Mobility Monthly Magazine
August 2016
Issue 8
Volume 13
Pages 38
20
beyond technology, beyond lifestyle
Telecom Industry Welcomes the Passing of the GST bill
www.mobilityindia.com
Contents
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22 Telecom Industry Welcomes the Passing of the GST bill EDITORIAL 8 News 10 Launchpad 14 INTERACTION
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“We had a great portfolio including MyGOV app, Incredible India app and others”
special story
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Telecom Industry Welcomes the Passing of the GST bill
Swapan Roy Manoj Jha Jayanta Ghosh E.J. Jawahardatham Anit Kumar Karmendra Singh Negi Sandip Sarkar Tridip Dey Sujit Goswami, Pratap Biswas S. Dutt Raj Kumar
Circulation Manager
P. Biswas
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Production :
Ashish Ghosh Ashok Kumar Paul
System Manager
Ajay Biswas
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SPECIAL focus
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Zopo Launches Speed 8, the First & Fastest Deca-core
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REVIEW 30 Intex Desire BT Huawei P9 ASUS ZenFone 3
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Mobility August 2016
8
editorial
Telecom Industry welcomes GST reform COAI and the entire telecom industry welcomed the passing of the recently passed Constitutional Amendment Bill on GST by the Upper House as a significant step towards simplified goods and service taxation, ease in compliance, achieving transparency and improving ease of doing business. The industry players also made their concerns clear to the government on the clarity of certain definitions and how the new regime should be implemented. Everyone hopes that the government will come up with a final draft so that the new law will serve its intended purpose in the best possible manner.
Swapan Roy roymobility@gmail.com
The cover story deals with the most happening under 10K smartphone segment where most of the buyers are present and where every vendor wants to make his presence felt by offering the best possible features at the most affordable prices. We are looking forward to many attractive launches and schemes for this festive season round the corner.
Ultra slim MSI GS63VR Stealth Pro, the
Editor’s Choice
COMPUTEX Best Choice Golden Award 2016 winner: Weighing just 1.9kg, MSI GS63VR Stealth Pro is the COMPUTEX Best Choice Golden Award 2016 winner and the lightest 15“gaming laptop that packs a powerful cooling system and GEFORCE® GTX 1060 graphics, extreme computing performance and outstanding gaming features into a 17.7mm ultra slim chassis, which is even slimmer than some Ultra books, but much more powerful than many of the high spec notebooks. The Cooler Boost Trinity on GS63VR consists of 5 heat pipes and enhanced Whirlwind Blade fans for effective and silent heat dissipation. Moreover, independent design of dual thermal modules make sure that Core i7 6700HQ and GEFORCE® GTX 1060 graphics are well handled independently to ensure maximum gaming performance. With Steel series keyboards and Steel Series Engine 3, gamers could play games with their preset macro keys to win their games faster. ESS SABRE HiFi brings 24bit/192kHz Hi-Res Audio that makes gamers have greater sound experience.
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Mobility August 2016
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News
Swipe’s Strategic Alliance with Naaptol Crosses 5 Lakh Devices Benchmark
Swipe-Naaptol association has fetched an overwhelming response with the sale of 5Lakh affordable devices so far in the tier 3 & 4 cities. Over 2 Lakhs device of the latest innovation Konnect Neo Gorilla have been sold exclusively on Naaptol. Konnect Neo Gorilla is an affordable phone with a Gorilla glass that makes it break resistant and is priced at Rs 2,999 only. Naaptol is known for its widest distribution network in the country and it has helped Swipe to offer affordable smartphone in the remotest place. So far the company has sold 5lakh+ devices of namely Slice 3G and Konnect Neo Gorilla on the Naaptol platform. Swipe is now focusing on rural market through Naaptol’s 25000 plus pin codes and the local stock depots in 20 plus states in India for faster delivery. Swipe has 450 plus service centres across India for timely post-sales support.
New MediaTek SoC Selected to Power ASUS ZenPad Tablet
MediaTek announced its new MT8176 system-on-chip was selected to power the recently released ASUS ZenPad 3S 10. MediaTek’s feature-rich SoC gives ASUS ZenPad users exceptional experiences through a brilliant 2K display, powerful performance and outstanding picture quality, making the tablet ideal for viewing high-resolution digital photos and FHD movies. The ASUS ZenPad 3S 10 integrates MT8176’s multi-core architecture that combines two ARMCortex-A72 cores and four ARMCortex-A53 cores to provide superior performance with greater power efficiency. The SoC’s performance is further enhanced by a dual channel DRAM interface. With the powerful Imagination Technologies PowerVR GX6250 GPU and a proven multi-standard video codec, the SoC is capable of meeting the growing demand for 4K Ultra HD content on mobile devices.
Intex Ropes in Madhuri Dixit as Brand Ambassador Intex Technology has announced Madhuri Dixit as brand ambassador for its new range of consumer durable products like washing machines and refrigerators. The actor has been signed for a period of two years. During this period, Madhuri will be seen in the company’s television commercials besides being the face of the company for a series of brand promotions and activations. “Madhuri is one of the finest actors in the country who is known for her commitment and excellence in whatever she does. Her innovative approach towards her work is defined by perfection and style. She is the perfect blend
Logitech Honored With Zinnov Awards 2016
Logitech announced that it has been honored as the winner of the Center Transformation category of Zinnov Awards 2016. Currently in its 7th year, the Zinnov Awards were instituted with the objective of recognizing and celebrating stalwarts in the technology space.The Center Transformation Award is to recognize companies who are R&D leaders in India and have rapidly evolved in their journey within the country. Logitech Chennai started its operations in 2009 primarily for data entry operations, but it has evolved into an all-round product development center specializing in software for connected homes. “The accolades we receive speak volumes to the hard work we’re putting in everyday,” said Renee Niemi, head of smart home business at Logitech. “The Zinnov Award is a testament to the passion that the Logitech Chennai team exhibits in the products we develop. It is this passion combined with Logitech’s overall transparent, open and empowering culture that enabled the teams here to be successful.”
Mobility August 2016
of talent, style and timeless appeal that compliments the legacy of our brand and the product portfolio. We are confident that her tremendous connect with the audience will help us in reaching out to our consumers more effectively,” said Keshav Bansal, director, Intex Technologies. In addition to Madhuri, Intex already has many other top stars as its brand ambassadors for several other product categories. Currently, for its mobile business, the brand has Farhan Akhtar as the national brand ambassador, Sudeep Sanjeev for Karnataka, Mahesh Babu for Andhra Pradesh &Telangana and Suriya for Tamil Nadu.
Microsoft started rolling out the Windows 10 Anniversary Update
Microsoft has started rolling out the Windows 10 Anniversary Update customers around the world. The Windows 10 Anniversary Update is full of new features and innovations that bring Windows Ink and Cortana to life; a faster, more accessible and more power-efficient Microsoft Edge browser; advanced security features; new gaming experiences and more. The Windows 10 Anniversary Update will start rolling out to Windows 10 Mobile phones in the coming weeks. The Windows 10 Anniversary Update is being rolled out to Windows 10 PCs across the world in phases starting with the newer machines first. You don’t have to do anything to get the Windows 10 Anniversary Update, it will roll out automatically to you through Windows Update if you’ve chosen to have updates installed automatically on your device. However, if you don’t want to wait for the update to roll out to you, you can manually get the update yourself on your personal PC. If you’re using a Windows 10 PC at work, you will need to check with your IT administrator for details on your organization’s specific plans to update.
