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• Vivo S12, Vivo S12 Pro Launched Featuring MediaTek Chipsets, Dual Front Camera Setup
• Tata Sky Binge+ STB on Offer for Free Upgrade to Existing Users
• Apple Leads in Global Shipment of 5G Smartphones Followed by Xiaomi, Samsung
• Realme GT 2 Pro Major Specifications Surface After Spotting at TENNA
• Bharti Airtel Hosts Second O-RAN ALLIANCE Global PlugFest 2021 in India
• Vodafone Idea Quietly Removes Multiple Prepaid Plans
• Eros Now Has Partnered With Globenet for Growing in India
• Bharti Airtel to Narrow Market Share Gap With Jio
• iPhone 12 Makes for a Strong Option Even in 2022
• Vodafone Idea 28 Days and 21 Days Validity 4G Data Vouchers Explained
• Affordable Prepaid Plans From Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL
• BSNL Bharat Fibre Four Broadband Plans With OTT Benefits
• Ericsson, Singtel Achieve 5 Gbps+ Speed Using 5G SA NR-DC
• HP Begins Production of Multiple PC Products in India Strengthening ‘Make in India’ Initiative
• Samsung Galaxy S22 Series Has a New Launch Date
• RBI Brings in New Guidelines for Online Payments with Effect from January 1, 2022
• Jio and Airtel Find Another Area to Disagree
• iQOO 9 Could Feature a Samsung GN5 50MP Primary Camera, 120W Fast-Charging
• Soundcore Infini Soundbar With 2.1 Speaker Setup, 100W Output Launched in India
• Xiaomi 11i Hypercharge to Launch in India on January 6 Featuring 120W Charging Technology

Vivo S12, Vivo S12 Pro Launched Featuring MediaTek Chipsets, Dual Front Camera Setup Posted: 23 Dec 2021 05:28 AM PST Image Credit – Vivo China Chinese tech giant Vivo has just launched two smartphones under its new Vivo S12 series. The series includes Vivo S12 and Vivo S12 Pro and features a lot of common specifications such as similar camera specs, processor capabilities and more. Both of these devices have been launched in China and as of now, it is not confirmed that whether the handsets will witness an Indian launch. Both of these devices are available in multiple colour options and offer two storage variants for each model. Specifications for Vivo S12 Vivo S12 operates on Android 11 based OriginOS and features a 6.44-inch full-HD+ (1,080×2,408 pixels) AMOLED display with a 20:9 aspect ratio and a 91.01% screen-to-body ratio. In addition to this, the screen of the device has a 90Hz refresh rate, 180Hz sampling rate, and 408 PPI pixel density. Under the hood, the device features an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 1100 chipset combined with 12GB of RAM. As far as the camera module of the device is considered, Vivo S12 comes with a triple rear camera setup that consists of a 108MP primary lens with an f/1.8 lens camera alongside an 8MP camera with an f/2.2 lens and a 2MP macro camera with an f/2.4 lens. The front of the device features two cameras – a primary one with 44MP and another 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera. The device is backed by a 4200maH battery and supports 44W flash charge technology. Vivo S12 comes with onboard storage of 256GB. Connectivity options on the device include 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth v5.2, GPS/ A-GPS, USB Type-C, and NFC. Vivo S12 also comes with an in-display fingerprint scanner and a face unlock for biometric authentication feature. Vivo S12 Pro Specs Vivo S12 Pro has quite similar features as Vivo S12 including the same operating software. The device comes with a display featuring a 6.56-inch full-HD+ (1,080×2,376 pixels) AMOLED display with a 19.8:9 aspect ratio and a 91.39% screen-to-body ratio. Additionally, the screen of the device has a 90Hz refresh rate, 240Hz sampling rate, and 398 PPI pixel density. For the camera module of the device, Vivo S12 Pro has an identical rear camera setup as Vivo S12 but on the front features a 50MP camera instead of 44MP and is paired with the same 8MP ultra-wide-angle camera. The handset is backed by a 4300mAh battery and also supports a 44W flash charge. The device features an internal storage of 256GB. Vivo S12 Pro is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC, along with up to 12GB of LPDDR4x RAM. The device has the same in-display fingerprint scanner and a face unlock for biometric authentication feature. Price Details of Vivo S12 and Vivo S12 Pro Both Vivo S12 and Vivo S12 Pro come with two storage variants. Vivo S12 offers an 8GB + 256GB variant priced at CNY 2,799 which is roughly around Rs 33,100 whereas the 12GB + 256GB variant comes at a price tag of CNY 2,999 which is somewhere around Rs 35,500. Vivo S12 Pro on the other hand offers the 8GB + 256GB variant at the price tag of CNY 3,399 which amounts to somewhere around Rs 40,200. The 12GB + 256GB variant of the device comes at a price tag of CNY 3,699 which is roughly around Rs 43,700. The colour options on the devices are enlisted as Black, Blue and Gold and will be available for purchase in China from December 30.

