Nokia 6.1 Plus and Nokia 5.1 Plus Smartphones Deliver Cutting Edge Performance and Smart AI to India

HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, has announced the availability of Nokia 6.1 Plus and Nokia 5.1 Plus to fans in new markets. These smartphones bring popular all-screen designs, high-end performance and smart AI imaging features to impressive price points.

Both Nokia 6.1 Plus and Nokia 5.1 Plus are online exclusive products in India and will be available on Flipkart and Nokia.com/Phones.

Juho Sarvikas, Chief Product Officer at HMD Global, said, “Since the beginning of our journey, we’ve focused on delivering an experience that you would expect from a Nokia phone – design and craftsmanship that stands out, technology that helps you get more out of your day, and our focus on pure, secure, up-to-date Android. Today, we are building further on our promise by offering two new smartphones – Nokia 6.1 Plus and Nokia 5.1 Plus – offering the latest innovations such as an all-screen design with the quality you can only expect from a Nokia smartphone. Powered by the latest chipsets and joining the Android One family, both phones deliver a great performance, as well as smart AI imaging features, you would expect from a premium smartphone.”

Ajey Mehta, Vice President and Country Head – India, HMD Global, said, “The Indian consumers are a top priority for us. We constantly work to understand their needs and enhance the experience on our phones to better suit them. The launch of Nokia 6.1 Plus and Nokia 5.1 Plus represents an important milestone for us in India. We have a strong presence in the offline space and with these phones today, we are strengthening our reach to our online consumers and their needs.”

Nokia 6.1 Plus

Thanks to its impressive all-screen design, the Nokia 6.1 Plus gives you a bigger screen experience in a slim and compact package. Its 5.8-inch full HD+ 19:9 screen ratio with 96% colour gamut allows for a vivid viewing experience, making the Nokia 6.1 Plus a perfect smartphone for enjoying immersive content experiences. Beautifully crafted to the exacting standards expected from a Nokia phone, it is encased in glass on the front and back, taking up approximately 93% of the phone’s luxuriously curved surface for the ultimate feel in your hand. Behind the elegant looks, the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 Mobile Platform is 40% faster than the previous iteration of the chipset, delivering first-class graphics and battery efficiency enhancements to ensure you can enjoy your audio and video for even longer.

The Nokia 6.1 Plus’s 16MP/5MP dual sensor rear camera delivers excellent sharpness and detail in your pictures. Thanks to advanced imaging, you can capture professional style pictures using selectable bokeh blur, which can be adjusted in real-time when you take the image. Bring your photos to life with HDR for incredible colour depth, and advanced AI imaging, including fun filters, masks and our 3D personas, as well as the portrait lighting to add captivating lighting effects to your shots. Alternatively, capture highly detailed, mirror-like selfies with the perfectly balanced 16MP front camera. Best of all, you don’t have to choose between the two, #Bothie mode can now apply AI enhancements on both cameras simultaneously with masks and filters and stream it live in real time to Facebook and YouTube directly from your camera app, another first made available on a Nokia smartphone.

Nokia 5.1 Plus

The Nokia 5.1 Plus is powered by the advanced MediaTek Helio P60 octa-core processor usually seen in a higher tiered smartphone. The engine has been designed to deliver precise power to handle gaming, video or multi-tasking applications with ease. The advanced imaging allows you to capture studio style shots with depth-sensing imaging and selectable bokeh blur, as well as portrait lighting. The dual 13MP/5MP rear sensor with electronic video stabilisation ensures that you film steady, sharp videos to perfectly capture your special moments with friends, no matter what the situation is.

The stunning edge-to-edge 5.8-inch HD+ display gives fans maximum content with a minimal footprint. The Nokia 5.1 Plus features a pure design with 2.5D curved front and rear glass, complemented by curved edges and a CNC-machined metal camera bezel with optical glass window and high gloss finish frame. At around 8mm thin, the ergonomic design with continuous curvature makes for the ultimate feel in the hand. The Nokia 5.1 Plus’s die cast full metal chassis with a polycarbonate frame is quality tested in extreme temperatures and drop tested to ensure that it meets the exacting quality standards for a Nokia phone.

