Handsets
AKAI Mobiles has launched the 6611 touchscreen handset in India. The device supports dual-SIM cards and houses a WQVGA screen and a 3.2 megapixel camera with flash and digital zoom features. It also has a photo editing facility; support for WAP, GPRS and social networking sites; expandable memory of up to 16 GB; Bluetooth technology; wireless FM with recording facility; an inbuilt video recorder, as well as a phone tracker and blacklist facilities. The device is priced at Rs 3,900.
MAXX Mobiles has introduced three handsets with extended battery life. These are the MAXX Hexa (MX 155), MAXX Rave (MX 182) and MAXX Buzz (MX 188). All three devices support dual-SIM cards. The Hexa, priced at Rs 1,580, has 2 GB of expandable memory, an FM radio, audio and video player, a sound recorder, melody composer and Bluetooth technology. The Rave offers up to 6.5 hours of talktime and up to 650 hours of standby time with a 1,900 mAh battery capacity. The device has expandable memory of up to 4 GB and packs in a 1.3 megapixel camera, support for MP3, 3GPP and MP4 file formats, and an e-book reader. It is priced at Rs 1,888. The MAXX Buzz comes with an 1,800 mAh battery, provides up to 6.5 hours of talktime and up to 600 hours of standby time. Priced at Rs 2,068, the handset comes with a 2 GB memory card, 1.3 megapixel camera, an expandable micro USB storage capacity of 4 GB and the privacy protection facility.
MAXX Mobiles has also launched a gaming phone, the MAXX GLO MX 388. Aside from 250 games that are preloaded and dedicated gaming buttons, the device has a 1.3 megapixel camera, an FM radio as well as an MP3/MP4 player. It is JAVA and Bluetooth enabled, and is priced at Rs 2,361.
Micromax Informatics Limited has launched its Bling-2 hand-held, which operates on the Android 2.2 Froyo platform and packs in interactive applications such as MiRoamer (a mobile radio), Saavn (music-on-demand service) and Mosho (a mobile shopping platform). The device also supports internet browsing, music recording and playback; the Mi-Fi (mobile Wi-Fi) pocket wireless internet; a 3 megapixel camera and Bluetooth connectivity. It, moreover, comes with an integrated GPS system and is priced at Rs 8,999.
HTC Corporation has introduced the HTC Wildfire S in India. The phone, powered by an Android operating system, houses a 5 megapixel camera, offers support for multiple audio and video formats, runs on a 600 MHz CPU and has 512 MB of both RAM and ROM space. Its other features include a G-Sensor, a digital compass and proximity sensor, and support for GPRS, EDGE, Wi-Fi and 3G technologies. The HTC Wildfire S is priced at Rs 14,700.
Samsung Electronics Company Limited has launched its GALAXY S II (GT-I9100) dual-core smartphone in India. The device runs on the Android 2.3 Gingerbread platform and offers a 1.2 GHz dual-core application processor, 4G (HSPA+ 21 MBPS) technology and a 3D user interface. Its other features include Bluetooth 3.0+HS and Wi-Fi technology, an 8 megapixel camera and camcorder that supports 1080p full high definition recording and playback, and Samsung?s patented AllShare technology. The smartphone is priced at Rs 32,890.
MVL Mobiles? latest offering, the SIZERO touchscreen hand-held is priced at Rs 4,349 and offers users a 2.8 inch touchscreen, support for dual-SIM cards and audio and video recording as well as playback. Its other features include an inbuilt modem, support for JAVA, the Opera browser, conference call facility, Bluetooth technology, and an inbuilt FM player and motion sensor. The device?s Expense Tracker platform allows users to manage their finances better while the Sniffer facility locates the phone in case of theft or loss. The phone comes preloaded with 40 high resolution videos and 15 MP3 songs.
iBUZZ Mobiles has launched the i4242 (video BUZZ). The dual-SIM phone is equipped with an 1,500 mAh battery, an audio amplifier, inbuilt Opera Mini browser, and stereo Bluetooth technology. Its other features include a privacy protection facility, a 1.3 megapixel camera, auto call recording, support for MP3/ MP4 file formats, a QCIF and 262,000-colour display, mobile tracking facility, wireless telescopic FM, Java applications, support for social networking sites, dual external memory support and an Indian calendar. It is priced at Rs 2,999.
Huawei India has unveiled three smartphones ? the IDEOS X5, IDEOS X2 and IDEOS Chat. The IDEOS X5 has a touchscreen and a 5 megapixel camera, and is priced at Rs 14,999. The IDEOS X2, priced at Rs 8,999, operates on an Android-based platform and offers access to Facebook, Twitter and the Google Mobile Suite. The IDEOS Chat, priced at Rs 8,199, is also an Android-based mobile phone and offers access to Google search.
