Weekly News Letter

MOBILE INDEX
1. Will iPhone nano be a hit in India?
New Technology

2.Lava brings touchscreen handset for Rs 5,999

Launch

3.HTC Rhyme listed at Rs 24,800 for India 4. Airtel, Aircel to bring iPhone 4S soon

Launch

Future Tech

Survey 5. Top 5 phones under Rs 6,000: Nov-Dec15th November 2011) 2nd weekly newsletter (8th -

Beetel Weekly Newsletter

New Technology

6 Nokia Champagne with Windows Phone Tango 7. The Mobile Indian survey
Survey

1. Will iPhone nano be a hit in India?

If the

latest iPhone version comes to India in the price range of Rs 25,000-Rs 28,000, it might attract a lot of takers.

Apple iPhone has been an iconic product all across the globe, but it has not been able to generate a similar mass appeal in India. However, several smartphones by Nokia, HTC, Samsung, which run Android or Symbian OS are a major hit here. One of the major reasons why iPhone did not appeal to Indian consumers was its high price. The price conscious Indian

consumers were inquisitive about this touchscreen device from day one, but it was never a value driver for them. When Apple iPhone was first launched in India, there were not too many smartphones being sold. There were also apprehensions that touchscreen devices may not be able to function as well in the dusty and humid Indian weather conditions. However, the scenario has changed, and touchscreen smartphones have become highly sought after. Another major change that is fueling the growth of touchscreen smartphones is the coming of 3G, which has given a further fillip to the growth of devices that can support data. Now with all these changes, does Apple iPhone stand a chance in the Indian market. Will it be able to challenge the Galaxy S in India? Well, for now, there seem to be two challenges.

The first is the price. To most mobile phone buyers in India, Apple iPhone is still a little more expensive, and it is being bought only by avid Apple lovers and tech aficionados. The second is that unlike the Androids AppMarket, one cannot buy apps from the AppStore in Indian Rupees. Though the latter challenge does not seem to be high on Apples agenda, the first may soon become a thing of the past. There are widespread speculations that the Apple iPhone 5, the latest from iPhone range, may be smaller and even cheaper than its predecessors. This is the reason as to why the same is being referred to as the iPhone nano. So far there have been no confirmation from the company regarding this, and neither is one aware about how less the price will be for this device. But one thing is for sure! If the iPhone nano comes to India in the price range of Rs 25,000-Rs 28,000, it may be able to attract a lot of takers. Most of these new consumers will be the ones who are already in awe of the product but are not sure if it is worth spending as much on it. However, June is not too far away and we will be able to get all official details by then.

http://www.mymobile.co.in/index.php/articles/466-will-iphone-nano-be-a-hit-in-india

2.Lava brings touchscreen handset for Rs 5,999

Termed as a music phone, the new Lava M70 comes with 5 MP camera, a 3.2 inch full-touch screen, and has loads of other features

Lava Mobiles has launched a new touchscreen phone with loads of feature for Rs 5,999. The new Lava M70 comes with a 3.2 resistive high brightness IPS touchscreen. While the operating system is Java based it comes with a 3D user interface. M70 boasts a 5 megapixel camera with dual LED flash. It has 'Smile' and 'Blink' detection options also. So when you smile and the face is in the perfect location, the phone will take the photo automatically. The same goes for Blink detection. You can also record videos. For the best music experience, Lava has fitted dual speakers with metallic diaphragm with M70 and the handset has also 16 music customizing options for best experience. Besides, there is Gravity Sensor (G-Sensor), chat style messaging, preinstalled social networking (Facebook, Opera mini and ngpay), and instant messaging (Skype, Yahoo and MSN). The privacy protection feature in M70 allows users to lock the phone book, call logs, messages. Users can also use the phone as a webcam and a modem.

3.HTC Rhyme listed at Rs 24,800 for India

HTC Rhyme comes with a 3.7 inch display showing the new HTC Sense 3.5 UI and houses a 1 GHz Qualcomm mobile processor to power the Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread

Upcoming HTC Rhyme smartphone has been listed for Rs 24,800 at the Indian online retailers - Letsbuy and Flipkart. This new HTC Rhyme handset comes with the latest version of HTC Sense 3.5 user interface and runs Android 2.3.4 Gingerbread operating system. Featuring a 3.7 inch modest display, HTC Rhyme handset packs a 1 GHz mobile processor and has a 5 megapixel camera at the back. The exact data of availability has not been specified but we can expect the device to show in market by next couple of weeks. The new HTC Rhyme has aluminum unibody chassis and flaunts a 3.7 inch Super LCD display with WVGA 480x800 pixel resolution. This is the first HTC smartphone to feature the new version HTC Sense UI3.5 which is quite an improvement over the previous version of the proprietary user experience. To power this, HTC has used a single core 1 GHz Qualcomm Scorpion family processor with 768 MB memory. With quad-band GSM networks support, the HTC Rhyme will offer download speeds of up to 14.4 Mbps on the tri-band 3G networks in India. Else users can always make the best of WiFi (802.11 b/g/n) for wireless connectivity and use Bluetooth 3.0 for with FTP/OPP for faster file transfers.

