Tanla’s DLT Platform Trubloq Built To Enforce TRAI Regulation

* Trubloq empowers customers and enables enterprises by curbing spam calls, messages

Tanla Platforms Limited said today that the company is supporting enterprises in meeting the TCCCPR requirement to register content templates with the telecom regulator to ensure smooth flow of commercial communication between businesses and their customers. Trubloq, Tanla’s blockchain-based stack was built to solve the unsolicited commercial communication is in accordance with the TRAI Telecom Commercial Communications Customer Preference Regulation (TCCCPR). The SMS and OTPs, when sent by enterprises are checked against the templates pre-registered by them on this blockchain platform. 

Trubloq enforces regulatory requirements by empowering customers and enabling enterprises and regulators in curbing the menace of spam calls and messages. Customers can own, control, and manage commercial communication directed to them, safeguarding themselves from fraudulent SMS and calls. Enterprises that have registered their content templates enable an ecosystem of trust by making certain all commercial communication to their customers is safe from fraud and is delivered on time without any delays. 

Uday Reddy, Chairman & CEO, Tanla Platforms Limited said, “Tanla’s Trubloq is built for enterprises to enrich customer experience and create an ecosystem of trust in commercial communication. Towards this, Tanla is committed to support all enterprises in ensuring speedy adoption and compliance of the said regulation.”   

“Tanla is supporting the enterprises in complying with the TCCCPR requirement in registering their content templates for commercial communication. Tanla’s customer support, technology and leadership teams are hand-holding customers and have been working with them round the clock to ensure regulatory protocol is met with within the seven-day extension granted by the TRAI.” Uday Reddy added.

Trubloq was launched commercially in September 2020 in response to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s request to combat the widespread problem of unsolicited commercial communication, to protect user information, as well as the integrity of the telecom sector. Since the launch, the platform is operating at full efficiency. Tanla has onboarded more than 34,000 enterprises and the DLT platform currently processes around 70% of A2P traffic in India, topping more than 1 billion interactions in a single day recently. 

About Tanla: 

Tanla Platforms Limited (NSE: TANLA; BSE:532790) transforms the way the world collaborates and communicates through innovative CPaaS solutions. Founded in 1999, it was the first company to develop and deploy A2P SMSC in India. Today, as one of the world’s largest CPaaS players, Tanla processes more than 800 billion interactions annually and about 70% of India’s A2P SMS traffic is processed through its distributed ledger platform-Trubloq, making it the world’s largest Blockchain use case. Tanla touches over a billion lives carrying mission critical messages meeting the needs of the world’s largest enterprises. Tanla Platforms Limited is headquartered in Hyderabad, India and is expanding its presence globally.

Vi Teams p With Disney+ Hotstar To Offer Its Customers 1-Year Of Live Sports & The World’s Best Stories In Their Language

 

* Launches new prepaid packs starting INR 401/- and postpaid packs starting INR  499/- with an  annual subscription to Disney+ Hotstar VIP 

* Enables customers with unlimited LIVE sporting action, latest blockbuster Bollywood movies, exclusive Hotstar Specials and much more 

India’s leading telecom brand, Vi collaborates with Disney+ Hotstar, one of India’s leading video streaming platforms to bring high quality entertainment and a year full of Cricket to Vi customers. This coming-together aims to bring the best of video content to Indians across the two most popular genres of Entertainment and Cricket.

With the new packs, Vi customers  will now be able to watch everything that Disney+ Hotstar VIP has to offer – right from 12 months of non-stop cricketing action to the latest blockbuster movies in Hindi & Tamil (Ajay Devgan’s Bhuj: The Pride of India, Abhishek Bachchan’s The Big Bull, Arya’s Teddy), the best of global movies and shows dubbed in Hindi, Tamil & Telugu, including Marvel’s Super Hero movies & shows (The Falcon And The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Endgame, Iron Man 3), latest animation movies (The Lion King, Frozen 2), popular kids shows (Doraemon, Shinchan), and exclusive Hotstar Specials (Live Telecast, OK Computer, Special Ops 1.5, Aarya Season 2, Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors), LIVE-sporting action and much more!

