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• Realme Narzo 50A Prime Arrives With Unisoc T612, Triple Cameras and More
• Poco X4 Pro 5G Launch Date in India Revealed, Check Specifications
• Bharti Airtel Will Give Rs 7000 Every Month to New Mothers
• BSNL Should be Given 5G Spectrum at Par With Private Telcos: Parliamentary Panel
• Vodafone Idea Needs Not Just Funding, But Great Execution
• iPhone 13 mini Is the Most Powerful Compact Smartphone in India Right Now
• MacBook Air M2 Delayed to Second Half of 2022
• Jio Readying for 5G With $750 Million Fund Raise
• Best Prepaid Plans For Users Who Want Disney+ Hotstar Subscription for IPL 2022

Realme Narzo 50A Prime Arrives With Unisoc T612, Triple Cameras and More Posted: 22 Mar 2022 03:16 AM PDT The Chinese smartphone manufacturer Realme has just launched its Realme Narzo 50A Prime smartphone in Indonesia. The new budget smartphone from the brand has been much talked about and was announced at the Realme GT 2 Pro series launch event. The Realme Narzo 50A Prime is an enhanced version of the Realme Narzo 50A which has also been launched in India. The smartphone has quite similar specifications as the company's Realme C35 smartphone. Let's take a closer look at the specification and pricing of the newly launched device. Realme Narzo 50A Prime Specs The brand has launched its Realme Narzo 50A Prime with a display featuring a 6.6-inch full-HD+ (2,408×1,080pixels) display with 600nits of peak brightness and 16.7 million colours. The display of the device has a 20:9 aspect ratio. There is also a punch-hole cutout in the centre to house the selfie camera. The smartphone has a dual-tone finish on its back. The top part features the camera module and has a glossy look whereas the rest of the back panel has a textured look. Realme Narzo 50A Prime is powered by an octa-core Unisoc T612 SoC, paired with 4GB of RAM. The smartphone features up to 128GB of onboard storage that can be expanded via a microSD card up to 1TB. The device is backed by a 5,000mAh battery that supports 18W charging over USB-C. For the camera part, the front of the device features an 8MP selfie camera. Realme Narzo 50A Prime comes with a triple rear camera setup headlined by a 50MP primary lens along with a 2MP monochrome lens and a 2MP macro shooter. The handset includes other features such as dual 4G VoLTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, GPS, and a 3.5mm audio jack. Price Details for Realme Narzo 50A Prime Realme Narzo 50A Prime has been launched in Indonesia with two storage options. The model with 4GB RAM and 64GB internal storage is priced at IDR 1,999,000 which is around Rs 10,600. On the other hand, the 4GB + 128GB model arrives at a price tag of IDR 2,199,000 which is approximately Rs 11,700. The device is available in Flash Black and Flash Blue colour options.

Poco X4 Pro 5G Launch Date in India Revealed, Check Specifications Posted: 22 Mar 2022 02:00 AM PDT Poco has just announced the launch date of the Poco X4 Pro 5G in India. The company has not teased much about the specifications part of the device, but you can see the overall design in the teaser image released. Since the smartphone has already launched at the MWC (Mobile World Congress) 2022, it isn't that hard for anyone to take a guess what it will pack for the Indian market too. However, the only thing that people will be left wondering about is the price of the smartphone. For getting to know the price, you will have to wait for the launch of the smartphone, which is scheduled for March 28, 2022. Let's take a look at the expected specifications of the Poco X4 Pro 5G. Poco X4 Pro 5G Specifications (Expected) From the global variant, we can expect that the Poco X4 Pro 5G might come with a 6.67-inch FHD+ AMOLED display with support for 120Hz refresh rate. The smartphone might be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 SoC coupled with up to 8GB of RAM and 256GB of UFS 2.2 internal storage. The global variant of the smartphone runs on Android 11 based MIUI-13 out of the box. It might be the same case for the Indian variant. A thing worth noting here is that the smartphone will arrive in India with a 64MP primary sensor in India, whereas the global variant launched with the 108MP sensor. The smartphone will also support 67W fast-charging, which is a decent thing. It might arrive in three colours in India — Poco Yellow, Laser Black, and Laser Blue. In India, the smartphone could be priced in the Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 range based on the pricing in the international market. However, Poco is known for offering great and powerful devices at budget prices, and thus we might be in for a surprise. To know more, all of us will have to wait for the launch event on March 28, 2022.

