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March 1 2011 http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/tech/Room-for-improvement/Article1-668101.aspx

Room for improvement

Its HTC in the lead, bringing us yet another Windows Phone 7 handset the HD 7. Taking cues from its big brother the HD2, the HD7 is just an upgrade in some instances and a downgrade in others. For instance, while the HD7 is a classier, more elegant and more refined looking handset, its a tad heavier than the HD2 but not enough to hamper portability or usage. Its available with 8GB or 16GB internal storage. Its a big phone to say the least, with a display size and resolution almost identical to the HD2 4.3 inches, and 480x800 pixels capable of displaying 16 million colours. Theres really no difference or changes made to the HD7s UI as compared to the Mozarts. Its still as smooth as ever thanks to the 1GHz Scorpion processor, Adreno 200 GPU and Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset. The Windows Phone 7 user interface is very refined. From accessing menus to animations that happen while the accelerometer is in use and even pinch zooming, its all very iPhone-like. Almost anything can be pinned to the desktop making it easy to access. However, with platforms like iOS or Android, you have slightly more options per screen. Sadly though, the entire menu system does not switch to landscape. Theres just one thing wrong with the handsets media setup Zune! Unlike Apples iTunes that has issues with file conversions, Zune manages to accept all formats but takes an insanely long time to convert them to the appropriate size. The HD7 supports 3G, EDGE and Wi-Fi with no frills. At least the HD2 and its much older Windows Mobile system allowed you to use the handset as a Wi-Fi router. The platform also doesnt allow for tethering. Bluetooth connectivity is still limited to just A2DP with no file transfer option. The Internet Explorer browser does not support Flash or Silverlight making the overall experience a little underwhelming. That the App market is not yet available in India is another sore thumb. One of the perks to this platform is Xbox Live integration. Though the Windows Phone 7 Games Hub, you can access titles from Xbox Live, Microsoft Game Studios and other publishers as well as your stats and other account related information. It even allows you to play online. The HD7s 5 megapixel autofocus camera has a dual LED flash and features a few scene modes. Image quality isnt as sharp as some of HTCs previous offerings and colours look washed out. Battery life proved to be a big drawback. With tiles being unnecessarily animated, FB and emails on push and the large LCD sucking up power, we found the HD7 doesnt offer too much usage and needs to be charged every day. On an average talk time ran into the 3 hours and 30 minutes span, which is not really too great. With a price tag of Rs. 28,990 (MOP), the HTC HD7 might seem like a great handset but do keep in mind handsets with far superior capabilities exist. The HD7, while a classy piece of hardware, is saddled with an OS that is not yet fully functional. The HD7 is a handset to keep your eyes on. If youve got the patience, we say go for it. The only big hurdle youll have to conquer is poor battery life. Else it might be more prudent to wait and see what the next update brings to the table. What we like Well designed UI is super slick Audio quality is excellent

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What we dont Must use Zune for media transfer No tethering or Bluetooth file transfer option Poor battery life No Chat apps preloaded No Flash or Silverlight support Music enhancements not within Players UI No access to App Ma Verdict With a price tag of Rs. 28,990 (MOP), the HTC HD7 might seem like a great handset but do keep in mind handsets with far superior capabilities and operating systems that provide you with more functionality exist. For the record, the HTC HD7 is a handset to keep your eyes on. This means youll be stuck with a handset with tremendous potential. Rating- ***

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March 2 2011

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/features/brandline/article1503705.ece

What ails Asian brands?

There are no global brands in Asia, barring those from Japan, says Joseph Baladi. Much of this is due to the leadership peculiar to the region, says this extract from his book.
March 2, 2011: Why are there very few great Asian brands? Joseph Baladi, who has advised companies such as P & G, Mars and Coca-Cola discusses the reasons in his book The Brutal Truth About Asian Branding: And How to Break The Vicious Cycle. Edited excerpts: With Asia's ever-increasing share of world GDP and expanding levels of exports to the West, one might be excused for wondering why branding in Asia continues to be an area poorly understood by Asian managers and badly executed by Asian companies. Not withstanding the plethora of award programmes celebrating every business discipline under the sun (including branding), as well as branding practitioners who continue to sell the mythical success stories of ever more powerful Asian brands, the reality is that Asian brands across the board are continuing to exhibit weak vital signs. Despite significant industry education, as well as major investments by government agencies to enhance the overall understanding of branding practices so as to strengthen Asian brands, very little traction has taken place over the years. When we refer to Asian brands, we are referring to all non-Japanese Asian brands. Japan is indeed part of Asia. But Japanese brands began developing a full generation before the rest of Asia got going, and most of their more visible and well-known global marques are at a very different point along the evolutionary development curve. In terms of non-Japanese Asian brands, one could argue that save for one or two there exist virtually no great Asian brands. Even Asians themselves, when asked what brands they prefer, or aspire to own, will name Western brands such as Coke, Nike, Apple, BMW, Armani, and GAP. With the notable exception of two nonJapanese brands (Samsung and SIA), Asian brands are rarely, if ever, nominated. This fact has been constantly borne out by surveys over the past 10 years. Proud Indians will argue passionately that India has many big, successful brands, some of which outperform their foreign competitors. Brands such as Tata, Jet Airways, and Kingfisher are household names that generate strong levels of trust and local pride. Koreans will point to Amore Pacific, Face Shop, Jimo, and Jeju Air as examples of Korean brands denoting quality, luxury, and entrepreneurship. In Taiwan, innovative brands such as HTC, Acer, and Asustek all but dominate their categories. And even in emerging countries such as Vietnam, local marketers cite brands like Vinamilk, Vietcombank, BIDV, and Q-Mobile as examples of ever-increasing branding traction. Most of these brands boast strong levels of local awareness, as well as big consumer franchises in their own countries. But with very few exceptions, they have failed to generate sufficient escape velocity to replicate their success in substantive measures outside of their home markets. Even brands such as HTC and Acer long