Commenting on the partnership with Disney+ Hotstar, Avneesh Khosla, CMO, Vi said “Cricket is a religion in India - The mass appeal and the sheer passion it evokes amongst fans is unparalleled. In line with our partnership driven content strategy, I am now delighted to announce our association with Disney+ Hotstar that gives our customers access to all the cricketing action all through the year, along with the best of entertainment that Disney+ Hotstar offers through Hotstar Specials, Hotstar Multiplex, and all global movies & shows. With this initiative, we want to provide all Vi consumers the opportunity to watch the best of cricketing action live on Vi Giganet - India’s fastest 4G network.”

Prabh Simran Singh, EVP, Disney+ Hotstar said, “Our philosophy is to bring World’s best entertainment to every Indian, and we are delighted to collaborate with Vi to make Disney+ Hotstar VIP accessible to their users across the country. With the packed calendar of exciting cricket action this year - combined with the high-quality impactful stories Disney+ Hotstar offers - we are delighted to entertain Vi’s large customer base of Indians throughout the year. This is yet another step for Disney+ Hotstar in our journey to create & lead the video subscriptions category in the country.

For Vi Prepaid users: Vi is launching 3 new unlimited recharge plans + 1 data only plan that will offer the 1-year Disney+ Hotstar VIP subscription as a bundled benefit. All new and existing customers will be able to avail of the offer with these recharges, starting 10th March’21.

For Vi Postpaid Users: Very attractive offers on plans with rentals of 499 and above giving 1-year Disney+ Hotstar VIP subscription on existing plans along with all the other benefits. Vi customers on other plans can switch to any of these plans and avail of the offer.

Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation Joins Hands With HMD Global To Enable Online Education For Children Through Nokia Smartphones

* The initiative aims at enabling online education for underprivileged children across rural areas and urban slums, survivors of child exploitation, as well as for first-generation learners of the Banjara community in Jaipur.

* The donation of new Nokia smartphones, worth over Rs. 1.65 crores, is expected to benefit over 6,000 children across 6 states and 1 Union Territory in India – Delhi, Karnataka, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand.

Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation (KSCF), founded by Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi, and HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, have come together to enable online education for underprivileged children in India. As part of this initiative, over 1,740 new Nokia smartphones worth over Rs. 1.65 crores would be distributed to children across rural areas and urban slums, survivors of child exploitation, as well as the first-generation learners of the Banjara community.

The phones have been donated to children who are beneficiaries of two flagship social interventions of KSCF:

1.                   Bal Mitra Gram (BMG)

2.                   Bal Mitra Mandal (BMM)

In addition, the phones will also be distributed to the residents of Bal Ashram, a long-term shelter home near Jaipur for child survivors of exploitation, run by Bal Ashram Trust (Trust), a sister organisation of KSCF. Also, the phones will be given to first generation learners of a Banjara community which lives near the Bal Ashram. Children of this community are presently receiving non-formal education in the 11 Banjara Educational Centres run by the Trust.

The donation across these programmes will benefit over 6,000 children belonging to marginalized families across Delhi, Karnataka, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Jharkhand, whose education was disrupted due to the closure of schools on account of the pandemic.

Impact of Lockdown due to Covid-19 and Economic Disruption on Poor Rural Households with Special Reference to Children: Study by KSCF

During lockdown, KSCF conducted a study on ‘Impact of Lockdown and Economic Disruption on Poor Rural Households with Special Reference to Children’. During the study, a primary survey was carried out with 53 NGOs working with children across the country, and a survey of households from rural areas of five states of India – Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.

85% of all respondent NGOs and 89% of NGOs working on the relevant themes (Education, Poverty & Livelihood) felt that school dropouts were likely to increase in the post lockdown period. Also, during the household survey, six percent of the respondents reported that due to their poor financial condition they would not hesitate to withdraw their children from school. Another 14% household respondents stated that they were ‘not sure’ as to what they do. Hence, potentially school going children of 20% households were at the risk of dropping out from schools.

Speaking about the initiative, Sri. SC Sinha, Chief Executive Officer, KSCF said: “Closure of schools due to lockdown has affected adversely, the access to education of the poor and the marginalised children the most. The education of these children has been disrupted completely as due to non-availability of smartphones, they are not able to access online education. These children having nothing to do may go astray, many of them may become child labour, and some may even get trafficked. Thus, many of them may not go back to school once the schools reopen. Such children, once they have smartphones will be able to access online education and get reconnected with their schools. These phones are likely to be a source of empowerment for them. Once the children are accustomed to the use of phones for educational purposes, they are likely to continue using them for greater learning even when the schools reopen.”