Tata Sky Binge+ STB on Offer for Free Upgrade to Existing Users Posted: 23 Dec 2021 04:15 AM PST Tata Sky Binge+ Set-Top Box (STB) is one of the most popular Smart STBs in the market. While the Binge+ STV restricts users to watch content from select platforms, users can still access content from 10+ over-the-top (OTT) platforms in the highest quality through a stable internet connection. Tata Sky is offering the Binge+ STB for free to the existing users. In actuality, it's not totally free; here are all the details. Tata Sky Users Will Get a Free Upgrade to Binge+ STB If They Do This Users who are going for a recharge of Rs 6,000 or more in a lump sum manner for a year will be eligible to get a free Binge+ STB upgrade offer from Tata Sky. The Direct-to-Home (DTH) operator is looking to get a monthly burn rate of at least Rs 500 from the users. Users can get this offer from the company when they are recharging directly through the mobile app or the website of Tata Sky. According to DreamDTH, Tata Sky will also offer a free one-month subscription to Tata Sky Binge as well as Amazon Prime Video to the users. Tata Sky Binge is a bundled subscription to multiple OTT platforms such as SonyLIV, Disney+ Hotstar, CuriosityStream, Voot Select, ZEE5, EpicON, Voot Kids, Eros Now, HungamaPlay, SunNXT, Docybay, Hungama Play, and ShemarooMe. Tata Sky recommends that users should have a stable internet connection delivering at least 4 Mbps internet speed to get a good experience out of their Binge+ STB. The standalone cost of the Tata Sky Binge+ for new users is Rs 2,499. Existing Binge+ STB users looking to get a second Smart Box from Tata Sky can purchase it for Rs 1,999. Much recently, Tata Sky had hiked the price of its HD and SD Set-Top Box (STB) by hundreds of rupees. The current upgrade offer started in December only, and there's no saying when it will be discontinued.

Apple Leads in Global Shipment of 5G Smartphones Followed by Xiaomi, Samsung Posted: 23 Dec 2021 03:08 AM PST A recent report has arrived regarding the shipment of 5G smartphones around the globe and the Cupertino-based tech giant seems to be leading the market. When it comes to the shipment of 5G smartphones around the world, Apple currently leads with a total of 25% market share. Apple is ranked at the top of 5G smartphone market globally whereas the second and third place is secured by Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi and South Korean tech company Samsung respectively. Current Scenario of 5G Smartphone Market A recent report has revealed the numbers relating to shipment of 5G smartphones and Apple iPhones have been the best selling 5G smartphones globally. It is also to be noted that Apple is leading the market even though it introduced 5G smartphones last year which Is much later than other OEMs. iPhone 12 series launched last year was the first from Apple to feature 5G handsets and within two weeks iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro were topping the charts under the 5G smartphone category. Following Apple, the second manufacturer on the list is Xiaomi which even though is in second place but has seen a downfall in its shipment of 5G smartphones in the third quarter of 2021. The credit to this dip can be given to the revival of Samsung in the European markets and Oppo expanding its business in China. These reasons led to Xiaomi facing lesser demand for its 5G handsets in China as well as countries outside. On the other hand, Samsung was able to secure the third position by leaving Oppo behind in the shipment of 5G smartphones around the globe. Samsung offers a wide range of 5G devices from premium to mid-range category which has resulted in a surge in demand for its smartphones in quarter three of 2021. Talking about the brand that witnessed the most growth even though Oppo and Vivo ranked fourth and fifth respectively – Honor which had a growth of 194% quarter-on-quarter basis after it split from its parent company Huawei. Huawei currently faces strict restrictions from selling in the US and since Honor has separated from the former, it doesn't face any limitations for selling in the country resulting in its huge growth.

Realme GT 2 Pro Major Specifications Surface After Spotting at TENNA Posted: 23 Dec 2021 02:11 AM PST There have been several reports providing details about the upcoming Realme GT 2 Pro that have surfaced in the past few months. Now before the launch of the device on January 4, a new report suggests that the smartphone has been spotted on the TENNA certification website. The device has been in the works for quite a while and there were previous reports of the device getting spotted on the 3C certification site. Moreover, the design for Realme GT 2 Pro Master Edition has also been revealed by the makers officially. Now according to the latest reports Realme GT 2 Pro has been spotted at the TENNA certification site and the model number of the handset is said to be RMX3300 and some major specs have been revealed. Key Specification for Realme GT 2 Pro As mentioned above, Realme GT 2 Pro has been spotted with model number RMX3300 and it is expected that the device will come featuring a 6.7-inch QHD AMOLED display with 1440 x 3216 pixels and a 120Hz refresh rate. The handset will also feature an in-display fingerprint scanner. As far as the processor is considered, the handset is expected to feature the Snapdragon 8 Gen1 chipset and will be combined with 8GB or 12GB of RAM. The onboard storage space of the device is speculated to be 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB depending on the variants of the model. However, there will be no availability of expanding the storage space via a microSD card slot. Talking about the camera module of the device, Realme GT 2 Pro is expected to arrive with a triple rear camera setup consisting of a 50MP main camera, a 50MP secondary camera, and a 2MP shooter. The front of the device will feature a 32MP selfie shooter. The device will be backed by a 5000mAH battery and earlier reports have suggested that it will support 65W fast charge technology. Talking about the design aspects of the device, Realme GT 2 Pro is expected to measure 163.2 x 74.7 x 8.2mm with a bodyweight of 199 grams. Last but not the least, the colour options available for the handset are speculated to be – Light Green, Ice Crystal Blue, Cast Iron Black, and Paper White.

