VARINDIA IT MAGAZINE

With a mission to digitally upgrade the underserved children, NASSCOM Foundation has launched the “Ignite the Spark” programme – a Tablet donation drive across the country – at the NASSCOM India Leadership Forum. NGO Literacy India will present the tablets to underprivileged students. Shrikant Sinha, CEO, NASSCOM Foundation, said, “The Tablet donation drive is a manifestation of NASSCOM Foundation’s commitment to digitally empowering the underserved sections of the society. With tablets becoming the primary vehicle for digital engagement, in villages where power is scarce, we hope to bridge the digital divide and empower the bright sparks in rural India.” Actor and social activist Nandita Das, R. Chandrasekaran, Chairman, NASSCOM; Dr Ganesh Natarajan, Chairman, NASSCOM Foundation; Neeraj Aggarwal, Director, Boston Consulting Group; K. K. Natarajan, CEO & MD, MindTree; Aruna Jayanti, CEO, Capgemini; Amit Agarwal, Senior VP, Genpact; and Prof. Amit Lahiri from Centennial Col...

McAfee Labs, Palo Alto Networks and Symantec, co-founders of the cyber threat alliance, have announced that Barracuda Networks, ReversingLabs, Telefónica and Zscaler have joined the Cyber Threat Alliance in their efforts to make united progress in the fight against sophisticated cyber adversaries. The mission of the Cyber Threat Alliance is to drive a coordinated industry effort against cyber adversaries through deep collaboration on threat intelligence and sharing indicators of compromise. “We appreciate the charter of the Cyber Threat Alliance and believe there should be closer collaboration across security researchers, industry, education, and government. We look forward to sharing critical data across threat vectors that can be leveraged not only for delivering Total Threat Protection for our customers but also toward benefiting the community as a whole,” said Stephen Pao, GM – Security, Barracuda, which provides cloud-connected security and storage solutions that simplify ...

India Electronics & Semiconductor Association (IESA) has disclosed details of their key role in enabling the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Cricket Semiconductor and the Government of Madhya Pradesh for an analog fab proposed to be set up in the state. They provided a strategic roadmap to the company for locating the proposed unit in the country. The industry body is also helping Madhya Pradesh for their investment promotion initiatives. The proposed investment is expected to be Rs.6,000 crore (US$1 billion) to set up an analog wafer fab in the country. The creation of this fab ecosystem coupled with the products and systems value chain is expected to create close-to 450,000 new jobs, making a potential future economic impact of $40 billion, over its project life span and reduce electronics import burden for the nation. Madhya Pradesh recently approved the “Analog Semiconductor Fabrication [FAB] Investment Policy”  that provides for free government land, reim...

Intex Technologies has launched the first Android Lollipop smartphone by an Indian brand, the Aqua Star L. The company has packed this handset with rich features and is priced it at Rs.6,990 only.  Sanjay Kumar Kalirona, Mobile Business Head, Intex Technologies, said, “Our newest offering in the Aqua collection, the Aqua Star L proves Intex’s dedication to remain a technology supernal. It is absolutely imperative to run along with the technological advancements to stay in a competitive environment. Looking at the demand, the smartphone has been instilled with a 12.7cm (5-inch) fully laminated screen and an 8MP camera along with various features. We are excited to bring Intex’s latest phone to our customers.” Boasting its dual-Sim capabilities, the phone sports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, ensuring full-time connectivity for the users who like to stay social. The phone has dedicated 1GB RAM and 8GB of inbuilt memory that is expandable up to 32GB for smooth processes. Along with the ...

Reliance Communications has announced that Q3 net profit has gone up 85% in the fiscal third quarter, boosted by the lower cost of financing debt and as more of its subscribers used pricier data services. The company would need to fight to win back airwaves it is currently using in the 900MHz band in seven circles. Since it doesn’t have backup spectrum in other bands to support 2G voice services in these circles, the competition may get intense. The company’s earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization remained nearly flat at  1,851 crore. Its quarterly operating profit margin remained constant at 33.8% sequentially because global operations declined, although profitability improved at its India operations. Recently, RCOM has also tied up with Facebook to offer some services on the Internet free through Internet.org. At the launch, chief executive Gurdeep Singh had said even if the service helped reduce the churn in customers, the free service would be wo...

