media:

Eros Now allows the streaming of high-quality media using a smartphone. The company claims to be the number one destination for Bollywood and regional Indian content offering hundreds of blockbuster movies in Hindi, Kannada, Punjabi, and Tamil.

Addressing the association of Vodafone Play with Eros Now, Mr. Dipankar Ghoshal, National Head – VAS and Content, Vodafone India, said: “Vodafone Play and Eros Now together are offering a rich content of movies and videos for customers looking for entertainment on the go”. Mrs. Rishika Lulla Singh, CEO, Eros Digital, added: “We believe our integration with the Vodafone Play platform will further give momentum to our customer acquisition strategy”.

All the Vodafone subscribers can avail complementary 400MB data on downloading Vodafone Play App from play store on your handset. After downloading, the customer just needs to register on Vodafone network for the first time and can later stream content even on Wi-Fi.

Bharti Airtel launched their latest broadband technology V-Fiber in Mumbai to offer 100Mbps internet speed to its customers. Through this vectorization broadband technology, Airtel customers can experience lightning internet speed without any increase in their monthly rental.

Airtel V-Fiber’s Super Fast Data Speed:

As a part of Project Leap, Bharti Airtel has been upgrading its nationwide network. Currently, the V-Fiber Airtel broadband is available in Chennai and Mumbai. The company is planning to expand this broadband technology to Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Delhi & NCR, and Hyderabad.

With the deployment of V-Fiber broadband technology, the users can enjoy super fast data speeds, HD video streaming without buffering, and make video calls in a multi-device environment. According to this green technology, there is nothing to do at the customer’s premises. Installation of the new V-Fiber modem will take care of everything related to this broadband technology.

Commenting on the launch of V-Fiber in Mumbai, Mr. Sameer Batra, Chief Executive Officer – Mumbai, Bharti Airtel, said: “With ‘V-Fiber’, we are all set to offer an altogether transformed experience on our future-ready network to the digitally savvy homes.”

V-Fiber Modem, the Initial Investment:

Under this V-Fiber Broadband, Airtel offers affordable plans starting from ₹899 with 30GB limit and thereafter the user can avail three months unlimited offer. The existing Airtel broadband subscribers can enjoy lightning data speed with no extra wiring or drilling.

Just pay for the modem (₹1,000) and upgrade to V-Fiber plan. One can even upgrade opting EMI facility by paying ₹200 in 5 months. If the customer feels he’s not happy with the service then Airtel will refund charges for the modem. And the amount will be adjusted in the next billing cycle.

Apart from super fast internet speed, the Airtel broadband customers can also enjoy unlimited voice calling to any network across India. There’s no extra charge for this free voice calling benefit. Moreover, if the customer holds any postpaid or DTH connection, then the user is entitled to get extra 5GB data benefit per month.

The Airtel’s myHome Rewards programme makes you get additional data benefit. The users can register for V-Fiber at www.airtel.in/vfiber or visit any Airtel retail store or call on 1800 103 0121.

Vodafone India, the country’s second largest telecom service provider, rolled out its Vodafone SuperNet 4G services in Nagpur. Built on the efficient 2100 MHz spectrum band, Vodafone India deployed 4G services in Nagpur, the winter capital of the state. With this launch, the telecom company promised to expand its 4G footprint in more towns and cities across Maharashtra by March 2017.

SuperNet 4G in Nagpur:

The SuperNet 4G services were launched by Mr. Chandrashekhar Krishnarao Bawankule, Minister for Ministry of Energy, New and Renewable Energy Maharashtra, Government of Maharashtra and the Nagpur Guardian Minister. Commenting on the launch, Mr. Ashish Chandra, Business Head, Maharashtra & Goa Circle, Vodafone India, said: “Maharashtra is a key market for Vodafone India. We will shortly expand the Vodafone SuperNet 4G service across the entire state in a phased manner.”

