BenQ Offers Free DTH Connection With LCD Monitor TV

via BenQ Offers Free DTH Connection With LCD Monitor TV on http://www.efytimes.com

Wednesday, June 17, 2009: BenQ has launched its 22-inch LCD monitor TV, SE2231, targeting high-density urban markets. BenQ has also announced an introductory offer of free DTH connection, installation and six months subscription with every purchase of LCD Monitor TV SE2231.

The newly launched LCD monitor TV displays all TV contents such as high definition broadcasts, blu-ray movies, camcorder videos, console games and PC applications like documents, games, Web browsing and picture viewing. The LCD monitor TV comes equipped with 10,000:1 Auto Contrast Enhancement (ACE), 5ms rapid response time and HDTV 1080p compatibility.

Ideal for all TV and PC applications, BenQ LCD monitor TV SE2231 immaculately renders native 1920 X 1080 resolutions which enhance visuals to 1080p/24Hz, while increasing PC productivity and TV entertainment.

The Auto Contrast Enhancement optimises contrast levels through automatic adjustment of the display backlight for original black levels. Such contrast accurately amplifies dark detail definition to reveal never-noticed elements in the dark visual of games or movies.

BenQ’s Senseye Human Vision Technology, which is an image enhancement engine, produces exquisite life-like clarity and vibrancy for human eye. Four Senseye preset modes (cinema, dynamic, standard and custom) offer one-touch fine-tuning for both PC and TV content. Digital sound emitting from dual 3-watt speakers can be adjusted to classic, pop, rock and jazz with preset audio modes.

Available in two stylish high-gloss colours, ebony and black, BenQ SE2231 is toned with a silver polish frame. The back side of LCD monitor TV offers a curved form in mirror black.

BenQ LCD Monitor TV SE2231 MRP (maximum retail price) with the free DTH connection offer is Rs 16,999 and is available through all BenQ dealers. This offer is valid till stocks last.

Apple’s new iPhone sells out before launch

The Hindustan Times on June 16, 2009

Apple’s latest edition of the iPhone is matching the popularity of its predecessors.

The company, and its exclusive US carrier, AT&T, said on Monday that pre-orders of the phone had sold out, and that customers could face a wait of a week or two after launch day on Friday to get their coveted gizmos.

Apple announced the launch of the faster, larger capacity and more capable iPhone 3G S June 8 and gave customers the option of pre-ordering them over the Internet. A 16-gigabyte capacity phone costs $199 with a two-year contract, while the 32GB version costs $299.

Apple and AT&T have not revealed how many pre-ordered iPhone 3G S handsets were sold, and some industry watchers think the companies will have a hard time matching the iPhone 3G’s launch, which sold more than a million units in three days when it launched last year.

Related stories at

• http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Apples-new-iPhone-sells-out-before-launch/articleshow/4660628.cms

New Smartphone from Samsung: The Jet has landed

By Vishal Mathur on www.ciol.com on June 16, 2009

Singapore: Samsung has unveiled the Jet mobile phone, which does boast of a few features never seen before in smart-phones.

At the UNPACKED 2009 event in Singapore, an evening prior to the inauguration of the CMA 2009, Samsung unveiled the handset to a group of journalists from the APAC media. The launch event was also held in Dubai and London giving it a global feel.

The tiny tower of power has the world’s first 800MHz application processor making it the fastest touchscreen based smartphone in the market. This translates into immediate application and command response. Speaking at the event, Goon Go Ha, President and CEO, Samsung Electronics, S.E.A Headquarters said, “Jet brings in unmatched speeds in a smartphone”.

Samsung has also loaded the Jet with a 3.1 inch WXGA AMOLED display which makes colors richer and consumes up to 60 percent less battery power than conventional screens. The screen is complemented by the TouchWiz 2.0 interface, which at first sight reminds of the Ultra Touch mobile, but has a lot more new features under the sheets.

The most interesting is the Smart Unlock feature, which allows you to set a command for every alphabet. When a user traces the shape of that alphabet on the screen, the phone will automatically unlock and the preset command will be launched- be it starting an application or calling a particular number.

