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WhatsApp Releases Two New Notifications Related Features for iOS Devices

Posted: 06 Jan 2022 03:09 AM PST

WhatsApp New Features

The social media messaging platform WhatsApp has recently released two new features for iOS beta users related to app notifications. WhatsApp has always been on its toes to roll out new updates carrying features that enhance the overall experience of the users. The first feature from WhatsApp will enable users to see profile pictures via the notifications, and the second feature will exhibit information when someone mentions or replies to a user in a WhatsApp group. Both of these features are scheduled to roll out in different updates.

The New Features by WhatsApp

The news regarding the above-mentioned updates came in just days after it was speculated that WhatsApp is redefining the user interface for the Contact Info Page and was spotted developing an ability to let group administrators link their groups to a community on iOS. The first feature regarding the profile photos in notifications is being rolled out on the devices updated to at least version 2.22.1.1 beta on iOS 15 of the app. On the other hand, the feature with information related to group mentions or replies on the notification has been submitted through the TestFlight beta Program in version 22.1.71 as reported by WABetaInfo.

The 2.22.1.1 beta update for iOS devices will witness the feature where users will be able to see the profile picture of the sender via the notifications. The feature is currently being rolled out to a restricted number of users and the updates enhancing the feature will be released in the foreseeable future. The second feature is also related to notifications as it will allow users to know when someone mentions or replies to them in a group; however, this feature only pertains to group chats and not individual chats. WABetaInfo has shared screenshots of both features on iOS devices.

These new updates come in a little while after the last beta update released by the company, which was speculated to bring in a redesigned interface for the contact info page. The newly designed contact page might come with a feature of a dedicated tab for search shortcuts. This update will be limited to iOS users for now, and Android users can expect it in the near future. In addition to this, there have also been talks about WhatsApp working on a feature that will enable the group administrators to link their groups to a community on iOS.

EYVA – Non-Invasive Healthcare Gadget Launched by BlueSemi at CES 2022

Posted: 06 Jan 2022 02:11 AM PST

EYVA - Healthcare Gadget

An emerging Indian health tech start-up, BlueSemi has just launched its latest revolutionary product – EYVA at the ongoing Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2022. With its state-of-the-art product, BlueSemi promises a novel and easier healthcare monitoring and managing solution to people. EYVA is a non-invasive consumer health tech gadget that is backed by an innovative patented technology and features sensor fusion, accurate AI algorithms, and smart IoT. What adds more to this cutting-edge development is the fact that with the introduction of EYVA, BlueSemi has become the first Indian health tech company to unveil a product at the world's one of the most prominent tech events – the Consumer Electronics Show.

What EYVA has to Offer?

Talking about the features of the latest health tech product, EYVA can accurately measure 6 key body vitals- Blood glucose, ECG, Heart rate, Blood pressure, SPo2, and Temperature. The gadget will enable the users to get their health vitals within 60 seconds without the involving of pricks and blood and just using a simple touch option. The all-new gadget will also come with a free mobile application enabling users to keep a check on and make better health and lifestyle decisions regarding fitness, nutrition and stress management.

EYVA not only features a revolutionary technology but also has a unique approach to wellness via a mythical world that has been exhibited through its mobile app called Anthea Realm. As described, Anthea Realm is a world that heals along with you, that has secrets under its blooming flowers and gushing waterfalls that can help a user connect to oneself.

Talking about the launch of the noteworthy creation by BlueSemi, the founder and CEO of the company, Sunil Maddikatla said in a statement that EYVA is a result of the company's relentless hard work and commitment towards making the world a better and healthier place. He said that BlueSemi is proud of becoming the first Indian health tech company to exhibit such a revolutionary product at the world's premier consumer electronics show. He talked about EYVA being a successful product with its unique, appealing, compact, sleek, and easy to carry design along with seamless usage. He further added that the latest product from BlueSemi has the potential to revolutionise how people perceive health care by ensuring wellness at the touch of one's fingertips.

Price and Availability

The all-new health tech gadget EYVA will be available for Rs 15,490 in the Indian market. The device will be available for purchase by March 2022 in limited quantity. However, by the end of the first half of 2022, the company targets to offer it to users across the country. Moreover, using the app, users will also be able to avail multiple paid plans that will allow them access to advanced insights and suggestions for changes in diet and exercise.

Jio, NPCI Bring UPI AUTOPAY for Convenient Mobile Recharges

Posted: 06 Jan 2022 01:19 AM PST

Reliance Jio

To ease out the process of mobile recharges, Reliance Jio and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) have announced UPI AUTOPAY for the telecom industry. All hundreds of millions of Jio users will be able to leverage UPI AUTOPAY for automatic recharges without any hassle. Now onwards, Jio users can set standing orders on the MyJio app using UPI AUTOPAY for their favourite tariff plans and never worry about mobile recharges ever again. With this announcement, Reliance Jio has become the first operator in the telecom industry of India to introduce such a service for the customers.

Reliance Jio Users Don't Need to Worry About Recharging Again

Jio users don't need to worry about their current plan ending and recharging again. With the UPI AUTOPAY, users can automate the recharge procedure, and as soon as their current plan ends, their mobile number will be recharged again with the plan selected in standing instructions.