With the roll out of Vodafone SuperNet 4G services, the subscribers can access high-speed mobile broadband on a range of smart devices including Mi-Fi, dongles, and smartphones. Addressing the launch of 4G services, Mr. Naveen Chopra, Chief Operating Officer, Vodafone India, said: Beginning today, our customers in Nagpur and soon across Maharashtra, can enjoy the world’s largest 4G network experience.“

The country’s second largest teleco invites data savvy customers in Nagpur to make the most of the bonanza of special benefits being offered to enjoy the best mobile internet experience. The company claims global experience and expertise of launching 4G across 20 counties and as a steadfast partner to Digital India campaign.

Vodafone India’s Lion’s Share:

With the launch in Nagpur, the Maharashtra circle, Vodafone India has now expanded its 4G presence to 12 telecom circles in India. Starting from Kerala, Vodafone SuperNet 4G services are now live in Assam and North East circles, Delhi & NCR, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Kolkata, Mumbai, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh (East), West Bengal circles.

The country second telecom network has planned 4G launches shortly in Chennai and Tamil Nadu, Goa, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh (West). Combined, these 17 telecom circles represent 90% of Vodafone India’s business revenues.

The American eCommerce giant has launched Amazon Prime Video streaming service in India ahead of its media event. It is the least expensive on-demand video streaming service across the globe. One can access thousands of movies, TV shows, and Amazon Originals on Amazon Prime Video. Currently, it is listed on Google Play Store and on iOS app. The subscribers can sign-in using Amazon India credentials.

Amazon Prime Video – The Least Expensive

As an introductory offer, the users can avail Amazon Prime Video subscription at just ₹499. This is the least expensive video streaming service available. If one compares the pricing of NetFlix, it charges ₹500 per month as a subscription. Similarly, HotStar offers its premium content at ₹199 per month. On the other hand, Amazon Prime Video subscription is available at a discounted price of ₹499 for the year. That’s a massive discount offer!!

Though Amazon Prime Video has a late entry in India, it has tied-up with major Bollywood studios and distributors including Dharma Productions, T-Series, Vishesh Films etc. It has got several exclusive titles such as Kabali, Fan, Rock On, Sultan, Yeh Jawani Hai Diwani etc. It also offers timeless classics of Hollywood like Saving Private Ryan, The God Father, War of the World etc. To top it all, Amazon Prime Video provides the streaming of India’s biggest cricketing event IPL.

Offers Multiple Benefits of Membership:

Commenting on the launch, the company spokesperson added that Amazon Prime Video will continue to add exclusive titles to its catalogue. Apart from online streaming, the subscribers can download videos and watch them offline. The Amazon Prime Video-on-demand video streaming service has also got easy-to-use parental controls and is family friendly. Moreover, the subscription also makes the user eligible to get free one-day and two-day delivery on purchases made at Amazon India.

@Vikas-Jadhav

Hey! I’m really in love with this Motorola’s all metal smartphone. Though priced under ₹16K, Moto M looks as if it is a premium phone. Apart from 3050mAh battery, I would rate its support for fast-charging as the ultimate thing.

Hybrid Dual-SIM Card:

However, I’m really worried about its hybrid dual-SIM card slot. It supports either two SIM cards or one SIM card and microSD card. This is really a big let down for me. The other option is to spend extra ₹2K and get 4GB RAM with 64GB internal storage.

4G VoLTE Ready:

The 4G VoLTE support will make it handy as I would like to port my number to Reliance Jio. The other benefits like nano-coating will definitely be an advantage if there is any accidental water splash on the handset.

Tata DoCoMo, the telecom arm of TATA group, has announced the launch of ₹299 plan for its postpaid customers. Under this ₹299 postpaid plan, the Tata DoCoMo subscribers can avail 1500 minutes of voice calling and 2GB mobile data for a period of 30 days. Dubbing it as “Simple is the Best” plan offers 1500 minutes (both local and STD calls) along with 2GB data meant exclusively for postpaid subscribers.

