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arch is a special month for us. Well, that is not to say that other months do not matter as much. Yes, they do - you only have to pick up a copy of our magazine to see the kind of effort we put in day in, day out to ensure you get the very best from the world of mobile technology. But even by those standards, March is special. That is because this is the time when we focus on what we call the Power List. In simple terms, this is a list of people who matter in the mobile technology sphere in the country. They come from a number of companies operating in different sectors - from manufacturing to networks to policy to retail. And many of them play different roles -some are strategists, some master implementers, some thought leaders. What they all have in common is their ability to influence different aspects of mobile technology. If you are doing something with a mobile device today, it is probably because of someone on our Power List. Ofcourse, making the Power List is easier said than done - it involves hours of research and cross-referencing. The list you will see in the pages that follow is the result of weeks and months of research. Needless to say, we look forward to your feedback on it. The Power List might dominate the pages of our March issue, but that has not made us take our eyes off our regular features. We take a closer look at Lenovo’s acquisition of Motorola Mobility from Google and reflect on what’s next for the company that gave us iconic devices like the RAZR and also the very first mobile phone. We also analyse the return of multi-coloured handsets, spearheaded by Nokia’s Lumia range - even Apple has added colors to its iPhone. Is this just a phase or a trend that’s here to stay? We take a closer look. As the world talks of wearable technology, we compare the two best products in that category available in the Indian market - Samsung’s powerful Galaxy Gear smart watch and Sony’s second attempt at a watch that does more than just show the time, the SmartWatch 2. And then of course, there are our burn tests. As always, we have reviewed some of the latest and most notable devices in Cell Town, notable among which are the Lumia 1320, the Asus Google Nexus 7, the Xolo Tegra Play Note as well as the Sony Vaio Fit convertible. Finally, there are the sections that are dedicated to you - the letters, the Consumer Forum where we try to act as a bridge between you and the manufacturers and operators, and the Mobile Doctor section, where we try to answer any questions you may have about mobile technology. And well, if you are looking for more information about a particular handset, just head to the My Guide section which covers every significant brand and device available in the country today. All this and much more lies in the pages that follow. There’s incidentally another reason that makes March special for us. It marks nine years of our association with you. The first issue of My Mobile magazine came out at this time in 2005. How time flies. It is a period that has seen many changes in the industry, but what has not changed is our commitment to the reader. It will never flag. And will never be compromised. On behalf of the My Mobile, I thank you for making us a part of your life. This is your magazine as much as it is ours. Happy reading.

04 MYMOBILE march 2014

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EDITORIAL Pankaj Mohindroo |

Editor-in-Chief

DESIGN Ajit Kumar Parashar | Sr. Graphic Designer Pooja Papnai | Assistant Graphic Designer

CIRCULATION Lalit Sharma | Sr. Manager – Circulation

ADVISORY BOARD Prithipal Singh S.C. Khanna S.D. Saxena Rajan Mathews T.R. Dua T.V. Ramachandran Shiv K. Bakhshi Sonu Halan Bhasin Bejon Misra Edited, published, printed and owned by Pankaj Mohindroo, Published from Flat No. 25, First Floor, Shankar Market, Connaught Place, New Delhi – 110001. Printed at HT Media Ltd. B-2, Sector 63, Noida. Distributed by My Mobile Infomedia Pvt. Ltd. Copyright 2005. My Mobile is a registered trademark of My Mobile Infomedia Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form– electronic, mechanical, or otherwise, without prior permission.

The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for errors and omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and the views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication, which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the reader’s particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged.

Volume X, Issue I, MARCH 2014

content Smart Apps Share your pictures the easy way with Nokia Beamer, tell your friends where you are with MapMyIndiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Reach Me, and much more...

2014 Our annual listing of the people who really matter in the world of Indian telecom.

just in

The high-specced, lowpriced Moto G takes the market by storm while Micromax shrinks its Canvas Turbo.

BURN TESTS

20 sneak peek

A tablet that runs Windows and Android, and Samsung reveals a new Galaxy Note.

spot light

Oplus XonPad 7

Idea Aurus 4

Spice Mettle 5x Flo

HTC Desire 501

Xolo Tegra Note Play

iBall Andi Uddaan

Letters

HTC Desire 700

Mobile Doctor

Consumer Forum

Nokia Lumia 1320

Asus Google Nexus 7 (2013)

News Gear Guide

06 MYMOBILE march 2014

As Motorola moves Google to Lenovo, we look at the deal and what it could mean to consumers and the industry.

content chief speak

cell clues

Colours are very much in the air, not just because Holi is near, but also because mobile manufacturers seem to be thinking beyond black, grey and white.

Debjani Ghosh, Managing DirectorSouth Asia, Intel, talks to us about tablets, wearable tech, PCs...and the her favourite mobile game.

versus

What happens when Samsungâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Galaxy Gear comes face to face with the Sony SmartWatch 2? Read on to find out.

etc

Sony SmartWatch 2, Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 3G, Kingston Data Traveler Hyprex3.0, Lumos Unplug Solar Backpack, JBL Pulse, Puma Bulldog PMAD6032 headphones, Sony Vaio Fit 13A, Sennheiser CX 275S.

bazaar bargain The Galaxy Gear and the Lumia 1020 get a whole lot more affordable.

my guide

70 98

Boredom Busters

Total number of pages= 100 (96 + 4 cover)

08 MYMOBILE march 2014

Flappy Bird will drive you crazy while Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas will keep you captivated. And that's not all...

letters FEBRUARY 2014  Rs 100

www.mymobile.co.in

I love reading My Mobile magazine. I like the quality of the content and the exclusive stories you publish in every issue. This time the lead story was very interesting. The growth of the Indian manufacturers has given a boost to the Indian smartphone market. The consumers are also going for the Indian brands. I really THE CHARGE OF INDIAN BRANDS liked the way you presented Indian Classic, your stance in the cover story Tested BEST OF appy spin CES 2014 of the february issue. Along with the content I also liked the design and presentation of the story. Good work team! –Prakash Kumar, Delhi TM

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I am a regular reader of tMy Mobile magazine. I find the magazine very interesting and good to read. You provide all the information about the happenings of the telecom industry. I really like that apart from technology you also focus on telecom. I like to read about telecom and find your stories very informative. The 2G story covered in the last edition was very well written and explains the total situation. I would request the team to include more stories on telecom as it also a very interesting segment and should be covered regularly. –Ankit Khera, Kanpur I am a tech savvy person and I really like to read a lot about technology. My Mobile magazine is my monthly dose of information. I eagerly wait for every issue of the magazine because of its exclusive and rich content. I like all the sections of the magazine. I really liked the way you covered CES 2014 in the last edition. The list of products selected was very comprehensive and ample information was provided about each of them. I would request the team to cover more tech events in the coming issues. –Samir Bhaitia, Punjab I am a great fan of My Mobile and I never miss out any of its issues. I like all the different sections of the magazine. However, the versus and the Burn Test sections are my favourite ones. The versus printed in the last issue was very interesting, which highlighted the war the two very impressive smartphones. I also like the Burn Test segment because you cover all types of mobile phones in it ranging from smartphones to feature phones. I find it very interesting, that the team devotes equal attention to every device. I would request the team to include more mobile devices as the section is very interesting and engaging. -Kavita Sharma, Delhi ou Two years ago, I started reading the My Mobile. The magazine is very interesting and full of information. I also visit the website regularly for updates. The sections that I look out for in the magazine are the Smart Apps, Boredom Busters and Apptastic. These sections always cover very exciting apps and games. I really enjoyed reading the Apptastic

10 MYMOBILE march 2014

section, which was the Valentine Day special. After reading about the apps I downloaded them and had great fun in using them. I also like the Smart Apps section as the choice of apps is always intriguing. I would request the team to expand this section and include more interesting apps. – Resham Raghav, via mail

This Time, That Year

My Mobile, Mar 15-Apr 14, 2009

In March 2009, Nokia was still very much the leader in the Indian and indeed the global phone market. Yes, the likes of the iPhone and Android were posing challenges but at that time, it seemed unlikely that either would be able to overturn the established order represented by the Finnish company. Little then did we know that the selection of the Samsung S8300 Ulta Touch as our Phone of the Month in that issue was not just a one-off, but actually a taste of things to come. The phone marked a sea change in Samsung’s approach towards the Indian phone market. After years of fighting it out on the value for money stakes, with the S8300 Ultra Touch Samsung upped the style ante. The device was very stylish, and came with a slider (a rage in those days, courtesy the popularity of the N95) and also came with a touch interface featuring TouchWiz. And that was not all, it was also one of the few phones in the market to come with an 8.0-megapixel camera and 16 GB of expandable storage. It was these features that allowed the device to score over some very tough competition including the BlackBerry Curve, the LG KS360, and Samsung’s own M200. The victory of the S8300 Ultra Touch would lay the foundation of Samsung’s dominance of the Indian smartphone market in the years to come.

e the nd hav a s e m n a drea ellpho n c i t y u e o k ab so st es? crazy can al e it he late ew lin Are y l to pen a f or news and hands on t ink you hav f th ur tia poten have a nose ve to lay yo em? If you h a dia’s to t u r Do yo ? Do you c orld about sh your CV y Mobile, In w u ne headli and tell the g for you. R r name in M n s ou i gizmo e are look .in to see y w o , in you mymobile.c e. n i @ z team bile maga o m best

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mobile doctor

I am an avid camera user. Please, suggest an Android smartphone with a high quality camera, capable of giving amazing results. The phone should also have a good display and a powerful battery. I have no brand fascination, so suggest something which is really good irrespective of the brand. My budget is Rs 20,000 -Utathya Hazra In your budget, I think you would be best served by the Gionee Elife E6. It comes close to your budget and the 13.0-megapixel camera takes very good photographs indeed, easily the best we have seen in a device at that price point. I have a budget of Rs 4,500 and want to purchase a smartphone which delivers excellent music quality. Along with this it should also have 3G and a decent camera. I am also brand conscious so suggest me a phone from Sony, LG or Nokia only. –Maclee Chab You can choose between the Nokia Asha 208 and 301. Both have decent music and 3G connectivity. If the camera is important, we would recommend the 301 which has a 3.15-megapixel camera. I want to buy an Android smartphone within the budget of Rs 10,000. It should have some good

hardware and should also have at least 1GB of RAM. It should have the latest version of Android and should be able to run all the games and applications. –Shishir Kumar We would recommend you stretch your budget a bit to Rs 12,990 and go for the Moto G, which has just been launched in India. It is due to get the latest version of Android (Kit Kat) even as we go to print, and comes with a quad-core processor, 4.5 inch display, 1 GB RAM and a 5.0megapixel camera.

dual SIM connectiivty. It is also set to get the latest version of Android soon. It is significantly better than anything Samsung or Sony can offer right now.

I want to purchase a smartphone; it should have a 5.0-megapixel camera with autofocus and flash. The device should have dual

I have a Nokia 5130 C-2 Xpress Music. Every time I am trying to take backup of my files and restore them the phone switches off and when I switch it on, it is says “Contact Service”. Please help me to bring my phone to its normal state. -Ronald Mangang If you have your data backed up, you could try hard resetting the phone using the information given in the booklet. This will remove all the data on your device. If, however, your data is NOT backed up (and that does seem to be the case here), we would suggest taking it to a Nokia service centre and getting it fixed. It should not be too difficult as this seems to be a software glitch.

SIM support along with a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and 3G. I have a budget of Rs 13,000. Please suggest me a phone from Samsung or Sony. –Mojammi Hussain At that price point, we would ask you to consider the Moto G very seriously. It falls within your budget and comes with a quad core processor, an excellent display and a decent camera, as well as

12 MYMOBILE march 2014

Recently, I purchased the new Micromax Canvas 4. It’s a nice device and I am very happy with it. Can it be updated to Android KitKat 4.4. –Sonu Raj Android updates are rolled out by the manufacturer. It really depends on Micromax. We do hope it will get updated soon.

I want to buy a Nokia smartphone which can handle internet browsing well. Currently, I am using the Xolo A500s and its internet handling is slow and time taking. I want you to suggest me a good Nokia phone which will run internet well and pages will open instantly. Please, tell about its other details as well. My budget is between Rs 4,000 and 5,000. -Arun Chauhan We would suggest you go for the

Nokia Asha 502. It comes with Nokia’s Xpress Browser which compresses data and also allows browsing at a brisk rate. However, how quickly pages open on the Web will also depend on your Internet connection. I want to purchase a phone from Samsung Galaxy series but I’m totally confused with Android versions (Jelly bean 4.0, 4.1 and 4.2). Could you please explain briefly what difference does versions make? Which is the best one? My budget is about Rs 9,000-10,000 and I want the phone to have a 5MP camera with LED flash. Are Samsung touchscreens more durable than other brands? If you know of something better, please suggest that also. -Thumu Sree Rukmini It always makes sense to have the latest version of an operating system, as that ensures most bugs have been fixed and also that the software has been improved in terms of performance. Android right now stands at version 4.4, which is also called Kit Kat. In your budget, we would suggest you try out the Lumia 525, which is not an Android device, but comes with a decent camera and the latest version of Windows Phone. If Android is a necessity, we would advise stretching your budget a bit and going for the Moto G, which starts from Rs 12,990 and has some very impressive specs to boast of, including a quad core processor and Android 4.3 (which is due to be updated to 4.4 soon). n

Is your mobile phone acting strange? Email your queries at team@mymobile.co.in and our mobile doctor Arshdeep Singh will suggest remedies for your ailing device. Disclaimer: The views expressed by Arshdeep Singh are his own and do not necessarily coincide with those of My Mobile.

consumer forum Complaint 1 I I am Reliance subscriber. I recharged my mobile number with an MMS pack of Rs 14 along with full talktime of Rs 55 on December 30. The same day, after I had sent a few SMSs, my balance came down to Rs 11. I was shocked but because it was close to New Year and I was busy, I did not get in touch with the customer care for the next two days. On January 2, 2014, when I called them, I was told the company system records three days of data. When I asked them to register my grievance, they politely refused. I am not satisfied with this approach. Please help. -Rajendra Pandit

and they took the device for correction. In all, I have submitted the device seven times and visited their service centre 14 times

Micromax’s Response: Awaited

Reliance’s response: Awaited

Complaint 5

Complaint 2 I bought a Karbonn A9+ in December 2012 from Patna at Rs 8,800. Right from the beginning, there was some issue with the phone’s battery back-up. Even with full charge, it gave only 1 ½ hours of back-up. I showed it to the service centre many times but they couldn’t rectify it. In October 2013, the handset switched off completely. In November 2013, when I was in Kota, I submitted the handset at one of the Karbonn service centres. I was told to wait for 15 days, but even after two and a half months, I haven’t got my phone back. The customer care is not responding to my calls. -Mayank Kumar Karbonn’s Response: Awaited

Complaint 3 I purchased a Nokia Lumia 720 from Guwahati, Assam in August 2013. The handset freezes on a daily basis. When I contacted Nokia care service in Ulubari, Guwahati branch, I was told to hand it over for rectification. But when I got it back, the problem was still there. I complained again

restarting and the screen would often freeze for no reason. So I submitted my tablet at Babasai Services, Jalna, Maharashtra in July 2013. After 15 days I got the tablet back but the hanging and other issues persisted. So I resubmitted it at the same service station. I was told the tablet had to be sent to Delhi for correction. Two months have passed but the service centre hasn’t given any status report on the device. I am immensely disappointed with the pathetic service and behaviour of Micromax’s service centre employees. If the issue isn’t resolved soon, I will go to the consumer court. -Narendra Pande

I am an Aircel subscriber. I never receive the bill on time and my connection has been cut many times. Also, under

which is really unexpected from a brand like Nokia. I am feeling harassed and want a replacement of the same category at the earliest or I will be forced to take some legal action. -Biswajit Sarkar Nokia’s Response: Awaited

Complaint 4 I purchased a Micromax Tab P360 in April 2013. Soon the tablet started having issues with

14 MYMOBILE march 2014

the plan, I am entitled to waiver of charges if I make or take a call on the Aircel network, but I have always been charged. It has been brought to Aircel’s notice and every time they say that they will adjust it in the next bill, but it is never done. Data charges are free in Aircel, but I am charged for data usage. Under this plan I am entitled to take five connections, but I have been refused the 5th connection. My bills are long pending to be adjusted. My numbers have been barred 6-7 times and I had to pay Rs 7,000-8,000 each time to get them unbarred. I

have called customer care several times and asked them to register my complaint but they have refused me to lodge any complaints. I have spoken to several people in Aircel but no one has helped in rectifying my problem. One official was so smart that he even changed my plan according to his liking, after hearing my problem. Because of all these reasons, I have decided to port my number to Airtel. Before cancelling my Aircel services, I want to settle my account with them. -Rajan Kuthiala Aircel’s Response: Awaited

Complaint 6 I bought a BlackBerry Bold 9790 from Univercell at Madurai in July. I took Airtel’s 3G connection for BlackBerry for this phone last month but regrettably the browser speed was very slow, even slower than 2G. YouTube won’t play, all video streams won’t take off, and the rest of the operations were also taking more time. To check the network connection, I took the SIM card out and placed it in another phone. The Net speed was normal on other mobile phones. When I tried to run Internet on a Wi-Fi network, it again slowed down. This can’t be a network problem and seems like a handset problem. Please help me in this matter. -Sidhiq Blackberry’s Response: Awaited

Are you being harassed by a Telco that doesn’t hear your plea? Email your issues to consumer-forum@my mobile.co.in and we will take up your cause with the concerned company. Kindly mention your contact number at the end of the Email so that we can get in touch with you. Whenever possible, also provide us complete details of the correspondence with the Telco.

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NEWS bits Micromax to launch Windows Phone?

Micromax is working on a Windows Phone device and is planning to launch it sometime during summer for Rs 6,999, according to sources. The device will adhere to Microsoft’s minimum standards of specifications and will have a 4.0-inch multi-touch display with screen resolution of 800x480p, a 5.0-megapixel camera with auto-focus, 512MB RAM and a dual-core processor. The name of the device is as yet unknown.

Paytm’s new app offers bargaining before buying Paytm has introduced a mobile shopping app where users can bargain with merchants through an inbuilt text messenger and buy products at discounted prices or with some exciting offers. Besides recharges, the new app offers over 1 lakh items of home decor, like curtains and wearable goods like dresses, shoes and many more for men, women and kids. The app offers a prepaid payment option called Cash Wallet where users can keep some amount and make speedy transactions.

Motorola sold again, Lenovo buys it for $2.91 billion

sion was taken owing to a number of reasons, key among which was the fall in global PC sales.

era and a 3,500mAh battery. It runs on Android 4.2 and supports Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, 3G and GPS.

Microsoft appoints Satya Nadella as its new CEO

BookMyShow launches free app for iOS and Android

Microsoft has appointed the executive vice president of Microsoft Cloud & Enterprise Satya Nadella as the new CEO of Microsoft Corporation. He will be the third CEO of the company and the first Indian to head the company. With Steve Ballmer set to retire in Feb 2014, the search for the new CEO began five months ago and Nadella’s name came up for it. Besides Nadella, the shortlist of candidiates considered suitable for the job included Ford CEO Alan Mullaly, former Nokia chief Stephen Elop and former Skype CEO Tony Bates.

India’s popular ticket booking portal BookMyShow.com has released a free app called BookMyShow 2.0 for iOS and BookMyShow 3.0 for Android. The new app comes with features like a synopsis page, where one can get complete details on movies and watch trailers, access show time availability details, save tickets in the iPhone passbook and make payments instantly through quick pay mode.

World’s smartphone population to reach 1.75 billion in 2014 The number of global smartphone users is expected to reach 1.75 billion in 2014, according to a US-based market research company, eMarketer. The researcher said, “40 per cent of all mobile phone users, which is about 25 per cent of the planet’s population, will be using a smartphone this year. Mobile adoption is slowing but new users in the developing regions of Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa will drive further increases. The total number of mobile phone users will cross 4.55 billion this year.”

Samsung gains, Micromax loses smartphone market share: IDC report According to IDC’s Q3 results for the year 2013, Indian mobile brands Micromax and Karbonn are facing a slowdown, while multinational brands like Samsung and Nokia have improved their smartphone market share. Samsung is still the number one smartphone brand with 32.9 per cent of the Indian smartphone market share, whereas Micromax’s share has fallen from the previous quarter’s 22 per cent to 17.1 per cent this quarter. Despite slipping from 13 percent to 11.2 per cent, this quarter, Karbonn is still the number three smartphone brand in the country.

Maxx Mobiles launches 26 phones on Republic Day

LG launches curved display phone in India for Rs 69,999

In order to strengthen its mobile business in Western markets, Lenovo has bought Motorola Mobility from Google for USD 2.91 billion. Google has retained most of the 24,000 patents it acquired when it bought the company to protect Android and its partners from Microsoft-led patent lawsuits. Lenovo has acquired Motorola’s recent crop of smartphones, the Motorola Mobility brand and about 2000 patent assets.

Sony sells PC and laptop business to Japanese company Sony has announced that it is selling its Vaio PC and laptop business to Japanese Industrial Partners. Sony is yet to disclose the amount of money paid by Japanese Industrial Partners for the deal but it is believed that the deal will be finalized by June. The company says the deci-

16 MYMOBILE march 2014

LG’s curved display smartphone G-Flex has been launched in India for Rs 69,999, making it the most expensive Android phone in India. Powered by Qualcomm’s 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 CPU, the device features a curved 6-inch OLED display, 32GB internal storage with expandable memory slot, 2GB RAM, 13MP rear camera, 2.1 front-facing cam-

In the honour of India’s 65th Republic Day, Maxx Mobiles launched 26 mobiles phones. The list includes 19 feature phones and 7 Android smartphones starting from Rs 1,100 and going up to Rs 7,777. The company’s aim is to make as many handsets as possible available to users. The feature phones come with dual SIM support, up to 1500mAh battery, and expandable memory. The Android range includes devices running on both Gingerbread and Jelly Bean OS, with up to 512MB RAM, up to 1,600mAh battery and cameras.

Payu Paisa is now known as Payu Money Online payment solution Payu India has changed its payment link from Payu Paisa to Payu Money. The company is planning to expand its business outside India and felt that Paisa, being a part of the Indian currency is more representative of India. The company also decided to use Money, as it represents all

NEWS bits the currencies. The change is only in the name - all features and transcations will remain the same. Started in 2011, Payu Paisa enjoys immense popularity as a reliable online payment solution.

2G auction closes after 68 rounds of bidding, Govt to earn Rs 61,162 crore After 68 rounds of bidding over a period of 10 days, the third round of 2G auctions finally concluded on a high note. The overall returns from the auctions is going to be Rs 61,162 crore out of which the Government will take away around Rs 18,296 crore in this financial year ending March 31. From the 385MHz spectrum in 1800MHz band and 46MHz spectrum in 900MHz band, available at the auctions, 78MHz in the 1800MHZ band remained unsold. The amount of revenue generated this time reflects the eagerness shown by all major telecom players to bag more spectrum, as 2G licenses of many operators are going to expire this year.

BlackBerry to launch BBM on Android 2.3 in Feb

market with the launch of the Panasonic EZ240 and EZ180. The former comes with a 2.4-inch colour display (hence the name EZ240), has up to 16GB expandable memory, 1.3-megapixl camera, GPRS, Bluetooth and a 1,200mAh battery. It comes in silver, grey and white colour variants for Rs 1,790. The EZ180 comes with a smaller 1.8-inch colour display, 0.3-megapixel camera, FM, GPRS, Bluetooth and a 1,000mAh battery. It is available in blue, grey and white at Rs 1,350.

Motorola launches Moto G in India starting at Rs 12,499 Motorola’s affordable smartphone Moto G has been launched in India through Flipkart. com. The handset is available in two versions. The 8GB version is selling at Rs 12,499, and the 16GB one comes at Rs 13,999. The Moto G is a dual SIM device with a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor, 1GB RAM, a 4.5-inch touch-screen with 720p resolution and 329ppi pixel density. It is available in six colour variants.