I maging enthusiasts can exploit the 5 megapixel image sensor loaded camera with auto-focus and LED Flash at the back. The camera comes with f/2.2 lens and capable of recording 720p HD videos. The smartphone also has a VGA camera located in the front for video calling and video chat. Other features of this Android smartphone includes ambient light sensor, G-sensor, Digital compass and proximity sensor and internal GPS for location based services. HTC has packed a 1600 mAh battery that promises longer run time of the smartphone. Though Rs 24,800 may not be the official price, it is quite steep compared to the other models offering similar features such as Sony Ericsson Xperia Neo V which costs Rs 17,990 approximately.

4. Airtel, Aircel to bring iPhone 4S soon

Aircel has confirmed the date and Airtel is also likely to launch the smartphone on the same date.
Apple iPhone 4S is set to come to India on 25th of this month. Both Airtel and Aircel have earlier confirmed bringing the latest iPhone couple of days back. "We are likely to launch iPhone 4S in India on November 25. Tariff plans will be announced later," Aircel spokesperson . Both the operators are likely to offer attractive money back tariff plans for the iPhone buyers. Both the operators are currently offering iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4 with up to 100 per cent money back offers through discounted tariff
plans.

Difference between iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S.

The iPhone 4S comes with the new Siri voice-activated personal assistant, A5 processor, CMDA+GSMchip, 1080p video capability, faster download speeds, improved graphics, improved camera and an intelligent switching antenna. The iPhone 4S also has a new operating system - iOS 5, as well but that will be available for older iPhones as well. In terms of design, iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S look identical as both have Glass Sandwich design. The letter S in the name iPhone 4S probably stands for improved 'speed'. The storage has also gone too high, up to 64 GB. The iPhone 4 storage went up to 32 GB only. The

image quality is expected to be better even in low light conditions, the video resolution would also be better. The iPhone 4S comes with an 8 megapixel camera compared to the 5 megapixel of iPhone 4. In terms of pixels, the front facing camera goes from 720 pixels to 1080 pixels though it still remains a 0.3 MP one. The iPhone 4S also has hybrid GSM/ CDMA cellular connectivity whereas the iPhone 4 had quadband GSM/CDMA cellular connectivity. Will the iPhone 4 be discontinued? Unlike iPhone 3GS, the iPhone 4 will not make sense along with the 4S. However, you never know in India after all five generation of Maruti Zen co-existed in India.

5. Top 5 phones under Rs 6,000: Nov-Dec

With a wide variety of phones available in the below Rs 6,000 category, choosing the best one becomes a problem. But don't worry, here's help
With number of manufacturers increasing, cellphone prices are going down, resulting a plethora of feature phones in sub Rs 6,000 category. Naturally, you're bound to get confused if you go out looking for a phone in this range. So here's some help. Motorola Ex 119 (Price Rs 5,500)
The Ex 119 is Motorola's first ever touch and type input based phone and it has proven very successful for the company. The phone is widely liked by people for its performance and features. The phone has a large five-row Qwerty keypad with separate keys for alphabets and numbers, which means that typing is much better than any other keypad with lesser number of keys. The display is a 2.4 inch capacitive touchscreen which is good for most things. The combination works well for people who are very active social media users and who text a lot. Besides, the phone also has a 3 megapixel camera, GPRS, EDGE, Bluetooth and USB. The phone plays videos and has a 3.5 mm audio jack for earphones. There is an FM Radio, Opera Mobile Browser and expandable memory of 32 GB. The phone is convenient to use and has all the features you would expect in this price bracket.

Nokia C3-00 (Price Rs 5,800)

The C3-00 from Nokia is one of the most popular additions to Nokia's product range after the launch of E60 and E72. The C3 came at a much lower price and offered smartphone-like functionality along with a very comfortable Qwerty keypad, making it a hit amongst the youth and business class alike. C3-00 has a 2.4 inch display that performs quite well. The phone has a 2 megapixel camera for shutter bugs. With 8 GB of expandable memory and great battery backup the Nokia C3-00 is an absolute joy to use, especially for people who email and text a lot. The phone supports up to eight email IDs, and uses high speed data networks an

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Samsung Star 2 Duos (Price Rs 5,900)

With the launch of the second generation star device, Samsung also decided that they will do something about the dual SIM fraternity as well and that was when the Samsung Star 2 Duos was born. As the name suggests, it is a dual SIM phone supporting GSM networks on both the SIM's. It has a 3.2 inch capacitive touchscreen with TouchWiz 3.0 user interface, which is similar to the original Samsung Star. This implies that widgets can be customised for the Star II with the same settings as they have in the old Samsung Star. The new device, like its predecessor, has a 3 megapixel camera without flash. What is new in Star II is WiFi 802.11 b/g/n connectivity, and greater focus on social networking. It has a widget called Social Hub that integrates the device's phone book and similar data with feeds from social networks like Facebook and Twitter. Star II also has multi-IM 2.0 which offers the flexibility to log into multiple IM accounts such as Yahoo, Google Talk, AIM, MSN and Facebook Chat through a single app.

Spice PopKorn (Price Rs 5,700)

At a time when pico or pocket projectors cost nothing less than Rs 8,000, Spice has announced its hybrid feature phone - Spice Popkorn, which has a pico projector built into it for great mobile entertainment. Popkorn M-9000 has a 6 cm VGA">QVGA screen that displays 262,000 colours. The screen is not very big, but for watching movies there's the projector. Popkorn M-9000 also features a 3.2 megapixel camera which offers decent performance for the price. The device comes loaded with accessories including a pouch, external battery, power speaker and even a tripod stand. Overall, Txt from Sony Ericsson is a delight for daily use.

