Applications

Vertu Constellation touches base in India

Published

20 years ago

August 24, 2006

MUMBAI: Vertu, luxury mobile phone manufacturers unveiled their new collection of hand crafted handsets ‘Constellation‘ in Mumbai today. To cater to a niche clientele, this range offers seven handsets as part of its collection and targets globe trotters.

Crafted by creative director Frank Nuovo, the inspiration for this collection has be derived from an aircraft and thus, the details on the phone resemble the wing form, propellers and air inlets. The Constellation collection ranges from stainless steel to gold finishes with an array of colourful leather backs and the distinguishing feature of a ceramic keypad that is said to be scratch resistant. Depending on the model the price could differ from two to nine lakhs.

“The fluid surface developments are inspired by classic aircraft – in particular, the classic cross section of the leading edge of wings combined with the high polished metal and small fasteners along many edges. Symbolically, the microphone port design is a subtle tribute to the powerful force that made our first aircraft fly – a classic propeller fan. Vertu Constellation has a sleek and confident low profile. Leather is a dominant material to increase the tactile delight in the hand. I wanted the elegant sophistication and dramatic appeal of Vertu Signature with a slight softening and a small degree of visual simplification of form and line”, said Frank Nuovo.

Showcased by Vertu Global marketing director Chris Harris, the collection is being distributed solely by Matrix Distribution Pvt. Ltd. Currently available in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai, the later half of this year will see outlets in Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chandigarh. It will be available at select high end jewellry and watch outlets like Popley La Classique at the Grand Hyatt in Mumbai, The Helvetica at Spencer‘s Plaza in Chennai, Rodeo Drive in Bangalore, the Johnson Watch Company and the Regent Watch and Jewellry Co. Maurya Sheraton Hotel in New Delhi.

The collection will be showcased in fashion and lifestyle magazines and the buzz created around this brand should provide incentive enough for high flyers to make their style statement with this new accessory.

When queried about the demand for such a high end phone in the Indian market, Matrix Distributors Pvt Ltd Tusshar Alvani said, “The brand value of Vertu is huge internationally and in India too we have far exceeded our expectations. This is a luxury phone that gives a sense of accomplishment and reward to its owner.”

Taking luxury travel to another dimension ‘Constellation‘ is the third addition to the Vertu stable. Prior to this, Vertu launched its Signature and Ascent collections based on the themes of luxury watches and Formula 1, respectively. The Signature collection used precious metals and the upper end model a platinum solitaire diamond handset was priced at 22 lakhs, while the Ascent F1 race track series gives the aggressive look and feel associated with the sport.

“The design of Vertu Constellation began with the precise understanding of our achievements with both the Vertu Signature and the Vertu Ascent models. The Vertu Constellation design was conceived in order to complement both of these Vertu originals and reinforce the style and design quality of the Vertu Brand,” stated Nuovo.

Vertu Constellation was designed to assist the demanding traveller encompassing a quad-band engine with connection in over 180 countries around the globe; real-time flight tracking that enables Vertu Constellation to provide flight information, in the lounge or en-route to the airport. The real-time currency converter provides correct currency information when required, and the world clock tells the time at home as well as away, in up to three locations simultaneously. To complete the navigation facility Vertu Constellation has world weather facilities that let one know exactly what to expect when you get to your destination.

Vertu Concierge complements the Vertu Constellation and allows one button access to lifestyle services 24 hours a day from virtually anywhere in the world. Vertu Concierge can help from recommending local restaurants and making theatre bookings, or simply sending a gift to someone around the globe.

Available at 300 authorised retailers across 40 countries worldwide, the brand has also made its mark in India with Sabyasachi, Shobha De, Leander Paes and Atul Kasbekar posing as its brand ambassadors. The Ascent F1 model was gifted to SRK by Karan Johar, in addition, other owners of Vertu phones include Katrina Kaif and Jaya Bachchan, while the Beckham couple along with pop diva Madonna also own Vertu phones.

Applications

Moltbook, the AI-only social network, sparks hype, doubt and fear

Published

1 month ago

February 3, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

CALIFORNIA: Moltbook, a Reddit-style social platform built exclusively for artificial intelligence agents, has emerged as the latest obsession in Silicon Valley, drawing intense attention for its explosive growth and surreal bot-driven interactions.

The platform hosts more than 100 communities where AI agents post, argue and joke about topics ranging from governance theory to esoteric “crayfish debugging” concepts. Within days of launch, Moltbook recorded tens of thousands of posts, nearly 200,000 comments and more than 1 million human visitors observing the activity.

Yet the numbers and the autonomy are under scrutiny, as per media reports. A security researcher has suggested as many as 500,000 accounts may trace back to a single address, raising doubts about Moltbook’s membership claims. Many posts could also be the result of humans instructing their AI tools to publish content, rather than bots acting independently.

The platform runs on agentic AI, powered by an open-source tool called OpenClaw, formerly known as Moltbot. Unlike chatbots such as ChatGPT or Gemini, these agents are designed to perform tasks on users’ devices, from sending messages to managing calendars, with minimal human input. Once authorised, they can interact freely on Moltbook.

Some tech figures have hailed the platform as a glimpse of a post-human internet. Head of crypto custody firm BitGo Bill Lees, called it evidence that “we’re in the singularity”.

Academics are less convinced. Petar Radanliev, an AI and cybersecurity expert at the University of Oxford, said the idea of agents acting independently was “misleading”, describing Moltbook instead as automated coordination within human-set constraints. Columbia Business School assistant professor David Holtz, dismissed the spectacle as “thousands of bots yelling into the void and repeating themselves”.

