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• OnePlus 8 Pro Dipped in Water, This Is What Happened
• Apple to Launch iPad Mini in Latter Half of 2021: Ming-Chi Kuo
• Clubhouse Android Beta Testing Finally Starts, Developers Confirm
• Global 5G Smartphone Shipments Crossed 134 Million Mark in Q1 2021
• BSNL 4G Data Vouchers Compared With Jio, Airtel and Vi
• Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 Leaked Sporting Pixel Like Finish
• Nokia Inks Deal With Ooredoo Kuwait to Supply 5G Equipment
• iQOO Z3 Surfaced on IMEI Database, Big Competition for Xiaomi and Realme
• Grand Theft Auto VI Might Launch in Late 2023, All to Know
• Reliance Jio, Vi and Airtel Offering SIM Cards Directly at User’s Doorsteps
• Xiaomi Will Unveil the Redmi Note 10S on May 13 in India
• Airtel Payments Bank Will Pay Higher Interest Rate for Big Deposits
• Bharti Airtel Outperformed Other Telcos in Q3 FY21: ICICI Securities
• Airtel Xstream Fiber Can Facilitate Wi-Fi Calling and More
• Reliance Jio JioLink Plans You Should Know About
• Vodafone Idea Must Move Fast With Converting 2G/3G Subscribers to 4G

OnePlus 8 Pro Dipped in Water, This Is What Happened Posted: 03 May 2021 09:14 AM PDT OnePlus launched its 2020 flagship series smartphone with that year's flagship chipset, IP68 rating, premium design, power-packed battery, and high-resolution display, making it one of the best premium segment smartphones of 2020. Yes! We are talking about the OnePlus 8 series, which launched back in April 2020. It has been more than one year since the device launched in India. To recall, the OnePlus 8 Pro was launched with an IP68 rating which made it a waterproof and dustproof device. On paper, it seemed to be an awesome feature for the smartphone. However, my perception of the on-paper specifications changed when I ran a waterproof test on the OnePlus 8 Pro while having a dip in the swimming pool with my friends. Let's have a look at what happened to the OnePlus 8 Pro when we dipped it underwater and how we got it fixed. OnePlus 8 Pro Underwater Camera Performance I have used the OnePlus 8 Pro from underwater and also dipped the smartphone quite several times. Trusting on the IP68 rating, I have also dropped the phone in the swimming pool for more than 30 seconds, and things were fine for that time. Coming to camera performance, the camera worked perfectly fine, only there was some extra zoom effect while clicking the picture, but that's because of the water. After spending some time in the water, the OnePlus 8 Pro started acting weirdly, and it went into the boot loop, which was quite surprising to me because I trusted the IP68 rating the device came with. After several minutes, I noticed all the cameras covered with vapour, and I immediately figured that some water has successfully trespassed the IP68 rating (waterproof seals placed at openings like mic, speaker grills, charging port, and earpiece). Here are some pictures I had clicked from the phone when vapours covered the entire camera modules. How to Fix Vapour Issue on a OnePlus 8 Pro? After noticing the vapour across all the cameras at the rear, I understood that turning on the phone might create some sort of short-circuit, so I kept it aside for some time. I tried getting the vapour out by keeping the phone in a rice container, but it was not enough to extract all the vapour from the phone. Due to the vapour issue, the display also started behaving differently. To get the work done, we used the moisture absorber gel and bravo the handset started working properly within 40 minutes. Verdict What I used was a trick to resolve the issue, but the major issue here is the handset arrives with IP68 certifications, and the water should not get into the system in the first place. If OnePlus is promising a feature that is not working properly, then the company must reconsider it and should stop touting the phone as a waterproof phone. The phone didn't witness any major damage, but still, there was room for a leak which caused the entire vapour issue. The newly launched OnePlus 9 series also claims to arrive with the same IP68 rating; I hope the company has not repeated the same mistake that it has done with the OnePlus 8 Pro. Also, do note that my observation is based on one unit, and there might be a possibility that the unit I was using had some issue with the waterproofing, but still, as a consumer, no one will accept this from a brand like OnePlus.