Sony Ericsson Txt (Price Rs 6,000)

With a price tag of Rs 6,000, the Sony Ericsson Txt just barely makes it into our list but we are happy that it does. Txt is a basic feature device with nothing fancy to offer. What makes it a people pleaser is its simple yet practical set of features and design at a good price. Txt has a simple bar-shaped design which, according to many users, lasts longer compared to its bigger slider version Txt Pro. The design lasts because it has no moving parts and has a good quality body. As for the display the Txt features a 2.55 inch 320 x 240 pixel LCD screen. It also has a 3.15 megapixel main camera but no front facing camera. This is a good configuration for a feature phone. The camera performs decently although it misses flash and automatic focus.

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6. Nokia Champagne with Windows Phone Tango

Windows Phone app reveals a Nokia handset codenamed Champagne running Windows Phone Tango update.
Nokia, which has adopted Microsoft Windows Phone for its smartphone portfolio some time back, is reportedly set to come out with another handset with the operating system. WPCentral spotted a Windows Phone 7.1 Tango build running Nokia handset codenamed Champagne in its "I'm a WP7!" app. This Nokia Champagne is most likely to be an affordable version of the Windows Phone running smartphones. Nokia has recently announced the Lumia 800 and 701 handsets running Windows Phone 7.5 Mango update. Now other prototypes are being tested albeit with a different operating system build that will have to some toned down features. Nokia Champagne popped up in the list smartphones used to access the "I'm a WP!" by WPCental and the smartphone was running Windows Phone 7.10.8711 build. The Windows Phone Tango build would be meant for the affordable range of handsets. Similarly, we have toned down Android 2.2 Froyo update running affordable handsets

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7. Samsung gains ground against Nokia in India: The Mobile Indian survey
Twenty one of the 25 phones that have made it to The Mobile Indian's list of Top 25 Mobile Handsets are touchscreen phones.
Finnish handset giant Nokia, for the sixth month in a row, has been the most sought after handset brand that Indian consumers search for, as per the Handset Hotlist survey (November 2011) of The Mobile Indian. However, the Finnish handset manufacturer faces stiff competition from Samsung, in India. According to the latest Handset Hotlist survey for the month of November, Nokia leads the pack with 10 handsets out of the top 25, while Samsung closely follows with nine. Sony Ericsson and Micromax have four and two models, respectively, on the list. The Handset Hotlist, based on a survey of online preferences, is brought out by The Mobile Indian (www.themobileindian.com) every month. Sreekant Khandekar, director, The Mobile Indian, says, "Samsung has managed to gain people's attention in both the smartphone and feature phone segment. In this survey too, there are four Samsung smartphones with Android operating system, while the remaining five are feature phones with Java operating system." About Nokia, Khandekar says, "Since the Hotlist was first released, the C-series of handsets from Nokia has dominated the list, and this time around, 10 handsets of the company has made it to the list, of which six are C-series handsets which are the affordable range of handsets from Nokia's stable." Nokia C5-03, a Symbian operating system-based handset that costs Rs 8,600, was the most-searched mobile phone on The Mobile Indian, replacing Nokia-C2-03, which held the top position last month. Interestingly, C5-03 has previously occupied the top slot in May, June, July and August.Samsung Champ 3.5G, Samsung Galaxy S-Plus, Samsung Galaxy R-I9103, and Samsung Primo-S5610, have made it to the list for the first time. In this month's Hotlist, there are four handsets from Sony Ericsson, including three newcomers -- Xperia Neo V, Mix Walkman and Xperia Neo.

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Micromax was the biggest loser in the Handset Hotlist as its two handsets, Micromax A70 and X560, lost eight positions to their rivals since the last survey.

Rank Oct

Rank Sept

Change

Top 10 Indian challengers for October 2011 Brand Model Price ( in Rs.)

3G

OS

Camera

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

1 2 3 NA NA 4 NA 8 7

0 0 0 New New -2 New 0 -2 -5

Micromax Micromax Micromax Micromax Karbonn Micromax Micromax Micromax Karbonn Micromax

Micromax-A70 Micromax-X560 Micromax-X222 Micromax-Q1+ Karbonn-K-1818 Micromax-Q80 Micromax-X485 Micromax-A55-Bling2 Karbonn-A1 Micromax-VanGogh-X450

7619 3699 2500 1299 3300 4761 2699 8999 6399 3500

Yes No No No No Yes No Yes Yes No

Android Java Java Java Java Java Java Android Android Java

5 2 VGA VGA 3.2 3 1.3 3 3.2 2

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Top 10 Indian Challengers

Compared to the Handset Hotlist in which Micromax was the biggest loser, The Top 10 Indian Challengers for November has Micromax dominating the list. It has bagged eight slots while the remaining slots are occupied by Karbonn.