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News
Anant Maheshwari to Take Leadership Role at Microsoft India
Microsoft announced that Anant Maheshwari will join Microsoft on September 1 as President, Microsoft India. He will take over the operations of the company from Bhaskar Pramanik, Chairman, Microsoft India, with effect from January 1, 2017. Pramanik will retire from the company in March 2017. Maheshwari, who will be joining from Honeywell, will be responsible for all of Microsoft’s product, service, and support offerings across India and continuing the company’s transformation into the leading productivity and platform company for the mobile-first, cloud-first era. Anant Maheshwari joins Microsoft from Honeywell where he was their President for India. In this role he was responsible for the continued growth of India operations across all three strategic business groups of Honeywell: Aerospace, Automation and Control Solutions (ACS), and Performance Materials and Technologies (PMT).
China’s LeEco buys US-based Vizio as Expansion Continues
LeEco has agreed to buy California-based Vizio in the latest investment by the rapidly diversifying Chinese online video company that now does sports, smartphones, property and even smart cars. LeEco said it would pay $2bn for Vizio, which makes smart televisions, speakers and other home entertainment hardware. “Acquiring Vizio is an important step in our globalization strategy and building our North American presence,” said Jia Yueting, LeEco’s billionaire founder and chief executive.As of June the company ranked as China’s fifthlargest online video platform with 42m monthly active users, according to Analysys Enfodesk, a Beijing-based internet consultancy. But over the past few years it has branched out into ecommerce, cloud computing, smartphones, real estate and smart cars in such a dizzying round of investing that analysts are wondering whether it may be spreading itself too thin.
Huawei Launches Cloud Open Labs Huawei launched its Cloud Open Labs in the presence of 19 leading global operators, industry organizations, and partners, including the Linux Foundation, Open Platform for NFV (OPNFV), China Association of Communication Enterprises, Accenture, Red Hat, VMware, and Wind River. As part of Huawei’s commitment to open, evolution, and innovation, the Cloud Open Labs – with interconnected facilities across four labs – aim to enable operators’ business success. These centers will provide the foundation for integrating and verifying solutions which enable the All Cloud transformation. Huawei has connected its four open labs and built a unified digital operations platform to
Indus OS expands partnership with 2 new OEMs; Celkon and Swipe
Indus OS, the world’s First Regional Operating System, announced partnerships with two home-grown Indian smartphone brands – Celkon and Swipe to deepen its market reach, especially in the southern India region given Celkon’s leadership in this region. These partnerships are in addition to the existing partnership with Micromax, which will continue. On these partnerships, Rakesh Deshmukh, CEO, Indus OS, exclaimed, “We are very excited to join hands with Celkon and Swipe. Both brands share our enthusiasm and vision for connecting a billion people with technology and bridging India’s digital divide. They have a very strong connect with consumers, especially in the regional markets and Indus OS’ unique value proposition will enable them to further increase their market share.” Indus OS’ journey started in May 2015 with the very successful Unite 3 model of Micromax. Since then, the company has achieved a 4 million user base across more than 35 smartphone models with a short span of 12 months. The company is targeting to be on 1 in every 6 smartphone devices in India by 2017.
Mobility August 2016
support operators’ network evolution and operations transformation. These open labs include the Global Network Evolution and Experience Center (GNEEC), the NFV Open Lab, the SDN Open Lab, and the DC Open Lab. These Cloud Open Labs enable Huawei to innovate solutions jointly with operators, industry organizations, and partners, and achieve mutual certification and authorization together with partners. So far, the labs have worked with over 40 partners for solution integration and verification. They have also completed pre-verification for over 550 projects, and pursued joint innovation in conjunction with Wind River, VMware, Red Hat, and Accenture.
itel marks its grand India entry by selling over 1 Million handsets
Marking yet another milestone in its growth story, itel, the hitech innovative brand for the Indian consumers from Transsion Holdings Conglomerate, has announced the successful sale of more than 1 mn handsets within India. What makes the feat more impressive, however, is the fact that itel achieved the milestone within couple of month of its operational launch. The 15 products launched so far include eight feature phone and seven smartphones and are aimed at empowering the country’s aspiring consumer base with value-plus mobile-based connectivity solutions. itel currently has tie-ups with 325 distributors in the country and the number of itel retailers stands at around 25000. The brand aims to take the number of distributors to 1,000 and retailers to 80,000 by the end of this year in order to provide a larger consumer base ready access to its valuedriven offerings. With a view to enhance the ownership experience, itel Mobile will also open 1,000 service centres across the country by the end of 2016. Consumers currently enjoy a 100-day replacement warranty offering on all itel products, a unique facility in the mobile handset space in India.
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LaunchPad
Samsung Unveils Galaxy Note7
Galaxy Note7 features a stunning, curved 5.7-inch QHD Super AMOLED screen delivering excellent color reproduction for an immersive viewing experience on a smartphone. Despite a largescreen, the unique front-toback symmetrical dual-edge curve provides a sleek feel to the users. The curved screen, including powerful Edge Panel for one-tap use allows access to favourite contacts, applications, news and frequently used functions. The
enhanced S Pen is capable of getting extraordinary things done efficiently and accurately out of day-to-day activities with least of effort.
iBall launches its first in F2F Camera Smartphones ‘iBall Andi F2F 5.5U’
iBall announces another extension to its growing Mobile portfolio with the newest ‘iBall Andi F2F 5.5U’,with the key attribute, its Exmor R Camera that shall help you capture extraordinarily detailed
Coolpad Unveils Elegant LightWeight ‘Coolpad Mega 2.5D’ in India
Coolpad unveiled the ‘Coolpad Mega’ – a smartphone with an unparalleled style and design. Coolpad Mega is a light weight phone, with 5.5-inch HD Sharp display and a 3GB RAM. This high- performance and superior design smartphone is priced at INR 6,999. It will be exclusively available on Amazon.in in variants of gold, white as well as black. Coolpad Mega is the perfect blend of elegant design matched with revolutionary technology at a great price point. Weighing a mere 140 grams Coolpad Mega is extremely comfortable to hold, a design oriented towards the USP of this phone and a 5.5- inch display that makes it ideal for playing games and watching videos. One of the distinctive feature of the phone is the 83.6°FOV (Field of View), which makes it very easy to cover maximum number of people in a single frame. Mega is powered by a 2,500 mAh battery and has powerful 8Mp front camera for selfie obsessed fans.
