Posts made by Vikas Jadhav

Everyone expected Xiaomi Poco F1 to be another high-end handset, but the Chinese telecom giant created a new record by announcing that it had sold phones worth ₹200 crore in just 5 minutes.

On 29 August 2019, Xiaomi along with its online sales partner Flipkart generated ₹200 crore in its first flash sale. Though the company has not revealed the exact number of units sold, the industry specialists expect it to be around 1 lakh handsets (base variant). Mathematically, it is equivalent to 68,000 plus units of the top variant.

Going by the trends and positive word of mouth, Xiaomi POCO F1 could easily create many more records across the flagship smartphone market. The offering of Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset at just ₹20,999 makes it a value for money flagship killer. It brings back the days of OnePlus 1 that claimed to be an affordable flagship phone.

Also Read: Asus Zenfone 5Z Flagship Smartphone Launched with Snapdragon 845 SoC

Xiaomi Poco F1 Specifications:

Regarding specifications, Xiaomi Poco F1 sports a 6.18-inch Full HD+ display with a remarkable 500 nits brightness and 1080x2246 pixels resolution. With Infrared lighting in the display notch, Poco F1 claims to unlock even in the dark within 0.4 seconds. Along with it, the handset packs the traditional fingerprint scanner on the back.

Powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset, the handset comes in 3 different configurations namely 6GB RAM + 64GB ROM, 6GB RAM + 128GB ROM, and 8GB RAM + 256GB ROM. Though it might have taken a lot of cues from OnePlus 6 and Asus Zenfone 5Z, the POCO F1 will trump every other flagship phone in terms of pricing.

These variants are priced at ₹20,999, ₹23999, and ₹28,999 respectively. The OnePlus 6 pricing starts from ₹34,999 and the higher-end variant costs ₹43,999. The other competitor Asus Zenfone 5 Z pricing starts from ₹29,999 and lasts till ₹36,999 for 8GB+256GB ROM variant. Xiaomi has once again proved that it is the master in giving the specs at cut-throat pricing.

Xiaomi Poco F1 Special Armoured Edition:

The Chinese electronics giant has got a fourth variant – 8GB RAM + 256GB storage and has a special Kevlar coated back. This special Armoured Edition of Xiaomi POCO F1 is priced at ₹29999. That means one gets the special edition phone from Xiaomi where the competitors are just offering their basic variant. Truly, an amazing strategy!

Regarding the optics, the Poco F1 sports impressive specs with dual camera setup. It has got 12-megapixel (f/1.9, 1.4-micron) + 5-megapixel (f/2.0, 1.12-micron) primary camera for depth information. And a 20-megapixel front shooter for selfies. Starting from Redmi Note 5 Pro, Xiaomi has improved a lot in terms of the camera including AI scene detection. Though it can’t be compared to the likes of One Plus 6, Xiaomi Poco F1 will not let you down.

Well, the handset has MIUI 9.6 skin on the top but comes with the new Poco launcher. The stock Android loving fans will definitely admire it for its features and capabilities. The flagship handset will receive Android Pie update by the end of 2018. The mammoth 4,000 mAh battery will last at least a day and a half for sure. Moreover, the 12V 2A charger will add 60 per cent life in less than an hour.

What Next for Flagship Makers?

By announcing the brand, Xiaomi has sent shocking waves to Samsung and other flagship makers. The company which targeted the budget goers will now have more for itself. Unfortunately, it will kill the company’s own Mi A2 for sure. Leaving that aside, Xiaomi Poco F1 will definitely bring down the domination of OnePlus and other flagship phones.

Also Read: OnePlus 6 Review - 6 Reasons to Buy OnePlus 6 & 2 Reasons Not to Buy

ACT Fibernet, India’s third-largest wired broadband service provider, started feeling the heat even before the launch of Reliance Jio’s GigaFiber. The ACT Fibernet is now offering extra 1.5TB data to its wired broadband subscribers.

As per the latest news, the company will offer an additional 300GB every month until February 2019. The users in Bengaluru, Coimbatore and Delhi will receive this extra benefit on select broadband plans. You don’t need to signup for this additional data offer. However, it should be noted that the extra data offered should be used before 28th February 2019 or else it will lapse.

Also Read: Netplus Rolls out GIGA Speed in Punjab with Plans Starting at ₹4999

ACT Fibernet Offers Free Data on Half Yearly & Yearly Plans:

That said, the extra data will be automatically credited to the subscriber’s account every month. This offer is applicable only on select six months and yearly rental plans. For the Bengaluru and Coimbatore subscribers, an extra 1.5TB data is offered. However, for the Delhi users, an extra 1TB data is offered.

The tariff plans of ACT Fibernet vary from place to place and are titled with different names. Starting from 15mbps to 1Gbps, ACT Fibernet is very popular in southern states including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. Incidentally, ACT Fibernet is the first internet service provider to offer Gigabit speeds.

Jio GigaFiber - A Major Threat:

With over 2 million subscribers, ACT Fibernet is leaving no stone unturned to attract new customers and locking them to stick to their services for a longer duration. This will help the incumbent operator to overcome the threat posed by Jio GigaFiber.

Though the company has practically started offering Gigabit speed (ACT GiGA), the service is limited to Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai. And the company is serious enough to expand its services across India. However, it should be noted that Reliance Jio can start its GigaFiber services anytime in a big way.

