TECNO POVA - a Powerful Smartphone with Helio G80 Processor & 6000 mAh Battery @ INR 9,999

 

▪       ‘POVA’ smartphone offers fabulous gaming and multitasking experience with a powerful processor, hyper engine gaming technology and big battery

▪       POVA smartphones are available in two variants 4GB+ 64GB and 6GB + 128 GB starting at Rs 9,999 onwards on Flipkart (https://rb.gy/4sikdh)

TECNO, the global premium smartphone brand, today launched POVA, a new product line of smartphones aimed at providing speed, performance and excellence to its consumers at a competitive price point. TECNO POVA is available in two variants: 4GB + 64GB & 6GB + 128GB featuring a high-performance MediaTek Helio G80 Octa-Core Processor, an in-built Hyper Engine Gaming Technology and a 6000 mAh battery with 18W Dual IC Fast Charge lending an uninterrupted gaming and multitasking experience. 

Brand TECNO is known for its ‘ahead of the curve’ approach and a product philosophy that believes in introducing ‘segment-first’ features across smartphones in 6-15K segment. With the launch of POVA, TECNO India portfolio now consists of three distinct product propositions: Bestseller ‘SPARK’ series, designed and developed, keeping in mind the aspirations of young India, looking for valuable smartphone experience in 6-10k segment; ‘CAMON’, the popular camera-centric series with outstanding camera features targeting mid-to-premium segment; and now ‘POVA’ that offers more powerful smartphone experience that meets the needs of multi-taskers, gaming enthusiasts among others, all within the mid-budget 8-12K segment.

Commenting on the launch, Arijeet Talapatra, CEO of TRANSSION India said, “Since the brand’s entry into India, TECNO’s mantra has been to disrupt the sub-15K smartphone category by introducing the features which are not available at such price points. We are committed to our diverse consumer base and the debut of our new product line POVA adds another dimension to our expansive product portfolio. This time we are focused on providing Indian consumers with an ultimate powerhouse series that will give access to speed, performance and excellence that will distinctly deliver what our consumers care for most in their smartphones. Designed for young millennials and Gen Z consumers, TECNO POVA is currently holding the crown of bringing together the most competitive smartphone offering Helio G80 processor with 6000 mAh battery, dual IC fast charger & Dot-In display starting at just INR 9999.”

Speaking about the launch, Aditya Soni - Senior Director, Mobiles, at Flipkart says, "In today’s world, customer expectations from a smartphone are evolving rapidly and this encompasses a range of uses from work, learning to entertainment. As people spend more time on their smartphones to stay connected with each other, the gaming community is only growing and the demand for high-performance affordable gaming smartphones is therefore on the rise. We remain consumer-first and with the launch of Tecno POVA on Flipkart, are only strengthening our portfolio that caters to a wide range of evolving requirements"

POVA by TECNO is available in two variants: 4GB+ 64GB @INR 9,999 and 6GB + 128 GB @INR 11, 999 in the exciting colours of Dazzle black, Magic Blue and Speed Purple.  The first sale starts from 11th Dec 12 noon onwards at Flipkart.

Key USPs of TECNO POVA:

·         Extraordinary performance with Helio G80 Gaming Processor

The TECNO POVA is powered by a Helio G80 an Octacore 2.0 GHz Processor paired with a Mali-G52 GPU for high-end graphic crunching, making it apt even for heavy gaming.  The in-built HyperEngine Game Technology provides superb image quality, smooth game-play and ensure uninterrupted connectivity for dedicated gamers as well as smooth daily operations with a faster response rate

·         Powerful 6000mAh battery beast with 18W Dual IC Flash Charge

TECNO POVA comes packed with a long-lasting 6000 mAh battery that provides 30-day standby time. Better yet, the device offers 18W dual IC fast charging support which charges 20% faster than single IC fast charge.  The in-box fast charger provides 20 hours’ music playback or 4 hours of calling time in just 10 minutes of charging.  Topping it off, there is a 3D multilayer graphite and thermal conductive gel heat dissipation solution that ensure game experience optimisation with reduced charging temperature.

