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Bharti Airtel CEO, Gopal Vittal Has a Caution Note for Users
Soundcore Select Pro Portable Speaker Launched for Rs 7,999
OneWeb And NEOM Sign JV Agreement For Satellite Network
WhatsApp iOS to Android Chat Transfer Feature Arrives on Pixel Smartphones
Telecom Sector ARPU Increased by 1.04% for QE June 2021
OTT is Getting Famous, However Still No Match for TV Services
Samsung Galaxy M33 5G Might Arrive as an Upgrade Over M32 5G
Bharti Airtel, Vi Shares Are in the High on Wednesday Morning
Netplus Broadband 200 Mbps Plan With 3 OTT Benefits for Haryana
Qualcomm 4 New Snapdragon Chipsets for Affordable Devices
Tata Sky Broadband Offers Value Filled 200 and 300 Mbps Plans

Bharti Airtel CEO, Gopal Vittal Has a Caution Note for Users

Posted: 27 Oct 2021 07:53 AM PDT

Gopal Vittal, the CEO of one of the leading telecom operators in India, Bharti Airtel, has warned customers about the increasing cases of cyber fraud. He has cited a recent instance wherein a fraudster posed as an executive from the company and tricked a user under the guise of updating KYC (Know Your Customer). Eventually, the user’s bank details were revealed and a large amount was transferred from the victim’s bank account. In an email outreach to all their subscribers, Gopal Vittal urged users to stay vigilant against cyber fraud cases that are increasingly alarming of late.

Airtel CEO Warns Users

He informed that common and frequent instances of fraud including fake UPI websites and handles and fake OTPs. In the email, he noted that there are numerous fake UPI apps as well as e-commerce websites that might initially seem authentic but use the same NPCI and BHIM words and logos. If you happen to download these apps or visit these fake websites, then you will be asked to share your bank details and MPIN that might give the fraudster complete access to your bank account. Detailing the fake OTPs case, he added that a fraudster calls customers portraying to be an executive from a financial institution or bank. The fraudster will ask the customer for his or her details or an OTP to renew or unlock an existing bank account. These details are used to withdraw money from the bank account of the customer. Furthermore, Vittal also listed a slew of precautions to be taken against these frauds. He also advised users not to share any personal or financial information such as customer ID, OTP, MPIN or other sensitive details over the phone, SMS or email. In terms of safety, users should not follow instructions sent via email or SMS from unreliable sources. Such SMSes should be deleted instantly. Also, users should refrain from clicking on suspicious and spam links that claim to provide unbelievable offers or rewards. He went on to state that Airtel Safe Pay is the safest method to make online payments in the country. It adds an additional layer of security for each transaction.

Soundcore Select Pro Portable Speaker Launched for Rs 7,999

Posted: 27 Oct 2021 07:00 AM PDT

Soundcore Select Pro, a new portable speaker from the company has been launched in India today. This new speaker is touted to get the power from a 6700mAh battery that can deliver a total playback time of up to 16 hours. It features a couple of customised drivers and four passive radiators. The overall audio output of up to 30W alongside the BassUp Technology of Soundcore. There is IPX7 certification which ensures water resistance and is said to be submersible. The Soundcore Select Pro speaker is equipped with LED lights. These LED lights will blink and dance as per the music that is played on the speaker. The Soundcore portable speaker can connect to any device via Bluetooth v5.0.

Soundcore Select Pro Features And Price

The Soundcore Select Pro has been launched at a price point of Rs 7,999 and is up for sale via the e-commerce retailer Flipkart. The Soundcore portable speaker has been launched only in a Black variant and it comes with 18 months of warranty. During the festive season sale, the e-commerce giant has many offers on the Soundcore Select Pro. It offers a portable speaker with a no-cost EMI wherein it costs Rs 2,667 per month. Also, buyers will get a free 6 months of Gaana Plus subscription. So, if you are interested in buying this speaker, then here are the specs of the speaker lined up for you. The Soundcore Select Pro lets users customise the equaliser settings via the Soundcore app on Android and iOS devices. There is a USB Type-C port and users can charge their smartphones with the PowerIQ charge out technology. It has the PartyCast feature that synchronises light and audio across multiple Soundcore speakers and connects them together. The speaker is fully waterproof with an IP-X7 rating, making it a perfect pick for pool and beach parties. Prior to the launch of this speaker, the Soundcore Select Pro by Anker, the company has launched a wide range of party speakers in the country. These include Soundcore Flare+, Rave Neo, and Rave Mini. Notably, the Rave series has been a bestseller since its launch.