Also Read: Mukesh Ambani Launches JioPhone 2 and JioGigaFiber in 1100 Cities

Motorola surprised everyone by launching Android Oreo Go Edition of Moto E5 Play. Incidentally, this is the first Android Go smartphone of Lenovo-owned Motorola company. With the E5 nameplate, Motorola has 3 smartphones in its product lineup.

As the name suggests, Moto E5 Play Android Oreo Go has downgraded specifications that make it more affordable in the mass market. The handset will be preloaded with Google’s stock android but with reduced app sizes. Starting with Alcatel 1X, the Android Go handsets are enjoying the much fanbase. Even Nokia 1 and ZTE also came up with their strategies to make a pleasant budget phone experience.

Moto E5 Play Android Oreo Go Edition – Budget Friendly:

The Motorola has announced the global sale of the latest Moto E5 Play Android Oreo Go handsets starting July 14th. Though the sale is not open to the Indian public, the company is yet to announce the date. Currently, the price of this budget smartphone in the European and Latin American market is listed as EUR 109 that roughly translates to ₹8700 in Indian currency.

Though the Moto E5 Play Android Oreo Go version sports a similar basic design of Moto E5 Play, it has got a 5.3-inch display with 18:9 aspect ratio. Built around the Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 chipset, the Google’s optimized version has 1GB RAM instead of 2GB in its original and 16GB inbuilt space further expandable up to 128GB through microSD card.

Same Camera Setup of Moto E5 Play:

The Go Version features the same optical set-up (8-megapixel rear and 5-megapixel front snapper with flash. It also sports a fingerprint sensor on the back. Though there’s no official information, the handset could be backed by a 2800mAh battery. Regarding colour, one can pick Black or else Gold variant.

When the premium handset makers are trying to mesmerize with premium options, the budget handset makers are trying their hands at Android Go version. Surprisingly, Samsung is also in its way. Leaving that aside, the Android Go handsets are providing the value through their smaller apps.

Also Read: HMD Global Launches Nokia 1 Android Oreo Go Edition for ₹5499

Till date, Idea Cellular was just following the market leader Bharti Airtel in countering the disruptive tariffs of Reliance Jio. The Idea Cellular has added a new Add-on Bullet pack to its prepaid product lineup. These data packs can be used over and above unlimited packs. Literally, these are just add-on packs.

6GB Add-on Bullet Pack:

As per the reports, Idea Cellular launched exciting two Add-on packs meant to offer mobile data at a cheaper rate. Of them, 6GB Add-on pack priced at ₹92 holds the limelight. This data pack has a validity period of 7 days.

It is to be noted that the validity of the add-on pack is dependent on the subscriber’s existing tariff.

Say, for example, if the subscriber holds an unlimited voice or combo pack, then he or she can enjoy the 6GB data benefit as long the primary plan continues. In case, your daily 1.4GB gets exhausted and then you do a ₹92 recharge. The result us 6GB data till your plan is valid. In case, you’re a non-unlimited plan user, then you’ll get a 6GB 4G/3G data with 7 days validity.

3GB Add-on Bullet Pack:

Apart from ₹92 Add-on 6GB data pack, Idea Cellular has also launched 3GB Add-on pack. However, the validity of this 3GB data pack is just 1 day. If you are on an unlimited pack, the validity is valid till the validity of the base pack. If not, then the normal validity of 1 day holds.

This is to be remembered that these data add-on bullet packs don’t follow any data roll over/accumulation feature. It gets lapsed with the expiry of the main voucher’s validity. Moreover, the add-one packs are just limited to unlimited voice or combo packs. They are not applicable on unlimited packs with data only benefits.

Idea Cellular - Always Me-too Tariffs:

As said earlier, Idea Cellular always joins the tariff war with me-too tariff. The latest Add-on packs are no exception. Bharti Airtel recently unveiled the ₹92 and ₹49 add-on data packs that offer 6GB and 3GB 4G/3G mobile data with a validity of 7 days and 3 days respectively. The validity concept is similar and Idea Cellular just copied it from Bharti Airtel.

Reliance Jio - The Front Runner:

However, it is to be noted that all these add-on packs concept is a direct inspiration from Reliance Jio to counter Jio. The truly 4G telecom company has got 4 add-on packs namely ₹11, ₹21, ₹51 and ₹102 that offer 400MB, 1GB, 3GB and 6GB respectively with a validity of existing plan.

If you happen to observe the Reliance Jio offerings, then you’ll be happy to note that there’s an exclusive plan for just ₹49. Here, the subscriber gets unlimited voice calling, 50 SMS, 1GB data and free subscription to premium Jio apps. Surprisingly, this ₹49 pack is limited to Jio Phone exclusively.

Leaving the Me-too strategy aside, Idea Cellular is busy in rolling out 4G VoLTE services in 6 telecom circles. The company has started offering 10GB of free data to VoLTE subscribers who make their first VoLTE based voice call. In the first phase, the facility is just limited to Andhra Pradesh & Telangana, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra & Goa, and Tamilnadu. Later on, the facility will be expanded to other telecom circles making it PAN India.

Also Read: Idea Cellular ₹19 Prepaid Plan Offers Unlimited Voice for 2 Days

OPPO Electronics Corp, the Chinese electronics firm, is all set to launch its OPPO F5 series to satisfy the needs of selfie lovers. The latest leak showcases three different variants of OPPO 5.

