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Jio Looks to Enhance 5G Competences, Establishes Teams in the US and Europe

Posted: 23 Jan 2022 07:44 AM PST

Jio 5G Network

India’s leading telecommunications company Reliance Jio has announced that it has created a seed team for product management in India and the USA as well as a dedicated vertical for partnerships and alliances. The company has also created a technical team in Europe to develop long-term 5G capabilities. The president of Jio Kiran Thomas said in a statement that this will help the company in creating enhanced 5G solutions in India which might even be better than the rest of the world.

Jio's Plan for Deploying 5G

According to a report from ET Telecom, Jio has assessed target consumer consumption and revenue potential and has already completed 5G coverage planning for more than a thousand top cities based on it. Jio is making use of heat maps 3D maps and ray tracing technology in order to execute precise coverage planning to target the high consumption and high perception locations.

The president of Jio informed that the company has already initiated a few partnerships and has set up a technical team in Europe to develop long term capability and not just be limited to 5G. He further informed that the company is already planning the workflow for rolling out of the 5G network in the country. He said that the company has a clear idea of their usage across the network and knows the area of high data consumption as well as where the growth is the highest.

Thomas said that Jio has a good idea about all the handsets especially the one’s ready for the 5G network that are already connecting to the company’s network along with the locations from where they are connecting. He said that 5G is a unique Technology that requires quite advanced network planning techniques and Jio is implementing the latest approach towards network planning such as 3D maps and ray tracing technology.

It is to be noted that 5G spectrum auctions are supposed to be held this year and Jio is already expanding the fibre as well as the power situation on all its sites in India before 5G arrives. Thomas said that the company is preparing to keep all its planning in place in order to execute efficient deployment of 5G services.

iPhone 15 Series from Apple Might Feature 5x Periscope Camera

Posted: 23 Jan 2022 03:39 AM PST

iPhone 15 Series Camera

The launch of the Apple's next flagship iPhone series is still months away and yet the rumours about the next iPhone 15 series have been surfacing over the web. We've recently received multiple rumours about the next iPhone 14 series including renders and specification details. But now a recent rumour has surfaced providing some intel on the camera specifications of the iPhone 15 series. It is being speculated that the iPhone 15 series scheduled to arrive in 2023 will feature a 5x periscope camera.

The report comes in from 9toMac, according to which the renowned analyst Jeff Pu has speculated that iPhone 15 series arriving in 2023 will feature a periscope lens with 5x optical zoom. He said that the Cupertino-based giant has already received samples of the unit and will be making a final decision by the May of 2022. It is anticipated that the 5x periscope lens will be featured in the pro models of the iPhone 15 series which are likely to be iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro MAX. Jeff Pu further revealed that the smartphone manufacturer is apparently in discussions with Lante Optics which might be the supplier for 5x periscope lenses. Moreover, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has also speculated periscope lenses being featured in the iPhone 15 series.

The Upcoming iPhone 14 Series

These are only rumours and any official confirmation around the iPhone 15 series will arrive only in 2023 and for now, the company is getting ready for the iPhone 14 series launch. It has been recently reported that all the smartphones in iPhone 14 series will feature 6GB of RAM which raises the question that which feature will differentiate Pro models from the non-Pro models. According to Jeff Pu, the upcoming Apple iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max models are guaranteed to receive additional onboard storage and both handsets will feature 256GB of storage space in the starting variant, unlike iPhone 13 Pro models which had 128GB of internal storage.

Furthermore, it has already been reported that in the upcoming iPhone 14 series all four models will come equipped with a 120Hz refresh rate on the display unlike the iPhone 13 series that has only two models – iPhone Pro and Pro Max that feature 120Hz refresh rate. Moreover, it is also speculated that the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will feature a 48MP camera. All these speculations surrounding the device has definitely increased the hype for the upcoming flagship iPhone 14 Series from Apple.

Broadband Plans From Excitel, ACT and BSNL for Binge Watchers

Posted: 23 Jan 2022 01:51 AM PST

Broadband Plans

In the past two years, the focus of entertainment has avidly shifted from television-based entertainment to internet-based platforms. The internet provides binge-watchers with the freedom to watch limitless movies, web series, TV shows and podcasts from a wide gamut of genres than seeing programmes fixed against schedules. Hence, a reliable broadband connection has become a need in every household. The horizon of broadband is expansive as the subscribers have different services providers and plenty of plans to choose from. For heavy streamers, plans with speeds from 100 Mbps to 200 Mbps mostly suffice. Below are a few selected affordable broadband plans from popular service providers such as Excitel, ACT and BSNL suitable for streamers and binge-watchers.

Excitel Broadband Plans for Binge-Watchers

Excitel broadband plans start from as low as Rs 399 and extend up to Rs 899. There are six plans under the 100 Mbps category, coming at monthly price points of Rs 399, Rs 424, Rs 490, Rs 508, Rs 565 and Rs 699. The subscribers looking for a 200 Mbps plan can grab one from Rs 449 which extends up to Rs 799 per month, depending on the validity of the plan. Excitel provides fibre connections with no FUP limit from 100 Mbps plans, which means truly unlimited internet. All plans come with zero installation charges, although subscribers will have to pay a refundable security deposit of Rs 2000 for ONU devices levied additionally. The only catch is that Excitel is not available in all areas, and the subscriber may have to look for the coverage through the 'My Excitel' app or its website.