·         Witness an immersive Visual Experience with 6.8-inch display

Streaming video is a delightful experience on TECNO POVA with its 6.8-inch dot-in screen and 20.5:9 aspect ratio. Enriched with a 1640 x 720 HD+ resolution, 480 Nits brightness and 90.4% screen to body ratio, it gives more screen space that allows users to see more. In landscape mode, watching movies, TV shows, and games becomes much more engaging.

·         Multi-focus Quad 16MP AI Rear camera

POVA is equipped with an AI Quad Rear Camera (16 MP + 2MP + 2MP + AI Lens) complemented with a ‘Super Quad Flash’ provides professional grade photography options with its user centric multi AI Photography modes like Bokeh, Macro, Slow Motion, Short video, 2K video recording, AI body shaping, Google Lens, Document scanner etc

The MediaTek Helio G80 processor provides a range of in-chip accelerators and powerful AI processing capabilities that supports hardware depth sensing, camera control unit, image stabilization and rolling shutter compensation technologies. Thus capturing spectacular and bright photos even in low light conditions, it also supports slow motion videos at 120 fps continuous recording at 720p HD Quality.

·         Ample storage with multitask efficient RAM

TECNO POVA is available in two variants: a 4GB RAM with 64GB ROM and 6GB RAM with 128 GB ROM, enabling more space to store your favorite files, video captures and plenty of games. LPDDR4X high speed memory allows more fluid multi-tasking and faster switching between apps without facing any lag issues.  The performance of this device is incredibly reliable. The 12nm technology help in making the smartphone faster and power efficient.

·         The New HiOS 7.0  

TECNO POVA sports the new HiOS 7.0 that is more efficient and delightful than ever with its unique features such as ‘Game Space’, ‘Game Mode’ and ‘Game Assistant 2.0’ that also include a ‘do not disturb’ function, performance boosting modes and quick-access toolbar among other things.

Godrej Makes the Winter Warmer with Launch of 5-Star Rated Hot Wash Enabled Washing Machines

* Introduces Germ Shield technology certified to eliminate 99.9% allergens and bacteria, in the top loading Eon Allure Washing Machines

* With the launch of 12 new SKUs in washing machine category, the brand targets to achieve 10% market share

* India’s first semi-automatic washing Godrej Edge Digi with in-built water heater and digital display

COVID-19 has impacted consumer behavior shifts in many different spaces - cooking, cleaning washing, etc. Washing needs to have clearly increased as consumers are forced to wash clothes more often – each time they step back home. Consumers are paying attention to preventive measures and rightly so. In line with the increased demand, the brand has introduced a range of 5-star energy efficient Godrej washing machines -12 new SKUs including Eon Allure, Eon Allure Classic and Eon Audra in the fully automatic top load segment and Edge Digi & Edge Ultima SteelNox in the semi-automatic segment, ensuring the new line up is for everyone. 

Health & hygiene is foremost in consumer minds – and the same has been the guiding principle in the design and development of these new launches. Powered by Germ Shield Technology the new range of Godrej Eon Allure washing machines ensure a superior sanitized wash performance through its smart wash algorithm and in-built heater technology for 99.99% elimination of disease causing allergens and bacteria. With integrated superior Germ Shield Technology, the new range of Godrej Eon Allure is certified by NCL empaneled lab for eliminating  5 common types of disease-causing bacteria (E.coli,  Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica, Salmonella typhimurium,  Klebsiella aerogenes) and 12 major allergen groups (Mite group 2, Der f1, Der p1, S.tropomyosin, Fel d1, Can f1, Mus m1, Rat n1, Bla g2, Alt a1, Asp f1, Phl p5). These common bacteria can cause various ailments starting with food poisoning, a variety of infections in the body, including boils, cellulitis, abscesses, wound infections, toxic shock syndrome, pneumonia and many more while allergens can lead to dust allergies, rhinitis and bronchial asthma. It is important to safeguard yourself and your loved ones against such ailments, especially in this disease-prone environment.

The premium end of Godrej EON Allure models feature 3 temperature modes that allow the users to customize temperature setting.

• Germ Shield Mode - Removes 99.99% allergens and bacteria, heats the water up to 60°C and works with a smart wash algorithm.