Apple to Launch iPad Mini in Latter Half of 2021: Ming-Chi Kuo Posted: 03 May 2021 08:07 AM PDT Apple's iPad series is one that revolutionised the tablet space for the better, leading to most Android tablets ceasing to exist, as they were not capable of competing with Apple's latest and greatest tablet offerings. With the iPad, the Cupertino based company gives users the choice to choose between what they need, be it a device capable of performing heavy tasks, aka the iPad Pro or the most well-rounded option (iPad Air) or a device in a smaller form factor under the iPad Mini moniker. After making changes to the iPad Pro as part of its Spring event, as per analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is getting ready to launch the iPad Mini in the second half of the year. When Will The iPad Mini Launch? The iPad Mini 6th Generation is expected to launch in the second half of 2021 with the analyst including some information regarding the device as part of a note to investors. With the rumour of the Spring Event occurring and bringing within it the latest series of iPads, we saw that Apple chose to leave the iPad Mini out, with the launch event bringing the latest iPad Pros, with a new chipset in the form of the M1 chip. Rumours were slating the iPad Mini 6th Gen to launch in the first half of 2021, but now, Kuo has squashed these rumours by stating that the launch will in fact be delayed to the second half of the year. The upcoming iPad Mini is expected to sport an 8.4-inch display, with the device relying on the M1 chip for power. For those of you wondering, the last update to the iPad Mini came back in 2019, with the launch of the 5th Generation Mini. Kuo has also talked about the possibility of a new foldable iPhone, which might have an 8-inch display that will also be an OLED panel with a resolution of QHD+. He also states that based on the latest industry reports, the iPhone foldable will likely be launched in 2023, with an OLED panel at a size of 8-inches. This panel will be of QHD+ resolution. This panel will be supplied by SDC. Furthermore, he forecasts that this one of a kind iPhone will sell around 15-20 million units in the first year itself.

Clubhouse Android Beta Testing Finally Starts, Developers Confirm Posted: 03 May 2021 06:50 AM PDT Audio chat room platform Clubhouse became popular across the globe for its privacy features and exclusiveness to iOS users. Only invited users are able to enter the chatroom, and the users without any invite can’t even sign up to participate on any private or public chat group. So far, the application is exclusive for iOS users only. However, it was highly speculated that the company is working on an Android version as well. Clubhouse Android Beta Testing It seems that the developers have already started the work, and soon the application will be launched for Android devices. Starting today, the developers of Clubhouse have confirmed on the official blog post that the company has begun testing a rough beta version of the app for Android. "We cannot wait to welcome more Android users to Clubhouse over the coming weeks," reads the official blog post. According to the official blog post, the Android version is not yet live, but the company has started rolling a rough beta version to select testers. So in case if you’re hearing someone saying that they are using the Clubhouse app on an Android device, then he or she is testing the beta version. Further, the company also suggests that it's planning to launch the Android version in the upcoming weeks. Going with that, we can safely assume that the Clubhouse Android app might launch later this month or maybe early in June. Now the question arises, will the Clubhouse Android version be able to get traction the same way it has received from iOS users. Moreover, Clubhouse is not the only one that is exclusively offering these services; currently, many apps offer audio chatroom. Ever since Clubhouse became popular across the globe, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, and Telegram also added similar audio chatroom services to their respective apps. It would be interesting to see how the Android version is going to perform when it goes official in the upcoming weeks. It can be a great lesson for Snapchat developers as they neglect the Android users and give a chance to rivals to copy features and grow. It seems the developers will soon announce the exact launch date of the app once the beta testing ends.

Global 5G Smartphone Shipments Crossed 134 Million Mark in Q1 2021 Posted: 03 May 2021 06:00 AM PDT The development of 5G worldwide is thriving in the smartphone manufacturing segment. The worldwide smartphone shipment witnessed a nearly 458 % increase from 24 million units in Q1 2020 to 133.9 million in Q1 2021. The major reason behind the surge of smartphone shipment is the rapid absorption of the 5G network in China. As reported by IANS, Apple, along with Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi, reaped most of the benefits from the increased 5G smartphone demand in China. Apple, which is considered the market leader in the 5G ecosystem, holds nearly 30% of the market share. Samsung Shipped 17 Million 5G Smartphones in Q1 2021 The South Korean company Samsung also witnessed a rise in smartphone shipment across the globe. Samsung accounted for a 13% market share in the 5G smartphone shipment worldwide in Q1 2021. Tracing back to the previous year's share, the entity shipped 8.3 million smartphones in Q1 2020, whereas the company shipped 17 million 5G smartphones globally in Q1 2021. Recently, Samsung also launched the cheapest Samsung 5G smartphone in the Indian market. The new offering is dubbed as Samsung Galaxy M42. The smartphone features Qualcomm Snapdragon 750G chipset along with a massive 5000mAh battery. The starting price of the Samsung Galaxy M42 is Rs 21,999. Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi Captured 42% of the 5G Market Share The Chinese smartphone manufacturers Oppo, Vivo and Xiaomi grabbed 16%, 14% and 12% respectively of the global 5G market share in the Q1 2021. Oppo nearly doubled the market share from 7% YoY in Q1 2020. On the other side, Vivo increased its stake in the global smartphone shipment by nearly 646% YoY on the bulk of 19.4 million shipments. The report rolled out by Strategy Analytics revealed that Xiaomi shipped nearly 16.6 million smartphones in Q1 2021 as compared to 2.5 million units in Q1 2020. Apple Shipped 40.4 Million 5G iPhones Apple emerged as the leader in the global 5G market share. The company shipped a whopping 40.4 million 5G iPhones in Q1 2021. Ken Hyers, Director at Strategy Analytics, marked that Apple’s iPhone 12 is the 5G leader with a 30% 5G smartphone market share around the globe. The new offering by the company, which is the Apple iPhone 12 5G is widely famous across China, Europe and the United States because of its unique features and competitive pricing.