OneWeb And NEOM Sign JV Agreement For Satellite Network

Posted: 27 Oct 2021 06:01 AM PDT

OneWeb Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites to service NEOM, the Kingdom and MEA, thereby transforming connectivity to businesses as well as rural communities. OneWeb and NEOM Tech & Digital Holding Company, which is a subsidiary of NEOM have signed a $200 million joint venture agreement. They have joined hands to bring high-speed satellite connectivity to NEOM, the wider Middle East, Saudi Arabia and neighbouring East African countries.

OneWeb And NEOM Partnership

The partnership between OneWeb and NEOM will see the deployment of the former's LEO satellite constellation to provide high-speed and reliable connectivity to enable the NEOM ecosystem of cognitive technologies. Also, the agreement includes a long-term strategic partnership regarding the R&D of future connectivity systems. Furthermore, it builds on the relationship between OneWeb and the MCIT (Ministry of Communications and Information Technology) and MISA (Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia). Established back in 2017, it is eyes to unlock Saudi Arabia's orbital space technology that is still in the nascent stage for private investors. Furthermore, it strengthens ties between the UK government and Saudi Arabia with the former being a major strategic investor in OneWeb. NEOM Tech & Digital Hold Co. and OneWeb, the second-largest operator in the LEO satellite segment with 358 satellites are expected to complete the ground infrastructure next year. NEOM Tech & Digital Hold Co. along with the new JV entity possess exclusive rights to distribute the services of OneWeb in its target regions for seven years starting from the initiation of the LEO satellite network likely to debut in 2023. As of now, OneWeb uses the latest security protection that is deployed in advanced mobile networks. On the other hand, NEOM Tech & Digital Hold Co. will trial technologies in order to provide further security protection and testing of new, robust and resistant navigation and positioning solutions. This partnership will support the international connectivity strategy of NEOM Tech & Digital Hold Co that will use the connections to sub-sea and terrestrial communications cables, now LEO satellites to secure access to tens of terabytes of scalable capacity for rural and urban communities and businesses by 2030 and construction of 5G and fibre networks.

WhatsApp iOS to Android Chat Transfer Feature Arrives on Pixel Smartphones

Posted: 27 Oct 2021 04:49 AM PDT

Users of WhatsApp for iOS will now be able to transfer their chat history to a slew of Android smartphones. Previously, when this feature was introduced, it was available only for the Samsung Galaxy foldable smartphones that went official in August. Later, all Samsung smartphones were supported. Now, Google announced that WhatsApp has added this support to all Pixel smartphones. It has been mentioned by Google that the ability to transfer the chat history from iOS to Android is available for smartphones that were launched with Android 12 out-of-the-box. To use this feature, users need a USB Type-C to Lightning cable.

WhatsApp Chat History Transfer Feature

According to an official blog post by Google, the search engine giant has announced that it has rolled out the support for the highly requested chat migration feature to all Pixel devices. It also announced that the new chat feature will be available on new smartphones that are launched with Android 12. Given that more devices are being added to support the chat migration feature, we expect more smartphones to get this support. With this feature, iPhone users who want to switch to Android to save all their messages or chats. As per the blog post, Google had added that the chat migration process is quite simple. To use this feature, users have to connect both smartphones via the USB Type-C to Lightning port. Users will be prompted to scan a QR code that will be displayed on the iPhone while setting up the new Android smartphone. Scanning it will launch the instant messaging app on the Android smartphone. Eventually, the process of transferring all existing media, conversations, and more to the new devices will debut. Until now, the major concern of users is losing their chat history when switching from iPhone to Android devices. It has been a major issue and prevented many iPhone users from switching to the Android ecosystem. With this update that lets users migrate their chat history between iOS and Android will make it easier for users seeking the move. Previously, Google stated that other smartphone brands can also get the support for this feature when updating their smartphone to Android 12. Apart from newly released smartphones, even the existing models can get this feature sometime in the future.