If the reports are to be believed the Indian launch is inevitable and it could be on November 2. Currently, the three variants of OPPO 5 are already available for pre-orders in Thailand.

As per the leaked information, the upcoming OPPO 5 will be released in three variants namely Standard Oppo F5, Oppo F5 6GB, and Oppo F5 Youth Edition. The first two variants will sport dual camera sensors on the front. In contrast, the OPPO F5 Youth will have a single front-facing camera sensor and thus will be an affordable variant targeted at the youth.

OPPO F5 Specifications:

Regarding the specifications, the new OPPO F5 is rumoured to be powered by Snapdragon 660 SoC. If it happens to launch in India, then OPPO F5 will be the first smartphone to have Snapdragon 660.

The 6-inch OPPO F5 will have a full HD resolution (1080x2160 pixels) with 4GB RAM whereas the upgraded Oppo F5 6GB variant will have 6GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. The onboard storage can be further expandable up to 256GB using microSD card.

Also Read: Huawei Honor 8 Pro Launched with 5.7-inch QHD Display at ₹29999

Affordable OPPO F5 Youth Edition:

On the camera front, both OPPO F5 and F5 6GB is touted to have a 20-megapixel primary camera sensor with phase detection autofocus and LED flash. On top of it, the handset has a dual 12-megapixel secondary camera. The affordable OPPO F5 Youth Edition will sport a 16-megapixel sensor.

As per the reports, the OPPO F5 series will be preloaded with Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance the self-portrait shots. The tagline “Capture the real you” highlights that the latest OPPO F5 smartphone is targeted at an upgraded selfie experience.

All the three variants will have a rear-facing fingerprint sensor and facial unlock security feature. Powered by a non-removable Li-Ion 4000mAh battery, the OPPO 5 series runs on Android 7.0 Nougat operating system. Just to mention, except for storage and RAM, there’s no difference in OPPO F5 and OPPO F5 6GB variants.

Regarding the price, OPPO has not revealed any particular price but as per the leaks, it would be ₹30,000 in India. The OPPO F5 will be available in Black and Gold colour options and the OPPO 6GB RAM model will be in Red and Black colours.

As disclosed earlier, the Indian launch is scheduled for November 2. Till then, the retail price and availability are still under guess.

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

After the super success of “Dussehra Vijay” offer, BSNL has got another offer for its prepaid subscribers. Under BSNL Laxmi Offer, the prepaid users will get an extra 50% of talk time on select voice STVs.

As per the press release, the 50% extra talk time is valid only on the select three recharge top-ups including ₹290, ₹390 and ₹590. In similar lines to BSNL Dussehra Vijay, the state-funded telecom company has got extra time offer on the above-mentioned top-ups.

BSNL Laxmi Offer - BSNL Diwali Extra Talktime:

Announcing the launch of Laxmi Promotional Offer, Mr R.K. Mittal, Director (CM), BSNL Board, said: “The offer is being given to our loyal prepaid mobile customers so that they can share their happiness with their friends and relatives during the auspicious occasion of Diwali.”

It is to be noted that this promotional offer is valid from October 16 to October 21. Indeed this is a great offer from BSNL. If you are looking for extra talk time, then make the best with this Diwali offer.

If you happen to analyze the offers announced by BSNL, you can easily make that BSNL is fairly active in unveiling special packs on the festival occasions. Starting from Holi, and then Freedom offer and to the last Dussehra Offer, BSNL is smart to make its presence felt despite the high competition from Reliance Jio.

Back to BSNL Laxmi Offer, this is valid on PAN India basis and can be recharged both online and offline. If you look at the benefits, here’s a tabular form to give you an exact value offered by BSNL.

BSNL Set to Revise Initial Speeds?

The state-run telecom company which has its strong presence in the broadband market is revamping its broadband plans. With the reports pouring in, it is assumed that BSNL would offer a minimum 8 Mbps speed for all its plans priced below ₹675 monthly rental. The plans above ₹675 will be offered a minimum 10 Mbps speed subject to technical feasibility.

Hope this makes BSNL keeps pace with changing times and creates an inflow of subscription addition.

Also Read: BSNL ₹429 Recharge Plan Offers Unlimited Calling & 1GB Daily Data for 90 Days

Motorola added Moto G5S and Moto G5S Plus smartphones to its budget lineup series. The Chinese company has been adding new products to its crowded table with no major improvements.

The new smartphones have got a bigger display and improved camera when compared to its younger sibling the G5 Plus. With respect to the specifications, the Moto G5S Plus sports a 5.5-inch full HD display with 1080x1920 pixels resolution.

Moto G5S Plus Specifications:

In terms of imaging, the Motorola has upgraded the front camera from 5-megapixel to 8-megapixel f/2.0 wide lens. Apart from that, it also sports a 13-megapixel rear camera for shooting standard RGB shots and another 8-megapixel sensor for capturing natural-depth-of-field effects. The G5S Plus allows you to shoot 4K videos.

Leaving this, the new Moto G5S and Moto G5S Plus offer nothing new in terms of specifications.

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

The handset is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 625 processor, 3GB/4GB RAM and Adreno 506 GPU. It packs 32GB/64GB internal storage which can be further expanded using a microSD card.