ACT Broadband Plans for Binge-Watchers

Coming to ACT broadband plans, streamers have plans offering a speed of 150 Mbps and 250 Mbps. Dubbed as ACT Silver Promo, the plan of 150 Mbps speed comes at a monthly rental of Rs 799. ACT offers some OTT benefits with the plan, including a one-month free trial to Zee5, Hungama, SonyLiv, Aha, Epic On, etc. The plan at Rs 1049, called 'ACT Platinum Pro', offers broadband at 250 Mbps speed and comes with a similar OTT streaming service as that of ACT Rs 799 plan. Although the plan offerings are identical, the monthly rentals of the plan may change according to the city chosen. The given price points are for the Delhi NCR circle. Similar to Excel, you may have to check ACT's network coverage in your area from the provider's website.

BSNL Bharat Fibre Broadband Plans for Binge-Watchers

Government-run service provider Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) offers Bharat Fibre broadband plans ranging from Rs 749 per month for 100 Mbps. SuperStar Premium 1 plan coming at Rs 749 offers a speed of 100 Mbps up to 1000GB, unlimited downloads and unlimited calls (local + STD) with the plan. Post-limit, the speed of the data will get reduced to 5 Mbps. Free OTT streaming services available with the plan are SonyLIV, Zee5, Voot and Yupp TV. Another Bharat Fibre broadband plan of 100 Mbps comes at Rs 799 per month. Unlike Rs 749/month plan, the Fibre Value plan does not offer OTT benefits. However, the data limit is up to 3300GB, post which the speed will get reduced to 2 Mbps. Other benefits of the plan remain as that of the Rs 749 plan.

The subscribers looking for speed up to 150Mbps and 200 Mbps can consider BSNL's SuperStar Premium Plan 2 of Rs 949/month, Fibre Premium plan of Rs 999/month and Fibre Premium Plus plan of Rs 1277/month. BSNL broadband plans at Rs 949, Rs 999 and Rs 1277 offer speed up to 150 Mbps till 2000GB (Post data limit speed 1 Mbps), 200 Mbps till 3300GB (Post data limit speed 2Mbps)and 200 Mbps till 3300GB (Post data limit speed 15 Mbps), respectively. Among the three, Rs 949 plan comes with OTT benefits, including SonyLIV, Zee5, Yupp TV and VooT. BSNL Rs 999 plan offers access to Disney+ Hotstar. Currently, all the said plans have a Rs 500 discount on the first-month rental.

 

How to Change Registered Mobile Number in Airtel DTH?

Posted: 22 Jan 2022 09:35 PM PST

Airtel Digital TV

The telecom service provider Airtel entered into direct satellite television services in 2008. Since then, Airtel soon established itself as one of the key players in the DTH arena. Airtel DTH service brings home entertainment with a wide range of Set-Top Boxes (STBs) with pre-curated packs of channels or allows the users to make their own selection of channels. To subscribe to its services, the customer must add a registered mobile number with the service provider. If the subscriber wishes to change this registered mobile number, he may have to follow a few steps as detailed below.

The customer must keep the Airtel DTH customer ID in hand for the process. If you do not remember the customer ID, Airtel Digital TV customers can use SMS and missed call service to find out the number. To find through SMS, the subscriber may send 'BAL' to 54325 from the registered mobile number. You will get your customer ID or Airtel DTH number as a message to the mobile number. Alternatively, the subscriber can give a missed call on 08130081300 from the registered mobile number to get the customer ID.

If you do not have the registered mobile at hand, you may utilize the Electronics Program Guide (EPG) section from the set-top box to find out the DTH number. Open 'Menu' from the remote and choose 'My Account’ to access EPG. The customer ID will get displayed on the screen.

Steps for Changing Mobile Number for Airtel DTH

Now follow the steps below to change the mobile number of your Airtel DTH.

  1. To begin, visit Airtel DTH official website. The page is exclusive for updating the registered mobile number.
  2. Enter the Digital TV customer ID in the space provided.
  3. The customer has to confirm his plan and last recharge amount.
  4. Enter the new mobile number in the space provided.
  5. Confirm the same by re-entering the number in the space given below.
  6. Click the 'Change Number' button displayed at the bottom of the screen.
  7. The system will ask for OTP validation by sending an OTP to the newly entered mobile number.
  8. Enter the OTP in the space provided.
  9. Click confirm.
  10. The customer will receive a confirmation message.

Voila! The registered mobile number of your Airtel DTH is changed.

 

BSNL Postpaid Plans Start at Rs 199 Per Month in India

Posted: 22 Jan 2022 05:51 PM PST

BSNL Postpaid Plans

The government-owned telecommunication service provider BSNL offers both prepaid and postpaid plans for its users. While prepaid plans help you keep a check on your budget, postpaid plans, on the other hand, offer bundled up benefits that one cannot overlook. BSNL provides multiple postpaid plans which include both, individual as well as family connections. BSNL postpaid cycles can be renewed monthly and the plans begin from as cheap as Rs 199. Mentioned below are the in-depth details of the postpaid plans offered by BSNL for first-time users or for subscribers who are looking to switch from prepaid services.

