Mobile devices

S  Mobility Limited has launched the Smart Flo Space Mi 354 and the Stellar Glamour Mi 436 smartphones. The Smart Flo Space Mi 354 device functions on the Android Jelly Bean platform; offers access to the Spice Cloud facility; and packs in a 3.5 inch capacitive touchscreen, dual cameras (a 3 megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a 1.3 megapixel front camera), 256 MB of RAM and 512 MB of ROM. The Stellar Glamour Mi 436 houses a 5 megapixel front camera with LED flash, a 10.16 inch capacitive WVGA screen and functions on the Jelly Bean 4.2 platform. Other features include 4 GB of ROM and 512 MB of RAM. Both devices offer support for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 3.0 technology and have the proximity sensor facility.

Videocon Mobiles has introduced the A42 smartphone, which functions on the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS. The smartphone has a 4.5 inch screen and is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor. The A42 packs in 512 MB of RAM and 4 GB of internal memory, which is expandable to up to 32 GB, and supports dual SIM cards and dual cameras (a 5 megapixel rear camera and a 1.3 megapixel front camera). The A42 supports technologies like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPRS EDGE, and is priced at Rs 7,490.

Celkon has launched the Campus handset series, which is currently available on Infibeam.com. The portfolio comprises the Campus A 63 and Campus A 60 devices. The Campus A 63 functions on the Android Jelly Bean platform and is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor. The device features a 4 inch capacitive screen and a 3.2 megapixel camera; and supports Wi-Fi connectivity and internal memory of up to 32 GB. The Campus A 60 has similar features, but functions on the Android Ice Cream Sandwich platform and has a 4.5 inch capacitive screen. The Campus A 63 and Campus A 60 devices are priced at Rs 4,500 and Rs 5,200 respectively.

Maxx Mobile has introduced a tablet device, the Maxx Tab 722, which is priced at Rs 8,000. The tablet functions on the Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich OS and is powered by a 1 GHz MediaTek MT6575 processor. The Maxx Tab 722 packs in 512 MB of RAM, 4 GB of internal storage and dual cameras (a 3 megapixel rear camera and a 1.3 megapixel front camera). The tablet supports technologies such as 3G, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and the global positioning system.

Intex Mobiles has introduced the i-Buddy Connect II tablet, which is powered by the 1 GHz dual-core Cortex A9 processor. The tablet functions on the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS, has a 7 inch screen and packs in 512 MB of RAM, 4 GB of internal memory, which is expandable to 32 GB, and dual cameras. The tablet also supports 3G technology and is priced at Rs 7,500.

Lemon Mobiles has launched the A3 3D smartphone, which is priced at Rs 12,000. The smartphone functions on the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS and is powered by the 1 GHz dual-core Cortex A9 processor. It packs in 1 GB of RAM and 4 GB of internal memory, which can be expanded to 64 GB. The A3 smartphone supports dual SIM cards and cameras (an 8 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera).

Videocon has introduced the A24 smartphone, which functions on the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS system. The smartphone has a 4 inch screen, 512 MB of internal memory and 256 MB of RAM. It is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and supports dual SIM cards and cameras (a 3.2 megapixel rear camera and a 0.3 megapixel front camera). The A24 supports technologies such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPRS EDGE, and is priced at Rs 4,699.

Sony has entered the phablet market with the launch of the Xperia Z Ultra. The device has a 6.4 inch screen and functions on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean platform. It packs in 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of internal storage which is expandable to 64 GB, and dual cameras (an 8 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera). The phablet is powered by the quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor and supports technologies like 2G, 3G, 4G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, near field communication as well as microUSB 2.0 connectivity. It is priced at Rs 46,990.

Intex Mobiles has expanded its cloud series of smartphones with the launch of the Cloud X4 and Cloud Y2 devices. Both devices function on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean platform. The Intex Cloud Y2, which is priced at Rs 6,190, has a 4 inch display and functions on a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor. Other features include 512 MB of RAM, 4 GB of internal storage, a 32 GB expandable storage slot and dual cameras (a 5 megapixel rear camera and a VGA front camera). The Intex Cloud X4, priced at Rs 4,590, has a 3.5 inch display, 256 MB of RAM, 512 MB of internal storage and dual cameras (a 3.2 megapixel rear camera and a VGA front camera).

Lava International has launched the 3G 356 and 3G 402 entry-level Android smartphones. The Lava 3G 356 is priced at Rs 4,499, while the Lava 3G 402 is priced at Rs 5,499. Both devices function on the Android Jelly Bean platform and have a dual-core processor. Also, both devices offer 512 MB of ROM and 256 MB of RAM. The Lava 3G 356 has a 3.5 inch screen and a 1.3 megapixel camera. The Lava 3G 402 device has a 4 inch screen and a 5 megapixel camera.

XOLO has launched the XOLO A500S smartphone in India. Priced at Rs 6,999, it houses a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and 512 MB of RAM, and functions on the Android Jelly Bean 4.0 platform. Other features include dual cameras (a 5 megapixel rear camera and a VGA front camera) and 4 GB of internal memory, which is expandable to 32 GB.

Services

TATA DOCOMO has introduced the Thalaivaa special tariff voucher for prepaid subscribers in Tamil Nadu. The voucher is priced at Rs 46 and calls are priced at Re 0.01 per 2 seconds. The voucher is valid for 30 days.

Bharti Airtel has partnered with the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation to launch a ticket booking facility. The service deploys the Airtel Money platform and is available for customers in Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir. The service enables users to book and cancel tickets, search for stations and trains, etc.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) Rajasthan has launched a free data roaming offer for prepaid 3G customers. The operator has reduced the tariff of existing plans. As per the new tariff, customers will be charged Rs 139 per month for 1 GB of data, as compared to Rs 250 earlier.

Bharti Airtel has launched the virtual Re 1 Entertainment Store. The facility offers customers access to various content categories, priced at Re 1. To avail of the service, customers are required to dial 56789 from their mobile handsets.

The latest plan from TATA DOCOMO’s table offers subscribers opting for a 100 Mbps broadband connection a free tablet worth Rs 40,000. Similarly, customers opting for any other plan with a monthly rental of Rs 1,099 or above can avail of a free tablet worth Rs 5,000. This offer is valid till September 30, 2013.

Samsung Electronics has introduced a user interface and content in nine regional languages for smartphone and tablet customers. With this, Hindi, Punjabi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi and Gujarati will be supported on the Galaxy Grand, Galaxy S4 and Tab 3 devices. Moreover, content will be available in regional languages across segments such as entertainment, games, utility, lifestyle, devotional and business. Going forward, the company plans to provide users access to portals of India property, the Times of India, the Bombay Stock Exchange, Mydala, etc. in vernacular languages.

Vodafone India has partnered with ICICI Bank to launch the M-Pesa money transfer service in Bihar and Jharkhand, Delhi and the National Capital Region, and Mumbai. The service is aimed at providing banking services in areas with inadequate banking networks and financial penetration. Using their M-Pesa account, customers will be able to deposit and withdraw cash from designated outlets, transfer money to any mobile phone in the country, pay their utility bills, recharge their mobile phones and shop at select outlets.

BSNL Karnataka has introduced the Anuraga plan for 2G and 3G prepaid customers. Under the plan, customers will be charged Rs 20 and Rs 59 for 2G and 3G SIM cards respectively. Also, 2G and 3G services have been priced at Rs 49 and customers can avail of 30 minutes of free talktime and 100 free SMSs for the first 30 days of usage. The plan has a validity period of 180 days.