Panasonic Eluga A Launched At Rs. 9,490

Expanding its portfolio of Eluga range of smartphones in India, Panasonic has launched mid-range Eluga A smartphone at Rs. 9,490/-. The Eluga A will start retailing in India from 15th August onwards and will be available in black and white colors.

The Eluga A sports a 5 inch IPS FWGA (854×480) display and runs on Android 4.3 (JellyBean) OS. It is driven by 1.2 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 200 processor, coupled with 1GB RAM, 4GB ROM expandable to 32GB via microSD card. The Dual-SIM Eluga A comes with an 8 MP Auto Focus with LED Flash rear camera and 1.3MP front camera. It is packed with 2000mAh batery. For connectivity options, this smartphone offers 802.11b/g/n; Wi-Fi Hotspot & Wi-Fi Direct, Bluetooth 3.0 and Micro USB 2.0.

The Eluga A is equipped with a single hand operative “Fit Home” user interface with features such as “Kwik Lock”, where the user can double tap the home screen to lock.The Eluga A also features support for leading Indian languages that allows the user to browse the web, chat and navigate the phone menu in his or her local language.

The Eluaga A has other advanced features such as Qualcomm Snapdragon Audio+ audio enhancement technology for rich 3D surround sound music; Voice+ voice enhancement technology for clearer conversations;  BatteryGuru for extended battery life; and Quick Charge for up to 40% faster charging.

Speakinga bout the launch of Eluga A,  Mr. Manish Sharma, Managing Director, Panasonic India said “Through ELUGA, Panasonic will bring advanced technological innovations to the Indian smartphone users and with ELUGA A, we have successfully integrated into the premium gadget, advanced technology for Audio enhancements, voice clarity, faster charging, longer battery life and local language features, in tune with the needs of the Indian consumer.”

Panasonic had launched its flagship Eluga U towards the end of July at a price of Rs. 18,990/-. The Panasonic Eluga U features a 5-inch IPS HD display (720×1280 pixels) with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 protection as an On-Glass Solution . It is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage, which can be expanded upto 32GB via microSD card. The Eluga U is equipped with a 13MP autofocus rear camera with LED flash, and a 2MP front-facing camera.

Xiaomi Mi3 handset will go up for sale again tomorrow on Flipkart

The Xiaomi Mi3 which has enjoyed unexpected demand in India, will go on sale again tomorrow through Flipkart, with 20000 units reported to be up for grabs. If you’re interested in buying it, you’d better register yourself for the same, since it’s not possible to grab the handset without doing that.

And even if you do register for the Xiaomi Mi3 sale, chances of actually getting to purchase it are pretty slim. If you haven’t heard, it is currently the most in-demand smartphone in the country. Units of it are vanishing off Flipkart’s shelves within seconds of them being made available.

The Xiaomi phone first went on sale on July 22 and managed to run out of stock in about 40 minutes. A week later, when more units were put up for sale, they were sold out within 5 seconds, whereas in the third week, it took just 2 seconds for the device to go out of stock.

Here’s a quick glance at the Xiaomi Mi3 handset features:

- Display: 5-inch IPS LCD, 1080p full HD
- Platform: Android 4.4 KitKat with MIUI V5
- Processor: 2.3GHz quad core Snapdragon 800
- Memory: 16GB internal memory, 2GB RAM
- Camera: 13MP main, 2MP front
- Connectivity: HSPA+, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, A-GPS
- Battery: 3050mAh

Flipkart will make it available for purchase at 2pm sharp tomorrow at its much-appreciated price of Rs 13999. Registrations for this sale will only be accepted until midnight tonight.

The Xiaomi Mi3 has been setting records ever since it first arrived in India, and with tomorrow’s sale too, the Chinese company would definitely want a repeat of the same.