Telecom Sector ARPU Increased by 1.04% for QE June 2021

Posted: 27 Oct 2021 03:29 AM PDT

One thing that the telecom operators have been continuously complaining about for some time now is the low average revenue per user (ARPU). In a fresh Indian Telecom performance indicator report for April to June 2021 from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) suggests that ARPU for wireless services has increased by 1.04%. From Rs 103.58 in Quarter-Ending (QE) March 2021, the ARPU from wireless services for the sector has increased to Rs 104.66. It denotes a growth of 1.04% for the quarter. As per TRAI, the ARPU from wireless services has seen a growth of 16.13% YoY basis this quarter.

Postpaid ARPU Decreased While Prepaid ARPU Increased

It feels like Indians aren't spending more on high-end postpaid plans anymore. The postpaid ARPU fell to Rs 215 per month in QE June 2021 compared to Rs 226 per month in QE March 2021. At the same time, the prepaid ARPU saw positive growth during the quarter. From Rs 97 per month in QE March 2021, the prepaid ARPU increased to Rs 99 per month in QE June 2021. The government made a handsome revenue during the quarter as well. The license fee for the telecom sector increased to Rs 4,103 crore in the QE June 2021 as compared to Rs 3,979 crore in QE March 2021. This denotes a 3.13% growth in the quarterly license fee and 16.36% growth YoY basis. The great thing was the growth in the number of total internet subscribers in the country. The number of internet subscribers in India grew to 833.71 million at the end of June 2021 from 825.30 million internet subscribers at the end of March 2021. This denotes a quarterly growth rate of 1.02%. It is worth noting that out of the 833.71 million internet subscribers at the end of June 2021, 23.58 million subscribers were wired internet subscribers, while 810.13 million subscribers were wireless internet subscribers. The growth in ARPU from wireless services should continue further with the telcos pushing tariffs upwards.

OTT is Getting Famous, However Still No Match for TV Services

Posted: 27 Oct 2021 02:21 AM PDT

Over-the-top (OTT) platforms have seen a huge spike in subscribers addition since 2020. The pandemic has fuelled the growth of digital services, and right at the top were OTT platforms to benefit from this. Many people have already started shifting to OTT platforms for everyday entertainment content, including news, TV shows, and movies. Amazon even offers Prime Music with the Prime subscription. However, if you are thinking that traditional TV services (cable and satellite) are going to go out of trend, that day is very far.

50% Of Media & Entertainment Sector Revenues Came from Traditional TV Services

According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) data, in 2020, 50% of the Media & Entertainment (M&E) sector revenues came from traditional TV services. Compared to this, only 14% of the revenues are from digital services, which includes OTT. The adoption of OTT platforms and them replacing traditional TV services will require higher broadband penetration in India, but that is a discussion for some other day. In 2020, the Indian Television industry stood at Rs 68,500 crore. It was a sharp fall from Rs 78,800 crore in 2019. The fall can be credited to the coronavirus pandemic. But in 2021, this figure should have definitely recovered. Because of this, even the advertising revenues for the industry feel. However, in 2021, even the advertising revenues should grow because of more and more people getting vaccinated and the economy opening up. There will definitely be a time when the OTT platforms will completely rule over the TV industry, but that won't be anytime soon. It will still take a lot of time for that to happen because of multiple reasons. It will take even more time for the OTT platforms to register their superiority in the rural parts of the country. In 2021, the growth of revenues from digital services should increase significantly because of the continuation of the pandemic.

Samsung Galaxy M33 5G Might Arrive as an Upgrade Over M32 5G

Posted: 27 Oct 2021 01:01 AM PDT

Samsung recently launched the Galaxy M32 5G in India. In a fresh development, the South Korean tech giant might go ahead and launch the Galaxy M33 5G soon as well. The M33 5G would ideally be the upgraded version of M32 5G. According to a report from GalaxyClub, a new 5G smartphone from Samsung has been spotted with the model number SM-M335G. The device might be called Galaxy M33 5G. The same publication has spotted Galaxy A33 in the works as well. The Galaxy A33 could also be a 5G device.