• Hot Mode - Suitable for heavily soiled clothes as it heats water up to 55°C

• Warm Mode - Suitable for moderately soiled clothes and heats water up to 40°C

In line with Godrej Appliances’ commitment to environment, this washing machine comes with Eco Mode which reduces water consumption by approximately 44 Liters as compared to a normal wash cycle. As water becomes an increasingly priced commodity with groundwater levels reducing, water conservation has to be at the heart of superior washing performance.

Godrej has also introduced many more variants beyond the premium Allure washing machines: the Eon Allure Classic and the Eon Audra, all with Hot Wash option and different feature combinations like 100% wash-resistant digital panel, in-built soak, tough stain removal, customizable wash programs, etc. to give consumers enough variety and choice this festive season.

With about 55% Semi-Automatic users, Godrej has also extended the 60 degrees Hot Wash Technology to Semi-Automatics with its Edge Digi Washing Machine - India’s first Semi-Automatic Washing machine with 60 degrees Hot Wash, Digital Controls and LED display. 

Godrej was the first to introduce steel drum in the semi-automatic segment and with Edge Ultima SteelNox series, it extends this segment further and promises hygienic thorough wash and faster drying with its superior wash motor and spin motor.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Kamal Nandi – Business Head and Executive Vice President, Godrej Appliance said, “A sizeable chunk of Indian population continues to ‘work from home’ and with the reluctance in hiring domestic help still prevalent in larger cities, convenience and comfort aiding appliances like Washing Machines is expected to see increased demand in these cities. With more awareness of hygiene and preventive practices, people across India including the smaller towns are facing increased washing needs for their clothes. As Indian households continue to fight the pandemic, home appliances can go a long way in reducing their burden. Our newly introduced range of 5-star rated washing machines with Germ Shield Technology and in-built heaters across both top load and semi-automatic segments, place health and hygiene at the heart of its human-centric design. Guided by ‘Soch Ke Banaya Hai’ philosophy, these are being manufactured at our state-of-the-art factories in India, yet another step towards supporting ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’.”

Mr. Rajinder Koul, Product Group Head – Washing Machines, Godrej Appliances, further added, “At Godrej, we endeavour to bring meaningful technology and innovations that help improve the lives of our consumers, based on consumer insights gathered carefully. Our newly launched range of Godrej washing machines powered by Germ Shield technology and 60°C Hot Wash technology, among others, allow consumers to experience superior and hygienic wash. Stylish and sleek, these are uniquely designed to cater to the increasing need for protection against germs and allergens. We are confident these new machines which also comes with 5-star energy rating, will generate revenues excess of INR 135 Cr this year and help strengthen our position in the category. With this, we aim to gain 10% market share as well.”

Available in different capacities, these 5 Star Rated washing machines optimize electricity consumption and provide higher savings. Competitively priced, the new Godrej washing machine range keeps consumers worry-free with up to 10-year warranty on wash motor. The washing machines market size in India is estimated at 7.2 million units with penetration levels still hovering at a low 14 %. 

Luxor Diversifies Into Home and Hygiene Products with “Luxor Nano”

* Introduces All-In-One disinfectant spray, pocket disinfectant spray, Gadget Disinfectant spray and Hand Sanitizer to protect hard and soft surfaces, gadgets and skin 

Luxor Group, India’s biggest writing instrument brand announced its entry into home and hygiene segment by launching “Luxor Nano”, a range of nanotechnology-based products to protect home, skin and gadgets against bacteria and viruses. Targeted at modern, caring and digitally savvy consumers, the products shall be available across the country. The company plans to increase its presence in this specific segment given rising demand fuelled by the Covid pandemic. 

Luxor Nano brand provides superior and lasting protection by killing 99.9% bacteria, viruses and repels dust and dirt from the surface. Luxor Nano is based upon Active Nano Technology which creates a protective layer that keeps objects and surfaces safe for a long time. Further, it is completely safe for the skin and also adds lasting fragrance. The nanotechnology based products are much superior to the competition as they provides long lasting protection and are safe for skin.  

At the launch Mrs. Pooja Jain Gupta, Executive Director, Luxor Group said, “We are happy to introduce nanotechnology in India, which offers enormous benefits in terms of safety and stability. It is a revolutionary solution to contemporary health and hygiene issues. Luxor has been a pioneer and we are confident to write a similar success story in the home hygiene segment. We see this technology as a gamechanger in the health and hygiene sector. Globally, nanotechnology is gaining prominence owing to its efficacy in solving everyday challenges. We aim to bring it to Indian consumers who will equally benefit from such inventions/world-class technology.  The products are dermatologically tested and highly effective against any kind of bacteria or virus. The initial response has been highly encouraging.”   