Snapdeal’s Seller Zone App has increased its number of sellers within 6 months of its launch. The e-commerce company has announced that 30% of its seller base of 100,000 sellers are now active users of the Seller Zone app.  The Seller Zone App managed online marketplace application for sellers make it easier for sellers to list products through Snapdeal.com. A number of new features like Scan and Sell and Personalized Dashboard have been added to enhance the overall user experience of this App. Ankit Khanna, Senior Vice President – Product Management, Snapdeal.com said, “The Seller Zone App is one of our key initiatives for simplifying the process of listing products on our platform thereby facilitating sellers’ business operations. In the last 6 months, we have seen a higher rate of activity on the Seller Zone App vis-à-vis activity through the PC and we expect that 70% of our sellers will start using the mobile app actively in the coming 3 -4 months. Mobile is a vital con...

Google India has announced the launch of Web Rangers as part of The India Digital Literacy and Internet Safety Campaign.  This is a program that empowers teens to promote the safe use of the Internet among their peers.  Web Rangers will provide training to help teens create their cyber safety campaign to enable themselves and their peers think about their online behavior and how to keep each other safe online.  The program will take young people aged between 14 -17, representing 50 schools in Hyderabad, Bangalore and New Delhi through training workshops that will equip them with knowledge in online safety. This program also introduces a contest where students across the country will be given twelve weeks to create and run their own online safety campaigns. These youth-created online or offline educational campaigns can take any form, including online videos and other social media content, sketches and in-school events.  The winners of the contest will be anno...

Lenovo has introduced in India the Lenovo S90, a designer selfie smartphone for snapping and sharing. With the best-in-class 8MP selfie camera and 13MP PureCel rear camera, S90 is a great device to take pictures. The Lenovo S90 features a premium aluminum alloy unibody design and 8MP selfie camera with flash in the front, beautification features and BSI sensor that keep you looking your best, even in low light. The Super AMOLED 12.7 cms (5) HD display uses less power and provides better outdoor visibility. The 13MP rear camera with PureCel sensor delivers best-in-class high- and low-light performance. More than just beauty, the 64-bit Snapdragon processor and 2GB RAM keep up with your pace. It runs on Android 4.4 and is ergonomically designed at 6.9mm thin and weighs just 129g. It comes with a battery of 2,300 mAh and 32GB of storage which provides enough storage space for all your photos, videos and music. - See more at: http://www.varindia.com/lenovo-launches-the-s90-selfie-...

Disney India has announced the launch of the official game of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 titled ‘ICC Pro Cricket 2015’ for PCs and cut down versions for Smartphones. This announcement was made at the Sydney Cricket Ground. ICC Pro Cricket 2015 is an offering from Indiagames, one of the key brands in Disney India’s Interactive business which has a legacy of developing the most immersive and engaging cricket based games for global audiences for over ten years. “Globally, Disney is defined by innovation. We have always believed in leveraging technology to enhance the entertainment experience for consumers and we reflect this sentiment in all the products we develop in Disney India. Cricket is amongst one of the most popular sports not just in India but across the world, and the ICC Cricket World Cup is the biggest possible celebration of the sport. We appreciate the support we have received from the ICC to be able to present this world-class game to Cricket fans on the occasio...

OPPO has announced the launch of Mirror 3 in the India market. Powered by a 64-bit processor, the budget smartphone is aimed at the mid-range market and is available at a price of Rs.16,990/-. Tom Lu, CEO, OPPO Mobiles India, said, “The smartphone technology is constantly evolving. We are excited to introduce Mirror 3 to our picture-loving Indian customers. It comes with phenomenal camera quality. No matter day or night, the image quality taken from a Mirror 3 smartphone is greatly enhanced as a result of increased CMOS sensitivity, higher resolution, and effective filtering for infrared light. This packed with a host of other features gives the consumer a power-packed selfie experience.” The OPPO Mirror 3 uses a 4.7-inch screen with a compact body that measures only 137.6 × 68.8 × 8.95mm and weighs as little as 126g. It features an 8-megapixel SONY IMX179 Backside Illuminated (BSI) sensor, with a sensor size of 1/3.2 inches and a pixel size of 1.4µm, as well as a large F/2.0 a...

