INOX & Innoviti Partner for Contactless Card Payments at Multiplexes

INOX Leisure Ltd, India’s favourite multiplex chain, announced a strategic partnership with Innoviti Payment Solutions that promises to not only enhance but upgrade customer experience like never before. Through this association customers can now buy a movie ticket or food and beverage items by simply waving the credit or debit card at the contactless card acceptance terminals installed across various INOX multiplexes. This is the first instance across the country where movie-goers will have the opportunity to benefit from the convenience of faster and secure contactless card payment options.  

The terminals are currently installed at 40 multiplexes across the 7 metro cities. Gradually, this will be implemented in the remaining multiplexes also. This new technology aims to help movie-goers to make their transactions faster and in a more convenient manner. Moreover, since the card does not need to be handed over to the merchant, it provides an inherent element of security. 

Using the well-established Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, these new contactless terminals are compatible with the Visa payWave platform, and can read any of the contactless credit and debit cards being issued by various banks to their cardholders.

Commenting on this partnership, Jitender Verma, Chief Technology Officer at INOX said: “Consumers today are a discerning lot and look for best- in-class service from any provider. We are excited to be able to innovate and create such opportunities. INOX has forever been at the forefront of technological innovations and this alliance with Innoviti Payment Solutions is another significant move towards ensuring a comprehensive customer service experience for all our guests.”

TR Ramachandran, Group Country Manager, India and South Asia, Visa said, “Visa payWave technology is gaining momentum with increasing adoption among merchants and an easier, faster and secure option for consumers to pay. As the payments ecosystem develops, Visa will continue to deliver innovative solutions across segments and categories to drive usage in familiar environments. We are delighted to welcome INOX to the family of establishments accepting Visa payWave contactless cards.”

Ravi Manik, Head of Payments and Consumer Lending business at Innoviti says, “We have consistently been at the forefront of innovation in India’s rapidly evolving payments scenario, and are delighted to partner INOX in providing their customers with this greater payment flexibility. We feel making such easy contactless payment available could be the trigger that is needed to shift a large chunk of purchases away from cash, and towards cards and other non-cash instruments.” 

As per RBI guidelines, for transactions up to Rs 2000, Visa payWave cardholders can use their contactless cards without having to enter a PIN or sign transaction receipts. The Visa payWave enabled contactless cards ensure that transactions are secure, as the card never leaves the hands of the customer thereby reducing the risk of card loss and fraud. It also reduces queueing time for customers as it is a faster way to pay.

With this added feature, the entire end-to-end experience will be enhanced, giving movie-goers an overall delightful experience. INOX in the recent past has introduced various facilities such as Q-Busters, In Cinema FnB Ordering, Beacons and Paperless ticketing.

Synechron’s Blockchain Accelerator Applications Now in the Cloud

Synechron Inc., a global financial services consulting and technology services provider, has today announced the launch of its Blockchain Accelerator Program that includes its first six blockchain applications available in the cloud. These applications enable financial services firms to be up-and-running on a blockchain network or in a ‘sandbox’ environment within weeks. This rapid time-to-market provides a first-mover advantage to firms that leverage blockchain as a revolutionary technology with the potential to change the fundamental economics of their businesses.

The Accelerator Program delivers an end-to-end solution complete with business consulting services ranging from functional specifications to technical architecture design; blockchain technology delivery and training programs through Synechron’s FinLabs; and UX design that will enable financial institutions to customize their blockchain application to their unique business needs. As experts in banking operations, technology and digital transformation, Synechron’s FinLabs team of 50 business and technology experts located in New York, London and Bangalore is uniquely qualified to provide these services.

Synechron has identified six areas where market participants have the potential to experience blockchain’s most tangible benefits in enhancing business operations, minimizing operating costs and combatting fraudulent activity.

Synechron’s Blockchain Accelerators:

 1. Blockchain Accelerator for Global Payments – allowing firms to pay any bank connected to the cryptocurrency rails using a single reserve, minimizing the amount of capital required to make transactions easier, cheaper and faster.