Luxor is committed to quality, which explains its easy transition from one polarised extreme to the other. The brand has always been innovating, researching and analysing through its highly automated, world-class manufacturing facilities. The new range of Luxor Nano products is available across the online portals viz flipkart.in, amazon.in  and also through Luxor’s e-commerce portal – luxor.in and through various retail  stores PAN India.  

About Luxor Group: 

Founded in 1963, Luxor is India’s one of the biggest and oldest writing instrument company.  The company turns out 5 million pens each day and accounts for about 15% of India’s writing instrument market.  Luxor has forayed into the home and hygiene segment this year, with the launch of the brand Luxor NANO.  It has Active Nanotechnology based products which Kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses from hard and soft surfaces and provides a long-lasting protection by creative a nano protective layer over the surface. By launching Luxor NANO, the company is poised to make its mark in the highly promising home and hygiene market in India with that same pioneering spirit. 

Vi Business Partners with Fortinet to Launch Managed Security Services for Enterprise

Vi Business, the enterprise arm of Vodafone Idea Ltd. (VIL), today announced the launch of Managed Security Service and has collaborated with Fortinet, a global leader in broad, integrated and automated cybersecurity solutions, as the technology cornerstone for the offering.

Vodafone Idea’s Managed Security Service (MSS) delivers Next Generation Firewalls with advanced security features offering the first line of defense for any cyber-attack, thus ensuring that enterprise network is protected. MSS will provide the power that today’s networks require, built on Fortinet’s innovative security processing units (SPUs) and FortiOS operating system.  The MSS includes both network-based firewalling with intrusion protection detection features and secure remote user access to enable remote workers to connect to their corporate network safely and securely through a VPN.

This security-driven networking approach powered by Fortinet enables organisations to scale their network infrastructures without compromising security, which provides effective protection for today’s environments. By delivering the industry’s highest performance, best of breed security, the service will enable the most demanding digital innovation as well as meet the vast capacity and performance demands of critical business operations, both now as well as a future-proof investment.

In addition, the deployment is simplified as customers can leverage the security features of the Fortinet FortiGate next-generation firewalls and is offered on an “as-a service” model. This is vital to enterprises since they can focus on their business while trusting Vi Business to deliver and manage their network security.

Commenting on the launch, Anil Philip, EVP- Products, Solutions and Partnerships, Vodafone Idea said, “Vi Business is a trusted connectivity partner for the enterprise. Acknowledging this confidence, we are proud to extend support with infrastructure security services that are closely associated with connectivity requirements. Our partnership with Fortinet will enable us to provide secure connectivity to our enterprise customers to address their need of managed and safe security solutions.”

Rajesh Maurya, Regional Vice President, India & SAARC, Fortinet added “The sophistication of today’s threat landscape, coupled with the speed at which user traffic is increasing, requires organizations adopt advanced protection. With our integrated security platform, MSSPs and telecom service providers, such as Vodafone Idea, benefit from high-performance technology and an easy to manage security solution that provides comprehensive protection for the extended enterprise.”

MSS is offered ‘as a service’ and provides OPEX based pricing, thereby eliminating the need for upfront investment by the customer. It provides the flexibility to choose products and services as per the needs. Enterprise customers also get access to an online experience portal showcasing an analytical and detailed view on the security posture and threat analytics in their network.

About Vodafone Idea Limited

Vodafone Idea Limited is an Aditya Birla Group and Vodafone Group partnership. It is India’s leading telecom service provider. The Company provides pan India Voice and Data services across 2G, 3G and 4G platform. With the large spectrum portfolio to support the growing demand for data and voice, the company is committed to deliver delightful customer experiences and contribute towards creating a truly ‘Digital India’ by enabling millions of citizens to connect and build a better tomorrow. The Company is developing infrastructure to introduce newer and smarter technologies, making both retail and enterprise customers future ready with innovative offerings, conveniently accessible through an ecosystem of digital channels as well as extensive on-ground presence. The Company is listed on National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) in India.

