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  • Tech trends to watch out in 2015

    Tech trends to watch out in 2015

     

    Every January brings along flood of predictions to guide us through the trends that will shape businesses in the coming year. With us already in 2015, it would be quite apt to list down a few of our expectations for this year. So here are the top 5 tech trends we can expect to take off in 2015.

     

    Mobility: 2015 will see mobility becoming even more pervasive. According to a recent survey by Citrix, 71 per cent of the enterprises believe that mobility is a top priority while 63 per cent believe it to be the biggest factor in helping them gain a competitive advantage. These stats surely speak aloud about the future of mobility, which will see lots of enterprise applications getting native mobile interface. Many new applications will start with mobile first design and implementation. Along with this, mobile devices (including tablets) will become smarter and more powerful with much better computation and storage capabilities.

     

    Cloud Computing: Trend of cloud computing will continue to grow in this year. With large growth in data storage, more and more applications being delivered on SaaS model, cloud computing will keep growing. According to a study by Gartner, 50 per cent of the enterprises will use hybrid cloud by 2017. This clearly implies that we should be seeing more hybrid clouds where there is an easier integration between private and public clouds keeping different security requirements in mind.

     

    Wearables / Smarter Devices: Market for wearables will expand exponentially. 2015 should see some of innovative prototypes finally coming of age and in mass production and usage. They can be smart watches, google glasses or phones capable of monitoring health parameters and providing value added services.

     

    Smart Data / Intelligent Analytics: Some of the problems being faced in Big Data space about gaining actionable insights rapidly from mountains of data being stored will be resolved. This will lead to further adoption of Big Data in large number of enterprises and products. We should also witness easy integration and innovative usage of Big Data in varied business contexts.

     

    Mobile Identities: With us living in a mobile-driven world, mobile identity emerges as a very critical concern. User’s private and public identity will be more effectively and seamlessly used across applications and devices. This will enhance user-experience, more context specific and personalised services.

     

    (These are purely personal views of IntelliGrape VP Engineering Narinder Kumar and indiantelevision.com does not necessarily subscribe to these views.)

  • National Optic Fibre Network cost escalates by Rs 10,000 crore

    National Optic Fibre Network cost escalates by Rs 10,000 crore

    NEW DELHI: A total of 97,480 km of National Optic Fibre Network (NOFN) is planned in the first phase out of the total envisaged – 244,729 km – in 36 states and union territories in the country.

     

    The government had set a budget of Rs 20,000 crore for the project, but Ministry sources informed Indiantelevision.com that the cost had already escalated to Rs 30,000 crore.

     

    Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told the Parliament that work was at various stages in all the planned regions.

     

    The NOFN aims to connect all Gram Panchayats in the country through optical fibre cable (OFC) by bridging the connectivity gap between Gram Panchayats and Blocks for providing broadband.

     

    Meanwhile, the number of fibre to the home (FTTH) and fibre to the building (FTTB) subscribers in Europe has soared, increasing by 50 per cent over the 12 months ending December 2014, according to the latest update to the FTTH Ranking announced at a press conference held at the FTTH Conference in Warsaw.

     

    There are now nearly 15 million FTTH/B subscribers in the European continent (14.5 million) – not including Russia and the Ukraine, which would add a further 14.8 million homes to the total (Source: FTTH market panorama prepared by IDATE for FTTH Council Europe).

  • Govt to launch Internet Safety Plan in collaboration with Google

    Govt to launch Internet Safety Plan in collaboration with Google

    NEW DELHI: The government is launching an Internet Safety Plan throughout the country. In this regard MyGov held the first round table in the capital in collaboration with Google and Computer Emergency Response Team-India (Cert-In) this week.

     

    The Plan is being launched by the Department of Electronics and Information and Technology in collaboration with Google and Cert-In.

     

    DeitY additional secretary Tapan Ray chaired the round table, which was attended by DeitY joint secretary Dr. Rajendra Kumar, MyGov CEO Gaurav Dwivedi, and representatives from Google India, NCERT, CBSE, Cert-In, the New Media Wing of Information and Broadcasting Ministry, and the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT).

     

    Ray laid out the vision of the Department in promoting Digital India, which is also to be Safe Digital India and complimented MyGov’s efforts in inviting suggestions from citizens in educating the youth on how to be digitally safe.

     

    As part of the Digital Literacy and Internet Safety Campaign initiated by MyGov, Ray suggested a year round programme to raise awareness of key policy makers on issues of internet safety. The programme would include roundtables, workshops, security cafes, and contests for young adults, policymakers, and NGOs.

     

    Speaking about the initiative, Dwivedi said, “We are happy to partner with Google and Cert-In in the cyber security education and awareness campaign.  The Internet offers many opportunities to explore create and collaborate. We are starting a nationwide campaign sensitizing our youth and policy makers in Mission Safer Internet. Google and Cert-In are our partners in this effort and are committed to keeping our users safe and secure.”