Airtel launches 4G data services in Bangalore with iPhone 5S & 5C

Realising the immense popularity Android 2.3 enjoys in developing countries, BlackBerry has decided to introduce its instant messenger service BBM on smartphones running on the old OS as well. The app will be available on smartphones running on Android Gingerbread in the coming days. According to sources, Android 2.3 still runs on 21 per cent of Android smartphones and the majority of them are being used in emerging markets like India.

Panasonic enters feature phone market, launches two phones at Rs 1,790 & Rs 1,350 After launching a number of smartphones, Panasonic has stepped into the feature phones

Airtel has introduced its 4G services in Bangalore with Apple iPhone 5S and 5C at rates equivalent to that of 3G. The offer covers both pre-paid and post-paid customers of Airtel. The 4G SIM cards will be available at all Airtel stores across Bangalore. For data intensive users, Airtel has announced a special scheme where users can get 10GB of 4G data at Rs 1,000. Airtel claims that on its 4G network users can download 10 movies in less than 30 minutes.

EGoM approves 5 per cent spectrum usage charge The Empowered Group of ministers (EGoM) headed by Finance Minister P Chidambaram has given the go-ahead to a 5 per cent spectrum usage charge (SUC) of the annual gross revenue on all new airwaves acquired during and after the forthcoming 2G auctions. Operators who already own spectrum will have to pay a weighted average of their existing SUC. SUC is a fraction of revenue earned from telecom services that every operator has to pay annually to the Government.

Rapoo launches Bluetooth speakers at Rs 4,299 Rapoo has launched a wireless speaker Rapoo A3060 with Bluetooth 4.0 for Rs 4,299. It’s a compact portable speaker, with voice prompt

18 MYMOBILE march 2014

for audio status updates, power on/off, pairing/connecting, and low battery status. It also supports hands-free speakerphone calls though a built-in microphone, allows users to switch between phone and music, works within 10 metres, and claims 10 hours of battery back-up on a single charge. It is available in black, silver, green, blue, orange and yellow colours and is backed by 2 years replacement warranty.

Xolo launches Q1100 at Rs 14,999 Xolo has launched another Qualcomm based smartphone the Q1100 in India staring from Rs 14,999. It is powered by Qualcomm’s quad core Snapdragon 400 processor, has 1GB RAM, a 5.0-inch 720p display, 2,000mAh battery and comes in 8GB and 16GB variants, with expandable memory slots on both of them. The device runs on Android 4.2 and features dual SIM connectivity and dual cameras - the rear one is 8.0-megapixels and the front-facing one 2.0-megapixels.

IRCTC to send status report to waitlist passengers After launching ticket booking on mobile phones, IRCTC is going to make status updates available to waiting list passengers on their mobile phones if their seat gets confirmed before the journey. The technical wing of Indian Railways, CRIS, is developing the software for the SMS service. At present, users have to dial 139 on their mobile phone, check status online or check the final sheet prepared an hour before the departure time.

Lenovo launches Vibe Z in India at Rs 35,999 Lenovo has launched its latest flagship Vibe Z in India at Rs 35,999. Vibe Z is a dual SIM device running on Android 4.3 OS and is powered by Qualcomm’s 2.2GHz quad core Snapdragon 800 processor. It has a 5.5-inch full HD display, 2GB RAM, 16GB internal memory, 13.0megapixel rear camera, 5.0-megapixel front camera, and a non-removable 3,000mAh battery. The smartphone was showcased at this year’s CES event and will be available in India from March onwards. n

lead story

2014 The Indian telecom industry is one of the biggest in the world. Ensuring that the Indian consumer has their share of mobile connectivity and convenience are hundreds of thousands of people - directors, managers, executives, et al. Each of them committed to delivering mobile convenience to a market that runs into millions of devices and users. As we do every year, we at My Mobile list those that make this massive industry tick in different ways, from delivering services to manufacturing handsets and accessories to providing infrastructure. All of them make up what has over the years become known as Indian telecomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Power List. 20 MYMOBILE march 2014

OPERATORS Sunil Bharti Mittal Ü

Founder, Chairman & Group CEO, Bharti Enterprises

Sunil Bharti Mittal is best-known as the mind behind Airtel, the third largest telecom company in the world and the leader in India in terms of subscriber base with operations across South Asia and Africa. The company bagged its telecom licenses in 1995 and hasn’t looked back. Besides heading Bharti Enterprises, which he founded, he is also the vice chairman of the International Chamber of Commerce. He is also on Prime Minster of India’s council on Trade and Industry and on the World Economic Forum’s Intentional Business Council and numerous other international bodies. His achievements and contributions to the industry have seen him being honoured time and again with a number of awards including the prestigious Padma Bhusan and INSEAD Business Leader award.

Ý Marten Pieters

ÛHimanshu Kapania

MD & CEO, Vodafone India Ltd

MD, Idea Cellular Ltd

Marten Pieters has been serving as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Vodafone since 2009. Under his supervision the company has been consolidating its business in the country and is also earning a reputation as being very consumer-friendly. He is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Indus Towers. In 2012, he was appointed the Vice Chairman of Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI). If Vodafone today is one of the leading operators and is known for its customer service and innovative marketing campaigns, it is due to the unflagging – and often understated – efforts of its CEO.

Himanshu Kapania is known for his fighting spirit and never-say-die attitude, and these twin characteristics helped Idea Cellular, a company he has been associated with for 14 years, emerge unscathed from the 2012 licence cancellations. He successfully consolidated Idea’s position as the country’s third largest operator through a series of consumercentric moves in various circles and also at the national level. Being the Chairman of Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) he safeguards and represents the interest of GSM operators in India.

Gurdeep Singh Ü

President & CEO, Wireless Business Ltd, Reliance Communications

Ý Gopal Vittal

CEO, Bharti Airtel India

Gopal Vittal’s focus on delivering a better Internet experience to Airtel’s users has resulted in increased data adoption and usage across the country. The company’s returns in 2013 have been higher not just in India but also in African and other South Asian markets. His efforts in improving services have won the company many accolades and he has also played an instrumental role in making Airtel the only operator to offer 4G services in the country.

Gurdeep Singh has the responsibility of leading businesses with synergies across key business units – Wireless, Reliance Infratel and DTH services. He is professionally recognized as a business strategist with acumen, as well as a team leader, and has held various senior level positions in many reputed companies including Hutch, National Panasonic India, BPL, Whirlpool, and Kelvinator. 2013 saw him oversee the introduction of 3G at very low prices to make high-speed mobile Internet accessible to Indian users.

march 2014 MYMOBILE 21

OPERATORS

Srinath Narasimhan Ü MD, Tata Teleservices Ltd

He played a key role in Tata Communications becoming the leading carrier of international data traffic, especially in African countries, an achievement which saw him being appointed as the MD & CEO of Tata Teleservices. Under his tenure, the company has been successful in providing high speed Internet access services under the Photon brand. He also implemented VAS offers, revised base tariffs and services of the company, strengthening its position in the market.

Û Jagbir Singh

Director - Network Services Group, Bharti Airtel Ltd

The man behind network services, Jagbir Singh was the Group CTO at Bharti Airtel for nine years where he played a leading role in the operator’s 3G and WiMax deployment. He is also a member of the Airtel Management Board and plays a key role in formulating strategic planning of mobile networks, providing direction, deciding the network architecture and network vision to ensure robust and scalable mobile networks for Bharti Airtel.

Sunil Sood Ü

COO, Vodafone India Ltd

Sunil Sood is known for his management skills and lives by the credo “Success will never come without risks.” He is part of the senior leadership team at Vodafone India and is responsible for the strategic and business P&L management for all circles in the country. He also spearheads the new business development initiative of Mobile Commerce for the organization. He is an ardent lover of art and takes active interest in promoting upcoming talent. He likes to spend much of his spare time with his family and relaxes by going for a swim or listening to music.

22 MYMOBILE march 2014

Ý RK Upadhyay

Chairman & MD, BSNL

The backbone of state telecom, BSNL is expanding its mobile network capacity like never before and this is happening under the astute leadership of RK Upadhyay. The operator invested Rs 40,000 crore on acquiring equipment for modernizing and expanding its network and is planning to set up more than 8,000 towers in the country. Under his stewardship, BSNL became the first operator to provide 2G data at 1 paisa per 10kb for postpaid users. Under him BSNL successfully met the expectations of the government, employees & consumers. BSNL is no longer a loss-making body and is now on a growth path.

OPERATORS

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Û Kaizad Heerjee CEO, Aircel

Brought in to revive the company as its COO, Kaizad Heerjee has managed to do just that. Under him, Aircel has not only survived some difficult times but has also emerged stronger. The telco has strengthened its position as one of the leading data providers in India recording considerable increase in its 2G and 3G subscriber base, and is also planning to roll out 4G services in 2014. With special economic plans like Pocket Internet 24, 3G mornings and on-Net calling packs Aircel under Heerjee has carved a niche for itself among subscribers. His efforts have not only reinvigorated the company but have also earned him the post of its CEO.

Ý Morten

Karlsen Sorby

CEO, Uninor

A key figure in Uninor’s parent company Telenor, Morten Karlsen Sorby, was appointed CEO right before the 2G auctions to strengthen the company’s position. He has been actively involved in expanding its India operations as the head of strategy and regulatory affairs in Telenor. Under his leadership, Uninor has established itself as a reliable and affordable brand and is now looking forward to expand its presence in the country.

Dmitry Shukov Ü

CEO, MTS India

MTS is the only telco which operates exclusively on CDMA network, and yet has made a significant increase in its subscriber base. The man behind their recent success, Andrei A Dubovskov, has revamped the company’s marketing policies, giving greater priority to increasing the company’s customer base. Under his leadership, MTS has become one of the fastest growing data operators in the country, adding more than 1 lakh mobile broadband subscribers in 2013, and rolling out its super fast 3G Plus network, which offers 9.8Mbps speed.

T V Ramachandran Ü

Resident Director – Regulatory Affairs & Government Relations, Vodafone India Ltd

14 Ý Jyoti Pawar

Director- Legal & Regulatory, Bharti Airtel Ltd

Jyoti Pawar is the director of Bharti Airtel’s Legal and Regulatory unit and a member of Airtel Management Board. Responsible for advising the company on important legal and regulatory matters, she has done a great job, given the operator’s hassle-free journey. Jyoti has more than 17 years of experience in civil/criminal litigation, commercial arbitration, corporate laws, devising and implementing advisory work on company formation, joint ventures, mergers & acquisitions, policy, process and regulatory compliance - experience that has served her company well.

TV Ramachandran has been associated with Vodafone India since 2009 as Resident Director and leads the company’s Regulatory Affairs & Government Relations activities. He has also played a significant role in the activities of the COAI ever since its inception and is passionately devoted to the cause of mobile communications, having led the industry successfully through several challenges. He has a Master’s in Physics, and was also the founder-Chairman of the Indian chapter of the worldwide GSM MoU Association (now known as the GSM Association).

HANDSETS P. Balaji Ü

Vice President & MD, Nokia India

Nokia India had an exciting 2013 with successful launches across both the Lumia and Asha ranges of smartphones under the guidance of P. Balaji. The year also saw the brand getting re-energised and strengthening its partnerships, leading to increased presence in the mobile phone and smart devices verticals. Balaji has over two decades of experience in the Telecom & IT sector, managing diverse functions including sales, marketing, and strategy and product management. He is being credited for the Lumia franchise gaining momentum and traction in the Indian market in 2013, a momentum on which the soft-spoken and understated Vice-President of Nokia India will be looking to build on in 2014.

Û Vineet Taneja

Ý B.D Park

Country Head, Mobile & Digital Imaging, Samsung Electronics

MD, Samsung India

His passion for travelling in his markets has led a leading daily to call BD Park “one of the most travelled expats working in India.” It is an approach that has yielded rich dividends for the soft-spoken Samsung Indian MD. He has worked hard in building the retail network of the company, paving the way for the company’s rise in the smartphone market. It was because of his efforts that Samsung topped the list of the most trusted brand in India in 2013. “Consumer is our bread and butter, and not competition” sums up his approach to business.

Vineet Taneja joined Samsung in 2013, as the country head for its Mobile and Digital Imaging Business. At Samsung, his responsibilities include gaining grounds in the growing smartphones market in India - something he achieved in 2013 and he is looking to sustain the growth of the company and further build the consumer preference for the brand through an enhanced product portfolio, enriched eco system of content and services and by building a strong team. He was the operations director, South India and Sri Lanka at Bharti Airtel before joining Samsung in 2013.

Þ Rahul Sharma, Sumeet Arora, Vikas Jain and Rajesh Agarwal

Co-Founder, Micromax Informatics Ltd

Micromax established itself as a major brand in the Indian smartphone market in 2013, emerging as one of the 11 largest smartphone players in the world. A key role in this meteoric rise was played by the company’s ability to provide latest technology and innovation at affordable prices and removing barriers for large scale adoption of advanced technologies. Micromax is currently the 2nd largest smartphone company in India with a market share of 19.2 percent in Q2 of 2013. And by getting Hugh Jackman as its brand ambassador, the company’s founder sent out a clear message - the brand

Ý Maneesh Dhir

Country Manager, Apple India

He may not be seen or heard in the media as often as some of his counterparts, but Dhir is one of the most successful corporate leaders in the country, having played a key role in the three-fold increase in the revenues of the company. He has built a strong base for Apple and is believed to be looking to change its US headquarters’ approach to the country. Before joining Apple, Dhir was executive vice president of international business at AOL. He has two main areas of concern: to democratise Apple’s growth and improve the consumer’s brand experience in retail stores and exclusive outlets.

24 MYMOBILE march 2014

HANDSETS

www.mymobile.co.in

Kenichiro Hibi Ü

MD, Sony India Pvt Ltd

The MD with a black belt in karate, Hibi has more than two decades of diverse experience in Sony. He was appointed as the Managing Director for Sony in 2012, and has since then been responsible for spearheading the overall growth and profitability of the company within the region. His tools: robust business strategy, providing thought leadership and guiding excellence in market performance across all categories. Under his leadership, Sony doubled its sales, extended and developed sales channels and successfully implemented new on-shore operation schemes.

Û Pradeep Jain MD, Karbonn/ Sudhir Hasija, Chairman,

Karbonn Mobiles

Karbonn in 2013 strengthened its presence in the Indian market, and started moving beyond the budget category of smartphones to its upper echelons. The company consistently featured as one of the top smartphone vendors in India, in the last four consecutive quarters. A lot of credit for this goes to Pradeep Jain who has taken the brand to a position where it rubs shoulders with the top national and international telecom distribution houses and mobile handset companies operating in India. Chairman Sudhir Hasija has also played a major role, relentlessly working on establishing Karbonn amongst the top Indian mobile phone brands.

Þ Faisal Siddiqui

Country Head, HTC India

The Country Head of HTC India, Faisal Siddiqui has been with the company since May 2011. In charge of the entire operations for HTC products and technologies for all states across India, he has focused on driving strategic partnerships with ecosystem players to accelerate the growth of technology adoption in the region. In 2013, HTC made the Desire series of smartphones more affordable and moved its products towards the Dual SIM segment. He is no stranger to overseeing change, having been the Country Head of Motorola Mobile Devices India business as Country Head, prior to joining HTC and overseeing that company’s Android surge in India. He will be hoping to do the same with HTC in 2014. He enjoys reading, travelling, and listening to music.

Þ Viral Oza

Director-Marketing, Nokia India

Known for his ability to look at the human side of technology, Viral Oza has been responsible for building the Nokia brand and driving marketing initiatives across consumer touch points for Nokia in India. And 2013 was a fast and furious year for him, with eight Lumia WP8 devices being successfully launched, and the Nokia Asha 501 selling like hot cakes. His agenda for 2014 is to continue driving the current momentum with new launches and innovations, while building on youth connect with the brand. When not in biz mode, he likes reading and listening to music and he also devotes his time to watching badminton and cricket.

Ý Hari Om Rai, Chairman & MD/

Sunil Bhalla, Chairman & Director/ Shailendra Nath Rai, Co-Founder & Director/ Vishal Sehgal, Co-Founder & Director, Lava International Ltd

This top management quartet has spearheaded Lava’s surge in the Indian market, not only establishing it as a brand to contend with but also forging partnerships with key international players such as Intel, NVIDIA and Qualcomm. The driving force of the group is TQM and innovation. It is the only player in the industry to have a single layer distribution model and is the only player amongst the Indian brands to have invested in R&D.

march 2014 MYMOBILE 25

HANDSETS Ü Narendra Bansal

Chairman & MD, Intex technologies

Considered by many as the driving force behind Intex, Narendra Bansal has put in place a long-range vision and undertaken strategic business decisions that have expanded the company’s product versatility and extended brand Intex’s outreach to all age groups. Under his leadership the company expanded its range to more than 29 product categories, and also was the first Indian manufacturer to introduce a smartphone with an octa-core processor. He is now looking to make Intex a favoured brand among the tech savvy.

Û Y. Guru

Þ Dilip Modi

MD, Celkon Mobiles Y. Guru noticed that there were huge gaps in what was being offered in the market from various brands and what the mobile users actually wanted. That was when he decided to venture into the mobile phone business under the Celkon Mobiles brandname. And he certainly has ensured that his company keeps delivering new products to the consumer - Celkon has introduced around 500 models over the past four years. His able leadership and entrepreneurial skills was instrumental in Celkon winning accolades and awards and he himself was awarded the “Entrepreneur of the Year” by TV5 media.

Þ Sudhin Mathur

Director Smartphones, Lenovo India

Lenovo surprised everyone with its amazing smartphones in 2013, emerging as a key player in the Indian market. A key reason for this dramatic growth has been the able and level-headed supervision of Sudhin Mathur. His core expertise lies in driving substantial results via brand building, retail business management, sales and distribution, people and organization strategies. His guidance has been instrumental in Lenovo establishing its presence in different price segments.

Ý Arvind R Vohra

India Head, Gionee Smartphones

Building a presence for an unknown brand can be quite a challenge but Arvind R Vohra seems to be relishing it at Gionee. He has been constantly building the sales & distribution infrastructure with a keen eye on brand building and getting a robust support services network in place for consumers of the new brand. An avid consultant to a serial entrepreneur, he has been in the mobile technology industry for almost 12 years, and has nearly two decades of experience in distribution, marketing, retail, business development and after sales service. It is his experience Gionee will be relying on as it attempts to make its presence felt in a very competitive market.

26 MYMOBILE march 2014

Co-founder & Group CEO, Spice Global Dilip Modi has been the force behind businesses in mobile devices (Spice Mobile), mobile value added services (Spice Digital) and mobile retail (Spice Hotspot) which have emerged as key players in their respective domains. Presently, he is working towards building a leading mobile Internet and digital lifestyle company across the i2i (Ivory Coast to Indonesia) region with the objective of building solutions to reduce the digital divide across the emerging markets of Asia and Africa. He was the youngest Chairman of the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) and the youngest President of Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).

HANDSETS

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Û Ambrish Bakaya

Vice President, Corporate Affairs, Samsung India

Ambrish Bakaya is known for his expertise in handling corporate affairs and he played a very significant role in increasing the visibility of Samsung in the regulatory eco-system. He also bridged the gap between Samsung and mobile operators, which helped the company to attain higher profit rates. He is the senior most member of the team and has been associated with the mobile industry since 1995. Admired for his dedication and professionalism, he wants to educate people about new technology which will lead to an increase in the adaption of mobile technology.

Ý Govind

Uttamchandani

MD, SSK Telecom

SSK Group is a prominent name in the mobile industry, electronic appliances, variable data printing, retail, agriculture and real estate. Govind Uttamchandani has played a major role in the rise of the organisation, and is credited for establishing a strong distribution network for Samsung. Known for his leadership and adaptive skills, he helped the management to attract and retain talent right through the formative days of the group. And will be hoping to do so right through 2014 as well.

Ashok Gupta Ü CMD, Telemart

Ashok Gupta is known for his understanding of the mobile distribution sector and he has worked closely with a number of leading brands. His company Telemart basically deals with the distribution of mobile devices. Presently, the company is responsible for the distribution of Samsung Mobiles on an all-India level for Modern Trade under the agreement between the Company and Samsung India. He has played a key role not only in the growth of Telemart but also of Samsung, and indeed, in the smartphone revolution in India.

Sandeep Bhargava Ü

Director, Corporate Affairs India & SEAP, Nokia India

Ý Soon Kwon

MD, LG Electronics

Soon Kwon has been one of the pillars of LG for over two decades. He has served in a variety of senior positions, with an emphasis on brand management and LG’s OEM appliance business operations. His experience in managing international markets, sales and administration played a key role in making 2013 a remarkable year for LG. The company launched many innovative products across different verticals, including the world’s first curved OLED TV and the LG G2 which has now become synonymous with smartphone innovation. Thanks to its rear key feature.

Known for this keen sense of fair play, Sandeep has over 25 years of versatile and all round experience in sales, business development, key account management, commercial and contractual negotiations, strategic planning, and Government tendering and procurement. He believes that mobile technology must be used to address the mass community in India as mobiles are the best device to penetrate to the grassroot level. His past experience includes working with World Space, and Hughes Escorts Communications.

RETAIL Ajit Joshi Ü

MD, Croma (Infiniti Retail)

With two decades of experience in retail and hospitality, Ajit Joshi understands the pulse of the consumers. He was instrumental in the launch of Croma branded devices that were designed keeping the consumer’s requirements and their pockets in mind. Under his leadership, Croma has recently launched its 100th store in Mumbai and launched a revamped eCommerce website, cromaretail.com. His continuous guidance helped Croma to bring about a change in the shopping habits of digital electronics consumers. He loves travelling, to new and old destinations, and is a complete foodie.

Û Himanshu

Chakrawarti

CEO, The Mobile Store Ltd

The Mobile Store is a one stop mobile solution shop which offers telecom products like mobiles, accessories, connections, repairs, and VAS, in a world class shopping ambience. One of the largest telecom retailers, the Mobile Store has more than 1,000 stores spread across 150 cities and Himanshu Chakrawati is the driving force behind this growth. He believes in maintaining healthy relationships with associates, partners and vendors. When not in business mode, he is an avid book reader and loves watching tennis and golf.

Kaushal Nevrekar Ü CMO, Reliance Digital

Kaushal Nevrekar has over 21 years of experience across multiple industries including retail, telecom and IT. At Reliance, he is responsible for the buying and merchandising of consumer durables, IT & Telecom categories at Reliance Digital, iStores by Reliance Digital and other formats of Reliance Retail where these categories are merchandised. He was also a key member of the team of innovators who brought data enabled mobile phones to Indian consumers under the co-branding of Reliance and circulated 10 million handsets in the nation. A cricket lover and a diehard fan of the Indian and Mumbai Indians cricket team, he is known for being friendly and approachable, and is an avid reader and film buff.

28 MYMOBILE march 2014

Ý Sathish Babu Founder, Univercell

Sathish Babu always believed in innovation and delivering amazing services to customers. He initiated a unique service at Univercell called ‘Univercell Live’, which allowed customers to use new mobile devices in the store. He also was the brains behind the ‘SYNC’ service for its tech savvy customers in 2013. An avid travelller and a sports lover, Sathish Babu also bagged various retail awards like, the ‘STAR RETAILER Award’, ‘Images Award for the ‘Most Admired Retailer – Mobile & Telecom’ and ‘Silver Effies’ in 2013. 2014 is unlikely to see him resting on his laurels, though.

RETAIL

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Û L Subhash Chandra

Chairman & MD, Sangeetha Mobiles

Sangeetha Mobiles has been synonymous with innovative retail and marketing and its chairman is one of the key reasons. The company has a turnover of 500 crores with seven million customers and 70,000 more that join it every month. Business is all about taking risks and facing challenges, and L Subhash Chandra believes in the same. He works on the motto of delivering a seamless customer experience and is always on the lookout to find out new ways to pleasantly surprise the consumer. 2013 saw the company expand its network in north India and we can safely say that 2014 will see more innovations from it.

Ý M. Balu Chowdary

Chairman & MD, Big C Mobile

M. Balu Chowdary started Big C, so that the consumers can fulfill all their mobile needs under one roof. Big C is engaged in the business of retail mobile marketing of all branded handsets, connections, accessories & repair services under one roof in a world class retail ambiance in the State of Andhra Pradesh. The company covers 55 cities in Andhra Pradesh till date and has presence in all the districts across the state. The credit for the growth of the company goes to M Balu Chowdary.