Every Postpaid Plan BSNL Offers

The first plan on the list is the cheapest offering from the company which comes at a price tag of Rs 199. It is an individual user plan that offers unlimited free voice calls in Home LSA/ national roaming including MTNL roaming area (on-net/off-net) along with 100 SMS per day. The pack offers 25GB of free data with data rollover of up to 75GB allowed. The fixed monthly charges of this plan are Rs 199 along with a few other expenses which will be mentioned below.

The next on the list is a Rs 399 plan which has been described on the website as the "Ghar Wapsi" plan. The plan comes at a price of Rs 399 and offers unlimited voice call – HPLMN and national roaming including Mumbai and Delhi in the MTNL network. The plan also offers 100 SMS per day along with 70GB of free data. The postpaid plan offers data rollover of up to 210GB.

The third plan on the list is Rs 525 plan from BSNL. At a price tag of Rs 525, BSNL provides a postpaid plan that offers the same unlimited voice call – HPLMN and national roaming including Mumbai and Delhi in MTNL network along with 100 SMS per day. Users also get 85GB of free data with data rollover of up to 255GB allowed. This plan also offers an additional family SIM with an unlimited voice calling facility but no data or SMS allowance.

Next is a Rs 798 plan that is a complete family postpaid plan. For a price of Rs 798, BSNL offers a postpaid that comes with unlimited voice call – HPLMN and national roaming including Mumbai and Delhi in MTNL network along with 100 SMS per day. The plan offers 50GB of free data with data rollover of up to 150GB allowed for the primary user. The plan also provides 2 family connections with an unlimited voice facility, 50GB data and 100SMS/day for each family connection separately.

Following is also a family connection offered by BSNL that provides three family connections along with the primary. For a price tag of Rs 999, BSNL offers a postpaid plan that offers unlimited voice call – HPLMN and national roaming including Mumbai and Delhi in the MTNL network along with 100 SMS per day. Primary users get 75GB of free data with data rollover of up to 225GB allowed. The plan also provides 3 family connections with an unlimited voice facility, 75GB data and 100SMS/day for each family connection separately.

Last on the list is the most expensive postpaid offering from BSNL which happens to be an individual plan. BSNL offers a postpaid plan at a cost of Rs 1,525 that provides unlimited voice call – HPLMN and national roaming including Mumbai and Delhi in the MTNL network along with 100 SMS per day. In addition to this, the plan offers truly unlimited data without any speed restrictions.

For the activation of all the above plans users have to pay a one-time fee of Rs 100 and GST charges are not included in the above-mentioned prices. Additionally, users have to pay a security deposit which is Rs 500 for Local + STD, Rs 2000 for Local +STD+ISD and Rs 2000 for Local+ STD+ ISD+ International Roaming as well. Users can check the additional charges applicable post the consumption of free data along with add-on packs on the official website of BSNL.

Oppo Reno7 Series Expected Launch Date for India

Posted: 22 Jan 2022 08:41 AM PST

Oppo Reno 7 Series Launch Date

The Chinese smartphone manufacturer Oppo had launched its flagship Oppo Reno7 Series in China last year. Since then, there have been multiple rumours regarding the Reno 7 series smartphones arriving in India. As of now, there is no official date for the launch of the device, however, a recent tip suggests a probable launch date for the Reno7 Series in India. Further, a mention on Oppo's official site also hints towards the same launch date.

According to the tipster Paras Guglani, Oppo will be launching its Reno7 Series in India on February 4. It is expected that the company will be launching both Oppo Reno7 and Reno7 Pro in India in the mid-range price segment. Moreover, the official Indian website of Oppo has an ongoing 'Early Bird' offer for the upcoming Reno7 series which expires on February 4 hinting towards the launch of the device on the same date. It is to be remembered that these are just speculations and not an official announcement, however, the winners of the early bird offer will be getting the devices from February 5 from retail stores.

Specifications for Oppo Reno7

It is expected that the Reno7 series will arrive in India with the same specs as it did in China. Oppo Reno7 was launched with a 6.43 inch Full-HD+ AMOLED display with up to a 90Hz refresh rate and a maximum touch sampling rate of 180Hz. The device featured a screen to body ratio of 91.8%. Oppo Reno7 was launched with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 778G chipset under the hood paired up with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage option.

Talking about the camera module of the device, Oppo Reno7 was launched with a triple rear camera setup consisting of a 64MP main camera, an 8MP wide-angle camera, a 2MP macro camera and a 32MP camera selfie snapper. The device operated on Android 11 ColorOS 12 and was backed by a 4500mAh battery with 60W fast charging support.

Specifications for Oppo Reno7 Pro

The high-end model Oppo Reno7 Pro arrived with a 6.55-inch Full-HD+ Super AMOLED display with up to 90Hz refresh rate and 180Hz touch sampling rate. It also included a Corning Gorilla Glass 5 protection. The Reno7 Pro model came with the latest chipset from MediaTek – MediaTek Dimensity 1200 MAX paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of onboard storage.

As far as the camera module is considered, Oppo Reno7 Pro featured a 50MP Sony IMX766 sensor, also used on Find X3 Pro, a wide-angle camera, and a 2MP macro camera. It also had a 32MP selfie camera. The device was also backed by a 4500mAh battery and supported 65W fast charge technology.