Samsung’ new Dolfin browser promises faster browsing speeds and allows multiple downloads in the background. What will also interest the business user are the MS Exchange with Active Sync as well as Wi-Fi browsing and the share Picture widget. The GPS application in the Jet plots and saves the route beforehand and will not go blank even if GPS connectivity is lost for a while. It also has the usual features like Bluetooth, music player, FM radio, 5MP camera and us 3G ready. The memory on the Jet can be expanded up to 16GB with a MicroSD card. This phone will reach our shores by the end of June at an estimated box price of Rs 21000.

Airtel allowed to ‘unlock’ Apple’s iPhone

From www.ciol.com on June 16, 2009

MUMBAI, INDIA: According to Apple’s global support site, Bharti Airtel has been authorised to legally unlock the iconic 3G iPhone handsets in the country.

Thus enabling the Indian company to sell it to any user, not necessarily only an Airtel subscriber. The companys may also charge an additional fee for the unlocking, the website said.

This is in contrast to the existing practice of Apple in offering the iPhones — launched in two versions, 8 GB and 16 GB — bundled with the services of only two operators, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone-Essar.

In India, the 8 GB model costs around Rs 31,000, while the 16 GB is priced at Rs 36,000. Apple is also set to launch the latest version, iPhone 3GS, billed as the “fastest, most powerful iPhone yet”, on August 9.

Related stories at

• http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/airtel-allowed-to-%5Cunlock%5C-apple%5Cs-iphone/361195/

Nokia, Samsung heat up smartphone contest

16 Jun 2009, 0327 hrs IST, REUTERS on www.economictimes.com

HELSINKI/SEOUL: The world’s two largest cellphone makers, Nokia and Samsung, unveiled new phone models, offering features comparable to iPhone  and Palm’s Pre, but at lower prices.

In the last two weeks Apple’s launch of an updated version of iPhone and Palm’s Pre model have heated up competition in the sweetspot of the otherwise shrinking industry.

The cellphone market volume is expected to fall about 10 per cent this year as recession dampens consumer demand, but the market for so-called smartphone is expected to rise 10 per cent to 20 per cent, boosted by new and attractive models from many of the top vendors.

“Consumer demand for more capable devices seems to be accelerating despite the general economic doom and gloom,” said Ben Wood, a research director at CCS Insight.

“Samsung andNokia are playing smart by offering these sorts of products at punchy price points,” Wood said.

Top cellphone maker Nokia launched three new handsets on Monday, including a new touch-screen model, the 5530 Xpressmusic, which would sell for 199 euros ($280) before subsidies and taxes, starting next quarter.

Samsung unveiled on Monday its “Jet” model, which features full touch screen, a next-generation display and improved processor to deliver speedy mobile Internet access.

Samsung did not reveal the price of the phone, but analysts said it was comparable to most mid-range models.

Samsung called its new phone “smarter than a smartphone,” but noticed it could not officially be considered a smartphone because it lacked the open operating system defining the category.

“Consumers really don’t care about the software platform or operating system — they just want a capable device at a punchy price that lets them do the things they want to do whether that is listen to music, take pictures or update their status on Facebook,” CCS’s Wood said.

RAYS OF LIGHT

The cellphone industry saw its worst-ever quarter in January-to-March, with the market shrinking 14 per cent from a year ago, and Nokia reporting its first-ever quarterly pretax loss.

Several companies and analysts have said the worst could well be over for the industry as the fall was partly caused by retailers selling stockpiles of older phones, but only a few have seen any improvement in demand.

The head of sales and marketing at Samsung’s mobile unit said he was hopeful phone sales would fall 8 per cent to 9 per cent this year across the industry, slightly less than the company’s official expectation of a 10 per cent drop, as the global economy begins to recover.

“In the second half … I do not see any special surge in demand. However, there is a small sign of recovery of the general economy. Hopefully, the mobile industry also will recover some,” Lee Donjoo told Reuters in an interview.