Ü Kanni Uvaraj MD/

Uvaraj CEO, Poorvika Mobiles

Poorvika Mobiles has become one of the leading retail groups in the country. The company was started with an aim to deliver excellent customer service to the South Indian mobile market by the Uvaraj couple in 2004, and it certainly has succeeded. Presently, the company deals in all major mobile phone brands, has more than 155 showrooms and is still growing. They are also appreciated by their customers for their service and the hard work they put in. The result: more than three million customers purchase phones from Poorvika every year.

Kunal Bahl Ü

Co-Founder & CEO, Snapdeal

9 Ý Sachin Bansal CEO & Co-Founder/ binny Bansal COO & Co-Founder, Flipkart

Flipkart was started in 2007, and has since moved from being mainly a books business to one that deals with a variety of products. Sachin’s responsibilities include leading corporate strategy as well as overseeing day-to-day operational matters with business leaders. Binny oversees all aspects of business that come into play from the time the customer places an order till the time of delivery. The duo have big plans for the company in 2014, as can be seen from the successful Moto G launch in India.

Launched in February 2010, Snapdeal.com has witnesed phenomenal growth in a span of three years and is currently the largest online marketplace in India. One of the main catalysts for its growth is its CEO Kunal Bahl, who has a motto to create life changing experiences through its platform by connecting buyers to sellers of millions of products from thousands of national, international and regional brands. He oversees a very young, dynamic and innovative team of over 1000 people, and is backed by leading global investors such as eBay Inc., Intel Capital, and IndoUS Venture Partners. Expect Snapdeal to fly high in 2014 with him at the helm.

POLICY Kapil Sibal Ü

Union Minster, Telecom

Called the Man-Friday of the UPA government, Telecom Minster Kapil Sibal has managed to pull out the industry out from an uncertain position to that of near stability. He took over when the 2G scam and the presumptive loss given by the CAG was still fresh on everybody’s mind. Every move was watched and often criticised. That did not stop him from unleashing a number of innovative schemes - 100 per cent FDI, mobile number portability and laid the foundation for the ‘one nation one license’ regime and free roaming policy. Criticised he may be, but no one can accuse this former legal eagle and poet sitting by idly on the sidelines.

Ý Rahul Khullar Chairman, TRAI

When Rahul Khullar became the Chairman in 2012, the TRAI was one of the least liked bodies in the industry. His predecessor’s regime was marred by an unsatisfactory auction, and controversies over pricing and policy. Maintaining a neutral stance, Khullar showed a better understanding of the economics of the telecom industry. He improved the regulatory environment, questioned the knee-jerk manner in which operators were being penalised by DoT, and asserted the importance of spectrum trading for a spectrum starved industry. Most importantly, he has never got cosy with any of the sides in a dispute.

Û MF Farooqui

Telecom Secretary, DoT

He joined as the telecom secretary when the telecom sector was in a state of mayhem and DoT was being blamed for it. Farooqui’s brief stint has seen the industry gradually come out of its slump. He consulted TRAI time and again on key issues like MNP, unified licensing and engaged in regular dialogues with the industry. He brought in 100 percent FDI and is now working on laying down unified guidelines on mergers and acquisitions. His tenure is also significant as it ended the disappointing run of 2G auctions. After two rounds of failed auctions, the ongoing auctions saw all major operators take active part in the bidding process.

Þ Ajay Kumar

Joint Secretary, DEIT

One of the foremost policy makers, Ajay Kumar, Joint Secretary at the Department of Electronics and Information Technology is a firm advocate of domestic manufacturing in the telecom sector and reducing dependence on imports. His efforts have inspired several global as well as small companies to come forward with investment proposals for domestic manufacturing. 25 proposals of nearly Rs 13,200 crores were received during 2013. He is responsible for formulating the new National Policy on Electronics and revival of Electronics System Design Manufacturing sector. This is a man who drives change.

Ý Anil Kaushal

Member (Technology), DoT

He was appointed the Member (Technology), Telecom Commission in April 2013, where he serves as ex-officio Secretary to the Government of India in the Department of Telecommunications. Ever since, he has represented the ministry at various events of importance and has been the head of committees on important matters. In September 2013, he was appointed to lead the ninemember committee set up by DoT to review TRAI’s recommendations on the third round of 2G auctions. He is also a member of the governing council in the Telecom Centers of Excellence.

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POLICY Þ N Ravi Shankar Administrator USOF

Accessories/ Enhancements/ Gears

Û Rajesh Gupta

An IAS of 1980 batch, administrator of Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) and the man at the helm of affairs in Bharat Broadband Network Ltd (BBNL), N Ravi Shankar is the key architect of the landmark National Optic Fibre Network (NOFN), which will open the floodgates of opportunities for rural India by providing broadband connections at 100Mbps to over 2.5 lakh villages in the country. He is also credited for bringing USOF out of its years of slumber to make telecom services available to rural population at affordable prices. USOF under Ravi Shankar has been one of the most dynamic wheels in the industry today.

Country Manager, SanDisk India

Rajesh Gupta has a rich and varied experience spanning over two decades in the IT industry across India and SAARC region. He joined SanDisk in 2012 as Director of Sales for India. He was responsible for enhancing the sales and marketing infrastructure within India and SAARC, and manages the retail sales and marketing of memory cards, USB and SSD products through distribution channels that cover major cities and markets across India. Thanks to his efforts, SanDisk is an established name in flash memory storage solutions in India.

Subrotah Biswas Ü Director, India & SouthWest Asia Logitech

2 Þ Rajan S Mathews Director General of COAI

The telecom sector owes a great deal to Rajan S Mathews. He resolved some key issues faced by the industry and has helped in enhancing the expansion of telecom services in the country. One of the landmark achievements was the gaining of Infrastructure status for the industry last year. His efforts improved the coordination between the industry players and the government on issues like MNP and unified license. Due to his efforts, SMS by unregistered telemarketers have reduced drastically. 2014 will see him continuing to tackle key issues and make mobile technology more accessible and pervasive in India.

Subrotah manages Logitech’s sales and marketing operations in this region, including new product launches, product distribution and customer satisfaction. Field sales, channel relations, distribution management, effective market communication and new business launching are the key strengths Subrotah brings to his role in Logitech, blended with 17 years of IT industry experience, having worked with organisations like HCL-HP, HCL and Zed-Axis Technologies. He has played a key role in carving out a niche for Logitech in the largely grey Indian mobile accessory market, highlighting innovative products for high profile devices like the Apple iPad.

Û Bobby Joseph

Country manager, Plantronics India

Bobby Joseph was instrumental in cementing Plantronics’ as one of the leading headset brands in India in 2013. He has been with the company for almost a decade and is responsible for setting up various processes and structures needed to run a full-fledged business. Under him, Plantronics has expanded its business in India, improved its retail business and is now looking forward to expand it further, while providing improved technical support to customers and warranty cover. Joseph believes that quality is more important than anything, and can justify a relatively high price tag.

march 2014 MYMOBILE 31

Accessories/ Enhancements/Gears Sanjeev Bhardwaj Ü MD, ERD

ERD started with manufacturing mobile phone chargers and adapters way back in 1997. Sanjeev Bhardwaj’s guidance and vision has driven the company to newer heights and today it is among the top manufacturers of mobile phone chargers, adaptors and batteries in the market. The company has also forayed into other products like phone covers, card readers, LED torches, and car mobile accessories. Bhardwaj is known for being committed towards making high quality products with emphasis on extensive testing.

Û Ratish Pandey

Director, Amkette

Ratish Pandey has been at the helm of affairs in Bose India since 2001. Despite the fact that it is considered an expensive brand, Bose enjoys a considerable amount of celebrity status among Indians. The company highlights its high-end products but was seeing as getting more mainstream in 2013 with some competitively priced products as well. The company has opened several flagship stores and experience stores and is also looking forward to setting up manufacturing plants in India. That might well happen in 2014, given Pandey’s patience and drive.

Rajiv Bapna founded Amkette, India’s first convergence device company in 1986. His strong focus on precision manufacturing, customer service and distribution policies, has helped the brand gain consumer trust within a short span of time. Presently, Bapna is responsible for developing its product portfolio, business strategy, and overseeing Amkette’s operations. Known for his dedication and hard work and being very easily accessible, he has helped Amkette diversify into a computer essentials company with a range of 150 products encompassing 15 categories.

5 Þ Gordon Wu

Regional Head South Asia, Transcend

India has always been on top of Gordon Wu’s priority list. Due to his efforts, the company has increased it investment in India and approached the market with a more local touch. Thanks to Wu’s emphasis on promotional schemes, Transcend has greater brand presence in India. He has also strengthened Transcends’ presence and market share in the corporate sector. He enters 2014 in a very optimistic state of mind as he thinks that the market is in a healthier state, thanks to market consolidation.

Ý Nitesh Gupta Director, Molife

Molife has emerged as one of the leading mobile accessory makers in the country in recent years and the person behind this is Nitesh Gupta. Under his stewardship, the company has been making mobile covers for leading manufacturers like Apple and Samsung, even while taking on low-priced grey market operators. The company is moving into portable chargers too under his leadership.

32 MYMOBILE march 2014

Þ Rajiv Bapna

General Manager, Bose India

Active and Passive Infrastructure

www.mymobile.co.in

Û Akhil Kumar Gupta

MD & Vice Chairman, Bharti Infratel

A certified charted accountant, Akhil Kumar Gupta has been serving Bharti Infratel as the Managing Director and Vice President since 2008. He has been associated with strategically and financial significant initiatives of the Company, including the formation of Indus Towers Limited. A believer in the twin virtues of dedication and efficiency, he has worked untiringly towards improving 3G and 4G networks in India. He is presently the Chairman of Tower and Infrastructure Providers Association and the President of the Telecom Sector Skill Council.

Sandeep Girotra Ü

India Region Head, Nokia Siemens Networks

Ý Chris Houghton Head of India Region, Ericsson

Sandeep Girotra is also a member of the Customer Operations East leadership team. His role in building Nokia’s business with Bharti and Idea Cellular is one of his major achievements, reflecting his ability to continuously innovate and adapt to changing business models. A focused and peopleoriented leader, Sandeep is well respected for his collaborative style of leadership.

Chris Houghton serves as the Head of India Region at Ericsson. He has worked for Ericsson for 25 Years. Together with the team in India he works to extend and strengthen the footprints of the company in the region and to assist the customers in their work to capture value in a rapidly transforming telecoms market. He believes that India is a strategic market for Ericsson and aims to work with full dedication in order to ensure that the company achieves new heights.

Jeffrey M. White Ü

President, Cisco India & SAARC

5 Ý Munish Seth

President and Managing Director, Alcatel-Lucent India

Munish has over two decades of rich telecommunications experience and has served in several leadership positions in the industry. A strategic thinker, Munish has been instrumental in introducing innovative business models to help service providers maximize their technology directions and investments. He has held several leadership positions within the organization, before taking over his current role at Alcatel-Lucent. His experience should serve him well given the challenges facing him and his organisation in 2014.

Jeff White is responsible for sales, operations, growth initiatives and investments throughout the India and SAARC region. Under White’s leadership, the region is one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing regions for Cisco. He played a major role in scaling Cisco’s strategic relationships and driving an investment strategy around Cisco’s priority areas. White also spends time working with not- forprofit organisations, raising money for charitable causes.

Û Cai Liqun

CEO, Huawei Telecommunications

As the CEO of Huawei Telecommunications, Cai Liqun is responsible for overall business strategies and implementations as well as operational management for the India region. He has worked on Huawei R&D functions developing a variety of products including Wi-Fi, CDMA, WiMAX and Core Network. He is also a member of Huawei’s Global Investment Review Board and feels that one should focus on their goals and put in every effort to achieve them. He loves reading and spends time practicing yoga.

march 2014 MYMOBILE 33

Active and Passive Infrastructure B S Shantharaju Ü CEO, Indus Towers Ltd

Shantharaju, has been associated with Indus towers since 2009. A qualified accountant and MBA, he has rich general management experience in leadership positions at reputed companies. His top priorities are building a new business pipeline and running a training programme to upgrade the skills of over 10,000 people out of an estimated 30,000 people the company employs through its service vendors so as to institutionalize the Indus way of running a world-class infrastructure business. He feels that Indus has a major role to play in providing continuous mobile telecommunication facilities to ordinary citizens and he aims to deliver this.

Û Rajiv Mehrotra

Founder, Chairman & CEO, VNL

VNL is based on Rajiv Mehrotra’s vision to take telecom to the next frontier - connecting the billions of unconnected across the world and transforming rural communities. He sees VNL as a catalyst in the transformation of rural communities through telecom. His vision and wealth of experience, combined with his far-reaching contacts in the telecom industry, make him the ideal leader for the company. VNL develops sustainable solutions for wireless voice and broadband networks. The company also developed a solar powered GSM system specifically designed to enable operators to provide sustainable - and profitable - services to rural areas.

Dr. Avneesh Agarwal Ü

President, Qualcomm India and South Asia

Dr. Avneesh Agrawal provides leadership and oversight of Qualcomm’s business, engineering and R&D operations in India and South Asia. He held significant positions in the organization in which he clearly demonstrated his sheer intellect and leadership qualities. His knowledge and experience have played a significant role in Qualcomm’s rise in recent times. Last year, the company launched its latest processor the Snapdragon 800. Along with this it also tied up with Indian brands like Xolo to provide its technology to Indian smartphones.

Û Manoj G. Tirodkar Chairman & MD, GTL

Manoj G. Tirodkar is widely recognised for his efforts towards creating an efficient and environment friendly telecom industry. He has been championing the cause of shared telecom infrastructure and green telecom. He is known for his ability to quickly recognise changes in the business environment and has been a pioneer in conceptualizing new business models. Under his leadership, GTL Infrastructure has grown to be the world’s largest independent and neutral telecom tower company. A firm believer in corporate social responsibility, he supports a number of causes and takes a keen interest in educating children in rural India, improving their health and helping the cause of the visually challenged.

34 MYMOBILE march 2014

Þ Sameer Sinha Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Indus Towers Ltd

An electronic engineer and a management graduate Sameer Sinha has been associated with the Indian telecom industry since its privatisation in 1995 and has worked in sales and marketing with prestigious organizations like Ericsson, HCL and Dun & Bradstreet. In 2009, he joined Indus Towers as the Chief Sales and Marketing Officer. He is responsible for sales, business development, marketing communications and collections for the company.

VAS

www.mymobile.co.in

Û Vishwanath Alluri

Founder, Chairman & CEO, IMImobile

A chartered accountant and company secretary, Vishwanath Alluri has extensive experience in the technology domain and was previously involved in setting up an Indian hi-tech consumer services company in the healthcare sector. He is the leading force behind IMImobile which provides end-to-end mobile engagement software. A pioneer of the ‘managed service model’, the company delivers turnkey technology solutions allowing customers to focus on their core business development, and is today one of the leading players in the mobile VAS market.

Neeraj Roy Ü

MD & CEO, Hungama Digital Media Entertainment Pvt ltd

Ý Vijay Shekhar

Hungama has become South Asia’s largest digital and mobile entertainment company under the leadership of Neeraj Roy. After a successful career in hospitality, he moved on to establish Hungama.com in 1999. Today Hungama is the largest aggregator, developer and publisher of Bollywood and South Asian entertainment content in the world, having worldwide exclusive rights to over half a million music and video titles. He is known for his innovative ideas and vision digital and mobile entertainment industry.

Sharma

Founder & CEO, One97 Communications

Vijay Shekhar Sharma is the founder and CEO of one of India’s fastest growing mobile internet companies, ‘One97,’ which offers digital goods and services to mobile consumers under the Paytm brand. Paytm introduced many new initiatives in 2013, enhancing consumer experience and rolling out new services. An avid admirer of great design, Vijay believes his ultimate moment is yet to arrive.

Vishwadeep BajajÜ

Founder & CEO, ValueFirst Digital Media Pvt Ltd

Ý Manoranjan

Mohapatra

CEO, Mahindra Comviva

Popularly known as ‘Mao’, Manoranjan Mohapatra has a deep knowledge of telecom related technology and has worked to establish Mahindra Comviva as a complete VAS solutions company, dedicated to the development and deployment of innovative software communications solutions in rapidly growing markets. In 2013, the company won two major awards at the global Telecom Business Innovation Awards 2013 for EcoCash mobile payment services to Econet Zimbabwe. Along with this, the company also partnered with AdaptiveMobile in order to bring a new wave in mobile messaging.

Vishwadeep Bajaj co-founded ValueFirst in 2003 and serves as its Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director. He is responsible for the overall profitability and growth of ValueFirst, ensures that its long-term plans are on track, and that Team ValueFirst is moving passionately towards its vision. He looks after the business strategy, and planning and funding of initiatives. He loves reading on spirituality and quantum physics and enjoys imparting knowledge and experience to young entrepreneurs.

Û Debasis Chatterji CEO, Nextell

’Professional, leader and challenge seeker,’ these terms best describe the journey of Debasis Chatterji over the last 20 years of his working life. With proven credentials and ongoing business relationships with all the major telecom operators in India, Nextell manages a customer base of more than 250 million. Before joining Netxcell he worked in various industries with companies such as Elgen India Ltd, Monozyme, and Lab India. Innovation comes easily to him, thanks to his varied experiences. n team@mymobile.co.in

smart apps MapMyIndia ReachMe Here I am!

ith cities not being as safe as they once were, there are a number of “safety” apps being released on app stores all over the world. And now mapping and navigation experts MapMyIndia have joined the fray with their appropriately named ReachMe app. The idea of the app is similar to what we saw on the Glympse app – hitting a button lets people see your location. All they need is a device that is connected to the Internet and they will be able to see your location on a map. And of course, this being an app from MapMyIndia, it has a very strong navigation angle – you can not only get directions to get to the location of a person who has shared their location, but can also turn on the “follow me” which will let them see your location as you move towards joining them. It is this aspect that marks the app out as special – the availability of turn-by-turn landmark based navigation. Locations can also be shared on social networks. You can share your location via mail, SMS, WhatsApp, Twitter or Facebook. Already a must-have in our book, especially as it comes free of cost. n Name: MapMyIndia ReachMe Price: Free Tested on: LG Nexus 4

RATING

Name: Nokia Beamer Price: Free RATING

Tested on: Nokia Lumia 920



Nokia Beamer Your Lumia’s

screen on any device

okia’s Lumia range has been marked not just by very good hardware and performance, but also by the fact that Nokia bundles a number of its apps along with the usual ones that come with Windows Phone. And one of the most innovative of these is Nokia Beamer, an app that lets you share whatever’s on the display of your Lumia device with any Internet-connected device (a computer, a tablet, another phone – if it has a browser, it will work), without any Bluetooth or wires. The app not only works but is amazingly simple to use – you just download the app on your Windows Phone (it is free) and then open the browser on the device on which you wish to display your screen and simply go to http://beam.nokia. com. The site will display a QR code which you have to scan from within your phone using the Beamer app and Voila, you are all set to share whatever’s on your display – from mails to pictures to videos. Mind you, you would need decent Internet connectivity on both devices to make it work smoothly and without lags, but if that’s not an issue, this is one app that anyone who deals with multiple screens will love. n

36 MYMOBILE march 2014



smart apps

Name: SwiftKey Note Price: Free Tested on: Apple iPhone 5s

RATING



SwiftKey Note Predictive text for iOS

t might be one of the most popular and easy to use operating systems in the mobile world, but one complaint levelled at iOS is that one cannot change the keyboard on it as one can on Android devices, which are much more flexible in this regard. Well, SwiftKey, the makers of one of the most innovative and popular keyboard apps on Android have tried to work their way around this retsriction by releasing SwiftKey Note for iOS devices. Yes, it is a note-taking app but what will make many people flock to it is the keyboard that accompanies it. The keyboard in the app comes with SwiftKey’s well-known predictice text. On the surface, the keyboard seems no different from a regular iOS keyboard but as you start typing, the keyboard tries to guess the words you are typing and presents options right on its top panel. We found it to be amazingly accurate even guessing names and locations, and working so smoothly that we were able to write entire sentences with just a few key presses. Yes, you cannot use it as your default keyboard but the fact that it can sync with Evernote and comes with no price tag has made it our go-to Notes app on the iPhone. n

Name: Buzz Launcher Price: Free Tested on: LG Nexus 4

RATING



Buzz Launcher Change your

phone’s look and feel

aunchers, or apps that change the interface and icons of your phone are plentiful in the world of Android, where being able to tweak the look of your device is a matter of everyday routine. However, not too many apps have provided us with the kind of variety in this regard that Buzz Launcher has. A free app, Buzz Launcher gives you access to hundreds of themes, across a host of topics, thanks to an enthusiastic user community that makes the most of the tools provided by the launcher. There are themes that will convert your homescreen icons into all text affairs, or make them appear like something out of your favourite comic strip. And there are so many options to choose from that you can literally keep changing the look of your phone’s interface and still be left with dozens of options to try out. It is not all roses, though – you cannot tweak the themes you get too much with most of the icons being fixed, and your usual widgets might not align as smoothly in design terms with the theme selected. But we think that’s a small price to pay for making your phone look different. Every day. n nimish@mymobile.co.in

38 MYMOBILE march 2014

just in Moto G Great specs,

great price

he Indian market gets a Motorola product after quite a long time. And what a product it is. Being hailed by many experts as the ultimate budget Android smartphone, the Moto G is now available for Indian users from Flipkart. What makes the Moto G special is its blend of design, specs and price. Generally, a lower price results in some compromises being made on the spec front. Not so in this case. The Moto G is available in both 8GB and 16GB variants. It comes with a 4.5-inch display and is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor with 1.2 GHz quadcore CPU. It runs Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and is set to be updated to Android 4.4.2 (KitKat) very soon. It has a 5.0megapixel camera, and while the storage is not expandable, the device comes with 50GB Google Drive storage for two years. There are no skins on the interface, which ensure that you get a pure Android experience that is swift and smooth. And it is not bad-looking either. The device is solidly built and you can add a touch of colour to it thanks to a number of colourful shells and flip covers available for the device. Good design, good specs, and the latest Android – all for Rs 12,499 (8GB) and Rs 13,999 (16GB). Small wonder the first stock was sold out within minutes at Flipkart.com! n

Micromax Canvas Turbo Mini A200 A smaller Canvas Turbo

aunching a large display, high profile device and following it up with a more palm-friendly one seems to be the rage these days. Samsung did it with its Galaxy S4 and HTC with the One, and now, we have Micromax joining the “mini” race with a slightly shrunk version of its Canvas Turbo, the Canvas Tubro Mini. Priced at Rs 14,490, it shares many of the attributes of the Canvas Turbo, but not its size. The Turbo mini features a 4.7-inch 720p display and is powered by a 1.3GHz quad-core processor, backed up by 1GB RAM. It runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and sports an 8.0-megapixel camera at the rear end and a 5.0-megapixel front snapper. It has dual-SIM slots and 4GB internal memory which is expandable up to 32GB. All this in a metal frame that is very similar to the Canvas Turbo and still manages to be relatively slim and lightweight (it weighs 110grams) . Micromax seems to have embraced metal in this device and is doing a very decent job with it, if the Canvas Turbo and Doodle are anything to go by. No, we do not know whether we will see another ad campaign from Hugh Jackman for this device, but going by its design, specs, and price tag, we can see a lot of people being interested in it. n team@mymobile.co.in

40 MYMOBILE march 2014

sneak peek Micromax LapTab When Android and

Windows meet

icromax surprised a number of people when it unveiled its LapTab, a dual boot Windows and Android tablet powered by Intel, at CES this year. And after making waves in Las Vegas, we expect the tablet to arrive in the Indian market soon. The LapTab runs both Android 4.2.2

Jelly Bean OS and Windows 8, and is powered by a 1.46 GHz Intel Celeron N2805 processor. This device is designed for multitasking across operating platforms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; users can switch from Windows to Android and vice versa, although this would require a reboot. The Micromax LapTab sports a 10.1-inch IPS display, and comes with 2GB RAM and 32GB of storage which can be expanded to 64GB using a memory card. There is a 2.0megapixel front camera for video calls and clicking pictures. The device comes with a 7,400 mAh battery and has Bluetooth 4.0 and Wi-Fi for connectivity. A key feature of the LapTab is its transleeve which works as a cover and stand for the wireless keyboard. Consumers will also have an option to buy a customised keyboard for the LapTab when it hits the stands. The price of the device is not yet confirmed, but many are expecting it to be in the vicinity of Rs 25,000.n

Samsung Galaxy Note Pro A bigger Galaxy

Note

hen it comes to its iconic Galaxy Note series of devices, Samsung clearly believes that bigger is better. It has been increasing the display sizes of its Note devices steadily since the first Galaxy Note was launched and at CES this year, went a step further when it announced the Galaxy Note Pro, with a display of 12.2-inches. The Galaxy Note Pro 12.2 flaunts a 12.2inch TFT LCD display of 2560 x 1600 resolution, and comes in Wi-Fi and LTE variants. While the LTE model is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 CPU, the Wi-Fi model runs on the the Octa-Core Exynos 5 processor. Both run Android 4.4 Kit Kat and come with 3GB of RAM with 32GB and 64GB storage on board, depending on the model you choose. On the camera front, it comes with an 8.0megapixel camera on the back and a 2.0-

42 MYMOBILE march 2014

megapixel camera on the front. And making sure all this keeps ticking is a massive 9,500mAh battery. On the software front, it is believed that Samsung has improved the multi-window multitasking functionality and now users can simultaneously have four different applications running at the same time

on the screen. And of course, for those who like to draw and scribble, there is the S-Pen stylus. The device is expected to arrive soon in the Indian market at a price in the range of Rs 55,000. n team@mymobile.co.in

burn test Good looking budget tablet The XonPad 7 marks Oplus’ debut in India

plus India, a subsidiary of Oplus Taiwan has entered the Indian market with its first device, a 7.0-inch tablet, the XonPad 7. The tablet attempts to deliver a decent experience without costing the earth and comes with a metallic body too – a rarity at this price point.