RDP Thin Book – India’s First 14.1” Laptop
RDP, committed to developing affordable computing solutions for entry-level consumers, announced the availability of the highly anticipated RDP ThinBookultra slim laptop for customers across India at a press event. The ThinBook has the distinction of being India’s most affordable 14.1” laptop in its segment, available under INR 10,000. RDP’s ThinBook is equipped with class-leading hardware and software making the device an efficient, no-compromise solution. The device comes packed with the latest generation Intel Atom x5-Z8300 Processor. The onboard High Speed USB 3.0 allows 10X data transfer speeds vis-à- vis USB 2.0 offered on similarly-priced laptops. The ThinBook runs on genuine Windows 10software, helping users be more productive with the intuitive operating system. First time users will greatly benefit from Windows 10 as it is the most secure Windows ever and comes with enhanced Windows Defender and Smart Screen to help safeguard against viruses, malware and phishing.
Micromax extends the success of its Canvas Unite 4 series with the launch of Unite 4 Plus
Micromax Informatics, India’s largest domestic handset manufacturer and world’s 10th largest handset maker announced a new addition in its hugely successful region-
al language based Canvas Unite Series- Micromax Unite 4 Plus. The newly launched smartphone will come with the upgraded Indus OS 2.0, world’s first regional OS and 2nd most popular OS in India. The Indus OS 2.0 was available for the first time on Micromax’s two recently launched smartphonesUnite 4 and Unite 4pro. With the upgraded Unite series smartphones, Micromax is aiming at targeting 300 million first time smartphone users in India.
Xiaomi Launches Redmi 3S / 3S Prime in India Xiaomi launched Redmi 3S in India, extending the
Zen Mobile launched Cinemax 3
pictures, even in low light situations like candlelight or outside at dusk! Paying attention to the snappers on the smartphone, iBall Andi F2F 5.5U brings several options for the discerning selfie fans, bringing two sides of picture perfect moments like no other – More detail than ever before!
Mobility August 2016
Indian mobile manufacturer, Zen Mobile, launched Cinemax 3. Cinemax 3, offers users with a powerful smart phone performance with 2 GB RAM & 16 GB Internal Memory and a large 5.5inch FWVGA IPS display which is targeted at today’s hyper- connected, social-savvy generation. Zen Cinemax 3 offers premium mobility in a beautifully sleek and stylish form. The ergonomic sandstone finish back panel is both elegant and practical, while the modern look is visually pleasing. Powered by 1.3 GHz Quad Core Processor and Android 5.1 Lollipop operating system, the Zen Cinemax 3 offers easy multitasking capabilities by offering 2 GB RAM, 16GB Internal memory which is expandable up-to to 32 GB.
successful Redmi legacy with a beautifully-crafted device that has a super long-lasting 4100 mAh battery. Redmi 3S will be priced at INR 6,999, while Redmi 3S Prime, the higher memory model which also features a fingerprint sensor, will retail for INR 8,999. Both models will be initially available exclusively on Mi.com and Flipkart.
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LaunchPad
STK plans to enter the Indian Smartphone Market, as part of its Global expansion plan
STK plans to enter the Indian Smartphone Market, as part of its Global expansion plan After seeing a positive growth and achieving great success in the mobile phone accessories market in India, STK, the London born brand now announces its plans to enter the evolving Indian handset market this month. STK aims to bring intense action on ‘user experience’ with exceptional design and build with the support of a unique software and services ecosystem with a friendly user interface platform, as it seeks to establish the stronger foothold in the Indian Markets.
Lava Launches A68 Smartphone with Android 6.0 Marshmallow
LAVA International Limited announced the launch of Lava A68. It is a 3G smartphone, powered by the latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow operating system. Lava A68 is a powerful combination of both remarkable looks and
ZTE launches Blade V6 and Axon Mini in India
ZTE unveiled two of its premium devices, Axon Mini and Blade V6. Designed to meet the needs of today’s smartphone users, Axon Mini presents excellent artisanship and embodies the designers’ endless pursuit of perfection and sincerity. The ultra-thin Blade V6 is perfect for those that would like to enjoy their smart lifestyle enhanced by technology. The devices saw their globally launch at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona this year. Blade V6 focuses on what matters most to users today, eye catching design, vivid HD display and a high quality camera, all in the palm of one’s hand. It has a dual-SIM, aluminum body measuring only 6.8 mm in thickness and features. MediaTek MT6735 SOC accompanied with 2GB of RAM and 16 GB.
OPPO to Launch Selfie-Special A37 Smartphone in India
OPPO is all set to launch its latest selfie technology with a spectacular design. OPPO brings for its consumers the A37 which is equipped with two-high performance cameras, power-packed with an upgraded ColorOS 3.0, making it a superb allaround experience for users. The A37 brings users an outstanding selfie experience, even in low-light conditions. It uses a 5 MP front camera with a 1/4-inch sensor and OmniBSI+ (backside illumination), while its extremely large 1.4ìm pixels, the biggest available in this price segment, increase light sensitivity and reduce noise. Coupled with the Screen Flash feature, which emits a flash from the display, these features ensure that the A37 takes bright and natural-looking selfies in any condition. The Beautify 4.0 technology has been optimized using data from millions of users, and now supports 7 different levels of intelligent beautification with two modes for different skin tones.This allows the A37 to capture your best look at any moment.
Lenovo unveils VIBE K5 NOTE
latest features. This launch makes Lava one of the few brands to offer the latest Android 6.0 Marshmallow OS version at an extremely competitive price of Rs. 4,599/-. Lava A68 is a reliable phone – apt for users seeking the best-in-class technology and valuable differentiating phone features. Lava A68 has excellent looks with 11.43 cm (4.5 inch) display.
Mobility August 2016
Lenovo highlighted its commitment to fans of TheaterMax and multimedia by bringing in a new addition to the Killer Note family, the Vibe K5 Note. Moreover, the VIBE K5 Note also packs a 64-bit 8-Core 6755 processor clocked at 1.8GHz, up to 4 GB RAM and a high-capacity 3,500mAh embedded battery for a smooth and uninterrupted gaming, multimedia, and social experiences on even the longest days.Storage of up to 160GB (32GB internal) along with USB-OTG support also helps users maintain easy access to a huge archive of music, movies, games and photos.K5 Note’s 4G LTE connectivity also lets users stay connected, share and download content at a blazing-fast speed.
Ziox Mobiles announces its Z214i and Z314 feature phones Ziox Mobiles announced two new additions, the Z 214i and the Z 314, in its feature phones portfolio. Priced at Rs.1,343/- and Rs.1,443/- res p e c t i v e l y, both the devices are equipped with powerful battery for best performance and power packed features, enriching the user experience at optimized price points. Centered on its high performance, stylish looks and durability, both the phones sport multiple functionalities. Housed in an attractive body both the Z 214i and the Z 314 sport a wide 2.4 inch brilliant display bringing you the perfect viewing from any angle and accurate edge-to-edge colors. Both the Dual SIM devices support expandable memories up to 16 GB.
TCL Announced New TV UHD&FHD and TCL562 mobile phone
TCL announced its new range of Curve, Ultra HD and Full HD TV series which are available in the Indian market in exclusive partnership with Amazon.in, the largest online marketplace. The next generation TV Series which aims to bring revolutionary technology will be made available on pre-booking and registration commences from July 28, 2016. Post the high decibel launch of TCL 560 the global technology giant is all set to introduce TCL 562 smartphone with diamond cut design, a sleek 5.5’’-inch full HD IPS screen and a slew of great features with curved design in India.