Pure, secure and up-to-date, reinforced with Android One commitment

Both phones join the Android One family of Nokia smartphones, offering an experience designed by Google that is smart, secure and simply amazing. Each device will stay fresh over time with three years of monthly security patches and two years of guaranteed OS updates after launch. As with all Nokia smartphones in the Android One programme, you’ll get more battery and storage space out of the box thanks to no additional skins or unnecessary third party applications. And you will stay ahead of the game with the latest Google services like the Google Assistant and Google Photos with free unlimited high-quality photo storage.*

By shipping with Android Oreo out of the box, your new Nokia phone allows you to enjoy all the latest features like Google Lens. Both phones are also ready for Android Pie. This upgrade will include the new App actions to their users among many other great features. App Actions help you get to your next task more quickly, like calling a cab or playing your favourite playlist, by predicting what you want to do next. App Actions are surfaced throughout Android, in places like the Launcher, Smart Text Selection, the Play Store, the Google search app and the Assistant.

Availability

The Nokia 6.1 Plus and Nokia 5.1 Plus come in three colour options - Gloss Black, Gloss White and Gloss Midnight Blue.

Both Nokia 6.1 Plus and Nokia 5.1 Plus are exclusive online products and will be available on Nokia.com/phones and Flipkart.

Nokia 6.1 Plus will be available from August 30 in India at a price of INR 15,999. From August 21, fans can use the notify-me on Flipkart or pre-book on Nokia.com/phones. Nokia 5.1 Plus will be available in September in India and price will be announced closer to sales start date.

Offers

Airtel customers will receive INR 1,800 instant cashback and 240 GB data over 12 months on the plans of INR 199, INR 249 and INR 448.

ICICI Lombard Pioneers Use of AI to Automate Health Insurance Claim Approvals

ICICI Lombard, the leading private sector non-life insurance company in India has launched India’s first Artificial intelligence (AI) based technology to facilitate instant health insurance claims approval. As a result, the traditional cashless claim request which takes an average of 60 minutes of processing has been drastically brought down to a minute using AI.

AI has become one of the mega technology trends being leveraged for the broader digitization of society and the economy, thereby impacting services across the board. ICICI Lombard, a pioneer in adopting new technology to ensure customer centricity, has used AI and machine learning to enhance the most critical aspect of insurance – claims settlement. The company has harnessed Algorithms using Cognitive Computing along with Intelligent Character Recognition (ICR) & Optical Character Recognition (OCR) in this tech enabled innovation.

So far, AI has primarily been used in terms of chat bots handling simplistic service requests. Understanding medical diagnosis is a much complex activity for which ICICI Lombard has deployed the AI technology.

“The solution is designed keeping in mind medical emergencies. For policy holders, this would mean instant cashless processing of their request; thereby ensuring that they avail immediate treatment that is so important in case of medical exigencies. This solution will make claims processing faster, consistent and convenient for our customers, significantly enhancing their claim experience.” says ICICI Lombard’s Executive Director Sanjeev Mantri.

Traditional claims settlement process was a complex and time-consuming task, requiring a lot of technical knowhow and high human dependence. However, the two-step approach under AI, involves automated gathering of data from the claim documents and updating the same in the system. Once the data is uploaded in the system, the AI based technology evaluates the admissibility of the claim. A deep learning module is deployed, which automatically provides the amount to be approved using defined algorithms. The varied medical procedures where AI is being deployed includes Cataract, Maternity, Appendicitis, Hemodialysis and Hysterectomy. The insurer is looking to expand this list over due course of time.