A good looking device On first glance, we have to admit that the Xonpad 7 is a delight. With the metal-finish back and thick bezel at the front, this tablet gets good marks from us in the appearance department. This is a 3G calling tablet which comes with a number of features. It has a 2.0megapixel front camera and a 5.0-megapixel snapper at the back. On top of the Xonpad 7, you can spot the mini-USB port and the audio jack. On the left there are a number of keys to operate the device – the power key, the volume buttons, and a home button, which is usually not present at this location in tablets. The right side of the tablet has been kept smooth with no buttons and ports, while the lower part has two slots, one for the microSD card and the other for the SIM card. The speakers are placed on the lower right corner of the device and adjacent to them is a reset button.

Reasonably specced The Oplus XonPad 7 comes with some decent specs too. It sports a 7.0inch IPS LCD display with a resolution of 1280 x 800. This 7.0-inch 3G calling tablet is powered by a 1.2GHz Cortex A7 quad-

Pros  Good

performance

 3G

Calling

Price: Rs 9,990 There were no lags or freezes even when used relatively heavy duty apps or played graphics rich games on it.

Conclusion Coming at a price point of RS 9,990, the XonPad 7 seems like a decent device given its performance and specifications. However, it will have to contend with some very formidable competition from the 2012 edition of the Asus Google Nexus 7 tablet, which is retailing at a price in the vicinity of Rs 10,000 on a number of e-portals. Of course, it does not have 3G connectivity at that price point but on the flip side, it comes with the latest version of Android (Kit Kat) onboard. Customers can also check out other 3G tablets like the iBall 3G 7334and the Simmtronics Xpad mini at this price point. n team@mymobile.co.in

verdict Looks

Features

ease of use

performance

value for money

Cons  Mediocre

camera

 Average

core MediaTek processor and runs on Google’s Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. It comes with 1GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory which is expandable to 32GB via a microSD card. One does not often find good cameras on tablets but the one on the XonPad 7 is an exception – one can click some very good pictures with the 5.0-megapixel camera at its back with colours being very well captured. Even the front camera works reasonably well for selfies and video chats. The Oplus XonPad 7 comes with a 3,500 mAh battery which can last for 8-9 hours if used wisely. On the connectivity front, the tablet comes with 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS. A number of popular games like Angry Birds, Fruit Ninja, Temple Run, and Subway Surfer, come pre-installed with this device, which is something a lot of gamers will appreciate. In terms of performance, the XonPad 7 delivered a surprisingly smooth performance.

Oplus Xonpad 7

Build

overall

82%

march 2014 MYMOBILE 43

Burn Test The Fourth Aurus, Sir ji!

The 3G Idea Aurus 4 delivers decent bang for your buck

One Touch Back-Up which allows you to back up all your data to different locations like Google Drive, and external memory card, or an online storage service like Dropbox. Audio and call quality are decent enough.

dea has come out with a new device in its Aurus series in partnership with Alcatel. The Aurus 4 is a 3G smartphone also known as the Alcatel 5036D, and is targeted at those who want an Android device with decent specs but are on a tight budget.

Conclusion

131 mm

team@mymobile.co.in

Best in the Aurus Series! The Aurus 4 looks just about average but has good build quality. It weighs 160 grammes, which is a bit heavy for a 4.5-inch display device but feels reassuringly solid. It is very different than its predecessor when it comes to the design, coming with touch capacitive keys on the front panel unlike the Aurus 3, which had a physical home key. The left side of the device has been kept smooth and the top houses the audio jack and the power key. On the right, one can spot volume keys and the micro USB slot can be spotted at the bottom side. Removing

Pros  Free

Data Plan  5.0-megapixel Camera

Cons  Ordinary  Slightly

Performance

bulky

the back panel reveals dual SIM slots and a microSD card slot along with a removable battery. On the sides of the display is a shiny graphite chassis that not only holds the device together but also imparts a classy look to it. The rear camera is located a bit on left side with LED flash and speakers next to it The rounded edges of the device make it comfortable enough to hold and use.

Par for the course hardware On the hardware front, the Aurus 4 is decent enough for its price. It comes with a 4.5-inch multi-touch TFT display with 16 million colours and a resolution of 480 x 854p, mak-

44 MYMOBILE march 2014

All that in the Aurus 4 comes at a price tag of Rs 8,999, which we believe is decent enough value for money, expecially if you happen to be an Idea user. Those seeking alternatives can check out the Lumia 525 which is retailing at Rs 10,399 and runs on Windows Phonen

66 mm ing it adequate for watching still images, but not the greatest option for videos, which tended to pixelate. The device also tended to be a bit laggy, whether it was due to the 1.3 GHz MediaTek MT6572 processor and 512 MB of RAM, we know not. The internal memory of the Aurus 4 stands at 4GB but only 2GB is available for the user, though this can be expanded by another 32GB using a memory card. It comes with two cameras – a main 5.0megapixel snapper at the rear end and a 0.3megapixel front-facing camera. Connectivity options include GPRS, EDGE, Bluetooth, 3G, USB and WLAN. Powering all this is a 1,800 mAh battery which is good enough to keep it running through the day if you avoid gaming for long periods and are relatively careful with mail.

Lots of apps onboard The Aurus 4 smartphone comes with a number of Idea-centric applications like Idea Mall, Idea Fresh, and Idea TV. Idea subscribers can also avail of a number of offers for prepaid as well as postpaid users. The device also comes with Alcatel support, which answers most of your queries and also helps you in understanding the device. There is also a feature called

Price: Rs 8,999 verdict Looks

Features

7 8

ease of use performance

value for money overall

74%

www.mymobile.co.in www.mymobile.co.in

New Spice Mettle 5X performance on a Budget

n the last few months, we have witnessed a significant change in the quality of handsets available in the entry level smartphone category. Not only have the likes of Xolo, Karbonn and Spice improved the specs of their devices, they have also improved build quality and performance to the extent that many of these are capable of rubbing shoulders with devices that enjoy a much higher profile (and are more expensive too). One of these is the new Smart Mettle Flo 5X from Spice.

Looks premium The Smart Flo Mettle makes a positive impact straight away with its looks and build quality. It is a big screen phone with a 5.0-inch screen, rounded edges, and a fine-looking metal band giving the phone a solid look. The back panel is removable and part metal and part white plastic, underneath which lie the dual SIM slots, micro SD slot, and an 1,800mAh battery. Its glossy white and metal finish combines well to give the phone a premium appearance. And it is also comfortable to hold and easy to carry.

that there is one on the front panel too. Its battery back-up is decent as well – on a single charge, it easily lasted a day on regular use. The speaker volume, however, is terribly low, and we had to fall back on headset to make do.

Conclusion Overall, the Spice Smart Flo Mettle 5X is an impressive device for its price tag. Yes, it is not perfect and has its share of hitches, such as the minor lags in performance, a disappointing speaker, and no 3G connectivity. And at its price, it certainly is a lot better than most, if not all, of the competition. If you want a large screen device with decent processing power and a solid design on a budget, the Mettle Flo 5X is worth checking out. If you like Windows Phone, check out the Nokia Lumia 520, which at Rs 8,000 is a good option. n team@mymobile.co.in

lasting battery

 Impressive

display

Cons  No

3G connectivity

 Poor

speaker

148.5 mm

Others | dual SIM, BBM

Price: Rs 6,499 verdict

Impressive display The device’s display is its greatest strength. It is big, bright and handles colours well, and also responds smoothly to touch. The only hitch is that it is too glossy. The phone showed some amount of lag but, we think, it was by and large on account of having too many apps. The lag was mostly apparent when moving from one app to another. Once inside an application, it handled them well and it was fun to watch movies and play games on it. For a Rs 6,000 smartphone, its camera is good and it is impressive to know

 Long

Size | 148.5 x 78.9 x 10.4 mm

Loaded with apps The phone runs on Android 4.2, and comes with Spice’s user interface, where instead of going through the home button to access all your apps, the apps are accessible on the homescreens itself. Also, while the screen is unlocked you can swipe to the right and access the camera. The phone comes with loads of popular Google and non-Google apps like Nimbuzz, Quick Office, BBM, Facebook, Hungama, Olx, WhatsApp, Yahoo! Weather and a couple of games.

Pros

Looks

Features

ease of use

performance

value for money

overall

78.9 mm

80%

march 2014 MYMOBILE 45

burn test Desire on a budget HTC hopes to

score with design in the Desire 501

Pros Attractive back panel  NFC connectivity  Beats Audio 

Cons Old version of Android  Dual-core processor  No BlinkFeed 

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The classic checks look HTC enjoys a reputation of delivering classy designs on its handsets, making them stand out from the regular crowd. The HTC One series was a prime example of this. The company has always focused on the design of their devices and its smartphones appear different in the present Android crowd. We witnessed a refreshing change in the design of HTC One and the One Mini same can be said for the HTC Desire 501. The front seems to be similar to a normal Android device, but the back is completely different. It comes with a classic checked pattern that is seen on many shirts. It evoked mixed reactions from those to whom we showed it, but what cannot be denied is that it certainly turned heads. The device is solidly built, and at 9.8mm thick is not as thin as some of the devices in its segment, but looks a lot slimmer than it actually is, thanks to its rounded edges. The device only has two hardware buttons for volume control and power. And yes, right on the checked back panel is the HTC logo. All in all, we have to confess that this device will attract attention and we certainly hope that HTC carries this checked back panel design ethic onto other devices too.

Middling specs, old Android The HTC Desire 501 is powered by a 1.2 GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM. Some might find the specs of the processor disappointing, given that a number of manufacturers coming out with quad core processors but we found no issues with performance. What, however, really surprised us was that the device was running on Android 4.1, which is really a bit dated, given that most manufacturers are trying to update their devices to 4.4. As the hardware does seem capable of running Android 4.4, we do not really know the reason for this, but it does feel odd. You will however not really notice the version of Android initially, as the phone’s interface is overlaid with HTC’s Sense. However, it comes minus the BlinkFeed feature that we have seen in the HTC One series. That said, the interface works smoothy and there are customisable homescreens which can be increased and decreased as per your convenience. There are also some pre-loaded apps like YouTube and WeChat, and users can also

A steady performer! Notwithstanding the dual core processor and the older version of Android, we must confess that the Desire 501 is a very solid performer. It handle multi-tasking and heavy games and applications very well indeed. The device offers good music quality and also comes with Beats Audio integration. The phone’s FM reception is also good. The 8.0-megapixel camera took some very good photographs and comes with features like panorama mode and burst mode. Call quality is good and the phone comes with dual SIM support (both the SIM cards are micro SIMs. The connectivity options of the device include 3G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and NFC ( a very pleasant surprise at this price). The battery backup was also good and once fully charged, the phone easily saw off a day even after heavy usage.

128.5 mm

here was a time when smartphones with dual SIM connectivity were a bit of a rarity. Fortunately, that has changed, and today consumers looking for a dual SIM smartphone have more devices to choose from. And the latest among these is HTC’s Desire 501, which is one of the troika of smartphones released by the company in the Indian market. And unlike many of its competitors, this one is looking to score on design and a relatively low price tag. We tried to find out if it succeeded.

Conclusion The HTC Desire 501 comes with a price tag of Rs 16,500. Considering the relatively limited number of dual SIM handsets from prominent brands, that is not a bad price at all. Those looking for alternatives can go for the recently launched Motorola Moto G, which comes with a quad core proces-

HTC Desire 501 Dual SIM tech specs Size | 128.5 × 66.9 × 9.8 mm Weight | 130 grams Memory | 8GB, microSD OS | Android OS v4.1

66.9 mm sor and is expected to get the latest version of Android (4.4) shortly or the Samsung Galaxy Grand Quattro, which is a dual SIM device and also has a quad-core processor but like the HTC 501, runs and older version of Android. However, if it is looks that really matter for you, then we have to admit that you would be hard pressed to find a more eye-catching option. n team@mymobile.co.in

verdict Looks

Features

Talktime/Standby | -/-

ease of use

GPRS/3G/BT/WiFi | Yes/Yes/Yes/Yes

perfoRmance

Camera | 8.0-megapixel

value for money

Screen Size | 4.3-inch, Capacitive Battery | Li-Ion 2,100 mAh

Others | Beats Audio, NFC, New Design Pattern

Price: Rs 16,500

overall

82%

march 2014 MYMOBILE 47

burn test

Game for a tablet? The Xolo Play

VIDIA has been very active on the consumer product front in recent times. The company surprised everyone when it announced the SHIELD Android gaming console. And then it pulled another rabbit out of the hat when it launched the Play Tegra Note, a seven inch Android tablet with some formidable hardware and a stylus. But unlike the SHIELD, which was not officially available in India at the time of writing, the Tegra Note has been brought to India’s shores with Xolo’s branding, and at a surprisingly low price. How well will it fare against some very stiff competition is the big question.

Tegra Note is a gamer’s delight!

190 mm

Not a traffic stopper We must confess that we were a bit disappointed when we first clapped eyes on the Tegra Note. In appearance, it looks very much like a “normal” Android tablet with a 7.0-inch display. The tablet also tends to look a bit longer than some of its contemporaries because it features speakers above and below the display (just as in the HTC One series), rather than on the back or sides. The back houses a 5.0megapixel camera and has a rubberised feel to it with a dotted finish (a bit like the first Nexus 7), making it easy to grip. There are no hardware buttons on the front of the tablet, while the ports - the micro USB, the micro HDMI and micro SD cards are placed on the sides, along with the power/display and volume buttons. And on the lower part of the tablet is a lot where the stylus - what NVIDIA terms the DirectStylus is placed. A very good touch, we think, as it saves one from the hassle of carrying it separately. All in all, the Xolo Play Tegra Note has a rugged rather than ravishing look to it. It will not turn heads or traffic.

The monster within

120 mm

48 MYMOBILE march 2014

But if the appearance of the Tegra Note will not turn heads, its hardware will certainly make geeks dance with joy. Make no mistake, this is on paper one of the most powerful Android tablets out there. Yes, some might say that the 1280 x 800p display is relatively low resolution in this day and age of HD displays, but then Android is not exactly bursting at the seams with apps to make the most of full HD displays, so that does not bother us too much, although we would have preferred it to be brighter. But peek under the hood and you will see one of the most powerful proces-

www.mymobile.co.in

Pros Very good price  Excellent hardware  Gaming monster 

Cons Not the greatest design  Relatively dull screen  Not enough stylus functions 

sors around - the 1.8 GHz Cortex A15 quad core processor on the NVIDIA Tegra 4 chipset, with a mammoth 72-core NVIDIA GeForce GPU for handling graphics. RAM stands at 1 GB, while onboard storage is at 16 GB, which can be expanded using a memory card. Connectivity options abound - you have GPS, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and a host of sensors, including proximity, gyroscope and compass. 3G connectivity is however, conspicuous by its absence, and unlike the Nexus 7, there is no avatar of the Tegra Note in the Indian market that comes with 3G. The tablet runs on Android 4.3 and comes with the assurance that it will be updated to newer versions of Android as when they become available - the tablet ran initially on Android 4.2 but was updated to 4.3 within weeks of its release. Android purists will also like the fact that Xolo has refrained from messing around with the basic Android interface.

A gamer’s delight All that hardware goodness comes to the fore when you get into gaming mode on the Tegra Note. Yes, it handles all routine tasks like checking mail, browsing the Web and handling social networks very smoothly as well. But make no mistake, this tablet was made for gaming. NVIDIA’s TegraZone app comes preloaded on the tablet, letting you access games that have been optimised for the Tegrachip and well, all we can say is that we were spellbound at the quality of the experience we received. The front facing speakers deliver great sound, but it is the level of detail on the screen that is amazing. Whether we were going in with all guns blazing in Shadowgun or stealing cars and outracing the law in GTA: San Andreas, we got a wonderfully smooth, stutter-free experience. And well, attach the tablet to a

larger display using HDMI and you actually can get big screen action with your tablet as a controller. Battery life was also remarkably good – we normally got about seven hours of use on a single charge, with a few hours of heavy duty gaming thrown in.

Conclusion It is not great looking but has great specs and

XOLO Play Tegra Note tech specs Size | 190 x 120 x 9.4 mm Weight | 320 grams Memory | 16GB, micro SD OS | Android OS v4.2

can handle pretty much any Android app or game that you throw at it. Factor that it in with a price tag that is in the vicinity of Rs 16,500 and the XoloTegra Note seems excellent value for money, especially for those who love gaming. Yes, it is not perfect – the camera is mediocre, and we could not find enough applications that made the most of the stylus, which in itself is a bit on the basic side and does not add as much value as, say the S-Pen does to the Galaxy Note series, and finally, we would have liked a brighter display. But all said and done, we cannot really think of a tablet that delivers as much at this price in the Indian market. The closest one would perhaps be the new Asus Google Nexus 7 which comes with a full HD display and great hardware, but costs Rs 20,990. n team@mymobile.co.in

verdict 7

Screen Size | 7-inch, Capacitive

Looks

Battery | Li-Po 4,100 mAh

Features

Talktime/Standby | Up to 8 hours/-

ease of use

GPRS/3G/BT/WiFi | No/No/Yes/Yes

perfoRmance

Camera | 5.0-megapixel

value for money

Others | Tegra Zone, Stylus, 72 core GPU

Price: Rs 16,500

9 8

overall

84%

march 2014 MYMOBILE 49

burntest Calling the ladies The iBall Andi

Uddaan is designed for women

ne is spoilt for choice when it comes to purchasing Android devices. That said, there are not too many phones that have been designed keeping the fairer sex in mind. Which is what makes the iBall Andi Uddaan special. It claims to be designed exclusively for women and comes with a number of special features, including a security option. But will that be enough to grab the attention of the ladies?

Trendy looks The front of the device comes studded with Swarovski crystals, which immediately grabs your attention. You can use the crystals as the home button of the device. Two soft keys are placed on both the sides of the home button for Back and Options. Also on the front of the device is a secondary camera and an LED sensor. Replacing the traditional iBall is the Uddaan logo of a flying bird. The back houses the primary camera and a heart-shaped SOS button. The user will get two back panels and a leather cover along with the sales pack. Though stylish and trendy, the phone is a bit bulky as compared to the other Android devices present in the market at this point â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the device is 11mm thick and the cover adds further to its weight. We expected a sleeker, lighter phone, to be honest.

Refreshing interface, regular hardware Apart from different looks, the iBall Andi Uddaan also comes with a user interface that is very different from that seen on other iBall devices. The interface can be customised thanks to a number of very attractive themes, including Diamond, Moon Stone and Cup Cake, which even change the look and feel of the menu. Users can also opt to experience a different effect every time they access the main homescreen of the device â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it might seem a bit confusing at times with icons also getting rearranged, but does make a change from the routine Android skins that one comes across from day to day. Any change in the icons of the menu might make locating the correct icon a bit tricky. The iBall Andi Uddaan runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system. The device also comes preloaded with many interesting apps, the most notable of which is Documents To Go. The front is dominated by a 5.0-inch display with 540x960 pixels reso-

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Pros  connectivity options like 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Eye catching design  New user interface  SOS button

Two cameras, and slightly laggy performance

150 mm

The iBall Andi Uddaan comes equipped with twin cameras – an 8.0-megapixel rear camera and a 5.0megapixel front facing camera. However, we were a bit surprised to see that in the settings of the front facing camera, it can actually be adjusted to deliver 8.0-megapixel images. The cameras come with a number of features like smile detection and face detection. The music quality of the device is good both on the headphones and on the speaker. The iBall Andi Uddaan has a dual-core processor, but lags a lot while running graphic rich and high-defintion games. The performance of the device

iBall Andi Uddaan 75 mm

tech specs Size | 150 x 75 x 11 mm

lution. The display is decent but we would have preferred one with better screen resolution considering the price of the device – one is getting devices with higher resolutions at this price point from other manufacturers. The device comes with 512MB of RAM and the onboard storage of the device accounts to 4GB which can be expanded up to 32GB using the microSD card – once again, we expected a bit more in both departments. The company is also giving an 8GB memory card free with the sales pack. The smartphone is powered by a 1.3 GHz dual-core processor. The device comes with dual SIM functionality and has

Weight | 168 grams Memory | 4GB, microSD OS | Android OS v4.2 Screen Size | 5-inch, Capacitive

Cons 

Poor battery backup  A bit bulky  Average screen resolution

also slows down noticeably while using the camera - after clicking one picture you have to wait for a while before being able to click another one. Image quality is decent enough, but not what we would call exceptional. Whether these lags are because of processor, software or RAM, we cannot say for sure, but it does affect one’s experience of the device. The battery backup of the phone is also on the poor side – be ready to charge it twice to get through a day of heavy usage.

Conclusion The iBall Andi Uddaan is a stylish looking device designed especially for women. And while it does score on looks and interface, we felt a little let down by its performance. Certainly we expected a bit more from a device that comes with in the price tag of Rs 10,000. Those looking for alternatives can also consider the Nokia Lumia 525, which has a price tag of Rs 10,300 and also comes with colourful back covers. It is a much smoother performer, runs on Windows Phone 8, and also gives users the option to download the Guardian app for women’s safety from Microsoft. n team@mymobile.co.in

verdict Looks

Battery | Li-Po 2,000 mAh

Features

Talktime/Standby | -/-

ease of use

GPRS/3G/BT/WiFi | Yes/Yes/Yes/Yes

perfoRmance

Camera | 8.0-megapixel

value for money

Others | SOS, New themes, ICE App, Free flip cover

Price: Rs 8,999

7 8

overall

76%

march 2014 MYMOBILE 51

burn test Large screen Desire The HTC Desire 700 comes with decent specs and an eye catching design

ts premium One range might be grabbing all the headlines, but HTC has also been releasing devices for other price segments. The company’s Desire range of devices is spearheading its more mainstream approach and one of the most impressive of these is the Desire 700, which comes with an eye-catching design and some great tech specs.

Trendy design with sleek looks

Pros 

Good looks



Decent specs



Good sound

HTC is known for its design and its ability to give a new and refreshing look to its devices. And the sleek and stylish Desire 700 lives up to this reputation. It comes with a 5.0-inch qHD display with 540x960 pixels resolution which dominates the front. The phone’s edges are rounded and the rubberised back makes it easy to grip. Above and below the display are two speaker grilles of fluorescent green colour which adds visual appeal to the device, shining brightly on the otherwise black display. The front also houses the 2.1-megapixel camera to facilitate video calling and the speaker grille on the top has an LED indicator which lights up when the phone is charging. The rear has the 8.0-megapixel shooter with LED flash

Cons 

A bit expensive



Older version of Android



Low resolution display

The blinkfeed, zoe effect Two of the most iconic features of HTC’s new range of devices have been Blinkfeed and Zoe. While BlinkFeed aggregates news and social network notifications on your homescreen, Zoe allows you to add video like effects to your still images, bridging the gap between videos and stills, and serving up small but delightful visual experiences.

