Category: Software

MUMBAI: E-commerce firm Snapdeal.com has launched its mobile site for enabling ease of access for customers on the go. The WAP portal offers various payment options too, including cash on delivery.

Snapdeal.com business head – mobile Rishabh Arora said, “This will make Snapdeal available to a much wider audience of mobile subscribers and strengthen our presence.”

The WAP portal, which can be accessed on every mobile phone, allows secure payment options through both credit and debit card and also allows for COD.

Snapdeal.com was launched in February 2010 and features deals everyday on retail services merchants such as restaurants, health and beauty, entertainment, branded products like mobile phones, electronics, perfumes, watches, bags, sunglasses, travel and weekend getaways.

MUMBAI: Business and career networking space ApnaCircle today announced the launch of ApnaCircle for BlackBerry smartphones. The app allows BlackBerry smartphone users to easily connect and manage their professional network while they are on the move.

The new application provides tools that will help them increase their online visibility and give them a convenient way of connecting with their professional network on ApnaCircle.com. The application leverages BlackBerry Push Services to give users instant updates on industry happenings and news, and lets users immediately view, accept or decline requests to connect from other users. BlackBerry users can also easily share links with their ApnaCircle contacts directly from the BlackBerry browser.

ApnaCircle.com founder and CEO Yogesh Bansal said, “With more and more professionals using BlackBerry smartphones, launching our BlackBerry application was quite imperative. This application helps ApnaCircle users conveniently access their professional network while mobile, and we plan to add additional features beyond this first release.”

Research In Motion head of alliances and developer relations in India Annie Mathew said, “Features such as BlackBerry Push Services, and the ability to easily integrate with core BlackBerry applications, give developers the means to create richer and more robust application experiences for customers.”

ApnaCircle.com started with 20 thousand users in 2007 and today consists of more than 3.6 million users in India. Post the merger with Viadeo, ApnaCircle has become a part of the second biggest professional networking site in the world with over 36 million users globally

MUMBAI: Wire and Wireless (India) Limited (WWIL) has posted a net loss of Rs 147.3 million for the third quarter of the fiscal ended 31 December 2011. The net loss has widened, compared to Rs 103.9 million the company had posted in the corresponding quarter of the previous fiscal.

Meanwhile, WWIL has managed to show profit at the operational level. Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization (Ebitda) stood at Rs 46 million, up 5.2 per cent compared to Rs 43.7 million a year ago.

WWIL chairman Subhash Chandra said, “With WWIL showing consistently improved operational performance quarter-on-quarter, and with all its infrastructure and systems in place, the company is set to benefit immensely from digitisation.”

WWIL’s operating revenue for the quarter stood at Rs 871.7 million as compared to Rs 744.4 million during the corresponding quarter last fiscal, indicating a 17.1 per cent growth.

The company said that operating revenue is primarily generated from subscriber related income, income from bandwidth charges, income from advertisements and other operating revenues.

Total consolidated operating expenses stood at Rs 911.2 million, up 28.3 per cent as against to Rs 710.2 million during the corresponding quarter last fiscal. Major cost item was cost of goods and services recorded as Rs 639.2 million during the quarter, representing 66.8 per cent of the total revenue in comparison to Rs 518.3 million in the corresponding quarter of the last fiscal, a 68.8 per cent share of the total revenue.

WWIL COO Anil Malhotra said, “Amid stressed economic environment, WWIL maintained its momentum in the third quarter. Our consolidated revenue and Ebitda grew to Rs 957.1 million and Rs 46 million respectively, a healthy growth of 26.9 per cent and 5.2 per cent over corresponding quarter of last fiscal. We will continue to work towards making the existing business self-sustainable as well as expand our footprint to new strategically important geographies.”

MUMBAI: Tongue Tracer, a new mobile gaming franchise created by BBC Worldwide Digital Entertainment and Games, is now available to download for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.

In the game, players take control of a colour-changing chameleon named Chuck. He’s on the run from a hungry eagle, and needs to hide fast, but swarms of devious bugs are trying to give away his location.

Players use touch screen controls to trace a path directing Chuck’s lightning fast tongue past hazardous objects and dangerous creatures, so he can slurp up enough coloured bugs to blend into the leaves behind him.

Tongue Tracer is a fast paced, accessible game for all ages, where the levels start simply but become increasingly more challenging. There are 90 levels in total, each with a variety of pesky bugs and hazards, which all have differing abilities and behaviours.

BBC Worldwide executive VP digital entertainment and games Robert Nashak said, “Tongue Tracer is fun to play, visually stunning, and people of all ages will love it. We’re really happy with the finished product and we can’t wait to introduce Tongue Tracer Chuck to the world.”

MUMBAI: TV Guidance Company, What‘s-On-India, has launched a new business vertical “ ‘Television Street Maps‘ to keep an eye on day-to-day changes to TV channel availability and placement across C&S households.

The service has already gone Live and has attracted a host of customers from the TV sector, the company claims.