“Currently, we’re focusing on around 10 per cent lower,” he said. “I’m expecting a little less, eventually — minus 9, minus 8, hopefully.”

Related stories at

• http://www.ciol.com/technology/news-reports/samsung-nokia-heat-up-smartphone-race/16609121014/0/

Nokia launches three new handsets

From www.ciol.com on June 15, 2009

HELSINKI, FINLAND: Top cellphone maker Nokia launched three new handsets on Monday, including a new touch-screen model.

Nokia said it would start shipping 5530 XpressMusic phone in the third quarter. The other model, E72, an updated version of its top-selling E71 business phone, will also be available late in the third quarter, while, ’3710 fold’ will be available in the fourth quarter of 2009.

According to a Nokia press release, the 5530 XpressMusic, priced at 199 euros, is a compact XpressMusic device that uses a touch interface for accessing people and content on the homescreen. The ‘scrolling’ contacts bar provides direct access to 20 people and their latest conversations and media updates. The homescreen also features one touch shortcuts to content and popular social networks, like Facebook and MySpace.

This handset follows in the footsteps of Nokia 5800 XpressMusic, said the release.

On the other hand, Nokia E72, costing 350 euros, brings a rich mobile email and instant messaging experience right out of the box, claimed Nokia. For the first time, owners will be able to set up instant messaging (IM) accounts provided by Nokia Messaging direct from the homescreen, it added.

Priced at 140 euros, Nokia 3710 fold adds a personal touch with an artistic pattern on the cover and comes with an appealing array of features in a renewed, but instantly familiar user interface, according to Nokia.

In a keynote at the opening ceremony of Nokia Connection event held in Singapore today, where the new models were unveiled, Nokia’s executive vice president and chief development officer Mary McDowell said, “Nokia envisions a world where people will be empowered to share and connect with what matters most to them through highly personalized and contextually relevant solutions.”

She said Nokia is driving this transformation both as a company and externally to build a vibrant ecosystem and deliver relevant and delightful solutions to consumers.

Related stories at

•  http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Nokia-launches-new-touch-screen-music-phone/articleshow/4657918.cms

Nokia intros phones for farmers

From www.ciol.com on June 15, 2009, source PTI

MUMBAI, INDIA: Leading mobile phone maker Nokia has launched cellphones, which will help farmers get instant information on farm prices in ‘mandis’.The company claimed that the new phone could display information in two languages and offer graphically rich user interface.

The company will be selling the devices first in Maharashtra and later to other states as also to select countries in Asia and Africa, officials said today.

The new devices costing about Rs 2,000 will also help users access education and entertainment services. Agriculture service will contain information on seeds, fertilisers, pesticides, market prices and weather.

The content will be available for Rs 30 to Rs 60 per month depending upon the information availed.

Nokia India Managing Director D Shivakumar said the company has tied up with Idea Cellular to offer the service and is talking to other mobile operators as well.

(Please see also story on Nokia Life Tools)

Handsets: Maharashtra Organised trade to feel the heat

Akhilesh Shukla on Voice&Data, June 15, 2009 Published June 16, 2009

The proposed hike of VAT to 12.5% on mobile handsets in Maharashtra could hit the organised trade in the Maharastra. Organised trade, which is already hit by higher property rates, shirking margins and high trained employee cost and other operational costs, would loose customer to the unorganised trade.

The decision, on the other hand, will force the unorganised retail industry to switch trade in grey to survive. The sale of grey handsets, especially of higher end model will become more profitable for them and help them to maintain footfalls, as well.

In case the decision came into force, the price of handset costing Rs 20,000 will go by Rs 25,000. Buyers will prefer to buy the phone from grey market, as the difference would be phenomenal.

The organised trade contributes to 13% of the over all handset retail market in India. However, as per number of outlets they occupy 3% of the pie. The handset retail market is slowly and gradually moving towards organised trade. But the state government’s decision will hamper the shift.

Maharastra and Mumbai is one of the biggest handset retail market in the country commanding more than 13% of the market share in the country. As per the current market estimates around 120 mn handsets are sold in the country every year, Of which, 15.6 mn are sold in Maharastra alone.

