Posts made by Mrinal Chauhan

True to the speculations, Xiaomi is the undisputed #1 smartphone brand in the subcontinent. As many as 9,624,110 units of Redmi Note 4 were sold in the year 2017. The Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro will now succeed Xiaomi’s top-selling Redmi Note 4.

The launch event was live streamed and more than 90,000 members watched it. Apart from Redmi Note 5, the event witnessed the global launch of Redmi Note 5 Pro and Mi LED TV 4. Both the products offered high-end specs at an affordable price tag.

Let’s begin with the Redmi Note 5. Xiaomi showcased a worthy successor to the Redmi Note 4. The smartphone boasts more appealing design but bears the same Snapdragon 625 chipset. It is very much identical to its predecessor. Leaving it aside, the latest smartphone seems to be a rebranded variant of Redmi 5 Plus for the Indian market.

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus Succeeds Redmi Note 4?

Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Specifications:

The company boasts Redmi Note 5 as an all-round upgrade in terms of design, camera and quality. It comes with a premium metal body with tapered back cover. The 5.99-inch Full HD+ 18:9 full-screen display with 2160x1080p pixel resolution gives a movie like experience. Moreover, Xiaomi has incorporated 1.25-micron pixel sensor aimed at improved low-light photography.

The 12-megapixel rear camera and 5-megapixel selfie camera are capable enough to shoot 1080p videos. 4500K temperature light for LED selfie makes the selfies look brighter. As usual, it packs a fingerprint scanner on the rear side. That said, the camera would be identical to that of Mi A1.

With 4000mAh battery, you can simply enjoy a heavy load for more than a day including a video playback of 14 hours. However, there is a no mention of Quick Charge facility. The company is quick enough to respond that a 380V charger is supplied to withstand voltage surges in India.

Lastly, the handset boots Android Nougat based MIUI 9 and is surely a disappointment for those looking for Oreo out-of-the-box. The Redmi Note 5 comes in 2 variants – a 3GB RAM/32GB storage and 4GB RAM/64 GB storage priced ₹9,999 and ₹11,999 respectively.

Like other products, the new Redmi Note 5 will be 100% manufactured in India from its plants in Sri City, Andhra Pradesh. Starting next week, the Redmi Note 5 will be available for sale exclusively on Flipkart, and Mi.com. You can grab the handset in 4 different colour options namely Rose Gold colour, Lake Blue, Black and Gold.

The Xiaomi has started a new initiative by packing an ultra slim case for the handset in the sales box itself. This is really a good thing when it comes to the protection of handset at no extra cost. That means the handset user need not wait for another courier to protect his smartphone.

Should You Buy it?

Though Snapdragon 625 processor seems to be old for a year now, it is one of the best SoC that can deliver ideal balance between performance and battery efficiency.

To sum it up, Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 it is a rebranded version of Redmi Note 4 with camera hardware from Xiaomi A1. The core difference that separates Redmi Note 5 from its predecessor is 18:9 display.

If you are a fan of Redmi phones and already own a Redmi Note 4, then you may skip Redmi Note 5 and instead pick Redmi Note 5 Pro. However, if you’re looking for a 3GB RAM Redmi Note phone, then Redmi Note 5 is a decent option.

Regarding pricing, Xiaomi knows well how to handle the budget segment. It slashed the price by 1000 bucks and offered few extras in the name of a successor. Finally, Redmi Note 5 is A well-handed package and worthy upgrade!

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi 5 Model Gets 4GB RAM in Chinese Market

The state-run telecom company, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), has introduced a new postpaid plan that offers truly unlimited benefits at ₹1595. When all the telecom operators are concentrating their resources to build a prepaid base, the BSNL has taken the right step by offering unlimited benefits with no FUP limit.

The official BSNL website says ₹1595 plan is a PAN-India offering. It means the latest plan is available for subscription across the nation and open for new and existing subscribers.

Coming to the BSNL 1595 plan, it offers unlimited voice calls and unlimited data without any restrictions. The subscriber can make unlimited on-net and off-net calls including the calls to landline. Similarly, there is no restriction on usage of data too.

However, the plan 1595 offers a mere 250 SMS per billing cycle. This is very low when one compares it with competitors’ offering of daily 100 SMS. Moreover, it doesn’t offer any premium services like magazine or media subscription. Leaving that aside, the truly unlimited benefits from BSNL at just ₹1595 is really praiseworthy.

If you are an existing customer of BSNL mobile, then you can simply opt for this ₹1595 plan. However, if you are a new user then there is a security deposit of ₹500 for joining this postpaid plan.

Postpaid Loot-Lo Month Offer:

Though BSNL has launched “Postpaid Loot Lo Month Offer” during the month of November 2017, it is still being offered to its customers. Under this scheme, 60% discount is offered for the 12-month advance rental plan.

Similarly, the BSNL is offering 45% discount and 30% discount on 6-month and 3-month advance rental plan respectively. In addition to that, there are no activation or SIM charges for the new connections taken under the latest Post-Paid “Loot-Lo” scheme.