Backed by a modest 3000mAh non-removable battery, the Moto G5S Plus boots the latest Android 7.1.1 Nougat operating system.

When compared to its predecessor, the new Moto G5S Plus offers a better in-hand feel with its curved rear. The handset offers the fingerprint scanner on the front and features water-repellent nano-coating.

Moto G5S Specifications:

The lower end Moto G5S handset sports a single camera (16-megapixel with PDAF support) and the 5-megapixel front camera for selfies. Moreover, you’ll find 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 processor, 3GB RAM and 32GB internal space on the Moto G5S.

Apart from the above-mentioned specifications, you’ll not find any major improvement in the latest Motorola handsets. The handset comes in Lunar Gray and Blush Gold colour options.

The exact date of sale has not yet been disclosed by the Motorola. Even with respect to pricing, the reports claim that the MotoG5S would start from 249 Euros that translates to ₹18,800. Similarly, one can expect the retail price of Moto G5S Plus to be 299 Euros (approximately ₹22,500).

Do you think that the Indian smartphone users will appreciate these prices?

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

Reliance Communications Ltd, India’s sixth largest telecom operator, unveiled a new combo offer valid for 1 year. As per the new offer, the Reliance 4G Wi-Pod is bundled with 1GB data per day.

With 365 days of validity, RCom offers daily 1GB 4G data on its 4G Wi-Pod hotspot at just ₹5,199. Incidentally, this 1GB data per day is applicable only to the 4G dongle.

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

Reliance 4G Wi-Pod Data Card:

Regarding specifications of the Reliance 4G Wi-Pod, the company has outsourced it from the Chinese telecommunications equipment manufacturer ZTE Corporation. Powered by the Qualcomm MDM9307 chipset, the black coloured Reliance 4G Wi-Pod dongle can connect up to 31 devices at a time.

The 4G dongle offers LTE FDD connectivity under Band 3 and Band 5 and LTE TDD connectivity under Band 40 respectively. It supports a micro USB port and SIM card slot. Though there’s no exact information about internal storage, it offers expandable storage slot of 32GB via microSD card.

The ZTE make 4G Wi-Pod is backed by a 2300mAh battery that boasts of delivering up to 6 hours of battery life with a single charge. With a decent battery backup and options for expandable storage, the dongle has 95x57x16mm dimensions and weighs just 80 grams.

The product comes with carry-in 1-year Reliance warranty and is available only in black colour.

Reliance 4G Wi-Pod Dongle Pricing:

Interestingly, the Reliance Communications has even offered EMI on this 4G Wi-Pod. The customers can avail special EMI offer of 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months available with various credit cards by the banks. If the customer wants to purchase dongle bundle offer, he can straight away pay a one-time fee of ₹5199.

Based on the present telecom scenario, the RCom 4G Wi-Pod bundle offer is definitely the best. If you compare it with Reliance JioFi device, it comes with 12 months package instead of Jio’s 6 months offer.

Leaving it aside, you will not find any major difference between them.

Also Read: RCOM ₹786 Ramadan Plan 2017 Offers 1GB 4G Daily Data for 180 Days

The state-run telecom company Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) launched a new plan by name “BSNL SIXER 666”. The plan offers unlimited voice calling and daily 2GB data for a period of 60 days.

The latest prepaid plan from BSNL is both voice and data-centric. The company has finally launched a plan that offers unlimited voice calling. The highlight of this BSNL Sixer 666 plan is its unlimited voice calling to any network in India.

When the telecom companies are offering daily 1GB data plans, BSNL has gone ahead by unveiling 2GB data per day plan. This is a very attractive plan that caters to such users who have a requirement for both data and voice calls.

Also Read: World Telecom Day: BSNL Signs MoUs with Facebook, MobiKwik, Data Infosys and Disney India

BSNL Sixer ₹666 Plan:

As per the plan, the data speed comes with a daily quota of 2GB. Post the daily usage of 2GB, the data speed would be reduced to 80 kbps. It’s interesting to note that even outgoing roaming calls are also free apart from the incoming roaming. The plan doesn’t offer any SMS benefits. In the age of WhatsApp, one can ignore the benefits of SMS.

Announcing the launch of BSNL Sixer ₹666 plan, Mr R.K.Mittal, Director (CM), BSNL Board, said: “BSNL offer best prices & plan to our mobile customers considering the present trend of usability in the industry. We are committed to providing affordable and efficient services to all segments of our mobile customers.

It’s good to note that the state-run telecom company is aggressively launching new plans to attract customers. Recently, the BSNL has launched Chaukka 444 plan that offers daily 4GB data for a period of 90 days. However, this plan is just limited to data usage.

When the incumbent telecom players are finding difficult to match Reliance Jio’s pricing, BSNL has been on roll offering attractive prepaid STV’s including Triple Ace 333, and Nehle Peh Dehla 395 plan.

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

Connectivity in Untouched Wilderness:

Of course, there are similar plans from the private telecom operators. For example, Airtel’s 698 plan offers 2GB data per day along with unlimited voice calls for 70 days. However, it should be noted that Airtel’s plan is just limited to 4G handsets.

Though one questions the poor service aspect of BSNL, one should acknowledge that it is the only telecom operator to have reliable connectivity even in uninhabited places including forest areas and state borders.