As per Indian Cellular Association the state government, which is eying a huge revenue from VAT on handset, will loose money as well. ICA says that the state stands to loose at least 473.6 crore in the next three years, if the proposed 12.5 per cent VAT is implemented because of increased sale in the grey market.

The pioneer in mobile handset retail in India The Mobile Store is headquartered in Mumbai and have a strong presence in the region. Besides, HotSpot, another market leader, have a strong presence in the country.

See also: VAT hike on handsets may bring in less tax for state at http://telcobizpedia.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/vat-hike-on-ha…-tax-for-state/

 

Bharti, Vodafone to bring iPhone 3GS to India in Aug

12 Jun 2009, 0740 hrs IST, Joji Thomas Philip, ET Bureau

NEW DELHI: India’s leading GSM telecom operators — Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar — are set to bring Apple’s latest iPhone, called iPhone 3G S, to India in August. The new iPhone 3G S, which offers faster data speeds, a new camera, video recording, compass and voice control, was unveiled in US earlier this week.

In India, Apple has exclusive tie-ups with Bharti and Vodafone and this is one of the few markets where the US-based technology firm has a tie-up with two operators. Bharti and Vodafone jointly account for over 170 million of the over 400 million cellphone users in the country.

Apple had issued a guidance, saying the iPhone 3G S would make its debut in India in August, but refused to specify the date and the pricing for the country. The guidance also added that the handset would be launched in 31 other countries in August. Additionally, as per information made public by Apple, the iPhone 3G S will go on sale in 10 countries, including the US on June 19, and another 32 countries in the month of July.

Both Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Essar did not offer comments to a detailed query sent by ET.

In India, the new iPhone from Apple is set to face competition from smartphones such as Nokia’s N97 and similar offerings from BlackBerry and Samsung. Another handset that can be a potential threat to Apple’s new product is the Palm’s Pre which has just hit the US market, but is currently not available in India.

But, unlike handsets such as Nokia’s N97, the new iPhone 3G S will have a unique advantage as it has over 100,000 applications and also enjoys the support of the most vibrant and innovative developer community in this space. This implies, Apple’s product is more than just a technically superior handset, but more of a software platform with thousands of custom-made applications.

However, the catch is that the earlier model of the iPhone’s India entry has been a huge failure both in terms of sales (due to an unviable distribution model) coupled with a steep price tag and poor advertising which resulted in the brand failing to connect with customers here.

Also, customers in India who had followed Apple’s pricing globally during in other countries and believed that the iPhone would sport a similar price tag of $199 here were put off by the fact that they would have to shell out more than three time the amount to buy the product. Worse still, market watchers say that neither Apple nor Bharti and Vodafone Essar put in the efforts to explain the difference in market dynamics in India which led to the higher pricing here which left customers confused.

Market watchers and analysts also say that Apple’s decision to go in with only Bharti and Vodafone Essar in India was flawed, especially considering that GSM operators here are not major players in the handset retail space. This is because, GSM players rarely bundle handsets and restrict such offering to the lower-end phones in non-urban and rural markets.

For consumers, some of the new features that come with the iPhone 3G S include its ability to remember text that has been entered once, thereby eliminating the need to retype e-mail addresses, postal addresses or usernames, the digital compass which aids in navigation and a host of features that make it friendly for the disabled. Besides, it also comes with Apple’s own earphones along with a multi-button remote, but with a single control key and a mic.

Related stories at

• http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/India-to-ring-in-new-iPhone-in-August/articleshow/4647452.cms
• http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Apple-hopes-to-fare-well-with-iPhone-3G-S-this-time/articleshow/4651934.cms

New iPhone with better features

The Hindu Business Line on June 10, 2009

Our Bureau

Chennai, June 9 Apple has introduced a new version of iPhone. Apple claims the iPhone 3G S is “the fastest, most powerful iPhone yet”, with improved speed and performance.

The new iPhone is twice as fast as iPhone 3G and has longer battery life, says Apple.