BSNL 4G Data Vouchers Compared With Jio, Airtel and Vi Posted: 03 May 2021 05:38 AM PDT Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) offers its 4G vouchers to users in select circles at the moment. The company is yet to launch 4G services across the country. It is to be noted that the state-run telco offers the cheapest 4G voucher in India. It starts at just Rs 7 and offers 1GB of data to the users for 1 day. However, the company also offers a plethora of other 4G data vouchers. Let's check them out and compare them with the offerings of Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi) to see how much value they provide. BSNL 4G Data Vouchers Apart from the Rs 7 voucher, BSNL also offers 'STV 16' that comes for Rs 16 and offers users 2GB of data. It carries a validity of 1 day only. There are three other vouchers that BSNL 4G users can purchase from the telco. The 'STV56' comes for Rs 56 and offers users 1.5GB of daily data for 14 days. Further, if users want to work from home, they can either get the 'STV151' or 'STV251'. Both the vouchers come with a validity of 30 days. The STV151 costs Rs 151 and offers users 40GB of data, while the STV251 costs Rs 251 and offers users 70GB of data. Reliance Jio 4G Data Vouchers Reliance Jio offers its cheapest 4G data voucher for Rs 11 with 1GB of data. The validity of this voucher is the same as the user's base active plan. If the user wants 2GB data, he/she can go for the Rs 21 voucher, which also has the same validity as the user's base plan. Compared to BSNL's 1GB and 2GB voucher, Jio's voucher's are a little expensive; however, their validity benefit is better than BSNL's. There are other vouchers as well which offer up to 50GB of data for work from home purposes. Bharti Airtel 4G Data Vouchers Bharti Airtel offers only two 4G data vouchers. They come for Rs 48 and Rs 401 only. The Rs 48 voucher offers users 3GB of data for 28 days, while the Rs 401 voucher offers 30GB data for 28 days. The Rs 401 voucher also comes with an OTT benefit of Disney+ Hotstar VIP for 1 year. Compared to BSNL's and Jio's 4G data vouchers, Airtel doesn't offer many attractive plans to users looking for a short amount of 4G data. Vodafone Idea 4G Data Vouchers Vodafone Idea (Vi) offers multiple 4G data vouchers. Its cheapest voucher comes for Rs 16 and offers 1GB of data to the users for 24 hours or 1 day. Compared to the BSNL's 1GB data voucher, this 1GB voucher from Vi is Rs 10 more expensive and offers the same benefits. Even Jio's 1GB 4G data voucher is cheaper than what Vi provides its users with. Vi also offers some other 4G data vouchers. There's a Rs 48 voucher that offers users 3GB of data for 28 days. The users can also go for the Work From Home 4G data vouchers from Vi, offering up to 100GB of data for 56 days. Compared to every other operator, BSNL's 4G data vouchers offers the best value to the users.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 3 Leaked Sporting Pixel Like Finish Posted: 03 May 2021 05:10 AM PDT Samsung revolutionised the foldable phone segment in the past few years, despite getting a bumpy start with the original Fold, which was subject to quality control issues that plagued both users and reviewers. Since then, however, the company decided to change things up a bit by offering two kinds of foldables, one resembling flip phones of the past, with the other folding outwards like a book to expand the display into tablet territory. These two series were dubbed the Z Flip series and the Fold series. Both series offered different functionalities to the users, wherein one device offers more screen real estate (screen), with the other offering ease of functionality and a smaller form factor. What Can We Expect From The Next Z Flip 3? After the success of the Z Flip, Samsung seems to be gearing up for the Z Flip 3, which has also been subject to rumours and leaks for quite a while. As per several reports, the device is not that far from becoming a competitor to the Motorola Razr. Now, it has emerged how the new Z Flip 3 will look like via a Twitter account by the name of Anthony (@TheGalox). In the image, one can also see the device sporting a similar clamshell-like design, but with a fresh back panel that offers a dual-tone finish, reminiscent of the Google Pixel devices of the past. There is a wide band in Black from one side to the other, covering both camera lenses. The other part of the body is covered in a different colour, which as per the advert are Green, Purple, Black and White. With this design, it is expected that the black band will hide the cover display well, especially after previous reports have suggested that the Galaxy Z Flip 3 will sport a cover display that will be much more useful than those offered in the past. To add to this, the display is also expected to get better protection, with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for improved durability. Previous leaks have also suggested that the Z Flip 3 will feature a 6.9-inch foldable display with a 120Hz refresh rate, paired with a 3,900 mAh battery. The launch is expected to be in July.