 2.  Blockchain Accelerator for Trade Finance – creating digital versions of transactions, generating smart contracts, centralizing underlying collateral information on a distributed ledger across a private network to increase efficiency, eliminate “double spend” fraud, enhance data quality and reduce settlement time.

 3. Blockchain Accelerator for Smart Margin Calls – using smart contracts to determine the valuation of the trade portfolio, handle margin calls and initiate track and validate margin payments for increased efficiency, automated settlements, enhanced accuracy and significant cost-reduction.

 4. Blockchain Accelerator for Insurance Claims Processing – using smart contracts, enabling auto-execution of insurance claims and payments on an authoritative data feed for reduced risk and fraud and decreased processing costs.

 5. Blockchain Accelerator for KYC – creating a centralized KYC utility model allowing utilities to differentiate themselves and enhance anti-money laundering (AML) and credit controls.

6. Blockchain Accelerator for Mortgage Financing and Processing – allowing loans that currently are documented in a company’s private ledger to transition to a centralized ledger to increase transparency, expedite loan settlement and reduce overall risk.

Synechron’s Blockchain Applications are available in a cloud environment and deliver working modular code and a sandbox environment to minimize development time, infrastructure and investment. These applications use an agile design approach and industry-leading blockchain technologies such as Ethereum, Hyperledger, Eris and Ripple. As Synechron’s blockchain apps are available via the cloud and compatible with today’s hybrid cloud environment, firms will have the ability to experiment without additional infrastructure expense and will get to market faster.

Faisal Husain, Synechron Co-Founder and CEO, says, “We believe in blockchain’s transformative potential for the financial services industry. By collaborating with our clients we have developed blockchain applications that solve real-world problems. These Blockchain Accelerators provide working code enabling our clients to experiment with and refine their blockchain strategies. In the race to deploy the technology, this program offers them the ability to gain a first-mover advantage.”

Audi A4 Hits the Indian Automobile Market; SUV Likely to Follow Shortly

The Audi A4 has been launched in India at Rs. 38.10 lakh and will be available in two variants - Premium Plus and Technology. The German auto major held a roadshow in Bengaluru recently.

Audi's Virtual Cockpit only available in the Technology Variant which costs Rs. 41.2 lakh. The car will be available in two variants, Premium Plus and Technology. Price of Premium Plus - Rs. 38.10 lakh, Technology Rs. 41.2 lakh (ex-delhi and Maharashtra).

Well, if you were wondering where the genesis of the new Audi A4 lies, here's a chart that will bring you up-yo-date. From the B1 to the current B9, a journey that spans more than four decades.

With the new generation Mercedes-Benz C-Class, BMW 3 Series, Volvo S60 and Jaguar XE, the fifth generation Audi A4 will be facing tough competition in the segment. 

The 1.4-litre petrol engine powering the new A4 is a sophisticated unit as the exhaust manifold has been integrated into the cylinder head with very high-pressure fuel injection and separate cooling circuits for the crankcase and cylinder head. So it shouts performance as well as efficiency.

On that note, Audi claims that the new A4 returns a fuel efficiency figure of 17 km/l. The new gen Audi A4 gets a longer wheelbase compared to its predecessor - 2,820mm to be precise. This makes the model 12mm longer than the outgoing version, making for improved cabin space. instrument cluster completely. The new cockpit display showcases all details of the car complete from navigation, car systems to the infotainment system.

The new generation Audi A4, the model is 120 kg lighter than its predecessor with aluminium used in abundance in its construction; whereas Volkswagen's flexible MLB Evo platform underpins the sedan. The design is evolutionary on the model, with the front getting a curved bonnet, followed by the single-frame trapezoidal grille and the distinctive new headlights with Matrix LEDs. 

You also get the new signature LED DRLs on the A4, which give the model its unique identity within the Audi stable. The side profile retains the poised appearance, while the rear gets sharp LED tail lights, and tapered boot-lid, which looks sleek and athletic.

