Mobile devices
Intex has launched the Intex Aqua G2 smartphone in India. The entry-level phone is targeted at first-time smartphone buyers. It features a 2.8 inch TFT (thin-film transistor) display with a screen resolution of 240×340 pixels. The dual-SIM smartphone runs on the Android 4.2.2 operating system (OS) and is packed with an 1,100 mAh battery. It is powered by a single-core processor, has 256 MB RAM and 512 MB of inbuilt storage, which is expandable up to 16 GB. The device comes with VGA rear and front cameras. It is available in grey and champagne colour variants and is priced at Rs 1,990.
Gionee has launched the P5W smartphone in India. It features a 4.5 inch WVGA (wide video graphics array) display with a 
screen resolution of 480×854 pixels. The device is powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6580M processor, has 1 GB RAM and runs on the Android 5.1 Lollipop-based Amigo 3.1 OS. It comes with 8 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded up to 128 GB. The phone comes with a 5 megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 2 megapixel front camera. It offers connectivity options such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and Micro-USB. The handset is equipped with an 1850 mAh battery, and is available in black, blue and white colour variants. The P5W smartphone is available for Rs 6,499.
Micromax has launched the Canvas 6 Pro smartphone in India. It features a 5.5 inch full HD display and runs on the Android 5.1 Lollipop OS. The device is powered by a 2 GHz Helio X10 octa-core processor, has 4 GB LPDDR3 RAM and 16 GB of internal storage. It comes with a 13 megapixel rear camera and a 5 megapixel front camera. The 4G-enabled smartphone is equipped with a 3000 mAh battery and is priced at Rs 13,999.
Gionee has launched the Pioneer P5 mini smartphone in India. The device features a 4.5 WVGA display with a screen 
resolution of 854×480 pixels and runs on the Android 5.1 Lollipop OS. It is powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core MediaTek MT 6580M processor and has 1 GB RAM. The phone comes with 8 GB of internal storage, which can be further expanded up to 128 GB. It has a 5 megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 2 megapixel front camera. The handset is packed with a 1850 mAh battery and is priced at Rs 5,349.
Yu Televentures has launched the Yu Yureka Note phablet in India. The device runs on the Android 5.1 Lollipop OS and features a 6 inch full HD display with a screen resolution of 1920×1280 pixels. It is powered by a 1.5 GHz MediaTek processor, has 3 GB RAM and 16 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded further using a microSD card. The phablet comes with a 13 megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 5 megapixel front camera. It is equipped with a 4000 mAh battery and a fingerprint sensor for data security. The Yu Yureka Note phablet is available for Rs 13,499.
South Korea-based electronic goods major LG has launched two domestically manufactured smartphones in India:, the LG
K7 long term evolution (LTE) and the LG K10 LTE. Both the smartphones come with LG’s new 2.5D Arc Glass design on the back. The LG K10 features a 5.3 inch HD in-cell display, is equipped with a 2300 mAh battery and runs on the Android 5.1 Lollipop OS. The device comes with a 13 megapixel rear camera and a 5 megapixel front camera. The smartphone is available for Rs 13,500. Meanwhile, the LG K7 LTE has a screen size of 5 inches with in-cell display. It also runs on the Android 5.1 Lollipop OS and is packed with a 2125 mAh battery. The device has 5 megapixel rear and front cameras. The phone is priced at Rs 9,500. LG will manufacture these phones at its Noida-based facility in partnership with GDN Enterprise.
Panasonic has launched the ELUGA Arc smartphone in India. It features a 4.7 inch IPS (in-plane switching) display with a screen resolution of 720×1280 pixels. The device is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, has 2 GB RAM and runs on the Android 5.1 Lollipop OS. The phone comes with 16 GB of internal storage, which can be further expanded up to 32 GB. It has an 8 megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 5 megapixel front camera. The dual-SIM handset is packed with an 1800 mAh battery, and offers connectivity options such as LTE, voice over LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n and Bluetooth 4.0. It is priced at Rs 12,490.
