Category: Technology

NEW DELHI: Users of UbiSlate (Aakash) tablets will be able to use the tablet in English, Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, Punjabi and various other languages of India and the world.

Datawind has entered into a strategic alliance with Reverie Language Technologies of Bangalore to ensure that the Ubislate series of tablets will offer an end user experience in all major local languages of India and the world.

Datawind CEO Suneet Singh Tuli said, “We are very happy to have formed this strategic partnership with Reverie for supply of language solutions. We feel strongly that technology should reach every corner of the world and knowledge of English should not be a barrier. This language solution will benefit the users by offering a new world of services and products to a segment of world population that has been ignored for so long.”

Reverie Language Technologies CEO Arvind Pani said, “We are very excited to be part of Datawind family and getting a chance of making digital information available to the masses in their preferred language. We strongly believe that our alliance will go a long way in bridging the digital divide in the under-privileged communities across the world.”

An operating system level of integration will ensure that the complete user experience will be in the language of choice of the customer. UbiSlate tablets will have text-rendering technology capable of displaying all languages including complex scripts and keypads for all supported languages including transliteration technology.

Datawind will provide UbiSlate range of tablets and its services in all major local regional Indian and world languages. The language aware tablets will allow the information to be consumed and created in the preferred language of the user, freeing them from using English alone.

MUMBAI: Airtel Digital TV, the direct-to-home (DTH) business of Bharti Airtel, has posted an operating loss of Rs 1.94 billion for the fiscal fourth quarter.

The operating loss has stayed flat compared to a loss of Rs 1.95 billion it had suffered in the immediate trailing quarter. However, it has widened from Rs 1.46 billion in the year-ago period.

Airtel Digital TV‘s total revenue for the quarter rose to Rs 3.56 billion, from Rs 3.23 billion in the preceding quarter. Revenue for the year-ago period was at Rs 2.55 billion.

Airtel Digital TV’s Ebitda during the quarter stood at Rs 209 million, up 32 per cent from the earlier year. Cumulative investment on the segment stood at Rs 32.98 billion.

ARPU (average revenue per user) marginally improved to Rs 166, from Rs 160 in the earlier quarter, while the churn remained at 1.2 per cent.

The segment loss from the DTH to the telecom major for the full fiscal ended 31 March 2012 stood at Rs 7.2 billion, up from Rs 5.18 billion in the previous fiscal. The net revenue from the segment stood at Rs 12.96 billion, up from Rs 7.76 billion in the previous fiscal.

NEW DELHI: A total of 1,47,463 ( 59.49 % ) out of a total of 2,47,864 village panchayats had been covered with broadband connectivity as in March this year under Bharat Nirman, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Sh Milind Deora told the Lok Sabha.

A rural Wire-line Broadband Scheme has been launched under Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF) to increase broadband penetration in rural and remote areas. Under this scheme, BSNL will provide 8,88,832 wire-line broadband connections to individual users and Government Institutions over a period of five years. As on March 2012, a total of 3,58,978 broadband connections have been provided.

In states like MP, Chattisgarh and NE-II, the achievement of coverage of village panchayats under Bharat Nirman II is low (less than 25%). This is due to inaccessible and difficult terrain and law and order problems in some part of these states.

In its recommendations on National Broadband Plan (NBP), Trai had proposed that a 100 per cent central government-owned holding company, National Optical Fibre Agency (NOFA), be formed. In October 2011, the Government approved the scheme for creation of National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), for providing broadband connectivity to 250,000 village Panchayats. The objective of this scheme is to extend the existing optical fiber network to Panchayats by utilising the Universal Services Obligation Fund (USOF).The project is proposed to be completed in two years.

NOFN project will be executed by a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) – that is Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL), a company incorporated under Indian Companies Act 1956, fully owned by Central Government, with equity participation from Government, BSNL, Railtel and Power Grid. The company has been incorporated on 25.2.2012 for this purpose. BBNL is currently working out modalities for implementation of this project.

MUMBAI: Topps Sport & Entertainment is back with Cricket Attax 2012 based on the DLF Indian Premier League. Cricket Attax is the official trading card game of IPL.

This year the popular game will be available in a new avatar with all new Starter Packs and multi-packs in a veritable range of SKU’s ranging from Rs 15 to Rs 750.

Cricket Attax is a game for 2 players and the aim is to beat your opponent by scoring the most runs and losing the fewest wickets. Users can select and create their own team with the likes of Tendulkar, Dhoni, Sehwag, Virat, Gambhir, Kallis, Dravid, Ganguly, Gilchrist and Pollard just waiting to be found in card packets.