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viewed as poster boys for the successful transition from OEM (original equipment manufacturer) to OBM (original brand manufacturer) are finding that gaining real, sustainable traction as consumer brands is difficult and elusive. All these brands are good brands. To mostly local customer franchises, they are seen as reliable, trustworthy, and even desirable. Away from home, while some struggle to generate awareness, they mostly fail to excite and uplift consumers or at the very least create enduring emotional relationships with them. Having said this, it is equally important to recognise that it is these very same brands that represent the region's best candidates for great brand status. They are all sitting on one side of the fence, and it is within their control to step over to the other side. Asia has yet to create Asian signature brands with global credentials. But what makes the region palpably exciting is the abundance of good brands ready to move up to the next level. They are marking time, but developing the ability to change that and surge forward won't happen automatically. It will require willpower.
MYOPIC CEO LEADERSHIP

Over the past eight years, I have interviewed more than a hundred CEOs and other C-level executives from multinational companies, regional conglomerates, and SMEs in more than half-a-dozen Asian countries from mainland China to Singapore, and from India to Korea. Beyond questions that related to the specific performance or culture of their companies, we also included several generic questions that probed executive especially CEO beliefs about and attitudes to management, leadership, values, and concepts such as company mission. The evidence shows beyond any doubt that the most obstructive hurdles preventing mediocre and good Asian companies from breaking through a decades-long glass ceiling and achieving brand greatness are CEO mentality and ignorance about the branding process in that order.Mentality: The CEO is driven almost exclusively by a desire to (only) make money and rarely by passion. He will often over-promise and underdeliver. He will take short-cuts and consider himself clever for doing so. He rarely looks beyond today and lacks a vision for tomorrow. Ignorance: He misunderstands branding and sees it as the company name and logo, and its promotion as taking place almost exclusively through the media. Its conceptual, business, and strategic dimensions are totally lost on him, and his impatience causes him to dismiss or undermine the process before it even gets underway. As a result, Asian consumers fail to love, lust after, or be inspired by most Asian brands. In much of Asia (mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and Korea), traditional management philosophy rooted in Confucian-based values has created an environment where many CEOs operate, and see themselves, as patriarchal figures: individuals who are at once irreproachable, as well as unapproachable. The resulting management style resembles a by decree approach, rather than one that is inclusive. Interestingly, many CEOs from non-Confucian-influenced countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, and even Thailand also exhibit these styles of leadership and management. To make money, is the most common almost universal reply given by CEOs to the question: What is the mission of your company? This single-minded, primary, and often exclusive goal of most Asian CEOs is commonly inculcated in the minds of their senior managers, from where it is filtered down to the lower ranks of employees. To make money period. While there is nothing inherently wrong with this (after all, it is the goal of business to be profitable), most of these decision-makers, hailing from the smallest SMEs to the largest Asian conglomerates, persistently pursue this goal in a manner that is self-defeating. First, they fail to recognise that making money for its own sake is a flawed strategy; that making money is, rather, the result of a coherent strategy. Secondly, in their haste to deliver on the goal, they misunderstand the business and brand strategy development process (one that has evolved dramatically because of the dynamic environmental changes of the past two decades) and try to fast-track it or gloss over it. Instead, they adopt a command-and-control business management style that fails to recruit and encourage all members of the company to work together to deliver a product or a service that can effectively compete with compelling Western brands. They fail not only to harness the energy and intellectual contributions of all the constituents they have on hand (not to mention their untapped intrinsic enthusiasm, whose loss or absence is impossible to measure), but also to create a culture that works to ensure that the customer promise is delivered on a consistent basis. Another debilitating CEO characteristic that contributes to the development of relatively weak Asian brands is the inability or reluctance to view the brand as a tangible asset. This skewed view of branding leads to yet another CEO characteristic that not only profoundly affects branding but also has a major impact on business generally: the price question. Cultural conditioning and values have made the open pursuit of money and wealth a desirable virtue. The business corollary is the ingrained belief that everything can and should be secured at the cheapest possible price point. Middle and lower managers feel that their best hopes for recognition and reward are linked to their acquisition of products and services at the lowest possible price. They are rarely interested in, or influenced by, the possible consequences at a later date.
CEOS DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW

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Having said all of this, it is important and fair also to say that these same CEOs suffer from an affliction that is difficult to cure: They basically don't know what they don't know at least as far as branding is concerned. This is a critical and crucial diagnosis, and one of the many reasons for the absence of great Asian brands. When you don't know what you don't know, you automatically assume that you know enough to make some basic decisions: such as judging a branding proposal, for instance, on the basis of what you like or what you find easy to do. Or choosing a brand practitioner because he or she tells you what you want to hear. And, of course, doing it as cheaply as possible.
CORPORATE CULTURE IS BY DEFAULT, RATHER THAN BY DESIGN

Whether understood or misunderstood, and whether created by design or through circumstances, culture exists in all organisations. Where it is positive, it can be harnessed and leveraged to influence people to do extraordinary things. Where it is negative, it tends to have the reverse effect. While every company has, to a certain extent, a unique culture, certain characteristics are commonly found in Asian companies. Most Asian companies began, and many still operate, as family-owned businesses. Business decisions are typically made by one key individual, and accountability to a third or external party is generally not the norm. Even in publicly listed companies, the usual practice in Asia is for the CEO to retain control and relinquish only a small percentage of ownership to outside parties. I don't wish to suggest that these practices and values are a product of an inherently harsh, unfair, or exploitative management mentality. What I am referring to here is more intangible in nature: employees who are denied the opportunity to fully embrace and enjoy the work they do because their employers are either simply unaware that this is important and valuable, or just don't know how to make it happen. The culture that characterises most present-day Asian companies suppresses creativity and innovation. Employees are not encouraged to express themselves; as a consequence, they tend to progress slowly, and to learn or contribute little and the cycle becomes vicious. The life-blood of great brands is creativity and innovation that originates from within the organisation, and its source is corporate culture. It doesn't matter whether the company delivers a service or manufactures a product. Customer experience and product quality are delivered by employees. The absence of the right culture prevents this from happening and retards the development of great Asian brands.
CHARLATAN BRAND PRACTITIONERS