This is not the first time that ICICI Lombard has come up with an innovative solution for its customers. In the past it has introduced several ‘industry first’ solutions such as 'InstaSpect ' – India’s first real time claims approval for motor insurance claims using live video inspection and an AI powered interface for customer query management through chat bots (MyRA).

Star India Ups its Contribution to Rs 5 Cr Donation for the Kerala Flood Relief Efforts

Star India has announced it will increase its donation to Rs 5 crore for the CM’s Distress Relief Fund for the relief and rehabilitation efforts in Kerala. Star India had previously announced a Rs 2 crore donation however seeing the scale of the disaster, Star India and its employees stepped up to increase the donation along with its parent company 21st Century Fox. 

Star India along with employee contributions of employees of Star India network and matching contributions of Star and parent company 21st Century Fox, have donated a cumulative sum of Rs 5 crores to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund.

K Madhavan, MD – South, Star India, presented the cheque to Shri Pinarayi Vijayan, Hon’ble Chief Minster of Kerala, today. 

In addition, Star’s #AllForKerala campaign supported by over 60 stars and celebrities in 8 languages across 50 channels and Hotstar is inspiring millions to join the relief efforts. 

Uday Shankar, President 21st Century Fox - Asia, and Chairman and CEO – Star India, said, “Our hearts go out to those affected by this tremendous natural disaster. But we are also heartened by the stories of communities helping each other through this difficult time. We believe we must do everything in our power to help along with leveraging the power of our platform to inform and inspire citizens to join the relief and rehabilitation process. I sincerely hope many other companies will be able to provide assistance to families and communities in need of help.”

K Madhavan, MD – South, Star India,  said, "Kerala is in a terrible state, and we have a huge responsibility, as a media house, to support the situation. We are exploring all the possibilities of how to give them the right support. We think the next phase would involve moving beyond the initial mobilisation and awareness to the longer term focus on rehabilitation and repair, which we shall remain committed to help make happen."

On its 50th Year, Ajmera Group Forays into Affordable Housing in Bengaluru; Partners with Anarock

Ajmera Group, one of the pioneering leaders in Indian real estate sector is all set to announce its partnership with Anarock Consultancy for their Rs.450Cr. worth project Ajmera Lugaano in Yelhanka, Bengaluru. This will be Ajmera Group’s first affordable housing project in city which is a part of their expansion plan in their 50th year of existence. Anarock Property Consultants will be providing full time assistance and will be responsible for sales, strategizing the marketing plan, and channel partner sales for the same.  

Available unit variants for this project include 1BHK, 2BHK configurations with prices starting from Rs.28.5 Lakhs approx. Ajmera Group has aligned with ANAROCK Property Consultants for the sale of 300 units in Phase 1. The project features amenities such as ample car parking space for all units, high-tech and environmentally friendly amenities and conveniences, and a unique ‘close-to-nature’ ambience. Apart from its well-defined comforts and entertainment possibilities, the building is also earthquake resistant equipped with the latest safety features. AjmeraL ugaano provides the latest in world-class facilities to provide residents with a relaxed, secure and carefree lifestyle

Dhaval Ajmera, Director, Ajmera Group says “Ajmera Group is very excited about the launch of our first housing project in North Bengaluru. This city is a key market for us, and our partnership with ANAROCK Property Consultants will ensure the deepest-possible market penetration. Ajmera has always prided itself in its consistent philosophy of delivering perfect homes to our customers. Ajmera Lugaano is yet another masterpiece which seamlessly combines luxury and affordability.”

Anuj Puri, Chairman – ANAROCK Property Consultants says, “Our business model is based on partnering with the best - and with a leading name like Ajmera, we have obviously forged the perfect partnership. This project is perfectly located and will significantly exceed customers’ expectations+, going several extra miles in delivering luxury at affordable price points. Ajmera Lugaano will be a landmark development in Yelahanka – and will set a new trend in Bengaluru’s vibrant real estate market.”