     

    MyGov, in collaboration with all stakeholders, is also expected to issue awareness guidelines soon on various safety measures, which can be followed by government officials, schools, guardians and other vulnerable sections.

     

    Google’s Public Policy India head Chetan Krishnaswamy said, “The Internet has brought a number of incredible things to the world. But it’s also important that it be a safe space for families to explore, learn and enjoy together. To enable this and ensure that families and young people across India are safe, we’re working with CERT- In and MyGov to get the word out about good Internet practices and how to keep users safe online.”

     

    Measures to take Internet safety practices for two specific target groups- government officials, children and young adults were discussed at the round table. Over 650 ideas received from MyGov users on the issue were also presented during the today’s meeting and were debated upon.

     

    As a precursor to the round table, MyGov had announced a poster making contest and online discussion among teens and youth in India to celebrate Internet Safety Week from 10 to 17 February.

  • Netflix expands original TV series portfolio for kids with five new shows

    Netflix expands original TV series portfolio for kids with five new shows

    MUMBAI: Working with award-winning global partners, Netflix is adding five new animated and live-action comedy series to its selection of high-quality kids and family entertainment.

     

    “We’ve seen great characters and rich storytelling work for a global audience time and time again. That’s why we’re proud to be working with some of the industry’s best producers and animators on these shows and we can’t wait for kids and families all over the world to get to know these stories,” said Netflix vice president of global independent content Erik Barmack.

     

    The new shows are Danger Mouse, Inspector Gadget, Some Assembly Required, Bottersnikes & Gumbles and Super 4.

     

    Danger Mouse will release in Spring 2016 and the new animated series features all the classic characters, catchphrases and comedy that made it an 80’s cult favorite. Originally a loose parody of British spy fiction, this new Danger Mouse series will feature British actor and comedian, Stephen Fry, as Colonel K. Netflix will premiere the show in North America, Latin America, Nordics, Benelux and Japan with all other Netflix territories launching at a later date.

     

    Inspector Gadget is back in an all-new CGI animated series this March. The 26-episode series, produced by DHX Media, premieres exclusively in the US on Netflix and will join the service at a later date in Latin America, the UK, Ireland, Benelux, France and the Nordics – after the initial broadcast in each country.

     

    As the new owner of Knickknack Toys, fourteen-year old Jarvis Raines hires a group of friends from school to help him create awesome new toys. Following the teens’ comedic day-to-day adventures, Some Assembly Required – the live-action series created by Dan Signer and Howard Nemetz and produced by Thunderbird Films, stars Kolton Stewart, and Charlie Storwick. Netflix will premiere the series this summer in all Netflix territories this year, except in Canada, where it is currently the #1 show on YTV.

     

    Bottersnikes & Gumbles is a fast-paced community comedy series that follows the adventures of three young Gumbles -Tink, Bounce and Willi. This new CGI-animated series is created by Cheeky Little, Mighty Nice and CAKE and co-commissioned by Netflix, BBC and Channel 7 Australia. The first 13 episode season will debut exclusively on Netflix around the world in 2016, with the UK and Australia launching at a later date.

     

    In addition, Super 4, a brand new CGI animated series inspired by PlayMobil, makes its US premiere in April on Netflix. Super 4 follows four main characters – Alex the Knight, Ruby the Pirate, Agent Gene, and Twinkle the Fairy – as they explore the distinct islands of their planet, fight bad guys, and have fun along the way.

     

    In 2011, Netflix launched a dedicated section for kids under 12 years old featuring TV shows and movies from great partners like PBS, Disney Channel, DreamWorks, Cartoon Network, Mattel, Hasbro, Lego and Scholastic, all in a commercial free environment. In 2012, Netflix and the Walt Disney Company signed an industry-first agreement making Netflix the Pay TV home of all live action and animated feature films released by Disney theatrically beginning in 2016.  Additionally, all DreamWorks feature films are now available on Netflix in the Pay TV window. DreamWorks is also creating 300 hours of original kids shows exclusively for Netflix, including Turbo F.A.S.T., All Hail King Julien, Puss In Boots, Dragons and DinoTrux.

  • Privcap Media launches new game show for private equity

    Privcap Media launches new game show for private equity

    MUMBAI: Privcap Media has released a new video series, called PPM Smackdown, that shows seasoned private equity investors applying sophisticated analysis to fictitious private equity funds.

     

    The series brings to life the kinds of robust debate and deeply researched decision-making that typically takes place behind closed doors.