Note that users don't even need to enter their UPI pin for the recharge transactions of up to Rs 5,000. Users can anytime modify the settings and stop the auto-recharges or change the plan they want to recharge with in the future. There will also be an option for the Jio users to remove e-mandate for the tariff plans as per their requirements through UPI AUTOPAY.

This feature is something that a lot of mobile users will appreciate as they can recharge their parents and kids mobile numbers without any hassle. Users won't have to keep track of when the mobile recharges are expiring. They can just set up UPI AUTOPAY and get a hassle-free mobile experience with Reliance Jio.

Note that the service is only meant for prepaid users of the company. All the postpaid users will have to keep recharging manually. Other private telcos, including Airtel and Vodafone Idea, might also be planning to launch a similar feature now that Jio has.

Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge, Xiaomi 11i Launched in India, Check Price and Specifications

Posted: 06 Jan 2022 12:50 AM PST

Xiaomi 11i Hypercharge

Xiaomi has launched two new smartphones in the Xiaomi 11i series for the Indian market, namely Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge and Xiaomi 11i. Both the smartphones come with almost similar features and specifications, except the charging technology. The Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge comes with support for 120W fast-charging, while the Xiaomi 11i can support 67W fast-charging. Both the devices are powered by the same MediaTek chipset. Let's take a look at the specifications and price of both smartphones.

Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge, Xiaomi 11i Specifications in India

Both the smartphones come with a 6.6-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with support for 120Hz refresh rate and 360Hz touch-sampling rate. The display can go up to 1200nits in brightness for comfortable viewing outdoors in sunlight. The Xiaomi 11i series devices also come with the Corning Gorilla Glass 5 on top of the screen, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and an IP53 rating.

Both smartphones are powered by the same MediaTek Dimensity 920 5G SoC coupled with up to 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage. Users can also expand the storage up to 1TB with the help of an external microSD card. The smartphones come with support for dual-5G SIM slots and can connect with eight 5G bands.

The Xiaomi 11i series devices feature a 108MP HM2 image sensor paired with an 8MP ultra-wide-angle sensor and a 2MP macro sensor. For video calling and selfies, users get a 16MP sensor at the front.

The Xiaomi 11i features a 5160mAh battery with support for 67W fast-charging, while the Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge features a 4500mAh battery with support for 120W Xiaomi HyperCharge technology.

Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge, Xiaomi 11i Price in India

Both smartphones are available in two different variants.

Xiaomi 11i HyperCharge –

6GB+128GB = Rs 26,999
8GB+128GB = Rs 28,999

Xiaomi 11i –

6GB+128GB = Rs 24,999
8GB+128GB = Rs 26,999

The devices will be available in India for the first sale from January 12, 2022, in four different colours — Stealth Black, Pacific Pearl, Purple Mist, and Camo Green via Mi's website, Flipkart, and authorised retail partners.

There are bank offers of up to Rs 2500 additional cashback as well as Rs 1500 discount voucher (new year offer) available too.

Airtel Payments Bank, Park+ to Offer FASTag Based Smart Parking Solutions

Posted: 06 Jan 2022 12:12 AM PST

Airtel Payments Bank

Airtel Payments Bank has partnered with Park+ to offer FASTag based Smart Parking solutions. The partnership will focus on digitising the parking ecosystem using FASTag associated with a respective vehicle. Airtel Payments Bank is one of the leading online banking and wallet platforms with a deep reach in India, while Park+ is the market leader in automating parking spaces through FASTag. Even the majority of FASTag transactions in the country are being processed through Park+ systems.

Airtel Payments Bank in Top Five Issuers of FASTag in the Country

For the unaware, Airtel Payments Bank is one of the top five issuers of FASTag in India. With its deep reach and the solution from Park+, both the companies can reach new customers and expand their business aggressively. Airtel Thanks app allows customers to easily purchase FASTag from the banking section.

Park+ access control systems are already installed in more than 1500 societies, 30+ malls, and 150+ corporate parks across the country. Park+ is also capitalising on its position of being the largest parking aggregator in the country by helping to deploy more than 10,000 EV chargers at these locations.

Ganesh Ananthanarayanan, COO, Airtel Payments Bank, said the company is delighted to partner with Park+ for offering innovative FASTag based parking solutions to its customers.

These solutions are going to play a pivotal role in easing a consumer's life as more and more people are choosing to travel through private vehicles due to the pandemic. It will make the journey of the consumer more convenient and help them save a lot of their valuable time.

This partnership will help Airtel Payments Bank in offering something new to the customers, while Park+ will be able to leverage the reach of the Airtel Payments Bank and add more users.

FASTag has the ability to become the default wallet for the car owner, said Amit Lakhotia.