Rank Oct 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25

Rank Sept 2 NA 1 5 NA 6 4 14 NA NA 3 11 7 NA 10 8 12 NA NA NA 21 15 NA 18 NA

Change 1 New -2 1 New 0 -3 6 New New -8 -1 6 New -5 -8 -5 New New New 0 -7 New -6 New

Top 25 Handset Hotlist for November 2011 Brand Model Price (inRs.) Nokia Nokia-C5-03 8475 Nokia Nokia-C2-06 4903 Nokia Nokia-C2-03 4500 Samsung Samsung-Galaxy-Ace-S5830 13900 Samsung Samsung-Champ-3.5G 5000 Nokia Nokia-C6 11903 Samsung Samsung-Star-II-Duos-C6712 6000 Nokia Nokia-701 19000 Nokia Nokia-700 17200 Nokia Nokia-C2-02 3900 Micromax Micromax-A70 7619 Samsung Samsung-Galaxy-Pro-B7510 8500 Sony Ericsson Sony-Ericsson-txt-pro 7469 Samsung Samsung-Galaxy-S-Plus 22500 Nokia Nokia-X7 20749 Micromax Micromax-X560 3699 Samsung Samsung-S3850-Corby-II 5500 Samsung Samsung-Galaxy-R-I9103 27500 Sony Ericsson Sony-Ericsson-Xperia-Neo-V 17500 Sony Ericsson Sony-Ericsson-Mix-Walkman 6800 Samsung Samsung-Chat-527 5300 Nokia Nokia-C5-00 7500 Sony Ericsson Sony-Ericsson-Xperia-Neo 18000 Nokia Nokia-X2-01 3500 Samsung Samsung-Primo-S5610 6700

3G Yes No No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes No No Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No Yes

OS Symbian S40 S40 Android Java Symbian Java symbian Symbian S40 Android Android Java Android Symbian Java Java Android Android Java Java Symbian Android S40 Java

Touchscreen Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes No No

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Commenting on the Challengers list, Khandekar says, "In the Challenger list, a majority of the consumers searched for Java based feature phones -- seven of them made to the list, and their average price is Rs 3,700." Micromax A70, X560 and X222 retained their top three positions respectively, for the second month in succession. The other handsets that feature in the list are Karbonn-K-1818 and Karbonn-A1.

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Market Trends
(India and Global)
November 2011 Week 2

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Nokia, PayMate to develop NFC-technology solution for handset

Main Benefit: Pay bills by just touching NFC-technology enabled handset on a point

Secondary Benefits:

PayMate and Nokia are looking to extend this experience make Nokia NFC enabled device user to conveniently and securely check and pay for the products they wish to purchase. Customer could purchase an item by simply tapping their NFC enabled device against an NFC enabled menu or a tag on an item they wish to purchase Helps in contact-less payments by transforming the mobile phone into a digital wallet, thus eliminating the need to carry cash and credit cards

Nokia and online payment services provider PayMate has joined hands to develop a solution which allows user pay bills by just touching NFC-technology enabled handset on a point. NFC technology is being used for smartcards of metro rail in Delhi where a passenger just touches at a point to pay fare. This technology is also being for paying toll taxes where a card reader installed on toll gates automatically deducts toll charges from a moving vehicle which has toll tax token fitted in to it. "The NFC (near field communication) technology being quite popular in tech-forward countries such as South Korea and Japan, we are proud to have collaborated with Nokia on the largest deployment of NFC touch points in India," said Ajay Adiseshann, Founder and MD of PayMate.

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PayMate and Nokia are looking to extend this experience make Nokia NFC enabled device user to conveniently and securely check and pay for the products they wish to purchase.Customer could purchase an item by simply tapping their NFC enabled device against an NFC enabled menu or a tag on an item they wish to purchase. It added that NFC device could be linked via PayMate to a payment mechanism such as their bank account or a prepaid account and the customer could then authorise the payment directly on to their mobile phones. NFC thereby helps in contact-less payments by transforming the mobile phone into a digital wallet, thus eliminating the need to carry cash and credit cards. "To create awareness around this technology, we have deployed NFC chips with unique content across almost 1,000 Nokia outlets in the country. The consumer response to the 'Just Tap' with NFC feature on our smartphones has been very encouraging," Nokia India's Director Marketing Viral Oza said.

BlackBerry bullish on mobile apps development market in India

Main Thought: Mobile application development
Secondary Benefits:

RIM sees NFC powering various kinds of apps. For instance, o At workplace, NFC could transfer the credentials stored on an ID card to a BlackBerry, allowing user to ditch the card and just carry the phone. o It could also let users wirelessly exchange business cards. o Will benefit the domestic healthcare industry immensely as pharma companies will be able to get data from consumers instantly

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Research In Motion India (RIM), the maker of BlackBerry smartphones sees huge opportunities in mobile applications development in India. The Canada-headquartered RIM currently has over 55 million BlackBerry subscriber accounts, and BlackBerry AppWorld is available in over 100 markets worldwide. BlackBerry App World currently has 26,000-odd registered developers from India, against 5,000 two years ago, with the applications numbering over 40, 000. The company, in a pilot project in Tamil Nadu, is also training engineering students to help them develop applications. "We have commenced pilot project in Tamil Nadu for applications created by youths for youths. We are keen to take this project across the country," Mathew said. Over 80% of these apps are developed by partners, the rest are in-house. RIM is also working with the government's egovernance projects for health and education. RIM is launching NFC (near field communications) wireless technology in the country. "We are looking at launching the NFC application here by November-end, which will benefit the domestic healthcare industry immensely. Through NFC, pharma companies will be able to get data from consumers instantly. RIM sees NFC powering various kinds of apps. For instance, at workplace, NFC could transfer the credentials stored on an ID card to a BlackBerry, allowing user to ditch the card and just carry the phone. It could also let users wirelessly exchange business cards.