The company offers products and services to its customers in India under the TM Brand name “Vi”.

Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund Launches Aditya Birla Sun Life ESG Fund in Indian MF Market

 NFO opens on December 04, 2020 and closes on December 18, 2020

1.      Fund house has partnered with leading global ESG research provider Sustainalytics for ESG scores and ratings

2.      Each company will be scored on 3 pillars of ESG. Non-conforming sectors like Cluster Munitions, Anti-Personnel Mines, Chemical and Biological Weapons, Coal & Tobacco etc. to be excluded

3.      Can invest in international securities adhering to ESG practices up to 35% of the fund’s net assets

Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Limited, a subsidiary of Aditya Birla Capital Limited (a significant non-bank financial services’ conglomerate), and investment manager to Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund (ABSLMF) announced today the launch of Aditya Birla Sun Life ESG Fund, an open-ended equity scheme investing in companies following Environment, Social & Governance (ESG) theme. The Fund endeavours to participate in ESG aligned existing and emerging opportunities, eliminate risky companies and invest in high quality & sustainable growth compounders to generate better risk adjusted returns.

Aditya Birla Sun Life Mutual Fund has partnered with leading global ESG research provider ‘Sustainalytics’ for ESG scores and ratings which will be the filter for defining the investment universe. Each company will be scored on 3 pillars of ESG and non-conforming sectors will be excluded. This will further be screened basis fundamental analysis and financial parameters with a combination of top-down and bottom-up approach. The fund will be market cap agnostic.

Commenting on the new fund, A. Balasubramanian, MD & CEO, Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Limited said: “Environment, Social and Governance factors, or ESG have become increasingly important parameters of investment decisions worldwide, beyond the traditional financial factors. This has gained further importance after Covid-19, an insight that also our survey across 1600 plus respondents shows. The majority of respondents felt their attitude towards ESG in investment decision making had changed after the pandemic. This is an important shift in mindset. ESG concept is at a very nascent stage in India and is widely unexplored, though it’s an established theme globally. With the Indian Government too emphasising its ESG focus recently and global flows into ESG focused sectors and companies seeing consistent increase, there is potential for this theme to play out secularly”.

Historically ESG compliant companies have been found to be less risky, have better operational performance and generated better returns too. The portfolio looks to benefit from rising flows into ESG compliant companies which increases the possibility of re-rating and augurs well for longer term market performance. From large institutional to individual investors, there is a growing consideration of non-financial risks in investment decisions. ESG lens enables to look beyond the traditional investment parameters to identify high quality socially responsible companies for investing. 

The minimum application amount for this fund is Rs.500/- and in multiples of Re. 1/- thereafter, during the New Fund Offer period. Investors can come into this fund both in the SIP or Lumpsum route.

Companies in India Ancounter Third Highest Number of Malware Attacks After US and Japan: Acronis Cyberthreats Report 2020

* 1168 malware detections encountered per 1000 clients in a month in India

* Ransomware detections reported at 7.8% in Q3 2020 in India

* Remote workers and managed service providers were targeted by cyber attackers, and data exfiltration outpaces data encryption, both in India and across the globe

Acronis, a global leader in cyber protection, today released its 2020 Acronis Cyberthreats Report, its in-depth review of the current threat landscape and projections for the coming year. In an interesting outcome, the report states that India encountered third highest number of malware attacks after US and Japan. It further states that 1168 malware detections were encountered per 1000 clients in a month. Maze ransomware detections were reported at 7.8% in Q3 2020 and remote workers and manager service providers were cyberattackers, and data exfiltration outpaces data encryption, both in India and across the globe.

Based on the protection and security challenges that were amplified by the shift to remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic, Acronis warns 2021 will bring aggressive cybercrime activity as criminals pivot their attacks from data encryption to data exfiltration. Ransomware continues to be the leading threat in India with Maze ransomware accounting for nearly half of all known cases in 2020. Yet the Acronis Cyberthreats Report points to a growing trend of cybercriminals trying to maximize their financial gain. Not content to collect ransoms to decrypt infected data, they steal proprietary – and sometimes embarrassing – data before encrypting it. They then threaten to publicly release the stolen files if the victim doesn’t pay up.