If the latest news is to be believed, BSNL is all set to launch 4G services in this week. And the efforts are being made to extend its 4G footprint across the country by the end of 2018.

Also Read: BSNL Partners Micromax Bharat 1 4G VoLTE @ ₹2200, Unlimited Calls @ ₹97

Within minutes of the launch of Reliance Jio’s 98 Plan, the leading telecom company Bharti Airtel started offering ₹93 recharge plan. Targeting the entry-level users, the telecom companies are offering freebies at just ₹93.

As per the newly launched Airtel Prepaid ₹93 Recharge, the users can enjoy unlimited local and STD calls, 1GB data, and 100 SMS per day. This pack is valid for a limited period of 10 days. Interestingly, all the voice calls are FREE including roaming calls.

The main advantage of this ₹93 tariff pack is it’s no daily data limit. The Airtel user can utilize the entire data (1GB) within a day, unlike Reliance Jio’s ₹98 plan.

Make sure that this plan is valid only for non-commercial use. The Bharti Airtel users can recharge this plan through its official website and MyAirtel App. Of course, it is valid on all handsets.

Reliance Jio ₹98 Plan:

If you happen to observe the Reliance Jio ₹98 Plan, then you’ll find that it offers 2.1 GB of 4G data. However, there is a daily data cap of 0.15 GB. Apart from the 2.1 GB 4G data benefit, the Jio subscriber will get unlimited voice calls (local, STD and roaming) and 140 SMS. Here, the validity period is 14 days.

Leaving aside the daily data cap, Jio ₹98 is truly a cheaper plan and offers the best value for money. That’s the reason; the incumbent telecom operators are feeling the heat and busy in launching some me-too plans.

Idea Cellular ₹93 Recharge Plan:

In a counter-reply, Idea Cellular too joined the race by revamping its tariff. The all-new ₹93 Idea Cellular recharge offers unlimited local and STD calls and 1GB of 4G/3G/2G data. There’s no mention of SMS and Roaming benefits.

As the plan is meant for non-commercial use, there is a restriction of outgoing voice calls - 250 minutes per day and 1000 minutes per week. After the usage, the subscriber will be charged 1p/sec within its validity period.

Also Read: Stage Set for Prepaid Data War with Airtel ₹199 Tariff Plan

Starting July 1, you’ll have to pay more for your phones and phone bills. Under the new Goods Service Tax (GST), telecom and financial services will attract 18% tax instead of the existing 15% tax. This is a big disappointment when the telecom industry balance sheet is already bleeding in the hyper-competitiveness.

Also Read: Telecom Bills May Go Up With 18% Goods and Service Tax Slab Rate

Telecom Sector Disappointed:

As per the new Goods & Services Tax (GST) tax, the mobile phones will attract 12% tax. This will raise the prices of handsets by 4-5%. Moreover, there would be no benefit of local manufacturing advantage over the imported ones. This will threaten investments in infrastructure service made under the Make-in-India push and slow down government initiatives like Digital India and Cashless India etc.

Quoting the disappointment over the announcement of 18% GST, Mr Rajan S Mathews, Director-General of the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), said: “It will augment the existing burden of the industry further. We had submitted to the government that consideration must be given to the present financial condition of the sector.”

Telecom industry is an essential service and it definitely needs some benefits and tax relaxation. Mr Mathews added that the industry has worked tirelessly and has fulfilled its prime motto of connecting everyone till the last mile connectivity. Considering the current financial condition of the Telecom sector, any rate beyond the existing 15 percent will burden the consumer indirectly.

Also Read: GST Impact - How Will GST Affect Telecom Sector?

Is GST One Nation-One Tax’?

Moreover, the telecom operators face a unique challenge with respect to IT and accounting as it is categorised into 22 telecom circles. On the other hand, the nation consists of 29 states and 7 Union Territories. Interestingly, around 12 telecom circles have multiple states in their jurisdiction, while 5 states have multiple telecom circles in their jurisdiction. This difference in telecom circles and state boundaries creates a lot of IT and accounting challenges which have to be addressed immediately.

If one observes the balance sheet of the telecom sector, more than 30 percent of its revenue is paid in the form of taxes and levies, including the spectrum usage charges and licence fees. If the new GST tax burden is imposed when the telecom sector is already bleeding due to a number of reasons then there would be an urgent need to bail-out.

Realising the sentiments, the Government should consider more sensitive treatment as it is an essential service in the development of the country.

Also Read: 37 Mobile Manufacturing Plants Set Up in India Providing 40000 Jobs

The state-run telecom company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited has come up with a host of new initiatives on World Telecom Day. The operator signed MoU with many companies and announced the launch of new initiatives to mark World Telecommunication and Information Society Day on 17th May.

BSNL Drives Facebook Express Wi-Fi Service:

As per the company, the new slogan will be “Behtar Sewa Ki Nai Lagan”. Incidentally, the government-owned telco signed a MoU with social media giant Facebook to provide backhaul bandwidth connectivity to push Express WiFi service in rural parts of India.