Vodafone and Iliad Might Strike a Merger Deal in Italy

Posted: 22 Jan 2022 06:28 AM PST

Vodafone - Iliad Deal

Two major telecom companies Vodafone and Iliad are apparently working on partnering up over a deal in Italy that will bring together the businesses of both the companies. The partnership between the two telecom giants can bring an end to the tough competition existing in the third-largest economy of the eurozone. A source who requested to be anonymous informed that to Reuters and added that both the companies are in talks with each other and are looking forward to tying up their respective businesses in Italy.

The Advantages of the Deal and Hindrances

Iliad is working with the investment bank Lazard over its strategic plans in Italy as informed by the source. It is to be noted that Iliad will be launching its wireline broadband in Italy on January 25. The anonymous source has also warned that the deal between the two telcos might not be certain. However, if the deal is signed, the telcos will become a powerhouse in the country with a mobile market penetration of 36% along with total combined revenue of over 6 billion Euros. Both Vodafone and Iliad have declined from making any comments over the partnership.

The telecom industry in Italy has been on a constant rise and Iliad has been looking to make the most of it by expanding further in the country under the leadership of billionaire founder Xavier Niel. Through expansion in Italy, Iliad looks to strengthen its presence in the market and stop the price war that has been hampering its margins. It is to be noted that Telecom Italia is still evaluating a 10.8-billion-euro takeover deal offered by US Fund KKR which looks to buyout Italy's biggest private telecom operator.

However, there might be a few hindrances in the deal between Vodafone and Iliad. Vodafone is one of the biggest operators in the country and has a revenue of around 5 billion euros and a market penetration of about 28.5%. On the other hand, Iliad is a much smaller company with a revenue of about 674 million euros in the year 2020 and a total mobile market share of 7.7%. But Iliad has shown a good performance during the pandemic and third-quarter sales in 2021 went up by 21%. Moreover, the merger between the two telcos will also require approval from both Rome and European Antitrust Regulators.

Samsung Commences Pre-Ordering of Galaxy S22 Series, Galaxy Tab S8

Posted: 22 Jan 2022 05:07 AM PST

Samsung Galaxy S22 Series

Samsung is all set to launch its much-awaited flagship Samsung Galaxy S22 Series. The manufacturer is planning to introduce Samsung Galaxy S22, Galaxy S22+, and Galaxy S22 Ultra smartphones during the Galaxy Unpacked event that has been scheduled to take place next week. Now, just before the launch of the devices, Samsung has started taking pre-orders for the Galaxy S22 series. In addition to this, the company is also offering pre-orders for the soon-to-be-launched Samsung Galaxy Tab S8. Users in the United States will be able to pre-order the upcoming smartphones as well as the tablet even before the smartphone manufacturer officially announces the specifications for devices.

The South-Korean smartphone manufacturer has done the same before as it allowed pre-orders for its Samsung Galaxy S21 series as well as Galaxy Note 20 series. Moreover, the official website of the company informs that the customers making the pre-orders will not be required to pay the price of the Galaxy S22 series upfront. Furthermore, the company has also informed on its website that any customer who makes a pre-order for the smartphones will receive a credit of $50 which amounts to somewhere around Rs 3500. This credit can be utilised to buy other products from the company's website.

Specifications for Galaxy S22 Series

As far as the specifications for the Samsung Galaxy S22 series of smartphones is considered, the series will feature either Snapdragon 8 Gen1 chipsets or Exynos 2200 chipsets, depending on the region where the devices are launched. The ultra-model of the series is also anticipated to bring back S-pen and the devices are expected to feature 12GB RAM with 512GB of internal storage.

Earlier reports have also informed that Samsung Galaxy S22+ might be backed by a 4,500mAh battery and will support 45W fast charging technology. Previous reports have also suggested that Galaxy S22+ will have a larger 6.55-inch screen in comparison to the Samsung Galaxy S22 which is set to feature 6.06 inches of screen. Moreover, the president of Samsung TM Roh also recently teased the launch of the devices via a tweet where he said that the devices will be the most "noteworthy" Galaxy S-series so far.

Telecom Sector Majorly Expecting Reduction in Levies from Upcoming Budget: Analysts

Posted: 22 Jan 2022 04:33 AM PST

Telecom Operators

The telecom sector of India is majorly expecting a reduction in levies from the upcoming budget. There might not be a lot of emphasis on 5G from a budget point of view as the technology is still being developed. But the telcos will expect a huge reduction in the reserve price of the spectrum bands.

Telcos have time and again requested for the levies to be reduced. Further, the industry wants the removal of the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) from the License Fee (LF). Currently, the LF for the telcos is 8% of the adjusted gross revenue (AGR). Out of this 8%, USOF liabilities comprise 5%, and the remaining 3% is the normal license fee. The telcos have requested the LF to be reduced to 1% from the 3% and the removal of mandatory contribution to the USOF.

"For Budget per se, major decision on 5G might not be seen, but any decision on rationalising levies, including USOF fee, could be a monitorable," said ICICI Securities in a note.

"While the government had addressed a majority of the high-impact issues and has also indicated another round of reforms to be announced, the industry seeks a reduction in the levies (mainly license fee and spectrum usage charges) to ease the financial burden on the sector," said ICRA.

Govt Should Issue Clear Guidelines or RoW Related Issues

The Right-of-Way (RoW) related issues in the telecom industry were a considerable problem for 4G. But with 5G, the RoW issues seem bigger and needs immediate addressing from the government.