The Cricket Attax collection comprises primarily two key components – ‘Cards’ and ‘Starter Packs’. There are a total of 194 cards to be collected including 144 regular cards, 25 sliver effect foil cards and 25 gold effect foil cards. The packs also include Limited Edition cards of Sachin Tendulkar, MS Dhoni and Zaheer Khan.

Topps Sport & Entertainment head of India operations Sanjeev Katyal said, “Last year the brand brought in the culture of collectability and created a new category of collectables in India. The sales volumes created a history by reaching sales figures of nearly ten times than the nearest comparable toy collectable in the country. Given the enhanced depth and width of our offering and the massive scale of our marketing efforts, we are confident that this year we will multiply our reach both in terms of awareness and conversions at retail and set another new benchmark for Cricket Attax.”

Last year Topps India Sports & Entertainment Company introduced India to the collectable culture with the launch of the Topps Cricket Attax trading card game.

The game was launched with nationwide media and BTL campaign and spread like a viral to reach millions of kids across the country.

NEW DELHI: The Government is examining the recommendation by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India relating to “Auction of Spectrum”.

The Trai report of 23 April says the limit for acquisition of spectrum shall be 50 per cent of the spectrum assigned in each band in the respective service area, and 25 per cent of the total spectrum assigned in all bands put together in each service area.

Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology Milind Deora told Lok Sabha that initial spectrum of 4.4 / 6.2 MHz was allotted in the Cellular Mobile Telephone Services (CMTS) Licensees/Unified Access Service (UAS) Licensees as per the provisions of service license agreement, subject to availability.

Additional spectrum beyond initial spectrum was also allotted under the guidelines/orders/criteria in force at the time of such allotment, subject to availability.

MUMBAI: There is no cause for dissatisfaction on the carriage fee issue as this is the first time it has been brought under regulation, Trai chairman J S Sarma said.

Multi-system operators (MSOs) will have to carry a minimum of 500 channels from 1 January 2013, which means a large number of channels will be carried.

There is also the must-carry provision, Sarma told analysts on a conference call.

While the MSOs have the freedom to decide on the carriage fee, they will have to publish it. It has to be transparent and it is non-discriminatory across all channels. The carriage fee pricing is also frozen for two years and filed with the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). So no longer it is a flush of money going upfront in some kind of an informal arrangement.

If a broadcaster asks for a channel to be carried, there is obviously a carriage cost that will have to be paid. But there is no carriage fee in case a MSO seeks for a channel, Sarma pointed out.

The regulator can also intervene if the carriage fee is unreasonable, he added.

It may be recalled that the News Broadcasters Association (NBA) had expressed shock at Trai‘s tariff order for digital addressable systems as it has legitimised carriage fee.

Will consumers pay more for their cable TV? “There is enough competition on the ground. Consumers can go to DTH or to another MSO in places where there is competition among MSOs. Otherwise, they will lose to DTH. It will be a lost golden opportunity for them. They would also lose broadband. If the pricing is exorbitant and necessary, then Trai will intervene,” Sarma averred.

Sarma pointed out that the current cable TV ARPU is Rs 165. Trai‘s order has prescribed for Rs 100 for 100 free-to-air (FTA) channels and a minimum of Rs 150 for FTA and pay channels. “Cable operators are flexible in some pockets (poorer pockets like slums) and further drop their rates to the consumer. They will like to continue with it,” he added.

Will there be a shift in the deadline since the tariff order has just come and there is just two months to go? “I don‘t anticipate any change in date. The necessary set-top boxes (STBs) are ordered (there is a requirement of around 10 million STBs in the four metros that fall under digitisation in the first phase). Of course, it is for the Ministry to take a call on this (deadline date). But I believe there is no need not to stick to the deadline,” Sarma said.

MUMBAI: 9X Media has launched 9X Play, a series of gaming apps for 9XM fans on the digital platform. Users can download and play these games on their iPhones, iPads and Android devices.

9X Play offers a wide range of games with the 9XM animated characters including Bade, Chote, Silly Chicken, Bheegi Billi and Badshah Bhai.

9X Media Group VP digital Vibha Gosher said, “The gaming industry has seen a consistent growth in the last few years due to the advent of 3G and mobile gaming devices. The penetration of smart phones as portable entertainment devices has further catapulted the gaming industry manifold. The consumers are constantly on a look out for newer forms of entertainment.