Bharti Airtel Stock Jumps Almost 3% Post New JV, Sale of Tower Assets

Posted: 05 Jan 2022 11:30 PM PST

Bharti Airtel

Bharti Airtel's stock or shares have jumped by almost 3% on Thursday morning post the announcement of a new joint venture with Hughes and the sale of tower assets in Tanzania. Bharti Airtel's subsidiary — Airtel Africa Plc has received $159 million out of $176.1 million from the sale of tower assets in Tanzania. The remaining amount will be received once the remaining towers are transferred to the purchaser. Then, on Wednesday, Airtel had announced a new joint venture with Hughes Communications through which the new entity will provide satellite broadband services in India.

Bharti Airtel Stock Trading in the Green

At the time of writing, Bharti Airtel's stock is trading at Rs 715.60, which is 2.23% in the green. The telco's stock had previously closed at Rs 700 and opened at Rs 702 on Thursday. Airtel shares touched a high of Rs 720.50, which was close to a 3% jump from the previous close.

Vodafone Idea's (Vi) stock is also trading close to 2% in the green. At the time of writing, Vodafone Idea's stock is trading at Rs 15.40, which is 1.99% high than the previous close of Rs 15.10. Vi's stock touched a high of Rs 15.75 on Thursday morning.

Despite the Delhi High Court order, which stayed the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) order which didn't allow the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to take coercive action against Vodafone Idea for not following the new Mobile Number Portability (MNP) rules, the stock of the telco is trading in the green.

This could be because the telco has paid its statutory dues of 818 crores and also made the payment to the non-convertible debenture (NCD) holders on time. It signifies that the telco's cash flow situation has eased out significantly, and it is expected to make future payments on time as well. The government has already returned the bank guarantees worth thousands of crores to the telcos.

OnePlus Might be Slowly Losing Ground in India: Opinion

Posted: 05 Jan 2022 10:28 PM PST

OnePlus

What started as a beautiful relationship between Indians and OnePlus is now turning a little sour with the buggy experience of smartphones. With the OnePlus 7 Pro, the company stepped into the super-premium category with its smartphones crossing Rs 50,000 in MRP in India. Further, with the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 9 series, the Chinese smartphone giant kept on increasing the price of its devices and made itself a recognisable brand in the ultra-premium category. The OnePlus 9 Pro touched upwards of Rs 70,000 in MRP.

But the company has simply been unable to meet the expectations. This might be because it is trying too much now. Earlier, OnePlus had very limited products to focus attention on. But now, there's everything, including smartwatches, TVs, earphones, power banks, and smartphones, and there are rumours that the company is working on a tablet as well.

While the company has money, resources, experience, and the brand to pull it off, it isn't really working for it. OnePlus's main attraction, which is its smartphones – are underdelivering. This isn't just my opinion, but many users with a recent OnePlus device are saying the same thing.

OnePlus Has Delivered Great Devices, But With Buggy Experience

The sole reason why users have been dissatisfied with the OnePlus smartphones is the buggy experience. The OxygenOS, which was remarked as the king of Android operating systems has been looked down upon by many. There are a lot of issues that are coming with the OnePlus devices.

Be it the OnePlus 9R, OnePlus Nord 2 5G, or OxygenOS 12 on the OnePlus 9 series, OnePlus has been unable to deliver what it used to. Even online, there are many customers complaining about having issues with the recent OnePlus devices.

Having personally used multiple OnePlus smartphones, some of the common problems that I have faced across all the devices is the very slow opening of the gallery, the phone crashing down at times, apps freezing even when the RAM is not overloaded.

A lot of users have taken to Twitter and complained about the same issues as well. Even the Hasselblad partnership didn't do much for the company.

Oppo Partnership Might Change This

OnePlus merged with Oppo last year. The merger will see a unified OS (OxygenOS and ColorOS mixed) coming to the future OnePlus devices. This might solve a lot of bug issues for the devices. Especially, OnePlus needs to change the reputation of new devices, creating a lot of problems for the users. It happened with the OnePlus 8 as well as the OnePlus 9 series.

BSNL Offering Free 5GB of Data for 30 Days

Posted: 05 Jan 2022 09:50 PM PST

BSNL

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) is offering free 5GB of data for 30 days to users. But not every user is eligible to get hands-on free data. Only new users switching to a BSNL SIM would be eligible to get 5GB of free data from the state-run telco. Further, the offer is only valid till January 15, 2022. BSNL is running a new campaign called '#switchtoBSNL'. Note that the validity of the 5GB data will be 30 days or the validity of the current plan, and from switching, the company means that users who are porting out of other networks and joining BSNL. Just getting a new number from BSNL won't make you eligible for the bonus data. Check out all the terms and conditions of the offer below.

#SwitchtoBSNL Terms and Conditions

Firstly, it is compulsory for the users that they share/retweet every BSNL's post related to this campaign on their timeline. Further, all the participants will have to follow/like the official BSNL Facebook page (@bsnlcorporate) as well as the Twitter handle (@BSNLcorporate).

It is compulsory for the users to use #switchtoBSNL while submitting their entries on Twitter and Facebook. The customers switching to BSNL will also have to post their reason for switching to BSNL by using hashtags #SwtichtoBSNL, then tag BSNL and also follow it on all the social media platforms.

New customers joining the BSNL need to share a screenshot of the tweet/post and send it to the company through DM/ Whatsapp (9457086024) with the respective mobile number.