Galaxy M33 5G Could be the Same as Galaxy A33 5G

It is worth noting that the Galaxy M32 5G launched recently was the rebadged version of the Galaxy A32 5G. It could mean that the Galaxy M33 5G could be the same as Galaxy A33 5G as well. Both the devices including the Galaxy M33 5G and the Galaxy A33 5G are expected to come in 2022. Samsung is also reportedly working on Galaxy A13 5G, Galaxy A52, and Galaxy A73. As per rumours, the Samsung Galaxy A73 could be the first mid-range smartphone from the company that could come with a 108MP camera sensor. Further, the Samsung Galaxy A13 5G is expected to be the most affordable 5G smartphone from Samsung to date. The Galaxy A53 is expected to come in an orange colour option. There's no word in which markets will the smartphone be available in. Samsung Galaxy M32 5G is an affordable smartphone which means the M33 5G won't be too expensive either. The Galaxy M32 5G is available in India at a starting price of Rs 16,999 and thus the Galaxy M33 5G might be available in the Rs 20,000 range as well. Samsung also has another affordable 5G smartphone available in India, namely, Galaxy F42 5G which is currently retailing for Rs 17,999. All of these smartphones are available on the official website of the company and offline retail stores across the country.

Bharti Airtel, Vi Shares Are in the High on Wednesday Morning

Posted: 26 Oct 2021 11:42 PM PDT

Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea (Vi) shares or stocks are in the green on Wednesday morning. Airtel's shares have risen more than 2% while Idea (Vodafone Idea or Vi) shares are trading at almost 1% high at Rs 10.50. At the time of writing, Bharti Airtel is trading at Rs 710.95 which is 2.12% in the green. Bharti Airtel had previously closed at Rs 696.20 and then opened at Rs 699.40 on Wednesday. Airtel's stock/share has already touched a high of Rs 713.40. At the same time, Vodafone Idea shares had previously closed at Rs 10.40 and opened on Wednesday at the same price. The telco's high for the day until now is Rs 10.50 only. So why are Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea stocks in the green? Here's a major reason why it could be this way.

Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea Didn't Have to Pay Penalty of Rs 3,050 Crore

On a recommendation by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had asked Vodafone Idea and Bharti Airtel to pay a penalty of Rs 3,050 crore. This penalty has been imposed on the telcos for not releasing enough Point of Interconnects (PoIs) to Reliance Jio back in 2016. Because of this, 75% of the voice calls on Jio's networks weren't connecting. The regulator would have stripped the telecom licenses of Airtel and Vodafone Idea, but it didn't do that because it would have created havoc in the country as both the operators have millions of customers. But because the Telecom Disputes Settlement Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) didn't sit down to hear the case yesterday, both the telcos didn't have to pay anything. Further, as per the tribunal's order, DoT can't even encash the bank guarantees (BGs) given by the operators. This could be a major reason why Airtel and Vodafone Idea stocks are in the green since morning.

Netplus Broadband 200 Mbps Plan With 3 OTT Benefits for Haryana

Posted: 26 Oct 2021 10:40 PM PDT

Netplus Broadband is an internet service provider (ISP) which has expanded its services to multiple regions of the country, including Haryana, Punjab, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. The company offers broadband services in multiple cities of Haryana. One offering from Netplus to the users living in Haryana is a 200 Mbps speed plan that also comes with three over-the-top (OTT) benefits. The good thing is that it is economical as well and won't burn your pocket.

Netplus Broadband 200 Mbps Plan for Haryana

The Netplus Broadband 200 Mbps plan for Haryana offers users truly unlimited data. There is no fair-usage-policy (FUP) data restriction for the users. This plan comes with three OTT benefits which include platforms such as Voot Select, Eros Now, and ZEE5 Premium. It will cost Rs 999 per month. It is not bad pricing, given the data and the OTT benefits. Users going with Airtel or BSNL will also find the 200 Mbps plan for this cost only. However, Airtel and BSNL have a 3.3TB FUP data restriction in a month. Since that limit is not there with Netplus, you can install this plan for a large family in Haryana and consume high-speed internet without any worries. If you are looking for a cheaper 200 Mbps broadband plan and are content with no OTT benefits, you can take a look at the plan from Excitel. Even Excitel offers truly unlimited data to the users with its 200 Mbps plan and its monthly cost is Rs 799. Netplus Broadband is particularly famous for offering broadband services bundled with IPTV service. The company's plans vary in price and benefits from region to region. It is safe to say that Netplus Broadband is a regional provider. The better way for the company to go ahead would be to offer uniform plans to consumers living in different parts of the country.