Nokia Inks Deal With Ooredoo Kuwait to Supply 5G Equipment Posted: 03 May 2021 04:30 AM PDT The Finnish telecommunications giant Nokia has announced that it will supply 5G Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) to Ooredoo Kuwait for the telco's customers premises. The renowned telecom operator of Kuwait is offering Nokia FastMile 5G Gateway as a premium internet device for business and residential customers. As reported by Telecom Lead, Ooredoo is using FWA to extend the reach of its fibre network to areas and premises which are difficult to connect with direct fibre lines. The new deal will help the entity in increasing the fixed broadband customer footprint across the country. Nokia's 5G FWA Offers Better Coverage The self-installable Nokia 5G FWA gateway incorporates Wi-Fi 6 with self-optimising mesh technology. The technology optimises the performance in real-time and also includes advanced antenna designs with increased throughput and enhanced coverage resulting in better customer experience and affordable operational cost for Ooredoo. Essa Haider, the Director of Network Planning and Design Ooredoo Kuwait said that the presence of fixed broadband is crucial for the economic growth and diversification of Kuwait. In the strategy, Nokia's 5G Fixed Wireless Access holds prime importance, and Ooredoo is grateful to partner with Nokia to provide better coverage. Rima Manna, Head of the Middle East Market Unit at Nokia MEA, remarked on the deal saying that Nokia is strengthening its partnership with Ooredoo Kuwait and looking forward to work with the entity to deliver a seamless 5G experience to its customers. Nokia Aids Chunghwa Telecom in Expanding 5G Network Nokia has been helping telecom operators around the globe in developing a 5G network and provide an immersive experience to their customers. In other news, Nokia recently announced its partnership with Taiwanese telecom giant Chunghwa Telecom (CHT) for expanding the 5G network of the entity. The Finnish based company said that it would deploy products from its AirScale Portfolio for aiding Chunghwa Telecom in the 5G expansion. The product package includes radio access products, massive MIMO radio and base station as well. The wide range of products will ensure better connectivity among the customers and businesses in the central-south region of Taiwan. Nokia will also retain and continue the long-term partnership with Chunghwa Telecom.

iQOO Z3 Surfaced on IMEI Database, Big Competition for Xiaomi and Realme Posted: 03 May 2021 04:07 AM PDT iQOO has recently launched its iQOO 7 series in the Indian market and it seems after taking a year break the company has decided to fill the market with smartphones in all possible segments. Now it seems that the company is gearing up to launch a new mid-range phone in the country dubbed the iQOO Z3. The handset had already appeared on the BIS certification site hinting towards an imminent launch. Now in the latest development, the smartphone has been listed on the Indian IMEI database pointing towards a possibility that the company is prepping for the launch. The smartphone has already launched in the home country of China with highlighted features like a 64MP camera sensor, 120Hz refresh rate display, Snapdragon processor, 55W fast charging support, and a lot more. The iQOO Z3 is expected to be one of the most affordable handsets from the brand and it will take on Realme and Xiaomi's best phones under Rs 20,000 mark. According to the listing, the iQOO Z3 has appeared on the Indian IMEI database with model number V2073A. Besides, the listing didn't reveal anything about the specifications or features of the upcoming smartphone. Considering the IMEI listing we can safely assume that the handset might launch in the country soon. iQOO Z3 Specifications (China) Thanks to the China launch we know at least about the specifications of the upcoming iQOO smartphone. The iQOO Z3 flaunts a 5.8-inch FHD+ LCD panel with an aspect ratio of 20:9 and a 120Hz refresh rate. The smartphone also houses a waterdrop notch design for making room for a selfie camera sensor. Under the hood, the handset is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 768G chipset, clubbed with Adreno 620 GPU. It is backed by up to 8GB RAM and 256GB of onboard storage. On the software front, the iQOO Z3 runs on Android 11 based iQOO UI 1.0 custom skin on top. The handset draws power from a massive 4,400mAh battery with 55W fast charging support. As far as cameras are concerned, the iQOO Z3 features a 64MP Samsung ISOCELL GW3 primary sensor accompanied by an 8MP ultra-wide lens and a 2MP depth sensor along with an LED flash. Upfront, it houses a 16MP camera sensor for selfies and video calls.