“The animated characters of our network are extremely popular amongst the younger audiences. The thrill of interacting with the animated characters gave us the motivation to create these apps and games that would take them out of the TV sets and put them into the hands of our consumers.”

The key titles on 9X Play include Talking Silly Chicken, Talking Buddies, Angry 9XM Heroes, Silly Chicken, 9XM Jigsaw and Joke Central.

Gosher further added, “Our games have received a very warm welcome which further strengthens our belief that games with entertainment and characters with a story provide the gaming audience a 9XM experience on their personal iPad, iPhones or Android handsets.”

With digital games being popular amongst the females, 9X Play also has a Dress up Bhabhi Application on the iPad. Bhabhi has a huge following on 9X Tashan – the Punjabi music channel. The app gives users a chance to Dress up Bhabhi for the wedding season.

MUMBAI: The tariff order from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) ensuring digital rollout and allowing carriage fee has triggered a jump in the share prices of the listed multi-system operators (MSOs).

Shares of Hathway Cable and Datacom closed Wednesday at Rs 185.40, 19.23 per cent above its previous close on the BSE, missing the upper circuit by a small margin.

Den Networks also went up to touch an intraday high of Rs 116.90, before closing at Rs 110.80, 2.12 per cent above its previous close.

Hinduja Ventures, which operates IndusInd Media and Communications (IMCL), also saw a 2.83 per cent jump in the closing price to close at Rs 404 a share.

Shares of WWIL closed at Rs 10.18, up 4.73 per cent over the previous close.

Hathway Bhawani Cabletel and Datacom closed 4.93 per cent up on the BSE at Rs 17.45 per share, breaching the upper circuit thrice in one day.

NEW DELHI: A multi-system operator who seeks signals of a particular TV channel from a broadcaster cannot demand carriage fee for carrying that channel on its distribution platform. Similarly, a broadcaster cannot insist for placement of its channel in a particular slot as a pre-condition for providing signals.

The Telecommunication (Broadcasting and Cable Services) Interconnection (Digital Addressable Cable Television Systems) Regulations 2012 issued along with the Tariff Order states that if a broadcaster insists on placement in a particular slot, this will amount to imposition of unreasonable terms.

The Regulations say every broadcaster will provide signals of its TV channels on non-discriminatory basis to every MSO having the prescribed channel capacity and registered under rule 11 of the Cable Television Networks Rules 1994, making request for the same.

However, this will not apply to a MSO who is in default of payment and “imposition of any term which is unreasonable shall be deemed as a denial of request”.

Every broadcaster or his authorised agent will provide the signals of TV channels to a MSO within 60 days from the date of receipt of the request or give reasons for not doing so within the same period.

Every MSO while seeking interconnection with the broadcaster will have to ensure that its digital addressable system installed for the distribution of TV channels meets the digital addressable system requirements specified in the Schedule attached to the Regulations, and a broadcaster will point this out to the MSO in case it finds the DAS does not meet the requirements specified.

In such a situation, the MSO can get the Das audited by Broadcast Engineering Consultants India Ltd. (BECIL), or any other agency as may be specified by the Authority by direction issued from time to time and obtain a certificate from such agency that its system meets the requirements specified in Schedule I.

Every MSO operating in the areas notified by the Central Government under Section 4A(1) of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 should have the capacity to carry a minimum of 500 channels not later than the date mentioned in the notification applicable to area in which the MSO is operating.

An MSO operating in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai will have the capacity to carry a minimum of 200 channels as on 30 June 2012 and this will be enhanced to a minimum of 500 channels by 1 January 2013:

Provided further that all MSOs operating in the area referred to in the first provison and having subscriber base of less than 25,000 shall have the capacity to carry a minimum of 500 channels by 1 April 2013.

No broadcaster of TV channels can engage in any practice or activity or enter into any understanding or arrangement, including exclusive contract with any MSO for distribution of its channel which may prevent any other MSO from obtaining such TV channels for distribution.

Every broadcaster or his authorised agent who collects payment on behalf of such broadcaster shall issue monthly invoice to the MSO for providing signals and such invoice/s will clearly specify the current payment dues and arrears, if any, along with the due date for payment.

No MSO will enter into any understanding or arrangement with any broadcaster that may prevent any other broadcaster from obtaining access to the cable network of such MSO.