HTC One M8 vs Sony Xperia Z2 – Comparison of Specs, Features and Price

During the past couple of years, Sony had a bad patch when it came to high-end smartphone arena.
The company has struggled against its strong counterparts. The top handsets launched by the company were good but they lacked the impetus that would make them stand out from the other smartphones. However, now it seems that Sony has found itself a winner. The release of Sony Xperia Z2 has given the other companies a run for their money. One of its counterparts, the HTC One M8, has a lot to offer to its users. The HTC One M8 runs flawlessly and looks great with its front facing speakers and other features. To understand which smartphone is the better one out of the two, let us compare their specs, features and price.
Design, Dimensions, Display
Both the HTC One M8 and the Sony Xperia Z2 rank next to awesome in terms of their stupendous designs. Choosing a favorite amongst the two can be a daunting task. The HTC One M8 is an awe-inspiring smartphone encased in a gorgeous metal body. It is more alluring than Xperia Z2. The back side and the curvy corners make it fit better in the palm. In comparison, the Xperia Z2 has an astounding, flat piece of metal and glass, giving the user a reassuring feeling when held. The rectangular look may not be appealing to the masses and the smartphone feels quite big in the hands due to its large size. The HTC One M8 weighs 160 grams in comparison to 163 grams weight of Xperia Z2.
The dimensions of the HTC One M8 measure 146.4mm x 70.6mm x 9.4mm in height, width and thickness. The HTC One M8 encompasses a 5 inches Super LCD3 touchscreen with a resolution of 1080×1920 pixels using Corning Gorilla Glass 3 for protection. The Sony Xperia Z2 measures 146.8mm x 73.3mm x 8.2mm in height, width and thickness. The Xperia Z2 incorporates a 5.2 inches IPS LCD touchscreen with a resolution of 1080×1920 pixels. The smartphone is water resistant and dust proof with IP58 certification.
Hardware and Operating System
The HTC One M8 is powered with Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad core 2.3GHz processor. The device runs on Android OS version 4.4.2 KitKat. It has an internal memory of 16/32 GB with 2GB of RAM.
The Sony Xperia Z2 is powered with Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 2.3GHz quad core processor. The smartphone runs on Android OS version 4.4.2 KitKat, similar to that of its counterpart. It has an internal memory of 16GB with 3GB of RAM.
Price
The HTC One M8 is priced at $749.99 in comparison to Sony Xperia Z2 that is priced at $639.99
The good looks of the HTC One M8 are supported by a powerful hardware accessible in the market. It is an appropriate flagship smartphone with extremely capable features. The Sony Xperia Z2 should have a better performance against other flagships.

Intex Aqua Curve Mini with 8MP camera @Rs 7,290 is a steal

This is a great handset and should do well in the market. Intex Aqua Curve Mini with 8MP camera @Rs 7,290 is a steal

New Delhi: Intex has come out with a rather good looking and affordable handset. The handset seems perfect for people who are looking forward to a decent handset at affordable price.

Intex Aqua Curve Mini is handset running on the latest Android KitKat operating system and comes with rather decent specifications. Aqua Curve Mini has been priced at rather wisely at Rs 7,290.

When it comes to specifications the handset seems good. But to many people this may not attract as it comes with rather small 4.5 inch display. Indian smartphone fans love huge sized handsets that can be looked at from a long distance.

Intex Aqua Curve Mini is power-packed for the handset priced this low. It comes with 1.3 GHz quad core processor and 1 GB RAM that seems a decent combo to give your handset enough power to. The handset comes with 4 GB+1.26 GB internal storage that can be expanded to 32GB with micro SD card slot. It also has a rather decent 1,500 mAh battery.

When it comes to camera, the handset has been given 8 mega pixel rear camera with LED flash and 2 MP front facing camera. It comes with3G, Wi-Fi, Micro-USB, and Bluetooth.  The handset should do well in the local market.


Key Specs
Display: 4.50-inch, 480×854 pixels
Processor: 1.3GHz dual core
Camera: 8MP rear, 2-megapixel
RAM: 1GB
OS: Android 4.4
Storage: 4GB, expandable upto 32 GB

Intex unveils Aqua Curve Mini at Rs 7,290

New Delhi: Intex has unveiled KitKat-powered Aqua Curve Mini in the affordable range of smartphones.

The Aqua Curve Mini, powered by the latest Android KitKat operating system has been priced at Rs 7,290.

The smartphone is targetted at students and young professionals, mainly in tier II and III cities in India.

The device sports a 4.5-inch screen, 1.3 GHz quad core processor, 1 GB RAM, 4 GB+1.26 GB built-in memory (expandable upto to 32GB) and 1,500 mAh battery.

The dual SIM smartphone also features 8MP rear camera with LED flash and 2 MP front camera, 3G, Wi-Fi, Micro-USB, and Bluetooth. The smartphone packs a 1500mAh battery.

Key Specs

Display: 4.50-inch

Screen Resolution: 480x854 pixels

Processor: 1.3GHz dual core

Front Camera: 2-megapixel

Rear Camera: 8-megapixel

RAM: 1GB

OS: Android 4.4

Storage: 4GB

Battery capacity: 1500mAh

Spice introduces Stellar 445 3G quad core smartphone at Rs 5,299

New Delhi: Spice Retail Ltd has added another smartphone to its Stellar series. The company has launched its dual sim smartphone Stellar 445 in an affordable range.

The phone has been priced at Rs 5,299 and will be available from the first week of July.

The phone packs a 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon Quad Core processor, a 3.2 MP rear snapper, and a 1.3 MP front camera. Running Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS, the phone also has 4GB ROM coupled with 512MB RAM. Spice Stellar 445 features a 10.16cm WVGA screen.

The dual sim smartphone (3G+2G) enables 3G Video calling and comes with a 1500 mAh battery which provides decent battery backup.

