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New Delhi, Domestic smartphone maker <keyword id="349378" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Lava-Mobiles">Lava Mobiles</keyword> on Thursday unveiled the world's first customisable smartphone that allows customers to choose the component. The handsets, <keyword id="10557467" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="lava-z1">Lava Z1</keyword>, Z2, Z4 and Z6, are aimed at the budget category with prices starting at ₹5,499. The Lava Z1 comes in Blue and Red colours, is priced at ₹5,499 and will be available from Amazon.in, Lavamobiles.com and offline stores starting from January 26. The Lava Z2, Z4 and Z6 come in Blue and Red colours, are priced at ₹6,999, ₹8,999 and ₹9,999, respectively and will be available from Amazon.in, Lavamobiles.com and offline stores starting from January 11. Lava has announced a customise option for their users where one can customise their smartphones through a new programme called My Z. The My Z program will allow users to select specifications like <keyword id="6364276" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="camera">camera</keyword>, memory storage capacity and colour on their phone as per their choice on <keyword id="10557734" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="select-devices">select devices</keyword> only. There is Z Up prog<keyword id="17786" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="ram">ram</keyword>me as well which is only valid for Z2, Z4, and Z6 smartphones. This programme will allow you to upgrade your phone with more RAM and storage for an incremental price without having to replace the phone. Lava Z1 features 5-inch display with 480X854 pixel resolution and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. It is powered by 1.8GHz Quad-Core MediaTek Helio A20 processor. The phone has 2GB RAM, 16GB internal storage and expandable memory up to 256GB with microSD. It has a 5MP rear camera and a 5MP front-facing camera with dual-LED flash. The smartphone is powered by a 3100mAh battery and it runs on XOS 6.2 based on <keyword id="7582462" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="android-10">Android 10</keyword> Go Edition. Lava Z2 features a 6.51-inch HD+ display with a screen resolution of 1600 x 720 pixels, 20:9 aspect ratio and Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection. The device is powered by 2.3GHz <keyword id="1946466" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Octa-Core">Octa-Core</keyword> MediaTek Helio G35 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM and 32GB. The device features a dual-camera setup of 13MP primary lens and a 2MP depth sensor. For the front, there is an 8MP camera. Lava Z4, as well as Z6 feature 6.51-inch HD+ 20:9 2.5D Curved glass display and Both, are powered by a 2.3GHz octa Core MediaTek Helio G35 processor with IMG PowerVR GE8320 GPU. The Lava Z4 has 4GB RAM and 64GB storage while the Lava Z6 has 6GB RAM and 64GB storage. For the camera, the Lava Z4 and Z6 sport triple camera setup with 13MP rear camera with f/1.85 aperture, LED flash, 5MP ultra-wide camera and 2MP depth sensor. For the front, both have 16MP front camera with f/2.0 aperture, LED flash. They run Android 10 and pack 5000mAh battery. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/oppo-reno5-pro-5g-mobile-to-launch-in-india-on-january-18-checkout-expected-price-and-specification/articleshow/80147650.cms">Oppo Reno5 Pro 5G mobile to launch in India on January 18 – specs, price, and everything you need to know</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/fareye-is-the-latest-to-buy-back-shares-from-employees-to-liquidate-esops-worth-over-5-crore/articleshow/80148439.cms">FarEye is the latest to buy back shares from employees — to liquidate ESOPs worth over ₹5 crore</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/from-boris-johnson-to-narendra-modi-and-jacinda-ardern-heres-how-world-leaders-reacted-to-the-capitol-hill-chaos/slidelist/80148270.cms">From Boris Johnson to Narendra Modi and Jacinda Ardern — here's how world leaders reacted to the Capitol Hill chaos</a>

