Tag: Digital

  • Open House Discussion by TRAI on Quality of Service in DAS

    Open House Discussion by TRAI on Quality of Service in DAS

    NEW DELHI: With consumers and service providers still to get a full experience of digital addressable systems and the various rules relating to it, an Open House Discussion has been organized by the the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India late this week on Quality of Services in Digital Addressable Systems and Consumer Protection.

    Earlier in mid-June, Trai had extended its last date for receiving comments on its Consultation Paper of 18 May 2016 on the issue on the subject to 1 July with counter-comments by 8 July 2016.

    The Discussion is in Delhi on the afternoon of 28 July at the India International Centre.

    As the country moves towards the final phase of digital addressable systems, TRAI wanted to know if there should be a uniform regulatory framework for quality of service and consumer protection across all digital addressable platforms.

    TRAI had also sought opinion of stakeholders on the standards and essential technical parameters for ensuring good quality of service for Digital Cable TV, Direct-to-home (DTH), head-end in the sky (HITS) and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV).

    In over fifty questions posed to stakeholders, it wanted to know the broad contours for Quality of Service Regulatory Framework for digital addressable systems.

    The regulator had asked if timelines relating to various activities to get new connection should be left to the Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs) to be transparently declared to the subscribers. What should be the time limits for various activities including consumer application form and installation and activation of service for new connections, it wanted to know.

    Referring to a query often asked by stakeholders, the regulator wanted to know if the minimum essential information to be included in the CAF should be mandated through regulations to maintain basic uniformity. Should the use of e-CAF be facilitated, encouraged or mandated, it had asked.

  • Rakshit Kapoor  to be Docomo Digital Country Head in India

    Rakshit Kapoor to be Docomo Digital Country Head in India

    MUMBAI: NTT Docomo, INC. has set up Docomo Digital as a new global business operation and Rakshit Kapoor will lead their India operations as the country head. This is an expansion from his previous role as country head for Buongiorno.

    Utilising the expertise from parent company NTT Docomo as well as from the acquisition of international mobile commerce providers and specialists, including net mobile AG and Buongiorno SpA, Docomo Digital has created a comprehensive suite of products and services.

    Docomo Digital includes the content business (mobile content products) and the m-commerce business. It is the operation unit of NTT Docomo and an advanced mobile commerce ecosystem-enabling platformer which aims to encourage financial inclusion for citizens worldwide by bringing together mobile network operators, digital and real-world merchants, financial services providers, regulators and other parties to make consumer transactions convenient, safe and with universal coverage.

    Docomo Digital has created the tools and infrastructure to provide seamless mobile commerce solutions for ecosystem participants across the world. The company actively addresses regulatory and commercial issues between parties and operates a global banking-grade technical platform on which mobile commerce ecosystems can be securely built and managed.

  • Rakshit Kapoor  to be Docomo Digital Country Head in India

    Rakshit Kapoor to be Docomo Digital Country Head in India

    MUMBAI: NTT Docomo, INC. has set up Docomo Digital as a new global business operation and Rakshit Kapoor will lead their India operations as the country head. This is an expansion from his previous role as country head for Buongiorno.

    Utilising the expertise from parent company NTT Docomo as well as from the acquisition of international mobile commerce providers and specialists, including net mobile AG and Buongiorno SpA, Docomo Digital has created a comprehensive suite of products and services.

    Docomo Digital includes the content business (mobile content products) and the m-commerce business. It is the operation unit of NTT Docomo and an advanced mobile commerce ecosystem-enabling platformer which aims to encourage financial inclusion for citizens worldwide by bringing together mobile network operators, digital and real-world merchants, financial services providers, regulators and other parties to make consumer transactions convenient, safe and with universal coverage.

    Docomo Digital has created the tools and infrastructure to provide seamless mobile commerce solutions for ecosystem participants across the world. The company actively addresses regulatory and commercial issues between parties and operates a global banking-grade technical platform on which mobile commerce ecosystems can be securely built and managed.

  • TRAI allows more time for reactions on QoS methodology under DAS

    TRAI allows more time for reactions on QoS methodology under DAS

    NEW DELHI: With consumers still to get a full experience of digital addressable systems and the various rules relating to it, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has agreed to extend the last date for receipt on comments on its consultation paper on ‘Issues related to Quality of Services in Digital Addressable Systems and Consumer Protection’.