Bharti Airtel Hosts Second O-RAN ALLIANCE Global PlugFest 2021 in India Posted: 23 Dec 2021 01:33 AM PST Bharti Airtel, a leading telecom company in India, has hosted the O-RAN ALLIANCE Global PlugFest 2021 in India in partnership with major Indian and global technology companies. Airtel hosted the event in its state-of-the-art Network Experience Centre in Manesar (Gurugram), India. It is worth noting that this was the second O-RAN ALLIANCE Global PlugFest that Airtel has hosted in the country. In this year's event, a wider participation from members of the O-RAN community was witnessed. Companies such as Mavenir, Capgemini Engineering, AMI, ASOCS, IP Infusion, Cisco, Intel, Sercomm, Keysight Technologies, TCS, STL, VMware, VIAVI Solutions, and VVDN had joined Airtel in this year's event. PlugFest Learnings to Accelerate Make-in-India O-RAN Based 5G Solutions Randeep Sekhon, Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Bharti Airtel said, the telco is thrilled to be leading the O-RAN initiative in India. The learnings from this PlugFest would accelerate the journey of Make-in-India O-RAN based 5G solutions which can not only be deployed in India but also in the other parts of the world, added Sekhon. Bharti Airtel has been very vocal about supporting the O-RAN initiative and was also the first operator in the country to commercially deploy a virtual RAN solution based on disaggregated and open architecture defined by the O-RAN ALLIANCE. Airtel has also been a board member of the O-RAN ALLIANCE since the beginning, which has now turned into a community of 300+ telecom operators, vendors, and other companies that are into the manufacturing of related technologies. The O-RAN ALLIANCE Global PlugFest offers a platform to other O-RAN community members to integrate and test the O-RAN based solutions, including 4G and 5G. O-RAN promises a cost-efficient deployment of network infrastructure and holds great value for the ecosystem members. But it is still in the developing phase and might only become a wider reality in a few years.

Vodafone Idea Quietly Removes Multiple Prepaid Plans Posted: 23 Dec 2021 12:47 AM PST A few weeks back, post tariff hikes, Vodafone Idea (Vi) was the operator offering the best-prepaid plans with the benefit of Disney+ Hotstar. But now, the telco has removed two such plans from its offerings. The Rs 601 and Rs 701 plans won't be on offer from Vodafone Idea anymore. The third-largest telco has reduced its Disney+ Hotstar prepaid plan offerings to two denominations — Rs 501 and Rs 901. These are the only two plans that are available from the telco with the offer of Disney+ Hotstar. But it seems to be a logical move from the company and here's why these plans can come back to the market with higher price soon. Vodafone Idea Might Bring Back Rs 601 and Rs 701 Plans, But With Increased Price Vodafone Idea had recently introduced four new plans for Rs 155, Rs 239, Rs 666, and Rs 699. The Rs 701 and the newly launched Rs 699 plan offered almost the same benefits; thus, it didn't make sense for the telco to continue with the Rs 701 plan. The Rs 701 offered 3GB of daily data for 56 days with Disney+ Hotstar, while the Rs 699 plan offers 3GB of daily data for 56 days as well. The value of the Disney+ Hotstar subscription plan should be slightly more, and thus that is the reason why Vi might have removed the Rs 701 plan from its offerings. The Rs 601 plan was a data voucher only but offered Disney+ Hotstar. There's a chance that a new data voucher with this OTT benefit from Vi might come in the near future. Vodafone Idea Prepaid Plans That Offer Disney+ Hotstar Now The two plans that offer Disney+ Hotstar Mobile subscription right now cost Rs 501 and Rs 901 and offer 3GB of daily data each for 28 days and 70 days, respectively. Both plans offer Vi Hero Benefits as well as unlimited voice calling and 100 SMS/day.

Eros Now Has Partnered With Globenet for Growing in India Posted: 22 Dec 2021 11:18 PM PST Eros Now, one of the major and growing over-the-top (OTT) entertainment platforms, has announced a partnership with Global Networks Infocomm for expanding its reach in India. Eros Now has a vast content library with over 12,000 digital titles, which comprise TV shows, movies, music videos, and more. The new partnership will help Eros Now in expanding its reach in the Indian market and doing justice to the content library it has. Eros Now Partners Globenet, Details As per an ET Telecom report, Global Networks Infocomm provides IT infrastructure, network equipment in addition to value-added services (VAS) to telcos, internet service providers (ISPs), and system integrators across India. The company does this through its brand – Globenet. Globenet has access to customers throughout India. It will bundle Eros Now's yearly subscription pack in addition to the other services and products of the OTT Platform and then distribute them throughout its customers base living in India. For the unaware, Eros Now is currently offering subscriptions to Indians for three different structures – monthly, quarterly, and yearly for Rs 49, Rs 79, and Rs 399, respectively. Eros Now would certainly benefit from this partnership as it will get access to a large number of consumers. The company has been struggling to become one of the top and most popular OTT platforms, and that is because of the tough competition from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+ Hotstar. With partnerships such as this, Eros Now gets the attention of the consumers. India is one of the best places for OTT platforms to come to, as there are millions and millions of people looking to get entertained. With such cheap data, almost everyone is on the internet streaming content on the go, and Eros Now would certainly be looking to benefit from it. For getting a subscription to Eros Now, you can download the company's mobile app or go to its website.