To expand the infrastructure rapidly for rolling out 5G services, the telcos need the presence of uniform RoW guidelines in each state. This is an area where the government needs to focus on.

"Steps to boost infrastructure in rural and remote areas should remain in focus, with stimulus for increasing broadband penetration. Also, clear guidelines for right of way related issues to expand infrastructure is also a crucial aspect that government will have to look into, given the advent of 5G," ICRA added.

Even the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has called for an urgent need for the alignment of the state RoW policies with that of the Indian Telegraphy RoW rules 2016. Different states charge different amounts of money from the operators to lay optical fibre, which impacts the network and services rollout cost significantly.

Further, there is a need for faster clearance of RoW permissions. This way, the communication service providers (CSPs) can rollout network and connectivity services in rural and remote/backward parts of India in a faster manner and help with bridging the digital divide.

OnePlus 10R Expected to Launch with MediaTek Dimensity 9000 Chipset in Q2

Posted: 22 Jan 2022 02:58 AM PST

OnePlus 10R

The Chinese smartphone manufacturer OnePlus is reportedly working on its next flagship OnePlus 10R which is expected to arrive in the second quarter of 2022. The device is anticipated to arrive in China and India and a new report has provided some details on the upcoming device. The smartphone is going to be a follow-up device for the OnePlus 10 Pro that has been launched in China already while its global launch is still awaited. In separate news, a new render has emerged for the upcoming OnePlus TV Y1S Smart TV from OnePlus ahead of its launch in India.

Details on OnePlus 10R and the new Smart TV

As per a report from Android Central, OnePlus is all set to launch its OnePlus 10R with a MediaTek Dimensity 9000 Chipset coupled with a minimum of 8GB of RAM alongside at least 128GB of onboard storage. The report also gives information on the launch timeline of the handset, suggesting that it could arrive in the second quarter of 2022. Moreover, it is being speculated that the OnePlus 10R will arrive with an AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate.

It is expected that the device will be available only in the Asian markets, just like its predecessor series which consisted of OnePlus 9R and OnePlus 9RT smartphones. OnePlus 10 and OnePlus 10 Pro are waiting for a global unveiling in April and both smartphones are not going to feature a MediaTek chipset like in the OnePlus 10R. The reason behind this is the popularity of mmWave 5G in North America which is not supported by MediaTek chipsets.

Additionally, before the launch in India, a render of a Smart TV from OnePlus had surfaced over the web. According to tipster Ishan Agarwal, OnePlus TV Y1S was spotted on the OnePlus Connect app ahead of its launch in India. This was reported by MySmartPrice and the renders reveal that the Smart TV features small bezels and has a OnePlus logo in the centre of the bottom bezel. As far as the size of the Smart Tv is considered, it is speculated that it will arrive in two sizes – 32-inch and 43-inch and will be priced somewhere around Rs 25,000. However, the official confirmation for the OnePlus TV Y1S is still awaited by the company along with specification and availability details.

OnePlus Rolls Out OxygenOS 12 C.44 Update for Users of OnePlus9 and OnePlus 9 Pro

Posted: 22 Jan 2022 02:01 AM PST

OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro Update

The Chinese smartphone manufacturer OnePlus launched its flagship OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro devices back in March of 2021. Both the handsets have been receiving timely updates ever since the launch. Now, the company is rolling out a brand-new update for the OnePlus 9 and OnePlus 9 Pro devices outside of China. OnePlus will be releasing the firmware version C.44 with the latest update and some key changes will be introduced such as the Android Security Patch for January 2022. Mentioned below are some of the major updates being brought in on these devices.

The New Updates and Firmware Version

One of the major updates is as mentioned above, the Android Security Patch for January 2022. In addition to this, the new update will also take care of the bug that caused the notification bar to be dysfunctional in certain situations. Other key updates include three new Dark mode settings, new Card style options, the applicability of two-finger gestures to swipe between layouts in the gallery and more.

Users of the OnePlus 9 in India are receiving the update with the firmware version OxygenOS LE2111_11_C.44 whereas for Europe the firmware version is OxygenOS LE2113_11_C.44. Other users across the globe are receiving firmware version OxygenOS LE2115_11_C.44 with the new update on their OnePlus9 devices. As far as the OnePlus 9 Pro is considered, the company is releasing firmware version OxygenOS LE2121_11_C.44 for Indian users with the new update. The users from European countries and other parts of the world will receive firmware version OxygenOS LE2123_11_C.44 and OxygenOS LE2125_11_C.44 respectively.

The new update will bring three new adjustable levels to the Dark mode allowing for a more personalized user experience. In addition to this, the devices will receive a system power consumption to extend the battery life. The update has also fixed the scrolling lag issue in Notification Bar as well as has optimized the smoothness of fingerprint unlocking. The update has also added Earphone Control Card with Bluetooth earphone one-click adjustment.

Moreover, the new update has made the Work-Life Balance feature available to all users which allow users to seamlessly switch between Work and Life mode via quick settings. Talking about the gallery, along with the two-finger pinch gesture, the devices will also be capable of intelligently recognizing the best-quality pictures as well as cropping the thumbnail based on the content. The new features will offer a more pleasant look to the gallery on the devices. Also, the update has fixed the issue where the smartphones were unable to access the 5G network in some scenarios.