Ajmera Group has been present in Bangalore for more than a decade now and has delivered approximately 2.6 million sq.ft in Bangalore with more than 7 completed projects, and several ongoing projects. The leading developer has projects at the most prime and upcoming locations of the city such as Kormangala, Electronic city, Bannerghatta and Bhanswadi.

Lenskart Launches Blu Lenses in India to Block Harmful Rays from Electronic Gadgets

Continuing with its efforts to revolutionize eyewear with meaningful technological innovations, Lenskart.com launches Lenskart Blu in India. Lenskart BLU are lenses which block the harmful blue light that is emitted from our smartphones, computers, tablets and other digital devices.

Lenskart Blu’s campaign, starring Katrina Kaif, is a quirky take on how we are addicted to our gadgets and spend countless hours on it. These screens cause fatigue and other eye problem due to the blue light emitted from them. Lenskart’s brand ambassador Katrina Kaif is seen immersed in her gadgets all day while being the victim to the harmful blue light. Ordinary lenses can’t stop this light, anti-glare lenses can’t stop this light, only Lenskart Blu lenses stops them and protects our eyes. Towards the end, she is seen upgrading to Lenskart Blu lenses, so that she can continue enjoying her gadgets without worrying about harming her eyes.

Excited about the latest innovation, Peyush Bansal, Founder and CEO, Lenskart.com said “Lenskart was founded with a vision to make a difference in the optical industry in India and through our consistent efforts we have been able to bring in new solutions for our consumers. We are extremely thrilled to launch the Blu lenses that helps protect eyes from the harmful radiations of violet-blue spectrum. We are sure that with our latest innovation we will make a difference to the eye-health of our consumers.”  

On the launch, brand ambassador, Katrina Kaif stated: “I am delighted to be a part of such a major innovation. It’s important to save our eyes from the violet-blue spectrum that emits from electronic screens. We are surrounded by electronic screens 24*7, there was not much I could do about it. I deeply admire that Lenskart has found a solution to protect our eyes from the harmful radiations and would personally recommend all my fans and followers to opt for Blu Lenses.”

Juniper Networks Partners with WorldLink to Power the Nepal's Networking Transformation

Juniper Networks, an industry leader in automated, scalable and secure networks, today announced that WorldLink, Nepal’s largest internet service provider, has successfully leveraged Juniper’s globally-proven, high-performance networking solutions to tackle the networking constraints and complexities of an exponentially growing consumer market.

As a country in the throes of tremendous development, Nepal has witnessed explosive levels of growth in connectivity. Government reports[1] show that internet penetration has grown from 10 percent in 2011 to nearly 50 percent today including Mobility and only around 12 percent in fixed Broadband. Emerging as a major broadband player in enabling this transformation, WorldLink has witnessed its customer base double each year since 2014 with this level of growth seen not only in the urban capital of Kathmandu, but across more than 70 smaller cities and towns nationwide in fixed broadband.

Faced with this expanding customer base, ever-increasing internet traffic and the resulting spike in demand for services, WorldLink selected Juniper Networks as a partner that could future-proof its backbone network.

At the top of WorldLink’s priorities is transitioning toward a high performance 100GbE infrastructure alongside future-proofing flexibility and scalability to support continued growth. WorldLink identified the single-platform MX series as a major differentiating factor, allowing for the capabilities required to support sustained growth while also providing cost-efficient, streamlined network management for the foreseeable future.

Joining the list of the world’s leading internet service providers rolling out 100GbE deployments, WorldLink has greatly simplified the complexities of networking for the rapidly developing country, enabling thousands in Nepal to join the evolution of the internet age.

* The MX series by Juniper Networks has been selected by WorldLink for deployment as part of its transition towards a high-speed 100GbE backbone network.
* WorldLink has deployed the MX960 at the 100GbE Network Core, and also for Internet gateway and broadband router purposes.
* In addition, the MX480, MX240 and MX104 have also been deployed as MPLS aggregation and provider edge routers.
* Services provisioning and network management has also been simplified and streamlined, with the deployment of Junos Space Connectivity Services Director.