The country’s second-largest telecom operator Vodafone India has inked a deal with global video streaming service Netflix to offer one-year premium Netflix subscription for free to its higher-end postpaid subscribers. The telecom company partnered with Netflix to support carrier billing for its users.

This partnership is a big surprise as it brings free one-year premium content. Though the subscription is limited to Vodafone Red Plans of 1299 and above, it is a brilliant offer from Vodafone India. In order to avail the content services from the global video provider, all you need to do is just text NETFLIX to 199.

Vodafone India - Netflix Strategic Partnership:

The free access to 1-year Netflix premium subscription also opens to the new Vodafone postpaid customers. Apart from SMS method, one can also opt to the free subscription by visiting its website at shop.vodafone.in . The carrier billing partnership with Netflix will help Vodafone postpaid subscribers to enjoy the services within the same bill.

Also Read: Vodafone Red 499 Postpaid Plan Offers Unlimited Voice Calling and 3GB 4G Data

Announcing the deal, Mr Sandeep Kataria, Director-Commercial, Vodafone India, said: “The increased uptake of video content has led us to enter into strategic partnerships with marquee digital media players like Netflix. We are excited to partner with Netflix to provide our customers a great content experience with Vodafone SuperNet – 4G Data strong network”.

Speaking about the partnership, Mr Tony Zameczkowski, Vice President, Business Development, Netflix Asia, said: “This partnership with Vodafone now makes it more convenient for customers to access their favourite Netflix movies and TV shows anytime and anywhere, and pay seamlessly within their existing Vodafone account.”

Vodafone RED Postpaid Plans:

It is to be noted that Vodafone India offers RED postpaid plans starting as low as ₹499. However, this free 1-year Netflix subscription is limited to the Vodafone RED postpaid plans above 1299. To be precise, the subscription plan is only limited to Red 1299, Red 1699, Red 1999 and Red 2999 postpaid users.

Apart from the free access to premium Netflix subscription, the Vodafone Red ₹1299 plan offers unlimited voice calls including outgoing roaming calls and 100 SMS per month (too low but manageable). It also comes with 20GB free 4G/3G data along with 30GB (10GB data per month for 3 months) free welcome data for new users.

You might be aware that the global video streaming service Netflix started its operations in January 2016 including India. The subscription plans start from ₹500 per month. However, the Ultra HD content is available only with ₹800 monthly plan.

Also Read: Vodafone SuperNight Pack Offers Unlimited Data at Just ₹6 Per Hour

After months of leaks and rumours, OnePlus has finally launched its latest flagship smartphone OnePlus 5 globally including India. There has been a lot of hype surrounding the smartphone. To everyone’s surprise, the killer smartphone has gone out of stock on Amazon India, its exclusive online partner.

OnePlus 5 is an excellent smartphone that has got all the stunning specs making it the smoothest and the fastest Android device available in the market. Till date, Samsung Galaxy S8 is the cynosure of all eyes but now the focus has been shifted to OnePlus 5.

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

OnePlus 5 Specifications:

The Chinese smartphone maker OnePlus unveiled the latest smartphone in two variants - one with 6 GB RAM/64GB internal storage and the other 8GB RAM/128GB internal storage. Price wise, the 6GB/64GB variant and 8GB/128GB option costs ₹32,999 and ₹37,999 respectively and is available only via Amazon India.

Regarding the specifications, OnePlus 5 has got the same display specs as the 3T. The new handset sports full HD (1080x1920 pixels) AMOLED display covered in Gorilla Glass 5. The enthusiasts were hoping to get a Quad HD screen but OnePlus 5 disappointed by still sticking to full HD screen. Though not a big concern, OnePlus lags behind the competition.

OnePlus 5 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 coupled with Adreno 540 GPU that can handle anything you throw at it. As quoted above, you have two options in terms of memory. The stunning speed of the handset can be accredited for its 8GB RAM and Oxygen OS based on the latest Android 7.1.1 Nougat. This lean OS has got many features including automatic Night mode, gaming Do Not Disturb mode and more.

Dual Camera Setup:

OnePlus 5’s camera does a great job with its 16-megapixel main camera and 20-megapixel telephoto camera. It allows you to take portrait shots with fancy bokeh effect and clearer zoom. The 16-megapixel front camera for selfies has got f/2.0 aperture, same as the OnePlus 3T.

As expected, OnePlus 5 comes with Dash Charging that can pump a good battery juice to last until late evening for just 20 minutes charge. However, make sure that you carry the company’s charger and cable as Dash Charge works only with it. The latest handset has got a slightly smaller battery (3300 mAh) when compared to OnePlus 3T’s 3,400 mAh cell.

Also Read: OnePlus Signs US Model Emily Ratajkowski to Explain Working of Dash Charge

Connectivity wise, the OnePlus 5 offers dual-SIM Nano with 4G VoLTE in all possible bands, Wi-Fi 802.11/b/g/n/ac, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, NFC support, and USB Type-C port. It is the only handset that supports all the 34 network bands across the globe.

What’s Your Take?

In order to gain more weight, OnePlus plans to launch 50 service points in India that promises one-hour repair. Moreover, the company intends to add price quotes on the website itself to gain more trustworthiness amongst internet users.

