Mobile devices
Xolo has introduced the Q1010i smartphone with a 5-inch screen. The smartphone works on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system (OS) with upgrades available for Android 4.4 KitKat. It is powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor and features 1 GB RAM and 8 GB of inbuilt storage, which can be expanded up to 32 GB using a microSD card. The smartphone has an 8 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera, and is priced at Rs 13,499.
HTC has launched its One (M8) smartphone, which runs on the Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS. The smartphone has a 5-inch screen and is powered by a 2.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor. It comes with 2 GB RAM and 16 GB or 32 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 128 GB using a microSD card. This phone has an UltraPixel Duo rear camera and a 5 megapixel front camera. The smartphone is priced at Rs 49,900 and offers 65 GB of cloud storage space on Google Drive.
Gionee has introduced the Elife E7 Mini smartphone, which functions on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS. The smartphone has a 4.7-inch screen and is powered by a 1.7 GHz octa-core processor. The device has 16 GB of inbuilt storage and a 13 megapixel camera. The phone is priced at Rs 18,999.
Lava International Limited has launched the Iris 450 smartphone, which works on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS. The smartphone has a 4.5-inch screen and is powered by a 1.3 GHz dual-core processor. The Iris 450 has 512 MB RAM, 4 GB internal storage, which can be expanded up to 32 GB using a microSD card, a 5 megapixel rear camera and a 0.3 megapixel front camera. The smartphone supports technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS/A-GPS and GPRS, and is priced at Rs 7,999.
HTC has introduced an entry-level smartphone in India, the HTC Desire 310, priced at Rs 11,700. The smartphone has a 4.5- inch screen and is powered by a 1.3 GHz cortex A7 quad-core processor. The HTC Desire 310 runs on the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS and comes with a 512 MB RAM and 4 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 32 GB using a microSD card. The device supports dual SIM cards and has a 5 megapixel rear camera and a VGA front-facing camera.
Sony has introduced the Xperia M2 smartphone, which functions on the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS. Powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 400 processor (MSM8226), the smartphone has a 4.8-inch screen, 1 GB RAM and 8 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 32 GB using a microSD card. In addition, the device supports dual SIM cards and has an 8 megapixel rear camera and a VGA front-facing camera. It also supports technologies such as 3G, GPS/AGPS, GLONASS, Bluetooth 4.0, near-field communication and Wi-Fi. The smartphone is priced at Rs 21,990.
Lava Mobiles has introduced the Iris 504Q+ smartphone, which works on the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS. The smartphone has a 5-inch screen and is powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor. Other features include 1 GB RAM and 8 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 32 GB using a microSD card. It supports dual SIM cards and has a 10 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera. The Iris 504Q+ is priced at Rs 13,990.
Lenovo has introduced its A-series tablets ? the A7-50, A8 and A10. All three tablets run on the Android 4.2 OS. The Lenovo A-series tablets are powered by a quad-core 1.3 GHz MediaTek 8121 SoC processor and pack in 1 GB RAM and 16 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 32 GB using a microSD card. These tablets also have a 5 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera. The 7-inch Lenovo Tab A7-50 is priced at $129, the 8 inch Tab A8 at $179, and the 10.1 inch Tab A10 is priced at $249.
Spice has launched the Stellar Glide Mi 438 smartphone, which functions on the Android 4.2 OS. The smartphone has a 4-inch screen and is powered by a 1.3 GHz dual-core processor. The Stellar Glide Mi 438 has 512 MB RAM and 4 GB of inbuilt memory, which is expandable up to 32 GB using a microSD card. The device has a 2 megapixel rear camera and a 1.3 megapixel front camera, and is priced at Rs 5,199.
Following the launch of the Moto G smartphone in India in February 2014, Motorola has introduced a CDMA variant of the device in partnership with Reliance Communications (RCOM). The Moto G (CDMA) variant is available at RCOM?s online store for Rs 13,490. The smartphone has a 4.5-inch screen and works on the Android 4.4.2 KitKat OS. It is powered by the quad-core 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor and packs in 1 GB RAM and 8 GB of inbuilt storage. The device has a 5 megapixel rear camera and a 1.3 megapixel front camera.