Bharti Airtel to Narrow Market Share Gap With Jio Posted: 22 Dec 2021 10:41 PM PST While Reliance Jio remains the number of telecom operators in India in terms of subscriber market share, the gap between Jio and Airtel should narrow in the coming years. Analysts at ICICI Securities believe that Jio's subscriber market share would peak in FY23 and then will see a slight decline from FY24 onwards. This is where Airtel would narrow its market share gap with Jio. Analysts believe that Bharti Airtel would benefit from network strengthening in the B and C circles of the country. ICICI Securities said that Bharti's adjusted gross revenue (AGR) market share should be at 36.1% in FY25E (32.7% in FY21) while Jio's AGR market share at 39.3% (38.3% in FY21). Not forgetting Vodafone Idea (Vi), ICICI securities said that Vodafone Idea Limited (VIL) would incur capex, but its AGR market share should remain below 20% for the foreseeable future despite winning back some market share. Bharti Airtel Buying Expensive 700 MHz Spectrum Poses Risk to Company's FCFE The analyst said that Bharti Airtel would generate strong free cash flow to equity (FCFE) of more than Rs 200 billion over the coming years. It would help with reducing the debt the company has. With 5G spectrum purchase, Airtel's net debt is expected to peak in FY23E. From FY24E, Bharti is expected to use the strong FCFE generation to reduce debt by 20% each year. ICICI Securities said the only threat that is there for Bharti's FCFE is the buying of expensive 700 MHz spectrum in the 5G auctions, which would take away the telco's 18 months of FCFE. The strong presence in adjacent businesses, including the FTTH, Airtel Payments Bank, data centre, and enterprise segment, is going to further help the telco in expanding free cash flow to equity. 5G is going to act as a catalyst for Bharti to grow enterprise revenues. Note that earlier this year, Airtel Payments Bank also achieved a break-even point and is a profitable business for the company now.

iPhone 12 Makes for a Strong Option Even in 2022 Posted: 22 Dec 2021 09:24 PM PST There's one thing about Apple products; they are good to use even years after their launch. That is one of the reasons why Apple products mostly have a better resale value than their competitors. If you are looking for a smartphone that can last you for at least four to five years from now, the vanilla iPhone 12 can still be a very great option in 2022. While late 2022 will see iPhone 14 series launching across the globe, there would still be people who would be looking for the iPhone 12 series devices, just like there are some still purchasing the iPhone 11 series smartphones after the launch of the iPhone 13 series in September. Reasons Why iPhone 12 Can Still be Good for You in 2022 One of the first and most important reasons is that, unlike Android smartphone users, iPhone 12 users won't have to worry about not getting iOS updates after a two or four year period. Further, the iPhone 12 series devices don the A14 Bionic chipset, which is still one of the fastest SoC's in the world. The camera of the iPhone 12 series is very good compared to most of the Android smartphones in the Rs 60,000 price range. Further, you can get the devices for a heavy discount on Flipkart as the iPhone 13 series has already launched. Don't forget that there is even iPhone 12 mini available for users who want a smaller screen iPhone. It is even more affordable and handy than the vanilla iPhone 12. iPhone 12 Price in India The iPhone 12 is available on Flipkart starting at Rs 59,999 for the 64GB storage variant, followed by Rs 64,999 for the 128GB and Rs 74,999 for the 256GB variant. Then the iPhone 12 mini is available on Flipkart starting at Rs 49,999 for the 64GB storage variant, followed by Rs 54,999 for the 128GB variant and Rs 64,999 for the 256GB storage variant.

Vodafone Idea 28 Days and 21 Days Validity 4G Data Vouchers Explained Posted: 22 Dec 2021 08:18 PM PST Vodafone Idea (Vi), the third-largest private telecom operator in India, offers multiple 4G data vouchers with a different set of validities. If you are someone who is looking to purchase a shorter-validity data voucher, there are a series of options that come with 28 days and 21 days of service validity. These vouchers are great for giving your unlimited data plan an additional boost of data so that you can work from your home seamlessly in the pandemic. Vodafone Idea 4G Data Vouchers With 28 Days of Validity There are three 4G data vouchers from Vodafone Idea that come with 28 days of service validity. These plans cost Rs 58, Rs 118, and Rs 298 and offer 3GB, 12GB, and 50GB of data, respectively. The Rs 258 plan is meant to act as a work from home voucher. If you want more data than 50GB, you can also go for the Rs 418 voucher, but that comes with a 56 days validity and offers 100GB of data. Vodafone Idea 4G Data Vouchers With 21 Days of Validity Vodafone Idea offers only two options with 21 days of service validity. These plans cost Rs 48 and Rs 98. With the Rs 48 plan, users get 2GB of data, and the Rs 98 plan offers 9GB of data. The data packs have also become expensive after the arrival of prepaid tariff hikes. You can also look at 4G data vouchers from other operators. All of them offer some great and inexpensive options. Especially BSNL has a plethora of options users can choose from. If you want 1GB of high-speed 4G data voucher for a very affordable price, you can look at Jio's Rs 15 voucher, which used to earlier come for Rs 11. All of these 4G data vouchers will help make your internet experience a little more seamless, and you can buy them from the mobile applications of the respective telcos or through a third-party payments app.