Also Read: BSNL to Add 50 New WiFi Hotspot Locations in Hyderabad City

Currently, Facebook Express WiFi service is open to the public in Gujarat, Meghalaya, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand. The user can sign up Express Wi-Fi hotspotand purchase data packs and access internet at low-cost. This service is already being used in other countries like Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, and Tanzania.

In another important development, BSNL signed a pact with Disney India. As per the agreement, Disney will provide its premium online gaming services to the subscribers of BSNL mobile.

The BSNL has collaborated with mobile wallet company Mobikwik to facilitate payment portal (BSNL mobile wallet) for promoting BSNL products and services. All the BSNL powered mobile handsets will now get a pre-loaded MobiKwik app for easy payments. The benefit will be extended to offline retailers and feet on street professionals. Moreover, the MoU facilitates the digital sale of BSNL SIM cards through MobiKwik App and website.

BSNL Setting New Standards for Telecoms:

BSNL - The state-run telecom operator has also inked a pact with Data Infosys Ltd. This MoU facilitates hosted email services to all the enterprises including Government, NGO and private companies. Highlighting the role played by the BSNL in Indian telecom sector, the company started offering network management system separately for its Data Network “IMPMPLS” and for its “broadband network”.

Also Read: BSNL Offers 4Mbps Minimum Download Speed Starting May 1

BSNL has been widely appreciated for upgrading the minimum broadband speed to 4 Mbps. It is the first operator to do so. Recently, the telco started offering 100 Mbps broadband speed to its VSAT customers.

Under Big Data For Big Impact:

To mark the World Telecom Day, BSNL started offering truly unlimited data for three days starting May 17th to May 19th, 2017. As per the STV -333 (Triple Ace Pack), the user will get unlimited data with 3GB/per day as FUP limit (and 80kbps after FUP limit) for a period of 90 days.

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

Under the special provision, the BSNL prepaid subscribers will get unlimited 3G data from May 17-19 without any FUP restrictions. This offer is applicable to both new and existing subscribers of BSNL Prepaid mobile. The prepaid BSNL user can activate Triple Ace plan through USSD code (*444*333#) or through BSNL web recharge portal.

The Apple of China, Xiaomi, has updated its entry-level Redmi series in India. The latest Redmi 4 gets some hard-to-get hardware specs at rock bottom price and is completely Made-in-India product. Incidentally, the China-based handset maker Xiaomi had launched Redmi 4 in China in November last year.

Also Read: Xiaomi Redmi 3S India Launch on August 3

The Redmi 4 is a cosmetic successor to the already popular Redmi 3S. The new smartphone has got the contemporary design with its slimmer and tapered edges. It looks a lot like the Redmi Note 4 and will be available in Gorgeous Black and Elegant Gold colour options. The company has launched the Redmi 4 in three memory + storage variants. The 2GB + 16GB base variant is priced at ₹6999 and the 3GB + 32GB variant is priced at ₹8999. The premium variant 4GB + 64GB will cost ₹10,999.

Redmi 4 Specifications – Better, Faster and Longer:

Coming to the specifications, much like its predecessor, the Redmi 4 also sports all-metal body made of anodised aluminium and a fingerprint scanner at the back. It comes with a 5-inch HD (720p) display and 2.5D curved glass on the front. The handset sports night display reading mode that reduces harmful blue light rays and adjusts colour temperature. Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 435 octa-core processor with 64-bit support and 1.4GHz max Adreno 505 GPU, the handset is touted to offer better and sustained thermal performance.

Optics-wise, the Redmi 4 sports a 13-megapixel f/2.0 rear camera with Phase Detection Auto Focus (PDAF) for faster focusing and can record 1080p full HD videos. On the front, the 5-megapixel f/2.2 camera features smart beautify mode for crisp and vivid selfies. The Redmi 4 runs on Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow-based MIUI 8 and is eligible for Android Nougat preview.

Moreover, the company claims that the smartphone is packed with a high capacity 4,100 mAh battery that can easily last for two complete days and 18 days standby time. The Redmi 4 comes with a dual-SIM hybrid tray with up to 128GB expandable microSD storage. It offers all the regular connectivity options like 4G VoLTE, 802.11 b/g/n dual-band WiFi, Bluetooth v4.2, GPS, OTG, and IR Blaster etc.

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

As mentioned the Redmi 4 is VoLTE-ready and supports network bands B1/B3/B5 in FDD-LTE and B40/B41 in TD-LTE. Coming to the MIUI 8, the handset has got App Lock (prevents unauthorised access), Dual Apps, Private Second Space (creates a separate private profile), Universal Infrared Remote (to control your appliances) etc. Regarding availability, the handset will have its first broad sale on May 23 at noon on Mi.com and Amazon India.