Lava makes a comeback with new Z-series Android smartphones, starting at ₹5,499

New Delhi, July 9 (IANS) Domestic mobile manufacturer Lava on Thursday launched a new smartphone Z61 Pro as the latest addition in its Z series for Rs 5,774. The entry-level smartphone is powered by a 1.6 GHz Octa-core processor paired with 2GB RAM and a storage capacity of 16 GB, which can be extended up to 128GB. "The Lava Z61 Pro is a truly 'Make in India' smartphone. It offers not just a seamless performance but also a very attractive look in the entry level segment. It is the perfect phone to meet your entertainment needs and make you feel Proudly Indian," Tejinder Singh, Head- Product, Lava International, said in a statement. The device features a 5.45-inch HD+ full view display with an aspect ratio of 18:9 and will be available in two attractive gradient finish variants  midnight blue and amber red. On the camera front, the phone offers 8MP rear camera with LED flash and 5MP front camera. The smartphone camera is packed with additional features like portrait mode, burst mode, panorama, filters, beauty mode, HDR and night mode. The device is also equipped with a superfast face-unlock feature. On the connectivity front, the smartphone features Bluetooth 4.2, WiFi, GPS, dual-SIM, OTG support as well as a micro USB port and houses a 3100mAh battery. --IANS wh/na

Lava launches entry-level smartphone for Rs 5,774

<ul><li>Amazon is all set to host the Great <keyword id="17268374" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="summer-sale-2023" source="Orion">Summer Sale 2023</keyword> from May 4.</li><li>Prime members will have early access to the Amazon Great Summer Sale, opening 12 hours earlier.</li><li>Customers can expect a variety of offers on products from different categories, such as smartphones, consumer electronics, home and kitchen appliances, large appliances, TVs, and more, during the sale.</li></ul>Amazon's summer sale will commence from May 4 to May 8, 2023, offering customers discounts on various products ranging from smartphones, consumer electronics, home and kitchen appliances, large appliances, and TVs. The sale will feature exciting deals from renowned brands such as Samsung, Mamypoko, Loreal, TCL, V Guard, Godrej, Zydus, and LG. Prime members will have exclusive access to the offers 12 hours before non-Prime members, starting from midnight on May 4, 2023. Prime members who shop with ICICI Bank Credit Cards and Kotak Bank Credit/ Debit Cards for a single order worth ₹15,000 or more will receive an extra instant bank discount of ₹250. This discount will be valid until May 4, 2023, at 23:59 pm. Furthermore, customers can participate in the Pay &amp; Shop Rewards Festival and stand a chance to win rewards worth up to ₹5000 by making daily payments, including sending or receiving money and paying bills. Amazon Pay Later also offers instant credit up to ₹60,000 and welcome rewards worth ₹600. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Electronics &amp; large appliances" comment="subhead" text="Electronics &amp; large appliances">Electronics &amp; large appliances</cmsannotation> <ol><li>Up to 70% off on speakers and soundbars from brands like Boat, Sony, JBL, Zebronics, and Blaupunkt. Customers can also avail of exciting offers on JBL Wave Beam and Zebronics Jukebar 9750 5.1.2 soundbars.</li><li>Lowest prices ever on smartwatches, including BeatXP Vega, BeatXP Marv Neo, Boat Flash, and more.</li><li>Up to 35% off on printers, up to 60% off on monitors, up to 30% off on desktops, and up to 40% off on gaming headsets, keyboards, and other gaming accessories.</li><li>Customers can buy washing machines starting from ₹6,990, chimneys starting from ₹4,490, and microwaves starting from ₹499.</li></ol><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Smartphones &amp; Mobile accessories" comment="subhead" text="Smartphones &amp; Mobile accessories">Smartphones &amp; Mobile accessories</cmsannotation> Top smartphone brands, including Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi, OnePlus, iQOO, realme narzo, Tecno, and more, offer up to 40% off during the Great Summer Sale 2023. New smartphones include the OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G, Redmi 12C, Realme Narzo N55, Samsung M14 5G, Lava Blaze 2, Tecno Spark 10, and Tecno Phantom V Fold will also be available at exciting prices. You can buy the Redmi A1 starting from ₹5699 and the Lava Blaze 5G starting from ₹10499. The OnePlus 10 series will be available starting from ₹11000 with an additional exchange bonus of up to ₹10000. The OnePlus 10R 5G will be available at ₹30,999. The OnePlus 10T 5G will be available starting from ₹49,999, and the OnePlus Nord series will be available starting from ₹17499. Newly launched Samsung smartphones such as the Galaxy M14 5G starting at ₹12490, Galaxy M33 5G starting at ₹14499, and Galaxy S22 5G starting at ₹51999 will also be available. The newly launched Redmi 12C with high-performance MediaTek Helio G85 processor will be available starting from ₹8499. You can also get up to 75% off on headphones on existing and newly launched headphones such as JBL Wave Beam, Boat Airdopes Atom 81, Boat Airdopes 170, and ZEBRONICS PODS 2 Wireless TWS Earbuds. The latest headset launches include the OnePlus Buds Pro 2, Jabra Elite 4 and Elite 5, OnePlus Buds Pro 2R, Ptron Zen, OnePlus Buds Nord 2, Ikodoo Buds Z, and Ikodoo Buds One, will also be available at exciting offers. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Laptops &amp; televisions" comment="subhead" text="Laptops &amp; televisions">Laptops &amp; televisions</cmsannotation> Top brands like Samsung, Godrej, LG, Haier, and Llyod offer discounts of up to 60% on Smart TVs and appliances. Other than this, get a discount of up to 40% on selected laptops. Enjoy up to 60% discount on a vast selection of smart TVs, save up to 50% on 32-inch smart TVs, and up to 60% on QLED TVs. Get up to ₹14,000 off on large screen TVs and save up to 50% on OLED TVs and up to 55% on 4K TVs. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/what-are-vishing-scams-that-start-with-a-namaste-and-end-with-monetary-losses/articleshow/99762900.cms">What are ‘vishing scams’ that start with a Namaste and end with monetary losses</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/sony-wh-ch720n-headphones-review-featherweight-comfort-and-impressive-sound/articleshow/99911412.cms">Sony WH-CH720N headphones review: Featherweight comfort and impressive sound</a>