Affordable Prepaid Plans From Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL Posted: 22 Dec 2021 07:14 PM PST It is the festive season, the time of the year when our budgets blow out of proportion. Christmas and New Year celebrations with gifts, parties and travel can leave you cash-strapped. It is the perfect time to check out some low tariff plans from major telecom service providers Jio, Airtel, Vi and BSNL. Among the four, Jio is the only provider with access to streaming services in its entry-level Rs 119 plan. Reliance Jio, Airtel, BSNL, and Vi Affordable Prepaid Plans Reliance Jio silently revised its Rs 119 prepaid plan last week with 300 messages, 1.5GB high speed per day data and unlimited voice calls. The plan also includes access to Jio TV, Jio Cinema, Jio Security and Jio Cloud. This 14-day plan is the most affordable offering in the array of unlimited prepaid plans with data, free voice, SMS and OTT benefits. Airtel's entry-level plan at Rs 99 is another low-tariff prepaid plan to consider. The telecom service provider gives 200 MB data, Rs 99 worth of talk time, tariff calls at one paise per second, and text messages at Rs 1 for local SMS and Rs 1.50 for STD SMS. Airtel’s Rs 99 prepaid plan comes with a validity of 28 days. The Rs. 129 prepaid recharge pack from Vodafone Idea offers unlimited voice calls as well as 300 SMS messages for 24 days. The pack also includes 2GB of 3G/4G data allocation. Upon exceeding the quota, the subscriber will be charged for additional data at a rate of 50 paise per MB. The pack does not include any value-added services or access to streaming services. From BSNL, there is a data voucher at Rs 97, offering unlimited calls and unlimited data. The speed will get reduced to 80 Kbps after 2GB daily data usage. Among the plans, Jio seems to have a better entry-level plan at Rs 119. Considering that the plan comes bundled with SMS benefits and subscriptions to the suite of Jio applications, Reliance Jio's Rs 119 plan seems to be a winner in the low-tariff prepaid plan category. However, if validity is your prime factor of consideration, 14 days is low.

BSNL Bharat Fibre Four Broadband Plans With OTT Benefits Posted: 22 Dec 2021 05:37 PM PST For the last couple of years, the internet has become a necessity in many households as well as small businesses as the unprecedented events of the pandemic forced people to work from home. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have been providing various unlimited internet plans specially curated for the needs of the users. However, users always want something extra with just the simple plans and over-the-top (OTT) platforms have been in high demand which ISPs have been bundling up with their broadband plans. One of the major ISPs of the country – the government-owned BSNL provides a few broadband plans as well that come bundled up with some OTT platforms and are mentioned below with in-depth details. BSNL Broadband Plans with OTT Benefits The first plan in the list is one of the most popular plans offered by BSNL and is called the 'SuperStar Premium-1' pack. The pack comes at a price tag of Rs 749 per month and offers 100 Mbps of internet speed up to 1000GB of data. Beyond the set limit of 1000GB, users can enjoy the internet at 5 Mbps. The plan offers unlimited data download and unlimited local and STD calls. Users can get a few OTT benefits along with this plan which includes access to SonyLIV Premium, Zee5 Premium and a few more. The next plan on the list is a pack called 'SuperStar Premium-2' and is also mentioned as a popular plan on the telco's official website. The plan comes at a monthly cost of Rs 949. Users can get 150 Mbps of internet speed up to 2000GB beyond which the speed is reduced to 10 Mbps. This plan as well offers unlimited data download and unlimited local and STD calls. The OTT platforms that are bundled up with this plan include the same SonyLIV Premium, Zee5 Premium with a few others. At an additional cost of just Rs 50, BSNL offers a 'Fibre Premium' broadband plan. The plan comes at a monthly cost of Rs 999 and offers 200 Mbps of internet speed up to the data limit of 3300GB beyond which the speed is brought down to 2 Mbps. Just as above plans users can enjoy unlimited data download and unlimited local and STD calls. As far as OTT benefit is considered, the pack offers access to free of cost Disney+ Hotstar Premium Pack which is one of the major OTT platforms in the country. The last plan on the list is one of the most high-end plans offered by the telco. The plan is called 'Fibre Ultra' and comes at a price tag of Rs 1,499 per month. Users can get access to 300 Mbps of internet speed for the data limit set to 4000GB beyond which the speed of the connection is reduced to 4 Mbps. Like above the plan offers unlimited data download and unlimited local and STD calls. This plan as well just as the 'Fibre Premium' plan comes with access to free of cost Disney+ Hotstar Premium Pack. In addition to this, all these plans offer a special benefit where users can get a 90% discount up to Rs 500 on the first-month rent when they purchase any of these plans. It is to be noted that these plans might be available in select cities in a few cases and is mentioned on the official website of BSNL. All the mentioned prices are exclusive of GST and it will be charged as applicable.