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interaction
“We had a great portfolio including MyGOV app, Incredible India app and others” Mr. Abhishek Rungta, CEO, Indus Net Technologies
I
ndus Net Technologies has developed an application named SWAS – Service With A Smile for Department of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises and Textile, West Bengal, to provide small businesses a track-able and transparent mobile app based helpdesk and grievance handling system. This development is in line with West Bengal’s increased focus on investments. In an Interaction with Mobility India Mr.Abhishek Rungta, CEO, Indus Net Technologies elaborates on how this premier Internet Consulting company offering diverse IT services and solutions to organizations in India and world.
head quartered in Kolkata, we must make our mark and impact in our own state. We are grateful to MSME department to give us this opportunity to make a big impact closer home. Opportunities and Challenges • Technology is changing too fast, which makes maintenance very complex, expensive and stressful exercise. • We have multiple platforms, even more devises and hence compatibility becomes a challenge • The technical talent to create high quality apps is in acute shortfall
Tell us more about SWAS – Service With A Smile
We have seen many big projects and companies have shifted its base from West Bengal, what really changed since then?
The app has been designed to overcome the challenges faced by investors during their investment process. A business owner or his associate can download the app on his Android smartphone. He will get a simple screen, where he can type out his problem or query. If an answer to this query is in our database of “frequently asked questions”, the answer will be immediately shown to the user. If the answer is not present in the database, it will let the user create a “help desk” ticket or a “grievance” ticket, depending upon his purpose, i.e. is he trying to get some information, or if he is finding some difficulty in getting a job done. The same will be recorded with date and time stamp and automatically sent to the respective person in the district for resolution. If the concerned person does not resolve in a given time frame, it can be escalated. All “help desk” and “grievance” issues can be tracked and report can be generated. Thus, concerns of business owners and prospective investors can be handled effectively.
Mr. Rungta and his connection to West Bengal.
“My family has been in Bengal for generations. In Bengal, we belong to a village called Karimpur. We have deep roots in the state. My father has a jute trading business. I was born in Kolkata, studied in South Point, graduated from St. Xaviers college and went on to do my MS in Multimedia from University of Bath in the UK. I started my business and head quartered it here since inception. Today, we are even more committed to Kolkata and growing at a rapid pace.”
How it all started? Thought/inspiration behind SWAS
I was contacted by MSME department for a tender for an app for MSME department, which will allow them to support small to medium sized business through an app as a single window escalation management platform. We had a great portfolio including MyGOV app, Incredible India app and many instances where we have delivered scalable, mission critical app in unimaginable timelines. We won the tender. And, then we consulted the department with our experience and got the app delivered in record time. The same was launched by Hon. Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee.
What drives him to select West Bengal and MSME for this platform
We are geography agnostic. And for a company like us, who are
Mobility August 2016
I cannot comment on strategy of other companies. We find West Bengal suited to our needs. Bengal is known for its talent, especially in the field of art, science and culture - all of which is very critical in building an innovative digital technology company. It has its own challenges, but you will some or other challenge everywhere. We have figured out how to tackle the local challenges. We have a very different agile, customer centric and passionate work culture, which sets us apart from other companies in the region. I am confident, as we keep building the business, talented prabasi bengalis will identify opportunity closer to home and join the bandwagon. Its all about critical mass. And we are getting there.
Did today’s Govt. and youth feel positive about his state. Things have improved. However, there is a lot of change that still needs to happen. Hopefully they will happen. I will urge the youth to focus on their own capabilities and hard work instead of looking into macro elements, which are ultimately created by them only. If everyone feels positive and confident, because they are capable, the state will become positive. It is unfair to expect everything from the government. In fact, I feel government should stay away from business. And above all, its a globally connected world. If someone still blames his place of origin for his failures, he is just being lazy and fault-finder. You can learn from the best and work for the best, sitting right here or any place which is connected to Internet.
How your company planning to make an impact in this demographic?
We are already making an impact. Till date, we have given a platform to 2500+ professionals. We currently have 700+ full time executives, who are working on mission critical projects of corporations around the world. And they also spend some time in building systems like SWAS, MyGov, Incredible India, which helps them make impact closer to home.
Your company’s strategy and road-map for 2016-17? Keep growing at a CAGR of 50%-60%. Have stronger partnerships with our global client base. Have stronger processes and an even better culture
22
special story
Telecom Industry Welcomes the Passing of the GST bill Industry looks up to GST as great step forward for easing operations, despite some apprehensions.
GST reform is a discussion that gripped the national economic discourse several times during the last 10 years. COAI welcomed the passing of the GST Bill as this is a significant step towards simplified goods and service taxation, ease in compliance, achieving transparency and improving ease of doing business with the passage of the Constitutional Amendment Bill on GST by the Upper House. Supporting the bill, Mr. Rajan S Mathews, Director General, COAI, said, “The passing of the GST Bill is a major turning point in India’s history driven by the visionary leadership of Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi and Finance Minister, Mr. Arun Jaitley, to support the growth of businesses in the country. The industry welcomes and celebrates this iconic reform, while urging Mr. Rajan S Mathews, Director General, COAI
Mobility August 2016
the government to ensure that the rate applied for the telecom services should be no more than the existing 15% to meet the government’s vision of a connected digital India and ensuring affordable services. Mr. Rajan further added, “This paradigm shift in India’s indirect tax regime must play an enabling role in the growth of key sectors like telecommunications. There are certain aspects relevant for the telecom sector that need consideration by the policy makers while finalizing the GST legislation. We look forward to our continued engagement with the committee and working with them to make the implementation seamless, transformation meaningful and optimal.” COAI has been actively engaging with various policy makers on all aspects that have a material impact on the telecom industry. These relate to a single pan-India registration for the telecom operators, lower and uniform rate of tax for telecom services, determination of tax liability under GST, determination of transaction value for tax, selfsupply of services based on state-wise registrations and various components related to admissibility of input tax credits. The industry will continue to work with the government and provide regular inputs to the committee for a vibrant and healthy ecosystem.
special story
Key concerns of the industry Key concerns of the industry that need to be addressed under GST regime:
1.
Lower rate of tax and Uniform rate of tax for telecom services: Telecom service is an infrastructure service designated as an essential service under the Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1968 and is availed by masses. At present, service tax at the rate of 15 percent is payable on telecom services. Any further increase in the rate of tax under GST regime would have a direct impact on the increase in costs for the subscribers and would be crippling for the telecom industry as well. Telecom services should therefore, be taxed at merit rate of tax applicable in case of essential goods and services and not at rates being higher than present rate of 15 percent. Separately, given that States have the flexibility to determine the rate of tax in their respective State within a band, the rate of tax across States for telecom services could vary. If the GST rates vary across States for telecom services, due to non-alignment of Circle boundaries with geographical State/ UT boundaries, such difference in tax rates could result in non-compliance with certain regulatory guidelines, rise in consumer complaints due to impact of tax rate on pricing. The aforesaid challenges in case of differential rates of tax across States have the potential to even disrupt business itself. Therefore, it is imperative to have uniform rate of tax for telecom services across States/ UTs.