    Stakeolders can now send in their comments by 1 July and any counter-comments by 8 July 2016 to the paper issued on 18 May 2016. The earlier date was 17 June for receipt of comments and 1 July 2016 for counter comments.

    As the country moves towards the final phase of digital addressable systems, TRAI wants to know if there should be a uniform regulatory framework for quality of service and consumer protection across all digital addressable platforms.

    TRAI has also sought opinion of stakeholders on the standards and essential technical parameters for ensuring good quality of service for Digital Cable TV, Direct-to-home (DTH), head-end in the sky (HITS) and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV).

    In over fifty questions posed to stakeholders, it wants to know the broad contours for Quality of Service Regulatory Framework for digital addressable systems.

    The regulator has asked if timelines relating to various activities to get new connection should be left to the Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs) to be transparently declared to the subscribers. What should be the time limits for various activities including consumer application form and installation and activation of service for new connections, it wants to know.

    Referring to a query often asked by stakeholders, the regulator wants to know if the minimum essential information to be included in the CAF should be mandated through regulations to maintain basic uniformity. Should the use of e-CAF be facilitated, encouraged or mandated, it has asked.

    TRAI wants to know if an initial subscription period can be charged while providing a new connection to protect the interest of subscribers as well as DPOs, and the protections for subscribers and DPOs during initial subscription period.

  • TRAI allows more time for reactions on QoS methodology under DAS

    TRAI allows more time for reactions on QoS methodology under DAS

    NEW DELHI: With consumers still to get a full experience of digital addressable systems and the various rules relating to it, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India has agreed to extend the last date for receipt on comments on its consultation paper on ‘Issues related to Quality of Services in Digital Addressable Systems and Consumer Protection’.

    Stakeolders can now send in their comments by 1 July and any counter-comments by 8 July 2016 to the paper issued on 18 May 2016. The earlier date was 17 June for receipt of comments and 1 July 2016 for counter comments.

    As the country moves towards the final phase of digital addressable systems, TRAI wants to know if there should be a uniform regulatory framework for quality of service and consumer protection across all digital addressable platforms.

    TRAI has also sought opinion of stakeholders on the standards and essential technical parameters for ensuring good quality of service for Digital Cable TV, Direct-to-home (DTH), head-end in the sky (HITS) and Internet Protocol Television (IPTV).

    In over fifty questions posed to stakeholders, it wants to know the broad contours for Quality of Service Regulatory Framework for digital addressable systems.

    The regulator has asked if timelines relating to various activities to get new connection should be left to the Distribution Platform Operators (DPOs) to be transparently declared to the subscribers. What should be the time limits for various activities including consumer application form and installation and activation of service for new connections, it wants to know.

    Referring to a query often asked by stakeholders, the regulator wants to know if the minimum essential information to be included in the CAF should be mandated through regulations to maintain basic uniformity. Should the use of e-CAF be facilitated, encouraged or mandated, it has asked.

    TRAI wants to know if an initial subscription period can be charged while providing a new connection to protect the interest of subscribers as well as DPOs, and the protections for subscribers and DPOs during initial subscription period.

  • PNB MetLife gives a light hearted touch to ‘life insurance’ with LifeMeinTwist

    PNB MetLife gives a light hearted touch to ‘life insurance’ with LifeMeinTwist

    MUMBAI: In a country where life insurance is mostly either brushed off as a retired man’s business, or drill to get over with, or at the most, an investment tool, it becomes increasingly difficult for brands in financial services category to come forth and deliver an engaging campaign that doesn’t speak of ‘returns’, ‘services’ or ‘ease of claim settlement.’ To steer away from this clutter and make a unique brand positioning, PNB Metlife has launched their new campaign LifeMienTwist, which takes a light hearted take on the otherwise sombre topic of life insurance.

    Conceptualised by McCann Erickson and produced by Razorblade Films, with director Anwar Sayed behind the lense, the new campaign is digitally enhanced and rides on the success of its previous digital campaigns, #HappinessBuddy and #HealthForHappiness.

    PNB MetLife India strategy marketing and products director Niraj Shah said, “The objective with this digital-only film is to try and communicate our core proposition of trying to address situations where due to uncertainties life can come to a standstill or change from here on. In our case situations could be death, deterioration of health, or milestones such as retirement. We wanted to send home the message in a manner which is not very morose or serious. We wanted to communicate it effectively but not too seriously.”