Now Paytm Enables IRCTC Rail Bookings on its Platform across India

Paytm, India’s largest mobile payment and commerce platform, has partnered with IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation). This move will allow Paytm users to book train tickets online on Paytm’s app and website.

In recent months, Paytm has seen exponential growth in its Travel Marketplace. Its bus tickets business recently turned break-even while the Hotels booking category is expected to start generating profits very soon. The Flights booking service on Paytm has been growing at 4x rate month-on- month since its launch in May. In line with its vision to build the country’s largest travel booking destination, the company has now launched online train ticket bookings in partnership with IRCTC.

Speaking on the partnership, Abhishek Rajan, Vice President, Paytm said, “At Paytm, our endeavor is to solve for every need of a traveller. Our alliance with IRCTC is a major leap as it completes the spectrum of air, road and rail ticket booking solutions available on Paytm. This is a significant milestone in our efforts to build India's largest travel marketplace.”

The Indian travel market has seen exponential growth over the past many years. The Indian travel market is estimated to be worth $40 billion by 2020, according to an IBEF study. Paytm is determined to leverage the power of mobile to fuel this growth.

Videocon Cube 3 Comes With ‘SOS-Be Safe’ Panic Button across its Entire Smartphone Portfolio

India’s fastest growing mobile player, Videocon Smartphone introduces ‘Panic Button’ across its entire product portfolio. Supporting government’s provision of a mandatory ‘Panic Button’, the brand has introduced ‘SOS-Be Safe’ emergency response app on its power-packed smartphone Videocon Cube 3. The app utilizes power button as the panic button to send an alert to the numbers added in the emergency list at the time of requirement.

Offering a prompt and one-stop solution, the ‘SOS-Be Safe’ app comes with highly responsive and ingenious features including Alert, Walk with ME, and Reach on Time. The users can trigger these features from their smartphone status bar and set security preferences like time, distance and contacts.  The app makes the best use of GPS and provides a map view ofnearby police stations and hospitals for any critical situation. Videocon Cube 3 is the first model from brand’s extensive smartphone portfolio to feature this ground-breaking app. The handset comes with sparkling design and utility-led features like 3GB RAM, 13MP rear camera, 4G VoLTE, 5” HD IPS display and a 3000mAh battery with 20% faster charging.  

Akshay Dhoot, Head- Technology and Innovation, Videocon said, “Videocon Smartphone is a consumer-first brand aiming to create indigenous devices, matching up the growing needs of consumers and smartphone eco-system in the country. Smart devices packed with powerful and utility led features are shaping the consumer aspirations and industry growth. With smartphones impacting our lives in many ways, emergency response system or panic button is certainly the need of the hour. We welcome the recent provision by government for devices with emergency response facilities as it will provide a new direction for the industry to empower smartphone users. We are confident that our latest Cube3 handset featuring ‘SOS-Be Safe’ will assist smartphone users during different kind of emergency situations and enhance consumer experience.”

Focusing on a superior smartphone experience, the new ‘SOS-Be Safe’ app empowers the user to get help effectively, swiftly at any emergency conditions. By using ‘Walk with Me’ feature, user can send an emergency alert to their family or friends. For example, if they are going for a fixed distance of 10 km, they can set their preferred frequency of messages if they cross the preset distance. The contacts added as emergency numbers will receive alerts immediately. In ‘Reach on Time’ feature, the smartphone users can set a location such as home, office etc and set their normal travel timing. An Alert will be sent to their immediate contacts if they do not reach their selected destination within the fixed time. With ‘Alarm’ option, users canenable/disable the power button to alarm and can customize the message they want to send when notifying their emergency contacts.  

Speaking about the launch of new smartphone, Vineet Mahajan, Product Business Head, Videocon Smartphone said,“Videocon Cube 3 is indigenously designed in line up with the brand’s mission of taking forward the power of smartphone technology in the country. Cube 3 makes a perfect choice for aspiring smartphone users who are looking for a powerful 4G device with rich features and youth-oriented design.”  

The new Videocon Cube 3 with ‘Panic Button’ is available at an attractive price of Rs 8490.