₹299 Postpaid Rental Plan Tariff:

Under this plan, the voice benefits would be applicable for the first six months of subscription. Upon the seventh month, the voice benefits would be revised to 1000 minutes and there would be no change in 2GB data benefit. Post 2GB consumption of the mobile data; it would be billed 15 paise per MB. Similarly, the extra voice calls after 1500 minutes talk time benefit would be charged flat at 30 paise (local) and 40 paise (STD calls) respectively.

Addressing the launch of the new postpaid plan, Mr. Jamshed Gilani, Vice President, Consumer Business, Mumbai – Tata Teleservices, said: “With our ‘Simple is the Best’ plans, we want to offer our subscribers greater benefits of voice and data at competitive prices; through a simple product that would take care of all the necessary data and voice needs of our customers. We have seen an uptake of our data services and in order to further democratize data usage amongst our subscribers we are offering higher data benefits. As a customer-centric company, our focus is to provide superior user experience and further deepen our customer engagement”.

Why Offers Only on Prepaid?

At a time when the major telecom operators are announcing lucrative offers in the prepaid segment, Tata DoCoMo is trying to induce the confidence in postpaid segment. Hope the incumbents will listen to the agony of a postpaid user and come out to build a healthy ecosystem initiated by Tata DoCoMo.

ZTE Corporation, the Chinese smartphone manufacturer, recently announced the launch of two new smartphones dubbed as ZTE Blade A610s and ZTE Blade A610 Plus in the Russian market. Available in Grey and Gold color, these Android smartphones are priced at Rubles 10,000 (10.5K) and Rubles 14,900 (16K) respectively.

ZTE Blade A610s Specifications:

Regarding specifications, ZTE Blade A610s sports a 5-inch 720p HD 2.5D curved display and a fingerprint sensor. Powered by octa-core MediaTek MT6780T processor and 2GB RAM, the smartphone has an inbuilt 16GB storage space expandable up to 128GB via microSD card.

Optics-wise, the ZTE Blade A610s 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and 2-megapixel selfie camera. Backed by a huge 5000mAh battery, it can even serve as a Power Bank. The handset runs on Android Marshmallow 6.0 and has all connectivity options including 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.

ZTE Blade A610 Plus Specifications:

On the other hand, ZTE Blade A610 Plus sports a 5.5-inch full HD display screen powered by a 64-bit octa-core MediaTek MT6750T processor coupled with 2GB RAM. The storage space, battery capacity, connectivity options, operating system and fingerprint sensor all remains the same. On a premium side, it has better optics with a 13-megapixel rear sensor and 8-megapixel front camera for selfies.

As the smartphone is backed by a massive 5000mAh battery, it can serve as a multi-purpose Power Bank. Though there’s no official confirmation of rollout of these two affordable smartphones to other markets, but surely it can’t be denied. Stay tuned!

To counter Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel has finally started reacted to it. The country’s largest mobile operator Bharti Airtel has announced the launch of two bundled prepaid packs to offer free voice calls across India. In what could be termed as a strategic price cut, Bharti Airtel announced unlimited voice calls and substantial data benefit at 145 and 345 respectively with a validity of 28 days.

Benefits of Airtel ₹145 Pack:

Under the recharge plan of ₹145, the Airtel subscribers can make free local and STD calls within the Airtel network. Along with it, the 4G ready handsets will get 300MB data with a validity of 28 days. If the subscriber holds a basic mobile phone then 50MB data will be bundled to surf web and access social media apps in a lighter note.

Benefits of Airtel ₹345 Pack:

Priced at ₹345, this Airtel pack offers free voice calls (both local and STD) to any network across the country. Along with it, the 4G ready handsets will get 1GB data with a validity of 28 days. For basic mobile handsets, the pack will offer only 50MB data meant for basic internet access.

Commenting on the launch of new bundled prepaid packs, Mr. Ajai Puri, Director- Market Operations (India & South Asia), Bharti Airtel said, “This is another initiative from us to bring innovative bundle offers to our customers in line with our endeavour to provide the great value backed by a superior network experience.”

