Mobile Devices

Swipe Telecom has introduced the Halo series of devices, with the launch of the 3G and Edge tablets. Both tablets function on the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system, with a 1.5 GHz processor as well as 4 GB of internal storage and 32 GB of expandable memory. The Halo 3G has a VGA front camera and is priced at Rs 9,999. The Halo Edge features dual cameras (a 2 megapixel rear camera and a 1.3 megapixel front-facing camera), and is priced at Rs 8,999.

Huawei has introduced the B Huawei MediaPad 7 Lite and the B Huawei MediaPad 10 tablets under the Mediapad brand. Both the tablets function on the Android 4.0 operating system. The B Huawei MediaPad 7 Lite has a 7 inch screen and is powered by a Cortex A8 1.2 GHz processor. It packs in a 0.3 megapixel front camera and supports 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity. The tablet is priced at Rs 13,700. The MediaPad 7 Lite is available in India through stores like Croma and Reliance Digital as well as online partners like Flipkart. The B Huawei MediaPad 10 has a 10.1 inch screen and is powered by a Cortex A9 1.4 GHz quad-core processor. It has an 8 megapixel autofocus rear camera. The price of the tablet is yet to be announced.

Videocon Mobile Phones has introduced the Dost handset portfolio in India with the launch of the V1531+, V1542, V1528 and V1544 devices. All four mobile phones support dual SIM cards, a 1.3 megapixel camera, Bluetooth technology and the Movie Juke Box application. The V1542 and the V1544 have 2.6 inch screens while the V1528 and the VG1531+ have 2.4 inch screens. The V1542 device costs Rs 2,099, the V1528 Rs 1,799, the V1531+ Rs 1,849 and the V1544 Rs 2,399.

TATA DOCOMO, in collaboration with Fujitsu, has introduced the F074 Android-based smartphone. The device is waterproof, packs in a 5 megapixel camera and is priced at Rs 21,900. Its other features include the 1.4 GHz Snapdragon S2 processor; support for 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 technologies; 512 MB RAM; and 1 GB of internal memory and expandable memory of up to 32 GB.

Sony India has expanded its smartphone portfolio in the country with the launch of the Xperia Miro, Xperia J and Xperia SL devices. The three smartphones run on the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich operating system. The Xperia Miro has a 3.5 inch screen and a 5 megapixel camera, and is priced at Rs 15,249. The Xperia J has a 4 inch screen and comes with a 5 megapixel autofocus camera. It is priced at Rs 18,399. The Xperia SL is powered by a dual-core 1.7 GHz processor and packs in a 12 megapixel camera. It is priced at Rs 32,549.

ZenFocus has introduced the myZenTAB 708BH device, priced at Rs 7,899. The tablet has a 7 inch screen and functions on the Android 4.0 operating system. It offers inbuilt Wi-Fi connectivity and supports a 3G dongle to provide access to 3G. Its other features include 8 GB of internal storage, 32 GB of external memory and a 0.3 megapixel front camera.

HTC has launched the HTC One X+ Android-based smartphone. The device operates on the Jelly Bean operating system and has a 4.7 inch screen and dual cameras (an 8 megapixel rear camera and a 1.6 megapixel front camera). The smartphone comes with 64 GB of internal storage. It also offers 25 GB of free dropbox storage for two years and supports expanded storage capabilities via USB. The smartphone is priced at Rs 40,190.

HTC has introduced two Windows-based smartphones, the 8X and the 8S, both operating on the Windows Phone 8 platform. The 8X device has a 4.3 inch screen, an 8 megapixel camera and 16 GB of internal storage, and is priced at Rs 35, 023. The 8S has a 4 inch screen and a 5 megapixel camera, and 4 GB of internal memory storage which is expandable to 32 GB. It is priced at Rs 19,260.

HTC has also announced the Droid DNA device, which will have a 5 inch LCD touchscreen, the Sense user interface, the Android Jelly Bean operating system and a 1.5 GHz quad-core Qualcomm processor. Its other features are dual cameras (an 8 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera), 16 GB of internal storage, 2 GB RAM and support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and near field communications technologies. The price of the handset has not been announced.

Services

Bharti Airtel has introduced an intercontinental roaming facility that allows subscribers to receive free incoming calls from its African network while travelling in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. These countries have been included in Airtel’s One Network service bouquet, which is available to customers across its mobile network in 17 African countries. Subscribers will be automatically provisioned for this service. They will not need to register for it or buy new SIM cards.