Bharti Airtel Will Give Rs 7000 Every Month to New Mothers Posted: 22 Mar 2022 01:23 AM PDT Bharti Airtel, India's second-largest telecom operator, has improved the parental benefits for employees. The company has said that it is going to offer Rs 7000 per month to women who have just become mothers. The monthly allowance of Rs 7000 per month will continue until the time the baby is 18 months old. Note that the special allowance will also be offered to mothers who have adopted children. The move from the telco comes in order to build a diverse and inclusive workplace. Airtel Offers 26 Weeks of Maternity Leave to Employees Bharti Airtel offers 26 weeks of maternity leave to women employees. After this, the company also offers 24 weeks of flexible working to employees so that they can get back at work at their own pace and be able to manage time for their newly born baby too. Further, Airtel offers two additional paid leaves per quarter for childcare to new mothers. But the new policies don't just look after the mothers. They also talk about what the fathers are getting. Fathers who are the primary caregivers will get up to eight weeks of paternity leave. This is a policy that is going to give a lot of headroom and peace to new mothers and fathers that are working in Bharti Airtel as employees. It is great of Airtel to offer ample amount of time and monetary benefit to the employees so that they can look after their newly born child in the best manner possible. Amrit Padda, Chief People Officer, Bharti Airtel, said to stay ahead of the curve, there's a need for revisiting the policies. Hopefully, this move will encourage more women to pursue their careers in Bharti Airtel, said Padda. This policy will certainly give other corporates something to think about and would work in the betterment overall work culture in India, and not just in Bharti Airtel. The monetary sum offered by Airtel every month is also a favourable thing for the women employees.

BSNL Should be Given 5G Spectrum at Par With Private Telcos: Parliamentary Panel Posted: 22 Mar 2022 12:24 AM PDT Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has completed its 4G trials in collaboration with the Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DoT). The telco was also working on building 5G NSA networks along with 4G, said a C-DoT official. According to a PTI report, the parliamentary standing committee on communications and information technology, Chaired by Lok Sabha member Shashi Tharoor said BSNL should be allocated 5G spectrum at par with the private telcos of the country. Shelve Out MTNL Debt into a Special Purpose Vehicle and Merge With BSNL The parliamentary committee has recommended the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to shelve out Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited's (MTNL) debt of Rs 26,500 crore into a special purpose vehicle and then merge its operations with BSNL. P K Purwar, CMD of BSNL and MTNL has already said that it would be impossible to save MTNL which has a debt of Rs 26,000 crore on its shoulders with a revenue of Rs 1,300 crore only. The committee recommended that the department should consider carving out the assets and debt of MTNL like what happened with Air India and merge its operations with BSNL. The panel also noted the loss of Rs 5,986 crore that BSNL incurred despite the revival package. To this, the DoT said that the issue was with the decline in landline revenues, the absence of 4G, and not having the necessary liquidity or cash to make capital expenditures necessary. However, the DoT said the implementation of the voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) was successful and it led to a 50% reduction in the salary bill for BSNL while a 90% reduction in MTNL. BSNL will greatly benefit from the rollout of 4G, the panel said. The state-run telecom operator is expected to make an order for equipment in April and then is trying to launch 4G services by August 15, 2022.