Qualcomm 4 New Snapdragon Chipsets for Affordable Devices

Posted: 26 Oct 2021 09:17 PM PDT

Qualcomm has upgraded its Snapdragon portfolio with four new chipsets. The four new chipsets are Snapdragon 778G+, Snapdragon 695, Snapdragon 680, and Snapdragon 480+. All these chipsets are made to be used in entry-level and mid-range smartphones. The focus of these chipsets is mainly on 5G but there is also a 4G chipset to enable mobile makers to come out with strong LTE devices as well.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G+

The Snapdragon 778G+ is a 5G chipset and is the big brother of Snapdragon 778 with boosted CPU and GPU performance. It will be able to deliver cutting edge gaming and come with accelerated artificial intelligence (AI) for enabling stunning photo and video experiences.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 695

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC is also a 5G supportive chipset. It can support both mmWave and sub-6 GHz band 5G. It is an upgrade over the Snapdragon 690 with 30% faster graphics rendering and 15% improvement in CPU performance.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 480+

This is a chipset that many smartphone manufacturers might use in their entry-level 5G smartphones. The Snapdragon 480+ is focused on helping with the proliferation of 5G smartphones across the globe.

Qualcomm Snapdragon 680

The Qualcomm Snapdragon 680 is a 4G only chipset. While the world is shifting towards 5G smartphones, the demand for LTE supportive devices is nowhere close to being over. There are still people who want a strong LTE experience. For those people, the Snapdragon 680 is a chipset that can be installed in a mid-range smartphone. It is built on the 6nm process and will help users experience optimised gaming. These are the four Snapdragon chipsets that have been launched recently by the semi-conductor giant Qualcomm. Smartphone manufacturers have already started talking about the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 which will become a part of many mid-range 5G smartphones in the coming time. It will be interesting to see which smartphones come with these new chipsets the first.

Tata Sky Broadband Offers Value Filled 200 and 300 Mbps Plans

Posted: 26 Oct 2021 06:37 PM PDT

Tata Sky Broadband is one of the rapidly growing internet service providers (ISPs) in India. The company has a 100% fibre network that will provide you with end-to-end connectivity. If you are working from home and also have a large family who is connected to the same Wi-Fi network as yours, it will only work out if you have a high-speed internet plan backing you up. Tata Sky Broadband offers value filled 200 Mbps, and 300 Mbps plans to the users. Let's take a look at what these plans cost and the complete benefits that users get with them.

Tata Sky Broadband 200 Mbps Plan

Tata Sky offers a 200 Mbps broadband plan to the users for a monthly cost of Rs 1,150. This plan is also available in long-term service validity configurations of three months, six months, and twelve months. If you go for the three months plan, you will have to pay Rs 3,300, and you will end up saving Rs 150. Then, if you go for the six months plan, you will have to pay Rs 5,550, which means you will end up saving Rs 1,350. Lastly, if you take the twelve months or one year plan, you will have to pay Rs 10,200, which converts into savings of Rs 3,600. Users will get 200 Mbps of uniform upload and download speeds. The fair-usage-policy (FUP) data offered with this plan is 3.3TB. Let's check out the 300 Mbps plan now.

Tata Sky Broadband 300 Mbps Plan

Tata Sky also offers a 300 Mbps broadband plan to the users. This plan is also available for one month, three months, six months, and twelve months. The one month plan is available for Rs 1,500, three months plan is available for Rs 4,500, six months plan is available for Rs 8,400 (savings of Rs 600), and the twelve months plan is available for Rs 15,600 (savings of Rs 2,400). The FUP data offered with this plan is the same, which is 3.3TB. After the FUP data is consumed, the internet speed for the user will drop to 3 Mbps. Users won't be required to pay a security deposit for purchasing these plans. Further, the company will provide a free dual-band router with the plan. The installation is also free, which means all that you have to pay for is the internet plan, and the rest of the cost will be borne by the company. Tata Sky also promises a 99.9% uptime of its broadband network, which is excellent and the users also have the option of switching their internet plan whenever they want.

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