In a business environment replete with alpha-type CEOs who know exactly what they want, and believe they know what they need there is no shortage of consultants who are willing to give them what they want and tell them what they want to hear. The branding category is not like the medical sector, where practitioners need to be properly trained and accredited before they are allowed to practice. In the branding field, there are virtually no regulations and anybody can call himself or herself a brand consultant. The ramifications of this are broad and profound. The wrong solution will not result in a benign outcome. There are two ways in which the company can self-inflict significant damage: (1) when the message is right, but employees are not motivated to deliver it; and (2) when the message is wrong, but the company has somehow managed to persuade most of its employees to get behind it. Both scenarios amount to qualified statements, because right and wrong are relative concepts and difficult to define. In the end, both scenarios will deliver equally baleful results: instead of just dismissing the effort, customers invariably form a new negative perception, which means that the company ends up being further behind than the point they started from.
A DAMAGING SIDE-EFFECT

Advertising agencies compound the branding crisis that exists in Asia by formulating communications strategies and creating advertising that are unsupported by formal brand blueprints. The brand blueprint is a missioncritical document that provides the essence of a brand upon which everything is built. Even when consumer insights are used, they tend to be uncorrelated to the brand's essence (which is not surprising, when no brand blueprint is in evidence). In some cases, a brand blueprint crafted by the agency will be used. But these hastily created documents usually provide neither relevant direction nor a robust frame of reference. Part of the reason this happens is because existing agency business models are not delivering sufficient margins that warrant the kind of time and effort that is required to generate properly what needs to be generated. Agencies are usually forced into crafting brand blueprints by clients wanting to get better value for their fees. Of course, usually the opposite happens. Reproduced from The Brutal Truth About Asian Branding: And How to Break the Vicious Cycle' with the permission of John Wiley & Sons, Asia | Joseph Baladi

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March 7 2011 http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/sectorsinfotech/Rivals-struggle-to-beat-iPad-inprice/Article1-670645.aspx

Rivals struggle to beat iPad in price

The iPad 2 offers several sleek improvements over its predecessor. But its most attractive feature is perhaps the price tag of $499. And what makes that feature even more compelling is that so far, Apples competitors in tablets cannot beat or even match it. Competitors include Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Hewlett-Packard TouchPad, HTC Flyer, LG G-Slate and the BlackBerry PlayBook. But prices, or even release dates, have not been announced, and industry experts said it was not yet clear whether the devices can be competitive with Apple on price. There have been nearly a hundred tablets that have been introduced since the iPad, said Toni Sacconaghi, analyst, Sanford C. Bernstein. But it seems that no one has eclipsed or even matched Apple on pricing. Analysts and industry experts point to a number of reasons. Primarily, they say, Apples deep pockets a staggering $60 billion in cash reserves have allowed it to form strategic partnerships with other companies to buy large supplies of components. Apple also sidestepped high licensing fees for items like processors within iPads. The parts, designed in-house at Apple by a firm that Apple bought, are among the costlier components needed to make a tablet computer. Apple also could subsidise some of the cost of building iPads with the money it makes through App Store, which generates more than a billion dollars each year. This means that Apple can take a lower profit margin on the iPad. Another advantage is Apples wide net of its own global retail shops and online stores. Others have some of these factors in their favour; Apple has all of them.

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March 7 2011 http://www.moneycontrol.com/news/technology/review-microsofts-windows-7phone_528001.html

Review: Microsoft's Windows 7 Phone

Video link: http://www.moneycontrol.com/video/technology/review-microsofts-windows-7phone_528001.html?utm_source=Article_Vid

Your only consistent dose of technology, this week's CNBC-TV18's Tech Toyz reviews the much anticipated operating system from the Microsoft stable - the Windows Phone 7. It has been launched in the HTC Mozart device, which is India's first Windows 7 mobile phone. Find out what Microsoft's vision is as to what they anticipate Smartphone's must look like in the future. Also on the show: Review of the HTC Mozart - is it worth the hype? Tired of deciphering complicated phones? Enter the iBall Aasaan phone. The phone is so simple, even your grandparents can have a go at it with the basic instructions!

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March 8 2011 http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=1536137&lang=eng_news

Taipei City: Asia at heart of HTC's smartphone strategy in 2011

HTC Corp., the world's fifth-largest smartphone maker, will stress the Asian market this year to capitalize on stronger consumer demand in the region, a company vice president said yesterday. "The smartphone market is expected to strengthen this year because more consumers are going to replace their feature phones with smartphones," HTC Asia-Pacific region vice president Jack Tong said at the company's product launch in Taipei. "Our smartphone shipments to the Asia-Pacific region in the first quarter of this year have reached half the number for all of 2010, driven mostly by sales of Android-based products like the HTC Wildfire and the HTC Desire HD," he said. The Taiwan-based company announced yesterday that its HTC Incredible S -- an Androidbased smartphone with a 4-inch Super-LCD touchscreen -- will hit the local market in midMarch and be distributed by Taiwan Mobile Co., the country's second-largest telecom carrier. To back its push into emerging markets, such as Indonesia and India, HTC's marketing budget for 2011 is the biggest in the company's history, Tong said, but he refused to disclose specific figures. In February, HTC posted consolidated revenue of NT$32.106 billion (US$1.09 billion) , up 212.33 percent year-on-year from the NT$10.28 billion posted in 2010, according to a company statement. Dealers have projected that HTC's quarterly revenue will exceed NT$100 billion for the first three months of 2011, beating 2010 first quarter revenue by 160 percent.