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Edualert: Software that tracks your child, identifies right career

Main Benefit: Software that acts a career counselor and tracks actions for kids notified on the mobile of parents and teachers.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It can identify the right career for your child, tell you when he's mischievously missing from the class and message you his test scores as soon as he's been handed the answer sheet. A software developed by three IT professionals promises to change the teacher, students, parents dynamics in Kerala. Called Edualert, the software has been developed by US-based Keralites Akbar Narendran and Sanjay Nair, and Rajiv Viswanath who is based here. Edualert can give suggestions to a student and his parents as to which career suits him best based on his academic performance. The modus operandi goes something like this. Details of a child's entire academic history, his interests and extracurricular activities right from the first grade is fed into the software. Through an analysis, it would reveal which is the best career option for the student. Edualert operations manager Ramakrishnan said the thinking of parents in the state for long has been that there are only two good professions - engineering and medicine. It is observed that many children for fear of earning the wrath of their parents unwillingly opt for either of the two most sought after professions. The basic version of Edualert is free for schools. Around 10 schools in the state have already given the nod to this unique product. In January, they will come again because they have got numerous enquiries from schools in some metros and Tier II cities. The software with add-ons version comes fairly cheap and it will cost 10% of the annual fee of a student. The Process of Using:

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It includes a centralised process of taking attendance which takes only a few minutes. When done, an SMS will be sent to the parents of all those students who are absent. Likewise, the moment corrected answer papers are distributed, parents will get an SMS about how their child has performed. Another interesting feature is that the moment the child enters the school bus, he will be monitored and in case there is a traffic jam, an SMS alert will go to the parents.

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Vodafone brings back the 'Common Man' to promote 123 services

Main Thought: Vodafone India positions a mobile handset as a device meant for many services, apart from calling

Rationale behind the thought

While most of us use smartphones and know the possibilities, there is a huge segment of

consumers with basic phones, who hesitate to explore other services or even data. So, even while it is relevant to them, there is a huge inertia
Telecom service provider Vodafone India, in its new campaign, promotes its voice-based services 123 by urging people to do more on their phones, besides talk and send SMSes. The campaign, which consists of 3 TVCs, also marks the return of the Common Man. Conceptualised by Ogilvy, the campaign consists of three TVCs, of which two, titled Celebrity and Recipe, are on air. The TVCs show Bollywood actor Irrfan Khan promoting 123 -- a voice-based service. Through the new campaign, the agency positions a mobile handset as a device which provides many services, rather than one which is used just to make calls. The three TVCs show the various dilemmas and issues faced by the actor, and how a mobile can help him resolve them. The campaign promotes the idea 'Kyon ki phone sirf baat karney ke liye nahi hota'. Anuradha Aggarwal, vice-president, brand communication and consumer insights, Vodafone India, says, "While most of us use smartphones and know the possibilities, there is a huge segment of consumers with basic phones, who hesitate to explore other services or even data. So, even while it is relevant to them, there is a huge inertia, with lack of awareness, cumbersome activation process, and uncertainty on costs and usage.

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The audience has recently reached a certain comfort level with talking, so this service is an effort to guide them, enable them to have fun, and explore other things they can do with their mobile value-added services (VAS). Irrfan Khan and Prakash Raj (South) have long been partners in being the face of the common man. The masses associate with them for their raw and honest take on life. Added to that is the unassuming optimism in the surrounding chaos. They echo their sentiments, agony and hope. With a simple narrative style, they explain technology more effectively for our target audience. It's all answered on Vodafone by dialling 123 dekho aapka mobile aur kya kya kar sakta hai."

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Should a hybrid smartphone-tablet be your next gadget?

Enter the 5-inch form-factor - Blurred line between a conventional smartphone and tablet. Smartphone screens usually max out at 4 inches, while tablets usually start at 7 inches and can go up to 10 inches. For some, a device with roughly a 5-inch screen hits the sweet spot.

Tablets are de rigueur in the tech world these days - everyone wants one, but not everyone likes to carry one around. Sure, they're convenient because the larger screen makes everything seem better, but what's the use if you only manage to spend limited time with the device? That's the argument behind the smaller crop of 7-inch tablets too - enhanced portability. Many 7-inchers also conveniently double up as GSM smartphones, urging you to carry just one device. But even a 7-inch device only fits in a jacket pocket.Enter the 5-inch form-factor. These devices are called hybrids because they blur the line between a conventional smartphone and tablet. Smartphone screens usually max out at 4 inches, while tablets usually start at 7 inches and can go up to 10 inches. For some, a device with roughly a 5-inch screen hits the sweet spot. More screen space to better browse the web, see images and watch videos while still being portable enough to fit into a regular pocket. This is how the devices stack up against each other, along with a little advice on what you should go for. Buy a smartphone if you only want to carry a small, do-it-all device. The road warrior who wants to travel fast and light is best served with a smartphone. Nothing can match the functionality-per-gram that a high-end smartphone offers. In terms of functionality, you could get most of your work done on a smartphone, provided you have the right mix of apps & accessories (bluetooth keyboard & battery pack for instance). Get one if you are not bothered by the limited battery life (as compared to tablets). A tablet is bought if screen size is of utmost importance.