Grand Theft Auto VI Might Launch in Late 2023, All to Know Posted: 03 May 2021 03:30 AM PDT Rockstar Games, the game developer responsible for major games such as Red Dead Redemption and the Max Payne gaming series is well known not for these titles, rather for its Grand Theft Auto (GTA) series, which gained traction with the launch of the GTA Vice City game and has the current iteration of the series, GTA V on offer for the last 7 years. GTA V is one of the most popular titles all around the world, with the game still in demand despite launching back in September of 2013 across platforms such as PC, PS3 and Xbox. That being said, demand is one thing, but users have been yearning for a little bit more. It seems the answer to the multiple requests from frequent players of the Grand Theft Auto franchise may soon be met, with recent news suggesting that the launch timeline of the game has been revealed alongside a poster. When Will GTA VI Launch? As per popular tipster Kollege Kidd, Rockstar Games has dropped an advertisement looking for testers for its games, as is visible on his official Instagram handle. This could suggest that the game has reached an advanced developmental stage, with it being ready for proper testing. Furthermore, additional reports have suggested that the game will launch on a global scale in late 2023, a lengthy delay resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic, which is still raging on in some countries. The Tipster's post mentions that new job listings for game testers at certain Game studios by Rockstar have led to a reignition of the rumours of Grand Theft Auto VI, providing some hope of a closer announcement than that previously thought of. The company is yet to make any announcements or drop hints regarding the game, causing even greater suspense, since GTA Online, which is a sub-part of GTA V is still the rage, as is evident by the increased focus it receives from developers. The aforementioned report also states that due to the continued success of GTA Online, the game developer had shifted its priorities by shelving plans for a DLC in the single-player game and focusing on online content, which also leads to huge sums of revenue. The Tipster has also suggested that the three job listings are for the company's studios in Lincoln, India and Edinburgh, but, with no official announcement, this news is to be taken with a grain of salt.

Reliance Jio, Vi and Airtel Offering SIM Cards Directly at User’s Doorsteps Posted: 03 May 2021 02:38 AM PDT Be it mobile recharge or getting a new SIM card, users can do it all online today. The convenience of purchasing a new SIM card for the customer has been increased by the telecom service providers (TSPs) of India. All the private operators, including Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea (Vi), and Bharti Airtel, are offering users the option of purchasing a SIM card online. Users can not only buy new connections but also port from one company to another online. Today, we cover the steps you need to take as a customer for getting a SIM card online from one of the companies mentioned above. Reliance Jio Online SIM Card If you want to purchase a new Reliance Jio SIM card online, first of all, you need to go to this website address – https://bit.ly/2PJk3ql. After that, you will have to submit your name and an active phone number, at which you will receive an OTP to authenticate the process. Post that, you can decide whether you want a new connection or you want to port your old number to a Jio SIM. Further, you will have to enter details, including your home address, PIN code, and house number, after which you can click on the 'Submit New Jio SIM Request' button. A Jio representative will arrive at your home shortly, and you can complete the KYC process at your doorstep only. If there are any payments, you can make it to the Jio representative through cash or any other available options. Users can also purchase a postpaid SIM card online from Reliance Jio. Vodafone Idea Online SIM Card For purchasing a Vodafone Idea SIM card online, go to this website address – https://bit.ly/2Ri4Qgz. After that, choose a prepaid/postpaid plan that you want to get started with. The company offers you the option to pick a slot in the next 48 hours for the SIM card delivery to your home after the order is placed. You also get the option to choose the number you want. After you have chosen the time slot, ensure you have all the necessary documents ready with you for the KYC process. Once the KYC process is done, you can collect the SIM and wait for up to 24 hours while it gets activated. Bharti Airtel Online SIM card You can purchase a Bharti Airtel SIM card online by going to this website address – https://www.airtel.in/prepaid-4g-sim/. You will get the option to choose from one of the plans available, and after that, you will have to fill up all the necessary information on the form visible on the page. Once you have submitted the form, an Airtel representative will visit your home to complete the KYC process. Ensure that you have all the necessary documents for your identification. The website of the company says that the new SIM card will be delivered on the same day, and it will be activated very quickly. Users can buy both new prepaid and postpaid SIM cards online from the company.