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Quad-core processor, but Android 4.1 The HTC desire 700 is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor and 1GB of RAM. The internal storage of the device is 8GB and can be further expanded to 64GB using a microSD card. The smartphone comes with dual SIM functionality (WCDMA+GSM) and both SIM have to be micro SIMs. One has to remove the back panel to insert SIM cards and microSD cards, but all the three are hotswappable. The connectivity options on the device include, 3G, WiFi, Bluetooth and GPS. It is a bit of a surprise therefore that with such hardware, the HTC Desire 700 runs on Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, which seems out of place in an era where Anroid 4.4 has already arrived. There are even lower priced phones in the Desire series that run the more recent Android 4.2.2. Like many recent HTC devices, the Desire 700 also comes with HTC BlinkFeed news and status aggregator, as well as HTC Zoe which lets you tweak images. The device also comes preloaded with Polaris Office, which lets you create and work with MS Office files. The smartphone also has a ‘Kid Mode’ (powered by Zoodles), which is designed especially for children, and lets them access only the apps you choose. Also onboard is an app called Scribble, which allows user to make notes either by typing or by writing with your finger. Those wanting even more apps can always head to the Google Play store.

A good performer The HTC Desire 700 comes equipped with an 8.0-megapixel camera with LED flash. The camera delivered some very good images, even in low light conditions. The whole camera interface remains one of the most interesting we have seen with shutter buttons for pictures and video on the same screen, and a plethora of color effects and shooting modes like HDR or Panorama. The quality of videos was also

decent. The 2.1-megapixel front facing camera, however, is best for clicking selfportraits. On the audio front, the smartphone comes with HTC BoomSound, which delivers very good sound quality – on both headphones and loudspeaker. The phone was also able to handle multitasking and rich graphic games with a degree of comfort. The display is low resolution for this price point but handles most tasks well enough. Battery backup was quite good for a device of this size – we easily got through a day of use on a single charge.

Conclusion The HTC Desire 700 scores well in the looks and hardware sections. But the older version of Android might disappoint some. However, it could appeal to those looking for a large screen device with decent specifications and a “different” look. The company has priced the device at Rs 28,000, which we think is a bit on the higher side. Those looking for alternative can consider the LG Google Nexus 5, which also has a 5-inch display (a full HD one) and comes with latest Android (4.4 Kit Kat), and is available for Rs 28,999. n

145.5 mm

and is also fitted into a green coloured rim. The top of the device has the power button and a 3.5mm audio jack. The right houses the volume rocker button and the charging port is placed at the bottom. In spite of sporting a relatively large display, the device has a very compact form factor and looks trendy.

team@mymobile.co.in

HTC Desire 700 tech specs 72 mm

verdict 8

Looks

Battery | Li-Po 2,100mAh

Features

Talktime/Standby | Up to 8 hours/Up to 338 hours

ease of use

perfoRmance

GPRS/3G/BT/WiFi | Yes/Yes/Yes/Yes Camera | 8.0-megapixel Others | HTC Zoe, BlinkFeed, Boom Sound, HDR

Price: Rs 28,000

value for money

overall

80%

march 2014 MYMOBILE 53

burn test Not just the 1520 Lite! The Lumia

1320 offers staggering value for money

t its prime, Nokia used to have a twin device strategy - one flagship that cost a fair bit, and another with decent enough specs, that was much more affordable. For an E 90, there was an E51 or E6. For an N95, there was a lower priced N73. And as it enters proper phablet territory with its six inch display devices, the Finnish giant of yore seems to have reverted to its old strategy. While the Lumia 1520 showcased its very best hardware at a relatively high price, the Lumia 1320 gives users a similarly sized display at a price that is almost half of that worthy. But is the Lumia 1320 just a ‘lite’ avatar of the Lumia 1520 or does it have enough to slug it out against some very tough competition in the sub-Rs 25,000 phablet segment?

Very ‘eavy, very humble... compared to the 1520! One of the challenges that the Lumia 1320 will face is the fact that it will almost always be compared to the higher-specced and more expensive Lumia 1520. Just like the Lumia 1520, the Lumia 1320 will definitely catch your eye, with its massive build and display. It is over half a foot long, and

Pros Good display Eye catching design  Very decent performance  

Cons Ordinary camera  Too big for single-handed use  Heavy 

54 MYMOBILE march 2014

at 220 grammes is certainly one of the heavier phablets around. And with proportions of 164.2 x 85.9 x 9.8 mm, it is slightly larger than the Lumia 1520 in all three dimensions, although it shares a display of the same size - 6 inches. That said, its sheer size and colourful back panels (which can be removed, unlike that of the Lumia 1520) will turn heads. We got the orange model and we actually thought that the mattelike finish on the back worked better than the glossy one of the Lumia 1520 - it picked up fewer smudges and was less slippery. And ironically, the 1320 comes with a Corning Gorilla Glass 3 display as compared to a Corning Gorilla Glass 2 one, as seen on the 1520, making it more resistant to scratches. But that actually is about the only area where the 1320 has an edge over its more expensive rival. Its display is of the same size but of a more modest 1280 x 720 resolution, rather than the full HD affair on the 1520. And while the 1520 had come with a quad core 2.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon

Price: Rs 23,990

85.9 mm

www.mymobile.co.in

164.2 mm 800 processor, the 1320 comes with a 1.7 GHz dual core Snapdragon S4. Similarly, the device comes with 1GB RAM and 8GB onboard storage, as compared to the 2GB and 32GB seen on the 1520. The camera is a very modest 5.0-megapixel affair with no PureView claims, and while connectivity options include 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0, there is no NFC here.

But a very solid performer One of the points that have to be underlined is that while the Lumia 1320 might seem inferior to the Lumia 1520 on most spec counts, it has more than enough to deliver a very good Windows Phone experience - it actually

has a faster processor and as much RAM as the more expensive and much-hyped Lumia 925. Yes, not all apps are optimised for the massive display - the keyboard still covers almost half the display in messaging and mail. That said, when it comes to browsing and playing games, the Lumia 1320 really shines, handling most tasks smoothly and with minimal lag. Round that off with the usual Nokia goodies - unlimited music downloads for a year, unlimited film viewing and downloads for three months, a lifetime of free navigation and maps - as well as a very usable edition of MS Office, and the Lumia 1320 becomes a formidable proposition, especially for those who are looking for a device more for viewing and creating content than for conventional phone use. Yes, the camera is frankly a disappointment, and the device feels hefty while making calls and is very difficult to use with one hand, but on the flip side, a 3400 mAh battery ensures that you can easily get through a couple of days on a single charge.

Conclusion We think it deserved a much better camera and could have been a bit lighter, but all said and done, we do think that the Lumia 1320 delivers very good value for its Rs 23,990 price tag. There will be those who will complain that the device does not come with a full HD display, but given the fact that Windows Phone does not have too many apps designed to make the

most of a full HD display, we do not consider that to be a major shortcoming. What makes the Lumia 1320 stand out is its ability to deliver a very decent phablet experience at a price that is relatively low. It faces some tough competition in that segment, however, from the likes of the Lenovo K900 which comes with a slightly smaller, but full HD display, for around Rs 25,000, and also sports a much better camera. There will also be those who will advise going for the slightly more expensive but superbly specced Nexus 5, but if what you are seeking is a large screen phone with all of Nokiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Windows Phoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goodness on it, on a sub-Rs 25,000 budget, then the Lumia 1320 is very tough to beat. n team@mymobile.co.in

verdict Looks

8 9

Features ease of use

perfoRmance

value for money

overall

86%

march 2014 MYMOBILE 55

burn test The Second Nexus Seven The

new Asus Google Nexus 7 is formidable

t might not have gained as iconic a status as its phone counterpart, but the Nexus 7 tablet is considered by many to be the Android flagship as far as tablets go. But does the latest edition of the tablet have what it takes to ruffle the feathers of the mighty iPad and other Androids?

Still plain, still powerful The Nexus range of devices (barring perhaps the glass-encased Nexus 4) is not known for its drop-dead gorgeous looks, and the new edition of the Nexus 7 does not stray too far from this relatively unglamorous tradition. That said, the plain, slightly glossy back does make a better impact on the eyes than the dotted back panel that accompanied the first Nexus 7. However, what will definitely turn heads is the brilliant display of the new Nexus 7. While the previous tablet was not a slouch in this department, the new Nexus has an abolutely brilliant full HD (1920 x 1200) display. All those pixels crammed onto a seven inch display give the Nexus 7 a formidable pixel density of 323 ppi (thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty high in a tablet). And it definitely has a more edge-to-edge look with Google reducing the bezel on the sides, although there is still a lot of empty space on the top and bottom of the device. It is also lighter than its predecessor. It is an improvement over the original Nexus 7 in terms of design, but still not a showstopper. If Nexus devices have been relatively plain in the looks department, they have also been incredibly muscular when it comes to what lies within them. And the new Nexus 7 is no exception. It is powered by a powerful 1.5 GHx Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad core processor, comes with 2GB RAM, 16GB onboard storage (still not expandable) and now has dual cameras, one of which is a 5.0megapixel shooter on the back (the previous Nexus tablet only had a front facing camera). There are plenty of connectivity options as well - Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC and 3G (if you are willing to pay extra).

Android at its tabby best? Which actually brings us to the biggest challenge faced by Android in the tablet segment â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the relative absence of apps that can stretch that hardware or make the most of that wonderfully vibrant display, which we must state is easily the best we have seen on

56 MYMOBILE march 2014

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Pros Great hardware  Latest Android  Excellent display 

200 mm

Cons Relatively expensive  Not enough apps to take advantage of the hardware  No inbuilt data in base models 

a seven inch Android tablet. Backed up with the hardware muscle at its disposal, the Nexus 7 easily handles any task you through at it –from Web browsing to checking mail to playing high-definition video to heavy duty gaming. But yes, there is no iOS equivalent of Infinity Blade here to really showcase the hardware of the device. Sound quality is not the greatest and the camera is of little use when the lights start to dim, but on the flip side, you are assured of guaranteed Android updates within days of their release. Also, the fact that the device runs on basic, “unskinned” Android, means that it works much faster and a whole lot more smoothly than most of the competition.

Conclusion All said and done, we think that the Nexus 7 is very much in a zone of its own when it comes to performance in the seven-inch tablet category. It has one of the best displays we have seen on a device of this size, and has hardware that can play pretty much any app that you throw at it. Round that off with the assurance of getting the latest version of Android on your device within days of its release, and the Nexus 7 (2013) seems a formidable proposition. Where it might trip up, however, is in the price department. Yes, it offers a lot for its Rs 20,999 price tag. That said, if you are not a hard core geek and do not lust for the latest version of Android, that price might seem a bit steep, especially when you consider that the older Nexus 7 (which has also received the Kit Kat update) is around and well and is selling at almost half the price. Yes, the older Nexus had a lower resolution 720p display, but that is not much of a shortcoming given that many apps on Android are not optimised for full HD. Some might also

114 mm complain about the absence of 3G connectivity at that price point, given the fact that devices like the Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 and Asus’ own

FonePad are coming with not just data connectivity but also calling features at lower price tags. Finally, the price tag puts it in competition with the older but still able and gorgeous looking iPad mini, which comes with a far richer collection of apps. Which makes the Nexus 7 the perfect device for Android tablet purists. As a performer, we could not fault it for too much and the assurance of getting the latest version of Android on it is a welcome bonus. n team@mymobile.co.in

verdict Looks

Features

Talktime/Standby | Up to 9 hours/-

ease of use

GPRS/3G/BT/WiFi | No/No/Yes/Yes

perfoRmance

Camera | 5.0-megapixel

value for money

Others | NFC, Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, 2GB RAM

Price: Rs 20,999

overall

84%

march 2014 MYMOBILE 57

spot light

Moto Moves: From to

At the turn of the millennium, it was one of the most prominent handset manufacturing companies in the world.

Today, Motorola finds its mobility business under the wing of Lenovo which in turn purchased it from Google. We take a look at this latest acquisition, and wonder “whither Moto”? Abhijit Ahaskar

t made the first mobile phone as well as some of the most popular handsets and devices ever made. Today, it finds itself under new masters at regular intervals. We are talking of Motorola. Mototola Mobility was sold off to Google at $12.5 billion in 2011, a time when Google was besieged by a succession of patent lawsuits threatening the Android platform. Acquiring Motorola was a strategic move as it equipped Google with an arsenal of up to 24,000 mobile patents, giving it an upper hand in the patent war. After two and a half years, Motorola has changed hands once again, moving this time to Lenovo, a company that is looking to strengthen its presence in the mobile device market, and hopes to leverage Motorola’s vast legacy and understanding of mobile telephony. But will this move work?

Google’s Motorla acquisition

In Google’s own words, the reason for acquiring Motorola was to supercharge the Android ecosystem. This was accomplished in two stages. Firstly, by warding off Microsoft-led lawsuits from weakening Android and its partners and build a more robust patent portfolio. It was believed that Google had no choice but to buy Motorola, or the mounting pressure of law-suits would have forced it to drop Android. Apple and Microsoft were attacking Android vendors by filing patent lawsuits and the strain was beginning to tell - Samsung was stopped from selling Galaxy devices in Europe and US. Secondly, by using the technology, experience and faculty of Motorola, Google intended to develop high-quality Android smartphones at low costs so that one day

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Android would become the de-facto mobile platform. The move was also expected to allow Google to counterbalance Samsung’s growing monopoly in the Android market, as most of the Android handsets were sold by them. Acquiring Motorola, however, brought Google face to face with a complex question: whether to stick to what it did best, as its primary business of search engines and mails was flourishing, or to become a multifaceted enterprise like Apple and create a single common ecosystem for smartphones, tablets and laptops? It seems that Google decided to take the safer, first option. It sold off the cable

box business to Arris for $2 billion, laid off 30 per cent of Motorola’s staff and transferred most of special R&D team to the Android division.

Should Google have said “Hello, Moto”?

However, Google did not altogether ignore Motorola’s phone manufacturing muscle. Although the number of phones coming from Motorola slowed down, those that did make it to the market, were acclaimed by the critics. The ultra-customisable Moto X and the stunningly low priced Moto G are prime examples. Still, the general consensus is that the company did not quite do as much with Motorola as many had expected – Motorola was not even used to manufacture the Nexus phone or tablets. In strictly business sense Google has definitely lost more money than it made from Motorola. Many experts believe that Google would have preferred to only buy the patents from the company, but that Motorola having understood the significance of the situation made it purchase its loss-making mobility division as well. There is no doubt that they paid a hefty price for it, but on the flip side,

Motorola’s patents saved Google from losing billions in the lawsuits.

What will Lenovo gain from the deal?

Lenovo paid $2.91 billion for Motorola’s recent portfolio of innovative smartphones Moto G and Moto X and the Droid Ultra series, Motorola Mobility brand, trademark portfolio and more than 2000 patents. A significant number of Motorola Mobility patents including current patent applications and invention disclosures will remain with Google. Lenovo is an aggressive company, celebrated for having a knack of turning things around – a trait that was best demonstrated when it acquired IBM PC to become the third global PC brand.

In strictly business sense Google has definitely lost more money than it made from Motorola. There is no doubt that they paid a hefty price for it, but on the flip side, Motorola’s patents saved Google from losing billions in the lawsuits.

With growth in the PC segment slowing down, Lenovo has started scaling up its presence in the smartphone and tablet business. It has already made a significant headway in emerging markets like China and it is believed that their mobile devices are doing quite well in India, especially the Lenovo K900 and the Vibe-X. According to our sources, the company expects the Motorola acquisition to give it the kind of boost that acquiring IBM’s business did, especially in western markets, where Motorola enjoys a formidable reputation. Many observers also feel that Lenovo’s design aesthetic which revolves around using different materials, will also fit in very well with that of Motorola, the company that gave the world iconic devices like the RAZR. For all its recent success, Lenovo is still a relatively new player in the mobile device segment. This deal could not only strengthen their position in their own markets but also give them a major foot-hold in North America, Latin America, Middle East and European markets. Despite its recent problems, Motorola is still a very popular global mobile brand – in the US and Latin America, it is the third biggest Android smartphone brand. The company’s knowledge of retail, network and distribution in the Americas is also likely to be leveraged by Lenovo as it strives to expand its presence.

Hello, Lenovo Moto!

Its devices might no longer be taking the market by storm but there is no doubting that the brief stint with Google saw Motorola add some very innovative devices to its portfolio - the Moto X, the Moto G and a revamped Droid series. Perhaps they might have done better if Google had more experience of running a full-fledged devices business – something that Lenovo has in sacks. With Motorola joining their camp, Lenovo’s quest to become a major mobile force is likely to gain more momentum. Just what strategy Lenovo employs to get the most out of this acquisition is going to be interesting – will it let Motorola’s stronger product ranges continue (like it let the ThinkPad flourish even after it acquired IBM), will it absorb Motorola’s products into its own existing product ranges, or will it unleash a whole new range of products under a new name? We do not know at the moment, but what we can be reasonably sure of is that we are likely to see many more products from Motorola than we did over the past few years. Will we see a new Moto RAZR? A ThinkPad Xoom? The return of Linux? We cannot say for sure at the moment. What we can say is that the consumers are likely to see some more interesting devices from the Motorola Lenovo stable in the coming days. Hello, Lenovo Moto. And all the very best. n abhijit@mymobile.co.in

march 2014 MYMOBILE 59

cell clues As a number of smartphone manufacturers experiment with different coloured handsets, we take a closer

look at the colour phone phenomenon. Is it just a fad or something that is here to stay? Binni Rawat

Smartphones On the VIBGYOR Route? “M

ere color, unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways.” More than a century after which renowned author Oscar Wilde made that remark, smartphone manufacturers seem to have woken up to the importance of colours in their handsets. While there have been odd bursts of colour – who can forget the LG Chocolate or the brilliant colours of the Moto Pebble – these have tended to be isolated efforts, with most of the industry preferring to toe the conservative line and go with “established” colours – white, grey and black, with just the odd touch of chrome or silver. Perhaps this conservatism harks back to the early days of the phone, which was considered more of a tool than a state-

60 MYMOBILE march 2014

ment of style. That mode of thought has long since changed and it seems that manufacturers are waking up to the fact that a phone can have more than a fixed – and narrow – set of colours.

At the beginning

One of the first devices that came in an unusual colour was Nokia’s initial 6080 in 1992, whose bold red variant became a rage. It is therefore apt that Nokia has been one of the key players behind the recent spate of colourful phones in the market – both its Lumia and Asha ranges come in a variety of colours. Viral Oza, Director-Marketing, Nokia India explains, “Mobile phones have become more than just a piece of technology; you take them everywhere with you and they also reflect our mood and personality. Nokia has focused on designs that are not only

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beautiful to look at, but that fit into consumers’ lifestyles. It was the first mobile phone manufacturer to introduce colour into its range. Nokia has been at the forefront of the colour, bringing it forth as a simple but strikingly different choice on the market.” Such is the growing popularity of devices with coloured frames that even a “serious” brand like BlackBerry has been making its devices available in different hues. “At BlackBerry, we have always strived to understand the changing needs of consumers and therefore try and exceed customer expectations. Having realised this, we have introduced handsets in varied colours ranging from black, white, to red and pink,” says Ashish Gupta, Director- Marketing, BlackBerry India.

It’s not just the girls who want colour

In the past, colours were considered to be mainly in demand in the feminine side of the market. However, times have changed, and now manufacturers are realising that a male consumer might also want a phone that looks colourful. “India has always been exalted and remembered fondly as the country of colours. There are no specific differences in the way men and women want their smartphones to look; it depends more on the choice of the individual. Yes, women are more inclined towards carrying colourful accessories; however they do not buy a phone just because it’s pink, but rather because there is actually a choice out there for them. Men do like colour as much as women,” points out Nokia’s Oza. Gupta from BlackBerry agrees. “This may have been true at one time but recent trends show that brightly coloured phones are fast becoming gender agnostic. This is especially driven by the youth that are keen to make a statement with their smartphones and want something more exciting beyond the regular black and white devices,” he says.

Let there be colour!

It has literally been raining colours in the smartphone market. Major players like Samsung, HTC, LG and Sony are offering devices in different colours and shades, and now even Apple has jumped on the colour bandwagon with its multi-hued iPhone 5c and the golden variant of the iPhone 5s. Samsung on the other hand has been a bit more restrained – a far cry from the days of the

colourful Corby range – but has been regularly launching variants of its prominent devices in different shades. It launched a Red coloured SIII for the foreign markets and a Galaxy Note 3 with a baby pink faux leather back recently. The company also launched its high end Galaxy Golden right before the launch of the iPhone 5s, some claim to compete with the device’s golden variant. And even as we go to print, we have seen a red Nexus 5 from LG and Google and the Moto G in multiple shades from Motorola. And there is even more colour in store. Nokia is working aggressively to add colours

cirumspect. He feels that power users or prosumers tend to focus on features and functionality that enhance productivity and provide entertainment on the go. “I think whether or not colour matters to a smartphone buyer, is a question of what they are looking for from their device,” he says.

The consumers love it

“Mobile phones have become more than just a piece of technology; you take them everywhere with you andthey also reflect our mood and personality”

to various Lumia models. “We are looking for opportunities to add more colour to people’s lives through our range of devices. We are extremely encouraged by the response to each of our devices and our aim is to bring the innovative device experience to more and more consumers. The colours we have at the moment have a beautiful relationship between the form and the material,” says Oza. BlackBerry’s Gupta however remains more

Consumers have responded positively to this wave of colour. Sushant Singh, a Nokia Lumia 920 user is very happy with its yellow variant. He says that earlier colourful covers were the only escape from black and white coloured phones, but now the availability of so many options from the manufacturer itself is a great thing. The youth in particular seem to love the variety of colour options in different devices, because it saves them from the hassle (and cost!) of buying a colourful cover for their handsets. Srishti, a college student, is a proud owner of a pink coloured iPhone 5c. She says that she has abandoned all her glittery phone covers as she feels happy carrying just the phone, which grabs a lot of attention on its own. Yes, it is too early to say that black, white and grey have been relegated to the sidelines – most phones still come in those shades. But what we can safely declare is that the era of coloured phones has arrived. A consumer today will not just look for processor, display, OS and camera in a device, but will also check the colour options at their disposal. The future of smartphones is not just bright. It is bright and colourful. n binni@mymobile.co.in

march 2014 MYMOBILE 61

chief speak

“We are focused on winning the tablet segment in India” It is the company that for many people is synonymous with processors. Indeed, for many people the ‘Intel Inside’ logo is a pre-requisite for any computer they purchase. The processor giant is now looking to replicate its desktop/notebook success in the mobile device market as well. How well it fare? We met Debjani Ghosh, Managing Director, South Asia, Intel to find out more about the behemoth’s next steps. Nimish Dubey & Mukesh Kumar Singh

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Intel came into mobile phones with Xolo two years ago. Where do you stand now? We had a big change in our phone strategy when our new CEO Brian Krzanich was appointed (in 2013). His understanding was that at this stage, we have to put all our resources behind the tablet and have products that are competitive and better than others. From the focus perspective, the priority was on winning the tablet segment. In phones, we will change the strategy and work with a few of the larger OEMs. We will build those designs first, and then we will build out a scale model. This was a huge change in strategy. As a result a lot of work that we were doing with local OEMs was not continued. But, once we get the initial momentum, and scale starts, it will be easier to bring them back. For now, in the device space the focus is broadly on tablets. In smartphones we will continue to focus on few key large OEMs and winning a few key designs. Intel processors on handsets have got good reviews, but we don’t see any of the major brands using them. Why do you think this is happening? I can’t speculate on their behalf. All I can say is that we are going to continue to deliver a differentiated product and experience to win those designs. It is up to us to make it difficult for them to say no. We will have to continue to try. And rather than trying on broader accounts, we will focus on a few and try to win those accounts. Moving on to something broader, what is Intel planning now? There is huge scope for innovation in tablets. There was a lot of euphoria when they appeared as they offered a new form factor and was convenient to use. And now people are talking about tablets dying out as PCs did. But, we feel that segment is going to get more mature. There is a lot of scope in this segment. This is where we are focused. The trick to win that segment is to ensure the costs remains low. Everybody speaks about the future of mobile phones. We feel it is not about one mobile future but it is about 7 billion mobile futures and more. Because it is becoming personal and when it is personal you want choices and customizations. The new business group under Mike Bell is figuring out what is next beyond tablets and smartphones. We are also focused towards winning the back end, data-centers and Internet of things on priority. The Internet of things has tremendous potential in India. Our power management system, transportation system, public distribution system, security system, and many others have to be more intelligent, because we have tremendous waste and inefficiencies in every system we build because we are a big country. For example, all our ATMs have cameras which we call sensors. If someone is mugged, the camera is recording but there is no intelligence that could alert the police. The

Internet of things adds the intelligence to technology and it is desperately needed. And that brings us to something everyone is talking about these days: wearable tech. As a consumer, we develop relations with our devices. When something is personal for a consumer they want it to blend with our lifestyle. Wearable is not a great new concept that the tech industry has come up with. It is a logical conclusion to where consumers want technology to go, because a personal device is something that sits on me and I don’t even have to carry it with me. At CES we announced tie-ups with a lot of fashion houses. The key reason for that is to ensure that something that sits on us has to look good. So, we are focusFirst phone ing not just on the technology Nokia (Don’t remember and performance but also on the the model number, but looks, design and style and we are still have it) going to experts like Barneys and the American Council of Fashion First smartphone Design. We are going to experts BlackBerry (again, I still who know how to come out with have it) beautiful designs.