Ericsson, Singtel Achieve 5 Gbps+ Speed Using 5G SA NR-DC Posted: 22 Dec 2021 08:16 AM PST Ericsson, one of the largest telecom gear vendors globally and SingTel, one of the major telcos in Singapore, have achieved a download speed of 5.4 Gbps during a 5G test. The trial was conducted leveraging 5G standalone (SA) New Radio-Dual Connectivity (NR-DC), and the companies have become the first in Southeast Asia to achieve such download speeds. For the trial, SingTel's spectrum across mid-band (3.5 GHz) and mmWave (28 GHz) was used. Ericsson had provided its 5G radio access network (RAN) products, solutions, and dual-mode 5G core network solutions for the test. Further, a test device from Qualcomm Technologies powered by Snapdragon X65 5G Modem-RF System was used to check the results. What is 5G SA NR-DC and What Use Cases Can It Bring to Life? 5G SA NR-DC combines the mmWave and mid-band frequencies. This enables the telecom operators in delivering an enhanced 5G experience. With 5G SA NR-DC, SingTel could deliver latency-sensitive and high-performance applications along with stimulating innovative new use cases across multiple verticals. The use cases that this can bring to life are many, including but not limited to – immersive media, cloud gaming, AR, VR, XR, or robotic control and more. The test from Ericsson and SingTel shows what's possible with 5G SA NR-DC. Mr Martin Wiktorin, Head of Ericsson Singapore, Brunei and Philippines, said Ericsson has already deployed over 100 live 5G networks across the globe. The company is helping SingTel with constantly driving technology innovations. The new 5G technology has further solidified the 30-year-old partnership between Ericsson and SingTel. Ericsson and the telco had already achieved one of the fastest 5G speeds of 3.2 Gbps at SingTel's unmanned pop-up retail store UNBOXED. Along with this, Ericsson had helped SingTel in delivering the world's first 5G-in-a-box platform for enabling enterprises in expanding their 5G capabilities. This is a positive achievement by Ericsson in partnership with SingTel, one that will certainly pave the future of 5G connectivity.

HP Begins Production of Multiple PC Products in India Strengthening ‘Make in India’ Initiative Posted: 22 Dec 2021 07:57 AM PST In the recent development of events, the computer hardware company HP on Wednesday has stated that it has started the production of multiple PC products in India. The PC products include the likes of laptops and the production has been commenced in the light of government's 'make in India' initiative. According to IANS, the company has begun production of various PC products such as laptops, desktop towers and mini desktops. The production has been started at Flex facility in Sriperumbudur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. HP also already produces display monitors in the country. Future of HP in India The report suggests that some of the products manufactured in India by HP will be enlisted in Government e-Marketplace as these will qualify under the public procurement order of the government. The products will be available so as to meet the demands for government orders and other customers as slated by the company. The Managing Director of HP India Market, Ketan Patel said in a statement that the company is looking forward to expanding its portfolio in manufacturing multiple products across the country which will further allow HP to play a key role in making India a global manufacturing hub. He further added that the company has been working in compliance with the state and central governments in order to meaningfully impact the lives of millions of people and enhance the overall quality of life. He said that the announcement of manufacturing products in India will further solidify the company's commitment to India. Earlier, HP Inc. has been successful in leading the PC market in the country as for the continuously third-quarter company has completed more than a million shipment of products. According to IDC, HP has been leading not only the commercial market but also consumer segments by having a total of 28.5% share in the overall PC category. Moreover, it is happening for the first time that the company is manufacturing such a wide range of products in the Indian market. These products are expected to include HP EliteBooks, HP ProBooks and HP G8 Series Notebooks.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Series Has a New Launch Date Posted: 22 Dec 2021 07:20 AM PST Several reports suggesting rumours and speculations about the upcoming flagship Samsung Galaxy S22 Series have emerged in the past few months. However, no official statement has been made by the Korean smartphone manufacturer regarding the upcoming series. Earlier it was speculated that the Galaxy S22 series will launch on February 8 but now recent leaks have emerged suggesting a different date for the launch of the handsets. It is expected that the series will include Samsung Galaxy S22, Samsung Galaxy S22+ and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra models. According to a recent report, the launch date for Samsung Galaxy S22 series has been set for February 9 and no pre-order facility will be available for the devices. It is speculated that the smartphones will go live on February 25 and the reason behind the delay in launch is being credited to the constraints on the supply chain. Expected Specifications for Samsung Galaxy S22 Series Although there has been no official confirmation regarding the specs of the devices, further leaks have suggested that the Samsung Galaxy S22 is set to feature 6.06 inches of the screen whereas Galaxy S22+ will have a larger 6.55-inch screen. Moreover, just like the Galaxy S21 series launched this year, the S22 and S22+ models of the series will have an identical camera setup both on the front and back of the device. It is speculated that both the device will feature a triple rear camera setup and a selfie shooter as a part of the camera module. The cameras on the back will include a 50MP primary camera sensor with an f/1.8 aperture. As far as the specification details of the Galaxy S22 Ultra which could now become the S22 Note is concerned, leaked images of the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra model have already surfaced. The images suggest that the device will have a curved edge, hole punched display. A quad rear camera setup can also be seen in the image of the device and it is expected that the Galaxy S22 ultra will pack a 108MP camera. Additionally, the device could feature a Snapdragon 898 chipset under the hood for the Indian markets while the world could witness Exynos 2200 chipset on the device. Furthermore, the device could come in two storage variants – 12GB + 128GB and 16GB + 512GB and the expected colour options for the handset include black, white and dark red.