Experience Redmi 4 @ Mi Home Store:

The company, in addition, will also open the sale from May 20, 09.00 hrs at Mi Home store in Phoenix Marketcity shopping mall, Bengaluru. As a part of pre-order, the user needs to pay ₹1000 as booking amount and grab the device from the store. Currently, the pre-orders are open to the public. If by any chance, the handset goes out of stock, the buyers will get an F-code so that they can grab their favourite smartphone from Mi.com.

That means one can have the real experience of Redmi 4 even before the online flash sale commences. The Xiaomi is committed to open more Mi Home stores in other locations including Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai. Furthermore, the company plans to open as many as 100 Mi Homes in India in the next two years. The company’s s new strategy clears shows that Xiaomi is making a shift towards offline sales channels and is here to stay in India. Moreover, the Mi Home makes the buyers feel and experience the phone before making a purchase.

Fastest Selling Smartphone Maker:

The Xiaomi has got the distinction of selling the largest number of phones via the online sales model in India. Recently, the company has sold over 40 lakh units of Redmi 3S phones in India in the last 9 months. Hope the new Redmi 4 continues to fill the appetite for budget smartphones in Indian market. What’s your take on Xiaomi Redmi 4, would you like to grab it? Let us know your feedback.

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

Motorola Mobility, a Lenovo company, has formally confirmed the launch of two ultra-affordable smartphones, the Moto C and Moto C Plus. The new addition to the Moto C lineup is packed with the essentials, in terms of hardware and price. This move will help the company to target the first-time smartphone buyers.

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

Moto C and Moto C Plus Specifications:

Though there is no official information about the Moto C specifications, but it is reported to have a 5-inch display with 1280x720 resolution. It will be powered by a 64-bit MediaTek quad-core chipset clocked at 1.3 GHz. The Moto C Plus will have 1GB RAM and 16GB inbuilt storage space and a microSD card slot to further expand the storage. The Motorola says the Moto C Plus will be packed with an 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and 2-megapixel front-facing camera for selfies. The powerful camera is touted to take sharp photos even in low light.

As per the company website, the entry-level Moto C is equipped with 2350 mAh battery that has enough power to last long. Similarly, the Moto C Plus will have a big 4000 mAh battery that can last up to 30 hours on a single charge. Above all, the smartphone will run Android 7. 0 Nougat out of the box. Nothing has been specified about LTE network but observing the present trend in the Indian telecom market, Motorola will definitely include 4G VoLTE connectivity in Moto C Plus variant.

Packed with Power and Essentials:

Both the variants are expected to go on sale that comes in five different colours including Metallic Cherry, Pearl White, Fine Gold and Starry Black. As per the pricing is concerned, the Moto C 3G variant is priced at 89 Euros. The 4G variant will have a price tag of 99 Euros and the Moto C Plus will cost 119 Euros. Keeping the Indian market in view, these prices will be lowered a bit to make it truly an entry phone will all essentials. The new Moto C line up is impressive the way you look at it.

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

New Delhi-headquartered Intex Technologies has launched a new smartphone with Android 7.0 Nougat. Starting its journey from manufacturing computer peripherals, Intex Technologies expanded its product portfolio to TV’s, A/C’s, Android smartphones, and Android smartwatch. The latest handset Intex Aqua Crystal Plus is decently priced at ₹6,799 and is in direct competition against Xiaomi Redmi 3S.

Also Read: ASUS ZenFone Go 5.5 with Snapdragon 410 SoC Launched at ₹8499

Intex Aqua Crystal Plus Specifications:

The smartphone features a 5-inch HD display with 720x1280 pixel resolution at 296 ppi. With glass and metal body finish, the handset looks decent. Looking at the specifications, the Intex Aqua Crystal Plus is powered by a 1.25 quad-core MediaTek MT6737 chip and Mali T720 GPU for graphics. It has an inbuilt 2GB RAM and 16GB native internal storage space further expandable up to 128GB via microSD card.

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

On the photography front, the new Intex Aqua Crystal Plus sports a 13-megapixel rear camera with LED flash support to take decent photos and 1080p videos. The other 5-megapixel front camera is meant for selfies and videos at 720p.

The Intex Aqua Crystal Plus is a dual SIM (supports micro and nano SIM) smartphone, unlike Hybrid SIM handsets. Connectivity wise, the smartphone offers 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, FM, USB OTG support etc. Going by the craze, it supports 4G LTE for Band 40 used by LTE networks in India.

Impressive Design but Lacks Performance:

The smartphone packs a 2100mAH non-removable battery and is definitely a poor sign at this price. The company claims to offer 250 hours standby time and up to 6 hours of talk time. When budget phones are making way for 4000mAh batteries, the Intex decision is surely a huge letdown. However, the handset makes it a point by offering Android 7.0 Nougat.

By going through design and price, the Intex smartphone competes against Xiaomi Redmi 3S but in reality, it can’t make it against the India’s fast selling mobile.