The best deals to look out for during Amazon Great Summer Sale 2023

<ul><li>BenQ has launched the <keyword id="4700061" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="zowie" source="Orion">Zowie</keyword> XL2566k gaming monitor in India.</li><li>It is a premium gaming monitor aimed at professional gamers.</li><li>Here’s my review of the BenQ Zowie XL2566K gaming monitor that will help you decide whether to buy the device or not.</li></ul> BenQ is a popular name when it comes to monitors, be it for gaming or for professionals, the company has something to offer for everyone. The company recently launched the BenQ Zowie XL2566K gaming monitor, which is aimed at professional gamers and enthusiasts. If you are a serious gamer, it is important to invest in a good gaming monitor that will help you take your game to the next level. BenQ claims that its new TN panel monitor is designed to deliver the best gaming experience. I have been using the BenQ Zowie XL2566K gaming monitor for a few weeks now, and here is my detailed review of the premium gaming monitor. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Price and availability" comment="subhead" text="Price and availability">Price and availability</cmsannotation> The BenQ Zowie XL2566K gaming monitor is priced at ₹52,500 and is available from Amazon India, Flipkar, MD Computers and other online and offline authorised retailers from across the country. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="In the box" comment="subhead" text="In the box">In the box</cmsannotation> <ul><li>BenQ Zowie XL2566K monitor</li><li>Power cable</li><li>HDMI cable</li><li>DisplayPort cable</li><li>S-Switch</li><li>Shield</li><li>Dust cover</li><li>Documentation</li></ul><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="BenQ Zowie XL2566K specifications" comment="subhead" text="BenQ Zowie XL2566K specifications">BenQ Zowie XL2566K specifications</cmsannotation> <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none;" class="redcator-table-advance"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#000000;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Particulars </td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#000000;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Specifications </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Display </td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">24.5-inch TN panel </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Resolution </td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">1920 x 1080 pixels </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Refresh rate </td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">360Hz </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Response time </td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">0.5ms </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Brightness </td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">320 nits </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Connectivity </td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">HDMI 2.0, DP 1.4 and headphone jack </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Weight </td><td style="border-right:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;border-top:solid #000000 0.6260872500000001pt;vertical-align:bottom;background-color:#d9d9d9;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">9.7 kg </td></tr></tbody><tbody></tbody></table> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Pros and cons" comment="subhead" text="Pros and cons">Pros and cons</cmsannotation> <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Pros" comment="subhead" text="Pros">Pros</cmsannotation> <ul><li>360Hz refresh rate</li><li>Portability</li></ul><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Cons" comment="subhead" text="Cons">Cons</cmsannotation> <ul><li>Full HD resolution</li></ul><cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Design" comment="subhead" text="Design">Design</cmsannotation> The BenQ Zowie XL2566K comes with a minimalistic design and unlike a lot of gaming monitors in the market, it is difficult to differentiate the XL2566K from regular monitors as it lacks the usual funky design and RGB found in gaming monitors. <div type="image" title="Dis 2" msid="101218491" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;BenQ Zowie XL2566K front design&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> The monitor has been designed keeping portability in mind, as gamers often carry their setup with them for tournaments. It weighs 6.2 kg, which is on the lighter side when we consider the usual weights for the company’s other monitors. The company has used a plastic body, including for the stand. However, the plastic is sturdy and should not pose an issue. <div