2. Single pan-India registration: Model GST law envisages
every service provider to obtain registration in each State/ UT from which it provides services. Telecom services are highly regulated and provided in a seamless manner across States/ UT to over a billion customers including B2B and B2C. Given the unique characteristics of the telecom sector, State-wise registrations may not be feasible for telecom sector to comply with. For pan-India service providers, state-wise registrations would result in humongous increase in compliance effort, tax uncertainty due to multiple assessments and audits and cascading impact of taxes on account of credit blockages in each state without yielding any incremental revenue for the government. It is, therefore, imperative that telecom operators should be allowed to obtain single pan-India registration and seamless transfer of credits across States be allowed.
3.
Concerns around determination of tax liability under GST: The place of supply rules and location of service provider are integral for determining the tax liability. The policy makers have crafted a specific place of supply rule for telecom services, which is step in the right direction and is well appreciated by the industry players. However, the present drafting of provisions pertaining to location of service provider and the place of supply rules for telecommunication services lead to certain amount of ambiguity leading into increased tax uncertainty and disputes. While the provisions are workable subject to certain clarity required in some cases, in some specific cases they are infeasible to comply with. Incrementally, the draft model GST law has prescribed the place of supply in respect of only certain telecom services and has not prescribed the same place of supply in respect of various other telecom services. Given that the location of service provider and the place of supply form an important aspect for determining tax liability, it is extremely critical for policy makers to address the same and make necessary changes in draft GST provisions.
4.
Valuation: The valuation prescribed under the model GST law is based on transaction value with certain artificial inclusions and deductions. Further, in case of supplies between ‘related persons,’ in certain cases, the value of supply is proposed to be determined as per GST Valuation Rules. GST is a value added tax, an indirect tax with tax being paid at each leg on value addition and therefore, having such inclusions and exclusions from transaction value is not required. Even the concept of related party transactions should be done away with since GST does not mandate such provisions (similar to present service tax provisions where there exist no valuation provisions for related party transactions). Instead, the transaction value (i.e. price actually paid or payable) should be adopted in all cases.
5.
Self-supply of services based on State-wise registrations should not be liable to GST: At present, from the provisions of the model GST law, it is not clear whether supplies from one State registration to another State registration of same legal entity would be liable to GST. In the event such supplies are made liable to GST, it would result in issues of valuation of such supplies. Given that areas covered under telecom Circle are not aligned with geographical State/ UT boundaries, there are 12 Circles which cover more than one State/ UT. Due to this, in case of such Multi-State Circles, there are certain supplies across States which are not recognized as supply from regulatory standpoint. Further, due to IT systems being aligned with Circles and not States/ UT, telecom operators do not have ability to identify provision of service across States in multi-State Circles. Further, there are 5 States/ UT which cover areas covered by more than one telecom Circle. For instance, certain areas of the State of Uttar Pradesh are part of Delhi-NCR Circle, UP (West) Circle and UP (East) Circle. Even in such cases, complexity would arise in case of self-supplies as one Circle can provide services to another Circle even though they cover the same State. Given the above, in our view, supply to self-based on State-wise registrations should not be liable to GST.
6.
Admissibility of input tax credits (a) Removal of restrictions on admissibility of credit Removal of cascading impact of taxes and rationalisation of credit is at the very heart of the GST framework. The industry, therefore, expects a much more liberal credit mechanism that allows credit of all goods and services used in relation to telecom business as compared to the relatively restrictive credit mechanism being considered under the model GST law. (b) Input Service Distributor mechanism Transfer of credits using input service distributor mechanism is a positive step for ensuring seamless transfer of credits, both within and across State boundaries. However, the scheme should also provide similar mechanism to transfer credits pertaining to inputs and capital goods used by the industry given that and procurement/ location of assets used to provide telecom service need not be geographically aligned with provision of telecom service. (c) Transitional credit Though the model GST law contains provisions allowing certain transitional credits, the draft law has restricted the credits to merely eligible credits under both present and GST regime. For all service providers, this would also mean that costs such
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as VAT, entry tax incurred on capital goods and inputs lying in stock immediately prior to implementation of GST would not be available as credit even though such goods continue to be used under GST regime. Not only is this provision detrimental to the interests of service providers but could have larger ramifications on even economic activity nearing the date of implementation of GST. (d) Cascading impact of taxes due to certain exclusions from GST framework - Non-levy of GST on petroleum products: Telecom sector is the second largest consumer of diesel, after railways. Continuation of Central Excise duties and State Sales taxes on petroleum products will result in massive cascading impact on the economy as also the telecom sector. - Exclusion of real property and electricity duty from GST framework – If real property and electricity duty not subsumed, it would result in increase in overall tax cost and be an additional burden for the industry.
Comments from MAIT office bearers The telecom industry is hopeful that the policy makers will give due consideration to their concerns and make plausible amendments in the draft model GST law to address the same. The much awaited and talked about GST regime in India has finally attained a certain degree of tangibility with the release of the Model GST Law in June 2016 (‘GST Law’), even as the Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Second Amendment) Bill, 2014 (the ‘GST Bill’) awaits approval from the Upper House of Parliament. Manufacturers’ Association of Information Technology (MAIT) appreciates the concerted efforts of the Government to bring all stakeholders on board and finalise India’s new GST Law, which appears to be comprehensive in its approach.
Mr Nitin Kunkolienker
VP, MAIT and DirectorCorporate Affairs, Smartlink Network Systems Mr Nitin Kunkolienker, VP, MAIT and Director-Corporate Affairs, Smartlink Network Systems
“The IT-Electronics industry at large welcomes the proposed move to the GST regime, as the same would herald in a new beginning in the indirect taxation landscape of modern India, paving the way for a simplified and homogenous tax structure for goods and services,” stated Mr Nitin Kunkolienker, VP, MAIT and Director-Corporate Affairs, Smartlink Network Systems.
