Mobile devices
Samsung Electronics has expanded its 3G handset portfolio with the launch of the Champ 3.5G (S3770), the Chat 527 (S5270) and the Primo (S5610) handsets in the Indian market. All three handsets offer access to social networking sites and instant messenger services. They also support video calling and push email service with the ActiveSync facility. The Samsung Champ 3.5G has a 7.1 cm touchscreen; the SoundAlive feature, which enhances earphone sound with 3D effects; a 2 megapixel camera; and 30 MB internal memory. It is priced at Rs 5,590. The Samsung Chat 527 (S5270) features an optical trackpad; an optimised QWERTY keypad; a built-in MP3 player; and an FM radio. It costs Rs 5,930. The Samsung Primo (S5610), priced at Rs 6,590, sports a 6.1 cm TFT display, a 5 megapixel camera with flash and 16 GB of expandable memory.
Josh Mobiles has introduced the JB 289, a dual-SIM handset that comes with a built-in FM radio; an audio player; a digital camera; a video player; an image browser; and an e-book reader. The device is priced at Rs 1,800.
Beetel Teletech has launched the GD-470, dual-SIM full touchscreen mobile phone in the Indian market. The handset costs Rs 3,300 and supports Bluetooth technology, 3GP, AVI and MP4 files. Its other features include an MP3 player, a 1.3 megapixel camera, a built-in FM radio and expandable memory of up to 8 GB. The handset also allows access to the Beetel World application, which offers social networking and infotainment features such as access to Facebook, Snaptu, mig 33, Yahoo!, ibibo, Vuclip, Reuters, Hungama and works published by Penguin Books India.
Shenzhen Sang Fei Consumer Communications Company Limited, which manages Philips-branded mobile phone business globally, has announced the launch of the Philips Xenium range of dual-SIM mobile phones in India. The Philips Xenium X513 is priced at Rs 4,776. It offers 16 hours of talktime, up to 80 hours of music playback, 1,000-entry phonebook, a storage capacity of 1,000 and an expandable external memory of 16 GB. The Philips Xenium X806 has a fast, intuitive touchscreen and a touch-sensitive dashboard for quick access to applications. It also incorporates a 262,000 colour display, a 5 megapixel autofocus camera with flash, an expandable external memory of up to 8 GB, and a month of standby time and eight hours of talktime. It is priced at Rs 8,280. The Philips Xenium X518 has a 2.8 inch TFT touchscreen, preset widgets on the home screen, a 2 megapixel camera with flash and an expandable external memory of up to 16 GB. The handset also has about 40 days of standby time and 12 hours of talktime and is priced at Rs 5,976. The Philips Xenium X523 is available for Rs 4,992 and has a 3.2 megapixel camera with flash, an expandable external memory of 32 GB and up to 50 days of standby time.
Research In Motion has launched the BlackBerry Curve smartphone, priced at Rs 19,990. The BlackBerry Curve 9360 operates on the new BlackBerry 7 platform. It supports GPS and Wi-Fi facilities and has a 5 megapixel camera with a flash and video recording. The device also comes with built-in support for near field communications technology. The handset comes with a special feature called BlackBerry Protect, which allows users to back up their personal data and help locate misplaced handsets using GPS technology.
Sony Ericsson has launched two new smartphones under its Xperia brand. The two phones, Xperia Active and Xperia Ray, were unveiled at CommunicAsia 2011 in Singapore in June. They feature the Android 2.3 operating system along with a 1 GHz processor. The price of both handsets is expected to be between Rs 17,000 and Rs 20,000. The Xperia Active has a 3 inch display with Sony?s Mobile Bravia display technology and a 5 megapixel camera with video functionality. It is dust- and water-resistant, and incorporates a wet finger tracking feature that enables the phone to work even when the screen or the user?s fingers are wet. The Xperia Active comes preloaded with sports applications that allow users to track their fitness levels. The Xperia Ray runs on the Gingerbread 2.3 platform and is powered by a 1 GHz processor. It has an 8.1 megapixel camera with Exmor R Sony camera technology and video functionality. It also features a front-facing camera and a scratch-resistant screen.
Colors Mobile has introduced the F-16 Fighter dual-SIM mobile phone. The F-16 Fighter has an inbuilt MP4 video player, music player, FM radio, a high resolution camera, auto call recording facility and up to 4 GB of expandable memory. The device costs Rs 1,099.
AirTyme Communications has launched the GTX75 TORRID, a 3G HSDPA phone. The device has a 2.8 inch QVGA resistive touchscreen, a QWERTY keyboard, stereo Bluetooth, support for MP3, 3GP and MP4 files, a 1.3 megapixel camera, and support for high speed 3G networks. The device offers access to social media sites such as Snaptu and Nimbuzz. It is priced at Rs 4,999.