Differential Pricing Across Circles:

It is to be noted that Sunil Mittal-driven Bharti Airtel is the India’s largest telecom operator with over 260 million mobile subscribers in all 22 telecom circles. Out of 22, Airtel 4G services are currently available in 21 telecom circles. The prices for the new bundled prepaid Airtel packs may vary in different circles. For example, these packs are available at ₹149 and ₹349 respectively in most of the South Indian states.

Survival for the Fittest Race:

With Reliance Jio craze showing no sign of subsiding, all the major telecom companies are coming out with some specific unlimited offers. Two days ago, it is reported that the state-run BSNL would be offering free voice calls at ₹149. Aircel launched free on-net calls with FRC 148. Similarly, Reliance Communications with its 149 Unlimited plan is already making the headlines. Now, the me-too companies Vodafone India and Idea Cellular would soon follow the steps of Bharti Airtel to retain its subscribers amidst stiff competition from the new entrant Reliance Jio.

India’s smallest state Goa will roll out free internet data scheme for its youth in the state in association with telecom operator Vodafone India. As a part of Union Government’s Digital India initiative, the state government of Goa will launch Goa Yuva Samvad Yojan across the state. Under this scheme, nearly 1.25 lakh youth will be benefitted with free talk time and internet data.

How to Apply for Goa Yuva Samvad Yojan Scheme:

The Goa Chief Minister Mr. Laxmikant Parsekar will roll out this digital youth initiative scheme to leverage technology in the state. As per the Goa Yuva Samvad Yojan scheme, each Goan youth aged 16-30 years will get free access to 100 minutes of local voice calls and 3GB of 3G internet data at a speed of 2Mbps. As per the agreement, the scheme is valid for 3 years period and the Goa State Government will pay ₹1crore to cellular operator Vodafone India for floating this programme.

In order to apply for this Goa Yuva Samvad Yojan scheme, the applicant should be the resident of Goa for a period of 5 or more years and should produce Aadhaar card or Voter ID card along with a passport sized photograph. Officially, this programme will be carried out by Goa Electronics Ltd, a subsidiary of EDC Ltd undertaking by the Government of Goa.

As per the reports, the Government has taken all necessary steps in implementing the scheme from today and Vodafone India has already begun this exercise. The registrations and activations of SIMs are being carried out at all Vodafone India’s retail outlets in Goa. The Government has made provisions for effective monitoring of the scheme by developing a centralized online management system. If there is any misuse then the services will be discontinued to the said beneficiary with an immediate effect.

Digital India Initiative:

This ambitious project was announced by the Chief Minister Mr. Laxmikant Parsekar in the 2016-17 state budget. On October 5, the Government has requested all the major telecom operators for the proposals to offer free benefits. After going through all the formalities including the contract and tendering process, the Goan state cabinet approved the launch of Yuva Samvad Yojan across the state in line with PM Modi’s Digital India Initiative.

Though the states have been figuring out to launch free smartphones, this concept of offering free talk time and free internet data is a unique one and will definitely attract the youth of Goa. The move is highly beneficial as the state youth will be getting used to the online facility and will definitely make Goa India’ first cashless society.

Telenor India, the wholly owned subsidiary of Telenor Group, is offering more talk minutes on old ₹500 notes. As per a statement released by the telco, subscribers can get extra talk time of ₹600 on the recharge of old defunct ₹500 note. This is a good way to get rid of the invalid currency note and stay connected.

Telenor India serving more than 30 million customers in 6 telecom circles targets youth with its innovative strategies. The timing of this extra talk time offer is to be appreciated. Recently, the Government allowed the use of old ₹500 note for mobile top-ups and Telenor India is quick to respond.

With this recharge, the Telenor India subscribers will get the benefit of STV 36 that offers call rates at 25 paise per minute with 28 days validity. This is a great offer to attract subscribers holding defunct notes in tune with Government’s latest rules on demonetization.

Mobile telephony has become an integral part of our lives and Telenor India customers can stay connected by using their old ₹500 currency note. As Telenor India have a greater presence in the circles of AP, Bihar, Goa, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Telangana, UP (East) and UP (West), the subscribers can avail this offer and ease cash crunch situation to a certain extent.