GST being a destinationbased tax would specifically reduce the tussle amongst the origin state and the destination state, often seen to be warring to appropriate the same tax transaction. GST would also put to rest the ambiguity surrounding the treatment of ‘intangibles’ such as software and the concept of dual levy of taxes per se. Further, with manufacture no longer being a taxable event, the concept of deemed manufacture and/or
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MRP valuation would be rendered redundant in the GST era, sparing businesses of the often long-drawn litigation process. “Currently, states’ VAT laws warrant submission of myriad documentation, thereby impeding free movement of goods and Central Sales Tax Law also mandates issuance of diverse statutory forms to prove among other facts that the interstate purchase of goods is for re-sale, and inter-state movement of goods is not a sale. The GST regime would assure a break-away from the rigours of maintenance of such voluminous documentation,” Mr Kunkolienker further opined. Importantly, the cascading effect of taxes would be effectively addressed under the GST regime owing to seamless flow of credit, with traders, in particular, being eligible to avail credit of services such as in the case of Annual Maintenance Service Contracts (AMC contracts). “With the Revenue Neutral Rate report pegging the ceiling rate of GST to be at 18%, the trader community for “general goods” stands to gain, and the effect on the Manufacturing sector appearing to be neutral. However, IT hardware sector is hopeful that ITA products are notified under the lower merit rate, Mr Mahesh Jaising which is expected to be 12%. Tax Knowledge Partner of Further, while for the Services MAIT and Partner, BMR & sector 18% rate of GST is on Associates LLP. the higher side, with enhanced pool of credit, one is hopeful that Services would gain by way of higher aggregate spending,” surmised Mr Mahesh Jaising, Tax Knowledge Partner of MAIT and Partner, BMR & Associates LLP. While the GST Law ticks most of the important items, the industry at large, and specifically the IT-Electronics sector, eagerly anticipates and hopes the following issues shall be addressed:
• The benefits afforded under the Government’s flagship
program ‘Make in India’ should continue to enjoy patronage under the GST regime as well, given that businesses have made substantial investments and also given that fruition of such schemes is realized over a period of time;
• Benefits under the SEZ scheme and Excise Duty free zones, currently prevalent, should continue under GST regime; • Prescription of lower rate of GST on IT products (i.e. all ITA products) on the basis of the HSN classification across all states, and • Simple rules that permit transfer of credit build up between offices/branches
Mr Anwar Shirpurwala Executive Director, MAIT
special story
across India, particularly from marketing offices and from warehouses stocking parts for warranty/AMC supplies. “In toto, the move of the Government to release the GST Law has ushered in new hope amongst industry players who have been awaiting the GST regime for the last few years. With the Monsoon Session of Parliament currently underway and with the Government having agreed to do away with one percent additional tax and fully compensate the States for losses in tax revenues for five years, MAIT is hopeful the Government would get the necessary support for passage of the GST Bill in the Upper House. This would herald in a new dawn in the history of India’s indirect taxation regime,” concluded Mr Anwar Shirpurwala, Executive Director, MAIT
Comments from other Industry Doyens on GST The following are the comments made by different industry doyens on the recent path-breaking GST law.
Mr. Atul Jain, COO, Smart Electronics Business, LeEco India Atul Jain, COO Smart Devices, said, “The implementation of a unified GST in India will be one of the most significant reforms introduced in recent times. We believe that it will bring in much needed transparency in the taxation norms and have an overall positive impact on the Indian economy. We at LeEco are still in a startup phase in India and therefore are very appreciative of the long term cost benefits that it will accrue to our Indian operations. It will certainly ease our cost burden of logistics and benefits of reduced taxation can be passed on to our end consumers.”
Mr. Narendra Bansal, CMD of Intex Technologies (India) Ltd “Finally India gets united, which was living in a legacy of almost 30 different markets within the country. We were saddled with a plethora of diverse state-level taxes and levies of around 25-30% – or even higher in case of some sectors. GST will ensure that India finally emerges as one common market with an approximate tax rate of around 18%, with no double taxation and no cascading effect of multiple levies. Being a man-
ufacturing entity, Intex Technologies stands to benefit from a uniform tax regime because this will boost operational efficiencies, increase cost savings and make products more competitive. This will help in a major way to simplify the way we do business and will boost government initiatives on ‘ease of doing business in India.’ The world will now recognize India’s potential and the government’s willingness to take bold steps to boost the economy. As 1.3 billion consumers across India benefit from lower prices, GST will spur higher consumption and increase the tax base through better compliance with the help of information technology enablement. In the long run, these factors will raise India’s GDP growth by 1 or 2 points, generating millions of new jobs and driving greater prosperity. I wish all the success to the Indian government for the biggest reform after Independence.”
Mr. Vikas Jain, MD, Ziox Mobiles “The implementation of the GST will make the industry much more accountable and take away the inadvertent ad-hocism which exists by way of imports & intra-country mobilization. The onetime & singular tax window will allow for huge savings on time costs and other related activities which will go a long way in making the industry more focussed for consumer centric practises & pricings. While the tax rates are yet to be finalized, it is hoped that the under-discussion, 16-18% rate will make for better pricing mechanisms to make the industry more competitive and be more accessible for consumers.”
Mr. Atul Rai, Co-Founder & CEO, Staqu “GST is overall good for economy as it will eliminate various complicated taxes between states and the centre. Being a technology company, I don’t think it will have any direct impact as most technology companies in India are B2B. The major outcome of GST will be based on how it is impacting the corresponding business partners of that technology company. In general, it may add an extra burden to those tech companies which are having their pan-India presence as they have to bifurcate services and bill the customer statewise. From a startup’s point of view, I would say it will have a good cascading effect, as it will attract and encourage more investors from around the globe for Asia’s third largest economy with a clear and transparent tax regime.”
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Mr. Alok Dubey, CFO, ACER “The IT Industry has been actively engaging with the industry associations after the introduction of the model GST law. The discussions to understand business models and devise appropriate solutions have already begun. In many cases, the tax departments currently are solely catering to the needs of tax efficacy. With the introduction of the new law however, businesses will be motivated to remodel their financial infrastructure and bring more efficiency. Duties paid can now be claimed back/taken credit as opposed to the existing chain effect of taxes (CST, octroi/local body tax/ central excise/service tax) levied upon previous ones. Such additional cost will now not get absorbed at each level. The tax cascading will be minimized. The law, giving enough incentive for companies to declare transaction in order to claim tax credits, will reduce overall tax evasion. Businesses will now only have to deal with State and Central GST Departments instead of a variety of state and central departments. This will hopefully bring down disputes, litigation and cost of compliance. Unless the final GST rate on each product category is known, the calculation of the pricing shall remain speculative. With GST, overall taxes on goods are likely to come down and make them cheaper. However, there may be some teething troubles as the new law comes into effect. In the long run, the lower tax burden could translate into lower prices on goods for consumers. The new law will motivate businesses to remodel their logistics and warehousing solutions. Currently, most organizations have put many major warehousing or logistics decisions on hold till they have clarity on GST law.”
Mr. K Ganesh, Serial Entrepreneur, Partner GrowthStory “The passage of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Bill in the Rajya Sabha is a progressive measure as it can facilitate seamless movement of goods across inter-state borders enabling better efficiency and spurring growth of the (eCom-
Mobility August 2016
merce) sector. However, like every regulation, it needs to be implemented correctly, and should not make lives of eCommerce players even more complicated by burdening them with more administrative hassles,” said K Ganesh, Serial Entrepreneur, Partner - GrowthStory and Promoter of sector leaders such as BigBasket, Bluestone, FreshMenu, Housejoy, Homelane, Portea, etc. “For the consumer, the price points of many products should come down or remain at the current levels (depending on the GST rates) as there will be free flow of credits since the total indirect tax cost embedded in the price (of products) is likely to decrease.”
Mr. Dhiraj Agarwal, Co-Founder, Campus Sutra “From the point of ecommerce, there are two points in which we are awaiting clarity. First being mechanics of GST across each state as online orders are not location dependent. Secondly, as a fashion e-commerce player we are eagerly waiting to see whether apparel continues to be in the necessity category and hence attracts a lower GST than the standard rate.”