As an introductory offer, the Chinese smartphone maker has got to offer many benefits including free 45GB of 3G/4G data for 5 months from Vodafone India, accidental damage protection, Amazon Pay Credit, and Kindle credits. If you really care about value, then OnePlus 5 is the best bang for your money.

Reliance Communications chairman Anil Ambani gave a new name AirCom to the merged entity of RCom-Aircel. Both the RCom and Maxis will hold 50% stake in the new wireless company AirCom. The proposed AirCom will have the second largest spectrum holding in India across the 850, 900, 1800, and 2100 MHz bands.

RCom’s Debt Resolution Plan:

In a bid to reassure investors, Mr. Anil Ambani held a media conference quoting that the group will repay ₹25,000 crore (after Aircel and Brookfield deals) before September 30. The company has been facing heavy debt load and thus been downgraded by the credit rating companies.

Incidentally, the tower deal with Brookfield will reduce debt to ₹20,000 crore from ₹45,000 crore. Thus, Anil Ambani-led telecom company RCom will hold 49% in Brookfield transaction.

Furthermore, Mr. Anil Ambani also hinted that the company might sell the overseas business of undersea cables run under the Global Cloud Exchange banner. To reduce debt, it may even sell its 49% share in the tower arm.

Also Read: RCOM ₹786 Ramadan Plan 2017 Offers 1GB 4G Daily Data for 180 Days

Telecom Market Not Viable:

While explaining the financial condition of Reliance Communications, Mr. Anil Ambani said that hyper-competitiveness, heavy tax burden in the telecom sector and bank loans are the prime reasons for its bad debt. The 43% tax payment to the government is a troublesome issue and the Indian Government should consider a 3-year moratorium on the increased GST.

Till date, the telecom sector is known to provide second highest employment opportunities after IT but the present scenario in the telecom sector will shed up to 40,000 jobs in this current financial year.

With the entry of Reliance Jio, mobile data prices have crashed from ₹250 to ₹50 per GB. Citing his cordial relationship with Mr. Mukesh Ambani, the younger brother told that RCom and Jio are separate entities and will have strategic cooperation in terms of spectrum, towers and any other areas that can bring synergies to both the companies.

Enjoy Benefits of Scale:

The merging of Aircel and RCom will have a good spectrum capability to provide 2G, 3G, and 4G services across PAN India. Moreover, the new entity will use data network of Reliance Jio. Though one cannot expect fireworks, the merger will fill the service deficiencies.

Let AirCom expand its footprint in rural areas too and emerge as the third largest telecom company.

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

Starting today the South Korean electronics giant Samsung will sell its Galaxy S8 Plus smartphone that includes 6GB RAM and 128GB storage at a price tag of ₹74,900. Incidentally, this is ₹10K more than the 4GB/64GB model.

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy S8 & Galaxy S8+ Launched Starting at ₹57900

Galaxy S8 Plus in India:

As per the reports, the users can pre-order the flagship smartphone via the Samsung Shop and eCommerce portal Flipkart and get a free wireless charger. Initially, this premium variant is just limited to China and South Korea. However, all of a sudden, the Samsung announced that 6GB RAM variant of Samsung Galaxy 8 Plus will be launched in India.

Furthermore, the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus will be available for sale only in the Midnight Black color variant. As a promotional offer, the South Korean electronics giant will offer a free wireless charger.

This is to mention that Samsung Galaxy S8 and Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus were launched in April with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage. Except for the dimensions, battery capacity, and extra memory, there is not much difference between these variants.

Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus Specifications:

The Galaxy S8 Plus sports a 6.2-inch QHD+ display (1440x2960 pixels) and 559 ppi of pixel density. The display has got Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. It is powered by the Exynos 8895 chipset coupled with Mali G71 MP20 GPU.

The premium variant Galaxy S8 Plus has 6GB RAM and 128 GB storage space expandable via microSD card up to 256GB. Optics-wise, the smartphone has a 12-megapixel ‘Dual Pixel’ rear camera with f/1.7 aperture, PDAF and LED flash. The front camera bears an 8-megapixe lens with f/1.7 aperture and autofocus.

The Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus handset has all the premium features including IRIS scanner, facial recognition, and fingerprint sensor. On the connectivity front, Galaxy 8 Plus is equipped with Bluetooth v5.0, 4G VoLTE support, Wi-Fi, GPS etc. Backed by a 3,500mAh battery, the Galaxy S8+ supports Quick Charging facility.

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

Galaxy S8 + - Truly A Big Phone:

The most striking aspect of S8 Plus is its IP68 certification for being water and dust resistant. Moreover, the handset is integrated with Bixby Virtual Assistant that offers Bixby Vision, Home, and Reminder features. The Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus boots TouchWiz UI built on Android 7.0 Nougat.

The new Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus smartphone will be available from June 9th. Hope the new product from Samsung will once again hit the bull’s eye.

India’s third-largest telecom service provider, Idea Cellular, has revamped its popular plan ₹348 Plan to offer 1GB of 4G data per day along with unlimited local and national voice calling. The new plan is applicable to the owners of 4G handsets only and has a validity of 28 days.

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

Me-too Pricing by Leading Telecom Operators:

Earlier the telecom operator offered 500MB of 4G data per day under the same ₹348 plan. Incidentally, Airtel is also offering 1GB of 4G data per day but with a condition. The 1GB of 4G data is divided into 2 time zones where the user subscriber can use 500MB on daytime and 500MB during night hours. As usual, the user can enjoy unlimited voice calls without any restriction.