In line with its strategy to introduce best technology products at affordable prices, Spice Mobility has unveiled Spice Stellar 431. It combines a range of exciting and category leading features with a fantastic price. The dual-SIM smartphone is 3G enabled and equipped with category leading features such as Wi-Fi tethering, 1,500mAh battery, amongst others. Prashant Bindal, CEO, Spice Mobility Ltd, said, “The Spice Stellar 431 is a budget-friendly fully loaded smartphone, combining best-in-class technological innovations and superior looks targeted at our younger consumers. Keeping in mind their need to be always connected, we have designed the phone to support an impeccable internet experience at a very pocket-friendly price.” Spice Stellar 431, powered by a 1.0 GHz Dual-Core processor and Android KitKat 4.4 is equipped with a large 10.16cm (4-inch) capacitive touch screen with a 480 X 800 resolution. Equipped with a powerful 1,500mAh battery, 512MB RAM and 4GB ROM expand...

R&M in its Data Center Manual explains how SDN approach makes network infrastructure flexible. Dynamic load distribution to virtual servers, transfers to other hosts and more – a classic data center network is too static and inflexible for these tasks. Software-Defined Networking (SDN) could help in these cases by offering a new model of control and data distribution. The new Data Center Manual from R&M provides basic principles for planning. Thomas Wellinger, Market Manager – Data Center, R&M, said, “One advantage of Software- Defined Networking is that it enables companies to adjust the network infrastructure better than before to the special requirements of applications.”  He cited in particular the allocation of required bandwidths and quality-of-service parameters to guarantee the desired performance. This flexibility is important especially in complex networks such as private or public clouds. An important feature of SDN is the separation of the control ...

Cisco has announced that Videocon d2h will deploy advanced video solutions from the Cisco Videoscape product portfolio to enable it to deliver an innovative, high-quality television viewing experience to its customers. Cisco will collaborate with Videocon d2h to create an infrastructure that supports advanced services like 4K, OTT (Over the Top), VOD (Video on Demand), multi-screen video and multi-room DVR (Digital Video Recorder), on a high-definition platform. Sue Taylor, Vice-President – Sales, Asia-Pacific, Cisco Service Provider Video Software Solutions, said, “Our mission is to continuously partner with operators who value innovation and strive to offer a wide range of differentiated and superior video experiences to their subscribers. Our expertise in the successful rollout of high-end features and services will enable Videocon d2h to deliver video in more exciting, more engaging and more impactful ways.” Saurabh Dhoot, Director, Videocon d2h, said, “We pride ourselves i...

ZTE Corporation has announced the launch of its new Unified Communication & Collaboration solution (UC&C), a transformative software-based video conferencing technology designed to help enterprises harness the power of mobility. ZTE’s UC&C is an end-to-end solution that delivers cloud-based video conferencing and collaboration services for end-users anywhere, anytime, supporting different devices and endpoints including software-based MCU (multipoint control units), ET series endpoints, mobile applications and desktop clients. The next-generation UC&C solution, designed for enterprises and operators, was debuted by ZTE at the Integrated Systems Europe 2015 (ISE) exposition in Amsterdam. The Cloud Conferencing Manager (CCM1000) is a software-based MCU that delivers high-definition and large capacity video conferencing capabilities, enabling fast and flexible distributed deployment and providing support for virtualized platforms. With the CCM1000, customers re...

ASUS has announced its latest Zenfone C – ZC451CG with India as one of the first wave countries for the launch. The device is built on the Android 4.4 KitKat operating system with ASUS Exclusive Zen UI, which makes it a super-efficient device. The brand new phone from the Zenfone series has a 4.5” display and a 5MP camera with PixelMaster technology and a high-capacity 2100mAh removable battery for nearly 30 hours of 3G talk-time and over 10 days of standby. It is endowed with a dual-SIM and dual standby with high-performance Intel Atom CPU. ASUS launches Zenfone C – ZC451CG Peter Chang, Regional Head, South Asia & Country Manager, System Business Group, ASUS India, affirms, “Redefining the smartphone experience for consumers at affordable price points is the new Zenfone C. It incorporates the strategic features of the range like a sublime interface and seamless functionality that has already captured a sizeable portion of the tech-savvy market. Combining finely crafted d...