After doing all of this, the customer will be eligible to receive 5GB of bonus data from the company. Note that the offer is only valid up to January 15, 2022. BSNL will decide which users are eligible to receive the bonus data. Users need to port their number out of their current operator to BSNL for receiving the benefit.

Vodafone Idea Has Paid LF, SUC Dues for Q2 FY22

Posted: 05 Jan 2022 08:50 PM PST

Vodafone Idea

Cash strapped Vodafone Idea has reportedly cleared its statutory dues amounting to Rs 818 crore. The payment from the telco has been made to the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) with respect to pending License Fees (LF) and Spectrum Usage Charges (SUC) for the second quarter of FY22. The help from the government's relief package is evident as the telco has been able to make on-time back to back payments to the non-convertible debenture (NCD) holders, which are clear signs of easing cash flow.

Vodafone Idea Paid Rs 818 Crore to DoT on December 31, 2021

As per ET Telecom, DoT received Rs 818 crore from Vodafone Idea on December 31, 2021. But the payments don't stop here for the third-largest telco in India. Vodafone Idea has to shell out another Rs 4500 crore by February to complete the payment to NCD holders.

A senior official told ET that Vodafone Idea wanted this payment to be deferred to next year, but the telco was explained that it has already received a lot of help from the government and more was in the way, so it would be better if it made the payment right away.

The telco has received a very big cash flow relief with the government's help; it should be able to clear LF and SUC dues comfortably every quarter. Vodafone Idea is going to further see an improvement in its revenues with the recent prepaid tariff hikes, which would add to the cash flow ease of the company.

There's no doubt that the telco requires a fundraise before the 5G spectrum auctions, or else it would add to the debt burden of the company. 5G spectrum and network deployment would require telcos to spend several thousand crores, and for that, the industry debt is expected to rise. Vi is in a much better position to raise funds than it has ever been in, and the telco has repeatedly said that it is talking with potential prospects for raising funds.

How Apple Watch is Saving Life of Its Users

Posted: 05 Jan 2022 07:33 PM PST

Apple

Apple has released a new commercial highlighting Apple Watch's life-saving capabilities during emergencies.

Dubbed as 911, the advertisement showcases the experiences of three Apple Watch users who say the device saved their lives by allowing them to call 911 in an emergency. The actual audio from 911 calls is used in the commercial. Interestingly, Apple advertisement does not show Apple Watch.

According to Apple, the incidents shown in the Apple commercial are three of many great examples where people have been able to seek aid using the Apple Watch. In the video's post-script title card, Apple stated that three people named Jason, Amanda, and Jim saved their lives within minutes by using their Apple Watch.

The commercial claims that purchasing an Apple Watch could save your life in an emergency if you don't have access to your iPhone since it allows you to dial 911 from your wrist. The Apple Watch contains an Emergency SOS feature that instantly connects with emergency services by pushing and holding the side button on the watch and moving your finger across the screen to the Emergency SOS slider.

However, it's worth noticing that the Apple Watch Emergency SOS option is only available in the United States. The Apple Watch does not have a 911 or comparable emergency calling feature in India.

Apple Watch emergency call feature may also make accidental calls

While the capacity to contact emergency services has been praised for its ability to save lives, there are also times when it makes calls by accident. In June, a Kansas police department reported that the Apple Watch's unintended triggering of such calls is diverting rescuers away from genuine emergencies.

The new '911' commercial has also gotten its fair share of flak. Apple, for example, has been accused of "selling you on fear" and "edging into sleazy insurance salesman territory to do so," according to The Verge, a popular publication.

While there were none with the Apple Watch Series 7, Apple Watch Series 8 is likely to contain a body temperature scanner, a fertility sensor, and upgrades to the ECG and sleep tracking sensors.

Apple Watch models with cellular connectivity can make calls with a cellular plan, while Wi-Fi GPS devices can make calls while linked to an iPhone and within Bluetooth range.

Reliance Jio Brings Back Rs 499 Plan with OTT Benefit, 2GB Daily Data

Posted: 05 Jan 2022 05:36 PM PST

Reliance Jio Rs 499 Plan

The country has witnessed a huge surge in demand for the internet ever since it became affordable. Telecom Operators provide a wide range of plans and offers to meet the need of their users. Since users always want more, telcos have to bundle up added benefits and offers with their prepaid plans to satisfy the needs of the users. One of the major telcos of India – Reliance Jio has reintroduced its daily data prepaid plan that also comes with OTT benefits. Reliance Jio has been providing multiple prepaid plans with OTT benefits and the Rs 499 plan has been once again added to its daily data prepaid plans that also comes bundled up with access to a major OTT platform. Mentioned below are the details of the reintroduced prepaid plan and its benefits along with other plans from Reliance Jio that offer subscriptions to OTT platforms.

Rs 499 Plan with Disney+ Hotstar

Reliance Jio has added Rs 499 plan to the list of its prepaid offers. Rs 499 plan comes with a validity period of 28 days and offers 2GB of data each day until the validity period. The plan also offers unlimited voice calls and 100 SMS per day. New users also get a subscription to Jio Prime Membership with the purchase of this plan. After the completion of the set limit of 2GB per day, users can enjoy unlimited data at 64 Kbps.