Vodafone Idea Needs Not Just Funding, But Great Execution Posted: 21 Mar 2022 11:20 PM PDT While capital is the soul of a business, it would be foolish to think that it is everything a business requires to become successful. With capital, companies can fuel their growth, but for that, the right execution and pathway to the future are important. Vodafone Idea (Vi), the only struggling private telecom operator in India, has made it to 2022, carrying a lot of baggage on its shoulders. Things such as adjusted gross revenue (AGR) dues, low average revenue per user (ARPU) users, millions of 2G customers on the subscriber base, and more have stopped the telco from blooming into a successful brand in the country. However, with the government's relief measures, the telco now has a chance to rebuild its brand image and turn things around. Vi is not bad; the company just doesn't have the cash to meet the capex levels of its competitors (Jio and Airtel). What will remain in the focus of the investors and the people who follow the company will be its execution. Vi is trying to scale its business with a digital vision for India. It makes sense and is the perfect way to communicate its services to the customers. Vi Might be Betting Huge on 5G The telco showcased a ton of 5G use-cases in a special event in November 2021. Vi has partnered with many startups and major companies/OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) to test and come up with new 5G use-cases. Vi is trying to attract customers with great offers in the prepaid segment. Even in the postpaid, the telco has REDX plans which are unlike what any other operator offers to its customers. But due to losing subscribers every quarter that goes by, Vi has been struggling to make ends meet. The desperate need for fresh capital is evident. The telco would need it for 5G and expanding 4G. The thing is, before March-end, Vi is expected to raise around Rs 14,500 crore. Out of this, Rs 4,500 crore is expected to come from the current promoters, including the Aditya Birla Group (ABG) and the Vodafone Group Plc. The remaining Rs 10,000 crore might come from external investors. The telco's stock is certainly going to be in focus for the next few days. Vi needs a lifeline with fresh capital, and the telco might get it soon. But it would still not be in a very great position. There will still be a ton of debt in the books. However, if the telco can execute its plans properly, the fresh capital infusion from investors would pay off in the long run.

iPhone 13 mini Is the Most Powerful Compact Smartphone in India Right Now Posted: 21 Mar 2022 10:02 PM PDT Apple's iPhone 13 series probably had the last 'mini' device users are going to see for a long-time. There's no confirmation about the absence of the iPhone 14 mini, but there are a lot of rumours and hints from credible sources that say this time Apple's going with all the big-sized iPhones. However, if in 2022 you are looking for a powerful and compact smartphone, the iPhone 13 mini could be a good bet for you. Here's why. iPhone 13 mini is Powered by Strong 5G Processor The iPhone 13 mini comes running on the A15 Bionic SoC, which is one of the most powerful mobile chipsets in the world right now. Its performance can surpass even the highest-end premium smartphone chips. The good thing is, the chip of the iPhone 13 mini is also 5G supportive. This makes the device future proof too. If you are someone who wants good pictures out of mobile photography, again, the iPhone 13 mini can be a top choice. With the iPhone 13 mini, Apple also offers support for Cinematic Mode video shooting. Note that it is only supported on iPhone 13 models and won't be released for iPhone 12 users because Cinematic Mode requires the power of A15 Bionic. This is not all; the iPhone 13 mini is also priced very reasonably now. Well, some might argue that it is still quite expensive, which no doubt it is. But, it also offers the value of the money paid to the users. Let's check out the price of the iPhone 13 mini in India right now. iPhone 13 mini Price in India on Amazon The iPhone 13 mini is currently priced at Rs 64,900 for the base model with 128GB, which is not bad. The smartphone is also available in 256GB and 512GB variants for Rs 79,900 and Rs 94,900, respectively. The price that I am talking about here is for Amazon.

MacBook Air M2 Delayed to Second Half of 2022 Posted: 21 Mar 2022 09:19 PM PDT In the event that Apple conducted on March 8, 2022, many people expected the Cupertino tech giant to come out with the latest generation MacBook Air powered by the M2 chipset. However, that didn't happen and according to new development, Apple has delayed the launch of the M2 powered MacBook Air to the second half of 2022 (H2, 2022). Here's when Apple could launch the new MacBook Air 2022 with an M2 chip. MacBook Air M2 Launch Date The MacBook Air with M2 chipset is expected to launch in the second half of 2022, said Mark Gurman of Bloomberg. Going with the launches of previous years, Apple could launch the MacBook Air powered by the M2 after the iPhone 14 launch event. So we can expect the laptop to be launched in November or December this year. This time around, Apple is not just changing the chipset but is also tweaking the design and the colours of the MacBook Air. The new MacBook Air powered by M2 is expected to bring back the MagSafe charging port and come with a completely new design. Further, Apple is expected to launch new 14-inch and 16-inch models of the MacBook Pro in 2023. These laptops could be powered by the M2 Pro and M2 Max chipsets. Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple could start the production of new MacBook Air with M2 chipsets in the late second quarter or early third quarter which means by the fourth quarter, Apple will be ready to ship the laptops. The new MacBook Air powered by M2 is also expected to come in new colours for the first time. This will be in line with what Apple has been doing with its iPads for a few years now. However, the MacBook Pros are still expected to retain the old Silver and Space Gray colours. More around the laptop should surface in a few days, so stick around.

