Mobile devices

Nokia has introduced the 106 device, priced at Rs 1,399. The device has a 1.8 inch screen, supports a single SIM card and can store up to 500 contacts.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited, in collaboration with Pantel Technologies, has introduced the BharatPhone priced at Rs 1,799. The device has a 3 inch screen and supports dual SIM cards. The operator is offering 1,200 minutes of free talktime for a year with the device. Subscribers can use the mobile phone for accessing e-governance facilities like mobile banking and tele-medicine. In addition, the operator has introduced a tablet and two smartphones priced between Rs 7,000 and Rs 8,000. The tablet has a 7 inch screen and functions on the Android operating system (OS). Customers purchasing the tablet can avail of 3 GB of 3G data and 300 minutes of free talktime. The tablet is priced at Rs 6,999.

Intex has introduced the Aqua i4+ smartphone, which functions on the Android Jelly Bean 4.2.2 OS. The device features a 5 inch screen and is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor. The Aqua i4+ packs in 512 MB RAM and 4 GB of internal memory, which can be expanded to 32 GB using a microSD card. It supports dual SIM cards and features an 8 megapixel rear camera and a 1.3 megapixel front camera. The Aqua i4+ smartphone is priced at Rs 7,600.

Lava has introduced the 3G 402+ smartphone, which functions on the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS. The smartphone has a 4 inch screen and dual cameras (a 3 megapixel rear and a 0.3 megapixel front camera), and is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor. The 3G 402+ packs in 512 MB RAM and 4 GB of internal memory, which can be expanded to 32 GB using a microSD card. The device supports dual SIM cards and technologies such as 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS/AGPS, GPRS and EDGE. It is priced at Rs 6,499.

Following the global launch of the Galaxy Grand 2 phablet, Samsung has introduced the device in the Indian market. The phablet has a 5.2 inch screen, dual cameras (an 8 megapixel rear and a 1.9 megapixel front camera) and is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm processor. The Galaxy Grand 2 phablet has 1.5 GB RAM and 8 GB of internal memory, which can be expanded to 64 GB through a microSD card. It supports dual SIM cards and technologies such as GPS, 3G (HSPA+), Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Micromax has introduced the Canvas Blaze phablet, which functions on the Android Jelly Bean 4.1.2 OS. The phablet has a 5 inch screen and is powered by a 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. It supports dual SIM cards and has  an 8 megapixel rear camera and a 0.3 megapixel front camera. The phablet supports technologies such as Bluetooth 2.0 and Wi-Fi, and is priced at Rs 10,999.

Nokia has introduced the Asha 502 smartphone, which functions on the Nokia Asha software platform 1.1. The smartphone has a 3 inch screen and packs in 64 MB RAM and 4 GB of internal memory, which can be expanded to 32 GB using a microSD card. The Asha 502 supports dual SIM cards and has a 5 megapixel camera. The smartphone is available for Rs 6,111.

Lenovo has introduced the Vibe X smartphone, which is powered by the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS. The smartphone has a 5 inch screen and is powered by a 1.5 GHz quad-core MediaTek 6589T processor. The Vibe X offers 2 GB RAM and 16 GB of internal storage as well as dual cameras (a 13 megapixel rear and a 5 megapixel front camera). The smartphone supports technologies such as 2G, 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. The Vibe X is priced at Rs 25,999.

Nokia has introduced the Lumia 1520 Windows-based smartphone, which features a 6 inch screen and is powered by a 2.2 GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor. The smartphone packs in 2 GB RAM and 32 GB of internal memory, which can be expanded to 32 GB using a microSD card. The Lumia 1520 also offers 7 GB of free Skydrive storage along with a 20 megapixel PureView camera. The Lumia 1520 is priced at Rs 46,999.

Datawind has launched three touchscreen, dual-SIM smartphones. The PocketSurfer3G5 device, priced at Rs 6,499, supports 3G mobile broadband and functions on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS. Its other features include a dual-core 1.2 GHz processor, 4 GB of internal memory and a 5 megapixel camera. The PocketSurfer5 device is priced at Rs 4,999, functions on the Android 4.0 platform and houses a Cortex A9 1 GHz processor, whereas the PocketSurfer 5X is available for Rs 3,499, and is powered by a Linux-based OS and a Cortex A8 1 GHz processor.

Acer has introduced the ICONIA W4 tablet, which functions on the Windows 8.1 OS. The tablet has an 8 inch screen and is powered by an Intel Atom 1.8 GHz quad-core processor. The ICONIA W4 comes in two versions ? 32 GB and 64 GB ? and has dual cameras (a 5 megapixel rear and a 2 megapixel front camera). The 32 GB and 64 GB versions of ICONIA W4 are priced at Rs 24,999 and Rs 26,999 respectively.

Gionee has launched the ELIFE E7 smartphone, which runs on the Android OS and supports technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Near Field Communications. It packs in a Qualcomm MSM8274 chipset, and is available in two variants, which features 16 GB and 32 GB internal storage, and 2 GB and 3 GB RAM respectively. The two variants are available for Rs 26,999 and Rs 29,999 respectively.

Services

Idea Cellular has launched the i-Plan tariff scheme, which enables post-paid subscribers to customise their monthly plans from a bouquet of voice and data packs. The plan enables customers to choose from rental plans, ranging from Rs 199 and going up to Rs 999. The operator is also offering add-on pack options, which can be combined with monthly rentals. The tariff plan is available across all circles except Punjab.

Bharti Airtel is providing its prepaid customers free access to Facebook in nine regional Indian languages for a limited time period. Subscribers will be able to access the social networking site on their mobile phones in Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam. The operator is also providing 30 MB of free data usage per month for accessing Facebook.

Aircel has introduced video calling services for its 3G subscribers. Users can avail of the video calling facility within Aircel?s network for Rs 1.60 per second. As a promotional offer, subscribers will be able to avail of this service for 10 minutes and 100 minutes by opting for Aircel?s PI 29 and PI 128 data packs respectively.

Vodafone India has introduced a new service called Vodafone Music. The service, which allows users to stream unlimited music and video, is available to users on Android-based smartphones at present. It is also available on feature phones and would be extended to other operating platforms in the next few months. Subscribers can download a single song for Rs 3 and five songs for Rs 10. Further, they can choose from daily, weekly and monthly tariff packs priced at Rs 5, Rs 29 and Rs 99.

Aircel has introduced a new tariff plan ? FRC 95 ? for its subscribers in Delhi. Subscribers availing of this plan are charged at Re 0.40 per minute for each local and STD call. In addition, users receive free talktime of 25 minutes for making both local as well as STD calls for a period of six months along with 25 MB of free data usage for a month.

TATA DOCOMO has introduced two data packs that offer unlimited use of WhatsApp to subscribers. The packs, priced at Rs 15 and Rs 30, are valid for 15 and 30 days respectively.

Idea Cellular has introduced two international roaming packs that offer calling and data benefits for 40 countries. The two international roaming packs, priced at Rs 599 and Rs 1,499, have a validity of 10 days and 30 days respectively. Both the recharge packs offer users lower tariffs of up to 80 per cent on voice calls and 95 per cent on data usage. In addition, users purchasing the roaming pack priced at Rs 1,499 can receive free calls for 30 minutes while on international roaming.