In addition to these benefits, the prepaid plan also comes with access to Disney+ Hotstar. With the purchase of this plan, users can get a subscription to OTT platform Disney+ Hotstar for one-year worth Rs 499 at no added cost. The plan also gives access to a few Jio applications such as Jio Cinema, Jio TV and more.

Reliance Jio Other Prepaid Plans That Offer Disney+ Hotstar

Reliance Jio offers another prepaid plan with OTT access at a price tag of Rs 601. The plan has a validity period of 28 days and offers 3GB of data each day along with unlimited voice calls and 100 SMS per day. Along with daily 3GB of data, the plan also offers an additional 6GB of data. The Rs 601 plan from Jio comes with access to one year Disney+ Hotstar mobile worth Rs 499 at no added cost. This plan as well offers access to a few Jio Applications.

The second plan that comes with the yearly subscription to Disney+ Hotstar is the Rs 799 plan. This plan has been revised from its earlier price of Rs 666 after the tariff hikes and offers 2GB of data per day. This is also an unlimited voice calling plan that comes with 100 SMS per day for a validity period of 56 days. The plan also comes with access to a few other Jio applications.

The next on the list is another plan offering 2GB of high-speed data per day for a validity period of 84 days and comes at a cost of Rs 1,066. This plan was revised from its earlier cost of Rs 888 after the tariff surge and offers unlimited calling and 100 SMS per day. The plan is bundled up with a one-year subscription to Disney+ Hotstar and access to Jio applications such as Jio TV and a few more. In addition to this, users also get an extra 5GB of data with the plan.

The last daily data prepaid plan that comes with the subscription to one-year Disney+ Hotstar is a yearlong prepaid plan. The plan offering 2GB of high-speed data every day comes at a price of Rs 3,119 which has been revised from its former price of Rs 2,599. The validity period of this plan is 365 days and users get unlimited voice calls and 100 SMS per day with this plan. Along with the total of 730GB daily data, the plan offers an additional 10GB of high-speed data and access to a few Jio applications.

iQOO 9 Series Smartphones Unveiled, Check Price and Specifications

Posted: 05 Jan 2022 08:40 AM PST

iQOO 9

The Chinese smartphone brand iQOO has announced new iQOO 9 series in China. There will be two variants under the phone — iQOO 9 and iQOO 9 Pro.

The iQOO 9 series smartphones are the successors to the iQOO 8 series, which was released in China last year. While the iQOO 8 series was unavailable in India, the company is scheduled to revamp its flagship offering later this year. Although there are no confirmations, the iQOO 9 series India launch is rumoured to occur in February 2022.

In 2022, the iQOO flagship smartphones will feature Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC, which is expected to raise the performances of the handsets.

iQOO 9 and iQOO 9 Pro Features 

In terms of iQOO 9 and iQOO 9 Pro specifications, the standard iQOO 9 smartphones will come in three configurations. The base model will feature 8GB RAM with 256GB. The mid variant will be a 12GB + 256GB model, and the higher option will come with a 12GB and 512GB combination.

Under the hood, iQOO flagship smartphones will come with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor with a 4700 mAh battery to power them. The standard model will support 120W rapid charging. On the other hand, the Pro model will comprise 120W wired fast-charging, as well as 50W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging.

On the rear end, both smartphones will come with a triple-camera arrangement. A 50MP, 150-degree ultrawide camera, a 50MP Samsung GN5 camera, and a 16MP f/2.2 portrait camera are included in the Pro variant. A 50MP primary camera, a 13MP ultrawide camera, and a 12MP portrait camera sensor are included in the standard model. Both phones have a 16MP front camera.

In terms of display, iQOO phones have a 6.78-inch AMOLED screen. On the other hand, the iQOO 9 Pro model has a 2K curved AMOLED display, while the vanilla model only has a Full HD+ flat display. They come pre-installed with the Android 12-based Origin OS Ocean.

iQOO 9 Pricing

The base 8GB RAM with 256GB model of iQOO 9 will be priced at CNY 3,999 (around Rs 46,860 in Indian currency). iQOO 9 12GB + 256GB model variants will be priced at CNY 4,399 (around Rs 51,550). The 12GB + 512GB model iQOO 9 will come with a price tag of CNY 4,799 (approximately Rs 56,240).

iQOO 9 Pro Pricing

The iQOO 9 Pro smartphone has three storage options similar to the iQOO 9. The base variant of the iQOO 9 Pro will be priced at CNY 4,999 (approximately Rs 58,580), whereas the two 12GB RAM models will be priced at CNY 5,499 (nearly Rs 64,440) and CNY 5,999 (around Rs 70,310), respectively.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Pre-Booking Goes Live in India

Posted: 05 Jan 2022 07:01 AM PST

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE

Samsung recently announced the Galaxy S21 FE in the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2022. The smartphone was then also found to be listed on the India website. However, the price of the device wasn't revealed. But now, Indian consumers can start pre-booking the device from the official website of the company or the Samsung Shop app. Let's take a look at the pre-booking price that a consumer will have to pay for the smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Pre-Booking Price

The Samsung Galaxy S21 FE pre-booking has started for Indian consumers and the price for that is Rs 999. The token amount can be paid online and the pre-booking will stay live from January 5 to January 10, 2022. The official sales of the smartphone in India will start on January 11, 2022.