Calling Debjani Ghosh

Current smartphone Intel is promoting computing Motorola Razr I, Lenovo at the grass-root level. How has K900 that been progressing? I call it enlightened self-interest. We have to do it not as a social service but if Favourite app we want India to continue to grow Kindle as technology market. Everybody today is focused on the market and Favourite game how to win shares. When you are in Temple Run, Subway that mode, then you are not focusSurfer, Candy Crush, Hay ing on developing the next level. day The next level would have been developed if India had a climate of tech entrepreneurship and tech innovation for the domestic market. Tech entrepreneurship is slowly getting better, but tech innovation for the domestic market is non-existent to a large extent. People have done some brilliant work but it is located in localities. This way technology is not going to go to the grass-roots level. So we already have 100 to 200 million people on the Internet, which is pretty much close to the English speaking population of India. Which means the next level of users who will come online are going to be non-English speaking users. What do we have for them? Even if a user has to spend Rs 5,000 to get on a computing platform tomorrow, why would they do that unless it is giving them something? So we have to educate them on why it is useful. Once you start educating them and building interest, the industry will take interest, and innovation will start. This will eventually create a market. For us, it is not

march 2014 MYMOBILE 63

chief speak about CSR. It is a matter of survival. We have to do it or the market is going to slow down drastically. How is the PC market doing in India? Different viewpoints exist in the PC market. A lot of people say PCs are growing because of tenders. Yes, that is true that the PC market is growing in India largely because of large Government tenders. Are those tenders run in the most efficient way possible? Maybe not, but the fact is that they still get devices out in the market. From that perspective India

was one of the few countries last year which had a positive growth in PC market. Back-end business in India is also very healthy, especially with the focus on high performance computing. The Government is significantly increasing focus on disaster management, weather forecasting and a lot of institutes are doing brilliant work there. What about cloud computing? Whenever there are so many people using data, data usage increases and then we need backend infrastructure. Millions of Indians are now connected online. Even if they are not using too much data, we need a backend infrastructure for them. As our 4G network builds up and hopefully the National Optical Fiber Network (NOFN) someday becomes a reality, you are definitely going to see much more

64 MYMOBILE march 2014

data usage. So the cloud is very important for India. We are working with lot of local partners. We are also launching Intel cloud, where we will enable local partners to provide end-to-end solutions to the cloud - from hardware to services to security. You were at CES recently. What was your most memorable moment there? My proudest moment was when our CEO Brian announced that all our factories from now onwards are going to be conflict-free. I do care about that topic a lot. For a company like Intel which depends so much on minerals, to take a stand and work out a process whereby we won’t buy minerals from any conflict-ridden country, is big. The second ‘aha’ moment was when we made a bold statement about our intent on wearable technology rather than just discussing it. Third, we made a bold statement on the future of tablets. Fourth, when we announced Intel Edison. What can we expect from Intel in 2014 in India? In products, we are focused on winning the tablet segment in India and it will involve working with a broad ecosystem from local players to MNCs. We are working very closely with our MNC partners and we have significantly increased our engagements with our local partners and will make some announcements in the next few days. We are also directly increasing our engagement with the ecosystems back in China and Taiwan, because there are certain unique needs in this market - price point, performance, etc. If we can get involved and influence at the design stage, we can deliver products that are more relevant to this market and at more relevant price points. That is something we haven’t really done in the past. Tablets are the key, especially the Bay Trail (processors). In Bay Trail, we will finally have the Intel quality and performance that everyone expect at price points below the USD 350 mark, which is what makes it absolutely real for India. Data centre will continue to be a big focus. The Internet of things is a key area. The political will in the country needs to be little stronger to bring about the changes. Hopefully that will start happening. n nimish@mymobile.co.in mukesh@mymobile.co.in

Everybody today is focused on the market and how to win shares. When you are in that mode, then you are not focusing on developing the next level. The next level would have been developed if India had a climate of tech entrepreneurship and tech innovation for the domestic market. Tech entrepreneurship is slowly getting better, but tech innovation for the domestic market is non-existent to a large extent

Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Government of India

Brick by brick We built our Nation In partnership with each other

Should We then not say that We built India together

2EPUBLIC $AY TH

davp 22202/13/0101/1314

Collectively We put our Nation On the path of progress and prosperity

versus

The Battle of the

Smart Watches

Appearance When it comes to looks, we have to admit that the Sony SmartWatch 2 holds the edge over the Gear in general. If one looks only at the display, the Gear’s AMOLED display scores over that of Sony’s watch, but factor in the strap with the Gear’s protruding camera and rather ordinary looking buckle, and we think the Sony wins simply because all said and done, it looks more like a watch. We also love the fact that it always shows the time, unlike the Gear, which shows the time only when you look at it or flick your wrist. The fact that you cannot change the strap of the Galaxy Gear hands the round to the SmartWatch 2. Winner: Sony SmartWatch 2

Hardware This is an out and out win for the Gear. While the SmartWatch 2’s core strength is showing notifications and information on your phone, the Gear actually lets you make calls and even take photographs. As of that were not enough, it also comes with a better display, more sensors, and a faster processor. Winner: Samsung Galaxy Gear

Software

earable technology is the rage this year and leading its charge are the smart watches, which deliver information and notifications right on your wrist, saving you the need to pull out your phone. And in India, the battle for the title for the best smart watch is being currently fought out between Samsung and Sony. While the former

66 MYMOBILE march 2014

has released the high-profile and extremely powerful Galaxy Gear, Sony has come out with a much improved second edition of its SmartWatch series. But which of these works better for you, especially now that the Gear too has had its price reduced? Well, that is what we attempted to find out as we pitted the two devices against each other..

In terms of software, both devices depend on the phone. You have to install apps on the phone first which then get synchronized with your phone. Although the Galaxy Gears’ apps work more smoothly, at the time of writing, the Sony SmartWatch 2 had many more apps. More importantly, while the Galaxy Gear will not work with all Android handsets (you can check the site for compatible handsets), the Samsung SmartWatch 2 will pretty much pair with any Android smartphone running Android 4.0 and above. It is the latter part more than the former which wins this round for the SmartWatch 2. Winner: Sony SmartWatch 2

Ease of use Both devices connect to your smartphone over Bluetooth. Both let you navigate using swipes and taps. While we did find the Galaxy Gear’s interface to be much more responsive than that of the SmartWatch 2, the SmartWatch 2

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One lets you make calls and take pictures, the other works with more devices. Both link wirelessly to your phone, and deliver information right on your wrist. The Samsung Galaxy Gear and Sony SmartWatch 2 slug it out for the title of best smart watch in India. Nimish Dubey was a whole lot easier to charge as it comes with a microUSB port, while you need to attach the Galaxy Gear to special charging cradle to charge it. The SmartWatch 2 used to hold the edge over the Gear in terms of displaying more detailed information but Samsung has fixed with an update. That said, the Galaxy Gearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s camera and phone functions could have been better implemented - we attracted stares whenever we used the phone functionality in public areas and using the camera on the wrist strap is not easy - and the sensors donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t always work as smoothly as intended. We would call this a tie all in all. Winner: Draw

Performance While in terms of features and functions, the Galaxy Gear was a clear notch above the Sony SmartWatch 2, the SmartWatch 2 compensates with its always-on time display function and the fact that it has a far superior battery life we easily got through a week with 2-3 recharges, while with the Galaxy Gear, a recharge a day was necessary if we switched on most of the notifications. But it also needs to be stressed that you can do much more with the Gear than the SmartWatch 2, so the battery drain is somewhat forgivable. All said and done, we really think that when paired with a compatible device, the Galaxy Gear does more at the time of writing, so we are going to hand this round to it. Winner: Samsung Galaxy Gear

Value for Money When we started writing this article, the Sony SmartWatch 2 was winning this round by miles with a price tag of Rs 14,990 as compared to the Rs 22,990 on the Galaxy Gear. Two dramatic price cuts have however, placed the Gear at Rs 15,290 while the SmartWatch 2 still retains its official price tag, although some retailers are selling it for Rs 12,000. With that sort of price differential, the battle becomes a much closer one. However, we are scoring this for the SmartWatch 2 simply because while it does not do quite as much as the Galaxy Gear does, it is compatible with many more devices, and therefore is accessible to a greater base of

users. We also think that the Gear loses out with its charging mechanism and non-changeable watch strap. Winner: Sony SmartWatch 2

Conclusion We really think that the choice between the Galaxy Gear and the SmartWatch 2 is going to boil down to which device a consumer already

has. Those with a compatible device are more likely to be attracted to the Galaxy Gear, especially after its price has been reduced significantly, while those using other Android devices would like the SmartWatch 2. As always, it all boils down to what you really want. And in the case of the Galaxy Gear in particular, the device you already have. n nimish@mymobile.co.in

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boredom buster Flappy Bird Frustrating, yet addictive

e cannot remember the last time when we heard so many people get addicted to a game that they cursed so often. On the surface, Flappy Bird is an incredibly simple Mario-like game. You get control of a small bird and your task is to help it fly through gaps by tapping on the screen - the faster you tap on the screen, the higher the bird flies; slow down the tap intensity and it dips a bit. Sounds simple enough? It is. And the game is a small download as well, with no price tag whatsoever. The challenge, however, is to ensure you do not run out of patience in your task, for the game is a very unforgiving one - one error and you have no option but to return to the beginning and start tapping again. Small wonder that most of the world is complaining about the difficulty levels even while being hooked to the game trying to get its score (the number of obstacles avoided) into double figures. Another example of how simple gameplay can compensate for mediocre graphics and sound. There’s a new bird in Mobile Gametown! n

Name: Flappy Bird Price: Free RATING

Tested on: Apple iPhone 5s, LG Nexus 4



Name: Marvel Run Jump Smash Price: Rs 55/ Rs 62 Tested on: LG Nexus 4

RATING



Marvel Run Jump Smash Superhero dash

ake some of the most popular superheroes around and put them in a game format that is the rage all over the world. Sounds like a winner, doesn’t it? Well, we are not so sure. On paper, Marvel Run Jump Smash has all the ingredients of a gaming hit. It has a number of the Avengers - Iron Man, Thor, Hulk - and it is an endless runner, where you end up chasing the cunning and evil Loki. You start off as a SHIELD agent and as you chase Loki, can morph into different superheroes depending on whose abilities you pick up. It is reasonably interesting but after a while starts getting repetitive - the 2D graphics and the fact that you have to rely on on-screen buttons to attack and jump does not help. Frankly, we must confess we expected a bit more from a game with such a lot of comicbook heritage going into it. Endless runner lovers might like it to an extent, but for us, it really seemed a bit like Jetpack Joyride with Agent Fury and the Avengers. n

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Name: New Star Soccer Price: Free RATING

Tested on: Apple iPad Mini



New Star Soccer When

football is life

or most people, football games are all about working out tactics and scoring goals. Well, not really. There is so much more happening in the life of a football player - there are interactions with teammates and the manager, meetings with agents and sponsors and of course, their own relationships with their better halves. And this is what New Star Soccer attempts to capture. Yes, at its core is the game on the field, but this is no button mashing exercise where you have to focus only on getting the ball into the net. No, there are a number of subtle touches here - you also have to ensure that you are on good terms with the management, spend time with your friends and keep the fans on your side. Of course, doing it all is not possible and there are trade-offs - for instance, a meeting with the manager might annoy your teammates and mean fewer passes to you. A terrific game for football fans who like to focus on strategy. Easy to play and free. Just be patient. n

Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas GTA in all its glory

hen it comes to gaming, the Grand Theft Auto series - better known as GTA - has a special place in the hearts of most gamers. Yes, its central theme did blur the difference between good and bad but the non-stop action and the potent mix of car racing, shooting, and working out deals won the hearts of millions. Well, the same game is now available in its entirety on mobile platforms. And although controls are not the greatest (we don’t like onscreen buttons), we must confess that the manner in which the game has been ported is amazing. The story is the same: Carl Johnson, a man who moved away from the high-octane life of Los Santos, San Andreas, returns on the death of his mother, and find himself framed for a crime he did not commit. He has to race, fight and deal his way out of trouble. And the result is hours of terrific gameplay. Newcomers to the series might find it a bit expensive, given its hefty price tag, the file size and the slightly iffy interface, but for loyalists this is a terrific deal. n nimish@mymobile.co.in

Name: Grand Theft Auto:San Andreas Price: Rs 360/Rs 390/Rs 390 Tested on: Nokia Lumia 920

RATING

 march 2014 MYMOBILE 69

etcetera JBL Pulse A musical drum

RATING



of lights

he JBL Pulse is a compact speaker designed to look like a two-sided drum. The speaker grille runs all through the cylindrical frame except for a small gap, which has been kept for a USB slot and battery indicator. What sets it apart from everyday speakers are the LED lights beneath the grille. Every time you turn the speaker on and play something, the light glows and with every beat it glows differently. You can have one colour or have several pool in to recreate a full disco-like lighting effect – you can also control the intensity of the light. It is compact and easy to carry, comes with an inbuilt battery and is very easy to use – just turn it on, pair it with any phone over Bluetooth or NFC and you can have a nonstop musical experience for 8-10 hours. You can also control the device through the JBL music app ( iPhone only). Sound quality is good as well. Overall, the Pulse is an excellent speaker. The only issue is the price, which puts it in the same range as the excellent Transit Soen and Bose SoundLink Mini. n

JBL Pulse Price: Rs 14,990 Pros | Unique lighting effect, brilliant sound quality Cons | Expensive, App support only for iPhone

RATING

Puma Bulldog Headphones PMAD6032 Great sound with



smart looks

T Puma Bulldog Headphones PMAD6032 Price: Rs 3,199 Pros | Fit-in-ear technology, untangles itself Cons | A bit expensive

70 MYMOBILE march 2014

hey might not be the best known in audio circles, but Puma’s Bulldog in-ear headphones are making their presence felt in the market. The latest in the series is the Bulldog PMAD 6032 which comes with an Ergo Fit In-Ear technology that locks the music in-ear eliminating noise. It has an in-built mesh speaker which enhances the audio quality and takes it to an other level. And of course, it looks smart too - we received a blue unit which looked trendy and sporty. The cable accompanying these earphones is very long as well, which is always welcome, and even better, is tangle-resistant. Earphones get very irritating when we have to sit for good five minutes and untangle them. It is compatible with just about every device, from PCs to smartphones to tablets, and deliver very good sound. The built in microphone is a huge bonus, allowing you to handle calls as well. All in all, a very good option for those looking for a pair of sporty headphones that can also double up to take calls. And of course, deliver great sound. n

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Kingston Data Traveler HyperX 3.0

RATING



Expensive, but spacious Flash drive

he first thing that strikes you about Kingston’s Data Traveler HyperX 3.0 Flash drive is its storage capacity. It is compact and easy enough to carry (about as big as an Internet dongle), but its capacity stands at a staggering 256 GB. Solidly built, it is shock-proof and meticulously protected by a ruggedized exterior made of a combination of plastic and rubber-like fiber. There is a hook at the end, so you attach a string and keep it safe. The drive reads files almost instantly and transfers files at data speed of up to 225Mb/sec. Where it is going to pinch, is in the price department, especially because the capacity here isn’t 16 or 32GB but a humungous 256GB. At Rs 38,000, it won’t appeal to the masses but for those looking for top notch performance and storage (and willing to pay for it), this is perhaps the perfect device. To make it more worthwhile, Kingston is offering 5 years warranty cover on it. The drive is backward compatible, but data transfers at drastically reduced speed. n

Kingston Data Traveler HyperX 3.0 Price: Rs 38,000 Pros | Fast data transfer, Unbelievable capacity Cons | Very expensive

RATING



Lumos unPlug Solar BackPack

Nothing like the sun for energy

Lumos unPlug Solar BackPack Price: Rs 4,999 Pros | Can be charged off sunlight, Unique design

ttempts have been underway for a while to use solar energy to charge one’s devices and the latest effort in this regard is the Lumos unPlug Solar BackPack, which is a conventional backpack with a solar panel on the back to capture sun rays and convert them into energy. The backpack is slightly curved, is water-resistant and comes fitted with a number of connectors to cater to different sorts of ports. In ideal conditions, spending an hour in the sun should give you about two hours of handset usage, via the 2,200 mAh battery. Mind you, you do need sunny days to make the most of it – they have been a bit of a rarity in Delhi (this is winter, after all). While there is no denying the utility of the device, we must confess we expected slightly greater battery capacity and a more spacious bag for the price. That said, this is still a very good option for those who often wander too far from charging point territory, and don’t carry too much. n

Cons | Not very spacious, Expensive

march 2014 MYMOBILE 71

etcetera Sony Vaio Fit 13A The

RATING



convertible with a flip

he Sony Vaio Fit 13A is another attempt from Sony to fit a tablet and a laptop into one thin ultra-form factor – one that seems more ergonomic than the earlier Vaio Duo 11. The Fit 13 comes with a bigger display and an improved ultrabook experience. It is actually a bit too big to be used as a tablet, but if you are more of a laptop user with occasional need of a tablet, this one has the advantage of a bigger screen, better processor and a long lasting battery (upto 8 hours). Powered by Intel’s 4th gen Core i5 processor, it comes with 4GB RAM and 103GB of SSD and rotates from the middle of the display to form a tablet. We would have liked more storage space, but the zippy rate at which the device performs more than compensates. The full HD display, though dazzling and great to use, is too glossy and reflective. The keyboard comes with big keys, and is good for typing. Overall, it is an impressive device which handles movies, apps and some amount of games very well. Mind you, at Rs 99,990, it is expensive. n

Sony Vaio Fit 13A Price: Rs 99,990 Pros | Fast performance, long battery life Cons | Limited storage, Expensive

RATING



Sennheiser CX 275S Solid design,

exceptional sound

Sennheiser CX 275S Price: Rs 2,999 Pros | Exceptional sound quality, Solid design Cons | Looks routine, A bit expensive

72 MYMOBILE march 2014

arphones might have improved by leaps and bounds but one thing remains unchanged – if you want good quality music, you cannot rely on the earphones that come bundled with your handset. If you are indeed looking for options in this regard, we would suggest you check out the Sennheiser CX 275S. They might look ordinary and routine, but put them into your ears, and the quality of sound you will get is nothing short of exceptional. What’s more, they come with a microphone which allows you to handle calls as well, and can be paired with every Android, Windows Phone and BlackBerry device available in the market. The frequency response of the earphones ranges from 17-23,000 Hertz, and they also come with a noise cancellation feature, which keeps outside noise where it belongs: outside. It is designed to fit easily into your ears, and come with a 1.2 metre cable as well as two extra pairs of ear buds in the sale pack. A good option for music lovers, if a bit on the expensive side at Rs 2,999. n

www.mymobile.co.in

RATING



Tata Photon Max Wi-Fi One

dongle to connect them all

Tata Photon Max Wi-Fi Price: Rs 1,999 Pros | Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity, Plug and play Cons | No battery, Maximum download speed not available in all areas

here may be more Wi-Fi hotspots than ever before, but when it comes to working on the move, most professionals still prefer USB Internet dongles. Tata DOCOMO’s new solution Tata Photon Max Wi-Fi literally serves up the best of both worlds – it is an Internet dongle that can also double up as a Wi-Fi hotspot. As a Wi-Fi router, it lets you share its connectivity with up to 5 devices over a range of 100 meters. It also comes with a very good turn of speed, with a maximum download speed of 6.2 Mbps. We would not recommend using it with 5 devices, but were able to get decent bandwidth on upto 3 devices. What makes the device even more special is that it doesn’t need a PC to access the Internet – it can be plugged into any USB port (even on a portable battery pack) as it only needs USB for power (it has no inbuilt battery of its own). But that apart, with data plans for both prepaid and postpaid users, this is perhaps the perfect dongle for anyone who juggles multiple devices and is fed up of paying several Internet bills. n

RATING



Zook Musicana Price: Rs 2,990 Pros | Plenty of playback options, Affordable Cons | Slow remote, Bland appearance

Zook Musicana Solid music from an affordable speaker

he Zook Musicana is an affordable 2.1 speaker from Zook, a relatively lesser known brand in India. However, if they have more products like Musicana they are unlikely to remain unknown for long. For an impressive price of Rs 2,990, the Zook Musicana offers a number of playback options. You can plug and play through a USB drive, or add an SD card and the speaker will get on track at once. The control on the front includes big volume knob, buttons for changing tracks and an LED panel, which lets you know what is playing and what is the source.