    Though a shift from the band’s usual tone of brand communication, PNB Metlife took the decision to trial a completely different take on the treatment of the campaign after going through several consumer insights surveys and analysis. Using its social media touch points as a two way communication the brand gathered that consumers tend to engage with a serious subject like ‘life insurance’ with either heavy emotions or with laughter and fun, and are not concerned about mundane specifications and details of the product.

    The #LifeMeinTwist film opens with a couple and their son walking around in a street fair and their son drags them to watch a local magic show. The magician tries to attract a larger crowd by claiming to showcase his magical prowess of transforming a human being into a pigeon and subsequently turning it back. The magician’s assistant, who is a young boy, drags the reluctant man as a volunteer. The magician transforms the man into a pigeon. Unfortunately due to a background noise of balloon bursting, the pigeon flies off before the magician can transform him again. The film ends with a message that anything can happen in life at any time and it always better to be prepared.

    Through this film, the brand wants consumers to recognize the need for insurance to protect themselves and their families as ‘anything can happen in life’. While consumers are aware of this, they don’t want to even think that something unfortunate can happen to them.

    Keeping that in mind the phrase, ‘Life Mein Twist’ was singled out as the campaign message as it easy to relate to in a general situation, without preaching of preparedness for sudden death or accidents.

    Staying in tune with its core marketing strategy, for this campaign as well the brand has taken a digital first approach. Needless to say the bulk of the campaign’s marketing budget is also inclined heavily towards digital.

    On the digital only approach, Shah added, “We consciously tried to look at changing preferences of our consumer base of today and tomorrow. A lot of people are approaching viewership in a different way. If we look at data, a third of our population is already using the internet. We wanted to test our hypothesis and roll out a digital-only campaign and check our reach. We’ve done this in the past too, and the feedback we received was good. Digital allows instant feedback which allows us to react to it quicker and then put in a response.”

    The campaign will be first rolled out digitally followed by a spot on television, though the brand will follow up with regular consumer engagement activities on social media based on this campaign.

  • PNB MetLife gives a light hearted touch to ‘life insurance’ with LifeMeinTwist

    PNB MetLife gives a light hearted touch to ‘life insurance’ with LifeMeinTwist

    MUMBAI: In a country where life insurance is mostly either brushed off as a retired man’s business, or drill to get over with, or at the most, an investment tool, it becomes increasingly difficult for brands in financial services category to come forth and deliver an engaging campaign that doesn’t speak of ‘returns’, ‘services’ or ‘ease of claim settlement.’ To steer away from this clutter and make a unique brand positioning, PNB Metlife has launched their new campaign LifeMienTwist, which takes a light hearted take on the otherwise sombre topic of life insurance.

    Conceptualised by McCann Erickson and produced by Razorblade Films, with director Anwar Sayed behind the lense, the new campaign is digitally enhanced and rides on the success of its previous digital campaigns, #HappinessBuddy and #HealthForHappiness.

    PNB MetLife India strategy marketing and products director Niraj Shah said, “The objective with this digital-only film is to try and communicate our core proposition of trying to address situations where due to uncertainties life can come to a standstill or change from here on. In our case situations could be death, deterioration of health, or milestones such as retirement. We wanted to send home the message in a manner which is not very morose or serious. We wanted to communicate it effectively but not too seriously.”

    Though a shift from the band’s usual tone of brand communication, PNB Metlife took the decision to trial a completely different take on the treatment of the campaign after going through several consumer insights surveys and analysis. Using its social media touch points as a two way communication the brand gathered that consumers tend to engage with a serious subject like ‘life insurance’ with either heavy emotions or with laughter and fun, and are not concerned about mundane specifications and details of the product.

    The #LifeMeinTwist film opens with a couple and their son walking around in a street fair and their son drags them to watch a local magic show. The magician tries to attract a larger crowd by claiming to showcase his magical prowess of transforming a human being into a pigeon and subsequently turning it back. The magician’s assistant, who is a young boy, drags the reluctant man as a volunteer. The magician transforms the man into a pigeon. Unfortunately due to a background noise of balloon bursting, the pigeon flies off before the magician can transform him again. The film ends with a message that anything can happen in life at any time and it always better to be prepared.