Acronis’ analysts found evidence that more than 1,000 companies globally had their data leaked following a ransomware attack in 2020 – a trend that is expected to accelerate in the coming year, overtaking encryption as the criminals’ primary tactic.

“More than any year in recent memory, 2020 posed a tremendous number of challenges to IT professionals, organizations, and the service providers who support them,” noted Stas Protassov, Acronis co-founder and Technology President. “What we’ve seen is how quickly bad actors are adjusting their attacks to the new IT landscape. By analyzing the activity, attacks, and trends we’ve detected and clearly presenting our findings, we hope to empower our partners and help the IT community at large prepare for the threats on the horizon.”

“When it comes to existing solutions and strategies, the current trends in cyberattacks all show that traditional cybersecurity is failing – globally and in India, it’s usually because of weak technologies and human error, which are both avoidable,” added Rajesh Chhabra, Global Business Development Leader of Inside Sales at Acronis. “Just as cybercriminals are evolving their attacks, organizations in India need to advance their protection and security. Comprehensive cyber protection solutions offer the integration and automation that eliminate complexity, optimize performance, and streamline recovery when a successful attack inevitably occurs.”

Takeaways of the Acronis Cyberthreats Report

Among the other notable findings in the Acronis Cyberthreats Report include:

* Attacks against remote workers will increase. While 31% of global and Indian companies reported daily cyberattacks in 2020, the frequency of attacks targeting their remote workers is projected to increase in 2021, since the defenses for systems outside of the corporate network are more easily compromised, giving bad actors access to that organization’s data

* Ransomware will look for new victims, become more automated. Rather than continuing to cast a wide net, ransomware attackers will focus on targets that provide a bigger return on their efforts. Breaking into one network to steal data from several companies is more profitable than attacking individual organizations. So, while small businesses will still be targeted, cloud environments and organizations like managed service providers will become more valued targets because their systems can provide access to the data of multiple clients.

Legacy solutions struggle to keep up. Blocking the new malware has rendered traditional antimalware solutions obsolete, as they cannot keep pace with the increased sophistication and frequency of new threats. The average lifespan of a malware sample in 2020 was just 3.4 days. As attackers continue to utilize automation, the number of malware samples will continue to climb. Organizations will need to find new approaches to protection that are agile and designed to stay ahead of new threats. Simple standalone security and backup solutions will no longer be enough.

The recent Cyber Readiness Report 2020 released by Acronis unveiled that 56% of the companies in India reported that their IT costs having increased significantly to counter attacks in the past months – exactly two times the global average. Moreover, India demonstrated the highest rates of video conferencing attacks with 66% of local companies reporting having encountered videoconferencing attacks. India also reported twice as many attacks as any other country, followed by the US and the UAE and 62% of companies in India reported struggling with phishing attempts.

Evolving responses to evolving threats

Acronis has been a pioneer in cyber protection, which is the integration of data protection, cybersecurity, and endpoint management. To protect all data, applications and systems, Acronis solutions are designed to address the Five Vectors of Cyber Protection – safety, accessibility, privacy, authenticity, and security (SAPAS).

The Acronis Cyberthreats Report 2020 is based on examining attack and threat data collected by the company’s global network of Acronis Cyber Protection Operations Centers (CPOCs), which monitor and research cyberthreats 24/7. Malware data was collected by more than 100,000 unique endpoints around the world running Acronis Cyber Protect, which launched in May 2020, and covers attacks targeting endpoints detected between June and October. The full report provides in-depth insights into the top security/threat trends the CPOCs observed in 2020, a review of malware families and related statistics, a deep dive into ransomware’s most dangerous groups, the vulnerabilities that contribute to successful attacks, and Acronis’ complete security forecast and recommendations for 2021.

About Acronis

Acronis unifies data protection and cybersecurity to deliver integrated, automated cyber protection that solves the safety, accessibility, privacy, authenticity, and security (SAPAS) challenges of the modern digital world. With flexible deployment models that fit the demands of service providers and IT professionals, Acronis provides superior cyber protection for data, applications, and systems with innovative next-generation antivirus, backup, disaster recovery, and endpoint protection management solutions. With award-winning AI-based antimalware and blockchain-based data authentication technologies, Acronis protects any environment – from cloud to hybrid to on-premises – at a low and predictable cost.