Excitel Broadband Is Perfect for Long-Term High-Speed Plan

Posted: 22 Jan 2022 01:11 AM PST

Excitel Broadband

Excitel, a fast-growing fiber internet service provider (ISP), offers the perfect long-term high-speed broadband plan to the users. The company only offers three broadband plans, but their monthly price is what stands out. Excitel, even on a monthly basis, offers its 300 Mbps plan for a cost of less than Rs 1,000. If you are looking for a high-speed broadband plan for the long term, in fact, for even the short-term, Excitel can be a top option for you. Here's what you should know about Excitel's high-speed broadband plans.

Excitel 300 Mbps Broadband Plan One of the Cheapest in the Country

Cheap sounds like a dirty word; thus, using the term "most affordable" is more appropriate here. Excitel's 300 Mbps broadband plan is available for a lucrative price of Rs 899 per month if the user is going for the monthly option. However, in case the user wants to go for the long-term options, the monthly price of the plan keeps on falling.

Users who can afford to purchase the 300 Mbps plan for 12 months from Excitel will have to make a lump-sum payment of Rs 5988 only, which equates to Rs 499 per month. At this price, some of the biggest ISPs in India don't even offer their 100 Mbps broadband plan. Further, the amount of data offered with this plan is truly unlimited. There's no fair-usage-policy (FUP) limit on the data, so the users can consume the internet freely without any worries.

The 300 Mbps broadband plan from Excitel is also available for different validity configurations, including 3, 4, 6, and 9 months for Rs 752, Rs 636, Rs 600, and Rs 533, respectively. Note that none of the prices mentioned here includes taxes. So an additional 18% GST will be required to be paid by the user, but that is the case with each and every ISP. Further, there's a Rs 2,000 security deposit which is completely refundable for the ONT devices provided by the company.

Will Netflix Reduce Price Further in India

Posted: 22 Jan 2022 12:30 AM PST

Netflix

Not a long-time back, while every other major over-the-top (OTT) service provider, including Disney+ Hotstar and Amazon Prime, was increasing the price of their plans in India, Netflix surprised its users with a price cut.

This move from the company came out of desperation to retain current users and also attract some new ones. Netflix isn't having the best time in India, and a primary reason for that is the price of the plans and the alternatives that are present today.

While users have started relying on OTT platforms for their entertainment needs, Netflix isn't the sole player in the market anymore. For a long-time, Netflix was the only major OTT player, not only in India but across the world. YouTube was there, but it wasn't considered a platform for premium content the way Netflix was looked at.

Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, Voot, ZEE5 Premium, SonyLIV, Hulu, and many more platforms are available today at a much lower price than what users will have to pay for Netflix. Further, even the other platforms are making original TV shows and movies, holding premieres for major movies and acquiring exclusive content, just like Netflix does.

Netflix Might Surprise Users With Another Price Cut

Netflix isn't adding new users in India the way it used to. In a recently held investor call, Reed Hastings, Co-founder, President and CEO of Netflix, said it is "frustrating" to not get the estimated success in the Indian market.

India is a price-sensitive market, and Netflix is only realising that now when other players have already established a loyal customer base.

However, Netflix still has a strong brand value and some exciting TV shows and movies in its portfolio. The company might just go for another price cut to attract a larger market share. Note that this is based on my hunch, and there's no official comment on the same from the company.

For a better market share, Netflix will have to do something extra in India if a price cut is not an option.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G Price Reduced in India

Posted: 21 Jan 2022 11:25 PM PST

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G

Samsung had recently launched the Galaxy S21 FE 5G for the Indian market. It has not even been two weeks, and the smartphone's price has been reduced. To recall, Samsung had launched the Galaxy S21 FE 5G in two variants in India with – a) 8GB+128GB and b) 8GB+256GB for Rs 54,999 and Rs 58,999.

But now, the smartphone's price has been reduced significantly. The base variant is available for a discount of Rs 5,000, which makes its effective price Rs 49,999, and the superior variant with more internal storage is available for Rs 53,999. The offers are available for customers on the official platform of Amazon India.

Not just this, but customers can get additional discounts if they go with the bank offers. With a Bank of Baroda card, users can save an additional 10% (up to Rs 1250) on the purchase. There's a similar offer with the American Express credit card where the customer can save up to Rs 1500. What's noteworthy here is that Samsung is not even running a big sale on its platform right now. We might see the price of the device going down further during the sale.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G Specifications

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 5G comes with a 6.4-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED 2x display with support for 120Hz refresh rate and has Corning Gorilla Glass Victus on top for additional protection. It runs on the powerful Exynos 2100 SoC coupled with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage. The device will boot in Android 12 out of the box (One UI 4.0).

There's a triple-camera setup at the rear (12MP ultra-wide-angle sensor, 12MP wide-angle-sensor, and an 8MP telephoto sensor). The device also has a 32MP sensor at the front for selfies and video calling.

It packs a 4500mAh battery with support for 25W fast charging. The device also supports 15W fast wireless charging.

Micromax In Note 2 4G Launch Confirmed for January 25, 2022

Posted: 21 Jan 2022 11:02 PM PST

Micromax In Note 2

Micromax is again going to try and scoop up some of the market shares by launching a new smartphone called 'In Note 2 4G' on January 25, 2022, in India. The launch has been confirmed by the company through a tweet. The only thing that Micromax revealed about the smartphone was its "Dazzling Glass Finish". While the teaser shared by the company doesn't reveal much in terms of specifications, one can notice the design a little.