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March 8 2011 http://www.thehindu.com/business/companies/article1520618.ece

HTC Global opens Chennai centre

Plans to hire 3,000 people in 2011-12 in Chennai and Hyderabad
HTC Global Services, an IT solutions and business process outsourcing (BPO) provider, plans to hire 3,000 people in Chennai and Hyderabad in 2011-12. The company has invested over Rs.300 crore in India in the recent past to expand its current facilities in the MEPZ (Madras Export Promotion Zone) and also acquiring new facilities in Chennai and Hyderabad. Addressing a press conference after the inauguration of the Chennai centre in Guindy here on Tuesday, Mr. Madhava Reddy, Founder President and Chief Executive Officer of HTC Global Services, said the new 1.4 lakh sq. ft. facility would house nearly 1,500 employees. Similarly, the recently acquired 1.1 lakh sq. ft. facility in Hyderabad would house 1,200 employees. He said the company, which was handling verticals such as banking, insurance and financial services (BFSI), automotive and manufacturing, education, retail and publishing, earned 50 per cent revenue from the BSFI segment. As far as the Indian domestic market was concerned, the company had clients from the Tamil Nadu Government agencies and educational institutions. HTC Global is headquartered in Troy, Michigan, U.S. It has global delivery centres in North America, India and Malaysia.

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March 8 2011 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/news/outsourcing/HTC-Global-services-to-recruit3000/articleshow/7656129.cms

HTC Global services to recruit 3,000

CHENNAI: Global IT and BPO service provider HTC Global Services would recruit 3,000 people by next fiscal, a top company executive said. "We have planned to recruit 3,000 in the next fiscal year to serve our increasing business," HTC Global Services President and CEO Madhava Reddy told reporters at the sidelines of a function here.

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March 8 2011 http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/08/india-policy-snapshot-idUSSGE72707220110308

SNAPSHOT-Indian policy highlights

(Reuters) - Following are statements from Indian policymakers as well as the latest news and scheduled events.
* Denotes new entry. * India's Congress party and a key regional ally moved closer to a deal on Tuesday to keep the ruling coalition with a parliamentary majority after threats to quit the government sparked worries of instability in Asia's third-largest economy. Meetings between senior Congress party leaders and members of the Tamil Nadu-based Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party were taking place, officials from both parties told Reuters. * India's telecoms secretary on Tuesday rebuffed reports that the government had set a deadline for telecoms operators to provide access to encrypted services. "No specific deadline has been fixed," R. Chandrashekhar told reporters, in response to a question about the BlackBerry smartphone and other secure communication services. * India's Telecoms Minister Kapil Sibal and senior ministry officials discussed 2G-spectrum issues, including allocation and pricing, with industry executives as the country overhauls its decade-old telecoms policy after the sector was rocked by a scandal that may have cost the government up to $39 billion. "A range of issues were discussed. There were about 15 points that were on the table," Sibal told reporters on Tuesday. "The industry stakeholders must collaborate because we have inherited the legacy of an uneven playing field, and to ensure that the playing field in future is even it is the leaders and captains of the industry who must come and sit around the table to iron out their differences." CONTEXT NEWS: * Ministers from the DMK, which gives Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's coalition vital support in parliament, threatened to resign from their posts on Monday over a seat-sharing row with Congress for the local elections next month. [ID:nL3E7E71OU] The threats appeared to be withdrawn late on Monday, as the two parties looked to find a compromise. [ID:nSGE72704A] The disagreement comes at a time when Congress is battling rising anger over a raft of corruption scandals and persistently high food inflation. [ID:nSGE72601Y] * India has demanded access to telecoms providers' secure data services, which it says could be used by militants. Local media reported on Tuesday that the government has set a deadline of Mar. 31 for telecoms operators to provide a solution to monitor the encrypted enterprise services, including the BlackBerry smartphone. A senior home ministry official had earlier declined to confirm the reports. BlackBerry maker Research In Motion (RIM.TO) gave India access to its consumer services in January but said it could not allow monitoring of its enterprise email. [ID:nSGE70CB4R] * India's largest corruption scam in decades, involving the sale of 2G spectrum at below market prices to illegible companies in 2007/08, has hit confidence in the ruling Congress party-led government and spooked investors. [ID:nSGE71804Q] India's telecoms regulator has proposed steep rises in the price of 2G mobile radio waves, drawing criticism from carriers Bharti Airtel (BRTI.BO) and Vodafone Essar (VOD.L) who could pay hundreds of millions of dollars more. [ID:nSGE71806I]

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March 11 2011 http://www.techtree.com/India/Features/Why_Not_To_Buy_Windows_Phone_7_Mobile_in_India_ Now/551-114770-899.html

Why Not To Buy Windows Phone 7 Mobile in India Now

At the recent Nokia-Microsoft tie-up event, where they together announced Nokia adopting Windows Phone 7 as their primary smartphone OS, it was said that the mobile war is now a three horse race -- between Apple's iPhone, Google Android phones and Windows Phone 7 handsets. Before you start lamenting about me not showing love for Microsoft's decent attempt at revamping its Windows Mobile brand, let me clarify that I do love some of the things about Windows Phone 7 -- like its fresh and innovative UI. Many of the gaping flaws of Windows Mobile 6.x are amply taken care of (like the horrid Internet Explorer Mobile 6 and versions before), plus certain things like the on-screen QWERTY keyboard are simply a pleasure to use. Also, the overall silky-smoothness of the interface is unseen even in some expensive smartphones in the upper Rs. 20k price segment.