TCL Unveils 55-Inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV in Indian Market

The world's third-largest TV manufacturer, TCL announced its new 55 inch 4K Ultra HD LED Smart TV which is available in the Indian market in exclusive partnership with Amazon.in, the largest online marketplace. The TCL UHD television reproduces stunning details in all shades of light for a truly immersive viewing experience, via 3840x2160 pixels. The UHD TV has been designed to fit the big Indian family within the slim frame, and finished with an alloy metal back cover, the design is beautiful both inside and out. The Smart TV functions have been newly designed with rich content to completely suit your lifestyle. Users can enjoy seamless convergence between their mobile devices and the Smart TV. TCL aims to revolutionize the concept of home entertainment with beautifully designed TVs to meet the changing needs of the consumers, depending on their budget and lifestyle. 

Commenting on the launch, Praveen Valecha, Regional Director – TCL India, said, “We highly value the Indian market and expect to bring our premium products and services to the Indian consumers. In order to guarantee the best product quality, TCL will export complete TV sets to India even though it means higher cost compared with local assembly. The latest generation of TCL’s LED backlight creates a milestone in LED backlight technology with a dramatic enhancement of color gamut and dynamic contrast ratio, the picture has never been as realistic. The next generation TV Series which aims to bring revolutionary technology is now available exclusively through Amazon.in.”

Announcing the launch of this device in India, Mike Chen, Country Manager, TCL TMT said, “Our new 4K UHD TV represents our singular focus on innovation that matters most to consumers, by providing the very best picture quality for the home. This year we’re going beyond anything we’ve done before to offer a remarkable synergy of design, engineering and craftsmanship. We have received overwhelming responses after launching our UHD and FHD TV series last month. With this launch, we are further augmenting our robust product portfolio in the home entertainment segment."

Users can discover a world of applications with the App store powered by the Android OS enabling interaction between various devices. Users can watch the latest YouTube videos and treat themselves to a world of cinema with GoLive, exclusively available on TCL TVs. The TCL nScreen application helps user’s smartphone or tablet as a remote control. The Dolby Digital Plus and DDAS delivers an immersive and integrated surround sound which optimizes the sound quality. The TV is packed with features such as the integrated Bluetooth solution for audio, 2 USB with 3 HDMI ports for easy connectivity. Never worry about missing your favorite show again with the PVR Record and Playback which records the program to the USB.

It’s time for a new era in visual experience. It’s time for the creative life. Prepare yourself for an experience like no other. Packed with features like the Motion Estimation and Motion Compensation or MEMC, and sports mode, The TCL Smart TV provides for an optimized and enhanced viewing experience. The Dolby 5.1 surround sound guarantees high quality audio output with the Dolby digital technology and smart volume, which eliminates unwanted spikes in audio. Users can discover a world of applications with the App store which provides a range of applications from video-on-demand, to social, gaming, and music. The TCL Smart TV is one built for envy.

4K Ultra HD - See everything in greater clarity with 4 times the amount of pixels than Full HD TVs. TCL’s UHD televisions deliver stunning details and an ultra-sharp picture quality for a truly immersive viewing experience. Enjoy breathtaking Ultra HD picture quality, with more than eight million pixels for enhanced clarity and detail, as well as the proprietary TCL Creative Pro 4K UHD Upscaling Engine, which allows consumers to view any HD content in near 4K quality.

Personalized Home Screen - Personalized home screen gives you easy access to over 3,000 streaming channels*, cable TV, gaming consoles and other devices. No more flipping through inputs or complicated menus - all your favorites are at your fingertips.

Dual-band WiFi and Ethernet Port - Get fast and easy access to your favourite content with the dual-band WiFi connection or plug into the Ethernet port.

Performance, Design & Quality - Capture every moment with a 1080p full high definition display paired with a 60 Hz refresh rate and dual-band Wi-Fi. You won't miss a thing. The model comes with powerful MS68A-AP processor and it supports AVI / MKV / WMV / MP4 / M4V / FLV video formats.