Jio Readying for 5G With $750 Million Fund Raise Posted: 21 Mar 2022 07:45 PM PDT Reliance Jio is raising $750 million (approximately Rs 5,700 crore) via an offshore syndicated loan for funding the capex requirements, which will come for 5G. Multiple banks, including the State Bank of India, Bank of America, Credit Agricole, HSBC, along with three Japanese banks – MUFG, SMBC, and Mizuho might be syndicating the five-year offshore loan. According to the ET Telecom report, the loan agreement between the banks and Reliance Jio might be signed this week itself. It is worth noting that back in January, Jio had raised about Rs 8,000 crore by selling corporate bonds in local money markets. The telco had used this money to clear out the past spectrum-related dues pertaining to the 2014 and 2015 auctions. Jio May Use the Money for Refinancing Short-Term Bridge Loans The publication's report said that Jio might use some proceeds from the fundraise for refinancing the short-term bridge loans, which were raised through commercial papers. Further, a part of the proceeds might also go towards the capex needs of 5G in urban cities. Reliance Jio is expected to be the biggest purchaser in the spectrum auctions expected to happen this summer for 5G airwaves. All of this money is only going to help the telco sit more comfortably and grow its network services in the country. Every telco is eyeing the spectrum auctions and keeping its cash reserves ready. Along with that, the telcos have been upgrading their networks to support 5G across the country. Initially, only select cities are expected to get live commercial 5G networks. Right now, everything depends on the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) for coming out with recommendations for spectrum auctions that are suitable for the telecom operators. If that doesn't happen, the telcos might not participate in the spectrum auctions very enthusiastically. TRAI is expected to submit the recommendations by March-end or early April 2022.

Best Prepaid Plans For Users Who Want Disney+ Hotstar Subscription for IPL 2022 Posted: 21 Mar 2022 06:45 PM PDT With IPL being just around the corner, the cricket lovers are in for a treat. As it is known, IPL will be streamed on Disney+ Hotstar OTT Platform, therefore a number of users will be looking to get a subscription to the platform. For those unaware, the telecom operators actually bundle up the subscription to the platform with their prepaid plans. Mentioned below are a few select prepaid plans from Jio, Airtel and Vi that offer access to Disney + Hotstar. Reliance Jio The first plan costs Rs 601 with 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 data the plan also offers an additional 6GB of data. Jio also offers a prepaid plan for Rs 499 which provides 2GB data per day for a period of 28 days along with unlimited voice calls and 100SMS/day. Both the mentioned plans from Jio comes with access to one year Disney+ Hotstar mobile worth Rs 499 at no added cost. Users can also enjoy various Jio applications such as the Jio Cinema, Jio TV and more. Moreover, after using the daily data limit, users can further enjoy 64 Kbps of internet speed. Vodafone Idea Vodafone Idea on the other hand also provides a Rs 601 plan. The Rs 601 plan from Vi also offers unlimited calling along with 100 SMS per day for its customers. This plan from Vi as well offers 3GB of data per day and comes with a validity period of 28 days. Vi also offers another 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. When it comes to the bundled OTT platforms, the telco offers one year of access to Disney+ Hotstar mobile as well just like Jio. Moreover, users also get an additional 16GB and 48GB of data with Rs 601 and Rs 901 plans respectively. Airtel Talking about Bharti Airtel, India's one of the most prominent telecom companies, under its "Truly Unlimited" packs offers a Rs 599 plan that has benefits almost identical to that of the other two. This plan offers unlimited calling to its users and the validity period for this pack is of 28 days. Moreover, users also get a total of 100 SMS per day. In addition to this, users also get 3GB of internet data per day till the validity period. Airtel also 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. Airtel offers a yearlong subscription to Disney+ Hotstar with its plans. Furthermore, the plans also provide a trial offer for mobile edition Amazon Prime Video. Users get a 30-day free trial which they can start when they recharge with this plan. This benefit is available only once per user. Apart from this, users can also get free only courses with Shawn Academy, Wynk Music for free and much more.

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