Note that the users pre-booking the device will get the 'Next Galaxy VIP Pass' for free through which they can get a Galaxy SmartTag worth Rs 2699 absolutely free. Further, users will have the flexibility to cancel their pre-booking for the avail 100% refund. The Galaxy S21 FE is expected to launch for a price of Rs 52,000 in India.

Samsung Galaxy S21 FE Specifications

The smartphone is very likely to be powered by the Exynos 2100 SoC in India. However, Samsung could also surprise and introduce the Snapdragon 888 powered S21 FE in India as it has already been selling the S20 FE with Snapdragon chipset in the country.

The device will run on One UI 4.0 based on Android 12 out of the box and come with a 6.4-inch FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED display with support for 120Hz refresh rate. There's a triple camera setup with a 12MP primary sensor, 12MP ultra-wide-angle sensor, and an 8MP telephoto sensor with support for 30x zoom. For selfies, there’s a 32MP snapper at the front. To know about the entire specifications of the smartphone, kindly click here.

Vodafone Idea Gets a Huge Blow, Delhi HC Stays TDSAT Order on MNP

Posted: 05 Jan 2022 06:12 AM PST

Vodafone Idea

The Delhi High Court (HC) has stayed the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal's (TDSAT) order which stopped the telecom regulator from taking any coercive action against Vodafone Idea (Vi) for not allowing certain customers to port out to other networks. Earlier, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) had asked all the telecom operators to allow customers using prepaid without SMS benefits to port out as well.

The telcos were offering expensive prepaid plans with SMS benefits, and right at the top, with the most expensive base, prepaid plan with SMS benefits was Vodafone Idea.

TDSAT Had Stayed TRAI's Order on Vodafone Idea's Appeal

Back in December, Vodafone Idea had appealed to TDSAT against the TRAI order on Mobile Number Portability (MNP), following which TDSAT had stayed TRAI's order. But then, TRAI took the case to Delhi HC where the high court has stayed TDSAT's order, reports ET Telecom.

Right now, Vodafone Idea users need to at least recharge with Rs 155 if they want SMS benefits with their plan. With Jio and Airtel, this is Rs 119 and Rs 99. Reliance Jio had earlier complained that such expensive SMS bundled plans are taking away the power of low-end recharge users to port out to other networks.

Vodafone Idea doesn't want users to port out of its networks. It already has the lowest subscriber market share and doesn't want to lose further. Jio at the same time wants to reach the 500 million subscriber mark as soon as possible. Thus, when customers are not able to port out of Vodafone Idea, it is hurting Jio's business as well. Vodafone Idea is the only operator that is going against the TRAI order which only looks after consumers. The telco's situation is understandable, but handicapping customers from porting out is something that's unfair and not just Vodafone Idea, but every telco needs to remember this.

Jio Extends “Happy New Year” Offer Until January 7

Posted: 05 Jan 2022 05:17 AM PST

Jio 365 Day Plan

Apparently, telecom giant Reliance Jio has increased the deadline on one of its offered prepaid plans. Reliance Jio recently rolled out a 'Happy New Year' plan that increased the validity of the Rs 2545 plan to 365 days instead of its usual 336 days. Additional 29 days were added into the validity period at no extra cost. The offer was going to be valid until January 2, 2022, but now the telco has decided to push the offer period till January 7, 2022. Rs 2545 offer plan from Jio is definitely one of the better plans for users who are looking for a long-term plan.

Complete Details on Rs 2,545 Prepaid Plan

Reliance Jio has been offering a special 'Happy New Year' offer with its Rs 2,545 plan. The plan usually came with a validity period of 336 days, but under the offer period, it is available for a validity period of 365 days. The other benefits that come along apart from the validity period will remain the same.

The plan can be purchased from the official website of the Jio or MyJio app and offers 1.5GB of data each day till the validity period for Rs 2,545. Users can get access to unlimited voice calls and 100 SMS a day as well with this plan. Beyond the daily limit set at 1.5GB, users can enjoy unlimited internet at 64 Kbps. The plan also offers access to a few Jio applications such as Jio Cinema, Jio Tv and more. This plan from Jio is definitely worth for users in the market for long term plans as Jio offers yearly plans at cheaper price tags in comparison to other telcos.

Additional Yearlong Plans from Jio

Other yearly prepaid plans from Jio includes a Rs 2,879 plan that offers 2GB of data per day for the validity period of 365 days, along with unlimited voice calls and 100 SMS per day. The next plan on the list is similar but has added OTT benefits. Jio offers a Rs 3,119 plan that offers 2GB of data a day for 365 days, along with unlimited voice calls and 100 SMS as well. The plan also offers 10GB of additional data along with an annual subscription to Disney+ Hotstar. Last is a Rs 4,199 plan that offers 3GB of data each day for a validity period of 365 days. The plan comes with unlimited voice calls and 100 SMS per day as well, just like above.