type="image" title="Logo" msid="101218506" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Zowie logo at the back&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> While there is no branding at the front, the back has the Zowie logo in red. The stand comes with a small flat base. It offers height adjustment and also allows you to change the angle as per your preference. I found it easy to adjust the monitor to my requirements. <div type="image" title="Rear" msid="101218552" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The rear of the BenQ Zowie XL2566K&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> It comes with side panels that not only allow you to reduce the glare, but also prevent others from looking at your screen from the sides, which can be important during tournaments. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Display and performance" comment="subhead" text="Display and performance">Display and performance</cmsannotation> Coming to the most important part of the monitor, the BenQ Zowie XL2566K features a 24.5-inch TN LCD panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, 360Hz refresh rate, 320 nits brightness and a 0.5 ms response time. One of the highlights of the monitor is its motion clarity, which has been achieved with the company’s DyAc+ technology which reduces motion blur. <div type="image" title="Game" msid="101218580" hostid="261" caption="&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;CS: GO on the BenQ Zowie XL2566K&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;"></div> I tried playing several games, including Counter Strike: Global Offensive, Overwatch and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds on the monitor. It is a treat to play games, especially fast-paced first person shooters on the monitor. While the colour production is decent, it is not as good as an IPS or OLED monitor. The monitor comes with several presets and also offers three gamer profiles to customise the display as per your needs. The monitor comes with Advanced Motion Acceleration (AMA) to boost performance. You can choose between high, premium and off. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Verdict" comment="subhead" text="Verdict">Verdict</cmsannotation> The BenQ Zowie XL2566K has a lot going for it and is a good option for gamers looking to upgrade their setup. If you are a casual gamer or someone who is just entering the gaming scene, you can opt for other affordable monitors available in the market. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/asus-rog-flow-z13-review-a-premium-gaming-tablet/articleshow/100850300.cms">Asus ROG Flow Z13 review – a premium gaming tablet</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/lava-agni-2-5g-review-decent-performance-good-design/articleshow/101150310.cms">Lava Agni 2 5G review – Decent performance, good design</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/mobile/news/moto-edge-40-review-price-specifications-and-design/articleshow/101110748.cms">Moto Edge 40 review – sleek design encasing sturdy performance</a>

BenQ Zowie XL2566K review – Minimalist designed monitor for the professional gamers

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It is going to be a sparkling festive season for consumers as well as <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=smartphone+market">smartphone makers</a>. Companies like <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=samsung">Samsung</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=micromax">Micromax</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=lenovo">Lenovo</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=sony">Sony</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=LG">LG</a>, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=karbonn">Karbonn</a>, Intex, Lava and Gionee are going to launch an array of <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=4G">4G devices</a>. 
 
The top brands will refresh their handset line-ups with 4G, which has seen a jump of around 20% in sales in the world's fastest growing market. 
 
After <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=bharti+airtel">Bharti Airtel</a> rolled out its 4G services and upcoming launch of Mukesh Ambani's <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/searchresult.cms?query=Jio+Infocomm">Reliance Jio Infocomm</a>, the demand for 4G has gone up. 
 Shubhajit Sen, chief marketing officer at <keyword id="71696" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Micromax">Micromax</keyword> Informatics, said the company will be launching around five new <keyword id="1948108" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="4G-smartphones">4G smartphones</keyword> across varied price points and specifications to address needs of the diverse consumer set. 
 