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

The country’s leading telecom service provider, Bharti Airtel, has rolled out another plan to counter Reliance Jio’s Dhan Dhana Dhan Offer. As per the latest plan, Bharti Airtel offers unlimited calls and 1GB of 4G data with a validity of 70 days. This clearly shows Bharti Airtel is considering every opportunity to take on Reliance Jio.

Also Read: Bharti Airtel Says No Charges for Roaming Services From April 1

Airtel 4G SIM + 4G Handset:

According to the terms and conditions, the new ₹399 Airtel Plan is applicable to the users who own a 4G handset with a 4G Airtel SIM in it. If the subscriber has 3G/2G SIM in a 4G enabled handset, then this special offer will not be applicable. All you need to have is an Airtel 4G SIM in 4G enabled handset for availing this special plan from Airtel.

Similarly, Airtel has launched a couple of interesting plans apart from 399 Plan. Under ₹244 Plan, the Airtel prepaid users can enjoy 1GB of daily data for a period of 70 days. The users can make unlimited calls within Airtel network subject to a maximum of 300 minutes calls per day and 1200 minutes of Airtel calls per week. After this limit, the calls will be charged 10 paise per minute.

Bharti Airtel has upgraded the ₹345 pack. Earlier it used to offer 1GB of 4G data per day. Now it’s has been upgraded to offer 2GB of 4G data daily. As usual, one can enjoy unlimited calls with this pack in line with the newly launched ₹399 pack. All these revised packs are effective from 17th April 2017 and are available for recharge through My Airtel App and on the official website.

Perks Only to 4G Customers:

Reportedly, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular also launched similar combo packs to target 4G subscribers and prevent an exodus to Reliance Jio. There is a widespread criticism that the incumbent telecom players are offering reduced prices only to 4G customers leaving 3G and 2G subscribers aside. Let us know your feedback.

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

On March 31, when the entire world anticipated that Reliance Jio would put an end to its freebies, something else happened. Reliance Jio extended its Prime Enrolment deadline for another 15 days, i.e. till April 15th.

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

In the late night, the new telecom company released a press release that considering the unprecedented demand, Jio Prime enrolment will be extended till April 15th. It is to be noted that the subscribers who don’t pay and recharge for Jio Prime will experience degradation or discontinuation of the services.

Reliance Jio “Summer Surprise” Plan:

As a complementary offer, Reliance Jio has announced the launch of its “Jio Surprise” plan. The Prime members who have recharged with ₹303 or more will get the free benefits for another 3 months. That means, the paid services will only start from July.

When everyone was of the opinion that Jio Prime didn’t appeal to the majority of the users with a low turnout, Reliance Jio made a quick surprise. It announced that the company has been backed by 72 million Jio Prime users. With another two weeks in hand, Reliance Jio can definitely make 100 million a reality.

Also Read: Reliance Jio Prime and Non Prime Membership Plans - All You Need to Know

Admits Small Packets of Congestion:

Mr. Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio further claimed that the company is the pioneer in the creation of the world’s largest Greenfield 4G LTE wireless broadband network. The company will invest over 2 lakh crore to install another 100,000 mobile towers in the country. This clearly signifies that Reliance Jio will double its existing towers to resolve congestion in the network.

One thing is very clear, Reliance Jio with its Jio Summer Surprise offer will make the nights sleepless for the incumbent telecom players. Starting on September 5, Reliance Jio has hurt the industry’s revenue and profitability and eventually forced the consolidation in Telecom industry.

Also Read: BSNL BB249 Plan Gets Validity Extension till June 2017

Consolidation Inevitable in Telecom Sector:

If one can observe the latest developments, it forced the big players Vodafone India and Idea Cellular to merge. The other group Reliance Communications, Aircel and MTS merged to save their faces. The Telenor made its exit by selling its properties to Bharti Airtel. When the companies are in a dire need to invest in 4G expansion, they are bleeding by allowing a dent in their profitability in the name of huge discounts.

Reliance Jio Extends Prime Subscription Deadline:

Mukesh D. Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries, in a press release, said:

I want to personally thank you for choosing Jio, and for being a founding member of the Jio movement. A movement to transform India. A movement to empower and enrich each one of you with the revolutionary power and possibilities of Digital Life.

Coming back to the Jio Prime subscription, enjoy the Jio benefits for another 3 months by paying ₹402 (₹99 + ₹303). When the incumbents are charging ₹349, the Reliance Jio is offering the unlimited benefits for another 3 months at just ₹402. What’s your opinion about the new Jio Summer Surprise Offer?

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

After a long gap, Motorola (read it as Lenovo) launched its Moto G5 Plus smartphone in India. Though it was announced in the recently concluded Mobile World Congress 2017 held in Barcelona, Spain, the new Moto G5 Plus will be available for sale in India through Flipkart.

Also Read: Lenovo Vibe K5 Note 4GB RAM Variant Updated with Extra 32GB Storage

As per the company, the latest Lenovo Moto G5 Plus handset is priced at ₹14999 and is available in Fine Gold and Lunar Gray colour variants. If the reports are to be believed there is no change with respect to the specs when it is compared to that of the international variant.