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Tablets are conventionally better if one is going to read a lot of magazines and books or watch a lot of movies. Other than that, most of the basic functionality (email, web, music playback) can be replicated on the smartphone.

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Nokia bets on Lumia to regain market share in smartphone segment

The company's "first real Windows phone"
Objective of the new Smartphone launch The new OS, the Nokia apps and the Lumia design will help lure customers away from Google's Android and Apple's iOS5 TG Youngsters who are in their first jobs, are tech savvy and are, therefore, aware of the benefits of the phone

All Nokia India employees will be out, assisting retailers across the country in showcasing the twin Lumia smartphones - the 800 and the 710, priced at Rs 29,000 and Rs 19,000 - and gauging customer reactions. Nokia, along with the OS maker Microsoft, has trained about 14,000 employees on the specifics of what its CEO Stephon Elop calls the company's "first real Windows phone". The Lumia handsets use Windows' new OS 7.5, or Mango, which also runs recently-launched phones by rivals Samsung and HTC. The launch comes at a time when Nokia's market share in the smartphone segment has slipped to 32.3% in July-September 2011, compared with 65% in the year-ago period, according to Canalys data. Samsung's share during the same period has soared to 31.1% from just 5.6%. The company is confident that the new operating system, Nokia apps and the Lumia design will help lure customers away from Google's Android and Apple's iOS5.

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The Lumia will target youngsters who are in their first jobs, are tech savvy and are, therefore, aware of the benefits of the phone, said Nokia India managing director D Shivakumar. While conceding that less than 5% of customers really know about the operating systems on their handsets, Shivakumar said, "They want a good phone, a great user experience and fast internet on the device. Nokia in India is very ripe for the replacement market as consumers upgrade to handsets with more features." Analysts say Apple's lack of focus in a market that has over 600 million active customers will help Nokia push Lumia sales.

But smartphones remain a small segment in the Indian handsets market, said Romal Shetty, executive director and head-telecom at audit firm KPMG. It is the mid-end segment between Rs.3,000 and Rs.20,000 that was Nokia' strength, but it is now being squeezed by Samsung and others. Smartphone shipment is forecast to be 81.5 million out of the total mobile phone shipment of 328 million in 2015, pointed out Deepak Kumar, IDC India research director (telecommunications). Nokia accounted for 45.8% of the shipped smartphones in the Q-2 of this year. So, it would be incorrect to assume that they don't have the required mindshare (in the high-end segment).

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TABLET INDEX
1. Windows 8 to redefine tablets
New Technology

2. Sony Tablet S and P to launch by end of this month 3. Panasonic's new tablet can endure fall from 4 ft 4. HCL brings Android tablet for Rs 10k
Launch

Launch

New Technology

5. Thinnest Android Tablets Compiled in a Top 5 of Devices

Survey

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1. Windows 8 to redefine tablets

Windows 8 tablets won't be iPad killers. They will open new markets for tablets, with people using it more as utility entertainment combo.
Tablet PC's became popular with Apple's iPad. Despite its popularity, it is still seen as an entertainment on the go device rather than a serious computing one. Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8 operating system for tablets aims to change that perception. If Windows 8 delivers on its stated objective, it is likely to change that with a combination of Windows 7 utility aspects and Windows Phones communication and entertainment aspects. And in that respect it won't be competing directly with iPad. In a recent blog, Windows 8 development team said, "It is also important to know that we're 100% committed to running the software and supporting the hardware that is compatible with over 400 million Windows 7 licenses already sold and all the Windows 7 yet to be sold." This is where the difference lies, as many people are not opting for tablets as it would mean relearning everything and forgetting the expertise people have already gathered on software like Microsoft Office suit. Currently tablets based on Android or iOS are bigger versions of smartphones based on these operating systems, and even though tablet versions of the OSes are different, they are inherently the same. On the other hand, Windows 8 is the tablet version of an inherently PC OS. This means that when people start upgrading the Windows 7 to 8, they will have the opportunity to have the user experience and capabilities as that of their PC and laptop. IT teams of the enterprises will also be able to service these devices better as they will be able to carry forward their understanding of Window based PCs into the tablet. While all the operating system environments are trying to

address all the emerging device categories with smartphone, tablet, laptop and TV, the Windows 8 approach is slightly different - it is about merging the Windows Phone with Windows 7 environment.

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While attempts have already made by several device vendors to come with tablets based on Windows 7, so far they don't seem to have succeeded, and the reason seems obvious - Windows 7 is not really touch optimised. But with Windows 8 being designed ground up for touch and integration of Windows Phone's Metro style apps along with desktop apps from Windows 7, the above reason does not holds any water. Windows 8 will also allow developers to develop apps using multiple languages including in HTML5/JavaScript, C/C++, and/or C#/XAML. Thus they will not have to acquire new skills learning new languages, which will attract a lot of developers to make apps for the OS. One of the reasons for the failure of WebOS from HP was the lack of apps, therefore this is an important step in ensuring success. Nokia, Microsoft's new partner in the phone business, is also upbeat about the prospects of Windows 8 based tablets. Steven Elop, chief executive officer of Nokia, has already made a statement to this effect. However, he did not confirm whether or not Nokia will come up with a Windows 8 Tablet in the near future. Challenges The biggest challenge for Microsoft will be to ensure that Windows 8 is light. Current developer preview version is 4.8 GB in size and that's big for a tablet given that rival OS platforms are lighter. A problem with heavy file size is that it will push up the requirement in terms of storage space, thereby leading to cost escalations, which is a turn off in the highly cost sensitive device market. The other problem is that Android and iOS are pushing up the security levels and are already seeing adoption the enterprise segment especially with the devices like Cisco Cius. The newer versions of the OSes are improving their features to lure the enterprises, with new application and integration with the existing enterprise softwares. Also cloud based applications like the Google Doc are fast replacing the need for having native desktop applications. And even the enterprises as well as individuals are growing comfortable with new concept. These factors could mean that market has already shifted to the next level when Windows 8 finally arrives, meaning that it would have to play a catch up game or atleast face a lot of competition from already entrenched OS environments (the tablet category).

