Mobile devices

Xolo has introduced the Q2000 smartphone, which functions on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system (OS). The device has a 5.5 inch screen and is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core MediaTek 6589W processor. The Q2000 features 1 GB RAM and has 8 GB of inbuilt memory, which is expandable to 32 GB using a microSD card. The smartphone supports dual cameras (a 13 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera). The Q2000 is priced at Rs 14,999.

iball has introduced the Andi 4.5z smartphone, which functions on the 4.2 Jelly Bean OS and is powered by a 1.3 GHz dual-core Cortex A7 processor. The smartphone features a 4.5 inch screen and has 4 GB of internal storage, which is expandable to 32 GB. It supports dual SIM cards and cameras (an 8 megapixel rear camera, a light emitting diode [LED] and a VGA front camera). The Andi 4.5z is priced at Rs 7,499.

Huawei has launched the Ascend W2 device, which operates on the Windows Phone 8 platform and packs in a dual-core 1.4 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, 512 MB RAM, 8 GB of inbuilt storage and a 5 megapixel rear camera.

LG and Google have collaborated to launch the Nexus 5 device. The handset is available in two variants – 16 GB and 32 GB – and is priced at Rs 29,999 and Rs 33,999 respectively. The hand-held operates on the Android 4.4 KitKat platform and has a 5-inch display. Other features include the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor, 2 GB RAM, dual cameras (an 8 megapixel rear camera and a 1.3 megapixel front camera) and support for near field communications technology.

Videocon Mobile Phones Division, a part of the Videocon Group, has launched the Videocon VT85C tablet, priced at Rs 8,999. The device packs in a 7-inch screen and runs on the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS and the dual-core Cortex A9 processor. Its other features include 4 GB ROM; 1 GB RAM; support for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G technologies; and dual cameras (a 5 megapixel rear camera and a VGA front camera).

Intex has launched the Xolo Q800 and the Xolo A500 smartphones priced at Rs 11,999 and Rs 7,249 respectively. The smartphones support dual SIM cards and 4 GB of internal memory, which can be expanded to 32 GB using a microSD card. The Xolo Q800 functions on the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS and is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core Cortex A7 MT6589 processor. It packs in a 4.5 inch screen and 1 GB RAM, and dual cameras (an 8 megapixel rear camera and a 1 megapixel front camera). Meanwhile, the Xolo A500 functions on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS and is powered by a 1.3 GHz dual-core MT 6572W processor. It features a 4 inch screen, 512 MB RAM and dual cameras (a 5 megapixel rear camera and a VGA front camera).

BlackBerry has introduced the Porsche Design P’9982 smartphone, which functions on the BlackBerry 10.2 OS. The smartphone has a 4.2 inch screen and is powered by a 1.5 GHz dual-core processor. The Porsche Design P’9982 has 2 GB RAM, 64 GB of internal memory and dual cameras (an 8 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera). The smartphone supports technologies such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Lenovo has introduced the Yoga Tablet 8 and Yoga Tablet 10, priced at Rs 22,999 and Rs 28,999 respectively. The Yoga Tablet 8 and Yoga Tablet 10 have 8 and 10 inch screens, and function on the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean OS. The  tablets are powered by a 1.2G Hz MediaTek MT8389 (Cortex-A7) processor and have 1 GB RAM and 16 GB of internal storage, which can be expanded to 64 GB. The Yoga Tablet 8 and Yoga Tablet 10 support dual cameras (a 5 megapixel rear camera and a 1.6 megapixel front camera).

Gionee has launched the GPad-G3 device, priced at Rs 9,999. The device functions on a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor and operates on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS. Its other features include dual cameras (a 5 megapixel rear camera and a 0.3 megapixel front camera), support for 3G and Wi-Fi connectivity and dual SIM cards.

Xolo has introduced the Q900 smartphone, which functions on the Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS. The device has a 4.7 inch screen and is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor. The Q900 packs in 1 GB RAM and 4 GB of internal memory, which is expandable to 32 GB. It supports dual SIM cards and dual cameras (an 8 megapixel rear camera and a 2 megapixel front camera). The Q900 is priced at Rs 12,999.