Moto G5 Plus Specifications:

Regarding specifications, Moto G5 Plus sports a 5.2-inch Full HD display bright enough to even on a bright sunny day. The handset is powered by 2 GHz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 SoC and comes in 2 RAM variants. The 3GB RAM bundles with 16GB ROM whereas the 4GB RAM is packed with 32GB ROM further expandable up to 128GB via microSD card.

Coming to the imaging features, Lenovo Moto G5 Plus sports a 12-megapixel camera sensor that is used by Samsung Galaxy S7 with dual-LED flash, a large f/1.7 aperture and 4K video recording facilities. The front camera is of 5-megapixel sufficient enough for true selfies and video calls. It has a fingerprint sensor just below the display.

Also Read: ASUS ZenFone 3s Max, the 4G VoLTE Battery Powerhouse at ₹14999

The handset is 4G VoLTE ready and is enabled with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS chip. Backed by a 3000mAh non-removable battery and TurboCharget technology, the handset claims to provide a decent backup that can easily last a day or two depending on the usage conditions. Moreover, the handset can power 6-hours with just 15 minutes of charge.

The best thing about Lenovo Moto G5 Plus is its stock Android 7.0 Nougat operating system which has a built-in Google Assistant. Priced at ₹14,999 (for 3GB RAM variant) and ₹16,999 (for 4GB RAM variant), the Moto G5 Plus will give a tough competition to Xiaomi Redmi Note 4.

Flipkart’s Buyback Guarantee Offer:

The Flipkart has announced a novel Buyback Guarantee Program where the company will offer ₹7000 as a discount for the customers who would like to exchange it with another smartphone in the next 6 months duration. Moreover, it comes with 10% off on SBI Credit and Debit cards. Quite interesting, let us know your opinion about the new Moto G5 Plus smartphone.

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

Chinese Smartphone maker Xiaomi has once again created a record of its own. It sold more than a million units of Redmi Note 4 smartphone in India within just 45 days from its launch. In fact, Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 has become the fastest handset to be sold over 1 million units.

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

Addressing this achievement, Mr Manu Jain, Managing Director, Xiaomi India, said: “This is a great milestone and the company is committed to serving the interests of Redmi lovers in India”. Redmi Note 4 has achieved the sales figures of Redmi Note 3 within a short span of 45 days.

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Specifications:

Regarding the specifications, Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 smartphone sports a 5.5-inch 1080p screen and is powered by an octa-core Snapdragon 625 SoC. With 13-megapixel rear camera and 5-mega-pixel front camera, Redmi Note 4 is a feast for camera lovers.

The main USP of Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 is its 4100mAh battery that easily gives a battery juice for 2 days at a stretch. Above all, this affordable smartphone is pre-equipped with all premium features including fingerprint sensor on the back.

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

The Best Successor till Date:

As specified, Redmi Note 4 is built with 4G VoLTE feature so Jio subscribers can make the handset as their most cherished one. The successor to the popular Redmi Note 3 is customized to run on Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system with MIUI 8 on top.

Within two years of its entry into Indian market, Xiaomi has doubled its sales figures and even expanded into the offline market by providing exclusive smartphones for the offline retail stores of India.

Must Read: Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 Matte Black Colour Variant on Sale Today

India’s leading telecom service provider Bharti Airtel will soon launch Data Booster Pack to provide 1GB of data per day for its postpaid subscribers. Till now, the company has been offering new plans to its prepaid users.

Telecom Combats Stiff Competition:

Keeping an eye on Reliance Jio, the incumbent telecom player will extend the special offer for all its postpaid subscribers. As per the proposed offer, Bharti Airtel will introduce data booster pack of ₹150 to provide 1GB of 4G data per day same as that of the prepaid offering.

Also Read: Bharti Airtel Says No Charges for Roaming Services From April 1

In similar lines of its prepaid offer, Bharti Airtel has got two splits in the usage of data. 500MB data to be used in day hours and the other 500MB in night hours i.e between 12 AM to 6 AM which may lead to dissatisfaction among the data users.

Bharti Airtel will continue to offer unlimited local and STD calls across India to impress the customers. This is undoubtedly an attempt to retain its existing subscriber base. All the incumbent telecom operators including Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India, and Idea Cellular are feeling immense pleasure with the launch of Reliance Jio Prime Membership plan.

Reliance Jio’s Aggressiveness Shakes Up Telecom Industry:

One has to admit that Indian telecom sector has witnessed a dramatic change with the entry of Reliance Jio. The mobile data services are now very much affordable. Gone are the days when the subscriber used to pay ₹250 per 1 GB of 3G data. It seems TRAI is working towards easy access to Wi-Fi by proposing 2 paise per MB. This would roughly translate to ₹20 per GB.