     

    “Private equity is an asset class in need of greater education and transparency, and we think PPM Smackdown is a fun step in the right direction. The regulatory peculiarities of private equity make it hard for industry professionals to openly express their views about specific funds and firms. By using fictitious fund offerings, the experts on our program can offer illuminating analysis of fund attributes they frequently encounter in real life,” said Privcap CEO and co-founder David Snow.

     

    PPM stands for Private Placement Memorandum, the ubiquitous and confidential marketing books used in private equity fundraisings.

     

    The first three episodes of PPM Smackdown focus on three fictitious private equity fund offerings:

     

    PebbleOak Fund II – being raised by a Chicago middle-market buyout firm whose uneven track record includes one big exit and one big bankruptcy

    TKTK Capital Fund VI – offered by a London mega-firm that generated weak performance through the Great Recession and saw heavy turnover among its investment professional

    Kramer Healthcare Fund I – a Los Angeles specialist investor that split with a predecessor firm and now takes credit for only the best-performing deals

     

    Each episode includes conversation among the three featured private equity experts namely Cambridge Associates MD Andrea Auerbach, PineBridge Investments managing director – global head of Private Funds Group Steven Costabile, OptiCulture Private Equity Consulting founder and Street Partners former partner Dr. Timothy Kelly.

     

    In addition to discussing the team and track record of each fund offering, the experts each reveal one fictitious due diligence finding and describe how these revelations might affect their decision on whether to commit capital to the fund.

  • Axis Bank tops Twitter Brand Index for week 2 of ICC Cricket World Cup

    Axis Bank tops Twitter Brand Index for week 2 of ICC Cricket World Cup

    MUMBAI:  Social media platform Twitter has released the list of top advertisers who were successful in using the micro blogging platform to reach out to their respective audiences through digital conversations, for week two during the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. 

     

    The list has been compiled using an aggregate of re-tweets, favourites and replies, to come up with the Twitter Brand Index to acknowledge the top five brands from over 50 brands.

     

    Axis Bank has continued to build engagement around cricketing rituals. Knowing how big the game is in India people have been tweeting about how they do not take baths before games, drink water during games or (more popularly) leave their seats when a particular player is on a roll. Axis Bank used this insight to great effect by inviting people to share their rituals. “They’ve been able to sustain engagement by continuing activity on Twitter beyond just Match Days to having an always on strategy,” states the report. The top tweet for this campaign has been- https://twitter.com/AxisBank/status/569127038268923905

     

    Secondly Nike continues to rally the Indian Supporter around the hashtag #BleedBlue Chant. This week they shared more Bleed Blue stories and asked people to share theirs. This has been one of the unifying hashtags this World Cup and Nike continues to bring the Indian fan under the Bleed Blue umbrella. The campaign top tweet for the second week has been: https://twitter.com/nikecricket/status/569329658765778944 

     

    Thirdly Kit Kat India won the conversation this week with their casual banter on Twitter with their counterparts in South Africa. The flags of the two teams were overlaid on Kit Kat chocolate bars as part of the campaign. This also was the most retweeted tweet this week. The top tweet was: https://twitter.com/KitKatIndia/status/568740943597162497

     

    Meanwhile Club Mahindra has continued to find creative ways to integrate stories from their resorts into the larger cricket conversation on Twitter. The report says that it had seen a jump into non India matches as well and when New Zealand defeated England they drew parallels between scenic locations in New Zealand with one of their locations here in India. The top tweet for Club Mahindra’s campaign was: https://twitter.com/clubmahindra/status/568644082374832128

     

    And finally Cadbury 5 Star was able to bring together the Audio Card on Twitter during match day on Sunday and their brand assets – the twin duo of Ramesh and Suresh – to bring to their consumers specific commentary, pitch reports and post match analysis in the Ramesh and Suresh style. The top tweet for this campaign was: https://twitter.com/Cadbury5Star/status/569452254522003457

  • ErosNow to showcase SET and Sab TV shows

    ErosNow to showcase SET and Sab TV shows

    MUMBAI: Eros International Media’s on-demand entertainment portal ErosNow has added shows from Sony Entertainment Television (SET) and Sab to its catalogue. The content will be available to members at no extra subscription costs.

     

    Since most of the shows are currently on-air, archived content will be made available on the platform as well. Shows like CID, Taarak Mehat Ka Ooltah Chasmah and Balveer will be made available to subscribers on the platform.

     

    ErosNow CEO Rishika Lulla Singh said, “We are very excited to have partnered with one of India’s leading entertainment player Sony for providing premium television content on ErosNow platform. This strengthens our library with prime television programming from Sony and Sab and helps deliver our subscribers with wide range of soaps, serials and reality shows. With this, we are offering extensive content from four leading entertainment channels and are confident this content will be enjoyed worldwide on ErosNow.” 