Xiaomi Will Unveil the Redmi Note 10S on May 13 in India Posted: 03 May 2021 01:21 AM PDT Xiaomi is all set to launch its Redmi Note 10S in India, and the company has officially confirmed the launch on May 13th, 2021. Yes! You read it correctly, Xiaomi has confirmed the India launch of the device, and it has also shared an invite on its official Twitter handle. Just to recall, the smartphone was originally launched globally back in March, and now it’s making its way to the Indian market. The highlighted features of the handset are AMOLED display, 5,000mAh battery, 33W fast charging support and more. Let's have a closer look at the confirmed launch date of the Redmi Note 10S. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S India Launch According to the Twitter post shared by the company, the Redmi Note 10S is going to launch on May 13th during a virtual launch event which is going to broadcast on the company's official YouTube channel. The Livestream will kick off at 12 PM IST, and the company will also send updates on its social media handles. The invite post claims that the handset will launch with savage performance and a stunning camera. Besides, the tweet didn't reveal anything about the Indian price or specifications of the phone. Xiaomi Redmi Note 10S Specifications (Global) Thanks to the global launch, we know almost everything about the phone. Under the hood, the Redmi Note 10S is powered by the MediaTek Helio G95, clubbed with Mali-G76 3EEMC4 GPU. The handset is backed by up to 8GB RAM and 128GB storage. You can also expand the storage up to 512GB via a microSD card. It packs a massive 5,000mAh battery with 33W fast charging support. At the front, the Redmi Note 10S features a 6.43-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with a 20:9 aspect ratio and 1100 nits brightness. It has a punch-hole cutout design with Corning Gorilla Glass 3. On the software front, the handset runs on Android 11-based MIUI 12 custom skin. As far as cameras are concerned, the Redmi Note 10S offers a quad-camera setup with the combination of a 48MP Sony IMX582 primary sensor + 8MP ultra-wide sensor + 2MP macro sensors + 2MP depth sensor, along with an LED flash. Upfront, it houses a 13MP camera sensor for selfies and video calls. It would be interesting to see at what price the company is planning to launch the phone in India.

Airtel Payments Bank Will Pay Higher Interest Rate for Big Deposits Posted: 03 May 2021 12:33 AM PDT Airtel Payments Bank has just announced that it is increasing the percentage of interest offered to the customers on their deposits. However, the higher interest rate would be applicable on deposits over Rs 1 lakh only. For the unaware, Airtel Payments Bank is Bharti Airtel's e-finance arm that paid customers at an interest rate of 2.5% per annum when their deposits were under or up to Rs 1 lakh. But now, the company has announced that users who keep more than Rs 1 lakh on their Airtel Payments Bank savings account will receive 6% interest per annum on their deposit. 6% Interest Applicable on Amount Between Rs 1 Lakh to Rs 2 Lakh The 6% interest per annum will be paid on the amount that's above Rs 1 lakh. The company will pay the same 2.5% interest per annum on the amount below or up to Rs 1 lakh. The changes were made on May 1, 2021. It was not long ago when Airtel Payments Bank became the first online payments bank in India to increase the deposit limit to Rs 2 lakh. Now, the company is offering an even greater interest on the amount that the users keep in their bank account. Airtel payments Bank has over 55 million engaged users at this point in time. The company has around 5,00,000 banking points across the country, both in urban and rural parts, to ease online transactions. The company also offers a rewards savings account known as 'Rewards123'. Users can opt for the Rewards123 account by paying a nominal sum of Rs 299 per year. However, it might not feel like the best deal to the users since their yearly benefits or cashbacks are capped at Rs 960. Even for earning that complete yearly benefit, users will have to make a ton of online transactions. So the Rewards123 account is only recommendable for users who make several online transactions in a week. Airtel Payments Bank users also get the option to increase the security on their savings account by enabling 'Airtel Safe Pay' that asks users twice to authenticate the money transaction from their account. Airtel Payments Bank has increased the interest rate on the deposits when IDFC First Bank cuts rates from 6% to 4-5%.

Bharti Airtel Outperformed Other Telcos in Q3 FY21: ICICI Securities Posted: 02 May 2021 11:46 PM PDT A few days back, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had released its performance indicator report of the Indian Telecom industry for Q3 FY21. The report shed light on the performance of the telcos in key areas where it became pretty evident that Bharti Airtel had outperformed Reliance Jio and Vodafone Idea (Vi) during the quarter. According to an ICICI Securities analysis of the TRAI’s report, there were plenty of positives for the overall industry. Consumer spends on telecom services during Q3 FY21 grew Quarter-on-Quarter (QoQ) by 4.6% and Year-on-Year (YoY) by 20.9% to Rs 390 billion. However, it was the prepaid services that majorly led to the growth of revenues for the industry, while the postpaid services saw an 8.1% YoY dip in revenues. Telecom Industry's ARPU Increased by 4% QoQ The telecom industry's average revenue per user (ARPU) grew by 4% QoQ and 22.1% YoY to Rs 113 (Rs 138 including GST) on the back of the tariff hikes implemented in December 2019. Postpaid services net revenues grew by 0.4% QoQ but fell by 8.1% YoY to Rs 37 billion during the quarter. At the same time, prepaid services net revenues grew by 6.2% QoQ and 34.1% YoY to Rs 314 billion. The prepaid ARPU was up by 5.6% QoQ and 35.7% YoY to Rs 95, while the postpaid ARPU dipped by 3% QoQ and 13.4% YoY to Rs 227. The rise in prepaid ARPU was helped by the consumers shift from legacy networks to 4G services. Bharti Airtel's 4G Subscriber Base Improved As per ICICI Securities, the 4G subscriber base grew 3.3% QoQ with a net addition of 22.4 million subscribers where Airtel's subscriber market share increased by 110bps QoQ to 23.7% and Reliance Jio's 4G subscribers market share dipped by 125bps QoQ to 58.4%. Vodafone Idea's (Vi) market subscriber share remained steady at 15.7%. The 3G subscribers nationwide declined at a fast rate and were down by 2.5 million QoQ to 26 million. Bharti Airtel saw a 4.7% QoQ rise in data usage by subscribers, which was led by the growth in 4G subscribers during the quarter. The data usage volume by 2G and 3G subscribers dipped by 13.4% and 12.7 QoQ, respectively. Airtel's data usage market share grew by 170bps QoQ (32%) while Vi's dipped by 20bps QoQ (17%). This wasn't a very unexpected result from the Q3 FY21. It was quite predictable that Jio would be behind Airtel during the quarter, given the lowering rate of subscriber addition. A good thing from the results was the dipping number of legacy network users and the rising number of 4G subscribers.