But after all that praise, there are still a few gaping holes with phones running Windows Phone 7 today. No, Im not talking of multitasking, copy paste, video calling or Adobe Flash support -- Microsoft is planning to get those working in the near future (hopefully). Here are some others that you may not be aware of -- some that are very basic and hopefully temporary, and some that may never arrive. Because of the following shortcomings, I would be very cautious of recommending Windows Phone 7 handsets to anybody today in India: 1) No access to Marketplace, Zune Store

Although Windows Phone 7 handsets from makers like HTC are selling in the Indian market

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today, Microsoft apparently hasn't officially announced the OS in the country. There's no mention of it on the Microsoft India website, and when you select India as a region on the Windows Phone 7 official page, you're redirected to an older version still showing Windows Mobile 6.5 and ancient handsets like the HTC Viva or Sony Ericsson XPERIA X1 (pathetic). On one of the Windows Phone 7 handsets that we tested, after logging into our Live account, the Marketplace appstore says it isn't available in our region yet. To access it, you'll have to create a pseudo Live ID with a different country of residence (try Australia) to get access. This is stupid, as you cannot even download free apps with your Indian account, let alone the paid ones. Second, the Zune media store that sells music, movies, TV shows and podcasts also isn't officially here. I cannot really hold my grudge against that, as even competitive stores like Apple's iTunes isn't accessible here too. But they at least let you purchase apps and download free e-books from the iBook store. But it still kills me to know that one of the most awesome things about Zune that people in countries where the service is accessible (like U.S.) cannot be used by Windows Phone 7 buyers here -- the Zune Pass. Basically, you pay a fixed amount every month, and you can stream anything from their entire library. So, imagine about a time when there's that one song you want to listen to, you just search for it on the phone, and it directly starts streaming to your phone over 3G or Wi-fi instantly. It's like carrying an entire music store in your pocket. How awesome! (Sigh).
2) Many of the important Google Applications are unavailable

This is more of a business decision than anything else. Google and Microsoft have been competing with each other for many of their products (be it Search, Maps, Email and other cloud services, now even Operating Systems). So, it is obvious that Microsoft will try to promote its own products over anybody else's (especially Google) on its smartphone OS. Other competitors have no choice to use Google because they don't have their own services (for example, Apple uses Google Maps for mapping). Lastly, Google has been making applications for other players like BlackBerry and Symbian, so you at least have an option to use them. But Windows Phone 7 has none till now, and I wonder if Google ever will make its apps for this platform. And this will really suck if you're used to using Google's services (which most you reading are, I'm sure). Heck, let me state that personally, I feel Google's services are better. There, I've said it. And it's not like I didn't give Microsoft s services a fair try. I tried Bing Maps and at times, it horribly misguided me. Plus, the level of detail just wasn't there at least in the city of my residence (Mumbai). You might argue that there are competitor apps from Microsoft, but it is up to the user to decide whether they're good enough for you or not. One of the few things I found better in Windows Phone 7 is the voice command tool, which was spot-on even with my Indian accent. While Google Voice Actions still keeps giving me stupid, irrelevant guesses.

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These points are important to consider -- especially since no Windows Phone 7 handset in the market today costs less than Rs. 25,000. That's a considerable amount you'll be spending, and ideally you deserve the best of all the services available. Not to say that a competing Android, iOS or a Symbian device is perfect, but the share of losses with Windows Phone 7 right now could outweigh the offerings for many. Windows Phone 7 looks like it has good potential, and the Nokia partnership will bring some good hardware to the mix (we so wish for an N8 running WP7). But the way things are now, the awesome user interface isn't a compelling enough reason for me to suggest somebody a Windows Phone 7 over a competing smart-phone. Not yet, there isn't.

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March 15 2011 http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report_mts-plans-monsoon-hungama-2_1520291

MTS plans 'monsoon hungama 2'

It was eight years ago that Mukesh Ambani, a man known for taking big risks, announced a unique scheme that gave away mobile phones costing a few thousand rupees for just Rs500. While the financially unsuccessful scheme put a quick end to Indian operators attempts to ape Western markets by bundling handsets free with each connection, Russian operator MTS on Tuesday announced it wants to have a second go. We are a long way since Reliance introduced Monsoon Hungama, says Vsevolod Rozanov, president and CEO of Sistema Shyam, the company that owns the MTS brand in India. Unlike Reliance, which offered the phones for a down-payment of Rs500, MTS will offer a Rs16,000, high-end HTC handset for free, and hope to recover it from the customers bill for the next 12 months. In return for taking the handset for free, the customer has to commit to a minimum bill-size of Rs1,500, including SMS, calls and Data. Unlike Hungama, there will be no separate handset rentals or charges, making the handset free for heavy users. Most analysts, however, were sceptical of the scheme, primarily because of the difficultly of keeping the customer paying through the 12 months. If you play really safe and target the scheme only at very well off customers, such customers are anyway used to having very clear cut preferences, favourite models etc... They may not want to pick from one or two or three models offered under a scheme, pointed out a Delhi-based telecom analyst. If on the other hand, the company tries to target the mid or mass market - the segment that really needs the scheme - it will come up against issues of credit-worthiness etc., the analyst, who preferred to remain anonymous, added. Such schemes only work in markets like the US which have strong credit-tracking infrastructure that discourages customers from dishonouring their subscription contracts. Others, however, were willing to wait and see. It is certainly an interesting move, said Deepak Kumar of IDC. Whether the company pushes ahead with the scheme or not would depend on the initial success or failure, he added. Indeed, MTS says it has an open mind about whether the scheme will work or not. There is a reason why we are starting at the high-end... If it works here, we will progressively address the mid-range market as well, said Leonid Musatov, chief marketing officer for India. The sweet-spot for smart phones in India is around Rs10,000 and the company would launch other models, including those from Motorola, Micromax and Samsung, if the first scheme takes off. Musatov also said MTS would be interested in bidding for extra spectrum to strengthen its data-oriented service in India, particularly in the Wimax-LTE band. The company currently has just 5 MHz of spectrum, out of which it used 2.5 MHz for voice and the rest for data. In comparison, some GSM operators have as much as 50 MHz of spectrum between their voice, 3G and broadband licenses. Reliance Industries has 20 MHz of spectrum. Musatov, whose firm has been pushing for the easing of merger and acquisition rules in telecom, said MTS is not interested in acquiring GSM spectrum or operators, but is interested in wireless broadband as it has decided to focus on data for its growth.