This festive season will also see spurt in online sales. The online-only smartphone sales have contributed to more than 20% of the total smartphone sales between July and September so far, according to Counterpoint Research. 
 "We soon plan to launch our new premium range of Xperia Z series <keyword id="6354775" type="TECHNOLOGY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Smartphones">smartphones</keyword> in India, alongside global launch. Sony will pump in a total of Rs 250 crore towards marketing during the festive season," said Taro Yamamoto, head, Xperia division, <keyword id="233026" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Sony-India">Sony India</keyword>. 
 <keyword id="6356116" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="LG">LG</keyword> has also earmarked nearly Rs 30 crore for marketing spend around Diwali this year and is expected 40-50% boost in sales. 
 
Indian vendors like Intex, Lava and Karbonn are also betting big on the season ahead and expecting to sell around 1 million smartphones. 
 
China's Gionee, which has ventured with Foxconn and Dixon to kick-off domestic production of handsets, will be spending around Rs 50 crore in marketing during the festive season with three new 4G models planned. 
 
Counterpoint has estimated 24% and 26% sequential growth in overall and smartphone market in the third quarter of 2015. In the October-December quarter, the growth is expected to continue because of Diwali falling near mid-November apart from other market forces and competitive landscape like Reliance Jio LTE launch and growth of ecommerce channel.

Samsung, Micromax, Sony, LG spark fireworks, all set to launch 4G devices this festive season

NEW DELHI: Sony has overtaken ace rival Apple to emerge the second largest smartphone brand in India in value sales, thanks largely to its strategy to focus on the Rs 10,000-20,000 smartphone space, backed by Rs 300-crore marketing spend. 
 According to latest data from market tracker IDC, the Japanese electronics major garnered 9.1% value share in the Indian smartphone market in the October-December quarter of 2013 against Apple's 7% share. <keyword id="10591" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Samsung">Samsung</keyword> dominated the market with 43% value share. 
 IDC India <keyword id="157228" type="POSITION" weightage="40" keywordseo="senior-market-analyst">senior market analyst</keyword> Manasi Yadav said Sony's strong positioning in the mid-tier smartphone space of Rs 10,000-20,000 price band has delivered results for the company. “Some of the top selling models for Sony are Xperia M Dual and Xperia C priced in this bracket, which is one of the fastest growing segments in the Indian smartphone market,” Yadav said. 
 The CEO of a leading mobility device retail chain said Apple lost out since it withdrew its largest selling model, <keyword id="6354606" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="iPhone">iPhone</keyword>4, from India as a global decision thereby vacating the sweet spot ofRs 20,000 pricing. “While this loss of sales prompted Apple to relaunch iPhone 4 once again in India in January, sales have not picked up since it is not at all spending on marketing or offering any buyback offer and even the initial euphoria around iPhone 5s has sobered down,” the person said. 
 Analysts, however, said Sony’s share in the smartphone market may have slid in the January-March quarter, with <keyword id="6354716" type="CITY" weightage="40" keywordseo="Nokia">Nokia</keyword> venturing into <keyword id="6355645" type="COMPANY" weightage="40" keywordseo="android">Android</keyword> phones with its aggressively priced X series, Apple relaunching iPhone 4 and Micromax rolling out a new range of Canvas phones. IDC will release its figures for the January-March quarter in May or June. 
 India is one of the rare markets outside Japan where Sony has achieved major success in the smartphones. <keyword id="1107282" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="Kenichiro-Hibi">Kenichiro Hibi</keyword>, managing director at <keyword id="233026" type="COMPANY" weightage="80" keywordseo="Sony-India">Sony India</keyword>, said the company's smartphone business has attained similar revenues as its flagship television business in the fiscal ended March 31. The two businesses contributed around 70% to the company's turnover of about Rs 10,000 crore during the year. 
 
“However, smartphone business will overtake television business in sales this fiscal year,” Hibi told ET. “For us, both television and smartphone will be the main pillars to continue the pace of growth in India,” he said. 
 
