LG India has launched the K10 (2017) smartphone in India. It features a 5.3 inch HD display with a screen resolution of 720×1280 pixels. The device is powered by a 1.5 GHz octa-core MediaTek MT6750 processor and has 2 GB RAM. It has 16 GB of internal memory that can be expanded up to 2,000 GB. The dual-SIM smartphone runs on the Android 7.0 operating system (OS) and is packed with a 2,800 mAh battery. It also comes with a panic button, which was mandated for all smartphones by the government from March 1, 2017. The phone has a 13 megapixel rear camera and a 5 megapixel front camera. It offers connectivity options such as Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, USB OTG, FM, 3G and 4G, and is priced at Rs 14,000.
Swipe Telecom has launched its Elite 3 smartphone. It features a 5 inch HD display with a screen resolution of 1280×720 pixels. The device is powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core Spreadtrum SC9832 processor, has 2 GB RAM and 16 GB of internal memory, which is expandable up to 32 GB. It runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS, comes with an 8 megapixel rear camera with LED Flash, and a 5 megapixel front camera. The dual-SIM smartphone is equipped with a 2,500 mAh battery and provides connectivity options like 4G voice over long term evolution (VoLTE), Wi-Fi (802.11 b/g/n), Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, and a micro USB port. The handset comes in space grey and champagne gold colour variants and is exclusively available on Flipkart for Rs 5,499.
Swipe Telecom has also launched the Konnect Star smartphone. It features a 4 inch full wide video graphics array (FWVGA) display with a screen resolution of 480×854 pixels. The device runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS, is powered by a 1 GHz quad-core processor and has 1 GB RAM. It comes with 16 GB of internal storage, which is expandable up to 32 GB. The smartphone has a 5 megapixel rear camera with flash and a 1.3 megapixel front camera. It offers connectivity options such as 3G, 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth, GPS and Micro-USB. The handset is equipped with a 1,800 mAh battery and is available for Rs 3,799.
Intex Technologies has launched the Aqua Lions 4G smartphone. It features a 5 inch FWVGA display and is powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor. The device has 1 GB RAM and 8 GB of internal memory, which is expandable up to 64 GB. The smartphone runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS, comes with a 5 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera. It is packed with a 2,000 mAh battery and is available in champagne and grey colour variants. The phone is priced at Rs 5,499.
Samsung India has launched the Galaxy A7 smartphone in India. The Samsung Galaxy A7 features a 5.7 inch display with a screen resolution of 1080×1920 pixels. It runs on the Android 6.0 OS, is powered by a 1.9 GHz octa-core Exynos 7870 processor and has 3 GB RAM. The device comes with 32 GB internal memory that can be expanded up to 256 GB. It has 16 megapixel rear and front cameras. The handset is packed with a 3,600 mAh battery and is priced at Rs 33,490. Intex Technologies has launched the Aqua Strong 5.1+ smartphone. It features a 5 inch display with a screen resolution of 480×854 pixels. The device is powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor and has 1 GB RAM. It runs on the Android 6.0 OS and has 8 GB internal memory, which can be further expanded up to 64 GB. The dual-SIM smartphone comes with a 5 megapixel rear camera, a 2 megapixel front camera and is equipped with a 2,000 mAh battery. It offers connectivity options like Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, FM and 4G, and is available for Rs 5,490.
China-based electronics company iVoomi has launched the iV505 smartphone in India. It features a 5 inch in-plane switching (IPS) display and runs on the Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS. The device is powered by a 1.3 GHz processor and has 1 GB RAM. It has 5 megapixel rear and front cameras, 8 GB of internal memory, and is equipped with a 3,000 mAh battery. The dual-SIM smartphone offers VoLTE support and is available exclusively on ShopClues at Rs 3,999.
Coolpad India has launched the Note 5 Lite smartphone in India. It features a 5 inch HD display with a screen resolution of 1280×970 pixels. The device is powered by a 1 GHz 64 bit quad-core MediaTek MT6735CP processor, has 3 GB RAM and runs on the Android 6.0 OS. It comes with 16 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded, a 13 megapixel auto focus rear camera and an 8 mega pixel front camera. The phone offers connectivity options such as 4G LTE, 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, Micro USB port and 3.5 mm audio jack. It is equipped with a 2,500 mAh battery and is available for Rs 8,199.
Intex Technologies has launched the Aqua Strong 5.1+ smartphone. It features a 5 inch touchscreen display with a screen resolution of 480×854 pixels. The dual-SIM smartphone phone is powered by a 1.3 GHz quad-core processor and has 1 GB RAM. It runs on the Android 6.0 OS and has 8 GB internal memory, which can be further expanded up to 64 GB. The device comes with a 5 megapixel rear camera, a 2 megapixel front camera and is packed with a 2,000 mAh battery. It provides connectivity options like Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, FM and 4G, and is priced at Rs 5,490.