The device seems to have a fairly large chin and narrow bezels on three sides, along with a punch-hole cutout in the front housing the selfie-sensor.

Micromax In Note 2 4G Dons a Design Highly Inspired by Galaxy S21 Series

Micromax In Note 2 4G shared on the teaser looks a lot inspired by the Samsung Galaxy S21 series. There's a quad-camera setup at the rear, along with an LED flash. The teaser has also confirmed that the smartphone will be available for sale via Flipkart exclusively. The In Note 2 might come in two different colours, including Brown and Blue.

The 'in' branding at the rear is at the bottom of the device. There's no confirmation on the other specifications of the device as of now. But since the launch date is so nearby, more leaks and reveals from the company as well as tipsters should follow.

Micromax In Note 1 was an impressive smartphone for the price it was selling at. The In Note 1 sported a MediaTek Helio G85 SoC coupled with up to 4GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. The device had a big 6.67-inch full-HD+ IPS display with support for maximum brightness of 450nits and had a 21:9 aspect ratio. The Micromax In Note 1 also featured a quad-camera setup at the rear.

Most likely, the Micromax In Note 2 4G will also feature a MediaTek chipset as it would allow the company to price the device even more affordable.

Jio, Vi and Airtel Offer These Strange Daily Data Plans

Posted: 21 Jan 2022 09:10 PM PST

Jio Vi Airtel

Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, and Vodafone Idea (Vi) all offer 2.5GB daily data prepaid plans. Not a lot of people want these plans as they offer a strange amount of data, but if you are looking for one, here are all the options that you will get from the top private telecom operators in the country. Note that we have already made a comparison between the same, click here if you want to know which telco offers the best 2.5GB daily data plan.

Reliance Jio

Jio offers a single 2.5GB daily data pack, and it is not meant for everyone. This plan is only good for people who are looking for a long-term prepaid plan. Jio's 2.5GB daily data prepaid plan comes for Rs 2,999 and offers a total validity of 365 days. Users also get unlimited voice calling, 100 SMS/day, and access to additional benefits, including JioTV, JioCinema, JioCloud, and JioSecurity.

Bharti Airtel

Bharti Airtel offers its 2.5GB daily data prepaid plan for Rs 449. This plan comes with a shorter validity of 28 days and offers unlimited voice calling and 100 SMS/day. There are Airtel Thanks benefits included, such as Amazon Prime Mobile Video Edition free trial for one month, Apollo 24|7 Circle, Shaw Academy, Rs 100 cashback on FASTag, and more.

Vodafone Idea

Vodafone Idea offers its 2.5GB daily data prepaid plan for Rs 409. It is cheaper than what Airtel offers to the users and also comes with a short validity of 28 days. With this plan as well, users get 100 SMS/day along with truly unlimited voice calling. Additional benefits bundled with this plan include Vi Movies & TV VIP access, Binge All Night, Weekend Data Rollover, and Data Delights offer. In the short term, Vodafone Idea's 2.5GB daily data prepaid plan seems like the best option, and in the long term, there's only one option, so users don't have much choice.

Airtel vs Jio vs Vi: Annual Prepaid Plans with 1.5GB Daily Data

Posted: 21 Jan 2022 08:24 PM PST

Airtel Vi Jio

Airtel, Jio and Vi offer prepaid plans with various validity options. Among the gamut of plans, yearly plans provide some value for money and come with year-long subscriptions to popular OTT services. They also save subscribers from future tariff hikes for a year and eliminate the hassles of recharging every month. Here we check out some annual prepaid plans offering 1.5GB of daily data.

Annual Prepaid Plans from Jio, Airtel, and Vi Offering 1.5GB of Daily Data

Reliance Jio has one annual prepaid plan at Rs 2545, offering 1.5GB of data per day. The plan comes with a validity of 336 days and provides unlimited calls and 100 SMS/day. The plan may not appeal to subscribers looking forward to OTT services, as it offers access only to Jio streaming apps, including JioTV and JioCinema.

Vi annual prepaid plan offering 1.5GB data/day comes at Rs 2899. The subscriber can get 365 days of truly unlimited calls and 100 SMS/day under the plan. Vi's flagship free night data offer from 12 am to 6 am, provision to transfer unused data to the weekend, up to 2GB of backup data every month, and access to Vi Movies & TV are the other benefits.

For subscribers who wish to get OTT streaming benefits with the annual prepaid plan, Vi offers a yearly prepaid plan at Rs 3099. The plan comes with a one-year subscription to Disney+ Hotstar worth Rs 499 for free and provides access to Vi Movies and TV. The subscriber can get truly unlimited calls, 1.5 GB/day and 100 SMS/day under the plan in terms of call, data, and text message benefits. Similar to Vi annual plan at Rs 2899, the plan comes with free night data offer from 12 am to 6 am, weekend data rollover, and up to 2GB of backup data every month.

Interestingly, Airtel does not offer unlimited annual plans with a 1.5GB/day data benefit. The nearest offer in this range for Airtel subscribers is to choose is a yearly plan offering 2GB/day data. Two plans are available with 2GB/day benefits – at Rs 2999 and Rs 3359. While Rs 2999 targets subscribers who are not anticipating many OTT benefits, Rs 3359 plan offers a one-year mobile subscription to Disney+ Hotstar. Both Airtel prepaid plans offer unlimited calls, 100 SMS/day, a 30-day trial to Amazon Prime, and Airtel Thanks App benefits.