Services

Vodafone India has partnered with ICICI Bank to launch the M-Pesa money transfer facility in Assam and other north-eastern states. The service will be available in more than 350 towns, 130 tehsils and 40 districts through 1,200 authorised agents and across 91 retail outlets run by the operator in the north-eastern region. Using the M-Pesa service, subscribers will be able to deposit and withdraw cash, transfer money to any mobile phone in the country, pay their utility bills, recharge their mobile phones and shop at select outlets.

Idea Cellular has reduced tariffs for 2G services across 22 circles by up to 90 per cent. Following the reduction in tariffs, subscribers will be charged Re 0.20 for 10 kB of 2G data usage. In addition, the operator will offer similar data tariff plans to its 3G users, entailing a 30 per cent discount on users’ monthly data usage charges. The revised tariffs will be effective from November 15, 2013 for six months.

TATA DOCOMO, in partnership with Hungama Mobile, has launched the Endless Music value-added service for customers in Karnataka. The facility will be available to all prepaid GSM subscribers through the electronic voucher distribution platform. To avail of this service, customers will have to purchase a Rs 48 recharge voucher with a validity of 30 days. With vouchers priced at Rs 92 and Rs 131, customers can avail of 600 and 1,000 free minutes of music for 30 and 60 days respectively. The subscription will expire when the minutes or the validity lapse.

Aircel has signed a strategic deal with D-Link to offer pan-Indian 3G services. The companies will offer users 1 GB of free 3G data usage each month for three months. The offer can be availed of by subscribers who activate an Aircel 3G SIM on D-Link data cards (D-Link DWM-156) and routers (D-Link DWR-512 and DWR-730). They will also have to pay Rs 100 to avail of free 3G data usage.

Tata Teleservices Limited (TTSL) is planning to launch the GET mobile advertising application. The GET platform enables video advertising on mobile handsets and customers can view a video commercial on their handset. TTSL will offer subscribers free voice minutes for viewing advertisements on their mobile phones before making calls. The operator will launch this service in partnership with mAdcall Limited. The GET application will be available on the company’s GSM and CDMA networks and is compatible with OSs such as Android, Java and Symbian. The application can also be accessed over Wi-Fi.

Lyca Telecom, a subsidiary of the UK-based Lyca Mobile, has introduced a post-paid international roaming SIM card priced at Rs 250 for corporate customers. Subscribers can use the SIM for making calls to 13 countries at Re 1 per minute. Users will not be charged for incoming calls.

Digital wallet services company MobiKwik has introduced a mobile wallet service for Windows-based smartphones in collaboration with Microsoft. Using the MobiKwik application, customers can purchase goods and services through third-party merchant websites. The application can also be used to recharge prepaid and post-paid mobile accounts and data cards and to make bill payments for broadband/landline and mobile connections, electricity, gas and insurance. The application will support Windows Phone 7 and 8, and store up to Rs 50,000 in the digital wallet.

Aircel has introduced a recharge voucher for prepaid users in the Andhra Pradesh circle. The recharge voucher, Paanch ka Dum, allows users to select one of the following options – free calls within the operators network between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m.; community calling at Re 0.01 per call for six seconds; and Re 0.05 per call for local and STD calls within and outside Aircel’s network. The recharge voucher is priced at Rs 5.

Videocon Telecom has launched a mobile-based Ayurvedic health service – M-health – for subscribers. Using the service, subscribers can seek health advice from Ayurvedic experts through their mobile handsets. Users can also order medicines through the cash-on-delivery model offered by the service. Videocon Telecom is providing the m-health service across 1,300 cities in India. The operator has developed this service in collaboration with the JIVA Ayurveda Group. Subscribers will be charged Rs 6 per minute for each call made to the Ayurveda Telemedicine Centre, which is responsible for providing the service.

OnMobile Global Limited has tied up with Airtel Africa to offer the Airtel Football service across the continent. As part of this partnership, OnMobile has partnered with Goal.com, which holds the rights for live alerts for English Premier League matches in Africa. Airtel’s subscribers can avail of updates on football clubs and live match alerts. The service, which is accessible through SMS and inetractive voice response, the USSD and WAP platforms as well as the internet, is currently available in English, French, Swahili and Hausa.