Hibi said the company is poised to further grow its share this fiscal with flagship Xperia Z2 ready for launch this quarter. “The smartphone business doubled in last one year which led to 20% growth in overall sales in 2013-14. We expect to grow at a similar pace this fiscal as well to touch Rs 12,000 crore sales,” he said. 
 Indian brands such as Micromax, Karbonn and Lava have notched up significant share in the smartphone volume sales. While Samsung had 38% <keyword id="34527" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="40" keywordseo="market-share">market share</keyword> by unit sales in the October-December quarter, Micromax is second with 13% share. Sony's volume share was 5.5% while Apple's was 2%.

Sony Overtakes Apple To Emerge Second Largest Smartphone Brand In India

How has been the journey so far since you picked up the MD rank at <keyword id="28115" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Intel">Intel</keyword>, South Asia? 
My 18 years (and counting) with Intel has been a wonderful journey. I joined Intel when I was pretty much fresh out of college and the company has taught me everything I know about the business and also made me the person I am today. To me, Intel is like a magical garden with opportunities hidden in every corner. You just need to be hungry enough to look for those and be confident enough to open the door when you find it. The myriad roles I have done at Intel, especially in the first few years, gave me a 360 degree understanding of the business and taught me the importance of collaboration and teamwork, both of which have served me very well. And along the way, I have met some of the smartest and most wonderful people who have helped me grow as an individual and a professional. 
 It was always a dream to get the opportunity to build the <keyword id="54324" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="80" keywordseo="india-business">India business</keyword>. So when I was told in 2011 that I needed to come back to India, there was absolutely no looking back for me. India is one the most challenging and exciting markets ever and the opportunity to make a difference with technology is much bigger than anywhere else in the world. If India has to make real progress, inclusive growth is a must. For inclusive growth, you have to ensure that every citizen has access to quality education and basic services – be it healthcare or government services. And it is impossible to enable that without technology. Technology, if used right, can empower every citizen to be more successful, productive and contribute greatly to their families, communities and domestic economies. That’s where I see Intel playing a key role in this country. That’s where we want to make a real difference. 
 
I know everyone asks you this, but how is the <keyword id="176127" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Intel-India">Intel India</keyword> business doing? And what we can expect in the coming months on the PC and laptop front from Intel? 
When I think India, I think opportunity. As a country, we are significantly lagging in the use of technology for development and growth. Somewhere, we lost focus and got over-obsessed with devices and hardware. The focus in India needs to be on what we do with the devices and the impact it has on individuals. In that way, we have not even scratched the tip of the iceberg. In fact, I believe that we haven’t even located the iceberg as yet. 
 
The focus in India needs to be on driving real and meaningful usage starting at the grassroots – be it building job skills or finding employment opportunities or finding new markets for small traders or providing preventive healthcare to the masses. Technology is meaningful and useful only when it enables us to be more productive and it makes our lives easier. We have a long way to go to enable that India. What we need is a holistic approach to technology that addresses last-mile access, localised content, digital literacy and, of course, choice of devices to meet different consumer needs. If we get it right, the sum total of the strategy will have more value for the consumers and the industry than the singular focus on hardware or devices that we see in the country. 
 
Regarding devices, the world is moving from the era of personal computers to the era of personal computing. It’s what we do with the technology that becomes much more important than form factors. My belief is – we will see Indian consumers move towards a multi-device lifestyle. The PC, which Andy Grove called the ultimate Darwinian device, will continue to evolve and adapt to changing consumer needs just as it has done all these years. It will get thinner, lighter and capable of doing much more, and the lines between form factors is going to blur. With the innovation we are driving at the CPU level, our partners will have the increased ability to innovate much more around the look and feel and we will see very exciting form factors coming out, based on how consumers are using technology and emerging needs. 
 
A great example is the announcement of 2-in-1 computing. With the launch of the 4th Generation Intel® Core™ processor family, which will drive an unparalleled amount of innovation in the personal computing space, we will see the start of a new era of 2-in-1 computing. A 2-in-1 device works as a PC when you need it and a tablet when you want that, and you’ll soon start seeing a lot of these products in the market. The new Core family delivers the most significant increase in battery life in Intel history with an additional 50% improvement in battery life in active workloads over the previous generation. The 4th generation Intel Core processors, with Intel Iris Graphics, boast up to two times the performance over today’s fastest Intel HD Graphics, thus bringing mobile computing devices to life with built-in, eye-popping visual experiences. All of this is to meet the needs of today’s mobile and multi-tasking consumers. 
 