Motorola has launched the G5 Plus smartphone in India. The phone comes in two variants one with 3 GB RAM and 16 GB of internal memory priced at Rs 14,999 and the other with 4 GB RAM and 32 GB of internal memory priced at Rs 16,999. It features a 5.2 inch full HD display and runs on the Android Nougat OS. The device is powered by a Snapdragon 625 processor and is equipped with a 3,000 mAh battery. It has a 12 megapixel rear camera with dual-LED flash and a 5 megapixel front camera. The smartphone is available exclusively on Flipkart.
Services
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has launched an unlimited roaming-free voice-calling plan, “Dil Khol Ke Bol” for its post-paid customers across the country. The plan will also offer 6 GB of free data every month for the first four months and 3 GB of free data thereafter every month. In order to avail of the offer, customers will have to pay Rs 599 per month for the first four months and Rs 799 thereafter. In addition, they will be charged Rs 99 per month for international roaming.
Meanwhile, BSNL has increased the data limit for its 3G plans. Data benefit offered under the Rs 78 pack has been increased from 1 GB to 2 GB. In addition, the Rs 291 plan will now provide 8 GB data as compared to 2 GB data per month previously. Apart from this, the Rs 549 3G pack will now provide 15 GB data per month as compared to 10 GB earlier. However, these plans will be valid only until May 2017 post which, they will be discontinued.
Bharti Airtel has launched a new prepaid plan priced at Rs 345 per month that offers 1 GB of 4G data per day along with unlimited free local and STD voice calls. Of the 1 GB data, 500 MB will be available during the day and 500 MB during the night. The offer is available only for 4G handset until March 31, 2017. Customers opting for this plan will be able to recharge with the same offer for the next 11 months to get free data offers. Meanwhile, the operator has modified its Rs 145 plan, now offering unlimited Airtel to Airtel calls (local and national) and 2 GB data with a validity of 28 days.
Aircel is offering 1 GB of 3G data at Rs 36 and 2 GB of 3G data at Rs 67 in Kolkata with a validity of 3 days and 4 days respectively. The operator has also launched an RC 61 pack, which offers voice calling benefits like local Aircel to Aircel calls at 10 paise per min and and 30 paise per min to other networks. The validity of this pack is 60 days.
Idea Cellular has announced its plans to roll out the private recharge feature in all its circles during March 2017. The new feature will allow Idea’s customers to keep their numbers private while getting a recharge done. Under the service, customers will be able to recharge their mobile numbers by obtaining a one-time password by sending a toll free SMS “Code” to 55515. Earlier, in August 2016, Idea had launched the service in Kerala. It is now available across 14 circles in the country.
itel Mobile has partnered with Idea Cellular to offer 1 GB of free data per month for a period of six months on select models of its smartphones. The offer will be available from March 15, 2017 on itel’s smartphone models under the Wish series, namely the it1409, it1407, it1508, it1508+ and the it1516+. In order to avail of the offer, customers will have to visit Idea Cellular’s website using their Idea SIM card and itel smartphone. The website will capture the customer’s mobile number and the IMEI number of the itel device. Thereafter, the customer will receive an activation message and get access to the free mobile internet. According to the two companies, the data will be free for the first month. Subsequently, users will have to get a monthly recharge of Rs 50 or above for any voice or data pack to avail of the free 1 GB data per month.
Idea Cellular has launched the “Idea Select” scheme for both its prepaid and post-paid customers. Under the new scheme, customers enrolling for Idea Select will be able to avail of exclusive monthly offers pertaining to voice, SMS and data services. In addition, under this scheme, users will not be required to submit any security deposits for availing of international roaming and international calling facilities. The scheme will provide advanced customer care support to users. Idea has also tied-up with e-commerce merchants to provide special deals to Idea Select customers. The users will get exclusive offers, deals and discounts on their My Idea application. The Idea Select scheme is available under four plans namely, Idea Select Titanium, Idea Select Platinum, Idea Select Gold and Idea Select Silver.
Meanwhile, Idea Cellular has announced free incoming calls on domestic roaming for its prepaid and post-paid customers beginning from April 1, 2017. According to the operator, customers will be able to avail of free incoming calls while roaming on Idea’s 2G, 3G and 4G networks across 400,000 towns and villages in the country. Further, mobile data tariffs and data pack benefits of the home circle will be available while roaming within India at no extra charge. The operator has also unveiled international roaming packs for its customers. Under the new packs, priced at Rs 2,499 in Asia and Rs 5,999 in Europe, the operator is offering up to 400 free outgoing minutes, 100 SMS per day, 3 GB bundled data and unlimited incoming calls with 30 days validity. The international roaming packs start from Rs 1,199 with 10 days validity and go up to Rs 5,999 with 30 days validity.