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March 15, 2011

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-15/telecom/28691208_1_blackberry-server-encryptionkeys-rim

Govt may ask RIM for similar access as other govts

NEW DELHI: BlackBerry maker Research in Motion's claims that it is not technologically feasible to provide access to corporate emails on its handsets has not cut ice with the Indian government. Intelligence agencies, the home ministry and telecom ministry are of the view that the Canadian company may have cut deals in other countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, China and the US whose governments have access to enterprise services on BlackBerry handsets, even as the RIM refuses to provide similar access here.

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16 March 2011

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-03-16/news/28697835_1_htc-corporationtouch-screen-hd-video-recording

HTC Unveils Desire Z in India

NEW DELHI: Cellphone maker HTC Corporation today said it has launched smartphone HTC Desire Z at Rs 25,590. HTC Desire Z operates on Android-based mobile operating system. "We are upbeat about the prospects of the Desire Z and believe that Indian mobile phone users will enjoy HTC's innovations in the new HTC Desire Z," HTC India Country Head Ajay Sharma said in a statement. HTC Desire Z has a 3.7 inch touch screen that enables surfing the web with a mere touch and a dedicated QWERTY keyboard for quick texting and emails. Other features include HD video recording and a 5-megapixel camera with flash, the statement added.

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March 16 2011 http://www.techtree.com/India/News/HTC_Incredible_S_now_in_India/551-114815-615.html

HTC Incredible S Launched in India

The HTC Incredible S, which was recently showcased for the first time at the Mobile World Congress 2011 at Barcelona, has now been launched in India. The Incredible S now has a dedicated page on the htc.com/in website, which usually happens only after they have launched a phone in India. Even Flipkart has put up the phone for pre-order, at a price of Rs. 26,999, which makes it the most expensive Android phone from HTC in India for now.

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March 16 2011 http://www.techtree.com/India/News/HTC_Ignite_Prime_Pyramind_Phone_Images_Surface/551114816-893.html

HTC Ignite, Prime, Pyramind Phone Images Surface

HTC recently refreshed it's Android based smartphone line-up at the Mobile World Congress 2011. But apart from that, HTC is working to bring one more high-end Android and two Windows Phone 7 based handsets to stay up in the competition. XDA China website got exclusive image renders of the upcoming HTC handsets deemed for this year. The new HTC Ignite and HTC Prime are destined to run Windows Phone 7 update while the HTC Pyramind will run Google Android mobile operating system. Recently, Nokia joined hands with Microsoft and announced that it will use Windows Phone 7 as the primary smartphone OS. That brought yet another competitor to the WP7 hardware partners. HTC aims to be the leader for both Android and Windows Phone 7 based devices. So we can see the company churning out more handsets for both mobile platforms. Now let's take a look at the leaked information of the upcoming handsets. HTC Ignite Designed very similar to the current HTC Mozart handset, the Ignite will have the same 3.7-inch WVGA display with 480x800 pixel resolution. The first visible difference is that the Ignite's chassis is more on the silver side while the Mozart's body is a bit dark. However, the Ignite has been reported of having 800MHz processor which seems to be a bit confusing because a WP7 OS smartphone must have 1GHz CPU as per the minimum requirements laid down by Microsoft. Ignite sports a 5 megapixel camera at the back and has three capacitive buttons on the front panel - Back, Windows Key and Search button.

HTC Prime Another Windows Phone 7 based handset; Prime is a slide-out phone following the footsteps of HTC 7 Pro. The new HTC Prime will have 3.7-inch display supporting 480x800 pixel resolution and 5 megapixel camera with LED Flash as well as auto focus. It will flaunt a full QWERTY keyboard with nicely spaced out keys.

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HTC Pyramind The Pyramind Z710e appears to be a blend of Desire HD, Incredible S and HD7. Sporting the most recent Android update, the smartphone comes with a 4.3-inch touchscreen Super Clear LCD display that supports 960x540 resolution. Packing a 768MB RAM, the smartphone has 8 megapixel camera at the back and a 1.3 megapixel camera in the front. These new leaked handsets appear to have bit of silver-ish chassis, which is bit unusual as most HTC touchscreen phones have been getting darker body panels.

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March 16 2011 http://www.deccanherald.com/content/146199/huge-scope-digital-radio-tech.html

Huge scope for digital radio tech growth in India: Motorola

Indias public safety system and network expansion is set to double every three years, especially, with the arming of police with digital radio sets, said a senior Motorola executive here. "We are experiencing strong demand for radio-based systems from Indias police force as well as private sectors such as oil and gas industries, coal mines and industrial production centres," said Balbir Singh, vice president, sales and operations at Motorola Solutions Asia Pacific. The growth is driven by rising security concern across the country, Singh said while projecting more than double-digit growth for Motorolas digital radio-based communication systems in India. These radio sets are more effective in allowing communication between various locations and command centres, helping the police manage any emergency, he said in Global Security Asia 2011 conference and exhibition being held in Singapore from March 15-17. On the private sector, Coal India has recently selected Motorola systems to manage its mine operations, he said. "Moreover, Indian enterprises are very fast in adopting technologies and we believe the Indian market will leapfrog in taking on the best digital systems, leaving analogs aside," he said. "We have been leading the radio-based communication market in India for four decades and have now established a working relationship in supplying handsets to police. We also provide training to the police on the effective use of handsets," he said. Besides the radios, Motorola has a wide range of communication sets in India, a market being served for more than 40 years, Singh said. Going forward, Singh sees Indian Postal Services and Courier Services using computers for deliveries in rural areas. "Rural India is a huge market where the postman will be using mobile computers to serve the people," he pointed out. According to Singh, Motorolas Indian operations were fully supported by Indias software engineers who are involved in designing the software and setting up network for the radio sets. Motorola also operates its biggest research and development centre in Bangalore,

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software programmes from which are used for its systems globally, according to Singh. Besides the domestic consumer market, the country eventually would emerge as a major exporter with corporate India collaborating and merging local and international technologies in products for the global markets, he said.