With this smartphone, users will have access to pre-embedded apps like OLX, WhatsApp and free 2 GB Spice Cloud storage facility

Key Features

10.16cm WVGA screen

Dual SIM (3G + 2G)

1.2 GHz Quad Core Processor

Android 4.3 Jelly Bean

3.2MP + 1.3MP Camera front camera

Snapdragon Audio+ Technology

Multiple Languages

4GB ROM + 512MB RAM

1500 mAh Battery

3G Video Calling

Expandable Memory upto 32 GB

Swift Keyboard

G Sensor

Wi-Fi &Wi – Fi Tethering

FM Radio

GPS / AGPS / GMS

3G Video calling

Maxx unveils AX356 GenxDroid7 for Rs 3696, will receive Android KitKat update

Maxx Mobile AX356 GenxDroid7 is possibly one of the most forgettable names for an Android smartphone that we’ve come across of late. Not to sound like we’re slagging off a device just because it’s low-end, but can you look around and actually claim that a price of Rs 3696 is reasonable for a Jelly Bean powered device?
We’re seeing more and more new launches landing with KitKat in spite of their ridiculously low costs and dropping a handset like the AX356 GenxDroid7 handset into the mix isn’t the best move Maxx Mobile could have made. After all, a lot of Indian manufacturers show themselves to be rather lazy when it boils down to software updates.

So we won’t expect the Maxx GenxDroid7 to get its Android KitKat break until it actually arrives even if the company says that the smartphone is upgradable from Jelly Bean. From another point of view, if you were just buying this one as a temporary backup device and took an inexplicable fancy to it, we could see why you’d pick it up.
Running on Android v4.2.2, this Maxx Mobile smartphone sports a 3.5-inch display spewing out visuals in a low 320 x 480p resolution. It gets its processing power from a 1GHz dual core MT6572M chipset from MediaTek and is helped along by 512MB of RAM. A 1200mAh battery keeps it juiced up for 3.5 hours of talk time between charges.

Maxx Mobile AX356 GenxDroid7 specs list:
- 3.5-inch 320 x 480p touchscreen
- 1GHz dual core processor
- 512MB of RAM, 4GB ROM
- 8GB memory card
- 3.2MP main camera with flash
- 0.3MP webcam
- 1200mAh battery
- 3.5 hours talk time

Xiaomi partners with Flipkart to launch its smartphones in India

Chinese handset maker Xiaomi is gearing up for the Indian debut in next few weeks. Xiaomi, like Motorola is also teaming up with the e-Commerce major Flipkart to launch its handsets in India. Xiaomi had launched its official website in India earlier this month, announcing its entry into the Indian smartphone market in the next few weeks.

Xiaomi is expected to bring two smartphones in partnership with Flipkart in the next 2-3 months. They added the agreement between the parties is in the final stages and the launch on the online market place will happen next month, reported PTI.

Many handset makers like Motorola and Alcatel are partnering with e-commerce firms to launch their devices exclusively. While Motorola has launched its Moto G, Moto X and Moto E with Flipkart, Celkon had launched its Android Kitkat-powered Campus A35K exclusively with Snapdeal.
Founded in 2010 by serial entrepreneur Lei Jun, the Beijing-headquartered firm has become one of China's biggest electronics companies that designs, develops and sells smartphones, mobile apps and other such consumer items. Other Chinese firms selling its handsets in India include Huawei, ZTE, Lenovo, Gionee and Oppo, the latest entrant.

According to the company's website, it has already sold over 17 million handsets in China. Its portfolio includes devices like Mi 3, Mi Wi-Fi and Mi Box, among others. It launched its products in Singapore in February this year. Earlier this month, the company had also roped in Jabong co-founder Manu Kumar Jain to head its operations in India.

According to research firm IDC, smartphone sales in the country grew almost three-fold to over 44 million in 2013, buoyed by affordable devices made by local firms such as Micromax and Karbonn.

Affordable smartphones, especially those priced in the sub-USD 200 category (Rs 12,000), are doing well. Over the last few weeks, companies have launched handsets like Lumia 630 and Moto G to tap the booming market.

Samsung Galaxy K Zoom launched at Rs 29,999

   NEW DELHI: After teasing it on the homepage, e-commerce retailer Amazon India has announced the launch of Samsung Galaxy K Zoom at Rs 29,999.

Pre-orders for the phone start July 2nd midnight exclusively on the website and shipments start July 9 onwards. The phone will be available in 3 colors - Charcoal Black, Shimmery White and Electric Blue.

Amazon is also offering freebie worth Rs 6,000 to first 1,000 customers. It will offer a free Samsung Pop out case, Sandisk 32GB microSD card, 6 free movie tickets, Rs 1000 value off coupon on purchase of select handbags and Rs 1000 value off coupon on purchase of select watches on Amazon.in, to qualifying customers.

Successor to Samsung's Galaxy Camera 2, the Galaxy K Zoom combines the features of a smartphone and a point and shoot camera. The phone was initially announced in April.

The phone sports a 20.7MP CMOS camera sensor at the back with 10X Zoom and a Xenon flash, and a 2MP front-facing camera. In terms of focal length, the lens in K Zoom covers 24-240mm. The lens has an aperture of F3.1-6.3.

Featuring a 4.8-inch SuperAMOLED display(720x1280p), Galaxy K Zoom is powered by a hexa-core (1.3GHz quad-core and 1.7GHz dual-core) processor and 2GB RAM. It has 8GB internal storage but features a microSD that supports cards of up to 64GB capacity. The phone has a 2,430mAh battery. It runs Android 4.4 KitKat.