Sanmeet Kochhar, Vice President, HMD Global said:

“When it comes to driving positive social impact, education and skill development for the youth, has always been a key focus area for our CSR efforts in India. Our efforts towards education take inspiration from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) focused on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education. We believe that smartphone technology contributes to SDG 4 by enabling unhindered access to educational content, anytime, anywhere.

Hon’ble Prime Shri Minister Narendra Modi recently mentioned, that in order to build an ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, the Indian youth needs self-confidence, which is directly impacted by their education and their skills. We believe that India’s youth should have access to opportunities to educate themselves. Technology is a great facilitator to make this possible.

Through our association with Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation, we are keen to play a part in helping our country’s underprivileged children and youth realise their self-confidence through undisrupted access to education.”

About Bal Mitra Gram (BMG) and Bal Mitra Mandal (BMM)

Bal Mitra Gram is a transformative grassroots solution to complex and inter-related problems and issues which adversely affect the protection and well-being of children in rural areas. The programme promotes the best interests of children through child-centric community development. It empowers children to take democratic action to secure their rights by formation of Bal Panchayats (Child Council) and enables parents and other stakeholders to stand up for the rights of the children and build a protective community. It also ensures enrolment of all the children in schools and their access to quality education. A BMG thus creates a safety net around children to protect them from all forms of abuse and exploitation.

The Bal Mitra Mandal programme is an adaptation of the principles of BMG in the urban slum communities.

About Bal Ashram Trust

Bal Ashram provides rehabilitation facilities for children who have been rescued from the trap of child labour, trafficking, and other forms of exploitation. Many of these children are enrolled in government schools and are receiving formal education. Bal Ashram Trust also runs 11 Banjara Educational Centers in Alwar and Jaipur district of Rajasthan, where more than 400 children continue to receive non-formal education and freshly cooked nutritious mid-day meals. These children belong to the Nomadic Banjara Community and are the first-generation learners. The Banjara Education Centres prepare children of Banjara communities to get linked with mainstream education.

Nokia smartphones for education across BMG, BMM and Bal Ashram

KSCF will provide Nokia smartphones to the members of Bal Panchayats of the villages and urban slum communities where the BMG and BMM programmes are operational, after loading relevant educational apps. The phones will be provided to the children only with the consent of parents and the Bal Panchayat members will ensure that all the children in their community derive educational benefit from these phones. KSCF will also provide training to all the children who are given the smartphones on handling them and accessing educational content online responsibly and safely.

Additionally, KSCF will provide Nokia smartphones to children living in the Bal Ashram rehabilitation centre and also to those children who studied in Banjara Education Centres and have already moved to, or are in process of moving to formal education.

ABOUT KAILASH SATYARTHI CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION

Kailash Satyarthi Children’s Foundation (KSCF), founded by Nobel Peace Laureate Mr. Kailash Satyarthi, envisions a world where all children are free, safe, healthy, in school, and have the opportunity to realise her/his potential. Our mission is to end slavery and child labour and ultimately end violence against children.

To make our vision of a child-friendly world a reality, we are scaling Mr. Satyarthi’s almost four decades of work at both the grassroots and global policy level. His lessons learned guide the foundation’s work to engage children and youth as part of the solution, build greater collaboration between governments, business and communities, ensure effective national and international laws, scale know-how and successful practice and create partnerships with key stakeholders.

Women's Health: Prevent The Top Threats Across Indian Market

 By Kanchan Naikawadi, Preventive Healthcare Specialist, Indus Health Plus

* The incidence of heart disease in women is about 29%, 72% suffering from bone disorders and 87% with vitamin D deficiency

Due to variations in genes, anatomy, and hormone levels, some diseases attack women more often than men, and vice-versa. While both men and women contract various conditions, some health issues affect women differently and more commonly. Furthermore, many women’s health conditions go undiagnosed. Even so, women bear exclusive health concerns, such as breast cancer, cervical cancer, menopause, and pregnancy. Women suffer higher heart attack deaths compared to men. Depression and anxiety exhibit more frequently among female patients. Urinary tract conditions present more often in females, and sexually transmitted diseases can cause more harm to women.