Nodia Authority is planning to set up Wi-Fi spots on the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway by March 15, which will offer free Wi-Fi connectivity to the Expressway commuters. Infrastructure that is installed for the Intelligent Traffic Management System will be used to roll out the public Wi-Fi on the 23.6km Expressway. It will be part of a pilot project. If the project becomes successful, then it will be extended to other locations across Noida. The facility will allow people to browse the internet and download data while commuting on the Expressway. Foreign tourists using the Expressway to travel to Agra via the Yamuna Expressway will also stay connected. It will ease the traffic burden on telecom networks.  See more at: http://www.varindia.com/noida-expressway-commuters-to-enjoy-free-wi-fi-soon/

Along with the alarming growth of the user base for Android-run handsets around the globe, it has also become the most vulnerable mobile OS. This is evident from the fact that many popular apps such as Dropbox, Snapchat and Uber have been hacked in recent times, according to Wegilant. The open nature of Android OS has given rise to Android Security Bugs, Loopholes and Vulnerabilities. Although Android has security features built into the operating system that significantly reduce the frequency and impact of application security issues, it still is a prime target for hackers. It has, today, grown so significant that many applications continue to face challenges pertaining to security. Recently, Google also stopped providing security updates for devices running on Android 4.3 Jellybean and earlier. Toshendra Sharma, Founder & CEO, Wegilant ,  commented,  “ There are around one billion Android users in the world and Android has targeted to take this figure to 1...

Reliance Communications has announced that its partnership with Facebook will together offer free data access to useful websites to Reliance customers through Internet.org. Internet.org provides access to popular websites and services with zero data charges in order to make it easier for people to access the Internet, across both the 2G & 3G platforms.  Customers will now enjoy access to popular websites with zero data charges, including Facebook. These services will be available for Reliance customers in the telecom Circles of Mumbai, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Chennai, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The goal is to extend the services to the rest of the country in a phased manner and gradually add more services and websites. Gurdeep Singh, Chief Executive Officer, Consumer Business, Reliance Communications, said, “We are delighted to announce the launch of Internet.org services in India. Through this partnership with Facebook, we aim to increase Internet inclusion a...

ICICI bank has introduced new digital wallet app ‘Pockets’. The App which on installation generates a virtual visa card that can be used for payments with any online merchant. This card allows its acceptance with any online merchant as it works on the existing card-based payment platform. With this product, ICICI Bank hopes to take on private non-bank issuers of digital wallets. Non-bank digital wallet providers PayTM, Citrus Pay, Mobikwik and PayU have been enrolling lakhs of users by offering high discounts with merchants. However, the limitation of nonbank wallets is that the issuer has to tie up with each merchant for acceptance of payment. Although opening the Pocket pre-paid account is instant and customers can use this account for most transactions, the customer does not automatically become a bank accountholder. The bank offers a separate `zero balance’ account within 24 hours of the request after `know-your-customer’ documents are handed to a bank representative. ...

Red Hat and NEC Corporation have announced collaboration to develop network functions virtualization (NFV) features in OpenStack in order to deliver carrier-grade NFV solutions with Red Hat Enterprise Linux OpenStack Platform. NEC and Red Hat have collaborated for more than a decade on joint open-source software development. In recent years, the companies have focussed their efforts on NFV system integration with OpenStack, leveraging NEC’s extensive knowledge of telecom networks. This enables the acceleration of NFV features in OpenStack and the Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) in order to achieve carrier-grade and carrier-scale systems, including data plane acceleration through the Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK). Moreover, these efforts are being contributed to the upstream OpenStack community, to enable Red Hat Enterprise Linux OpenStack Platform to emerge as a leading cloud platform for NFV. Several of the NFV features resulting directly from this collaboration were incl...