In terms of connectivity options, the phone offers Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi, 3G and GPS.

‘Moment’ app CUREs your iPhone addiction

Moment’ app CUREs your iPhone addiction. This is going to measure and cure your digital addiction.

If you can’t stay away from your iPhone even if you try, then this new app is for you. The new iOS app, Moment, claims that it can keep people away from their iPhone by allowing then to use it less.

The app lets you limit your iPhone uses and will allow you to spend more time doing some other stuff than hanging around with your smartphone.

Moment continuously runs in the background of the iPhone and keeps tracking your daily usage and lets you know the amount of time you spent on your iPhone. It also allows you to set a usage limit and notifies you when you reach the limit. Users can also set their phone to instantly switch off if they cross their limit set in the app, compelling them to keep their iPhone away and enjoy their life.
“I built Moment to help nudge me in the right direction by automatically tracking my daily iPhone use and giving me a warning when I’m on it for too long,” app designer Kevin Holesh stated on his blog post.

“My goal was to find a balance of connected and disconnected that was right for me. Moment has helped me gain another 35 minutes every day to take my dogs for a hike or do a quick workout instead of mindlessly scrolling through Twitter,” he said. “Moment is helping me find that balance,” Holesh added.

Videocon VPhone Grande low-cost feature phone launches for Rs 1950

A brand new Videocon VPhone Grande has emerged in India with a price of Rs 1950 attached to it and you’re undoubtedly wondering whether it works on Android or not considering its tag. Manufacturers these days are surprising us with so many low cost handsets running the Google mobile OS, feature phones make their debut few and far between.
Videocon is clearly still trying to break big into the scene that Nokia is most popular in even after its sale to Microsoft. The VPhone Grande has all the specifications a first time phone buyer or backup device seeker could ask of a gadget of its ilk starting from the basics such as FM radio and recording as well as Bluetooth connectivity.

In keeping with the trend of low cost handsets allowing you to juggle with mobile numbers, this Videocon phone hides dual SIM slots under its hood. It has a modest 2.8-inch color display on the front and a 1.3MP camera with flash on the back. Though the internal memory hasn’t been mentioned, you can slide in a microSD card of up to 32GB.
Also see: Celkon unveils Campus A35K Android 4.4 KitKat phone on Snapdeal for Rs 2999
Videocon VPhone Grande: Quick look at its key specs
- 2.8-inch QVGA resolution screen
- 1.3MP camera
- GRPS and Bluetooth connectivity
- 32GB microSD support
- 1100mAh Li-ion battery
- Dual SIM dual standby
- FM radio with recording
- LED flash light
- 68 grams
- Black, white, blue colors

The Videocon VPhone Grande can be purchased from three online retailers at present and these include HomeShop18, Digiworld and Next.

Flipkart partners with Karbonn to exclusively sell entry-level Android phones in India

Karbonn has turned to Flipkart to announce four budget Android phones in India dubbed Smart A50S, Smart A52+, Smart A11* and Smart A12* and their prices start at Rs 2699. All four have much in common with regards to their specs sheets and two of them run on the Android KitKat OS.
You’ve heard of the Karbonn Smart A50S smartphone, though it was admittedly pegged higher at Rs 2790 before and now costs just Rs 2699. It’s time to greet its cousin going by the name Smart A52+ which sticks to similar features covering a 3.5-inch touchscreen, a 2MP main camera, dual SIM slots, Android Jelly Bean, 512MB RAM and a dual core MediaTek processor.

But then this 2G-capable Karbonn smartphone veers away on a couple of counts such as its memory which amounts to 4GB (32GB microSD card support) and its larger 1300mAh battery as well as higher Rs 3290 price. Next comes the Smart A11* which is a 3G device getting its steam from Android KitKat 4.4.2.
It works on a 1.2GHz dual core MediaTek chipset, keeping its cost low at Rs 4099, and has a 4-inch display. The handset is powered by 512MB of RAM and offers 4GB onboard storage along with memory expandability. It is kept going by a 1400mAh battery, embeds a 5MP camera on its back and a VGA one above its screen.

Last but not the least is the Karbonn Smart A12* which also happens to get its kicks from KitKat and a dual core MediaTek chip. Its list of features practically matches that of the Smart A11* even though it chooses to go with a larger 4.3-inch touchscreen, the last mentioned of which explains its Rs 4499 price tag.
Also see: Karbonn A50s entry-level smartphone is now available exclusively via Flipkart for Rs 2790
Flipkart doesn’t appear to have hoisted product pages for all four Karbonn smartphones at present seeing as we could only find the older Smart A50S and latest Smart A52+ listed on the website.