Musicana also comes with FM radio, with the option to save channels. Its reception was brilliant and switching from one source to another was very easy. The speaker comes with two satellite speakers which combines very well to deliver some very good sound. If you like playing loud instrumental music, then this is right up your alley. Design, however, is not its forte. While the remote is flimsily build and does not get a fast response, the speaker itself looks bland. The price, however, more than compensates for this. n

march 2014 MYMOBILE 73

etcetera New Kindle Paperwhite 3G The

Bookworm’s gadget

es, there is a new Kindle Paperwhite in tech town. In 2012, Amazon had introduced the initial Paperwhite adding front illumination to the world’s most popular e-book reader and allowing its users to read in the dark without any additional accessory. The new Paperwhite, which was launched in the US last year, is not a massive upgrade but does add a new dimension to what was already a formidable reading device. In size, the new Paperwhite is no different from its predecessor, with a 6.0inch display and a solidly built plastic frame that tips the scales at a tad over 200 grammes. But there are changes

RATING



beneath the hood – in dark conditions, the lighting seems more consistent and brighter, and if you are the type that likes to flip pages rapidly, the faster processor means that this too happens faster than in the previous edition. There is also GoodReads integration letting you share what you are reading with your friends on that network, and also finding out what they are reading. Finally, there is Amazon FreeTime, which lets you create profiles for younger readers and give them access to certain books from your collection (a kids’ zone, if you will). Amazon also claims that the touch experience on the device is better than the original Paperwhite, but we honestly cannot confirm this – typing still remains a bit laggy, especially for those spoilt by Android tablets and iPads. But what makes the Paperwhite special are the core strengths of its predecessors – the e-paper display which is almost like reading, the ability to download and read hundreds on books on a single device, and the staggering battery life (you can actually get through close to a month of use on a single charge, with a couple of hours of reading every day). Yes, critics will point to the price and say that one can do more on an Android tablet (the Kindle’s browser is utterly basic), but those who want to do nothing more than read will just love the device. Those who have the original Paperwhite, however, might not be too tempted to upgrade. Not yet. n

New Kindle Paperwhite 3G Price: Rs 13,990 Pros | Paper-like reading (even in the dark), Phenomenal battery life Cons | Expensive, Relatively limited utility as compared to tablets

74 MYMOBILE march 2014

www.mymobile.co.in

Sony SmartWatch 2 Price: Rs 12,500 Pros | Works with most Android devices, Good battery life Cons | Display too small for extended reading, Expensive

Sony SmartWatch 2 A much better second effort

ony was the first major brand to launch a smart watch in the country when it launched the first SmartWatch in India in 2012. The device was not the kind of success that some had thought it would be, but it did set the ball rolling for wearable technology from big brands in India. And last year Sony updated the SmartWatch range by adding the SmartWatch 2 to it. And the company has certainly got quite a few things right with its second effort in the smart watch category. For starters, the SmartWatch 2 looks more like a “proper” watch than its predecessor and comes with a strap attached to it, which can also be changed. No, there is no camera or support for receiving calls from, but the watch is compatible with every Android device running Android 4.0 and above, which makes it very accessible for most users. Sony also has strengthened the app side of the device and at the time of

RATING



writing, there were more than two hundred apps for the device, all of which would have to be installed to the phone first and from there, synced to the watch. Battery life stands at a decent 3-4 days on a single charge. In terms of ease of use, we must say that the SmartWatch 2 is as good as any smart watch we have used. Although the size of the screen makes it unsuitable for reading long messages, we found it worked brilliantly for notifications of mails, messages, calls and social network updates. It also doubled up very well as a sports accessory when paired with some apps. Yes, we still think that at Rs 12,500, it is very much on the expensive side, but it certainly represents a huge step forward from the first SmartWatch and in terms of performance and accessibility, this is perhaps the best smart watch out there in the Indian market. n

team@mymobile.co.in

march 2014 MYMOBILE 75

Gear guide Disclaimer: The prices have been obtained from companies respective showrooms

Nokia Fast Micro-USB Charger | AC-10E

Save energy and save the environment. Based on a common energy-rating system for chargers, it has a 5-star rating for energy saving. Rs 900

Wireless Charging Plate

Keep your Nokia Lumia on this sleek plate and watch your battery charge up. It comes with minimalistic design and vibrant colours to match your device. Rs 3,999

Nokia Bluetooth Headset | BH-111

Choose the colour that suits you in a design that’s as comfortable as it is stylish - up to five colours available. It is lightweight and offers long time usage. Rs 2,100

Nokia Monster Earphone | WH920 The in-ear design of the set isolates external noise to ensure enriched music experience. The earphones have volume controller built in its cord. Rs 5,000

Nokia Bluetooth Headset | BH-218

It puts you in control of your hands free calls and keeps you connected all day long. Rs 1,999

Nokia Universal Portable USB Charger | DC-16

You can charge your smartphone anytime, anywhere with this power bank. It is compatible with most of the devices and has a battery capacity of 2,200 mAh. Rs 1,600

Nokia Play | 360°

Enjoy clear 360-degree audio for your music with Nokia Play 360° (MD-50W). The curved design case brings a modern look and feel. Rs 9,000

Nokia Bluetooth Stereo Headset | BH-505

Nokia Mono Bluetooth Headset | BH-109

With Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-109, you can handle calls hands-free, even when you are using two mobile devices at the same time. Rs 1,600

Bluetooth Headset BH-505 keeps you active and entertained. The headset features a lightweight neckband for all day comfort. Rs 3,500

76 MYMOBILE march 2014

www.mymobile.co.in in Delhi but may vary on account of dealer discretion/company schemes.

Wireless Charging Shell for Lumia 820 With wireless charging shell make your Nokia Lumia 820 compatible across any Qi wireless charger. Rs 1,999

Nokia Bluetooth Headset | BH-112

Keep it simple - pick up and end calls at the touch of a button. It works with multiple handsets at the same time ideal if you have phones for work and play. Rs 1,450

Wireless Charging Pillow by Fatboy

Now simply place your Lumia on the Fatboy pillow to start charging without even plugging in your Lumia. Rs 5,499

Nokia Monster Headset | WH 930

This Nokia headset boasts of some high end features that are not to be seen in any other headsets available in the market. Rs 10,500

Nokia Stereo Headset | WH-701

It helps to control your calls and music in a world of sound. It features three sets of comfortable ear pads and an integrated remote for controlling volume, calls, and music. Rs 1,100

Nokia Mini Speaker | MD-11

Play your music and listen to the radio out loud with this compact, yet powerful mini speaker. You can also connect them for quality stereo surround sound. Rs 1,100

Nokia Extra Power | DC-11K

Charge two devices at the same time. It is extra compact and lightweight and offers a quick boost of power. Rs 2,400

Nokia Bluetooth Headset | BH-104

With Nokia Bluetooth Headset BH-104 you can stay on top of your calls and enable convenient wireless communication throughout the day. Rs 1,000

Nokia Car Charger | DC-4

Simple and compact, this mobile phone charger offers rapid phone charging from a car cigarette lighter socket. Rs 220

march 2014 MYMOBILE 77

MY GUIDE While My Mobile tries to ensure accuracy in the pricing and features any discrepancies that may emerge are beyond our control. Please check with the retailer about features of the phone before buying. The ratings that have been included are from the burn tests of the phones that we have reviewed. Feel free to update us.

(Last updated on February 3, 2014) Devices featured in the My Guide have been segregated into four categories baswed on price and colour-coded as:

Tablet CDMA Smartphone Lifestyle (Rs 12,000 upwards) Mid-level

(Rs 6,000 - Rs 11,999)

Entry-level (Rs 2,500 - Rs 5,999) Sub-entry level (up to Rs 2,499) Nokia Disclaimer : The prices quoted in My Guide are the Best Buy prices quoted by the respective companies, exDelhi. The prices may vary on account of promotional schemes or dealer discretion. M.O.P. mentiond in My Guide are not applicable in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. NR stands for not reviewed M.O.P. stands for Market Operating Price

MARCH 2014 MYMOBILE 79

myguide NOKIA

MODELS

NOKIA

PARAMETERS 105

100

107

108

114

112

Dimension (mm)

107 x 44.8 x 14.3

110 x 45.5 x 14.9

112.9 x 47.5 x 14.9

110.4 x 47 x 13.5

110 x 46 x 14.8

110.4 x 46.9 x 15.4

Weight (grams)

74.2

75.8

69.9

Model

106

NEW

12/840

7.2/840

9.9/840

12.7/576

13.8/600

10.5/637

14/840

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

65,536/1.45

65,536/1.8

56KB/1.8

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

8MB/No

NA/No

384KB/No

4MB/16GB

4MB/32GB

16MB/32GB

Talktime/Standby (hours)

No/No

Yes/No

Camera/Flash/Video

No/No/No

VGA/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

500

1000

1,000

Frequency/Dual SIM

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual SIM/GSM+GSM Dual SIM/GSM+GSM Dual SIM/GSM+GSM

Dual Band/No

GPRS/EDGE/3G

No/No/No

Yes/Yes/No

Operating System

Series 30

Series 40

Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY

No/Yes

Yes/Yes

Bar/No/No

1,140

1,300

1,458

1,650

2,100

2,423

2,785

Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

NOKIA

MODELS

NOKIA

PARAMETERS 206

Asha 500 Dual SIM NEW

Asha 210

208

Asha 501

301

502

Dimension (mm)

116 x 49 x 12.4

10.3 x 58.1 x 12.8

111.5 x 60 x 11.8

114.2 x 50.9 x 12.8

99.2 x 58 x 12.1

114 x 50 x 12.5

99.6 x 59.5 x 11.1

Weight (grams)

101.8

97.3

90.6

102

100

20/680

14/528

12/1104

12/480

17/624

20/504

13.7/576

Model

Talktime/Standby (hours) Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

65,536/2.4

262,144/2.8

65,536/2.4

262,144/2.4

262,144/3.0

262,144/2.4

262,144/3.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

64MB/32GB

256MB/32GB

64MB/32GB

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

1.3MP/No/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

1.3MP/No/Yes

3.15MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

1,000

Shared

2,000

Shared

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G

Dual SIM/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/No

Operating System

Series 40

Asha software 1.1

Series 40

Asha software 1.3

Series 40

Asha software 1.5

Music Player/FM Radio

Yes/Yes

Bar/No/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/No/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/No

Bar/Yes/No

3,650

3,999

4,700

4,899

4,800

5,650

5,700

Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs

80 MYMOBILE MARCH 2014

myguide NOKIA

MODELS

NOKIA

PARAMETERS Model

Lumia 520

515 Dual SIM

Lumia 525

Lumia 620

Lumia 625

Lumia 720

Dimension (mm)

102.6 x 60.6 x 12.7

119.9 x 64 x 9.9

114 x 48 x 11

119.9 x 64 x 9.9

115.4 x 61.1 x 11

133.2 x 72.2 x 9.2

127.9 x 67.5 x 9

Weight (grams)

111.4

124

102

124

127

159

128

Asha 503 Dual SIM

Talktime/Standby (hours)

NEW

12/480

14/360

10.4/432

17/336

14/330

23.9/768

23/520

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/3.0

16million/4.0

262,144/2.4

16million/4.0

16 million/3.8

16.7million/4.7

16million/4.3

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

NA/32GB

8GB/64GB

256MB/32GB

8GB/64GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

6.7MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

1,000

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY

Asha Software

Windows Phone 8

Series 40

Windows Phone 8

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Windows Phone 8

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/No

Bar/Yes/No

6,683

8,700

10,600

10,100

14,300

17,200

18,000

Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

SUB-ENTRY LEVEL (UP TO Rs 2,499)

(UP TO R s 2,499)

MODELS

NOKIA

PARAMETERS Model

Lumia 1320

Lumia 925

Lumia 1020

Lumia 1520

BSNL-CHAMPION

JOSH

MAXX

SQ 281

A2700

MX153

Dimension (mm)

164.2 x 85.9 x 9.8

129 x 70.6 x 8.5

130.4 x 71.4 x 10.4

162.8 x 85.4 8.7

130 x 55.5 x 11.5

120 x 51 x 10.8

112.5 x 45.5 x 14

Weight (grams)

220

139

158

209

25/672

18.3/432

19.1/384

27.4/768

2.5/36

-/350

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/6.0

16.7million/4.5

16million/6.0

262,144/2.8

NA/2.4

65,536/1.8

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

8GB/64GB

16GB/No

Yes/Yes

16GB/64GB

32MB/8GB

NA/8GB

NA/NA

Yes/Yes

32GB/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/ No

Yes/No

Camera/Flash/Video

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.7MP/Yes/Yes

41.0MP/Yes/Yes

20.0MP/Yes/Yes

1.3MP/No/Yes

VGA/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

500

100

300

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Dual Band /GSM+GSM Dual SIM/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Yes/No/No

No/No/No

Windows Phone 8

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/Yes/Yes

Bar/No/No

23,999

29,000

39,000

46,000

1,900

1,800

1,030

MARCH 2014 MYMOBILE 81

myguide UP TO Rs 2,499)

ENTRY LEVEL

(Rs 2,500-6000)

MODELS

UP TO R s 2,499)

PARAMETERS Model

MAXX

SAMSUNG

ALCATEL

JOSH

LAVA

MX555

E1207T

E1282T

OT 2005D

A999

JM2400

Discover 132

Dimension (mm)

122.8 x 51 x 9.8

108.0 x 45.5 x 13.5

109.2 x 45.5 x 14.5

120 x 50 x 9.95

113 x 58 x 13

116 x 50 x 60

Weight (grams)

96.5

65.1

74.5

Talktime/Standby (hours)

NA/350

8/430

12/660

14/425

25/350

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

NA/2.6

65,536/1.52

65,536/1.8

262,155/2.4

NA/2.4

262,144/3.2

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

NA/No

NA/4GB

128 MB/8GB

NA/8GB

258KB/4GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/No

No/No

Yes/No

Camera/Flash/Video

1.3 MP/No/Yes

No/No/No

2.0MP/No/Yes

VGA/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

300

1,000

Shared

500

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual BandGSM+GSM Dual BandGSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Dual BandGSM+GSM Dual BandGSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Yes/No/Yes

No/No/No

Yes/No/No

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/No/No

Yes/Yes/No

Proprietary

Yes/Yes

Bar/No/No

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/No/No

Bar/Yes/No

2,376

1,300

1,600

2,750

2,900

4,099

3,299

(Rs 2,500-6000)

MODELS

(Rs 2,500-6000)

PARAMETERS Model

LAVA

MAXX

SAMSUNG

Discover 135

T375

T585

MT401

Metro 2252

Champ Neo Duos C3262

Rex 60

Dimension (mm)

103 x 59 x 10.7

103.09 x 59.9 x 10.8

125.5 X 67 X 12.5

113.0 x 46.0 x 13.9

96.9 x 54.3 x 13.5

101.8 x 55 x 12.5

Weight (grams)

103

140

Talktime/Standby (hours)

12.8/601

9/560

NA/300

11.9/760

14/550

15/NA

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/3.5

262,144/3.2

NA/4.0

65,536/1.8

262,144/2.4

65,536/2.8

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

NA/16GB

48MB/16GB

50MB/32GB

NA/32GB

20MB/32GB

30MB/16GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

No/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

Yes/No/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

3.0MP/Yes/Yes

VGA/No/Yes

1.3MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

500

1,000

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Dual SIM/GSM+GSM Dual BandGSM+GSM Dual SIM/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/No/No

Yes/Yes/No

Proprietary

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/No

Bar/Yes/No

3,600

4,100

4,200

2,838

2,650

3,200

3,700

82 MYMOBILE MARCH 2014

myguide SMARTPHONE

SMARTPHONE

MODELS

(Rs 2,500-6000)

SAMSUNG

PARAMETERS Model

ALCATEL

Rex 80

Rex 90

OT 4007D PIXI

OT 8000D

OT 6012D IDOL MINI

OT 6030

OT 6033X

Dimension (mm)

102.0 x 58 x 11.5

113 x 61.90 x 11.84

115 x 62.3 x 12.2

143 x 78.4 X 9.8

127.1 x 62 x 7.9

133 x 67.5 x 7.9

134.4 x 68.5 x 6.4

Weight (grams)

118

163

110

Talktime/Standby (hours)

15/NA

13/500

16/15

9/540

7.2/415

16/700

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/3.0

262,144/3.5

262,144/NA

16million/4.3

16million/NA

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

20MB/16GB

10MB/32GB

512MB/32GB

4GB/32 GB

8GB/None

4GB/32GB

16GB/No

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

3.15MP/No/Yes

3.2MP/No/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

1,000

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Operating System

Proprietary

Android OS v2.3

Android OS v4.1

Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

4,500

5,000

4,933

9,999

10,900

13,500

17,900

SMARTPHONE

MODELS

SMARTPHONE

APPLE

PARAMETERS Model

BLACKBERRY

Iphone 5C

Iphone 5S

Curve 9220

Curve 9320

9720

Curve 9360

Dimension (mm)

124.4 x 59.2 8.97

123.8 x 58.6 x 7.6

109 x 60 x 12.7

114 x 66 x 12

112 x 62 x 14.2

120 x 66 x 10.8

Weight (grams)

132

112

102

103

120

130

120

Talktime/Standby (hours)

10/250

7/432

5/336

12/336

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.0

65,536/2.44

262,144/2.8

262,144/2.44

16million/3.1

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

16,32/No

16,32,64/No

512MB/32GB

256MB/32GB

8GB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

3.15MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Quad Band/No

Dual Band/No

Quad Band/No

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

iOS7

BlackBerry OS 7.1

BlackBerry OS 7.0

BlackBerry OS 10

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/Yes/Yes

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/Yes/Yes

41,900/53,500

53,500/62,500/73,500

8,700

12,000

15,000

16,500

19,000

MARCH 2014 MYMOBILE 83

myguide SMARTPHONE

MODELS

SMARTPHONE

BLACKBERRY

PARAMETERS Model

BSNL-CHAMPION

Z10

Z30

Q10

SM 3512

SM 3513

SM 6513

Trendy 531

Dimension (mm)

130 x 65.6 x 9

140.7 x 72 x 9.4

119.6 x 66.8 x 10.4

119.5 x 63 x 10.8

182.5 x 99 x 8.5

151.10 x 80.5 x 9.8

Weight (grams)

136

170

139

Talktime/Standby (hours)

10/312

25/384

10/NA

6/350

Apr-62

6/200

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.2

16million/5-0

16million/3.1

262,144/3.5

16million/6.5

16million/5.3

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

16GB/64GB

256MB/32GB

4GB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Yes /Yes

Yes/Yes

Yes /Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

3.0MP/No/yes

5.0MP/No/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Quad band/No

Quad Band/No

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

BlackBerry OS 10

BlackBerry OS 10.2

Dual Band/GSM

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Yes/Yes/HSPA

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/Yes

BlackBerry OS 10

Android OS v4.2.2

Android OS v4.2

Dual Band /GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

27,000

38,000

36,500

4,300

5,300

6,500

13,500

SMARTPHONE

MODELS

SMARTPHONE

GIONEE

PARAMETERS Model

HPL

Gpad G2

Elife E3

Dream D1

Elife E5

Elife E6

A35

Dimension (mm)

129.3 x 68 x 11.1

145 X 73 X 9.9

137 X 68 X 7.9

130 X 67 X 8.6

137 X 69 X 6.85

142.5 x 69.4 x 7.9

122.3 X 65 X 11.2

Weight (grams)

133.9

120

Talktime/Standby (hours)

24/450

14/312

NA/NA

4/NA

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.3

16Millon/5.3

16Millon/4.7

16Millon/4.65

16millon/4.8

16.7million/5.0

NA/3.5

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

4GB/32GB

16GB/32GB

4GB/32GB

16GB/NA

32GB/No

512MB/NA

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

2.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Quad Band/NA

Quad Band/No

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Yes/Yes/HSPA

Yes/Yes/No

Android OS v4.2

Yes/Yes/Yes

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Android OSv2.3

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

7,499

13,499

14,999

16,999

18,999

22,999

3,390

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

84 MYMOBILE MARCH 2014

myguide SMARTPHONE

MODELS

SMARTPHONE

HPL

PARAMETERS Model

HTC

A44

AONE

A40

A1XP-QUAD CORE

A45-qHD

A50-qHD

Desire XDS

Dimension (mm)

122.3 X 65 X 11.2

135.2 X 67.5 X 9.9

125.5 x 64.5 x 10.7

137 x 68.8 x 10.8

135.2 X 67.5 X 9.6

143 X 74.2 X 9.6

118.5 X 62.3 X 9.3

Weight (grams)

117

108

125

115

127

114

Talktime/Standby (hours)

4/NA

3.5/NA

4.5/NA

4/NA

3.5/NA

NA/NA

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

NA/4.0

NA/4.63

NA/4.0

NA/4.63

NA/4.5

NA/5.0

16million/4.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

512/NA

512MB/NA

4GB/NA

4GB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

2.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+CDMA Dual Band/GSM+CDMA Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Anroid OS v2.3

Android OS v2.3

Android OS v4.0

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.1

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

4,290

5,590

5,490

7,990

8,590

9,590

13,000

SMARTPHONE

MODELS

SMARTPHONE

HTC

PARAMETERS Model

Desire 501

NEW

Desire 500

Dimension (mm)

128.5 × 66.9 × 9.8mm

131.8 x 66.9 x 9.9

Weight (grams)

130

123

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Desire 601

NEW

134.5 x 66.7 x 9.88 132.35 x 66.2 x 10.12 130

130

Desire 600

Desire 700

NEW

One Mini

134.8 x 67 x 9.26

145.5 x 72 x 10.3

132 x 63.2 x 9.25

130

150

122

NA/NN

12.1/435

12.8/440

NA/NA

11.4/539

8/338

13.27/692

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.3

16million/4.5

16million/ 4.3

16million/4.5

16million/5.0

16million/4.3

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

8GB/32GB

4GB/64GB

8GB/64GB

16GB/No

8GB/64GB

16GB/No

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

4.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY

Tri Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Tri Band/GSM+GSM Yes/Yes/HSPA

Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

Yes/Yes/HSPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Windows Phone 8

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

20,000

22,500

23,000

28,000

32,000

Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Quad Band/No

16,500

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

MARCH 2014 MYMOBILE 85

myguide SMARTPHONE

MODELS

SMARTPHONE

HTC

PARAMETERS

IDEA One Max

Aurus III

Aurus IV

Whiz

Butterfly

Butterfly S

One DS

Dimension (mm)

143 x 70.5 x 9.08

144.5 x 70.5 x 10.6

137.4 x 68.2 x 10.4

164.5 x 82.5 x 10.29

Weight (grams)

140

160

143

217

Model

NEW

NA/NA

25/659

27/500

25/585

7/350

7.5/400

8.5/NA

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/5.0

16.7million/4.7

16million/5.9

16million/4.0

16million/4.5

262,144/4.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

16GB/32GB

32GB/No

16GB/64GB

4GB/32GB

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

4.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Quad Band/No

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Yes/Yes/HSDPA, HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA, HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA, HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA+

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Android OS v4.3

Android OS v4.1

Android v4.0

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.1

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

36,000

46,000

48,000

52,000

7,790

8,999

7,800

SMARTPHONE

MODELS

SMARTPHONE

PARAMETERS Model

JOSH

IDEA Petal

Fortune

Fortune 9

Fortune HD

Thunder

A10

Dimension (mm)

118 x 62 x 10

118 x 62 x 13

119 x 65 x 12

151.1x80.5x9.9

160x82.5x9.7

Weight (grams)

170

220

165

200

188

16/700

Apr-48

May-48

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Ultra

KARBONN

NEW

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/5.0

262,144/3.5

16million/4.0

16,million/5.3

16million/5.7

262,144/3.9

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

4GB/32GB

140MB/32GB

170MB/32GB

512MB/32GB

2GB/32GB

512MB/32GB

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

8.0MP/No/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

3.2MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/No

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Frequency/Dual SIM

Tri Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual SIM/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSDPA+

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes/No

Operating System

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v2.3

Android OS v4.0

Android OS v4.1

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

12,500

4,100

4,999

6,199

12,499

15,999

6,000

Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

86 MYMOBILE MARCH 2014

myguide SMARTPHONE

MODELS

SMARTPHONE

KARBONN

PARAMETERS Model

LAVA

A25

S1 Titanium

A30

A27 +

S5+ Titanium

S7 Titanium

Dimension (mm)

146 x 78.6 x 10.5

134.6 x 66 x 9.25

166 x 91 x 10.7

133.6x66x9.1

143.5 x 72 x 9.3

116.9 x 62.5 x 12.6

Weight (grams)

150

280

126.5

112

Talktime/Standby (hours)

356 3G

NEW

6/300

4/200

10/600

4/180

NA/NA

4/200

5/200

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/5.0

16million/4.5

262,144/5.9

NA/4.2

16million/5.0

16million/3.5

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

114MB/32GB

4GB/32GB

1.4GB/32GB

16GB/32GB

512MB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

1.3MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/Yes

Android OS v4.0

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.0

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

6,780

7,900

8,000

8,800

11,000

15,500

3,900

SMARTPHONE

MODELS

SMARTPHONE

LAVA

PARAMETERS Model Dimension (mm)

402+

NEW

Iris 455

NEW

Irish 506Q

NEW

Irish Pro 30

NEW

A516

NEW

A850

NEW

S890

NEW

143 x 73 x 8.9

138 x 66.7 x 7.5

124

120

114

148

184

176

4/200

8/NA

5.3/230

4.5/400

23/696

28.6/490

17/312

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.0

16million/4.5

16million/5.0

16.7million/4.7

16million/4.5

16million/5.5

16million/5.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

512MB/32GB

4GB/32GB

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

3.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Weight (grams) Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

125.50 x 64.50 x 11.40 137.1 x 68.5 x 9.92

LENOVO 132 x 66.7 x 9.9

79.3 x 9.45 x 153.5

143.6 x 74.2 x 9.3

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Trai Band/GSM+GSM Tri Band/Dual SIM

Tri Band/Dual Band

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes/HSPA

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes/HSPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