Mr. Rajeev Wadhwa, Group Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, Baron Aviation “We need to see the impact of GST on services and trading businesses. Some of these businesses are very costsensitive and even 10% difference due to added price can result in negative growth for the industry. Charter trading is one such sector that is likely to be impacted by the GST bill, and not in a good way. BAOA needs to find ways to represent the industry and highlight its concerns to get some relief; otherwise we will have negative impact of this policy. We must also emphasis on positives - charter industry reflects the state of the economy, if inflation comes down and Indian businesses start performing better, it will bring in positive sentiment as a whole. Let us also check the impact on ground handling, airport charges and MRO to take holistic view of our industry.”
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Zopo Launches Speed 8, the First & Fastest Deca-core Processor Smartphone, in India Zopo launched Speed 8, the world’s first blazing fast deca-core smartphone. The mobile device boasts of striking functionalities and ace performance matrix. Zopo Speed 8, priced at Rs. 29,999, is powered by Helio X20 64-bit deca-core CPU and has a 4 GB RAM and 32 GB internal storage.
A
nnouncing the launch, Kevin Xu, Founder of Zopo brand, commented, “The smartphone market in India is going through a cut-throat competition and technology innovation dictates who will stay in the field in the long-run. Keeping today’s smart, discerning and technology savvy millennials in mind, we design our smartphones and make sure they are at par with contemporary trends and at the same time, they are futuristic as well. India is a strategic market for us and we are in India, for India. With this overriding commitment at our core, we launched the sophisticated Zopo Speed 8 in India.” Kevin Xu is an entrepreneur who holds fast to dreams and then strives to make his dreams come true. He established Zopo brand in Shenzen, China, in 2012. The first Zopo glasses-free 3D smartphone was released in the same year.
Since then, the Zopo brand has received close attention in the smartphone industry. Mr Xu adjusted the marketing strategy and explored a new path to open the overseas markets in 2014. At present, users in 135 countries are using Zopo smartphones. Commenting on the launch Sanjeev Bhatia, Founder & Chairman, Adcom—the Distributor for Zopo, shared, “It is been a year since we launched Zopo in India. Now Zopo is a well known brand in India, as far as high-end smartphone devices are concerned, where the consumers have already developed trust in our brand after using our devices for over a year and we can easily say that Indian market accepted our devices with an overwhelming approval. We have penetrated more than 50% of the Indian market as far as the states are concerned; we are not only on the online platforms but also heavily focusing on offline markets. Right now we are present in more than 100 cities and have more than 100 distributors in India; in the next quarter, before Diwali, we are targeting 100 more cities. We have service centers pan-India for both online and offline products.” Since 1996, Sanjeev who pioneered in brining innovative IT products to India, established the Adcom brand as a big player in the IT hardware segment. Adom has a factory in India for mobile phones & specializes in smart phones, power banks, Bluetooth speakers, Tablet PCs, LED / LCD TVs and various accessories. Being a leading player in the IT industry, Adcom, as the National Distributor of Zopo, aims to take Zopo to the next successful level in the Indian market. Charles Bird, Brand Manager, Zopo, stated, “ZOPO had Mobility August 2016
a highly successful and exciting time at the Mobile World Congress 2016 in Barcelona. The introduction of the new Speed 8 powered by MediaTek’s Helio X20 was the subject of overwhelming media attention and made ZOPO the focus of attention. We are very happy to have partnered with MotoGP Champion Jorge Lorenzo and that really helped us to push our brands and connect to masses. We are very happy to bring Speed 8 to India, the first smartophone with 10 cores and it’s a great value for money product for every smartphone lover.” Charles comes with an elaborate experience into marketing and brand management. Before Zopo, Charles had spearheaded the marketing divisions for several companies into Internet and online business. At Zopo, Charles is responsible for brand communication in the international market. April Ren, Sales Manager, Zopo, disclosed, “Now we want to achieve a 10% market share in India. India is a very big and important market for us; we have now 8 to 9 models for the Indian market. We have a very high expectation with Speed 8 as this is the first deca-core processor model and also we are giving 30-month warranty on this phone. We are aggressively promoting this model through distributor and retailer network.” The brushed metal looking, curved body, aesthetically designed Speed 8 smartphone comes packed with a finger print scanner, 5.5 inch 1080P full HD IPS Symmetrical display, reversible Type C USB and a Sony IMX230 top-of-the-line camera sensor. The primary camera is 21.0 mega-pixels and the secondary camera is 8.0 megapixel with dual LED flash and front flash. Sahil Bhatia, Zopo Operational Head, India, clarified, “It’s not easy to create a brand with only promotions and advertisements; we have to be confident about our product and provide good customer support and after sales services. Since the product quality is very high, we feel customers will have no issues with the product itself, but still we are focusing on training our staff thoroughly so that they can resolve the issues if any quickly and smartly.” Supporting all the premium features, Speed 8 has a powerful fast charging 3600 mAh battery which ensures a really long lasting talk time. The smartphone is built on energy-efficient Stock Android 6.0 Marshmallow and it supports NFC (Near Field Communication). The high-end Zopo Speed 8 is now available via both online and offline. “Apart from being the world’s first deca-core CPU processor, Speed 8 comes stacked with 1/2.45 CMOS image sensor in the camera making pictures look clear and refined. Additionally, the sensor also includes PDAF technology, which, in practice, means you’ll be able to take phenomenal pictures with a super-fast focus that triggers itself in just 2/10th of a second. The built-in NFC technology in the device enables it to double up as a digital wallet for monetary transactions and many other such operations. People today are willing to a little extra for more quality and features,” Sushil Bhatia added.
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Intex Desire BT An Affordable Feature-Rich Headphone
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ntex recently has announced the launch of its new Bluetooth headphone, the Desire BT Bluetooth. This is the latest Bluetooth headphone from Intex for music lovers. The Intex Desire BT headphones come with Bluetooth connectivity allowing you to listen to music or take calls wirelessly. Built of hard plastic, the cushioned headphones come with adjustable headband for better grip.
The Build quality of Desire BT is fine considering the price and Bluetooth capability. Built of hard plastic, the cushioned headphones come with adjustable headband for better grip. The key highlight of this headphone is its support for TF card and FM. Which gives you a good wireless experience. Through the TF card you store and your favorite tracks and listen to them anytime and anywhere. All the controllers are fitted on the top of the right ear cup which has digital control buttons for Mode,Vol-/Prev,Play/Pause/Caliing,Next/Vol+,Power On/Off, and you can easily navigate through music or take calls in one tap. It weighs 197 grams and has a Bluetooth range of 7-10 meters. As you switch on or off the device, it is followed by voice prompts that the headphones are ready to be connected or they are now connected. There is also a dual color LED indicator to help you further identify charging or connection status. The audio quality of this headphone is decent enough to enjoy every genre of music and even games. Intex Desire BT Bluetooth headphone works well in Operating Voltage of DC 3.7V-4.2V. and offers sound with the Output Impendence of 32 Ω. The headphone also gets Distortion of ≤3db (1KHz 1WM). Verdict: In the affordable segment this is one of the headphone you can bank on. Key specifications of Desire BT Bluetooth • • • • • • • • •
Operating Voltage – DC 3.7V-4.2V Power Supply – USB DC 5V/500mA Output Impendence – 32 Ω Distortion – ≤3db (1KHz 1WM) Standard Operating Voltage – 900-1000mV Maximum output power – 50 mW Bluetooth Version – V4.0 + EDR Max. transmit power – DC 5V Data Rates – 100KB
Pros: Lots of option to connect, multifunction, value for money Cone: Ear cushion are not that comfortable for prolong use Price: Rs. 1,800.