Samsung Launches Four Budget Android 4.4 KitKat Galaxy Smartphones

 



Samsung has launched four new affordable Galaxy smartphones - the Galaxy Core II, Galaxy Star 2, Galaxy Ace 4, and Galaxy Young 2. The newly launched Galaxy smartphones are touted to be targeted at the affordable segment. The South Korean consumer electronics giant, as of now, has not revealed any pricing or availability details of the four smartphones.
Notably, all the new Samsung smartphones - the Galaxy Core II, Galaxy Star 2, Galaxy Ace 4, and Galaxy Young 2 - run Android 4.4 KitKat out-of-the-box with the company's TouchWiz Essence UI on top. Further, the Galaxy Core II, Galaxy Star 2, and Galaxy Young 2 are dual-SIM devices, while the Galaxy Ace 4 is a single SIM device and has been launched in 3G and LTE variants, according to Samsung Tomorrow.
The Samsung Galaxy Core II comes with a 4.5-inch WVGA (480x800 pixels) TFT display and is powered by a quad-core processor clocked at 1.2GHz. Other specifications include a 5-megapixel autofocus rear camera with LED flash; VGA front-facing camera; 768MB of RAM; 4GB of inbuilt storage; 64GB expandable storage support (via microSD card), and 2000mAh battery. Connectivity options on the smartphone include Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0, Micro-USB and 3G. The Galaxy Core II will be available in Black and White colour variants. It comes with dimensions 130.3x68x9.8mm and weighs 138 grams. It is the successor to the Galaxy Core launched in June last year.
The Samsung Galaxy Ace 4, as mentioned earlier, comes in two variants - LTE and 3G. Both the variants of the Galaxy Ace 4 come with slightly different set of specifications.
The Galaxy Ace 4 LTE comes with dimensions 121.4x62.9x11mm and weighs 130.3 grams, while the Galaxy Ace 4 (3G) comes with 121.4x62.9x10.8mm dimensions and weighs 123.8 grams. The LTE variant packs 1GB of RAM, while the 3G variant comes with 512MB of RAM. The Galaxy Ace 4 LTE is powered by a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and packs an 1800mAh battery. Meanwhile, the Galaxy Ace 4 (3G) is backed by a 1GHz dual-core processor and packs 1500mAh battery. Common specifications of the Galaxy Ace 4 3G and LTE variants are 4-inch WVGA TFT display, 5-megapixel rear camera, and VGA front camera.
The smartphone comes with Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi b/g/n, A-GPS, GLONASS, and Micro-USB connectivity options. Both the variants of the Galaxy Ace 4 will be available in Iris Charcoal and Classic White colours.
The Samsung Galaxy Young 2 features a 3.5-inch HVGA (320x480 pixels) TFT display and is backed by a 1GHz single-core processor clubbed with 512MB of RAM. There is a 3-megapixel fixed-focus rear camera. It comes with 4GB inbuilt storage which is further expandable up to 32GB via microSD card.
Connectivity options include Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi b/g/n, A-GPS, GLONASS, 3G and Micro-USB. It measures 109.8x59.9x11.8mm and weighs 108 grams. The Galaxy Young 2 packs a 1300mAh battery and comes in two colour variants - Iris Charcoal and White.
Lastly, the Samsung Galaxy Star 2 comes with a 3.5-inch HVGA (320x480 pixels). It is powered by a single-core Spreadtrum SC6815A clocked at 1GHz alongside 512MB of RAM.
The smartphone sports a 2-megapixel fixed focus rear camera and includes 4GB of inbuilt storage which is further expandable up to 32GB via microSD card. It includes Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi b/g/n, and Micro-USB connectivity options. The Galaxy Star 2 does not come with 3G network support and comes with identical dimensions as the Galaxy Young 2. It packs a 1300mAh battery
In addition, the Galaxy Star 2 and Galaxy Young 2 come with eight downloadable Gameloft games for users.

U.S. Accuses T-Mobile Of Overbilling

 

WASHINGTON — T-Mobile, which sees itself as a new kind of carrier, now stands accused of an old-fashioned practice — overbilling its customers.

The Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday brought a legal action accusing T-Mobile of illegally earning hundreds of millions of dollars by placing bogus charges on customers’ cellphone bills for premium texting services that the consumers never ordered. Regulators said that T-Mobile had been allowing the third-party charges, and taking a hefty cut of the revenue, since 2009.

The case is one of the largest yet brought by regulators against a major telecommunications company for unauthorized billing, known as “cramming.” The practice has been relatively common for landlines, but recently began to appear on mobile bills.

In T-Mobile’s case, the F.T.C. said, fees for services like “flirting tips, horoscope information or celebrity gossip,” typically were for $9.99, of which 35 to 40 percent went to T-Mobile. In some cases, customers were charged for “years after becoming aware of signs that the charges were fraudulent,” it said.

Jessica Rich, director of the agency’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, said in a briefing that T-Mobile had “ignored telltale signs of fraud” in the charges, harming many consumers.

John Legere, T-Mobile’s chief executive, said in a statement that the F.T.C.’s accusations were without merit.

Also on Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission said it was investigating T-Mobile’s billing practices after receiving consumer complaints. The commission and the F.T.C. are the two main regulators of the telecommunications industry.