Services
Vodafone India has partnered with ICICI Bank to introduce the M-Pesa money transfer service in Kerala. The service will be available through 1,800 authorised agents in 63 tehsils, 14 districts and across 29 retail outlets run by the operator in Kerala. Through the M-Pesa service, subscribers will be able to deposit and withdraw cash from designated outlets, transfer money to mobile phones in the country, pay utility bills, recharge mobile phones and shop at select outlets. Apart from Kerala, the M-Pesa service is also available in Haryana, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh (East and West), Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Assam and the Northeast.
Aircel has introduced a roaming recharge voucher, RC 299, for its prepaid subscribers in the Mumbai circle. Users availing of the RC 299 get free talktime of 350 minutes for incoming and outgoing calls on Aircel?s network. Once the free talktime is exhausted, subscribers are charged Re 0.01 per second for incoming calls and Re 0.15 per second for outgoing calls.
TATA DOCOMO has introduced customised Stretch recharge vouchers for its prepaid GSM subscribers. The recharge packs are targeted at light and medium data users who are often left with unused data on their monthly data plans or customers who use data on a pay-as-you-go basis and end up paying higher prices for accessing data. The 2G and 3G Stretch recharges are priced between Rs 96 and Rs 156 with validity periods ranging from 60 days to 180 days. Depending on the plan, subscribers can access up to 500 MB of data with unlimited WhatsApp access.
Samsung Electronics has introduced version 3.5 of ChatON, a global mobile and cross-platform instant messaging service that is available across Android, iOS, Windows and BlackBerry phones. The upgraded ChatON messenger offers users benefits such as 1 GB of file sharing, instant message translation between English and Hindi, up to 1,001 members? group chat, easy location sharing, sent message recall and SMS/MMS integration. Currently, ChatON has 200 million subscribers globally.
Uninor has launched new tariff vouchers for data users in the Andhra Pradesh circle. The operator is offering unlimited Facebook and WhatsApp access to its subscribers for Rs 16 per month, Rs 5 per week and Re 1 per day.
Bharti Airtel, in collaboration with Nokia, has introduced a bundled data offering for customers purchasing the Nokia X device. Customers can avail of 500 MB of free 3G data per month for a period of three months. Customers in non-3G circles can enjoy the same benefit for 2G services. The offer is valid till June 30, 2014.
TATA DOCOMO has introduced new Family Plans for its post-paid GSM customers. The tariff plans range from Rs 849 to Rs 1,449 and offer subscribers a maximum of six connections.
TATA DOCOMO has entered into a strategic partnership with Sweden-based caller ID firm Truecaller. Under the partnership, TATA DOCOMO customers will be able to access the Truecaller service without having to pay mobile internet charges. As per the agreement, customers will also get free access to premium features of this service for 90 days. The Truecaller application accesses the phonebooks of users with their permission to include their contact in its data base. Whenever a Truecaller user receives a call, the caller?s name is displayed on the screen even if it is not saved on the device.
Vodafone Business Services, the enterprise arm of Vodafone India, has launched a managed videoconferencing service for enterprises. The service is network and device agnostic and users can avail of the service by connecting to the virtual private network, the internet or integrated services for digital network line. The videoconferencing service allows enterprises to schedule, manage and monitor conferences online. Multiple devices including laptops, tablets and smartphones support this service.
RCOM has introduced international roaming packs for its subscribers travelling to North America, Asia, Europe, Australia and Africa. These packs have been priced at Rs 999 per month, and offer discounts of up to 92 per cent on voice calls.
Aircel has introduced ?Facebook for All?, a plan which offers free access to the social networking site. Subscribers can access the Facebook application or Facebook Messenger. In addition, the social media site can be accessed through the phone?s web browser. Existing users can avail of the offer for one month whereas new subscribers can avail of the offer for two months. Under the plan, the operator will provide 500 MB of free data usage every month to subscribers. However, they will be charged for additional data usage. The offer has been introduced in Maharashtra, Jammu & Kashmir, Rajasthan, Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh. Subsequently, Aircel plans to extend the offer to other circles as well. In addition, Aircel has introduced tariff plans priced at Rs 14 and Rs 5 to access 100 MB and 25 MB of data usage for 28 days and seven days respectively.
Vodafone India has partnered with Disney India?s Interactive business to launch Vodafone Games and Applications on both smartphones and feature phones. Through this service, subscribers can access games and applications such as Where?s My Water?, Where?s My Mickey?, Where?s My Perry?, Toy Story: Smash It!, Brave, Chennai Express, Mickey Planner, Donald Photo Booth, and Goofy Weather.