Founded in Singapore in 2003 and incorporated in Switzerland in 2008, Acronis now has more than 1,500 employees in 33 locations in 18 countries. Its solutions are trusted by more than 5.5 million home users and 500,000 companies, including 100% of the Fortune 1000, and top-tier professional sports teams. Acronis products are available through 50,000 partners and service providers in over 150 countries in more than 40 languages.

McDonald’s India Announces Launch of a New Packaging – ‘EatQual’ for its Specially-Abled Customers

* EatQual will be available across all McDonald’s restaurants in West and South India starting mid-December

On the occasion of International Day of Person with Disabilities, McDonald’s India West and South, announced that it is launching a new packaging - EatQual, designed for its specially abled customers. With this progressive and inclusive initiative, the company has once again reinforced its brand promise of making delicious feel-good moments easy for everyone. The EatQual pack has been developed over months of collaboration an NGO that has been working towards the betterment of the specially-abled community for over 50 years.

McDonald’s restaurants in West and South India are owned and operated by Westlife Development Ltd under its wholly owned subsidiary – Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt Ltd.

Why Eatqual?

The new packaging innovation stems from the insight that the current packaging typically requires customers to use both their hands to truly enjoy the delicious McDonald’s burgers. This makes it difficult for those with upper-limb disabilities. EatQual will address this challenge and ensure that everyone can bite into their favourite burgers just as easily.

Speaking about the upcoming launch of this packaging, Arvind RP, Director – Marketing & Communications, McDonald’s India (West and South) said “It has always been our endeavor to make delicious feel-good moments easy for everyone. The launch of this EatQual packaging is a step to further our commitment towards inclusiveness and social responsibility. We hope that this packaging will make the McDonald’s experience easy and delightful for our specially-abled customers.”

Rahul Matthew, National Creative Director, DDB Mudra Group, India said “Equality and inclusivity isn’t always about the big things. It’s also about being able to do the little everyday things like everyone else can; eating your favourite McDonald’s burger, for instance. And that has been the guiding force behind the EatQual initiative. How can we make the McDonald’s experience just as enjoyable for all.”

Commenting on this upcoming packaging launch by McDonald’s India West & South, Dr Vaishali Kolhe, Associate Professor at Centre for Disability Studies and Action & Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai,  said “It is heartening to see an iconic brand like McDonald’s take initiatives to maintain inclusion at their restaurants. Food accessibility is the bare minimum necessity for every individual including the ones with upper arm movement disability. Innovations like these can make eating so much easier for them. Through initiatives like these, we are not doing these individuals a favor but making their experience of eating independent and enjoyable. I look forward to enjoying my favourite McDonald’s burger in the new EatQual pack.” 

Westlife Development has been taking definitive steps to promote inclusion across their restaurants. The company has made many of its restaurants accessible for specially-abled by installing ramps wherever possible and has made the restrooms wheelchair friendly. The launch of EatQual marks yet another step by the brand to foster inclusiveness.

EatQual will be available across all McDonald’s restaurants in West and South India starting mid-December.

About Westlife Development:

Westlife Development Limited (BSE: 505533) (WDL) focuses on putting up and operating Quick Service Restaurants (QSR) in India through its subsidiary Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt. Ltd. The Company operates a chain of McDonald’s restaurants in west and south India, having a master franchisee relationship with McDonald’s Corporation USA, through the latter’s Indian subsidiary.

About Hardcastle Restaurants:

Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt Ltd (HRPL) is a McDonald’s franchisee with rights to own and operate McDonald’s restaurants in India’s west and south markets. HRPL has been a franchisee in this part of India since its inception in 1996.

HRPL serves approximately 200 million customers, annually, at its 310   (as of September 30th , 2020) McDonald’s restaurants across 42 cities in the states of Telangana, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Goa and parts of Madhya Pradesh, and provides direct employment to over 10,000 employees. McDonald’s operates through various formats and brand extensions including standalone restaurants, drive- thru’s, 24/7, McDelivery and dessert Kiosks. The menu features Burgers, Finger Foods, Wraps and Hot and Cold Beverages besides a wide range of desserts. Several of the McDonald’s Restaurants feature an in-house McCafé.

The pillars of the McDonald's system – Quality, Service, Cleanliness and Value – are evident at each of the restaurants where HRPL operates.