Airtel Xstream Fiber Can Facilitate Wi-Fi Calling and More Posted: 02 May 2021 09:31 PM PDT Bharti Airtel strives to deliver a high-speed internet connection to its customers. The broadband arm of the telco, which is Airtel Xstream Fiber caters to the different broadband connection needs of customers. Whether customers want internet for normal surfing or intensive gaming, Airtel Xstream Fiber offers lucrative plans and offers multiple benefits. Since there are ample broadband service providers in India, Airtel Xstream Fiber offers an array of services apart from high-speed internet connection to retain the existing customer base and add new subscribers on a regular. If you are planning to install a new broadband connection at home, you must consider Airtel Xstream Fiber as your next broadband service provider. You must be wondering what's special in Airtel Xstream Fiber offering compared to other broadband service providers. Here are some of the reasons that would help you make the right decision. Airtel Xstream Fiber Promises Unlimited Internet Data and Calls Airtel Xstream Fiber promises high-speed internet plans with no limits. There are multiple plans that the entity offers to cater to the needs of different users. If you are tech-savvy, you can get broadband plans with up to 1 Gbps internet speed. Not only this, but you also get unlimited calling benefits through a fixed-line connection. 24/7 Customer Support and Promised Speed One of the things that broadband subscribers hate is frequent disconnections. The trouble increases when the customer support fails to deliver an active solution. With Airtel Xstream Fiber, the story is different. The broadband service provider strives to provide uninterrupted broadband services. However, if there are any unavoidable network outages, customer support ensures that subscribers are aware of the happenings. Also, the customer support team strives to offer a solution to all queries and problems faced by the subscribers. Proactive Network Monitoring One of the best features of Airtel Xstream Fiber is proactive network monitoring. If you are not aware, the dedicated team looks for out signs and situations that could result in a network outage. The planned monitoring of the network ensures that consumer enjoys internet services without any external hassle. Wi-Fi Calling Wi-Fi calling is becoming the latest trend in the tech space. In simple terms, Wi-Fi calling is a technology that allows the user to call even in low network areas using a Wi-Fi network. It eliminates the need for an active and strong cellular network. Airtel knows the importance of the technology and provides seamless Wi-Fi calling services to subscribers. Airtel Xstream Fiber plan has been specially designed to cater to the needs of different users. The lowest broadband plan is priced at Rs 499 per month, and it offers internet speed of up to 40 Mbps. On the other side, the highest broadband plan is dubbed VIP, and it offers internet speed up to 1Gbps. All the plans offer unlimited internet and subscription to various OTT platforms such as Disney+Hotstar, Airtel Xstream, Amazon Prime and more. To know more about different broadband plans, we would suggest you visit the official website of Airtel.