TRAI Says 5G Safe for Aviation in India

Posted: 21 Jan 2022 07:22 PM PST

5G

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has reassured that 5G is safe for aircraft operations in India. There has been a lot of confusion in people's minds related to 5G being a safe technology or not. The concerns for the aviation sector came up primarily because of what's happening in the United States. Air India had even cancelled some of its flights to the United States (U.S.) on Wednesday due to the same.

The U.S. telecom operators had started their C-band 5G services due to which airline operations were getting affected.

TRAI Chairman, P D Vaghela told TOI, that there are no problems for the aviation industry in India when it comes to the 5G rollout.

Plenty of Spectrum Safeguard Available

Vaghela said that there is plenty of safeguard between the spectrum that will be used by the telcos for 5G and the airwaves that aircraft equipment use. The same is not the case in the U.S. and thus the problems have occurred.

The major issue is with the airwaves that the altimeter uses which is in the 4200 MHz – 4400 MHz. In India, the telcos will be given 5G airwaves in the 3300 MHz to 3670 MHz. Thus, there will be a gap of 530 MHz between the frequencies that telcos will use and the airwaves that aircraft will use.

But in the U.S., telcos have been assigned airwaves between 3700 MHz – 3980 MHz. Thus, the gap between the frequencies for both services (aviation and telecom) is much less in the U.S.

An altimeter is a piece of sensitive aircraft equipment that helps the pilots with landing when the visibility on the runway is very less. Thus, it is important that there is no interference with the altimeter as it is a very crucial equipment of the aircraft determining a safe landing. But India has nothing to worry about here because of the spectrum safeguard that is present in between.

Airtel vs Vodafone Idea – Disney+ Hotstar Prepaid Plans Compared

Posted: 21 Jan 2022 05:43 PM PST

Airtel vs Vi Disney+ Hotstar Prepaid Plans

The most popular prepaid plan offered by any telecom company is its daily data plan which offers everything in one place for the users, be it data, voice calls or SMS. With the rising demand for OTT platforms, telcos also bundle up subscriptions to a few OTT platforms along with their plans for their content-loving user base. Two of the major telcos in India Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea offer quite similar plans and also have prepaid plans that come with access to the Disney+ Hotstar OTT platform. Mentioned below is a comparison between the daily data prepaid plans of the two telcos that offer a subscription to Disney+ Hotstar.

The 3GB/Day Plans

Both Airtel and Vodafone Idea or Vi offer 3GB daily data plans that provide access to Disney+ Hotstar. Airtel offers a 3GB daily data plan at a price tag of Rs 599. The plan comes with a validity period of 28 days and offers unlimited voice calls along with 100 SMS per day. Users get access to a yearlong subscription to Disney+ Hotstar Mobile worth Rs 499. In addition to this, the plan also offers access to the Amazon Prime Video mobile edition, Wynk Music and more.

Vi on the other hand also offers the 3GB per day prepaid plan at a cost of Rs 601. The plan comes with a validity period of 28 days as well and offers truly unlimited voice calls along with 100 SMS per day. Users also get a subscription to one-year Disney+ Hotstar mobile along with this plan. Added benefits on the plan include the 'Binge All Night' feature which allows free internet surfing from midnight to 6 AM, access to Vi Movies and TV and more. Users also get an additional 16GB of data with this plan at no extra cost.

The Medium-Term Plan

Both Airtel and Vodafone Idea or Vi offer prepaid plans with a medium validity period that provides access to Disney+ Hotstar. Airtel offers a 2GB daily data plan at a price tag of Rs 838. The plan comes with a validity period of 56 days and offers unlimited voice calls along with 100 SMS per day. Users get access to a year-long subscription to Disney+ Hotstar Mobile. The added benefits of this plan as well include access to the Amazon Prime Video mobile edition, Wynk Music and more.

Vi offers a different plan from Airtel. The telco offers a 3GB per day prepaid plan at a cost of Rs 901. The plan comes with a validity period of 70 days as well and offers truly unlimited voice calls along with 100 SMS per day. Users can get a subscription to one-year Disney+ Hotstar mobile along with this plan. Users get an additional 48GB of data with this plan at no extra cost. Added benefits include the 'Binge All night' feature mentioned above, rollover of unused data from Monday-Friday to Saturday and Sunday, access to Vi Movies and TV and more.

The Long-Term Plans

Last on the list is the long-term prepaid plans offered by both the telcos. Airtel offers a 2GB daily data plan at a price tag of Rs 3,359. The plan comes with a validity period of 365 days and offers truly unlimited voice calls along with 100 SMS per day. Users get access to a yearlong subscription to Disney+ Hotstar Mobile worth Rs 499 with this plan as well. Added benefits on this prepaid plan are the same as above.

Vi also offers a long-term prepaid plan that comes with a subscription to the yearlong Disney+ Hotstar mobile OTT platform. The prepaid plan from Vi comes with access to 1.5GB of data per day for a price tag of Rs 3,099. The plan has a validity period of 365 days and offers truly unlimited voice calls along with 100 SMS per day as well. The additional benefits on this prepaid plan from Vi are the same as above, however, the telco does not offer any additional data with this plan.

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