The inquiry and the accusations come at an awkward time for T-Mobile, which has been reported to be in talks with Sprint for a merger that would have to be approved by the F.C.C. T-Mobile has trumpeted itself in its ad campaign as the “Un-carrier” eliminating the things that frustrate customers, like hidden charges and confusing two-year contracts. For its efforts, the company has won praise and millions of customers.

Some of the charges resulted in refunds being given to 40 percent of the customers who asked for them, “an obvious sign to T-Mobile that the charges were never authorized by its customers,” the F.T.C. said.

“It’s wrong for a company like T-Mobile to profit from scams against its customers when there were clear warning signs the charges it was imposing were fraudulent,” said Edith Ramirez, the F.T.C. chairwoman. “The FTC’s goal is to ensure that T-Mobile repays all its customers for these crammed charges.”

In his statement, Mr. Legere said that last year the company stopped allowing third-party companies to impose charges, and last month proactively offered refunds to customers.

“We are disappointed that the F.T.C. has chosen to file this action against the most pro-consumer company in the industry rather than the real bad actors,” Mr. Legere said. “The F.T.C.’s lawsuit seeking to hold T-Mobile responsible for their acts is not only factually and legally unfounded, but also misdirected.”

Continue reading the main story

Continue reading the main story

According to the F.T.C. complaint, filed in federal court in Seattle, T-Mobile told the agency that consumers had authorized the charges. But the agency said the company had shown “no proof of consumers’ doing so.” Commission officials said they had tried unsuccessfully to reach a settlement with T-Mobile.

The F.T.C. is seeking refunds for consumers, and to permanently prevent T-Mobile from engaging in cramming. The commission lacks the power to impose its own fines for charges of consumer fraud, but the F.C.C. has that authority. In the last four years that agency has taken nine enforcement actions against companies for cramming that have totaled more than $33 million in proposed fines.

Consumers would have had a hard time figuring out that they were being charged by T-Mobile for the services, the F.T.C. said, because the company’s online billing statements did not show that the charge was coming from a third party or that it was a recurring payment. Its full-length bills, which often run to dozens of pages, gave more information, but in what was often unintelligible fashion, the agency said.

For example, one type of unauthorized charges appeared on bills with the service listed as “8888906150BmStorm23918,” the F.T.C. said. Consumers who had prepaid phone plans do not receive a bill at all; therefore, the amount was simply deducted from their accounts, according to the agency.

T-Mobile announced in November 2013 that it would no longer allow third parties to bill its customers for premium texting services. When it offered refunds last month to consumers, Mike Sievert, the company’s chief marketing officer, said: “If customers were charged for services they didn’t want, we’ll make it right. That’s being the Un-carrier.”

The F.T.C.’s complaint says, however, that T-Mobile knew in early 2012 that customers were complaining about the charges in increasing numbers and that it had identified several third-party merchants as the subject of those complaints. But, the F.T.C. said, T-Mobile did little to determine whether the customers had authorized the charges.

T-Mobile refused to give some consumers refunds when they asked for them, the commission said, or told them it would block future charges and then failed to do so.

BlackBerry Z3 full review: Good buy for those looking for an upgrade

 


The BlackBerry Z3 has a lot going for it and a lot riding on it. It is the most affordable BlackBerry 10 device that could theoretically help the Canadian smartphone maker recreate the success of the Curve 8520 which literally made the once top management phone a household name. But does the phone have the oomph to take on the likes of the Moto G and Nokia 630 which offer good features at slightly cheaper price points?
Quick Tech Specs: 5-inch qHD 540 x 960p display | Dual Core 1.2 GHz Qualcomm MSM8230 processor | 1.5GB RAM | 8GB internal memory, microSD up to 32GB | 5MP rear camera with AF, 1.1MP front camera | micro-SIM (GSM) | 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4 | 2500 mAH battery | BlackBerry OS 10.2.1
Price: Rs 15,900
Design: The Z3 first reminds you of the Z10, the BlackBerry BB10 flagship from last year. Then the Z10 is larger and slightly thicker. But the design language is the same. The phone weighs 164g and it feels good in your hand. The all-black finish and the textured back make the phone look and feel very businesslike. There are four buttons on the left, while a slim flap on the right reveals the SIM and SD card slot.
Screen: The Z3 is a phablet thanks to its 5-inch qHD display. The qHD display is obviously not as good as HD or Full HD, but you would not be able to make out the difference in resolution with at least 720p. Given the price, BlackBerry could have pushed for HD, but the present screen is not going to affect your experience in anyway. And that is what matters. If you need better resolution there is Miracast to beam content to a larger screen.
Performance: Performance is not an issue with this phone at least the way it is meant to be used. Multi-tasking it easy and you have work on a maximum of four apps at the same time. Even with four apps frozen, performance does not lag even a bit. The phone also stays cool most of the time, which is a big help these days.
Memory: The Z3 comes with 8GB internal storage, which is pretty much standard these days in this price range. And you can add extra storage with the SD card. The phone also comes preloaded with BoX, DropBox and Evernote, which add a few gigs between them.
Connectivity: Never a problem with a BlackBerry phone. The Z3 uphold this legacy well.
Software: The Z3 runs the 10.2.1 version of the BB10 OS. There are lot of new features in the OS, most it should have had in the first place if you ask me. But now notifications appear and can be acted upon on top of the app you are on. There is a very Android-inspired pull down settings panel and quick sharing from anywhere.  But what really adds an edge to the OS is its ability to accept most Android apps. A few don’t work on the platform, but those that do plug the biggest gap that buyers have found in this operating system. With the next version of the OS, scheduled to come out in a few months, users will get full access to the Amazon app store too.
Camera: You don’t buy a BlackBerry for its camera, they have always been decent. It performs reasonably well in low light and is good in daylight. Plus, you can click by just touching the screen, which is always welcome in this selfie era.
Battery: The battery can last you a working day on a full charge. For those who don’t use data all the time, the phone could end up squeezing a few more hours of juice.
Verdict: The Z3 definitely has enough features and usability to prevent its loyal users from moving out to other platforms. However, I am not sure the platform offers enough incentives for those on other OS to jump ship. At a lower price point, maybe BlackBerry could have started wooing a lot of people who were looking to buy their first Android powered smartphones. That opportunity seems to have been lost for now.