Reliance Jio JioLink Plans You Should Know About Posted: 02 May 2021 07:53 PM PDT A lot of new Reliance Jio users don't know this, but the company also offers something known as 'JioLink'. The company doesn't advertise a lot about this product for one reason, and that is a majority of users don't really have any need for it. Despite this, this is for those users who are keen to know about what 'JioLink' is and what plans are available for the device that they can recharge with. Thus, before looking at the plans, let's take a look at what JioLink is. Understanding JioLink JioLink is a 4G LTE modem that is offered by Reliance Jio to help with enhancing the 4G network coverage for a certain region or area. Even though it is a modem, it is not at all like the JioFi. JioFi was a hotspot device meant to provide network services to a very small number of users. However, the JioLink is a CPE device that can be installed in the house of the user from which a wireless connection with the 4G network can be provided. The device utilises the company's 4G network and spreads it over the house/office of the user through which one or multiple devices can connect at the same time. Another big distinction between the JioFi and the JioLink is that the latter is not portable. This device is mostly used by shops or malls where a lot of users are roaming and need stable network connectivity. The employees of Reliance Industry Limited (RIL) were the first ones to receive the device on their hands for the testing of Jio's 4G network. Once Jio made its 4G services live commercially, users didn't really see a lot of value in purchasing a device such as JioLink. However, the device can still be procured from the company today in select regions, and Jio also offers plans on its website for the same. If you own a JioLink device or are looking to own one, take a look at the JioLink plans available in the market today. Reliance Jio JioLink Plans Reliance Jio is offering a total of three plans under its JioLink services. The plans cost Rs 699, Rs 2,099, and Rs 4,199. The Rs 699 plan comes with a validity of only 28 days but offers 5GB daily data along with 16GB bonus data. So the total amount of data that the users get with this plan is 156GB. The Rs 2,099 comes with a validity of 84 days + 14 bonus days = 98 days. This plan also offers users 5GB of daily data. But on top of the FUP data, users also get 48GB of bonus data. Lastly, the Rs 4,199 plan comes with a validity of 168 days + 28 bonus days = 196 days. Users get the same 5GB daily FUP data; however, there's also 96GB of bonus data. Note that the internet speed drops to 64 Kbps once the daily FUP data is consumed with all of the plans. Further, users get complimentary subscriptions to the Jio apps, including JioTV, JioCinema, JioSecurity, JioNews, and JioCloud. These are the only three plans that are available for the users going for a JioLink subscription.

Vodafone Idea Must Move Fast With Converting 2G/3G Subscribers to 4G Posted: 02 May 2021 06:35 PM PDT Vodafone Idea (Vi) is in a precarious position right now. The telco needs to time its move for tariff hikes perfectly, or else it will lose a ton of its subscribers to Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel. One thing is for sure; Vi isn't going to wait as long as Jio and Airtel to push for tariff hikes. However, to mitigate the effects of losing subscribers because of tariff hikes, the telco can bank on converting its 2G or 3G subscribers to 4G and increase its overall 4G subscriber base. At the same time, the tariff hikes aren't going to help the operator a lot when it is trying to covert its legacy network users to 4G. Vodafone Idea Might Not Be Able to Attract 2G/3G Customers of India All the telecom service providers (TSPs), including Vodafone Idea (Vi), has a potential market of legacy network users waiting to be upgraded to 4G services. Like we reported a few days back, both Airtel and Vodafone Idea can bank on this opportunity and add more users to its 4G subscriber base for giving Reliance Jio a tough fight. But the potential tariff hikes might turn Vi's dream of gaining more 4G subscribers to dust in the near term. If the telco is going to introduce tariff hikes very soon, it has very little time before it can upgrade its 2G/3G subscribers to 4G. Why Vi Needs to Make Conversion of 2G/3G Subscribers to 4G Fast? Legacy network users didn't upgrade to 4G until now because of multiple reasons, including; a) 2G/3G is cheaper than 4G, and b) they never required the 4G speeds. Today, consumers are smarter than they have ever been because they are more aware of their needs and understand the applications of a different generation of networks. Thus, Vi will have to exercise its creative marketing brain and come up with a solution very fast in order to motivate legacy network subscribers of its own user base in addition to subscribers of Airtel and Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) for upgrading to 4G. This might include the introduction of new entry-level 4G plans that are cheaper and can fulfil the calling needs of the customers. Vi has been tremendous in the last few months with introducing new offers and plans, so there's still hope for the telco. All of this because when the tariff hikes kick in, the telco is expected to lose more subscribers, and if it doesn't add a few users at that time, it can become a serious issue for the company. Further, it will only be able to add new 4G users from its legacy network user base when it offers plans at the price which are near to what Jio and Airtel does. Otherwise, the users would just shift to Airtel or Jio. Neither Airtel nor Jio will increase tariffs anytime soon. So Vi needs to time its decision of tariff hikes very carefully. Vi's Financials Will Improve If It Coverts Legacy Network Users to 4G Vodafone Idea will be able to earn more from its existing subscriber base when the tariff hikes kick in. At the same time, it will earn from all the new subscribers it gained by converting the 2G/3G users to 4G. It will impact the average revenue per user (ARPU) of the telco in a positive manner. Once it converts the subscriber addition and ARPU curve to positive, the telco will gain the confidence of the institutional investors and raising capital would become an easier task. At the same time, the operational costs of the telco would boil down since it won't have to maintain networks of different generations. Vi has already been refarming the 3G spectrum to 4G in multiple circles, so it has a greater network capacity than ever to serve all the new customers.

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