Microsoft has launched the Lumia 650 smartphone in India. It features a 5 inch HD display with a screen resolution of
720×1280 pixels. The device is powered by a 1.3 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, has 1 GB RAM and runs on the Windows 10 OS. It has 16 GB of internal storage, which can be further expanded up to 200 GB. The handset comes with an 8 megapixel rear camera with flash and a 5 megapixel front camera. The dual-SIM smartphone is equipped with an 1800 mAh battery, and offers connectivity options such as LTE, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. It is available for Rs 15,299.
China-based handset vendor Phicomm has launched the Clue 630 smartphone in India. It features a 5 inch FWVGA (full wide video graphics array) display with a screen resolution of 480×854 pixels. The device is powered by a 1.1 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 MSM8909 processor, has 1 GB RAM and runs on the Android 5.1 Lollipop OS. It comes with 8 GB of internal storage, which can be further expanded up to 64 GB. The phone has a 5 megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 2 megapixel front camera. For connectivity, the dual-SIM smartphone offers 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, micro-USB and Bluetooth options; it is packed with a 2300 mAh battery, and is available in black and white colour variants. The device is available exclusively on Snapdeal and is priced at Rs 3,999.
Bengaluru-based smartphone vendor CREO has launched the Mark 1 smartphone in India. It features a 5.5 inch QHD display
with a screen resolution of 480×854 pixels. The device is powered by a 1.9 GHz Helio X10 octa-core MediaTek processor, has 3 GB RAM and runs on the Android-based Fuel OS. It comes with 32 GB of internal storage and is equipped with a 3100 mAh battery. The phone has a 21 megapixel rear camera and an 8 megapixel front camera. The Mark 1 smartphone is available on Flipkart and the company’s website, and is priced at Rs 19,999.
Videocon has launched two new smartphones in India: the Krypton V50DA and the Krypton V50DC. Both the devices run on the Android 5.0 Lollipop OS. The smartphones have 5 inch screens with an FWVGA IPS display and are powered by 1.3 GHz quad-core MediaTek MT6580 processors. They have 1 GB RAM and 8 GB of internal storage, which is expandable up to 32 GB. The phones offer connectivity options like 3G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), micro-USB, GPS and A-GPS and FM radio. The Krypton V50DA has a 5 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera, and is priced at Rs 5,999. The Krypton V50DC comes with an 8 megapixel rear camera and a 5 megapixel front camera, and is priced at Rs 6,099.
Services
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has introduced data sharing special tariff vouchers (STVs) in the southern region. The STVs allow sharing of data among a group of prepaid users, who can subscribe to this data pack through BSNL’s website, and share it with four other prepaid subscribers. No extra charges will be levied for availing of this facility. At present, 11 data sharing packages are available under this scheme, starting from Rs 173 for 1.2 GB data with a validity of 18 days to Rs 2,013 for 21 GB data with a validity of 90 days. BSNL plans to roll out these new STVs across the country soon.
Idea Cellular has announced new Easy Share post-paid plans starting at Rs 499. These plans allow users to share the benefits of their plan (data, voice, SMS) with other Idea users. The plan, priced at
Rs 499, offers 2 GB of 4G/3G shareable data along with 550 local and national voice minutes, as well as 200 local and national SMSs. Further, the plan allows consumers to avail of a free movie subscription for a month on Eros Now. Idea has also improved its existing plans, priced at Rs 999, Rs 1,499 and Rs 2,499, under the Easy Share post-paid portfolio with free music and movie subscriptions every month.
Reliance Communications (RCOM) has entered into a partnership with online wallet Paytm, wherein RCOM’s existing CDMA subscribers will get a free 4G SIM card on buying a 4G-enabled handset from Paytm’s website. The move is a part of RCOM’s CDMA-to-4G upgrade programme. Under the partnership, Paytm is offering 5 per cent cashback on the purchase of select 4G handsets, subject to a maximum cashback of Rs 5,999. The SIM card will be delivered within seven days of placing the order. This scheme is available only to existing CDMA subscribers upgrading to Reliance 4G.
RCOM has launched its Ultraband service in Mumbai, offering broadband speeds of up to 1 Gbps. The service is currently available at Seawoods Estates, Navi Mumbai and at Imperial Towers. However, the speed will be dependent on the capability of the user’s Wi-Fi router and the connected device (smartphones, tablets, laptops and SmartTV). According to the company, the Ultraband service is up to 50 times faster than the average internet speed in India and aims to meet the consumer’s demand for high speed connectivity.