The move is strategic in the context of dramatic changes expected in the distribution side of the TV business over the next couple of years due to the digitalisation regime being introduced by the government.

What‘s-On-India has already expanded this system nationwide to cover 700+ analogue and digital head-ends across almost 300 towns and cities.

What‘s-On-India EVP Joydip Kapadia said, “Our plans are to expand the system to 1000+ head ends over the next three months besides providing insightful value added services in this space to stakeholders. This new vertical inside What‘s-On-India has started with a bang adding a series of new customers which include One-Alliance, MSM Network, UTV Network, Viacom-18 among a host of others.”

What‘s-On-India CEO Atul Phadnis added, “We are very excited to enter this space. Over the next few quarters, What‘s-On-India will be investing in this vertical to expand its scope across the country as well as to bring in newer technologies and automation for faster information from the ground. We are also integrating TV Street Maps with our EPG Systems for certain breakthrough solutions within the Indian market!”

MUMBAI: The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) in the US has released a new study which found that more than half (53%) of online US adults watch some form of streaming or downloaded video content in the home.

Those consumers have a distinct preference for streaming video versus downloading content, as 51 per cent view streaming content and spend an average of two hours per week watching, while only 15 per cent download content and spend an average of one hour watching.

The new study, ‘Connecting the Dots Between Consumers, Content and Consumer Electronics in the Home‘, provides additional insights into how consumers are accessing content in their homes and their interest in media connectivity systems.

Like video consumption, more than half (54%) of online U.S. adults listen to digital audio in the home. But unlike video, the preference for digital audio content skews toward downloaded audio (43%) versus streaming audio (37%). Those consumers spent an average of 2.6 hours listening to downloaded files versus two hours for streaming audio.

EA manager, industry relations Chris Ely said, “Technology allows consumers to access almost any content they desire instantaneously on Internet-connected devices. The rise of mobile broadband has resulted in the emergence of connected devices that are able to stream content directly from the Internet, and services that allow consumers to store and access content without the need of a hard drive.”

One in four consumers expressed an interest in purchasing a home media connectivity system. The study shows that new home purchasers can be a “sweet spot” in spurring adoption of connectivity systems. Sixty per cent of those interested in connectivity systems indicated that they were considering buying a system with a purchase of a new home.

“Digital media consumption will continue to grow as the number of connected devices and services for accessing content improves and expands. Manufactures, content providers, aggregators and service providers must work together to ensure the content customers want is accessible through different devices. The sooner the market is able to meet the consumers’ needs, the sooner the industry will reap the benefits,” added Ely.

MUMBAI: WealthTV, the US luxury lifestyle and entertainment network, has launched its linear 3D lifestyle and entertainment channel branded WealthTV 3D.

The life-like 3D channel features a broad range of rogramming including adventure travel, automotive programming, compelling documentaries, culinary delights, boys toys, live events, and much more.

WealthTV 3D has also produced a number of sports related programmes, from off-road racing to championship boxing.

WealthTV CEO Robert Herring said, “With every major TV manufacturer leading its lineup with 3D televisions and consumers clamouring for quality 3D programming, WealthTV is extremely pleased to answer the call by delivering WealthTV 3D. WealthTV 3D allows viewers to travel the world and enjoy the finest experiences, whether it‘s touring Mayan ruins, strolling the sandy beaches in the Seychelles, or driving behind the wheel of a Bugatti, without leaving the comfort of their living room”.

WealthTV 3D is the accumulation of a two-year 3D production ramp effort that involved numerous in-house and outside production crews circling the globe. From the ruins in Machu Picchu and the treasures of the Louvre to the man-made grandeur of Dubai, WealthTV‘s 3D production crews have literally traveled the world capturing the sights and stories in 3D.

WealthTV VP of business development Cameron Westfall said, “The beautiful thing about 3D is it really allows you to go places without having to spend a dime. It‘s the ultimate staycation channel. Our goal for the network is to allow every 3DTV owner to experience the American Dream regardless of their economic status.”

WealthTV HD was one of only a handful of national cable networks to launch in 100 per cent high definition dating back to 2004. WealthTV deployed HD VOD services in 2005 and 3D VOD programming in 2010.

WealthTV 3D is currently launched on a 24/7 basis via Roku‘s 2.5 million connected boxes throughout the US, with additional launches on connected devices deploying soon. WealthTV recently renewed its NCTC affiliation agreement, allowing conventional cable systems to launch WealthTV 3D through the NCTC.

MUMBAI: While Team India faces a tough time Down Under, gaming network ibibo.com has launched an online game, Cricardo. It is a multiplayer cricket card game which combines cricket and card games.

Cricardo has been simultaneously launched across three platforms – ibibo.com website, Android mobile phones and Google Chrome Web store. The game is completely free to play both on the PC and mobile platforms.

The game can be played live among six players where one round is counted as an over and each match can be played in three, six and 10 overs. Gamers can play a live match with online users and make maximum runs to win it.