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

The state-run BSNL has come up with an exclusive ₹339 plan offering 2GB of 4G data along with unlimited on-the-net BSNL calls for a period of 28 days. The country’s top two telecom operator Vodafone India too is offering a similar plan to its prepaid subscribers. With ₹342 recharge, the Vodafone subscriber can enjoy unlimited voice calling along with 28GB of data per month with a FUP of 1GB per day.

Reliance Jio to Dent Revenue and Recovery:

With the extension of Reliance Jio freebies under Summer Special Plan, all the telecom operators are feeling the heat and will definitely dent earnings in the coming quarters. The telecom industry may witness further consolidation as a part of brutal price wars.

The newly launched Reliance Jio Summer Special and extension of Jio Prime subscription will definitely intensify the telecom war for domination. Though it may directly benefit the customer, however, there are certainly other things to be considered in the long-run.

Must Read: Reliance Jio Offers Summer Surprise, Extends Prime Enrollment till April 15

India’s third-leading telecom services provider Idea Cellular has started its 4G services in Jammu & Kashmir telecom circle. Taking a cue from Bharti Airtel, Idea Cellular also joined the 4G race in this Himalayan mountain state. As per the reports, the telecom company will expand its 4G network to 10 towns within a week or so.

Also Read: Bharti Airtel Launches 4G Services in Jammu and Kashmir

Idea 4G Expansion in Jammu & Kashmir:

The Idea Cellular has got concrete plans to expand its 4G network to over 20 towns including the prominent cities of Kathua, Jammu, Punch, Rajouri, Reasi, Samba, and Udhampur in the next 3 months. Announcing the launch, the telecom network has introduced a couple of attractive offers to its subscribers. For every free 4G SIM upgrade, the Idea Cellular subscriber is entitled to get 1GB of 4G data for free.

Announcing the launch of 4G service, Mr Rajat Mukarji, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Idea Cellular, said: “Idea has consistently invested in the expansion of the network to become a pan-India wireless broadband operator, readying our 200 million customers for the Digital era. Over the last one year, Idea has more than doubled its mobile broadband network on the 4G/3G platform, which now covers over 50% of India’s population.”

It is evident that Idea Cellular is riding on a high note for its tie-up with Vodafone India. The third largest telecom network has a good presence close to 100,000 towns and villages. More than 193 million users are enjoying the affordable services of Idea Cellular mobile network.

Also Read: Idea Cellular to Launch Digital Idea Services to Counter Jio and Airtel

Digital Idea for Jammu & Kashmir Users:

Addressing the launch, Mr Sudhir Pradhan, COO – 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 Jammu catering to their ever-growing infotainment needs. Idea 4G services will be further expanded to cover 20 key towns by June end.”

Idea Cellular also unveiled Digital Idea suite meant to enhance the customer satisfaction of over 9 lakh users in Jammu & Kashmir telecom circle. To recap, Digital Idea is a suite of digital applications namely Idea Movie Club, Idea Music Lounge, and Idea Game Spark for maximum entertainment.

Must Read: Idea Cellular 2G, 3G, and 4G Data Recharge to Cost Same

@DennisCNLew

This seems to be ridiculous. For the sake of ₹99, one can’t sacrifice his valuable time. As Twitter is a public platform, the company should address it ASAP otherwise, the reputation will be at stake.

As a subscriber, we don’t have any other option to escalate the things. Just wait for two more days and repeat the transaction.

After announcing free 1GB of data for every prepaid customer, BSNL has got good news to its broadband subscribers. The state-run telecom operator has extended the validity of BB249 plan until June 30, 2017.

Also Read: BSNL Unveils Unlimited Broadband Plan, Offers 300GB Internet for ₹249

BB249 Plan Extension:

As per the new BB249 Plan, the BSNL broadband customers can enjoy 2Mbps speeds up to 1GB and thereafter 1Mbps speed. That means, you can download unlimited data and will not be charged more than 249 plus service tax. However, the speed would be 1Mbps after the initial FUP limit of 1GB.

Currently, this plan is available across all the telecom circles except Jammu & Kashmir and Andaman Nicobar islands. This super affordable plan is open for subscription up to June 20, 2017. Initially, the plan was announced with a validity period of 6 months. However, after the super success of it, BSNL has revamped its strategy to extend its validity until June 2017. Apart from its validity extension, there is no other change in its strategy.

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

This is to be clearly noted that this plan is applicable only for new users of BSNL broadband and BSNL Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) service. As an introductory offer, BSNL has waived off the installation charges pertaining to BB249 broadband plan. However, one should make a note of it that after the validation of this promotional plan, the subscribers will be automatically migrated to BBG ULD 499 plan. Make hay while the sun shines.

BSNL is a Strong Wall:

Irrespective of the plan, all the BSNL broadband subscribers can make unlimited free voice calls to any network between 9 PM and 7 AM on all days and free calling on Sundays without any limitation. Incidentally, it is very surprising to note that nobody has ported to Reliance Jio from BSNL when telecom sector is facing a tough competition.