Every MSO will provide access on non-discriminatory basis to its network or convey the reasons for rejection of request to the broadcaster within 60 days of receipt of request from the broadcaster or its authorised agent or intermediary,

It will not be mandatory for a MSO to carry the channel of a broadcaster if the channel is not in regional language of the region in which the MSO is operating or in Hindi or in English language and the broadcaster is not willing to pay the uniform carriage fee published by the MSO in its Reference Interconnect Offer. But this will not apply to a broadcaster who has failed to pay the carriage fee as per the agreement and continues to be in default.

Trai has also clarified that imposition of unreasonable terms and conditions for providing access to the cable TV network will amount to the denial of request for such access. It will not be mandatory for the MSO to carry a channel for a period of next one year from the date of discontinuation of the channel, if the subscription for that particular channel in the last preceding six months is less than or equal to five per cent of the subscriber base of that MSO taken as an average of subscriber base of the preceding six months.

If a MSO before providing access to its network to a broadcaster insists on placement of the channel of such broadcaster in a particular slot or bouquet, such precondition will amount to imposition of unreasonable terms.

Every MSO shall publish in its Reference Interconnect Offer the carriage fee for carrying a channel of a broadcaster for which no request has been made by the multi system operator. The carriage fee will be uniform for all the broadcasters and will not be revised upwards for a minimum period of two years from the date of publication in the Reference Interconnect Offer.

Every MSO or his authorised agent who collects on behalf of such MSO the carriage fee from a broadcaster will issue monthly invoice/s to such broadcaster and such invoice/s will clearly specify the current payment dues and arrears, if any, along with the due date of payment.

Every MSO or their authorised agent shall provide the signals of TV Channels to a local cable operator in accordance with its reference interconnect offer or as may be mutually agreed, within 60 days from the date of receipt of the request. In case this is not agreed to, reasons will have to be conveyed for this within 60 days from the date of request.

Every MSO or his authorised agent who collects payment on behalf of such MSO from the local cable operator for providing signals will issue monthly invoice/s to such cable operator and such invoice/s will clearly specify the current payment dues and arrears, if any, along with the due date of payment.

Every demand of arrears under these regulations will be accompanied by the proof of service of invoices for the period for which the arrears pertain.

MUMBAI: Samsung Electronics has announced the launch of interactive and intuitive Smart TV models – its flagship LED ES8000 and ES7500 series and the Plasma E8000 series in India.

The new offering from the electronic major aims at breaking the physical boundaries between the consumer and screen. Its new voice control, motion control, and face recognition commands advance the user experience. The new technology enables users to turn the TV on or off, activate selected apps or search for and select content in the web browser, all without touching the remote, the company said.

The smart television series from Samsung feature a built-in camera that recognises movement in the foreground and microphones that recognise voice. It also has Blu-ray home theatre system with Vacuum Tube Amplifier to enrich audio experience.

Samsung India VP and business head- audio visual business Raj Kumar Rishi said, “Samsung‘s global leadership in televisions has rested on our continued thrust on innovation and excellence. In India too, we have been the first to introduce the latest, innovative technology products such as LED TVs, 3D TVs and now 2012 Smart Television series.

“Samsung‘s 2012 TV and AV strategy rests on three pillars: smart interaction, smart content, and smart evolution, and our 2012 Smart television range exemplify the same. I am confident that the new Smart television range will help us create new segments and further fuel the growth of the flat panel television market in India.”

Samsung‘s Smart TVs also provide a faster Smart TV experience powered by a new dual-core processor. Its AllShare Play, the essential tie between Samsung‘s products, content and services allows content to be pushed or pulled, regardless of the user‘s location, from device to device and device to cloud for limitless sharing. AllShare Play enables consumers to push content manually to the cloud or pull the content directly from their Smart TV or other mobile devices.

Samsung has strengthened its Smart TV content experience through the introduction of new services. The services allow for easier content sharing among families across TVs and a number of connected personal devices.

The Samsung Smart televisions, including LED and plasma models are priced in the range between Rs 37,700 to Rs 273,000.

Rishi added, “Even as we work towards enhancing the Indian consumers‘ experience by introducing India relevant applications for Smart televisions, we are also introducing new LED television models that have been especially developed for India.”

Samsung has launched the EH Series of LED TV in the screen sizes between 26″ to 46″ across Series 4, 5 and 6. It is priced between Rs 24,000 to Rs 94,900.

It has also launched Blu ray home theatre systems, HT-E6750W and HT-E4550K. While the HT-E6750W is priced at Rs 51,990, the HT -E4550K is priced at Rs 31,990.

Samsung has also launched five DVD home theatre systems, which is available in the price range of Rs 9,690 to Rs 23,990