A match proceeds in various rounds. The user who drops highest card in a round wins the round. One can also choose the type of match one wants to play between T3 Match (3 over game), Super Sixes (6 over game) and T10 match (10 over game). Anytime in the game players can see the priority of cards. So, the higher the card greater are his chances of winning. On a round over, the player with highest card wins the round.

Ibibo president products, operations Rahul Razdan said, “CriCardo is our unique and innovative response to two of the biggest game categories that Indians play – cricket and card games. The game play of CriCardo is extremely addictive and we expect it to become a rage amongst online gamers. With the launch of CriCardo we are happy to further establish our leadership position in the multiplayer gaming category. We are the only game provider with multiplayer games simultaneously available across PC and mobile platforms.”

In the past, ibibo has introduced ITeenPatti and Mumbai Underworld on Android mobile platform.

BANGALORE: BSNL has announced the launch of Hello TV for BSNL and ITZ Cash Card customers across the country in collaboration with PK Online.

This service provides entertainment to BSNL users while they are on move on laptop, tablets and PC and compliments BSNL’s Live TV offering on Wap portal via BSNLlive and over a video call through 51010 –Dial a Video service.
 
Users can watch their Live TV Channels, movies and videos from the best of Indian entertainment, said BSNL.

Subscribers have over 50 TV Channels to choose from, including Star, Times, AajTak, UTV, TV9 and B4U. The regional channels are Raj, PTC, Sangeet Bangla among others. 
 
Subscribers can opt for blockbuster movies of Superstars from various languages and videos ranging from movie trailers, gossip, devotional, fashion, animation and music videos from various languages including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Punjabi.

Subscription packs include;

MUMBAI: Dish TV has posted a net loss of Rs 430 million for the third quarter of the fiscal as its bottom line got negatively impacted by a foreign exchange loss of Rs 156 million.

In the trailing quarter, the leading direct-to-home (DTH) company had posted a net loss of Rs 486 million.

The subscriber acquisition cost has come down to Rs 2124 compared to Rs 2232 in the trailing quarter.

Dish TV added 740,000 subscribers in the quarter, achieving a total of 12.5 million gross and 9.5 million net subscribers. The company has added 2.04 million subscribers in the first nine months of the fiscal and its target is of three million new customers in FY‘12.

Total operating revenue grew 31.4 per cent to Rs 4.90 billion compared to the year-ago period and 1.7 per cent against the sequential quarter. Subscription revenue accounted for Rs 4.25 billion, up 37.6 per cent Y-o-Y.

Dish TV‘s ARPU (average revenue per user) has been maintained at Rs 152.

Dish TV’s expenses went up marginally (2.7 per cent) during the quarter, which stood at Rs 3.70 billion as against Rs 3.60 billion in the preceding quarter.

Ebitda, however, fell to Rs 1.20 billion, from Rs 1.22 billion in the preceding quarter.

Dish TV chairman Subhash Chandra said, “As the world at large continues to stare at economic uncertainty in the face, India remains cautiously optimistic but vulnerable to the risks associated with a slowing global economy.”

“Despite a challenging macroeconomic environment and resultant price sensitivity, subscriber additions across the DTH industry have been encouraging. With digitalization expected to boost subscriber additions, Dish TV is well-entrenched to further build on its supremacy while also targeting larger uptake of ARPU accretive HD subscribers,” he added.

Dish TV MD Jawahar Goel added, “The festival quarter ending December has traditionally been a bigger contributor in terms of subscriber additions and revenue compared to the other quarters. This year, though the category outperformed on a year-on-year basis in the month of October being ‘Diwali’ time, subscriber additions thereafter witnessed a slowdown. Notwithstanding the fallout in terms of lower additions what is heartening is that Dish TV, followed by much of the industry, was able to initiate and sustain a significant price hike at the entry level. The price hike was taken to offset the unprecedented rupee depreciation in the last few months. Dish TV continued to maintain its lead in incremental share in a six player market.”

On mandatory digitalisation, Goel added, “While on-ground activity in terms of subscriber demand is yet to catch up speed, Dish TV endeavours to retain its market share in an expanding digital universe. We believe that Dish TV with its strong brand equity and field infrastructure is likely to be one of the preferred choices of the potential digital consumer.”

Talking about the third quarter results, Goel said, “A larger base contributed to a flat ARPU in this quarter. However, the recent price hike is likely to filter through and add to the ARPU in the coming quarters.”

“Due to a further 8 per cent depreciation of the rupee against the US dollar in this quarter, there is an additional foreign exchange loss of Rs 156 million. The foremost reason for this loss is significant foreign currency debt which needs to be reported using the closing exchange rate. However, despite a significant portion of the capital equipment being dollar denominated, SAC remained within expectation largely due to the substantial inventory and higher entry price. Bottom line profitability remains realistic but for the notional loss due to foreign exchange fluctuation,” he added.