    Through this film, the brand wants consumers to recognize the need for insurance to protect themselves and their families as ‘anything can happen in life’. While consumers are aware of this, they don’t want to even think that something unfortunate can happen to them.

    Keeping that in mind the phrase, ‘Life Mein Twist’ was singled out as the campaign message as it easy to relate to in a general situation, without preaching of preparedness for sudden death or accidents.

    Staying in tune with its core marketing strategy, for this campaign as well the brand has taken a digital first approach. Needless to say the bulk of the campaign’s marketing budget is also inclined heavily towards digital.

    On the digital only approach, Shah added, “We consciously tried to look at changing preferences of our consumer base of today and tomorrow. A lot of people are approaching viewership in a different way. If we look at data, a third of our population is already using the internet. We wanted to test our hypothesis and roll out a digital-only campaign and check our reach. We’ve done this in the past too, and the feedback we received was good. Digital allows instant feedback which allows us to react to it quicker and then put in a response.”

    The campaign will be first rolled out digitally followed by a spot on television, though the brand will follow up with regular consumer engagement activities on social media based on this campaign.

  • Sixteen vans touring states to create awareness about digital and satellite technology

    Sixteen vans touring states to create awareness about digital and satellite technology

    NEW DELHI: A total of sixteen vans are traveling to 34 districts of nine states to introduce one million citizens (10 lakh) to services only possible via interplay of Satellite Technology along with other existing Broadband technologies, such as optical fibre, mobile, cable, etc. The vans were flagged off by Communications and Information Technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad last week as part of the Digital India Outreach Campaign.

    The Broadband India Forum (BIF) has acknowledged Government efforts to deliver connectivity and Broadband to remote and difficult-to-access parts of India.

    The 2nd International India Satcom -2016 summit organized by the Forum on 7 June is aimed at showcasing the scope of catalysing achievement of socio-economic objectives with the use of innovations in Satellite Communications technology.

    Inviting the delegates to the meet, Forum President TV Ramachandran said: “Digital India, Make in India and Broadband for All will require integration of many parallel technologies that have high potential but are less understood, such as Satellite Communication (Satcom), to achieve a dream that’s close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s heart. Integration will expedite penetration of affordable Broadband in India, particularly in remote, rural regions. BIF has always propagated enhancement and integration of new technologies that can expedite penetration of affordable Broadband in India to complement other Broadband technologies, such as optical fibre, mobile, cable, etc. Our objective through this summit is to bring all Broadband technology players on board to support the Digital India initiative.”

    The meet is focusing on the theme ‘Broadband for All using NextGen Satellite Technologies’. Dr.Jitendra Singh, minister of State for the Ministry of Development of North East Region, Prime Minister Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space is the Chief Guest.

    The event is supported by The Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY), C and IT Ministry.

    BIF said sector reforms are expected to bring in FDI worth $2-5 billion over the next decade. Liberalisation and reforms of satellite communication policy harbours potential for successful deployment of Broadband under Digital India for all 2,50,000 Gram panchayats in just 12 to 18 months.

    The summit will witness deliberations on the viability of Satellite Communications for Digital India and possible Next Gen Satcom Innovation & Applications by senior members from the Government, including DoT, TRAI, DoS, Niti Aayog, Dept. of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), DeitY and Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) departments and representatives from Leading Satellite Operators, VSAT Service Providers, Telecom Service Providers, Internet Service Providers, Technology Providers, VSAT Manufacturers, Cable Service Providers, User Organisations (Banks, Oil & Gas, Defence, Security Forces etc), DTH Service Providers, and other allied Industries.

  • Sixteen vans touring states to create awareness about digital and satellite technology

    Sixteen vans touring states to create awareness about digital and satellite technology

    NEW DELHI: A total of sixteen vans are traveling to 34 districts of nine states to introduce one million citizens (10 lakh) to services only possible via interplay of Satellite Technology along with other existing Broadband technologies, such as optical fibre, mobile, cable, etc. The vans were flagged off by Communications and Information Technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad last week as part of the Digital India Outreach Campaign.

    The Broadband India Forum (BIF) has acknowledged Government efforts to deliver connectivity and Broadband to remote and difficult-to-access parts of India.

    The 2nd International India Satcom -2016 summit organized by the Forum on 7 June is aimed at showcasing the scope of catalysing achievement of socio-economic objectives with the use of innovations in Satellite Communications technology.