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March 17 2011 http://www.mobiletor.com/2011/03/17/htc-desire-z-smartphone-arrives-in-india/

HTC Desire Z smartphone arrives in India

Around few days back we reported an article when LetsBuy rolled out the HTC Merge handset for pre-order in India. Well, users across the Indian realm can cheer as HTC has now doffed the silk off its Desire Z Android-powered smartphone. The handset flaunts the updated HTC Sense interface which precisely blends together a wide array of interesting elements including a series of connected services known as HTC Sense.com. Adorned by a vibrant 3.7-inch touchscreen, the offering houses a comfortable QWERTY keypad for a leveraged typing experience. Driven by an 800MHz Qualcomm 7230 processor, the device promises to amplify users mobile experience. It is HTCs endeavour to push mobile phone experience to newer levels, and the HTC Desire Z stands testimony to it. For a new empowered India which is constantly on the move, the dedicated features of the HTC Desire Z will make it the tool of choice in seamless connectivity and convenience. This, combined with the HTC Sense experience will take the user beyond the phone to a whole new level with a series of connected HTC services we call HTCSense.com, commented Ajay Sharma, Country Head, HTC India. We are upbeat about the prospects of the Desire Z and believe that Indian mobile phone users will enjoy HTCs innovations in the new HTC Desire Z. The Desire Z claims to be an ideal travel buddy and can be easily slipped into a pocket or purse with utmost ease. The keyboard sports various shortcuts and two customizable keys, thereby enabling users to effortlessly access different functions. Photo enthusiasts can capture vibrant and sharp images using the integrated 5 megapixel camera with flash and HD video recording capabilities. The HTC Desire Z can be purchased for Rs. 25,590 via several authorized HTC resellers in India.

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March 23 2011 http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-03-23/gadgets-special/29177672_1_htcsmartphone-1ghz-snapdragon-processor

HTC unveils Windows Phone 7based HD7S

HTC has unveiled the HD7S smartphone, a Windows Phone 7-based device with a 4.3inch screen. The smartphone features Dolby Mobile and SRS WOW HD surround audio, and integrates with Xbox LIVE and Zune. It has a G-Sensor for gaming, and features a kickstand. Inside it has a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, 512MB of ROM and 16GB of internal storage. It also sports 576MB of RAM. It also features a 5MP camera with a dual LED flash that can capture HD video at 720p. Connectivity options include Bluetooth 2.1, WiFi b/g/n, and GPS/AGPS.

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March 25 2011 http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-03-25/news/29188523_1_taiwan-stockstsmc-taiwan-shares

HTC, chipmakers send Taiwan stocks to 2-week closing high

TAIPEI: Taiwan stocks rose 0.4 percent to a two-week closing high on Friday as market sentiment improved after gains on Wall Street, with tech heavyweights like HTC and TSMC in the lead. Topping the most active list by turnover was smartphone maker HTC, up 0.95 percent. Also among heavily traded issues were chipmakers TSMC and Inotera Memory. They both rose over 1 percent after U.S.-based Micron Technology ended up 8.39 percent in U.S. trading. "Foreign investors started net buying of Taiwan shares yesterday, which indicates their concerns over the Japan disaster and the Libya unrest have eased," said John Chiu, a vice president at Fuh Hwa Securities Investment Trust. "Whether the momentum we've seen this week will continue depends on global markets," he said. The main TAIEX index finished up 33.99 points at 8,610.39 in its sixth winning session, closing this week with a gain of about 2 percent. Among the top winners, electronics shares climbed 0.7 percent and textile rose 2.2 percent. Foreign investors were net buyers on Thursday, snapping an 11-session net selling streak. But Retailer Ruentex and property affiliate Ruentex Development both dropped more than 3 percent. A group led by these two firms planning to buy AIG's Taiwan life insurance unit said it will figure out ways to meet requests made by Taiwan's regulator for its approval of the deal. The Taiwan dollar strengthened by T$0.077 to T$29.506.

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30 March 2011 http://www.htc.com/www/press.aspx?id=126704&lang=1033

Bharti Airtel, HTC And Qualcomm Launch The HTC Smart In India
Friendly and compact design with HTC Sense experience Worlds first commercial 3G smartphone based on Qualcomms Brew Mobile Platform (Brew MP) HTCs Friendstream integrates Facebook, Twitter and Flickr into one stream of social communication updates Airtel customers to get an exclusive offer for data and content with HTC Smart

New Delhi (India), March 30, 2010 HTC Corporation, a global smartphone designer and Bharti Airtel, one of Asias leading integrated telecom service providers, today announced an exclusive partnership to launch the HTC Smart in India in collaboration with Qualcomm Incorporated. The HTC Smart marks HTCs strategic focus on India, the fastest growing telecom market in the world. HTC Smart, an easy-to-use and affordable smartphone, aims to create a new category of smartphones by bringing the globally acclaimed HTC Smart to the masses.