DoT to Meet Relevant Authorities for Fast Tracking 5G Spectrum Auctions

Posted: 05 Jan 2022 04:19 AM PST

DoT

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is soon going to meet relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), and the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The purpose of this meeting would be to sort out the final details on the 5G spectrum. All of the above-mentioned ministries and organisations hold some part of the airwaves that the telcos would want for rolling out 5G services.

The goal is to Hold 5G Spectrum Auctions as Fast as Possible

According to The Indian Express, officials aware of the matter said the DoT wants to get done with this formality as soon as possible so that India can proceed with the spectrum auctions as soon as possible.

The goal is to hold the spectrum auctions in the first quarter of FY23. During October in 2021, DoT had written to the MoD for vacating the 100 MHz of spectrum in 3300 MHz – 3400 MHz and asked the defence ministry to use airwaves in the 3000 MHz – 3100 MHz frequency band.

Along with this, the telecom department had requested ISRO to not go for the 26 MHz airwaves so that it could avail at least 3000 MHz of mmWave spectrum for the auctions, which is in line with the recommendations from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

DoT doesn't want to postpone the spectrum auctions anymore than June 2022. At the earliest, it might happen in March 2022, which seems to be a little impossible. The telecom operators are currently testing their 5G networks and solutions and coming up with new use cases so that they are ready to maximise their revenues with 5G as soon as possible.

The delays in holding the spectrum auctions would mean that the telcos will have to further push the 5G rollout in India. If spectrum auctions take place in the first quarter, we might be able to see the 5G rollout in the second quarter. But there are a lot of 'ifs' and 'buts'.

Dizo Watch R and Dizo Buds Z Pro Launched in India – Specifications and Price

Posted: 05 Jan 2022 02:51 AM PST

Dizo Watch R and Dizo Buds Z Pro

Dizo Watch R and Dizo Buds Z Pro has been launched in India by the subsidiary brand of Realme – Dizo. The new smartwatch is the first stylish round watch by the company and offers the largest AMOLED display in the price segment. The device comes with a 1.3-inch ultra-sharp AMOLED display which increases the resolution by an amazing 125%. On the other hand, the new TWS earbuds from the brand also come with exciting features such as an Active Noise Cancellation pack and more. Mentioned below are the specification and price details of the newly launched wearables.

Specifications and Pricing of Dizo Watch R

As mentioned above, the all-new Dizo Watch R comes with a display featuring a 1.3-inch ultra-sharp AMOLED display offering a screen resolution of 360×360 pixels. The watch has a round-shaped dial that comes equipped with a premium metallic frame and has a 2.5 D curved glass. The watch is 5ATM water and dust resistant. The Dizo watch also features an Always-on-Display (AOD) and comes with over 150 watch faces. Users can choose between preloaded watch faces as well as customize according to their suitability.

The wearable is backed by a 280mAh battery and can offer up to 12 days of battery life. The device can be fully charged in just 2 hours. In addition to this, just like other smartwatches, Dizo Watch R also comes with fitness features such as a heart rate tracker, SpO2 tracker, 110+ sports modes, sleep monitor, and more. Users can also control music playback, click pictures, reject calls, and check notifications all via the wearable.

The price of the all-new Dizo Watch R has been set at Rs 3,499 in India which is an introductory price and will be hiked to Rs 3,999 after a while. The smartwatch will go live on January 11 at 12 noon.

Specifications and Pricing of Dizo Buds Z Pro

The all-new Dizo Buds Z Pro comes with a 10mm dynamic driver that uses a Bass Boost+ algorithm for enhanced audio output. The earbuds, as mentioned above also feature an Active Noise Cancellation pack of up to 25dB and has a transparency mode as well. Dizo Buds Z Pro also features Dual ENC in both mics for voice calls. The earbuds can last up to 7 hours on a single charge whereas the case can last for up to 25 hours.

The latest earbuds from Dizo are available in two colour options – Red and Blue. The earbuds have three ear tip sizes as per the need of the users and weigh only 3.9 grams. In addition to this, earbuds can also last up to 2 hours with just 10 minutes of charge. Buds Z Pro also come with Bluetooth v5.2 support and have touch controls on the earbuds.

As far as the price for the earbuds is considered, Dizo Buds Z Pro is launched at an introductory price of Rs 2,299 in India and the retail price can go up to Rs 2,999 in a few days. The earbuds will be available for purchase from January 13 at 12 noon.

TRAI Pursues Tamil Nadu-Based Cable TV Operators Association to Revoke Legal Notice

Posted: 05 Jan 2022 01:57 AM PST

TRAI - Digital Cable TV Operators Group

In the recent unfolding of events, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) on Tuesday has asked Tamil Nadu Digital Cable TV Operator Association to revoke the legal notice issued against it due to the implementation of the new tariff framework and deferment of revised charges by Star India. The regulator issued a letter dated January 4, 2022to the legal counsel of Tamil Nadu-based cable TV operators group stating that the association is advised to take back the legal notice as M/s Star India Private Limited has intimated about deferment of all changes made in its revised Reference Interconnect Offer (RIO) filed on October 15, 2021.