RBI Brings in New Guidelines for Online Payments with Effect from January 1, 2022 Posted: 22 Dec 2021 06:20 AM PST According to recent reports, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is bringing in a new set of guidelines that is going to change the process of online payments in the country. The new guidelines from RBI will now prohibit payment gateways and online merchants from saving or storing customers' card details. Consequently, the customers who use cards to make payments will now have to either remember the sixteen-digit card number or carry it with them. The reports suggest that the guidelines were previously scheduled to come into effect from July of 2021 but now are set to begin implementation from January 1, 2022. All About New Guidelines The new guidelines prohibiting storing details of cards used by customers will implement on all whether online shopping platforms like Amazon, Flipkart as well as the payment collectors such as Google Pay or Paytm and also streaming giants such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and more. The new guideline could make it a bit difficult for the customers as instead of simply entering the CVV number while making payments, they will be required to fill in the complete card details. In simpler words, what was possible with one tap and took seconds to make payment on any platform will now require customers to fill up all the full card details while making the payment. The new guideline issued is definitely going to hinder the user experience and the whole idea of digital advancement. Earlier, most of the banks were against the guidelines, which resulted in the plan not being implemented during the month of July. RBI issued a circular on Tuesday in which it allowed an extension of the time period until December 31, 2021, for implementation of the said guidelines. The new guidelines are being brought in by RBI in the light of making the online payment process more secure for the users; however, it also affirmed the fact that the process will become a tad bit tedious for the users. For example, users looking to check out of any shopping website will now have to enter the card number, expiry date as well as CVV to make the payment instead of a simple tap. In this regard, the major companies of India that deal with a high volume of online payments, such as Zomato, Flipkart, Amazon, Microsoft, Netflix, have already issued a petition to the central bank as the new guidelines could hamper the user experience while making payments.

Jio and Airtel Find Another Area to Disagree Posted: 22 Dec 2021 05:28 AM PST Reliance Jio backs the satellite gateway spectrum allocation through auctions, a position conflicting with its competitor Airtel and other global satellite broadband operators who want such allocation through administrative routes. Reliance Jio expressed its stand in a submission made to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI). According to Reliance Jio, the allocation through transparent auction aligns with the Supreme Court's 2012 judgment and complies with the 'same service, same rules, same fees' principle. Reliance added that the auction of all spectrum would ensure an equitable policy in allocating this vital national resource that is critical for inviting new investments and protecting existing large investments by telecom service providers, reported Economic Times. Reliance Jio had earlier expressed its stand of 'same service, same rules and same fees' policy back in September when its president Mathew Oommen said there is no case for zero regulation and accessing free spectrum as India has spectrum constraints. Satellite Gateway Spectrum Allocation Through Administrative Routes Aligns With Global Practices On the other hand, Airtel had expressed its support to allocate satellite gateway spectrum through the 'administrative routes', which is in line with the global norms. The operator warned that the auction would cause segmentation of airwaves and reduce the efficiency of satellite broadband services to lower levels. Airtel also suggested including a separate gateway earth station authorisation under Section 4 of the Indian Telegraph Act. Bharti Airtel backs the global low earth orbit satellite operator OneWeb. TRAI also said that the administrations worldwide assign spectrum 'administratively' for earth station licence. Such airwaves are charged a fee to cover the administrative costs. Satellite gateway is the vital infrastructure resource for offering fast internet from space in India. It controls the LEO satellite constellation and facilitates bandwidth connectivity between a satellite and the end-users internet device in India. Elon Musk's Starlink, Airtel-backed OneWeb, Amazon's project Kuiper and Viasat are the significant players intending to enter the Indian market. They support Airtel's position to allocate spectrum through administrative routes. Starlink had asked TRAI to design frequent assignment policies to incentivise efficient utilisation of spectrum than revenue maximisation in the short-term, as focusing on revenue would add up cost at the consumers' end. DoT had stopped Starlink from seeking pre-bookings from consumers for its internet from space services in India, citing the lack of required license.