Samsung Reveals Galaxy S5 Mini

 

The rumors were true. Samsung today revealed a mini version of its Galaxy S5 flagship smartphone.
The Galaxy S5 mini sports a 4.5-inch, 720-by-1,280 Super AMOLED display, down from the 5.1-inch, 1,920-by-1,080 display on the larger S5. It runs a 1.4GHz quad-core processor (the S5 has a 2.5GHz chip) and Android 4.4 KitKat. It has 1.5GB of RAM and 16GB of internal memory, expandable to 64GB via microSD.
There's an 8-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash on the mini, as well as a 2.1-megapixel front-facing shooter, and the usual Samsung photo software.
The device is dust- and water-resistant, and includes features like ultra power saving mode, S Health, and a private/kids mode. Like the S5, meanwhile, the mini also includes the fingerprint and heart rate sensors.
U.S. buyers will have to wait to get their hands on the mini. It will launch in Russia in July before rolling out globally. The device will come in four color options: Charcoal Black, Shimmery White, Electric Blue, or Copper Gold.
A mini version of the Galaxy S5 isn't entirely unexpected. Samsung released a Galaxy S4 Mini last year, which had a 4.3-inch display.
More recently, Samsung released a rugged version of the Galaxy S5. The Samsung Galaxy S5 Active is available on AT&T, while it will be known as the S5 Sport on Sprint.
Yesterday, Samsung also announced four new budget Galaxy devices: the Galaxy Core II, Galaxy Star 2, Galaxy Ace 4, and Galaxy Young 2.

Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo

Samsung Galaxy Grand Neo said to be launching this week for around Rs 19,000

The Galaxy Grand Neo, the latest in Samsung’s Grand series, is likely to reach Indian shores at a price of Rs 19,000, according to a tweet by Mumbai-based retailer Mahesh Telecom. With an almost similar specs sheet to the Galaxy Grand 2, is it effectively a toned-down version that’s not really required at that price point? At this point, that certainly seems to be the case.

The tweet also reveals a ‘Best Buy’ price of 18,190, and the device is expected to be available this week. Like its predecessor, the Neo is expected to come fitted with a 5-inch TFT display, and a disappointing 480 x 800 pixels of resolution.  Under the hood, the device will be powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core A7 processor with 1GB of RAM, similar to the one found in the Grand 2.
The Neo will also reportedly come equipped with a 5-megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a VGA front-facing camera. It has 8GB of internal memory, which is further expandable via a microSD card slot. Other connectivity options include HSPA+ (21Mbps down, 5.76Mbps up), Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Wi-Fi Direct,  Bluetooth 4.0, micro USB, GPS and GLONASS. There is no word on a 4G variant of the device yet.

The device is likely to come with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. All of this will be fuelled by a 2100mAh battery.

So what’s so special about the Grand Neo? As far as we can tell from the leaked images and specs, nothing really. It has nothing that really differentiates it from the Grand 2, so we’re not sure why Samsung built the Neo Grand instead of perhaps just lowering the price of the Grand 2. The Grand 2 is currently selling around 22,500 which isn’t really that much higher than the expected cost of the Neo.

 

Mobile Review: BlackBerry's new Q5 is smart and capable

BlackBerry launched its mid-range Q5 handset on Tuesday afternoon in New Delhi, at a price of Rs.24,990