India is a large market with its set of challenges. Any experience you would like to share where Intel India has done fabulously well? 
Because of our commitment to long-term market development in India, I don’t see the country as a short-term sales opportunity. In fact, that is the biggest mistake one can make. In the short term, the market is and will continue to be one of the most challenging ones we have worked in. But the moment you balance short-term realities with long-term opportunities, the game changes. 
 One example is the <keyword id="1568547" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="National-Digital-Literacy-Mission">National Digital Literacy Mission</keyword> we launched last year. Post my return to the country last year, one of my first observations was that the industry was putting the cart before the horse. We were obsessively focused on just selling what we had, to the audience that was already tech savvy. As a result, it was a market share game for everyone while millions of families were still not connected to the Internet. 
 
There was an urgent need to pull together the industry and focus on creating tomorrow’s users – not just to grow the market but to increase technology usage and impact in the country. NDLM was created with this goal in mind. One of the key reasons why people did not use technology in India was that they did not know what to do with it. The objective of NDLM was to address that and drive digital literacy at the grassroots. Intel’s digital literacy training, Intel® Easy Steps, focuses on integration of technology in our daily lives in very simple ways and this training has received an overwhelming response. Along with our partners, we have worked with over 30 NGOs to train 1.7 million people in India in over a year. 
 
To be successful in India, you have to balance between short-term and long-term priorities, and you have to invest in market creation. These two are my mantras for Intel in India. 
 
Thanks to the new age ultra-books and tablets, the <keyword id="28355" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="PC-market">PC market</keyword> has seen a slow down? Has that affected business? 
As I said above, the personal computer is no longer defined by a form factor. Andy Grove once said that the PC is the ultimate Darwinian device – it will adapt to what consumers need. Right now, computing is evolving and the industry is in a period of transition and hyper-innovation. New shapes like tablets, 2-in-1s and new operating systems are blurring the traditional lines. We now have a much greater choice of devices; we typically own more devices and choose the right one for the task at hand. 
 
When you look across the spectrum of device form factors (i.e., desktop, notebook, Ultrabook, tablet and smartphone) and operating systems, personal computing is evolving and growing. Intel is well positioned to take advantage of the range of computing devices – from the lowest power portable devices to the most powerful data centre servers and everywhere in-between. 
 
In developing the 4th generation Core, Intel was successful in bringing down the power significantly to reach 6W SDP to power the Ultrabooks and will usher in a wave of new 2-in-1 designs. Furthermore, ‘Bay Trail-M’ and ‘Bay Trail-D’, the 22nm SoCs with PC feature sets, will be available later this year for value 2-in-1s, clamshell laptops, desktops and all-in-one computers, ultimately offering users a spectrum of computing products at a variety of affordable price points. Over the last decade, Intel has moved from a company that largely serves the PC industry to one that increasingly provides the vital intelligence inside all things computing. The beauty of all this is that – IF YOU GET IT RIGHT, the sum total of the devices will have more value for the consumers and industry than the individual device itself. That is the business model we are working towards. 
 
If I have to take a shot at predicting the future, I will say that it will see a multitude of devices and they will continue to get smarter, more power-efficient and more intuitive. And they will all have to talk to each other and work together. It is our goal to create that future with relentless innovation. 
 
How important is the rural <keyword id="47445" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="Indian-market">Indian market</keyword> for Intel? Any new front that Intel is working on here? 
As per a report by McKinsey, the number of people on the Internet in India will be around 330 million by 2015, making it the 2nd largest base worldwide. However, even with 330 million people connected, we will still be at an Internet penetration of 28%, far less than the projected global average of 43%. To achieve a penetration of nearly 40% by 2015, which would be similar to China’s Internet penetration at that date, India would need to have notched up more than 500 million Internet users. And that is impossible without the participation of rural India. So no debate on that one. 
 
However, the reality is that we cannot expect rural India to adopt the Internet unless and until they see the real relevance. And there lies the challenge. We have to start thinking differently about the market and what it takes to win, with the focus mostly on the following areas: 
 
- Increasing awareness about what the Internet can do in a way that is relevant to the audience. For instance, how farmers can use the Internet to get relevant information like weather details and mandi process to plan their transactions better and increase their earnings. The ability to increase income and productivity will be the most important drivers of faster adoption in the country. 
 