Beyond hype, security worries loom large. ESET global cybersecurity advisor Jake Moore, warned that granting AI agents access to emails, private messages and files risks prioritising efficiency over privacy. Andrew Rogoyski of the University of Surrey said high-level system access could lead to serious damage, from erased data to compromised company accounts.

Even OpenClaw’s founder Peter Steinberger, has felt the darker side of attention, with scammers hijacking his old social media handles after the platform’s rebrand.

For now, Moltbook remains a strange digital zoo: part experiment, part spectacle, where AI agents banter about philosophy, productivity and, occasionally, their fondness for their human operators.

Applications

Apple appoints Avtar Ram Singh as head of international marketing

Published

1 month ago

February 2, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

CALIFORNIA: Apple has handed a bigger global brief to a long-time insider. Avtar Ram Singh has taken over as head of international marketing for the App Store, Apple Arcade and the Apple Games app, deepening his remit across one of the company’s fastest-growing businesses.

“I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as head of international marketing, App Store, Apple Arcade and Games App at Apple,” Singh said while announcing the move.

The promotion crowns nearly seven years at Apple, where Singh has led services marketing across Southeast Asia and India and previously served as head of marketing for Southeast Asia content and services, business lead for Apple Podcasts in the region and interim marketing lead for the App Store internationally.

His new portfolio spans three pillars of Apple’s services push. The App Store, which Apple positions as a safe and trusted discovery platform, now attracts more than 850 million average weekly users globally. Since 2008, developers have earned over $550 billion on the platform.

Apple Arcade, the company’s gaming subscription service, offers unlimited access to a catalogue ranging from brain teasers to big-name franchises. The recent addition of Sid Meier’s Civilization VII Arcade Edition brings a AAA PC title to iPhone, iPad and Mac from 5 February.

Then there is the Apple Games app, unveiled at WWDC as a unified destination for games from the App Store and Arcade. It aggregates titles in one place, surfaces personalised recommendations, tracks events and achievements, and lets users compete with friends or connect controllers for a console-like experience.

Singh arrives with a hybrid background in strategy, data and creativity. His career spans digital and social media marketing, business intelligence, content, editorial and analytics across culturally diverse markets. He has worked on brands including P&G, Accor, Audi, UBS, Nikon, Samsung, Sony, Pizza Hut, HBO and Singapore Airlines-linked businesses such as Scoot.

Before Apple, Singh led strategy at Falcon Agency, focusing on performance marketing and ROI-driven digital frameworks. He earlier ran the social practice at Publicis Singapore, where he oversaw operations, business development and regional social strategy for multinational clients. His career also includes roles at Ogilvy-linked Circus Social, Rocket Internet ventures Lazada and Zalora, and research firm IDC in Bangkok, where he analysed technology markets and won early awards for collaboration and client retention.

At Apple, he has been close to several service launches and expansions, including Apple Fitness+ in Singapore, Apple Creator Studio, global podcast subscriptions and new App Store marketing tools.

The timing is notable. Apple’s services business has posted record years, and gaming is becoming a sharper battleground as platforms chase engagement and recurring revenue. Singh’s brief sits at the intersection of content, community and commerce.

In a market where attention is scarce and loyalty scarcer, Apple is betting that sharper storytelling and smarter marketing can keep users inside its ecosystem. Singh now holds the megaphone. The real test will be how loudly the world listens.

Applications

Cloud nine in the capital Bharathcloud plugs Delhi into its AI plans

Published

1 month ago

January 30, 2026

indiantelevision.com Team

MUMBAI: Bharathcloud is bringing its cloud closer to power. The Hyderabad-based sovereign AI cloud services provider has opened its Delhi office, marking its formal entry into North India and setting the stage for its next phase of growth.

The expansion comes as India’s digital transformation fuels rising demand for AI-ready cloud infrastructure, driven by wider adoption of artificial intelligence, machine learning, the Internet of Things and data-heavy applications. With the new office, Bharathcloud plans to onboard more than 100 employees in 2026, strengthening its workforce to support customers across government, enterprises, MSMEs and social sectors.

The Delhi presence is expected to sharpen the company’s engagement with organisations seeking secure, scalable and cost-efficient cloud platforms that comply with India’s data sovereignty requirements. It also positions Bharathcloud closer to policy, public sector and enterprise decision-makers in the region.

Founded in Hyderabad, Bharathcloud offers AI-ready cloud infrastructure including Kubernetes-as-a-Service, zero-trust security architecture and multi-level data protection frameworks. Its platform supports AI and ML workloads, blockchain application migration from hyperscalers and distributed data management, with an emphasis on reliability, low latency and operational continuity.

“With the Delhi expansion, we are positioning Bharathcloud to engage more closely with AI-driven enterprises and technology hubs in North India,” said Bharathcloud co-founder Rahul Takallapally. He added that the move would help nurture local cloud and AI talent while accelerating the adoption of secure and resilient AI infrastructure across sectors.

The company currently operates in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow and Chennai, employing over 200 people and serving more than 1,500 clients across manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, IT and media. Aligned with national initiatives such as Digital India and Make in India, Bharathcloud continues to focus on building indigenous AI-cloud infrastructure to support data localisation and the country’s growing appetite for next-generation digital solutions.

With its Delhi office now live, the company is signalling a clear intent: to make sovereign, AI-ready cloud infrastructure not just an alternative, but a mainstream choice for India’s north as well as its tech capitals.