Data from checkups done by Indus Health plus over a period of past few years shows this glaring picture clearly and how health conditions are on a rise in women.

Checkup data of about 10000 individuals out of which 4093 were females showed that 17% of women suffered from thyroid conditions compared to 9% men, 16% had urine infections compared to 6% in men, 32% having anemia compared to 6% men, 72% were suffering from bone disorders and 87% were having vitamin D deficiency. 27% females had some abnormality seen in their Pap smear report which is a basic screening test to detect cervical cancer. The abnormalities ranged from mild inflammation to the presence of cancer cells. 20% of the females had findings in the sonomammography reports. The incidence of heart disease in women was about 29% and abnormal fasting sugar levels were to the effect of about 40 %.

This data gives us an insight into the health status of women in our society and clearly indicates that women health needs to be taken very seriously. Women need to understand that they have to take responsibility of their own health. They must understand the importance of having a nutritious balanced diet, being adequately hydrated, and being physically active. They need to be conscious about their mental and psychological wellbeing.

Take control by knowing about your risk factors for these conditions. Then get serious about reducing your risk.

Manage chronic conditions and get recommended screenings

Adopt a habit of undergoing regular screening. If you have or get detected with a health problems — such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes — that increase your risk of heart disease and stroke, follow your doctor's treatment recommendations. Also, consult your doctor about when you should have mammograms (Ideally at age of 40 & above) and other cancer screenings.

Adopt a healthier lifestyle

While you cannot eliminate risk factors such as family history, you can control other risk factors for heart disease, stroke, and cancer. For example:

* Do not smoke. If you do smoke or use other tobacco products, ask your doctor to help you quit. Avoid exposure to passive smoking.

* Eat a healthy diet. Choose vegetables, fruits, whole grains, high-fiber foods, and lean sources of protein, such as fish. Limit foods high in saturated and trans fats, and foods with added sugar.

* Maintain a healthy weight. Losing excess pounds — and keeping them off — can lower your risk of heart disease as well as many other conditions.

* Get moving. Exercise can help you control your weight and lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. It might also lower your risk of certain types of cancer. Choose activities you enjoy, from brisk walking to ballroom dancing. All forms of exercise will lower your risk.

* Avoid alcohol. Too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure and increase your risk of liver diseases

* Manage stress. If you feel constantly on edge or under assault, your lifestyle habits might suffer — and so might your immune system. Take steps to reduce stress — or learn to deal with stress in healthy ways.

* Know your Genetic Predisposition/Tendencies :Know your Genetic Predisposition /Tendencies for health conditions and to personalize your nutrition/diet & fitness plan.

Amazon Prime Video & Excel Entertainment To Premiere — Toofaan

* Produced by Ritesh Sidhwani, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra & Farhan Akhtar, Toofaan is directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra starring Farhan Akhtar, alongside Mrunal Thakur and Paresh Rawal in prominent roles.

* Prime members in India and across 240 countries and territories can stream Toofaan exclusively on Amazon Prime Video starting May 21, 2021.

Amazon Prime offers incredible value with unlimited streaming of the latest and exclusive movies, TV shows, stand-up comedy, Amazon Originals, ad-free music listening through Amazon Prime Music, free fast delivery on India’s largest selection of products, early access to top deals, unlimited reading with Prime Reading and mobile gaming content with Prime Gaming, all available only for Rs 129 a month.  Customers can also watch Toofaan by subscribing to Prime Video Mobile Edition. Prime Video Mobile Edition is a single-user, mobile-only plan currently available for Airtel Pre-Paid customers.

Amazon Prime Video today announced the direct-to-service global premiere of the year’s most-awaited summer blockbuster – upcoming inspirational sports drama, Toofaan. Produced by Excel Entertainment in association with ROMP Pictures, Toofaan stars Farhan Akhtar as a boxer, alongside Mrunal Thakur, Paresh Rawal, Supriya Pathak Kapur and Hussain Dalal. Directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, the highly-anticipated sports drama will premiere directly on to Amazon Prime Video on the 21st of May, 2021 across 240 countries and territories.