iQOO 9 Could Feature a Samsung GN5 50MP Primary Camera, 120W Fast-Charging Posted: 22 Dec 2021 04:27 AM PST Several rumours in the past have hinted towards the launch of the new smartphone iQOO 9 which has made it one of the most awaited devices to arrive from Vivo's sub-brand iQOO. The handset is expected to be unveiled with another model of the same series – iQOO 9 Pro. iQOO could be the next in line to launch its smartphones with Snapdragon 8 Gen1 chipset following the suit of other devices such as Xiaomi 12 series launching on December 28 and Realme GT2 Pro launching on January 4. New specifications for the upcoming iQOO 9 have emerged and are mentioned below. iQOO 9 Expected Specifications The upcoming iQOO 9 series is expected to come featuring a 6.78-inch AMOLED E5 display made by Samsung and will have a Full-HD+ resolution with a 120Hz of refresh rate. The iQOO 9 Pro on the other hand is expected to feature a 2K display just like its predecessor as further details about the handset hasn't been revealed. In addition to this iQOO 9 may come with a second-generation independent display chip, two stereo speakers, and a dual X-axis linear motor. As mentioned above, the device is most probably going to be powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen1 chipset. iQOO 9 is expected to backed by a 4650mAh battery which will be supported by 120W fast charge technology. It is also speculated that the smartphone may have 8GB of RAM. New rumours have also suggested some information about the camera of the device. The base model of the iQOO 9 series is expected to feature the in-house micro-gimbal OIS support and is speculated to feature a Samsung GN5 primary camera of 50MP. As far as the arrival of the device is considered, it is expected that both iQOO 9 and iQOO 9 Pro will be launched together as a part of the iQOO 9 Series. The launch timeline of the devices is expected to be in the first quarter of 2022, probably in the month of February. The iQOO 9 Pro model as well is expected to feature 4700mAH battery backup and 120W fast charge technology according to the rumours. This would mean that both the devices in the series will have the same battery specs. . The Pro model could also feature 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage space internally. More information on the highly anticipated handsets is expected to arrive soon along with official confirmation from the makers.

Soundcore Infini Soundbar With 2.1 Speaker Setup, 100W Output Launched in India Posted: 22 Dec 2021 02:57 AM PST With the COVID-19 pandemic, there is an increased demand for in-home entertainment devices, and the latest to join this array is Soundcore's Infini soundbar. Soundcore, a leading player in audio technology, has launched its new Budget Soundbar Infini in India. Soundcore Infini soundbar promises a cinematic experience with its built-in bass port design and soundscape. It has a sleek design and comes in premium black finishing, making it an aesthetically appealing soundbar for most households. Soundcore Infini soundbar with 100W specifications In terms of specifications, the Soundcore Infini soundbar has 100W RMS, provides a 360-degree balanced sound and deep Bass for movies, music, and other entertainment sessions. It comes embedded with dual subwoofers and mid-range drivers. The tweeters are paired with dual bass reflex ports to work in tandem with built-in amplifiers. Additionally, the soundbar is equipped with three content modes — movie, music and dialogue, enabling customized acoustics for a rich experience. Switch to the sound, depending on the mood, whether with pulsating Bass or well-measured Balanced mode. According to Soundcore, the new Soundcore Infini soundbar is compatible with TVs, PCs, smartphones, laptops, and tablets. It can be connected via digital optical, digital coaxial, or AUX connections and wirelessly via Bluetooth version 4.2. Additionally, the soundbar supports dual control, enabling remote and built-in buttons to conveniently control the volume, sound modes, and switching between wired and wireless connections. Soundcore Infini soundbar comes with 18 months warranty and measures 88 cm x 9 cm x 5.6 cm in terms of width, height and depth. The device comes with a price tag of Rs 9,999, nearly Rs 5000 lesser than its pro version. It is available for purchase only on Flipkart in India. There are some bank offers that can fetch the buyer some discounts. One is a 10% discount from an American Express card, and another is a 5% cashback on Flipkart Axis Bank credit cards. A pro version of the same –Soundcore Infini soundbar with 120W — is also available on Flipkart at Rs 14,999.

Xiaomi 11i Hypercharge to Launch in India on January 6 Featuring 120W Charging Technology Posted: 22 Dec 2021 02:05 AM PST According to the recent developments, Xiaomi 11i Hypercharge is all set to launch in the Indian market next month as revealed by the Chinese smartphone maker through its social media posts. The launch date has been set by the company for January 6. In late November, China witnessed the launch of Redmi Note 11 Pro and Redmi Note 11 Pro+ and the speculations suggest that the upcoming device could be a rebranded version of either of these devices. Details About Xiaomi 11i Hypercharge It is to be noted that the launch of the Xiaomi 11i Hypercharge will mark the launch of the first smartphone with 120W fast-charge technology in India. Using the latest charging technology, the smartphone can be charged from 0 to 100% within 15 minutes time span. Before this, the most advanced charging tech in the country came from Xiaomi came with its Mi 11 Ultra which packed a 67W fast charge technology but the charger was sold separately. The retail box of Mi 11, on the other hand, came with a 55W fast charger but unfortunately, the device has been discontinued in the country. The details of the new Xiaomi 11i Hypercharge haven't been provided by the Chinese smartphone maker but it is expected that the device will be a mid-premium handset from the company and is likely to compete with other devices such as OnePlus Nord and Realme GT series in the Indian markets. Users can expect more details on the device by Xiaomi pretty soon, however, currently, it is expected that the device will come in Stealth Black and Camo Green colour options. As far as other specs of the devices are concerned, it is expected as mentioned above that the device will be quite similar to the Redmi Note 11 Pro+ which means that the handset could come featuring a 6.67-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. In addition to this, the smartphone might have a triple rear camera set up lead by a 108MP primary camera. The device could be powered by an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 920 chipset and could be backed by a 4500mAH battery.

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