Also Read: Reliance Jio Prime and Non Prime Membership Plans - All You Need to Know

Indian Railways, the state-owned railway company operated by the Government of India through the Ministry of Railways, will make 300 stations Wi-Fi enabled by the end of 2017. Last year, the Indian Railways telecom arm RailTel partnered with US search giant Google and provided free Wi-Fi connectivity to more than 100 stations across India.

Also Read: Free Wi-Fi Service at Hyderabad and Secunderabad Railway Stations

As per the set target, all the major railway stations will have free Wi-Fi access enabled by the end of 2017. Statistically, there are over 10 million users accessing free Wi-Fi at these 100 railway stations. As per the latest estimates, Indian Railways expects 3 million users having free Wi-Fi access at all its major railway stations by 2017 end.

Project Nilgiri with Google :

Indian Railways is one of the world’s largest railway networks operating across the country and also has international connectivity with Bangladesh and Pakistan. Starting with Mumbai Central Railway Station, Indian Railways has extended its free Wi-Fi services to other stations including Aligarh, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Kochi, Kolkata, Pune, Raipur, Vishakhpatnam, and Varanasi.

Making railway stations as the centres for free Wi-Fi access has been named as Project Nilgiri. The project employs Google’s Fiber Technology and will be carried out in phases. To recap, Udhagamandalam (Ooty) is the 100th railway station to get free Wi-Fi access at its rail premises under Project Nilgiri.

Also Read: Rail Tel Launches Google’s Free Wi-Fi at Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station

Nokia 6 smartphone went out of stock within a minute of its first flash sale on the Chinese e-commerce portal JD.com. Unveiled by HMD Global, the handset received more than one million registrations ahead of the sale. It is unknown as how many units were actually available for the first flash sale.

Nokia 6 Specifications:

Nokia 6 is the first Nokia Android-powered smartphone that has got tremendous popularity ahead of the sale. Priced at CNY 1,699 (approximately ₹17K), the handset has got high-end specifications backing the customer loyalty for the age-old brand.

Also Read: Nokia 6, the First Nokia Android-Powered Smartphone Goes Official

Regarding specifications, Nokia 6 features a 5.5-inch full HD display with 2.5D Gorilla Glass protection. Powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor and 4GB RAM, the handset packs 64GB of internal storage space expandable up to 128GB via microSD card slot.

Optics wise, Nokia 6 sports a 16-megapixel rear camera, an 8-megapixel front camera for selfies and fingerprint sensor in the front. Backed by a 3000mAh battery, the smartphone offers all connectivity options including 4G LTE.

Not Just China, Go Global:

The Nokia 6 runs on the latest Android Nougat and has got Dolby Atmos technology for enhanced experience. As per the reports from the Chinese market, the new Android Nokia 6 is damn good and will definitely make a comeback in the mid-range segment.

Hope Nokia 6 soon begins global invasion!

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

After the success of Vodafone’s SuperHour plans, India’s third largest network operator Idea Cellular reportedly launched hourly unlimited 4G/3G data packs at ₹22 per hour. Though it is not official but Idea subscribers have been getting messages regarding hourly data packs.

What’s the Future? - Hourly Packs?

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

As per the message, the hourly pack offers unlimited 4G/3G mobile data for an hour. The USSD code mentioned by the operator is *150*22# is not working yet. It looks Idea Cellular is working on the unlimited hourly packs before it officially declares. This offer is very much similar to Vodafone’s SuperHour data pack providing unlimited data at ₹16 per hour.

Looking at the trends, Bharti Airtel might even consider launching similar packs in the near future to tackle Reliance Jio’s Happy New Year Offer. Will these hourly packs be enough to retain their subscribers? What’s your opinion?

Also Read: Tariff War: Idea Cellular Also Offers Unlimited Voice Calls to Stay Competitive

The state-run telecom company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) partners with Tata Communications to deploy 44 million Wi-Fi hotspots in more than 100 countries. It will be the single largest global Wi-Fi network in the world including international flights and railway network systems.

With an eye on International roaming market, BSNL ties-up with Tata Communications to provide seamless access to its subscribers while travelling abroad. Generally, accessing high-speed mobile internet across Wi-Fi hotspots is very bulky process where the user has to remember multiple passwords.

BSNL - Tata Communications Partnership for Global Wi-Fi Hotspots:

Incidentally, the Wi-Fi+ cloud communication solution developed by BSNL in partnership with Tata Communications gives seamless access to the subscribers by registering just once. With Wi-Fi+, the BSNL subscribers gets automatically connected to the closest participating Wi-Fi hotspot at any of the global location.

Addressing the launch of Wi-Fi+, Mr. Anupam Shrivastava, Chairman and Managing Director, BSNL, said: “BSNL is the first among the Indian Mobile operators to have taken this big step forward towards how mobile subscribers use Wi-fi internationally. It removes the friction from accessing Wi-Fi and makes it simple to use Wi-Fi data. BSNL mobile subscribers can access Wi-fi anywhere in the world without worrying about the bill shock when they get home and no longer have to limit their internet usage while abroad.”