Vijay Subramaniam, Director and Head, Content, Amazon Prime Video said, “Excel Entertainment have been and integral part of our India journey and we treasure a long-standing relationship with them. Toofaan marks another exciting chapter for us together. Toofaan is one more step in our continuous commitment to bringing quality entertainment to our customers and another excellent addition our direct-to-service film selection. The film is an engaging and inspiring tale of the power of perseverance and following ones’ passions against all odds. With Rakeysh’s flair for narrating stories with a unique appeal and Farhan’s ability to make every character he plays appear relatable and endearing we’re sure Toofaan has all the makings of the perfect summer blockbuster and will be loved by our consumers across the globe. A story that that’s as intriguing as ever, we’re looking forward to bringing this sports drama to Prime members this May.”

Sharing the excitement for the same, Ritesh Sidhwani, Producer, Excel Entertainment says, “At Excel Entertainment, we always try to tell stories that touch the heart and soul of the audience. We consistently strive to develop new concepts which can entertain and enlighten the viewers. With Toofaan, we are presenting an inspirational sports drama that presents the story of a goon from the streets of Dongri set against the backdrop of boxing, his fall and triumphant comeback against all odds in life. Excel Entertainment in association with ROMP Pictures is very thrilled to announce this special film. Our long-standing partnership with Amazon Prime Video has been brilliant and Toofaan is yet another exciting chapter and association for us at a global level.”

On once again collaborating with Farhan Akhtar after the success of Bhaag Milkha Bhaag which released 7 yearsago, Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra said, “After working with Farhan in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, I was certain he would be the perfect protagonist for Toofaan. The best thing about him is that he does not act the part, but lives it completely. Toofaan is a story that will motivate and inspire all of us to get out of comfort zones and fight towards achieving our dreams. We cannot wait to present our film to viewers across the globe!”

Toofaan will join the thousands of TV shows and movies from Hollywood and Bollywood in the Prime Video catalogue. These include Indian-produced Amazon Original series Tandav, Mirzapur Season 1 & 2, Comicstaan Semma Comedy Pa, Breathe: Into The Shadows, Bandish Bandits, Paatal Lok, The Forgotten Army – Azaadi Ke Liye, Sons of the Soil: Jaipur Pink Panthers, Four More Shots Please, The Family Man, Made In Heaven, and Inside Edge, Indian films such as Coolie No. 1, Gulabo Sitabo, Durgamati, Chhalaang, Shakuntala Devi, Ponmagal Vandhal, French Biriyani, Law, Sufiyum Sujatayum, Penguin, Nishabdham, Drishyam2, Maara, V, CU Soon, Soorarai Pottru, Bheema Sena Nala Maharaja, Halal Love Story, Middle Class Melodies, Putham Pudhu Kaalai, Unpaused among others and the award-winning and critically acclaimed global Amazon Originals like Coming 2 America,  Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan, The Boys, Hunters, Fleabag, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. All this is available at no extra cost for Amazon Prime members. The service includes titles in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, and Bengali.

Prime members will be able to watch Toofaan anywhere and anytime on the Prime Video app for smart TVs, mobile devices, Fire TV, Fire TV stick, Fire tablets, Apple TV, etc. In the Prime Video app, Prime members can download episodes on their mobile devices and tablets and watch anywhere offline at no additional cost. Prime Video is available in India at no extra cost with Prime membership for just ₹999 annually or ₹129 monthly, new customers can find out more at www.amazon.in/prime and subscribe to a free 30-day trial.

ABOUT AMAZON PRIME VIDEO

Prime Video is a premium streaming service that offers Prime members a collection of award winning Amazon Original series, thousands of movies and TV shows—all with the ease of finding what they love to watch in one place.  Find out more at PrimeVideo.com. 

●        Included with Prime Video: Toofaan joins thousands of TV shows and movies from Hollywood and Bollywood, including Indian produced Amazon Original series such as Four More Shots Please!, The Family Man, Mirzapur, Inside Edge and Made In Heaven, and award-winning and critically acclaimed global Amazon Original series including Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, The Boys, Hunters, Fleabag and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel available for unlimited streaming as part of a Prime membership. Prime Video includes titles available in Hindi, Marathi, Gujarati, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi and Bengali.

●        Instant Access: Members can watch anywhere, anytime on the Prime Video app for smart TVs, mobile devices, Fire TV, Fire TV stick, Fire tablets, Apple TV and multiple gaming devices. Prime Video is also available to consumers through Airtel and Vodafone pre-paid and post-paid subscription plans. In the Prime Video app, Prime members can download episodes on their mobile devices and tablets and watch anywhere offline at no additional cost.