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2. Sony Tablet S and P to launch by end of this month

Sony's dual Tablet S and P house a dual-core Nvidia Tegra 2 mobile processor and promise smoother user experience.
Sony is set to launch its much awaited tablets S1 and S2, in India by the end of this month. Details of the same were shared throughTwitter social network by a sales manager (South East Asia) of Sony Computer Entertainment India. S1 will be branded as Sony S and the S2 will be branded as Sony P. There were no details shared about the prices but we expect these tablets to be priced around Rs 34,000. Sony is expected to launch two tablets S and P with different form factors. Sony S has a 9.4 inch display supporting 1280x800 pixel resolution. Sony S appears like an open-folded magazine and houses the dualcore Nvidia Tegra 2 mobile processor coupled with 1 GB RAM. Sony has added 1 GB memory to run the Android 3.2 Honeycomb smoothly on it and inch touchscreen displays sporting 1024x480 pixel resolution. Under the clamshell, even this tablet houses a dualcore Nvidia Tegra 2 mobile processor. This tablet has a 5 megapixel camera at the back and 0.3 megapixel camera in the front. This one has quite a unique design and the interface will be customised to use both the screens appropriately. Both the tablets will feature the PlayStation Store support that will help them to download PlayStation Certified games and access other features. As of now, it is too early to mention on when and whether both the tablets will be getting the new Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update.

will offer it in 16 GB and 32 GB storage versions. The Sony Tablet P comes in a clamshell design with twin 5.5

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3. Panasonic's new tablet can endure fall from 4 ft

Panasonic has announced the launch of world's most rugged Android based tablet the Toughpad.
Panasonic has been an industry leader in rugged tablet computers since 1996 and now they have yet again made its way to the top of the rugged Android tablets with the launch of the new Toughpad. Panasonic has unveiled two Android tablets in the Toughpad family including the 10 inch Toughpad A1 and the 7 inch Toughpad B1 tab. Both the new Toughpad devices meet the durability standards of Panasonic's Toughbook PC products announced sometime back for India. The devices have MIL-STD-810G ratings for drops as well as protection ratings for resistance to dust and water. The Toughpad is also rated for use in a wide range of temperatures. This elevated level of durability delivers reliability in almost any environment, assuring maximum mobile productivity.

The devices are also capable of withstanding drops from up to 4 feet without getting damaged.

Panasonic Toughpad A1 will be based on Google's Android 3.2 (Honeycomb) operating system powered by a Marvell 1.2 GHz DualCore processor and 1 GB of low power consuming DDR2 RAM. The device will feature 16 GB of internal storage while for optional storage there is a MicroSD slot offering up to 32 GB expandable memory option. The 10.1-inch display of the device produces 500 nit brightness with XGA resolution and provides capacitive multi-touch ability. It has also got an antireflective and anti-glare treatment and a built in

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ambient light sensor. Although the device is of 10 inch, the screen will be featuring a 4:3 aspect ratio as opposed to the 16:9 aspect ratio found on similar devices.

The battery life is claimed to be of 10 hours between charges and for multimedia and video calling the Toughpad also features a 5 MP rear camera along with a 2 megapixel front camera. The Toughpad A1 also offers optional 4G (LTE or WiMAX) mobile broadband as well as Bluetooth v2.1 + EDR, 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi and GPSconnectivity.

The Toughpad A1 will be available in March 2012 starting at $1299 which is Rs 65,000 approximately. The Toughpad B1 will be released later in 2012, with more details coming closer to availability. Both devices will be available for purchased through authorized Panasonic resellers only.

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4. HCL brings Android tablet for Rs 10k

HCL has on Thursday unveiled its new ME tablet the X1, with Android operating system. "We are excited to launch our new tablet- the X1, specially designed to cater to the demands of Indian customers. The X1 ME tablet promises to bring great value by redefining on-the-go user experience with its innovative design, display and technology," said Harsh Chitale, chief executive officer, HCL Infosystems. Priced at Rs 10,490, the tablet comes with Android OS 2.3, and Cortex A8 1Ghz processor. The X1 offers a 7 inch capacitive touchscreen with 800x480 pixel resolution. The tablet comes with a 2 megapixel back camera and 512 MB storage capacity with and internal memory of 4 GB which is expandable to 32 GB. ME X1 tablet has a 3500 mAH battery and comes with option of data connectivity through USB dongles. Also, there will be Flash support through Adobe 10.3. HCL ME X1 will be power-packed with Indian content, said the company in a release. It will be integrated with HCL Touch, a 24x7 one touch service facility. X1 users will have the option to make use of the featured applications like

booking discounted tickets on Cleartrip.com. Another app from Hungama offers discounted

However, it do not have access to all the Android apps and do not have a front facing camera

music downloads. Book lovers can avail of sizeable discounts on books through the Wink ebookstore app. X1 will also come with "ME Connect" feature which facilitates transfer of content to the tablet from any another computing device. Naukri.com and Linkedin are two other useful apps in the tablet. There are a host of other application to access a complete office suite, Fring video chat, Moneycontrol.com, ESPNcricinfo.com and Zomato local restaurant search. However, only selected apps of Android Market are available and users cannot access the Android store through the tablet. The tablet will be available in stores in Delhi and across the country from 13 th October.