Put more TV into less space - The ultra-thin bezel allows the TV to fit more screen into less space, giving you that big picture experience without having to sacrifice screen or wall space. Framed to fit the creative life, the design is modern and neat, fitted with an alloy metal back cover and overall thickness of 69.6 mm with a 178 degree viewing angle, 4000:1 contrast ratio and 16:9 aspect ratios.

Pricing and Availability

•       The TCL 55” 4k Ultra HD series will be available in India priced at Rs. 48,990 on Amazon.in

Le Eco’s EPIC 919 SuperFans Online Shopping Festival Offers Rs 495 Million Worth Gifts for Grabs

Ever since its launch, global internet and technology conglomerate, LeEco is known to bring industry-first innovations to India. The biggest testimonial of this is the Superphones and SuperTVs that have been introduced in India with breakthrough technology at a truly disruptive prices. It is the only company in the world to have an innovative ecosystem-based business model. Continuing its tradition of innovating in India, LeEco is now bringing its EPIC 919 SuperFans Festival to India.

The EPIC 919 SuperFans festival has been phenomenally successful in China. Last year, EPIC 919 emerged as the third largest B2C online shopping festival and resulted in record-breaking 500,000 Le Superphones being sold in a single day! LeEco is known to offer innovative products and services in order to win customers and it is the first brand to bring a festival of this magnitude and scale in India. Indian consumers love to purchase technology devices and gizmos for their personal use and loved ones. The uptake of these devices is especially high during the festive season and LeEco through its EPIC 919 SuperFans festival is providing a perfect platform for consumers to shop till they drop.

The EPIC 919 offers will be available for 24 hours starting midnight of September 19, 2016 on LeMall.com and Flipkart. During this festival, LeEco will be extending fabulous offers worth Rs 495 million.

Commenting on the Epic 919 SuperFans Festival in India, Atul Jain, COO, Smart Devices, LeEco India, said, “We have always strived to offer unparalleled innovative offering to our customers and brining in the EPIC 919 SuperFans Festival is a step in the same direction. We continue to create new benchmarks of customer satisfaction.  We hope this one of its kind Shopping Festival will enable our consumers to experience our Superphones, SuperTVs and accessories at never- before prices”.

“We also aspire to make new industry sales records on our EPIC 919 SuperFans Festival Day,”  Jain added.

EPIC offers on Superphones

·         As a part of the EPIC 919 SuperFans Festival, the best-in-class LeEco Superphones will be offered at a great price on Lemall.com as well as Flipkart. Offers worth a whopping Rs 453 million will be up for grabs and it will go beyond all customer expectations.

·         LeEco has also tied up with Make My Trip as a special gift partner for the EPIC 919 festival and will be extending exciting offers on purchase of every Le 1s Eco, Le 2 and Le Max2.

EPIC offers on SuperTVs

·         Users can take home the Super3 X55 at cost free six months EMI on LeMall.com and Flipkart. On buying this TV through LeMall.com, users will get a 2.1 Ch SoundBar with Wireless Subwoofer worth Rs 19,999 free, while on Flipkart users can avail PREXO (Product Exchange Offer) up to Rs 25000.

·         On the Super3 Max65 or Super3 X65, users will get cost free six months EMI on both LeMall.com and Flipkart. Additionally, Flipkart will be offering exchange offer, where in users can get PREXO (Product Exchange Offer) up to Rs 25000.

As a countdown to the mega day, LeEco is partnered with Uber and giving users a chance to win gift vouchers and second generation flagship Superphone - LeEco Le Max2. To avail this offer, all the user has to do is take two uberPOOL rides between Saturday, 10th September to Friday, 16th September and use the promo code ‘EPIC919‘.All users stand to win a LeEco voucher worth Rs 500 that can be redeemed on LeMall.com. This offer is only valid for rides taken in Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Chennai.

This is just a teaser and LeEco will be coming out with more irresistible deals to excite the users and enable them to buy the next-generation LeEco Superphones and SuperTVs at a great price through its EPIC 919 SuperFans festival day.