“Our partnership with Juniper Networks plays a key role in the steady increase of fixed broadband penetration across a developing country like Nepal. Juniper’s high-performing technologies along with its detailed after-sales service management has enabled WorldLink to continuously deliver a stable and secure network, while ensuring that the growth of internet connectivity is made accessible at an affordable rate,” remarks Samit Jana, CTO, Worldlink.

“Ever since we entered the Nepal market in 2012, we have observed the tremendous growth WorldLink has achieved across the ISP and IT services space. We are delighted to play a part in WorldLink’s success, driving networking transformation across the country as they strive to provide world-class networking connectivity to the citizens of Nepal, and we are excited to strengthen our close partnership with them in support of their continued networking infrastructure expansion,” says Dinesh Verma, Managing Director, India and SAARC, Juniper Networks.

CarZ Opens its First FOFO Center in Bengaluru; To Open 20 More in Karnataka in Next 12 Months

CarZ, one of India’s most reputed multi-brand car repair and maintenance services company, announced the opening of its brands’ first Franchisee Owned Franchise Operated fully automated center in Bengaluru, Karnataka, under its strategic franchise partnership with Ultra Auto Crate, a very prominent name in the automobile sector in Bengaluru.  Chiranjeevi Sarja, Actor & Producer, Sandalwood Industry inaugurated the center.

The facility, situated in Jayanti Nagar, Horamavu Village, Bengaluru, is spread across 9500 sq.ft, with 12 service bays with a capacity to service over 500 cars of various brands per month.

As part of the partnership, CarZ will provide the service expertise and train the workforce on quality service, on-time delivery, procurement of quality & innovative service products, customer care supports, etc. CarZ currently has a network of 25 centers across the states of AP, Telangana. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu Kerala and Gujarat.  

"I am extremely excited and proud to be associated with CarZ, one of India's most reputed multi-brand car repair & servicing company and look forward to a strong and enduring partnership with the company”,“The modern features and technology at our center will give our customers a closer look at the process, and enable them to really understand what services they need and why they need them.” said Chiranjeevi Ashwatappa, Franchise Owner.

“Our trained technicians coupled with CarZ's innovative car service products and differentiated offerings will provide great value to each and every car owner. Our goal is to build trust with our customers and help them maintain their car year-round with our tailor-made service packages for any vehicle; budget or requirement”, said Chandrashekara D, Franchise Owner.

While inaugurating the center, Shri Chiranjeevi Sarja, Actor & Producer - Sandalwood Industry said, “I am personally very enthusiastic about automobiles and would rely on only the best car service and maintenance company, which can offer convenient, affordable, prompt and high quality service.  CarZ to my mind brings all this and more with a young and vibrant team, guided by their passionate founders who have extensive experience having worked for world-class automobile players.” 

“We are extremely excited to open this state-of-the-art center in the Silicon Valley of India, Bengaluru and committed to growing the brand, serving communities across the country and putting our customers first," said Venu Donepudi, Founder & MD, CarZ.  “This state of the art facility will provide everything a car owner needs for an enriching car ownership experience under one roof.” 

The Center is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and will provide a range of services including routine and preventive maintenance, electrical & mechanical repair, Suspension System, AC diagnostics and service, tyres and services, battery, variety of styling and performance accessories, interior and exterior detailing, automated car wash and more. The centre also has an accident repair facility with latest Collision Repair System and Paint Booth. The centre will also offer value added services like 24x7 Roadside Assistance, Pre-owned Car Inspection, Insurance, Extended Warranty & Settling Bills Through Easy EMI payments provided by Bajaj Finserv.

As the preferred partner for many leading insurance companies, the center will also support cashless service for accident repair vehicles, giving our customers total peace of mind.