     

    Multi Screen Media EVP & head digital business Uday Sodhi added, “We’re always looking to associate with leading entertainment portals to syndicate our content and expand our audience base. Digital syndication is a key focus for us and it’s important for us that we work with established and quality players in this space and from that perspective, ErosNow was a perfect fit.”

  • Facebook launches app for advertisers, to be available worldwide soon

    Facebook launches app for advertisers, to be available worldwide soon

    NEW DELHI: Facebook has now reached more than two million active advertisers, up from 1.5 million roughly half a year ago and 1 million a year-and-a-half ago.

     

    In addition, the company has announced the ads manager app to help businesses manage their ad campaigns on-the-go, through their mobile device.

     

    The app is presently available in the United States but will soon be available throughout the world.

     

    Around 35 per cent of US small businesses do not have a web presence at all, but more than 30 million businesses around the world actively use Facebook pages because they are free, easy to use, and they work well on mobile.

     

    Facebook is helping businesses to grow, as it is easy – Facebook’s tools are easier than ever to use. It is Mobile – the consumer shift to mobile is making more business owners want to use Facebook’s mobile tools to reach customers and manage their businesses. Facebook ads are effective, claims the social media site.

  • India – South Africa match garners 2 billion impressions: TO THE NEW report

    India – South Africa match garners 2 billion impressions: TO THE NEW report

    MUMBAI: India’s stellar performance against South Africa during the Sunday match did not enthral fans at just the stadium and homes but also set social media abuzz. Digital services provider – TO THE NEW has come up with a comprehensive report on the post match analysis of India versus South Africa that trended on social media platforms.

     

    According to the report, the match generated an estimated two billion impressions, which were garnered from 4,16,339 Twitter mentions by 3,18,041 users. Close to 77 per cent of these came from males while 23 per cent was by females.

     

    When the conversation is further broken up, 58 per cent (2,40,509 mentions) came from re-tweets, 39 per cent (1,62,852 mentions) came from regular tweets while the remaining three per cent (12,978 mentions) were from replies.

     

    In terms of tweet volume, the top five cities from where tweets came from are Mumbai (25 per cent), New Delhi (19 per cent), and Bangalore (10 per cent). Pune and Chennai complete the list with five per cent each volume.

     

    The report also provides the geographical breakup of the social media buzz. India stands at 73.80 per cent followed by Saudi Arabia at a distant 9.40 per cent. Neighbouring Pakistan is placed at 4.50 per cent, USA at two per cent while other countries put together made up for 7.40 per cent.

     

    When these tweets were analysed in terms of sentiments, a majority of 75 per cent of the tweets were positive in nature while 23 per cent were negative. A minor two per cent were neutral in nature.

     

    When it came to player mentions M.S Dhoni topped the Indian list as the Indian captain was the most mentioned on Twitter. The list is then followed by Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina and Mohammad Shami. From South Africa, Hashim Amla topped the charts followed by AB de Villiers, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir and Quinton De Kock.

     

    The top trending hash tags were #INDvsSA, which received 145,356 mentions, #CWC15 received 38,636 mentions. The hash tag #SAvsIND came third with 7,777 mentions. The other prominent hash tags were #maukamauka, #wontgiveitback, #dhawan, and #poonampandeykobulao.

     

    The report also states that compared to the pre-match buzz, there is around 7,384 per cent increase in mentions around the hashtag #INDvsSA.

  • India Vs Pakistan match creates digital viewership record

    India Vs Pakistan match creates digital viewership record

    MUMBAI: The high voltage ICC Cricket World Cup match between India and Pakistan created global history by recording more than 25 million views on Star’s digital platform Hotstar and Starsports.com. This is the highest ever video views for a single game in any sporting event across the globe in one country.

     

    The number has significantly surpassed online views for any sports event in the world. No other sports event, including the National Football League (NFL) Super Bowl or the Wimbledon, has ever received more than five million unique online views on a single platform on a given day.

     

    Star India COO Sanjay Gupta said, “The opening day of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 registered 6.5 million video views and 5.4 million unique visitors across web, mobile and app on our digital platforms. This was over double the prior record high set last year. Next day, the India Pakistan match created history in online sports viewership with 25 million views for the game on two of our digital platforms — hotstar and starports.com. This has set a new record for the highest number of video views on the digital platform ever for a single match of any sport across the globe.”

     

    The prior record highs in video views were set during India – Sri Lanka game on 13 November, 2014 with 3.6 million video views and the IPL Semi-final on 28 May, 2014 with 3.2 million video views.

     

    Hotstar is the newly launched digital platform with compelling content across sports, TV shows and movies in seven languages. With four million downloads in 15 days, the application has witnessed the fastest adoption of any digital service in the world. Hotstar has been built to adapt to Indian conditions and can work on lower bandwidth. It can operate on speeds as low as 64 Kbps, and ideally on speeds of 128 Kbps.