Handsets

The MCC Group has launched the Jumbo i9 and RS 8 handsets in India. Targeted at frequent travellers, the offerings come with standby time of 45 days and support for dual-SIM cards. The handsets also pack in an LCD screen, a digital camera, FM radio, Bluetooth, an inbuilt torch, MP3 player, GPRS, WAP and an expandable memory. The Jumbo i9 is priced at Rs 2,599 while the RS 8 is priced at Rs 1,799.

Nokia India’s latest offering, the X5 packs in a slide-out QWERTY keypad, a 5 megapixel camera, integrated speakers and support for messaging and social networking sites. The X5 also houses the “Surprise me!”  application, which allows consumers to play random tracks by spinning the phone. Similarly, the Playlist DJ feature allows users to create several playlists and the Shazam application identifies music tracks. The Nokia X5 is priced at Rs 10,499 and comes with a 2 GB microSD memory card.

Spice Mobility has launched two QWERTY handsets, the QT 95 and QT 68. The QT 95 supports 3G and 2G SIM cards in active dual modes, enabling users to access high speed data transmission and advanced multimedia access. The QT 68 is Wi-Fi and EDGE enabled and supports social networking sites. Both the models are equipped with a 3.2 megapixel camera and a host of multimedia features such as video recording, an MP3 player, Java and Bluetooth. The Spice QT 95 and QT 68 are priced at Rs 5,499 and Rs 4,999 respectively.

Intex Technologies’ new INTEX V.SHOW hand-held has an inbuilt projector that enables the user to project movies, pictures, music videos (saved in the phone or from the internet) and other internet content, for up to 61 inches of screen/wall projection of 10 lumens with QWVGA resolution. Projection can be carried out up to a distance of 12 feet from the phone. Its other features include support for the mobile internet browser Bolt, a touchscreen, support for dual-SIM cards (GSM+GSM), a dual-camera, FM radio, GPRS and a dual-card memory slot of 8 GB each to expand the internal memory of 64 MB. The handset’s box also contains a tripod as an accessory. The V.SHOW is priced at Rs 16,000.

Samsung Electronics has enhanced its smartphone portfolio in India with three additions to its Wave series of handsets. The Samsung Wave 525 hand-held includes the social hub feature, allowing the user to integrate all mail, SNS, email, SMS, MMS and contact numbers in the phonebook itself. Its other features include a 3.2 megapixel camera, an FM radio and music player with music recognition features and TouchWiz 3.0 interface. The Samsung Wave 525 is priced at Rs 8,800. The Wave 533 incorporates a full slider QWERTY keypad, access to Facebook and Twitter, and support for instant messenging engines Palringo, Google Talk, Yahoo! and MSN. It is priced at Rs 9,900. The Wave 723 incorporates the intuitive TouchWiz 3.0, hybrid widgets, a sweep interaction phonebook, a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, and an inbuilt music player with the Sound Alive feature. The phone is priced at  Rs 13,500.

Micromax has introduced the A 60 Android phone. The device functions on the Android 2.1 operating system and offers a touch-enabled display, support for GSM and WCDMA networks, and a 3.2 megapixel camera. Its other features include the global positioning system (GPS), Wi-Fi technology, 5.76 Mbps HSUPA and 7.2 Mbps HSDPA connectivity, an in-built accelerator sensor, 150 MB of internal memory and support for a 32 GB external microSD card.

Videocon Industries has joined hands with Italian superbike major Ducati to launch the V6200 Ducati series sports phone in India. The handset offers features such as an e-compass, thermometer, barometer, altimeter, pedometer, sunrise and sunset timings, a UV sensor and GPS. It is preloaded with a 2 megapixel camera, a dual-LED torch, a TFT screen and a 4 GB memory card. The phone is priced at Rs 11,995.

LAVA Mobile has launched the A 10 touchscreen handset in the Indian market. The hand-held offers an in-plane switching screen, a 3.2 megapixel digital camera and a Yamaha public announcement system. The A 10 also supports up to 16 GB of memory, applications for Facebook and Twitter as well as Java-embedded games. It is priced at Rs 5,499.

Lemon Mobiles has launched the W 100 3G handset in India. Priced at Rs 3,500, the device is preloaded with the Lemon LiveTV application, which provides access to television channels via 3G. Other features include video calling through the 1.3 megapixel main camera and the 0.3 megapixel front camera; video streaming via YouTube; support for multiple music file formats, video recording, playback and Java; a 1,000-entry phonebook; 60 MB of internal memory; an inbuilt MP3 player; GPRS/WAP and applications such as the Opera browser, Snaptu, Facebook and Twitter.

Vertex Management Solutions has launched the iBuzz series of handsets in India. Initially, the company has introduced five hand-helds – the i1800 (Big Buzz), the i2200 (Picture Buzz), the i3300 (Multi Buzz), the i4400 (Music Buzz) and the i4 (Slim Buzz). These devices are priced at Rs 2,200-Rs 4,000 and support dual-SIM cards, multi-languages, music players, etc. Other features include security tools such as the phone tracker facility and an in-built panic button, and support for social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter and Nimbuzz.