Why is this handset a big deal? Because BlackBerry's revival rested on its all-new BB 10 software - but the only two BB 10 handsets that have been launched so far have been priced too high to make a difference to markets such as India. The Z10 came in at Rs.43k, and the keyboard-equipped Q10, at a staggering Rs.45k price that was universally criticized.
So while much of the world didn't get very excited about the Q5, India's mobile market has been very curious about it.
The Q5 is a much cheaper Q10. At just over half the price, it gives you almost a Q10-like experience: the same software, in a cheaper package. Where the Q10 felt premium and heavy, with aluminium touches, the all-plastic Q5 is lighter, but feels sturdy - and is in fact easier to hold than the Q10.
In deference to its much lower price, BlackBerry worked hard at distinguishing the Q5, starting with the keypad. It borrows the old Curve model's smaller but more-spaced-out keypad, making the Q5 look older than the Q10. Unlike other reviewers, though, I find I'm typing faster on the Q5's keypad.
The Q5's touch-screen has the same 3.1" square size and 720x720 pixel resolution as the Q10's, but uses LCD (instead of the Q10's more modern AMOLED), making it whiter if mildly less capable in bright sunlight. Yet I found the Q5 touchscreen easier to use, for there's more space under the screen, making it easier to swipe up - an action you use often, to get out of an app.
So the two are well matched. The Q5 is slightly slower, but doesn't feel sluggish. Both use dual-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processors and 2 GB of memory, but the Q5 runs at 1.2 GHz against the Q10's 1.5 GHz. However, I didn't really load it with apps (there aren't that many BlackBerry 10 apps yet, anyway). Web browser performance on both handsets is terrible.
My one real disappointment with the Q5 is the 5 Mp (megapixel) camera, down from the Q10's 8 Mp. The resolution doesn't really matter, but the Q5 clearly has a cheaper sensor. Outdoor daylight shots are okay, but indoor or low-light shots are mediocre, noisy. There's poor comparison with, say, the HTC One's brilliant 4 Mp sensor, or even the old Phone 4's 5 Mp sensor.
My other disappointment is common to both Q5 and Q10 - the overwhelming touch metaphor. You can't even make or end a call, or speed-dial, without using the touch screen - which makes it a pain to call or answer when driving. The old "call end" button was a great way to exit apps, but now it's all touch. There's no "BlackBerry" key either, to give you quick, context-sensitive menu options on everything - for instance to quickly forward an SMS as an email.
Overall, though, the BlackBerry Q5 is very capable, and, compared to the Q10, very good value. It matches the Q10 on many counts, and if you can live with sacrificing the Q10's cooler look and feel, is the handset to buy. If you want to buy a BlackBerry!
And therein lies the rub. There aren't all that many BlackBerry loyalists. The Q5 isn't sexy enough to make users switch from Android or iPhone. It isn't cheap enough to get low-end-BB users to upgrade from their older Curve.
So we're back to the price. A Rs.25k price still doesn't give BlackBerry a market-saver in India. It desperately needs phones in the Rs.10-15k price range. Yes, there are those old BB 7 handsets, but they are, well, old.
Still, the Q5 is good value, and all the more so because BB 10 no longer requires you to pay for BlackBerry service. You just need a 3G plan. This isn't great for the company - BlackBerry loses some of its service revenue - but it's nice for the user. For now, this is the handset I'm going to be using.

Google Nexus 7, 32GB Wi-Fi only version available on Google Play for Rs 19K

It is a great tablet and is being loved by consumers in India. Google Nexus 7, 32GB Wi-Fi only version is available in India on Google Play for Rs 19K
Google’s Nexus 7, 32GB Wi-Fi version has been launched in the Indian market after months of wait. Earlier the company had introduced its 16 GB versions in the Indian market making life tough for Cupertino based Apple’s iPad Mini in the market. There is a whole lot of price difference between the two tablets from two tech giants and Google’s Nexus 7 may pose tough challenge before iPad Mini especially in the Indian market. For price and quality conscious Indian consumers a difference of Rs 6000-7000 in price is a huge difference and they will prefer cheaper version if the quality of the product is not compromised.
For Indian consumers the choice has become very wide, unlike the past and now there are all sorts of big 10 inch tablets and small 7 inch tablets vying for consumers’ attention. Several home grown tech companies producing smart-phones and tablets have also introduced several good tabs in the Indian market during the last few months and the best thing about those tabs is the fact that they are very affordable.

Google Nexus 7 comes with all the good things that a consumer may want to be in his or her tablet. It comes with great display quality and a very powerful processor. The Google Nexus 7 comes with an impressive 7-inch 1280×800 resolution display and is powered by a quad-core Nvidia Tegra 3 CPU and 1GB of RAM. The tablet comes with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean out of the box. The search giant has priced the tablet at Rs 18,999.

Asus launches FonePad in India for Rs. 15,999, supports voice calling

Asus has finally launched its FonePad in the Indian market. This device was unveiled by Asus earlier this year during the Mobile World Congress. It is priced at Rs. 15,999.

The Asus FonePad sports a 7-inch HD IPS display with a resolution of 1280×800 pixels. It is powered by an Intel Atom Z2420 processor which clocked at 1.2GHz. It is also equipped by a PowerVR GC540 GPU for improved graphics performance and has 1GB of RAM.

Apart from this the Asus tablet boasts a 1.2 megapixel camera on the front which is capable of recording videos at 720p. It comes in 16GB and 32GB size variants, has a microSD card for expandable storage and comes pre-loaded with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

On the connectivity front, the FonePad has a micro-SIM card slot, supports 3G and has voice calling capabilities. It also includes Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.