Nokia has introduced two dual-SIM handsets for the Indian market. The Nokia C2-00 has a 65,000-colour screen, support for Bluetooth technology, GPRS and HSCSD. Its other features include support for multiple email engines, and video recording and playback, an inbuilt Opera Mini browser, a VGA camera and support for multiple music file formats. It is priced at less than Rs 3,000. Nokia?s X1-01 hand-held has a TFT display with 56,000 colours, a 500-contact-capacity phonebook and an inbuilt MP3 player. It also has a speaking clock facility, a built-in organiser and predictive text input facility. This model costs less than Rs 2,000.
Services
TATA DOCOMO has launched an internet access device for users. The 3G Wi-Fi Hub enables multiple users and devices to share wireless internet access and stay connected while on the move. It offers connectivity for specific Wi-Fi-enabled mediums such as laptops, tablets and gaming consoles. It offers speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps in 3G mode and up to 3.1 Mbps in high speed internet access mode. Initially, the 3G Wi-Fi Hub comes with post-paid plans. Customers opting for the device are provided with a starter pack, containing both TATA DOCOMO 3G GSM and Tata Photon Plus start-up kits. The two plans available are the Wi-Fi Rs 750 and Wi-Fi Rs 1,000. The first entails a monthly rental of Rs 750 and allows customers data usage of 2 GB, following which they are charged at Re 0.50 per MB. The Rs 1,000 unlimited Wi-Fi plan involves a monthly rental of Rs 1,000 and offers 5 GB of data usage. Thereafter, customers can avail of unlimited data usage under the ?throttle? option, wherein surfing speeds will be determined by user location, number of people accessing the network and device configurations. TATA DOCOMO?s 3G Wi-Fi Hub is priced at Rs 5,999.
Vodafone Essar has introduced the Chillarai recharge facility for prepaid customers in Tamil Nadu. The special recharge coupons are available in denominations of Re 1 and Rs 2, which can be given instead of change to customers. The Re 1 Chillarai recharge provides 10 local calling minutes and is valid for one day, while the Rs 2 Chillarai recharge offers 20 local calling minutes between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m., also valid for a day.
NAVIGON has reduced the price of its iPhone navigation application, MobileNavigator, for Indian customers. The price reduction comes in conjunction with the launch of the iPhone4 in India. MobileNavigator offers functions such as on-board NAVTEQ maps, lane assistance, parking options, and weather information. The application relies on the device?s GPS receiver and preloaded NAVTEQ maps. The NAVIGON MobileNavigator India is available for $19.99 (about Rs 905) at the Apple application stores for a limited time.
Sistema Shyam TeleServices Limited (SSTL) has launched a lifetime tariff offer. Users can avail of a Re 0.005 per second tariff for all local and national outgoing calls made to any telecom network in the country. Existing MTS mobile customers can avail of this offer for Rs 191, while new MTS mobile customers need to pay Rs 203. Both existing and new customers get bonus talktime worth Rs 50.
Uninor has launched the Wellness World health-related value-added service for its customers. This product is available on both the interactive voice response and SMS platforms, and aims at providing daily information on health-related issues. Uninor subscribers need to dial in short code 522770 from their phones to avail of this service. Customers can opt for subscription packs of Rs 30 for seven days for both the platforms.
Nokia and Vodafone Essar have joined hands to launch Nokia Life Tools services, which provide users access to relevant content on agriculture, education, health care and entertainment. The content is offered in different packs, starting at Rs 30 per month. This service is available on a range of entry-level Nokia handsets in 11 Indian languages (Hindi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Oriya, Assamese, Marathi, Malayalam, Kannada and Punjabi) in addition to English.
SSTL has reduced its call rates to the US, Canada and the UK to Rs 3.99 per minute. MTS customers can avail of these reduced rates while calling both mobiles and fixed lines in the US and Canada, and fixed lines in the UK.
Bharti airtel, through its wholly owned subsidiary airtel M Commerce Services Limited, has launched its mobile wallet service for customers in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad. The airtel Money service can be used at over 2,200 merchant establishments in Delhi and the National Capital Region. To avail of this service, users have to first register their details with airtel. Thereafter, their existing SIM card will be upgraded to the 64K airtel SIM with the airtel Money facility. The service is activated upon choosing an MPIN, after which users need to charge their airtel Money account from any airtel retailer.
Mobile and digital entertainment company Hungama has partnered with Finnish applications developer Huuked Labs to launch Huuked, a mobile file-sharing software application for Symbian Series 60 and Java-enabled handsets. Hungama is launching an India-specific application that integrates the Hungama. com digital store for entertainment content across various genres. Users can download music tracks and videos and share files with friends via the Huuked application, which is available for download at application stores.