Services

Aircel has joined hands with Blyk, a UK-based organisation engaged in providing interactive and multimedia mobile messages to launch the Blyk on Aircel service. Blyk on Aircel users will send content via messages (both SMS and MMS) across categories such as entertainment, sports and lifestyle. After indicating their preferences, users can receive such content after a period of six to eight weeks.

Uninor has introduced the special tariff voucher 111 (STV) for customers in Andhra Pradesh. Upon activation, subscribers can obtain talktime of Rs 100 for ISD calls, valid for 30 days. Calls to the US, Canada, fixed line numbers in the UK, China, Singapore and Hong Kong are charged at Re 0.01 per second, those to Bangladesh, Malaysia and Thailand  at Re 0.04 per second and calls to Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Yemen, fixed line numbers in Oman, Qatar, the Philippines, Iraq, Australia, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Indonesia are priced at Re 0.11 per second. Similarly, calls to mobile numbers in the UK, Qatar and the Philippines and to fixed line numbers in Libya are priced at Re 0.18 per second while those to mobile numbers in Libya, Oman and Myanmar are priced at Re 0.25 per second.

Uninor has also introduced the Aaj Ka Paanch local, STD, SMS or internet packs at a daily price of Rs 5. Customers can purchase any of these packs by dialling *555# (toll free) from their hand-held and can avail of any of the following: 720 free STD and local call minutes, 12 free STD or local call minutes, 30 MB of free internet downloads, 6,000 free seconds of night calling, 100 minutes of free night calling, 3,000 free seconds of local calls within the Uninor network, 50 free minutes of local calls within the Uninor network or 500 free local SMSs.

Nokia and Intuit have joined hands to launch the Intuit GoConnect service in India. The service is targeted at helping small businesses strengthen their relationships with customers and increase repeat traffic. Intuit GoConnect permits users to create personalised messages and is a subscription-based service that works via the mobile phone and internet. The service is available through Nokia’s priority dealers as well as Intuit’s official website.  A six-month subscription for Intuit GoConnect is priced at Rs 2,400 and includes 10,000 free SMSs. A year’s subscription costs Rs 3,600 and includes 20,000 free SMSs. GoConnect is initially available for the Nokia C3, Nokia C5, Nokia E71, Nokia E72, Nokia E75  and Nokia 2730 handsets.

TATA DOCOMO has enhanced its value-added services portfolio with the launch of the English Seekho service, which is a simplified interactive medium for learning conversational English. The application guides the user through audio clips on spoken English. The service is being provided in five categories, namely, the basic course, social course, professional course, advanced course and full course, and is priced at Rs 10 for 15 days. Subsequent browsing is charged at Re 0.01 per second. This service is available for both prepaid and post-paid subscribers.

Vodafone Essar has launched a range of services for subscribers travelling to Sabarimala. On a recharge of Rs 164, Vodafone customers from Kerala can avail of talktime worth Rs 134 and services such as SMS alerts. Also, they can call 567656 (at Re 0.30 per minute) to download ringtones, caller tunes, etc. This service is valid till January 31, 2011. Vodafone has also announced special offers for subscribers visiting from other states. These users can choose recharge denominations of Rs 351, Rs 501 and Rs 1,001, and avail of talktime worth Rs 318.22, Rs 454.22 and Rs 907.52 respectively.

Tata Teleservices Limited (TTSL) has launched an offer for new post-paid customers in Kochi. On purchasing a dual- line Tata Walky device priced at Rs 1,399, customers will get 1,500 minutes of talktime for calls made to TTSL mobile, fixed line, TATA DOCOMO and Virgin Mobile numbers. To avail of this offer, users have to pay a minimum monthly rental of Rs 75. The offer is valid till December 31, 2010.

Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) has introduced the Trump pay per minute (PPM) recharge 53 plan and the SMS Pack-70 for prepaid subscribers in Delhi. The PPM coupon is priced at Rs 53 with talktime of Rs 24 and is valid for six months. With this prepaid pack, existing Trump customers can make voice and video calls to mobile and landline numbers within the MTNL network at Re 0.20 per minute. The SMS Pack-70 offers 400 local and 100 national free SMSs.

TTSL has introduced a new feature to its Tata Photon TV service wherein users can subscribe to movies available through the Tata Photon TV application. The subscription validity for each movie is 30 days. To subscribe, users have to select the “movies” option from the category displayed on the Photon TV page. Thereafter, subscribers have to click on the movie name to subscribe to it. Each movie mentioned in the list is rated at three levels – low, medium and high – and the subscription is accordingly available in three different denominations, Rs 25 per month, Rs 50 per month and Rs 75 per month depending on the popularity of the movies.

TATA DOCOMO has launched the “full talktime, every time” offer in Karnataka. Under this plan, customers will get 100 per cent talktime on all top-up recharges. The offer is valid till December 31, 2011 for all TATA DOCOMO customers. New customers can avail of this offer by purchasing a coupon worth Rs 51 while existing customers can purchase a Rs 41 coupon. All local and STD calls are priced at Re 0.01 per second. The offer also involves 200 free local and national SMSs every day.