HTC has always focused on setting the stage for new mobile experiences and the HTC Smart is clear different or from touch phone and the result of customer feedback from all over the world for an easier-to-use, affordable smartphone, said Peter Chou, Chief Executive Officer, HTC Corporation. Were excited to launch the HTC Smart with Airtel in India first and Qualcomm, a company known for its innovations. HTC Smart offers easy-to-use widgets, browsing and connectivity at an affordable price. The integration of HTC Sense brings an unparalleled smartphone experience for people looking to do more on their phone.

The HTC Smart incorporates the latest cutting-edge features and is powered by Qualcomms Brew Mobile Platform operating system. The stylish device sports a 2.8-inch TFT-LCD touchsensitive screen with QVGA resolution and is equipped with a 3.5 mm stereo audio jack. The HTC Smart also includes a 3.0 megapixel colour camera with fixed focus and flashlight.

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As the undisputed leader in the Indian telecom industry, Airtel is committed to constantly delighting its customers and offering innovations to enrich their experience. With the HTC Smart, Airtel customers will be the first in the world to experience a revolutionary Smartphone that is not only affordable but is also 3G-ready said Sanjay Kapoor, CEO-India & South Asia, Bharti Airtel.

Qualcomm is pleased to collaborate with HTC and Airtel to launch HTC Smart, which brings the 3G smartphone experience to the mass market, said Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, chairman and chief executive officer of Qualcomm. HTC Smart is the first smartphone using Qualcomms distinctive Brew MP operating system. This platform, combined with the powerful HTC Sense technology brings a unique and compelling smartphone user experience to Indian consumers.

Bringing HTC Sense to the Masses The HTC Smart embodies HTC Sense, HTCs unique design philosophy that focuses on putting people at the centre by making your phone work in a more simple and natural way. The HTC Smarts compact touch design integrates the pillars of HTC Sense - Make It Mine, Stay Close and Discover the Unexpected. People can customize their own personal experience using a variety of widgets for quick access to contacts, photos, music, weather and more. People are able to follow their friends status updates using HTC Friend Stream, an application that seamlessly aggregates social communication streams like Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr into one organized flow of updates. This simple aggregation makes it easier than ever to focus on what friends are doing as well as the images and links that they share.

HTC Smart utilizes Qualcomms Brew Mobile Platform (Brew MP), a powerful and popular mobile operating system that enables HTC to deliver the HTC Sense experience on more affordable smartphones. By pioneering a new era of mass-market smartphones, Brew MP also provides the HTC Smart with a mass-market opportunity for new applications and services from software developers worldwide.

Availability & Pricing The HTC Smart will be available through Airtel in top 30 cities across the country at a Market Operating Price of Rs. 9,990.00* and all authorized HTC resellers. * Prices may vary according to the local applicable taxes

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March 30 2011 http://m.economictimes.com/ET-Review-HTC-Incredible-S/PDAET/articleshow/7822437.cms

ET Review: HTC Incredible S

NEW DELHI: In best HTC touchscreen phone tradition , the Incredible S looks very compact in spite of the 4-inch display, and at 135 grammes is actually on the light side. The front is dominated by the 480 x 800 super LCD display, with the now-familiar four HTC touch buttons beneath it for home, menu, back and search. And in a very neat touch, these buttons actually rotate with the screen. There is also a front facing 1.3MP camera for video calling and self-portraits. The back houses an 8.0-megapixel camera with dual LED flash and speaker. The innards of the Incredible S are impressive tooa 1 GHz processor, 768 MB RAM, surround sound, support for micro-SD cards, and every connectivity option that springs to mind, including Wi-Fi , GPS, 3G and even the option to stream pictures and videos to a television using DLNA (provided your television supports it, of course). And running on top of all this is Android 2.2, over which, in turn runs HTC's Sense interface, which makes most tasks a snap and is by far the best looking and most functional skin over Android. As a smartphone, the Incredible S excels, handling social networks, mail & web browsing with ease, even when all are running at the same time (the RAM helps!). The big screen comes into its own when you are viewing video or browsing the Web. And unlike some of its competitors, it actually has an onscreen keyboard that is easy to use. In terms of pure phone functionality, call quality was excellent. Music through the headsets was very good indeed. Best of all, this has got to be one of the smoothest operators we have seen in a while in terms of pure performance. It does, however, disappoint a bit in the camera department. While the 8.0-megapixel shooter performs adequately in sunlight, the quality of snaps and video dips discernibly when one shifts indoors. And then there is Android's albatrossthe battery life. The Incredible S does better in this department than the Desire HD and the HD7, but it still is nowhere near BlackBerry or Symbian territory. In short, be ready to charge it once a day, especially if you are making the most of the Sense interface's ability to park everything from mail to social networks to news updates on your home screensand it does make sense to do so. The back panel of the phone is also a bit too thin for comfort as you can at times feel the battery heating up through it. All said and done, the Incredible S is a very good device indeed. There will be those who will crib about the absence of an AMOLED display, a dual core processor and the latest version (2.3) of Android. We will content ourselves with being very satisfied with its performance. Yes, the 28,900 price tag does seem to be a bit on the higher side, when you consider that other devices with competitive configurations, including HTC's own Desire HD are available for less, but if you are looking for a big-screen Android that performs without looking too bulky, you could hardly do better. HTC Incredible S

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Price: Rs 28,900 Features: 4-inch (800x480 pixel) capacitive LCD 1 Ghz processor, 768 MB RAM, HTC Sense with Android 2.2, Wi-Fi, GPS, 135 grams PROS: Large display, compact size CONS: Mediocre camera, both for stills and video, average battery life RATING: ***** Also See HTC Desire HD Price: Rs 26,500 4.3-inch display (800 x 480 pixels) 1Ghz processor, 768MB RAM, 8MP cam, Android 2.2, Wi-Fi , GPS, Bluetooth, 1.5GB internal + micro SD, 164 grams.