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5 . Thinnest Android Tablets Compiled in a Top 5 of Devices

If youre wondering which are the thinnest tablets on the market are right now, the answer comes from the Android segment, of course.
1. Toshiba AT200
This is an ultra thin slate with a 10.1 inch display and it was dubbed the world thinnest tablet when it was announced by Toshiba. With a waistline of a mere 7.7mm, this Android 3.2 model is the equal of other slates in this collection of devices. It comes with a 1.2GHz TI OMAP 4430 processor, 1GB of RAM and 64GB of internal memory, plus a LCD display with a 1280 x 800 pixel resolution. Expect it t reach the shops in January next year and maybe even get the Android 4.0 update.

2. ASUS Transformer Prime

This device has been talked about a lot over the past week, since it has just been announced and it comes with a quad core processor. This First Tegra 3 tablet measures 8.3mm, weighs 586 grams and it will be one of the first slates to get Android 4.0 through upgrade. We expect it in stores either in December or early next year. Its specs include the quad core Nvidia 1.3GHz processor, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of internal memory, a microHDMI port and a 10.1 inch display.

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3. Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Its been a while since the controversial Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 launched, but its still considered the best Android tablet on the market. Measuring 10.9mm, this is seen as a major iPad 2 rival, since it works flawlessly and its dual core 1GHz processor performs pretty well, together with 1GB of RAM and Android 3.2. After some bans in Europe and Australia, this supposed iPad copycat is having some image problems, but the performance remains.

4. Eking T9
This is a name that I admit I havent heard before, but maybe I should have, since this device made the top 5 of thinnest tablets Were dealing here with a Chinese device that comes from Shenzhen Guangxuntong Communication Technology, a product that doesnt even have its dimensions revealed yet. Some people say its the thinnest tablet ever and its specs are not at all bad: 1.4GHz Intel Z670 processor, 2GB of memory and a 9.7 inch IPS display. This model is supposed to run on 5 operating systems, including Android, Windows 7, Win 8, MeeGo and Ubuntu. Amazing?

5. Toshiba Regza AT700 Yet another Toshiba entry in the top, this time with a 7.7mm device that was unveiled at CEATEC 2011. This model weighs 558 grams and its still expected in shops worldwide. It runs Android Honeycomb and packs a 10.1 inch display, a 1.2GHz dual core processor, 1GB of RAM, 32GB of memory and a 5 megapixel camera at the back.

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IT INDEX
1 Computer market registers 13% growth 2 LG may be looking to switch on Google TV 3 3 .Media presence
Survey

New Technology

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1. Computer market registers 13% growth

According to the latest report by research agency Gartner, nearly 3.15 million computers, including laptops, were shipped in the third quarter of 2011.

The research firm said that it makes this quarter best ever in terms of computer sales in India. The sales figures amount to a 13% increase over the corresponding figures in the third quarter of 2010. "This growth was primarily driven by the mobile PC (laptop) market which grew 29% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2011," said Vishal Tripathi, principal research analyst at Gartner. "A number of festivals helped drive demand in the consumer market in India.

"The consumer segment accounted for 55% of PC shipments," he added.

Gartner said that all the major multinational PC vendors experienced double-digit growth in PC shipments in the third quarter of 2011. Multinational brands contributed more than half of the total PC shipments in the third quarter of 2011 with shipments from Acer, Dell, HP and Lenovo - the top four vendors - representing 51.1% of the market. Local vendor HCL accounted for 5.6 % of PC shipments in the third quarter of 2011. Dell was the market leader with 15% share.

Devices like iPad and Android tablets are also hitting sales of computers as many people, especially in developed countries, are choosing them instead of buying or upgrading their lapto

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2. LG may be looking to switch on Google TV

Logitech jumped off the Google TV train earlier this week, but now it looks like another consumer-electronics maker, LG, may be hopping on. Citing unnamed sources, Bloomberg Businessweek reports that Seoul, South Korea-based LG plans to unveil a television based on Google software at CES in January. LG is the world's second-largest manufacturer of TV sets. But the report, if true, could signal welcome good news for Google TV. In the past two weeks, the Google product has not only been dismissed by Logitech, but also dogged by reviewers, including CNET's Matthew Moskovciak, who said a recently released major update aimed at simplifying the user interface is frustratingly unready for prime time. Samsung and Vizio are said to be working on Google TV-based devices, as well. Google TV, which lets users view Web sites and Internet video on their home TVs, launched last year with Sony, Dish Network, and Logitech. The product, of course, has one less partner as of this week as Logitech said it will let existing inventory of its Revue with Google TV set-top box run out this quarter and won't make another set-top box in its place.

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MEDIA PRESENCE

Logitech

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