- Innovation at the software and hardware levels is a must to enable solutions that meet the needs of the target audience. As we move beyond the cities, the next wave of users will be largely local language users. 
 
But currently, none of the Indian languages features among the top 10 languages on the Internet. We will need to drive content and application in local languages to cater to the audience. We also need to drive innovations at the interface level to enable more intuitive ways of interacting with technology that simplifies ease of use. For example, the day a farmer can speak to his PC and get the latest weather information in his local language, we will see a real need for technology build up in rural India. The industry will also need to think through ecosystem innovation in areas like alternate power sources as lack of electricity is and will continue to be a key roadblock to Internet adoption and usage. 
 
- Both the government and the industry need to keep striving to bring down the total cost of access. There are several success stories globally where governments have driven special tax incentives or subsidies to accelerate adoption in rural segments, SME and education. These initiatives cannot just be about cheap device as the cost of broadband is the largest piece in the total cost of ownership. Also, given the need to drive inclusive growth, just depending on low-end devices for connectivity is not going to help India. 
 
- Last but not the least, we need to ensure there is last-mile access. While the government lays out the National Fibre Optic Network, there has to be steps taken to work with the industry to drive last-mile access plans. 
 
Currently our focus is more on understanding the rural audience. We are working with select NGO partners to conduct several pilots in rural India to understand how technology can help people. That is the best place to start the thinking. 
 
How do you see the fate of the tablet? It is not doing as well as the smartphone, but is definitely eating into the laptop pie. 
I honestly believe that the form factor innovation is just starting and we have seen nothing yet. I think the verdict is out on tablets as they currently exist – they’re here to stay! Today, consumers lead a highly mobile lifestyle and want to be connected at every step. Tablets and smartphones help them do just that. 
 
However, if you look at the usage aspect of ultra-mobile devices, a large part of the usage is for consumption purposes like reading, checking e-mail, social networking, etc., but when it comes to tasks related to creation, users still need something more and that’s where traditional devices like desktops and laptops come in. Still, a tremendous evolution in form factors in these traditional devices is also happening with all-in-one PCs, Ultrabooks and more recently, with the 2-in-1 devices. Intel is at the forefront of enabling the innovation in the personal computing space in all these areas. 
 
When can we see Intel partnering with major mobile brands such as Samsung and Nokia to launch some really powerful smartphones? 
It should come as no surprise that Intel is broadening its scope and delivering a range of sleek, new devices. We are accelerating our Android efforts overall and have multiple tablet projects in the works with dozens of customers. ASUS recently announced its Fonepad, a 7 inch handheld device powered by the new Intel® Atom™ Z2420 processor with 3G voice and mobile data for all the features of an Android smartphone and the convenience of a larger tablet display. Additionally, Samsung recently shared that its new Samsung Galaxy 3 tablets will be running on our Intel Atom Z2560 (Clover Trail +) processor platform and will offer the Android operating system. Our newest Atom platform, Bay Trail, is optimised for both Windows and Android. So we expect to see a number of these devices in 2013. 
 
How is the partnership with the XOLO brand going? Can we expect more smartphones coming under the same brand? Can you share some features they will have? 
We cannot comment on behalf of Lava on their product roadmap. However, what I can tell you is that the launch of the first Intel processor-based smartphone in the world happened right here in India with the launch of XOLO X900. Today, there are three XOLO phones with Intel processors. 
 
On a personal note, if you had the chance to design a tablet or a smartphone, what features (except the Intel Chipset) would you like to have in it? 
Well, the obvious one is that it will have to be an Intel-based device! But if I got a chance to actually design a device, I would like to create a device for the real India, for the millions of people who may not be fluent in English or may not even be literate, but can tremendously benefit from technology if they could use it. My dream device for India is the one that comes with built-in local language speech recognition capabilities, an intuitive interface that can recognise speech and gestures, thus reducing the need to key in words, and with a battery life that can last all day with a few hours of charging to take into account the sporadic access to power in most parts of the country. And yes, it needs to have the flexibility of a tablet and the performance of a laptop built in.

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