Chinese device manufacturer Oppo has forayed into the Indian handset market with the launch of the Oppo N1 phablet. Priced at Rs 39,999, the phablet features a 13 megapixel camera that can rotate up to 206 degrees, and comes in two variants that offer 16 GB and 32 GB of internal storage. It has a 5.9 inch display and is powered by a 1.7 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor. The phablet functions on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system (OS) and has 2 GB RAM.
Micromax has launched the A200 Canvas Turbo Mini smartphone, which is available for Rs 14,490 through pre-booking on various e-commerce websites. The device is powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor (a MediaTek MT6582 chip) and runs on the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS. It has 1 GB RAM, 4 GB of internal storage, which is expandable up to 32 GB via a microSD card, and dual cameras (an 8 megapixel main camera that supports 720p recording and a 5 megapixel front camera). The device also offers 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity.
Wickedleak has introduced the Wammy Ethos Tab 3 tablet, which functions on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS. The dual-SIM tablet has a 7 inch screen and is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor. It packs in 1 GB RAM and 8 GB of internal storage, expandable up to 32 GB. The device also features a 5 megapixel back camera and a 2 megapixel front camera, and is priced at Rs 10,990.
Dell has introduced the Venus 8 Pro tablet. The tablet has an 8 inch screen, is powered by a 1.8 GHz quad-core Intel atom processor and runs on the Windows Phone 8.1 OS. The Venus 8 Pro features 2 GB RAM, 32 GB of internal storage, which is expandable via a microSD card, a 5 megapixel rear camera, and a 1.2 megapixel front camera. The tablet is priced at Rs 26,499.
Xolo has introduced the Q700S smartphone, which functions on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS. Priced at Rs 9,999, the smartphone has a 4.5 inch screen and is powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor. The Q700S packs in 1 GB RAM and 4 GB of internal storage, which is expandable up to 32 GB via a microSD card. The device has an 8 megapixel rear camera and a VGA front camera.
HP has introduced the Slate7 Voice tablet, which functions on the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS. The tablet has a 7 inch screen and is powered by a 1.6 GHz dual-core Cortex A9 processor. The Slate7 Voice has 1 GB RAM and 8 GB of internal memory, expandable up to 32 GB. It also has a 5 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera. The tablet supports dual-SIM cards, voice calling, and technologies such as 3G, Bluetooth and NFC.
Sony has introduced the Xperia E1 smartphone, which functions on the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS. The smartphone has a 4 inch screen and is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core Qualcomm MSM8210 processor. The Xperia E1 features 512 MB RAM, 4 GB of internal storage that is expandable up to 32 GB, and a 3.15 megapixel camera. The smartphone is available in single-SIM and dual-SIM variants.
Simmtronics has introduced the XPAD Turbo tablet. Priced at Rs 7,999, the dual-SIM device functions on the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS and is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor, along with a Mali 400MP GPU. The XPAD Turbo has a 7 inch screen, 512 MB RAM and 4 GB of internal storage, expandable up to 32 GB. Its other features include a 2 megapixel rear camera and a VGA front camera.
Oplus has introduced the XonPad 7 tablet, priced at Rs 9,990. The device functions on the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS. The tablet features a 7 inch screen and is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core Cortex A7 processor. The XonPad 7 packs in 1 GB RAM, 16 GB of inbuilt storage, which is expandable up to 32 GB, a 5 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera. The XonPad 7 supports voice calling and technologies such as 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, EDGE and GPRS.
Nokia has introduced two smartphones ? the Lumia 1320 and Lumia 525 ? which function on the Windows Phone 8 OS. Priced at Rs 23,999, the Lumia 1320 has a 6 inch screen and a 5 megapixel rear camera, and is powered by a 1.7 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor. It packs in 1 GB RAM, 8 GB of internal storage, which is expandable up to 64 GB, and offers 7 GB of SkyDrive cloud storage. Priced at Rs 10,339, the Lumia 525 has a 4 inch screen and is powered by a 1 GHz dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 processor. The smartphone features 1 GB RAM, 8 GB of inbuilt memory, which can be expanded up to 64 GB, 7 GB of free SkyDrive cloud storage and a 5 megapixel rear camera. The devices support technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, A-GPS, A-GLONASS and 3G.
Maxx Mobile has strengthened its product portfolio through the launch of 26 handset models. These include 19 dual-SIM feature phones and seven smartphones, priced between Rs 1,100 and Rs 5,000. The feature phones have screen sizes of 1.8-2.8 inches, 8 GB of expandable memory and offer connectivity options such as GPRS. The Android OS-based smartphones have 256 MB-512 MB RAM and a 2 megapixel camera.
Lava has introduced the Iris Pro 30 smartphone, which is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor and a PowerVR SGX544 GPU, and functions on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS. The Iris Pro 30 has a 4.7 inch screen, 1 GB RAM and 4 GB of inbuilt storage, expandable up to 32 GB. It supports dual-SIM cards, and has an 8 megapixel rear camera and a 3 megapixel front camera. The Iris Pro 30 is priced at Rs 15,999.
Samsung has introduced the Galaxy Tab 3 Lite 7.0. The tablet runs on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS, has a 7 inch screen and is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor. The Galaxy Tab 3 Lite 7.0 packs in 1 GB RAM, 8 GB of internal storage, expandable up to 32 GB, and a 2 megapixel main camera. The device supports 3G, Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Vodafone India has launched the Vodafone K4201 3G dongle priced at Rs 999. The dongle offers download speeds of up to 21.1 Mbps and upload speeds of 5.76 Mbps. The Vodafone K4201 supports the Window 8, Mac, Linux, Fedora and Ubuntu OSs.
Panasonic launched the Toughpad FZ-M1 tablet at the Consumer Electrical Show 2014. The device functions on the Windows 8.1 Pro OS, has a 7 inch screen and is powered by a 1.6 GHz Intel Core i5 vPro processor. The tablet packs in 4 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 8 GB. It also has a 5 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera. The Toughpad FZ-M1 supports Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G connectivity.
Services
Vodafone India has partnered with ICICI Bank to introduce the M-Pesa money transfer facility in Punjab. The service will be available in 24 tehsils and 13 districts through 1,042 authorised agents as well as across 44 retail outlets run by the operator in the state. The M-Pesa service will enable subscribers to deposit and withdraw cash from designated outlets, transfer money to any mobile phone in the country, pay their utility bills, recharge their mobile phones and shop at select outlets. To avail of the service, users will have to pay Rs 200 as registration fee. They will be charged Rs 10 per transaction for the payment of utility bills.
Aircel has introduced the ISD 54444 tariff plan. Under the scheme, subscribers will be charged Re 0.10 per second for all international calls. The tariff is applicable for calls made to Canada, Singapore, China, the US and the UK. The tariffs under the new plan will not be applicable for roaming services.
Vodafone India has launched the Vodafone Developer Platform. The platform will enable the company?s local and international partners, and application developers to connect seamlessly with it to offer billing services. This, in turn, will allow customers to pay for the application or any other content using their mobile phones. The Vodafone Developer Platform will open up the operator?s network resources such as subscriber profile, billing, location and messaging to application developers and content providers for building their offerings. Developers will also be provided a robust facility to test their applications and services in a simulated environment. This would enable them to create quality applications and services that are customised to meet user requirements.
Idea Cellular has launched a tariff plan, i-Plan, which enables its post-paid subscribers to choose, create and customise their monthly plan from a bouquet of voice and data packs. The plan enables customers to choose from rental plans ranging from Rs 199 to Rs 999. The operator is also offering add-on pack options that can be combined with monthly rentals. The tariff plan is available across all circles except Punjab.