“We are really proud of this partnership with BSNL and how it is delivering innovative mobile experiences to BSNL subscribers.” said Mr. Christopher Almeida, Sr. Vice President, Service Provider Group, Tata Communications.

Also Read: TRAI to Seek Comments on Scalable Public Wi-Fi Networks till December 9

How to Access BSNL’s Wi-Fi Benefits Globally:

The BSNL’s Wi-Fi+ gives seamless access to high-speed internet without any bill shock starting at ₹999 inclusive of all taxes. The subscriber can opt for the Wi-Fi+ plans through BSNL’s mobile App. Currently, there are 3 plans available under this Wi-Fi+ facility.

1. ₹999 for 3 days
2. ₹1599 for 15 days
3. ₹1999 for 30 days

The state-run telecom company BSNL has been a back-bone of the Indian telecom industry. With over 94.36 million mobile subscribers and 13.88 million wireline subscribers, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited has been deploying innovative solutions across the country.

The Chinese tech giant Lenovo has launched its battery centric smartphone Lenovo P2 in India exclusively on Flipkart. The handset comes in Champagne Gold and Graphite Grey colour. Lenovo P2 is modelled in two variants 3GB and 4GB RAM that are priced at ₹16,999 and ₹17,999 respectively.

Lenovo P2 Specifications:

The Lenovo P2 smartphone sports a 5.5-inch 1080p full HD AMOLED display and is powered by a 2GHz Octa-Core Snapdragon 625 chipset coupled with Adreno 506 GPU for a smooth performance. There are two variants with 32GB and 64GB internal storage onboard that can be further expandable up to 128GB via microSD card. Optics wise, there is a 13-megapixel rear camera with dual-tone LED flash and 5-megapixel front camera snapper. Moreover, it has a fingerprint sensor for additional security of the handset.

Lenovo P2 Smartphone or A Power Bank?

The handset offers dual-SIM connectivity, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC support, and other necessary connectivity options. Lenovo has powered the handset with TheaterMax technology to offer VR experience. On the battery front, Lenovo P2 houses a 5,100mAh battery that can power the handset easily for 3 days on average mixed usage and 32 days on standby. One can use the smartphone as a power bank to charge other handsets. Moreover, the company has supplied a 4.5A/24W charger for a faster recharge.

Everything is great with respect to specs. However, like any other smartphone Lenovo P2 also doesn’t give the complete delight as it offers hybrid SIM slot instead of two SIM slots. Leaving it aside, Lenovo 2 smartphone is an all rounder.

Lava International has launched its latest entry-level smartphone Xolo Era 2X in India. This budget 4G smartphone is VoLTE enabled and has got fingerprint sensor at the back. The handset will be available in two variants with 2GB RAM and 3GB RAM priced at ₹6,666 and ₹7,499 respectively.

Xolo Era 2X Specifications:

Regarding specifications, Xolo Era 2X sports a 5-inch HD IPS display with 1280x720 pixel resolution. Powered by a 1.25GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6737 processor and Mali T720 GPU, this smartphone has 16GB of internal storage that can be further expandable up to 32GB via microSD card slot.

Bundled with Reliance Jio Happy New Year Offer:

Optics-wise, the Xolo Era 2X supports a 8-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 5-megapixel front camera for selfies. And connectivity wise, the handset supports dual-SIM 4G VoLTE for HD voice calls and is bundled with Reliance Jio Happy New Year Offer.

Xolo Era 2X smartphone runs on Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS and is backed by a 2500mAh battery that might not last more than a day of normal usage. The handset comes in Dark Gunmetal and Latte Gold color variants and will be exclusive on Flipkart from January 9th, 2017.

The regulatory authority of telecommunications sector, TRAI asked Reliance Jio to explain its extension of free services beyond December 31. In a letter to Reliance Jio Infocomm, TRAI asked why the offer of free services should not be treated as “predatory”.

Freebies Extension or Violation?

The free benefits of Reliance Jio Welcome Offer have to be limited to 90 days and the services need to end on December 3. However, the free voice calls and data benefit was extended by the company in the name of Reliance Jio Happy New Year Offer.

As per the reports published by The Economic Times, there was no response from Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd on this issue. However, the insider reports suggest that the current freebie have a cap of 1GB under Fair Usage Policy and is different from the previous Jio Welcome Offer. Now, the Jio subscribers who exhaust their data limit can now recharge to get 4G speeds.

TRAI - Sleeping Trustee?

Though there are many rumours but it is learnt that TRAI has asked Jio to spell out the issues or else it can be termed as violation. Moreover, the country’s number one telecom operator Bharti Airtel took a legal route against TRAI for being a mute spectator to Reliance Jio’s violations.

Let’s wait and watch how Reliance Jio will react to this issue. It is to be noted that TRAI has recommended a penalty of ₹3500 crore on the incumbent telecom players including Bharti Airtel, Vodafone India and Idea Cellular for not providing the required interconnect (IC) to the new entrant.