    Inviting the delegates to the meet, Forum President TV Ramachandran said: “Digital India, Make in India and Broadband for All will require integration of many parallel technologies that have high potential but are less understood, such as Satellite Communication (Satcom), to achieve a dream that’s close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s heart. Integration will expedite penetration of affordable Broadband in India, particularly in remote, rural regions. BIF has always propagated enhancement and integration of new technologies that can expedite penetration of affordable Broadband in India to complement other Broadband technologies, such as optical fibre, mobile, cable, etc. Our objective through this summit is to bring all Broadband technology players on board to support the Digital India initiative.”

    The meet is focusing on the theme ‘Broadband for All using NextGen Satellite Technologies’. Dr.Jitendra Singh, minister of State for the Ministry of Development of North East Region, Prime Minister Office, Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space is the Chief Guest.

    The event is supported by The Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY), C and IT Ministry.

    BIF said sector reforms are expected to bring in FDI worth $2-5 billion over the next decade. Liberalisation and reforms of satellite communication policy harbours potential for successful deployment of Broadband under Digital India for all 2,50,000 Gram panchayats in just 12 to 18 months.

    The summit will witness deliberations on the viability of Satellite Communications for Digital India and possible Next Gen Satcom Innovation & Applications by senior members from the Government, including DoT, TRAI, DoS, Niti Aayog, Dept. of Industrial Policy & Promotion (DIPP), DeitY and Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) departments and representatives from Leading Satellite Operators, VSAT Service Providers, Telecom Service Providers, Internet Service Providers, Technology Providers, VSAT Manufacturers, Cable Service Providers, User Organisations (Banks, Oil & Gas, Defence, Security Forces etc), DTH Service Providers, and other allied Industries.

  • Godrej’s #DeoReborn and #DeoCalculator campaigns for Cinthol DeoStick

    Godrej’s #DeoReborn and #DeoCalculator campaigns for Cinthol DeoStick

    MUMBAI: Angels falling and women chasing men are the kind of commercials that are conventionally seen for deodorants. For a fairly significant amount time deo promotions have revolved around opposite gender fantasies and attractions. But today, with digitization and social media, promotion campaigns have become much more interactive with consumers.

    Godrej Consumer Products Limited Head – India and SAARC Sunil Kataria says that consumers have matured in today’s times and even while chasing image building for brands, the campaigns have to be rooted firmly to the ground.

    Recently, Godrej launched Cinthol DeoStick in the market. The campaign for the product is majorly focused on digital platforms. It started with the #DeoReborn campaign and then the #DeoCalculator was run as a sub campaign. Kataria says that the basic idea of the promotion comes from the product. As most products in the market are spray or gas based, Cinthol DeoStick is a deodorant for solving real problems. Even after so many brands marketing them heavily, the market penetration of deodorants is only 18 percent. Cinthol Deostick aims at increasing the users for deodorants in the country.

    Cinthol deostick started with #DeoReborn campaign whereby the three barriers of deodorants were promoted. Contrary to norm, the campaign’s message was that Cinthol DeoStick was non-alcoholic, lasted long and was cost effective. Playing on the ‘price quotient’, the social platform offered a great medium for Cinthol to reach out to its consumers.

    The idea was to show consumers what they could do with the money they saved if they bought Cinthol DeoStick. This triggered the concept of #DeoCalculator. All that the consumers had to do was to share the price of their deodorant on Twitter using hashtags #DeoReborn and #DeoCalculator. The #DeoCalculator generated a quirky customized infographic giving them options on how they could put the money saved to better use.

    The Twitter campaign was run for 2 days. This campaign is also running on other platforms like television and radio. The brand has also taken up activation events focusing on college campuses for better product interaction with the target audience.

    The DeoCalculator campaign has been designed by Creative Land Asia. According to the brand, the campaign received 2274 tweets and 2443 posts. 169 tweets were posted from the official handle @GodrejCinthol in response to Twitter users tweets.

    Kataria says that Godrej has been involved with many other audience engagement campaigns earlier also with products like HIT by launching a mobile app with dengue stories. He says that any brand that intends to reach out to the youth has to adopt the digital platform. His company has increased spends over the last two years on the digital platform and has plans to further double spends on the digital medium, he informs.