Also Read: Govt Launches Pre-Loaded BSNL SIM Cards to Foreign Tourists

Reliance Jio which has opened new avenues in the telecom sector might extend its deadline for enrolment of Jio Prime Membership for a month or so. As per the recent report leaked by TeleAnalysis and The Economic Times, the prime subscription would be extended until April 30.

Jio Prime Membership – Lukewarm Response?

Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Jio previously announced that its esteemed subscribers can avail the existing benefits by enrolling Jio Membership plan till March 31st. However, the reports claim that there is a lukewarm response for it and thus about 30 million users opted for the membership program so far.

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

Avail Reliance Jio Prime Membership for Free:

Based on the reports, it is quite natural that the telecom company may extend its deadline until April 30. Incidentally, the company has started offering Jio Prime Membership for free. Under this plan, the subscriber will recharge through Jio Money wallet and gets ₹100 as a cashback. This makes you get Jio Prime Membership for free.

There’s nothing technical in this cashback offer. Just download the Jio Money app from Google Play store or IOS store. Register on Jio Money app and create a four-digit m-pin for the purpose of safety. Once when you are done with the registration process, just recharge with ₹99 and pay for the Jio Prime membership plan. Within no time, your Jio money wallet will get ₹50 as the cashback.

Though there is a lukewarm response of Jio prime membership plan as of now, but it is researched that more than 82% of Jio users will stick to Reliance Jio Infocomm. This is a mind blowing authentication that Reliance Jio will sustain the customer base intact in the country.

Are You in?

Interestingly, many reports suggest that the Reliance Jio subscribers will continue using Jio even after the termination of free voice and data offers. Let’s wait for the official announcement before taking a chance. Are you making your Reliance Jio SIM as a primary number? Would you be interested in Jio Prime Membership plan? Let us know your feedback.

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

Bharti Airtel, India’s largest telecom service provider launched its 4G services in Jammu and Kashmir. Currently, the Airtel’s 4G services are provided in 25 towns of this Himalayan mountain state. With this launch, Bharti Airtel has become the first telecom company to deliver high-speed 4G services in all the 22 telecom circles of India.

Also Read: Airtel to Offer 1GB of Data per Day with ₹150 Booster Pack in Postpaid

The Pioneer in 4G Services!

If one looks at the other incumbent telecom service providers, Vodafone SuperNet 4G services are live in 17 telecom circles of Indian and Idea Cellular with 10 circles occupies the third position. Bharti Airtel has got concrete plans to roll out 4G services in 100 towns of Jammu And Kashmir State. As per the reports, the company has rolled out 4G services using FD-LTE technology in the 1800 MHz band.

Currently, Bharti Airtel’s 4G services are rolled out in 25 towns including Akhnoor, Badlirakh, Bari Brahamana, Bashohli, Billawar, Garnai, Ghomanhasan, Hiranagar, Jammu, Jyotipuram, Katra, Kathua, Miran Sahib, Misriwala, Nagrota, Raipur Domana, Rajauri, Reasi, Rehambal, Samba, Sunderbani, Talwara, Thanamandi, Udhampur, and Vaishno Devi.

Addressing the launch of 4G services, Mr Raveendra Desai, COO – J&K, Bharti Airtel, said: “We are pleased to launch our 4G services in the state of Jammu & Kashmir and look forward to delighting customers with best in class services on India’s best smartphone network.”

Airtel 4G – The Best and Fastest Internet:

Incidentally, Airtel 4G mobile internet has been rated as India’s fastest mobile network by Ookla and it’s is definitely a good sign to showcase its supremacy. With the launch of 4G services in the Kashmir valley, it is now possible to experience superfast mobile internet and access HD video streaming without any issues.

Must Read: Airtel Rolls out 4G Network in Sikkim Using Dual Spectrum

Bharti Airtel, country’s number one telecom operator, has announced a huge price cut on its 4G Home Wi-Fi router. Starting today, the Airtel 4G Home Wi-Fi hotspot will be available at all Airtel retail stores with a price tag of ₹2500.

Also Read: Airtel Payments Bank Opens 150000 Plus Savings Accounts in West Bengal

The 4G Home Wi-Fi router is absolutely wireless and it can connect up to 32 devices at a given time. On the other hand, Airtel’s 4G Hotspot has the flexibility of connecting with only 10 devices. It works on the principle of plug and surf. Just plug into a power socket and surf. That means it gives the flexibility of accessing the internet anytime and stay connected.

Bharti Airtel 4G Home Wi-Fi Plans:

The best thing about Airtel’s 4G Home Wi-Fi plans is its affordability. However, the downside is it caters only to postpaid subscribers. Starting from ₹350, there are a number of plans to choose from. The ₹350 plan offers 3GB of 4G data whereas ₹995 and ₹1295 offer 10GB and 15GB of 4G data respectively. These monthly plans have a 30-day billing cycle. Interestingly, Bharti Airtel also provides a ₹7995 plan that offers 160GB of 4G monthly data.

If you are looking for a long validity pack, then you can subscribe to 960GB data pack which has a validity of 6 months and costs ₹47970. If you happen to compare these plans with others in the telecom industry, then you’ll not be surprised. But still, Bharti Airtel would be facing a stiff competition from Reliance Jio. It is rumoured that Reliance Jio Infocomm would soon come up with its Home Wi-Fi device called “JioLink” very soon.

Also Read: Telenor in Talks with Bharti Airtel to Sell India Business for $350 Million