“We think people will love the incredible new features including autofocus camera, video recording and the freedom of voice control,” said Mr Philip Schiller, Apple’s Senior Vice-President of WorldWide Product Marketing, launching the iPhone at the Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco

The new version has features — such as cut, copy and paste, MMS, spotlight search and landscape keyboard and more — that the previous version did not have, regarded as a major slip by Apple.

iPhone 3G S runs on the OpenGL ES 2.0 standard and provides high-quality 3D graphics, “making mobile gaming and other graphic intense applications better”.

The new iPhone 3G S also supports 7.2 Mbps HSDPA for faster networking speeds.

The autofocus camera can adjust focus, exposure, colour and contrast. A new ‘tap to focus’ feature enables the user to select an object or area of interest by touching the display and the camera automatically adjusts the focus and exposure.

The voice control feature in the 3G S allows the user to dial by saying the name or number. It also enables playing of music by artist, album or playlist and to pause the music, play the next track and turn on shuffle.

Apple says the phone’s software also includes a ‘Find My iPhone’ feature that works together with MobileMe to locate a lost iPhone on a map, send a message that will appear on the screen or play a sound to help the user to find it even if the phone is set to silent.

The new iPhone will be available in the UK on June 19.

The launch date for India has not been decided yet, but those who have the iPhone 3G can update the software to new iPhone OS 3.0 on June 17 as a free software update through iTunes 8.2 or later.

Related stories at

• http://www.ciol.com/technology/news-reports/old-iphone-may-steal-glow-from-pre-others/10609120773/0/
• http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/India-to-ring-in-new-iPhone-in-August/articleshow/4647452.cms
• http://www.ciol.com/technology/news-reports/faster-iphone-3gs-to-hit-stores-june-19/9609120714/0/

Excerpt from above:

The new iPhone carries a price tag similar to the old iPhone. A version with 16 gigabytes of storage will sell for $199 with a new contract; one with a 32-gigabyte storage capacity will cost $299.  Watch Wired.com’s Dylan Tweney on Apple’s big announcement »

Apple also said it has dropped the price of the current iPhone 3G to $99 ahead of the release of the 3GS. The $99 model features 8 gigabytes of storage.

Tech NowiPhone 50% cheaper? Not Really!

Abhimanyu Radhakrishnan  Tuesday June 09, 2009

Before you just skim the headlines and jump for joy at the sight of “50% iPhone price-cut”, take a deep breath and remember that the devil is in the details.

Sure, the iPhone 3G is currently priced at $200 in most markets and today, Apple, while announcing a newer model, the iPhone 3G-S, also decided that the older one’s price will be slashed to $100.

Simple math suggests that the price has been halved, but the truth is that it’s only been reduced by $100. You have to remember that the $200 price is only for users who signed up for a 2-year plan from their mobile operators who charged hefty monthly rental fees for data.

In fact, in the US, AT&T offers the iPhone 3G without a 2-year contract for $600 and $700 for the 8GB and 16GB versions respectively.

That’s pretty close in rupee terms to what Airtel & Vodafone charge in India, without subsidizing the handset in lieu of a 2-year contract. Thus the only impact of the price-cut is likely to be a Rs 4,500 to Rs 5,000 (approx $100) cut in the price of the Indian iPhone 3G.

 

 

VAT hike on handsets may bring in less tax for state

8 Jun 2009, 0003 hrs IST, Rashmi Pratap, ET Bureau

MUMBAI: The decision of the Maharashtra government to hike VAT (value-added tax) on mobile handsets could actually result in a drop in the state’s VAT collections, says Indian Cellular Association, the industry body for handset manufacturers.

In the state budget, the government last week proposed to increase VAT to 12.5% from 4% on mobile handsets without making the revenue targets from the move public.

According to ICA, the proposed hike in VAT will result in handset sales falling in the organised retail sector in Maharashtra. It is currently at 1.25 crore units annually and could reduce to as low as 8 lakh units. With reduced sales, the estimated VAT collection will also be down from Rs 168 crore annually to Rs 33.5 crore, as per ICA estimates.