NRE

5,800

7,200

8,800

15,000

9,500

13,850

15,000

MARCH 2014 MYMOBILE 87

myguide SMARTPHONE

MODELS

SMARTPHONE

LENOVO

PARAMETERS Model

S820

NEW

S920

LG Vibe X S960

NEW

Optimus L3 II Single

Optimus L3II Dual

Optimus L4 II Dual E445

Optimus L5 II E450

Dimension (mm)

139.5 x 69.7 x 8.95

154 x 77.7 x 7.9

144 x 74 x 6.9 mm

102.6 x 61.1 x 11.9

102.9 x 61.3 x 11.9

112.8 x 64.7 x 11.9

117.5 x 62.2 x 9.2

Weight (grams)

143

159

121

125

110

125

103

22/140

25/480

16/288

8/480

16/730

NA/NA

10/642

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.7

16million/5.3

16million/5.0

262,144/3.2

16million/3.8

16million/4.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

8GB/32GB

4GB/16GB

16GB/No

4GB/32GB

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

12.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

3.0MP/No/Yes

3.15MP/No/Yes

3.15MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Frequency/Dual SIM

Tri Band/GSM+GSM Tri-Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.1

Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Android OS v4.2

Quad Band/No

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

15,500

17,500

24,500

5,700

5,900

7,100

8,800

SMARTPHONE

MODELS

SMARTPHONE

PARAMETERS Model

Optimus L5 II Dual

Optimus L7 II

Optimus L7II Dual

Optimus L9 P765

G Pro Lite Dual D686

Nexus 4

Optimus G

Dimension (mm)

117.5 x 62.2 x 9.2

121.5 x 66.6 x 9.7

122.2 x 66.6 x 9.7

131.9 x 68.2 x 9.1

150.2 x 76.9 x 9.48

133.9 x 68.7 x 9.1

131.9 x 68.9 x 8.5

Weight (grams)

103

118

115.5

125

161

139

145

10/642

12/800

12/830

14.5/845

15/390

15/335

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.0

16million/4.3

16 million/4.3

16 million/4.7

16million/5.5

16million/4.7

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

4GB/32GB

8GB/32GB

16GB/No

32GB/No

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Operating System

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.0

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.1

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes / Yes

Bar/Yes/No

9,000

12,000

12,200

15,500

18,000

23,500

26,000

Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

88 MYMOBILE MARCH 2014

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

myguide SMARTPHONE

MODELS

SMARTPHONE

PARAMETERS Model

MAXX

Optimus G Pro

Nexus 5 16GB/32GB

G2 16GB/32GB

AX353

AX8 Race

AX505

Dimension (mm)

150.2 x 76.1 x 9.4

137.9 x 69.2 x 8.6

138.5 x 70.9 x 8.9

160.5 x 81.6 x 7.9

118.80 x 63 x 11.90

147 x 79.4 x 10.2

141.5 x 73.7 x 9.3

Weight (grams)

170

130

143

177

198

161

Talktime/Standby (hours)

G Flex

NEW

31/598

17/300

NA/NA

15/720

4/NA

5/NA

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/5.5

16million/4.95

16million/5.2

16million/6.0

262,144/3.5

262,144/5.0

16million/5.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

16GB/64GB

16GB/No

32GB/No

512MB/32GB

4GB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

YesYes

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

2.0MP/Yes/VGA

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

3.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Sahred

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

Qual Band/No

Quad Band/No

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes/No

Operating System

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.4

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v2.3

Android OS v4.0

Android OS v4.2

Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/Yes

29,500

29,990/34,000

34,000/37,000

60,000

2,970

6,250

6,500

SMARTPHONE

MODELS

SMARTPHONE

MAXX

PARAMETERS Model

AX 504

Dimension (mm)

145 x 74 x 9.1

Weight (grams)

162

MICROMAX A63

A74

Canvas 3D

Canvas 2.2

Canvas A110Q2 Plus

145.2 x 80 x 10.2

124.5 x 65.7 x 11.3

133 x 67 x 10.1

147 x 76.5 x 9.7

164

147

164

5/NA

4/135

5/155

4/225

7/290

6/280

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/5.0

16million/4.0

16milllion/4.5

16million/5.0

16 million/5.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

512MB/32GB

4GB/32GB

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

2.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

NEW

AX 506

NEW

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM + GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Android OS v2.3

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

7,777

5,500

7,500

8,500

11,000

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA

MARCH 2014 MYMOBILE 89

myguide SMARTPHONE

MODELS

SMARTPHONE

MICROMAX

PARAMETERS

SAMSUNG

Canvas Doodle 2

Canvas HD

Canvas 4

Turbo

Dimension (mm)

147x77x9.9

144 x 74 x 10.7

128.3 x 71 x 8.6

Weight (grams)

156

Model

Galaxy Star Pro

Galaxy Trend

Galaxy S duos 2

121.2 x 62.7 x 10.6 121.50 x 63.10 x 10.85 121.5 x 63.1 x 10.6 121

118

6/220

5/174

7/105

15/370

8/-

8/280

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/5.3

16million/5.0

16million/4.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

4GB/32GB

16GB/32GB

16GB/No

4GB/32GB

NA/64GB

4GB/64GB

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

3.0MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/No

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Frequency/Dual SIM

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

14,000

12,000

17,200

19,000

6,400

7,500

10,500

SMARTPHONE

MODELS

SMARTPHONE

SAMSUNG

PARAMETERS Model Dimension (mm)

Galaxy Core

Galaxy Quattro

129.30 x 67.60 x 8.95 133.30 x 70.70 x 9.65

Galaxy Grand

Galaxy S4 mini

Galaxy Mega 5.8

Galaxy Grand 2

NEW

Galaxy SIII

143.5 x 76.8 x 9.6

124.60 x 61.30 x 8.94

162.6 x 82.4 x 8.9

146.80 x 75.30 x 8.95

136.6 x 70.6 x 8.6

124

143.9

161

108

184

163

133

9/500

11/210

10.1/440

12/NA

NA/NA

17/370

22.5/830

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.3

16million/4.7

16million/5.0

16million/4.3

16million/5.8

16million/5.25

16million/4.8

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

8GB/64GB

8GB/32GB

8GB/64GB

16GB/64GB

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Weight (grams) Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Quad Band/No

Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.3

Android OS v4.0

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

12,700

15,000

17,300

22,000

22,300

22,500

23,500

90 MYMOBILE MARCH 2014

myguide SMARTPHONE

MODELS

SMARTPHONE

SAMSUNG

PARAMETERS Model

SONY

Galaxy Note II N7100

Galaxy Mega 6.3

Galaxy S4 Zoom

Galaxy S4

Galaxy Note 3

Galaxy Golden

Xperia M

Dimension (mm)

151.1 x 80.5 x 9.4

167.6 x 88 x 8

125.5 x 63.5 x 15.4

136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9

151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3

118 x 59.5 x 15.8

124 x 62 x 9.3

Weight (grams)

183

199

208

130

168

179

115

Talktime/Standby (hours)

35/980

17/420

13/2330

17/370

20/490

NA/NA

10.16/498

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16 million/5.5

16,million/6.3

16million/4.3

16million/5.0

16million/5.7

16million/3.7

16million/4.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

16GB/64GB

8GB/64GB

16GB/64GB

32GB/64GB

16GB/64GB

4GB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

16.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Sahred

Shared

Quad Band/No

Quad Band/NA

Quad Band/No

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Quad Band/No Yes/Yes/HSPA+ Android OS v4.3

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.1

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Clamshell/Yes/No

Bar/Yes/No

28,000

28,500

29,500

34,000

44,000

49,000

12,500

SMARTPHONE

MODELS

SMARTPHONE

SONY

PARAMETERS Model

Xperia M Dual

Xperia L

Xperia C

Xperia SP

Xperia ZR

Xperia ZL

Xperia Z

Dimension (mm)

124 x 62 x 9.3

28.7 x 65 x 9.7

141.5 x 74.15 x 8.88

130.6 x 67.1 x 9.98

131.3 x 67.3 x 10.5

131.6 x 69.3 x 9.8

139 x 71 x 7.9

Weight (grams)

115

137

153

155

138

151

146

10.16/498

8.4/498

14.1/588

18/734

11/470

10/500

11/550

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.0

16million/4.3

16million/5.0

16million/4.6

16 million/5.0

16million/5.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

4GB/32GB

8GB/32GB

4GB/32GB

8GB/32GB

16GB/64GB

16GB/32GB

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.1MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.1MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

Tri Band/GSM+GSM

Quad Band/No

Quad band/No

Quad Band/No

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.1

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

13,500

15,400

19,000

21,000

25,200

25,500

31,000

MARCH 2014 MYMOBILE 91

myguide SMARTPHONE

MODELS

SMARTPHONE

SONY

PARAMETERS Model Dimension (mm) Weight (grams)

SPICE

Xperia Z 1

Xperia Z Ultra

Mi 351

Mi 353

Mi 435

Stellar Virtuoso Mi 496

Coolpad MI-515

144.4 x 73.9 x 8.5

179 x 92 x 6.5

115.3x62x11.8

124.1 x 63.7 x 13.6

140 x 73 x 9.9

169

212

135

161

14/880

11/550

3/216

3.5/150

NA/NA

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/5.0

16million/5.4

262,144/3.5

16 million/4.4

16million/4.5

16million/5.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

16GB/64GB

512MB/16GB

NA/16GB

4GB/32GB

NA/32GB

4GB/32GB

Yes/Yes

20.7MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

3.0MP/Yes/Yes

3.15MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

Shared

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Camera/Flash/Video Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Tri Band/GSM+GSM

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v2.3

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.0

Android OS v4.1

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

37,000

40,000

3,877

4,211

5,800

6,500

7,800

SMARTPHONE

MODELS

SMARTPHONE

PARAMETERS Model

SPICE

WHAM

Stellar Virtuoso Mi 495

Stellar Virtuoso Mi 530

WG50

WT72

WQ45

WS50

W1 WIRY

Dimension (mm)

152 x 79 x 10.3

110 X 57 X 10.1

188.4 X 108 X 9

132 X 66 X 9.9

147 X 73.5 X 9.8

120 x 60 x 5.8

Weight (grams)

196.3

190

270

150

130

120

Talktime/Standby (hours)

4.1/696

5/200

6/240

4/280

10/280

6/240

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.5

16million/5.3

16million/5

16million/7.0

16/milliom/4.5

16million/5.0

16million/4.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

NA/32GB

16GB/32GB

512MB/32GB

4GB/32GB

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

2.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Dual Band/NA

Quad Band/No

Dual Band/NA

Quad Band/NA

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes//Yes

Yes/Yes/Yes

Android OS v2.3

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Android OS v4.0

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Bar/Yes/No

10,499

13,999

6,147

10,567

11,432

12,628

12,990

92 MYMOBILE MARCH 2014

myguide SMARTPHONE

MODELS

SMARTPHONE

XOLO

PARAMETERS Model Dimension (mm) Weight (grams)

A500S IPS

A600

Q1000 Opus

Q900

Q800

Q1000

Q2000

125 x 63.2 x 9

136 x 67 x 9

143.3 x 72.9 x 9

137 x 70 x 9.9

135.5 x 67 x 9.6

143.5 x 70.8 x 8.8

156 x 77.8 x 9.8

120

138

143.5

180

10/492

22/650

18/700

13/384

16/360

14/350

17/520

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.0

16million/4.5

16million/5.0

16million/4.7

16million/4.5

16.7million/5.0

16million/5.5

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

4GB/32GB

8GB/32GB

Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

Shared

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi Camera/Flash/Video Phonebook Capacity Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Dual Band/GSM+GSM Dual Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Shared

Quad Band/No

Dual Band/No

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Yes/Yes/HSDP+

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

Android OS v4.2

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v4.2

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

11,500

12,800

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

6,800

7,000

9,000

10,000

CDMA PHONE

MODELS

SMARTPHONE

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

XOLO

PARAMETERS Model

CDMA

X1000

Q1000s

Q3000

Samsung B229

MTS Striker C121

MTS Striker C131

MTS Striker C132

Dimension (mm)

147 x 72.1 x 7

164.8 x 81.6 x 8.9

108 x 44.38 x 14.20

106.8×44.7×13.15

108.5 × 46.7 × 12.15

115.5 × 47 × 13.5

Weight (grams)

158

65.5

68.2

Talktime/Standby (hours)

9.5/336

22/327

33/667

6.5/720

33/360

16/240

17.9/360

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/4.7

16million/5.0

16million/5.7

65,536/1.5

65,536/1.44

65,536/1.77

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

8GB/32GB

16GB/No

16GB/32GB

450KB/No

1.29MB/No

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

No/No

Camera/Flash/Video

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

13.0MP/Yes/Yes

No/No/No

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

1,000

500

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Quad Band/No

Dual Band/No

Quad Band/GSM+GSM

CDMA/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSPA+

No/No/No

Yes/Yes/No

Android OS v4.0

Android OS v4.2

BREW

Brew 3.1.5

Yes/Yes

No/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/No

13,800

14,000

18,500

1,100

1,500

1,550

1,650

MARCH 2014 MYMOBILE 93

myguide CDMA PHONE

MODELS

CDMA PHONE

CDMA

PARAMETERS Model Dimension (mm) Weight (grams)

Micromax GC222

Lava ARC8c

MTS Mtag 281

Mpower TV 239

Samsung Primo Duos

MTS Duet

MTS Duet II

110 x 45 x 10

104 x 57 x 13.3

118.5 x 50 x 12.45

118.8 x 49.9 x 14.07

116.36 x 61.7 x 12.7

103

4.5/170

May-90

10/220

4.4/420

6.67/160

NA/NA

10/NA

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/1.8

65,536/2.2

262,144/2.8

262,144/2.4

242,144/3.5

262,14/4.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

59KB/4GB

NA/8GB

170MB/32GB

85MB/16GB

75MB/microSD

4GB/32GB

120MB/32GB

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

YesNo

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

VGS/No/Yes

VGA/No/Yes

3.0MP/No/Yes

1.3MP/No/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

3.0MP/No/Yes

3.2MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

300

100

Shared

2,000

Shared

Sahred

CDMA/No

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

CDMA/No

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/No/No

Brew 3.1

BREW

Yes/Yes/EVDO Rev.0 Yes/Yes/EVDO Rev.0 Android OS v2.3

BREW

Dual Band/GSM+CDMA Dual Band/GSM+CDMA Dual Band/GSM+CDMA

Yes/Yes/Yes

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/Yes

BREW

Android OS v2.3

Yes/Yes

Bar/No/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/No

Bar/Yes/No

2,289

2,699

3,199

4,400

4,999

5,199

5,648

TABLET

CDMA PHONE

MODELS

CDMA PHONE

CDMA

PARAMETERS Model

Samsung Galaxy Y CDMA

Dimension (mm)

104.0 x 58.0 x 11.5

Weight (grams)

97.5

Talktime/Standby (hours)

APPLE

Blackberry 8530

BlackBerry Curve CDMA 9350

HTC Desire XC

HTC Desire 600 C

HTC One Dual SIM

iPad Mini Wi-Fi

109 x 60 x 13.9

109 x 60 x 11

119.5x 62.3 x 9.4

134.8 x 67 x 9.26

137.4 x 68.2 x 10.4

200 x 134.7 x 7.2

105

107

130

143

308

6/120

4.5/252

NA/NA

11.4/539

27/500

NA/NA

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/3.0

65,536/NA

NA/2.44

16million/4.0

16million/4.5

16.7million/4.7

16 million/7.9

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

160MB/32GB

256MB/32GB

512MB/32GB

4GB/32GB

8GB/64GB

32GB/No

16,32,64GB/No

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

2.0MP/No/Yes

2.0MP/NA/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

4.0MP/Yes/Yes

5.0 MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

CDMA/No

Yes/Yes/Rev.A

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Android OS v2.3

BlackBerry OS

BlackBerry OS7

Android OS v4.1

Quad Band/GSM+CDMAQuad Band/CDMA+GSM Quad Band/CDMA+GSM Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Android OS v4.1

NA/No No/No/No

Android OS v4.1

iOS 7

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

No/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

7,350

12,500

17,250

20,190

27,541

54,290

21,900/27,900/33,900

94 MYMOBILE MARCH 2014

myguide TABLET

MODELS

TABLET

APPLE

PARAMETERS Model Dimension (mm) Weight (grams)

KARBONN

iPad 2 Wi-Fi

iPad Mini W-Fii+3G

i-Pad 2 Wi-Fi+3G

241.2 x 185.7 x 8.8

200 x 134.7 x 7.2

241.2 x 185.7 x 8.8

iPad(4th generation) iPad(4th generation) Wi-Fi+3G Wi-Fi

241.2 x 185.7 x 9.4

A34 TA-FONE HD

A39 TA-FONE HD

197 x 124 x 12.3

607

312

607

652

662

335

10/720

NA/NA

10/720

NA/NA

8/240

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/9.7

16 million/7.9

262,144/9.7

16 million/9.7

16million/7.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

16,32,64 GB/No

16,32,64GB/No

16,32,64 GB/No

16,32,64GB/No

4GB/32GB

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

VGA/No/Yes

5.0 MP/No/Yes

VGA/No/Yes

5.0 MP/No/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

Tri Band/GSM+GSM

Tri Band/NA

GPRS/EDGE/3G

No/No/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/Yes

iOS 7

Android OS v4.0

Android OS v4.1

Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

iOS 6

iOS 7

iOS 6

Yes/No

No/No

Yes/No

No/No

Yes/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

8,500

8,900

23,999/29,500/34,500 29,900/35,900/41,900 32,000/38,000/44,000 31,900/37,900/43,900 39,900/45,900/51,900

TABLET

MODELS

TABLET

KARBONN

PARAMETERS

LAVA

Model

A37 TA-FONE HD

Smart Cosmic

Dimension (mm)

197 x 124 x 12.3

Weight (grams)

335

Ivory Tab 702

LENOVO NEW

Yoga 8

NEW

194 X 120.5 X 10.8 213.3 x 114.78 x 7.62 360

401

SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab 3 2110 Galaxy Tab 3 3100 8.0 Galaxy Tab 3 3110 8.0 188.0 x 111.1 x 9.9

209.8 x 123.8 x 7.4

304

316

8/240

NA/NA

18/NA

20/NA

24/NA

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

262,144/7.0

16 million/9.7

16milliom/7.0

16million/8.0

16million/7.0

16million/8.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

4GB/32GB

1.5GB/32GB

4GB/32GB

16GB/32GB

8GB/64GB

16GB/64GB

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Yes/Yes

No/Yes

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

2.0MP/Yes/Yes

2.0MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

3.15MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Android OS v4.2

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Tri Band/GSM+GSM

No/No/Yes

Dual Band/GSM+GSM

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

No/No/Yes

Yes/Yes/Yes

Operating System

Android OS v4.1

Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

Android OS v4.2

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Bar/Yes/No

9,500

9,990

8,700

21,500

16,500

20,500

24,500

MARCH 2014 MYMOBILE 95

myguide LIFESTYLE

LIFESTYLE

MODELS

TABLET

PARAMETERS

SAMSUNG

SONY

SPICE

TAG HUER

Meridiist GMT Stainless Stellar Pad Mi 1010 Racer Sport Classic Steel/Black PVD

Galaxy Note10.1N800

Xperia Tablet Z

Racing Carbon

Link

Dimension (mm)

243.1 x 171.4 x 7.9

266 x 172 x 6.9

118 x 64.35 x 15.9

112 x 46 x 15.5

118 x 64.35 x 15.9

118 x 67 x 16.6

Weight (grams)

540

495

160

155

160

200

Model

30-Oct

10/890

NA/384

3/220

7/392

3/220

6.5/336

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/10.1

16million/10.0

16 million/3.5

262,144/1.9

16million/3.5

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

16,32,64/64GB

16GB/64GB

16GB/32GB

8GB/32GB

NA/NA

8GB/32GB

256MB/8GB

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Camera/Flash/Video

8.0MP/Yes/Yes

8.1/Yes/Yes

3.0MP/No/Yes

5.0MP/No/Yes

No/No/No

5.0MP/No/Yes

Phonebook Capacity

Shared

1,000

Shared

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Frequency/Dual SIM GPRS/EDGE/3G Operating System Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

Quad Band/No

NA/No

Quad Band/No

Yes/Yes/HSDPA,HSUPA

No/No/HSPA+

No/No/Yes

Yes/Yes/HSUPA

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/HSUPA

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Android OS v4.3

Android OS v4.1

Android OS v2.3

Android v2.3

Android OS v2.2

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/No

Bar/Yes/No

49,990

43,000

12,999

2,06,000

Starting 2,85,000+

3,15,000

Starting 3,40,000+

LIFESTYLE

MODELS

LIFESTYLE

TAG HUER

PARAMETERS Model

VERTU

Racer Prestige Gold Meridiist Steel & Gold

Ascent

Constellation Ayxta

Ascent Ti

Constellation Quest

Signature

Dimension (mm)

118 x 64.35 x 15.9

112 x 46 x 15.5

117 x 46 x 19

100 x 48 x 18

115.5 x 49 x 13.1

116 x 60.8 x 12.7

130 x 42 x 13

Weight (grams)

160

155

148

174

160

165 to 185

166

3/220

7/392

4.8/300

6/300

5/300

7.5/349

3.5/300

Screen (colours)/Size (inch)

16million/3.5

262,144/1.9

16million/2.0

16million/2.4

16million/2.0

16million/2.46

16million/2.0

Inbuilt/Expandable memory

8GB/32GB

NA/NA

8GB/32GB

100MB/8GB

4GB/No

8GB/32GB

4GB/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Camera/Flash/Video

5.0MP/No/Yes

No/No/No

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

3.15MP/Yes/Yes

5.0MP/Yes/Yes

No/No/No

Phonebook Capacity

1,000

2,000

1,500

Shared

2,000

Frequency/Dual SIM

Quad Band/No

GPRS/EDGE/3G

Yes/Yes/HSUPA

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/No/No

Yes/Yes/No

Yes/Yes/R99

Yes/Yes/HSDPA

Yes/Yes/R99

Operating System

Android OS v2.3

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Yes/Yes

Yes/No

Bar/Yes/No

Bar/No/No

Clamshell/No/No

Bar/No/No

Bar/No/Yes

Bar/No/No

4,55,000

Starting 5,45,000+

Starting 2,89,000+

Starting 3,47,000+

Starting 3,75,000+

Starting 3,90,000+

Starting 7,28,000+

Talktime/Standby (hours)

Bluetooth/Wi-Fi

Music Player/FM Radio Form Factor/T.Screen/QWERTY Burn test Rating

Price in Rs.

96 MYMOBILE MARCH 2014

mobile senseX

bazaar bargain Samsung Galaxy Gear

Nokia Lumia 1020 There had been gasps of surprise when the price of the Nokia Lumia 1020 was announced. Yes, it was in a league of its own - pretty much the only smartphone in the world to boast a camera with a 41.0-megapixel sensor. However, not too many were convinced that it justified a DSLR-like price tag. Well, at Rs 39,000, the Lumia 1020 continues to be in DSLR-price territory but thanks to a few software updates and the emergence of even more expensive devices, does not quite seem as expensive a proposition as it was at its launch. It features Windows Phone 8 at its best, comes with all the connectivity options you would want, allied with Nokiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s music, video and navigation goodies, and most important of all, takes photographs that are unlikely to be matched not only by other smartphones, but also by many point and shoot cameras. Good value for money for those wanting the best camera phone of them all. n

Launched at: Rs 22,990 Current Price: Rs 15,290 Price fall: 33.49 per cent It is rare to see the price of a device dip by almost a third in three months. But those interested in wearable tech gadgets will not be complaining one bit. Launched at Rs 22,990, the Galaxy Gear took a lot of criticism for its high price tag and the fact that it was compatible with a handful of devices. However, both criticisms have been addressed to an extent by Samsung. The Gear is now compatible with many more devices, and at its current price, is only slightly more expensive than the competition. Factor in the fact that among all the smart watches in the Indian market, the Gear is the only one that lets you take and make calls and take photographs, and at that price looks like one awesome deal. Just make sure your device is compatible. n

98 MYMOBILE march 2014

Launched at: Rs 49,999 Current Price: Rs 39,000 Price fall: 21.99 per cent

RNI REG NO./DELENG/2005/15033 DL (ND) - 11/6100/2012-13-14 (Posting Date 19-20 of every month)