The Reason Behind the Legal Notice

According to the report from ET Telecom, the state's digital cable TV operators' group is most probably not going to withdraw the legal notice it issued on October 18, 2021. A legal notice was issued by a Delhi-based law firm on behalf of TV operators group stating that there are no doubts on TRAI's intentions but it is surprising to see the mala fide of pay channel broadcasters who have wrongly interpreted the New Tariff Order, 2020 and have significantly hiked the prices of the pay channels.

The action from the association has been taken in light of the revised channel pricing by top broadcasters in the country such as Star and Disney India, Sony Pictures Network (SPN), Zee Entertainment Enterprises (ZEE) and Viacom 18. The group, citing the compliance to the TRAI's amended tariff order said that these broadcasters were in compliance with effect from December 1. According to the operator's association, broadcasters will be hiking the prices of majorly subscribed channels by the consumers by 100% to 200% under the Reference Interconnect Offer (RIO) issued by them.

To the above accusations, the regulatory authority has stated that regarding the concerns of implementation of the latest regulatory framework 2020, TRAI has issued a letter on November 10, 2021, to all the broadcasters and distribution platform operators where it has been mandated to report to the authority any changes made in the name, nature, language, the maximum retail price per month, the composition of bouquets according to the new norms by December 31, 2021. Moreover, TRAI has also extended the deadline for the enactment of the new tariff order to April 1, 2022.

Google Might be Missing the Trick in India With Pixel Flagships

Posted: 05 Jan 2022 01:07 AM PST

Google Pixel

Every business has a certain outlook towards the market and its products. Google has decided that it will stay away from India when it comes to flagship Pixel smartphones. The company has expressed that it wants to avoid the competition in the high-end smartphones in India and only wants to focus on the mid-range category. This is because there's a lot more scope in the mid-range segment as a majority of India's population is looking for such devices.

The truth is, Google has never really put its foot completely down in the Indian market when it comes to smartphones. The company has had a very afraid approach towards the intense competition in India. While some would regard it as a rational decision, some would call it simply being afraid of doing business.

Still Many Pixel Fans in India

It takes time to build a brand. The smartphone business in India is very ruthless as there's always one device that will undercut another. But at the end of the day, it is a question of brand rather than performance alone.

Google has failed to build a strong brand in India when it comes to smartphones. There are a lot of Pixel lovers in India, and most are disappointed that they can't get their hands on the flagship Pixel smartphones.

The problem isn't that the flagship smartphones are expensive and that India doesn't have that kind of users, but that Google hasn't really made efforts to build a brand image in India to support that price. Apple and Samsung don't seem to be bothered by the high pricing strategy for flagships in India. The reason is the brand that they have been able to build.

From a distance, it feels like Google is trying to play it safe with the Indian market. It is actually a big loss for the company. With a market size as such of India, Google should have really considered more options and strategies to target customers.

Pixel devices come with very powerful cameras. There are millions of users in India who would want to own a Pixel smartphone as it is a very good non-Chinese option.

Vivo V23 5G, Vivo V23 Pro 5G Go Official in India, Check Price and Specifications

Posted: 05 Jan 2022 12:27 AM PST

Vivo V23 5G

Vivo has just launched two new smartphones for the Indian market namely Vivo V23 5G and Vivo V23 Pro 5G. Both the smartphones are mid-range devices and will run on Android 12 out of the box. Vivo has gone with MediaTek Dimensity range of chipsets for both smartphones. Both are 5G supportive devices with powerful cameras and displays. Let's check out the price and the specifications of both smartphones.

Vivo V23 5G Specifications

The Vivo V23 5G comes with a 6.44-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with support for 90Hz refresh rate. It is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 920 SoC coupled with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

There's a triple camera setup at the rear, where the primary lens is a 64MP sensor paired with an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens and a 2MP macro lens. There's a 44MP selfie sensor at the front paired with an 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens. It comes equipped with a 4200mAh battery and supports 44W fast charging.

Vivo V23 Pro 5G Specifications

Vivo V23 Pro 5G comes with a 6.56-inch FHD+ Curved AMOLED display with support for 90Hz refresh rate. There's also an in-display fingerprint sensor on the device, and it is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 1200 SoC coupled with up to 12GB of RAM and 256GB of internal storage.

The smartphone features a triple camera setup with a 108MP primary sensor, 8MP ultra-wide-angle lens, and a 2MP macro sensor. There's a 4300mAh battery inside with support for 44W fast charging.

Vivo V23 5G and Vivo V23 Pro 5G Price

Both the smartphones have been launched in two memory variants – 8GB+128GB and 12GB+256GB.

Vivo V23 5G Price:

a) 8GB+128GB = Rs 29,990
b) 12GB + 256GB = 34,990

Vivo V23 Pro 5G Price:

a) 8GB+128GB = Rs 38,990
b) 12GB + 256GB = Rs 43,990

The smartphones will be available on the official website of Vivo and Flipkart.

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