Over a three year period, the Maharashtra government will lose around Rs 475 crore in revenue, if it imposes the proposed hike in VAT on mobile phones. The move will trigger increased grey market sales and could expose customers to phones of dubious quality. “A common man, who buys a Rs 1,500 entry-level phone will now have to pay Rs 127 more.

Our experience shows that Rs 30 is the point at which the consumer turns away from the official market to the grey market. If the proposal is implemented, retail outlets will be under pressure,” ICA national president Pankaj Mohindroo told ET. ICA has also written a letter to Maharastra chief minister Ashok Chavan requesting the government to take a closer look at the issue. Importantly, Maharashtra is the only state in the country to have a 12.5% VAT on mobiles — it is 4% in other parts of India.

According to industry estimates, Maharashtra has about 20,000 retailers and over 450 distributors. Over 1.5 lakh people are employed. “If the grey market resurfaces, the employment in the industry will be hurt, Mr Mohindroo said.

Infiniti Retail CEO & MD Ajit Joshi said at a time when mobile phone penetration was increasing, even in rural areas, such a step would not be viewed as positive.

“The government’s aim of taking broadband to rural areas will not be met, if handset prices go up due to the increase in VAT because Indian consumers are extremely price sensitive,” he said. Infiniti, a 100% subsidiary of Tata Sons, owns and runs the Croma chain of consumer electronics and durables. “Also, the government has clubbed mobiles with liquor and cigarettes, which also attract a 12.5% VAT. However, mobile is a tool for connectivity and not a luxury item,” Mr Joshi said.

Rajiv Agarwal, CEO of Essar-owned The MobileStore, said telecom is an essential part of the India growth story and has a direct connection with development. “One state having a differential VAT will create an anomaly. People will buy from neighbouring states and sell here. It is not beneficial for customers, who want warranties,” he said. He added that the decision was not one that augured well for the industry.

See also: Handsets: Maharashtra Organised trade to feel the heat at http://telcobizpedia.wordpress.com/2009/06/15/handsets-mahar…-feel-the-heat/

 

Cameras, cell phones to be dearer in State (Mah)

Excerpt from The Hindu Business Line on June 5, 2009

Prices of mobile, cordless, video phones as well as digital and video cameras are set to increase in Maharashtra with the Government hiking VAT (value-added tax) from four per cent to 12.5 per cent in its additional Budget presented here on Thursday. The interim was passed in March.

Mr Dilip Walse Patil, Finance Minister, also announced doubling of stamp duty on advertising contracts, rights of telecasting and copyrights. The maximum limit of Rs 25 crore on amalgamation deeds of companies has been done away with.

ICT Statistics Newslog – Mobile tariffs to plunge by 20-25% in 2009 (India)

Mobile tariffs to plunge by 20-25% in 2009 (India)

via ICT Statistics Newslog – Mobile tariffs to plunge by 20-25% in 2009 (India) on May 12, 2009

In India, mobile tariffs in comparison to other countries are lowest and are anticipated to further decline by 20-25% during 2009. The decline in tariffs will triggered by the new entrants and rapid expansion of the existing telecom players. “Whenever new entrants commence operations in the country, there is a high chance of reduction in tariffs as they come in with innovative strategies and prices, including freebies. Apart from tariffs, the price reduction would also be extended to handsets,” European handset major Meridian India CEO Rajiv Khanna, reportedly said. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) estimates that the country needs around 300,000 towers by 2010 to support the massive 10 million monthly subscriber additions.

In recent, the termination charges have been brought to 20 paise from 30 for domestic calls, which the operators have begun passing on to the subscribers, is also pulling tariffs down. Though, few firms are not in favour of lowering tariffs to be an apt option for competing in the telecom space. “Indian companies are rolling our predatory prices without conducting proper studies, unlike in the U.S. or developed countries. Price reductions coming in from desperate companies are anti-competition and these are not based on economic sense, and in the long run this would be anti-consumer and anti-industry,” said Idea Cellular Managing Director Sanjeev Aga.

Source: Wireless Federation.