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review
Huawei P9 A stunning device with ground-breaking Leica dual-lens camera
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uawei Smartphones, announced the launch of its much anticipated Huawei P9 .Created in collaboration with Leica Camera AG, the globally renowned manufacturer of cameras and sport optics products, the P9 is the first smartphone coengineered by the companies that has a dual-lens camera, setting new benchmarks in smartphone photography. The two rear cameras of the Huawei P9 work in tandem to enable users to create images of superior detail, depth and color by capturing more light and stitching together both vivid colors and monochrome images. Huawei accompanied the launch of the P9 with the showcasing of 2 other international blockbuster products- the Matebook and the TalkBand B3, which will be debuting in India soon. The P9, targeted for the users of the growing premium end smartphone market will mark the re-entry of Huawei in this segment after a period of almost 3 years .
Reinventing Smartphone Photography Integrating the design values and engineering excellence of Huawei and Leica in a smartphone photography system co-engineered by the two companies, the Huawei P9 brings together the best-in-class hardware and software, from optical lenses, to sensors, to image processing algorithms, empowering users to capture the highest-quality images. Key to the Huawei P9’s superlative imaging capabilities is a dual-lens camera design that fully unleashes the power
of Leica’s optical lenses, renowned for precision and attention to detail, and subject to the industry’s most stringent quality screening requirements. The RGB camera on the Huawei P9 specializes in capturing color, while the monochrome camera is outstanding at acquiring picture detail. The two rear cameras of the Huawei P9 works in tandem to enable users to create images of superior detail, depth and color. The Huawei P9 excels in lowlight conditions, as the dual-camera design guarantees more light and detail capture. The Huawei P9 comes in a stunning and unique three colours setting new industry standards in industrial design, with the use of techniques including brushed hairlines and metal polishing at micron-level precision to create a translucent metal surface. Performance The Huawei P9 is equipped with the power, connectivity and speed that today’s high-end smartphone user expects from Huawei. With a 5.2-inch 1080p display, the smartphone is powered by the new Kirin 955 2.5GHz 64-bit ARM-based processor for leadingclass mobile performance. The 3,000 mAh high-density battery offers the Huawei P9 users outstanding mobility and battery life. Huawei P9 offers unrivaled new features including a virtualtriple-antenna architecture, designed for users who need robust and seamless connectivity to cellular and Wi-Fi networks to fully harness the power of the mobile Internet no matter where they are in the world. The Huawei P9 also protects users’ privacy and information security with Huawei’s world-leading biometric fingerprint recognition technology. The enhanced fingerprint sensor allows users to personalize and safeguard their devices by significantly lowering the possibility of fraudulent or accidental device access, while also ensuring users can quickly and securely access their smartphone.
ASUS ZenFone 3 Crystal Beauty. Built for Photography
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inner of a Computex 2016 d&i Award, ASUS ZenFone 3 is a feature-packed smartphone that brings premium design and empowering performance to everyone. Built around a gorgeous 5.5-inch Full HD (1920 by 1080) Super IPS+ display with up to 600cd/m2 brightness, ZenFone 3 delivers an incredible visual experience that makes apps, videos, and games look their best. With a narrow bezel, ZenFone 3 provides a 77.3% screen-to-body ratio for a maximized viewing area in a slim and compact body. The front and rear of the phone feature scratch-resistant 2.5D Corning® Gorilla® Glass that gently curves to make the edge of the phone completely smooth. Featuring a next-generation PixelMaster 3.0 camera, ZenFone 3 ushers in a new era of smartphone photography. Equipped with the latest 16MP with the latest Sony® IMX298 sensor, sixelement Largan lens with a large f/2.0 aperture, and subject-tracking TriTech auto-focus, ZenFone 3 is a photographer’s delight. Sapphireglass lens protection ensures clarity and is resistant to scratches
Mobility August 2016
and damage. Offering both optical and electronic image stabilization for blur-free shots and video, a color-correction sensor for true-color photography, and true 4K UHD video recording, ZenFone 3 goes where no other smartphone in the category has ventured. The exclusive TriTech auto-focus technology combines three focusing technologies — laser, phase detection and continuous contrast-detection auto-focus — to achieve clear focus in 0.03 seconds, up to 10x faster than the blink of an eye. ZenFone 3 is the first smartphone worldwide to be powered by the new Snapdragon 625 — , the first 600 tier processor using 14nm finFET process technology that makes it 35% more power efficient than 28nm processors. It also features an integrated X9 LTE modem, 802.11ac MU-MIMO Wi-Fi connectivity, PC-grade graphics and up to 4GB RAM that together deliver outstanding mobile performance with improved efficiency and battery life. ZenFone 3 also has a built-in fingerprint sensor that’s perfectly positioned on the rear of the phone to sit underneath the user’s finger and unlocks the phone in just 0.2 seconds.
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APPS
“I Feel Safe” Safety Ka
Power Button A Free App to keep you safe whenever & wherever
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SAI(Mobile Standards Alliance of India) in association The app tracks the location of the user to recognize the with Nirbhaya Jyoti Trust launched a new safety app for nearest police station and send an alert to them. Users would women called the ‘I Feel Safe’ app. The app, solely focusing have to feed select number of their friends/family members on the safety of women in the country would be initially being relatives who would get alerts in case of emergency. The app would also be able to track different activities as well, like if the user is walking or running. This App was unveiled by Mother of ‘Nirbhaya’ Smt. Asha Devi in the presence of dignitaries and leading women and child rights activists.
made available on Google Play Store followed by Apple App Store. The app is said to work when the handset is connected According to Ms. Bhawna Kumari, to the internet and even when offline. Business Head, MSAI “The I Feel Safe mobile app addresses the growing That means the app does not need to be induced with need in the country to ensure better safety alarm feature and even works when the screen of the personal safety smartphone is locked, in the absence of SIM cards, if there of women and is no Wi-Fi connectivity or if you have not accessed any data girls if they are plan. After installing the app, all that a user would need to threatened with do is to long press the power button for 5 times to let the app physical abuse automatically send a distress call to the nearest police station or assault. This along with the person’s relatives. personal safety solution can also be availed by senior citizens, and anyone who senses a threat to his or her personal safety,” . She also mentioned that this personal safety power button empowers women by giving them access to a reliable safety tool at all times. Women can avail 24 x 7 service and ensure safety for themselves and their loved ones. There is no charge for using the I Feel Safe mobile app.
Mobility August 2016
Date of Pub: 10th August, 2016 | Postal Dt.: 16th & 17th of same Month/ Posted at NDPSO
R.N.I. No. DELENG/2004/14198
Postal Reg. No.: DL(S)-01/3442/2016-18