Microsoft Corporation India has launched the Windows Phone, which packs in the Live Tiles and Hubs interface and supports the mobile versions of Microsoft?s office suite of applications. It also offers access to social networking sites, Facebook and Twitter, and voice-to-text and text-to-voice messaging support. The price of the device has not yet been announced.
Services
Idea Cellular has launched special tariff vouchers for prepaid customers in Gujarat. The vouchers, priced at Rs 39 and Rs 17, will enable subscribers to make local calls within the Idea network for Re 0.10 per minute between 10 p.m. and 5 p.m. The tariff would be valid for 30 days and 15 days, respectively, from the date of recharge.
For its prepaid customers in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Idea Cellular has launched the ?Power of 9? pack. Users can choose from four different recharge vouchers, each priced at Rs 9, offering different benefits. Subscribers can opt for voice packs, which offer 22 free local call minutes within Idea?s network and are valid for four days. Another pack offers 19 free local call minutes on any network for three days. The third pack offers 45 free local and national SMSs, with a five-day validity period and a 3G internet pack offering 20 MB of usage for one day.
Nokia India has joined hands with Arogya World, a US-based non-profit organisation, to announce a mobile-based diabetes prevention health initiative in India. As part of this initiative, Arogya World will offer free diabetes awareness and prevention content for a period of six months to existing and new Nokia consumers in India who have the Nokia Life Tools service on their phones. Messages will be delivered as text message alerts, twice a week, in 12 different languages. Once the initial programme is over, the consumer can subscribe to diabetes awareness and prevention messages for a nominal fee.
Loop Mobile has launched a special loyalty programme, Friday Special, for subscribers in Mumbai, in association with CINEMAX and Costa Coffee. It will gradually be extended to various other lifestyle areas. To avail of the offer, subscribers have to dial a toll-free number, *56789#, and get an m-coupon. This coupon can be shown at any CINEMAX or Costa Coffee outlet on Fridays in order to redeem it.
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has launched its applications store, called BSNL Apps Store, which offers a selection of over 4,500 applications. The applications can be accessed by all BSNL mobile customers with GPRS-enabled handsets. Customers can purchase and download applications from over 25 categories (both free and paid), including entertainment, news, finance, horoscope, sports, games, themes and utilities. India-specific applications have also been provided. Once the user selects an application, the applicable amount is automatically deducted from the talktime (in the case of prepaid connections) or is added to the monthly bill (in the case of post-paid connections). BSNL subscribers need to get their GPRS facility activated in order to visit the BSNL Live WAP portal.
Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) has joined hands with Shemaroo Entertainment to launch a 3G video value-added service, which allows subscribers to watch Bollywood films. The MTNL Movie Talkies service offers Mini Movies, which are 15-minute versions of movies, edited with popular songs, key scenes and dialogues, along with a narrator. The collection of movies covers different genres and languages. To avail of the service, MTNL subscribers need to make a 3G video call on the universal short code 58800. The charges are Rs 2 per minute.
MTNL has also announced the launch of a bonus recharge pack for Dolphin (post-paid) subscribers. To avail of this offer, subscribers have to purchase a bonus recharge voucher of Rs 25, which has no credit value but allows them to make unlimited local calls within the circle to any other Dolphin subscriber at Re 0.05 per minute. Dolphin subscribers can call other Dolphin subscribers at this tariff within the circle from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. This recharge voucher is valid for a period of 30 days.
IMImobile has launched the My SMS application. The SMS-based platform allows users to request for SMS services in their language. The application is currently available on handsets operating on the Symbian and J2Me operating systems. Users can avail of this application by dialling 56263. All operators support this service and the application is currently available in eight Indian languages.
Bharti Airtel and Spice Digital have joined hands with Big FM, wherein the latter?s radio channels from Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Mumbai will be available on mobile handsets. Airtel subscribers can now access 92.7 BIG FM even when they are not present in their cities. Spice Digital is the technology partner for this service and Airtel is the operator. To subscribe to the service, users have to dial 59270 from their Airtel numbers.
Bharti Airtel has announced the launch of its Formula 1 Race Pack for subscribers in Delhi NCR. A new Airtel prepaid customer in Delhi NCR will receive a 30 days? trial offer on F1 value-added services. As per the conditions of the pack, local calls made within Airtel?s network are priced at Re 0.30 per minute and the first minute for the day is priced at Re 0.01 per minute. Also, the user can avail of 100 free local SMSs within the Airtel network every day and 200 MB of free 2G data. The pack is valid for 60 days from the date of activation.
Uninor has launched the Extra Talktime offer. These vouchers are available in four denominations ? Rs 60, Rs 120, Rs 200 and Rs 500 ? and give users extra talktime worth Rs 65, Rs 135, Rs 240 and Rs 600 respectively.