Bharti Softbank has launched Hike, an instant messaging facility which permits users to communicate over SMS as well as data networks. Owing to limited smartphone and data penetration in the Indian market, the existing instant messaging applications do not allow consumers to contact other users because of the closed nature of the network. However, Hike allows a user to send messages regardless of whether the application is installed on the smartphone or not. Hike users can send free messages globally to each other. Customers can also communicate with users who do not have the application installed via SMS. The company is offering Hike users 100 free SMSs per month to message contacts who are not using the platform. The receiver can reply to the SMSs at standard rates. Further, a Hike user will get 50 free SMSs per month for each new user it invites to the service.

Reliance Global Call, a part of Reliance Communications (RCOM), has launched the Unlimited Calling pack, which offers a discount of up to 40 per cent on calls made to landline and mobile numbers in India from countries such as the US, Canada, the UK and Australia. The pack is priced at $9.99 for users in the US, $8.99 for Canadian users, GBP 7.49 for subscribers in the UK and $14.49 for users in Australia.

Aircel has introduced bundled usage plans with the Apple iPhone 5. For the first 12 months, Aircel subscribers purchasing an iPhone 5 can avail of free data usage of up to 1 GB per month, coupled with 500 free calling minutes and 500 free SMSs per month. After a year, subscribers will have to pay Rs 399 per month to continue to avail of these benefits.

TATA DOCOMO has bundled several voice and data plans with the F074 smartphone. Customers can avail of a free premium number for their lifetime, unlimited 3G data usage for three months (capped at 1 GB) and unlimited local and STD calls to other networks. TATA DOCOMO’s prepaid customers purchasing the handset can recharge with the FRC 250 and get 1 GB of free data per month for two months.

Sistema Shyam TeleServices Limited (SSTL) has launched its mobile broadband service, MBlaze, in eight more towns in Kerala – Kundra, Vaikom, Koratty, Ottappalam, Ponnani, Changaramkulam, Koduvally and Mukkam. At present, SSTL has 65,000 broadband customers in the state. With this, SSTL has increased its footprint to 73 towns in Kerala.

Vodafone India and ICICI Bank have joined hands to launch the m-pesa facility, a mobile money transfer and payment service. The m-pesa facility will be offered via Vodafone India’s 100 per cent subsidiary, Mobile Commerce Solutions Limited (MCSL). The offering will comprise a mobile money account with ICICI Bank and a Mobile Wallet issued by MCSL. The service will allow customers to deposit and withdraw cash from designated outlets, transfer money to any bank account in India, recharge mobile and DTH services, and pay utility bills. The mobile payment service will initially be launched in Kolkata, West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand.

Mobile commerce player MobiKwik has launched the MobiKwik m-wallet bill payment facility enabling customers to pay their utility bills using their mobile phones. The company has tied up with Airtel landline services,

Tata Teleservices Limited, Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL), Reliance Energy, BSES Rajdhani, BSES Yamuna, etc. to offer this facility. By adding money to their MobiKwik m-wallet through a credit or debit card, or through the doorstep collection facility, users can make payments for services and recharges either online or via an SMS.

MTNL has introduced five unlimited broadband plans for its customers in Mumbai, at no additional charge. The plans – DSL Unlimited 450, DSL Unlimited 999, DSL Unlimited 1599, DSL Unlimited 550 Combo and DSL Unlimited 995 Combo – offer download speeds of up to 2 Mbps from 12 a.m. to 8 a.m. The plans are valid until January 5, 2013. Customers opting for the DSL Unlimited 450 broadband plan can avail of download speeds of up to 512 kbps between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., 1 Mbps from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. and up to 2 Mbps from 12 a.m. to 8 a.m. The plan entails a monthly rental of Rs 450 or Rs 4,950 annually. DSL Unlimited 999 offers download speeds of up to 1.13 Mbps from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., up to 1.34 Mbps from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. and up to 2 Mbps thereon till 8 a.m. The rental is Rs 999 monthly or Rs 10,999 annually. DSL Unlimited 1599 offers download speeds of up to 1.344 Mbps from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., 1.79 Mbps from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. and up to 2 Mbps from 12 a.m. to 8 a.m. The rental is Rs 1,599 monthly or Rs 17,589 annually. The DSL Unlimited 550 Combo plan offers download speeds of up to 512 kbps from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., 1 Mbps from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. and 2 Mbps thereon to 8 a.m. The plan entails a monthly charge of Rs 550. The DSL Unlimited 995 Combo plan offers download speeds of up to 1 Mbps from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., up to 1 Mbps from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. and up to 2 Mbps till 8 a.m. The monthly charges are Rs 995.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited has tied up with the Department of Posts to launch a money transfer service. The pilot project has been launched in the Bihar, Delhi, Punjab and Kerala circles. The tariff for money transfer is fixed at Rs 40 for amounts between Rs 1,000 and Rs 1,500; Rs 70 for amounts between Rs 1,501 and Rs 5,000; and Rs 100 for amounts between Rs 5,001 and Rs 10,000.