●        Enhanced experiences: Make the most of every viewing with 4K Ultra HD- and High Dynamic Range (HDR)-compatible content. Go behind the scenes of your favourite movies and TV shows with exclusive X-Ray access, powered by IMDb. Save it for later with select mobile downloads for offline viewing.

●        Included with Prime: Prime Video is available in India at no extra cost with Prime membership for just ₹999 annually or ₹129 monthly, new customers can find out more at www.amazon.in/prime and subscribe to a free 30-day trial.

3rill Mplified: The First-Ever BMW M340i xDrive Debuts In Indian Market

 

* 3rill Mplified: The first-ever BMW M340i xDrive debuts in India. 

* BMW M engineered cars now made in India at BMW Group Plant Chennai.

* Quickest car to be locally produced with 0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds.

* Supreme dynamics with the power of 6-cylinder ‘M’ petrol engine.

* M-specific suspension, M Sport differential, M Sport brake and BMW xDrive for unrivalled handling.

* Original BMW Accessories Packages for a customized experience.

* Overwhelming response to pre-launch booking. All units planned for production till June 2021 sold.

BMW India has launched the powerful BMW M340i xDrive in the country. Locally produced at BMW Group Plant Chennai, it is the first high-performance BMW with an M engine to be made in India.

For over 40 years, no other BMW has embodied the concept of the ‘Ultimate Driving Machine’ better than the BMW 3 Series. Engineered by BMW M, the first-ever BMW M340i xDrive delivers a concentrated distillation of the 3’s sporting essence and unleashes its full dynamic potential. It flawlessly embodies BMW M’s pure passion for motorsport and delivers maximum performance to provide the ultimate adrenaline rush for the drivers.

Mr. Vikram Pawah, President, BMW Group India said, “We are excited to launch the first-ever BMW M340i xDrive, the quickest car to be locally produced in India - a completely novel high-performance product that the Indian auto enthusiasts have been waiting for eagerly. It is a unique car because it has the thrilling soul of the BMW 3 Series, the amplified power of M and the driving dynamics of BMW xDrive. With the addition of the BMW M340i xDrive, the BMW 3 Series offers the most powerful and diverse range giving our customers the valuable ‘Power of Choice’. This car also marks an important milestone of local production of high-performance BMW cars from the house of ‘M’.”

The first-ever BMW M340i xDrive sets new standards of performance attributes that will satisfy and impress auto enthusiasts. The car is powered by a straight six-cylinder petrol engine with 387 hp. Together, the high engine performance, M Performance chassis tuning, M-specific suspension technology, BMW xDrive intelligent all-wheel drive and the M Sport rear differential provide for an outstanding driving experience. The exceptional sporty character is underscored by the model-specific design and multiple equipment features.

The car is available at an attractive price (ex-showroom) as follows –

The first-ever BMW M340i xDrive at INR 62,90,000

Price prevailing at the time of invoicing will be applicable. Ex-showroom prices inclusive of GST (incl. compensation cess) as applicable but exclude Road Tax, Tax Collected at Source (TCS), RTO statutory taxes/fees, other local tax cess levies and insurance. Price / options are subject to change without prior notice.  For further information, contact an authorised BMW dealer. 

The first-ever BMW M340i xDrive is available in following metallic paintworks - Dravit Grey, Sunset Orange and Tanzanite Blue. It features the exclusive Alcantara/Sensatec combination upholstery in Black with contrast stitching Blue.

BMW M Performance Accessories offer customers the ability to bring their personality to the vehicles. To enhance the sporty appearance and character of the car, customers have the option to choose from a wide range of individual accessories including wheel size upgrades or curated accessory packages - Enthusiast Pack, Racer’s Pack and Motorsport Pack.

Thanks to BMW India Financial Services, customized and flexible financial solutions can be designed as per individual requirements. BMW 360˚ offers exclusive financial packages with great value and absolute peace of mind. Service Inclusive and Service Inclusive Plus further reduce cost of ownership. Customers can choose from a variety of service plans according to duration and mileage. The packages cover Condition Based Service (CBS) and maintenance work with plans ranging from 3 yrs / 40,000 kms to 10 yrs / 2,00,000 kms.

The first-ever BMW M340i xDrive

The exterior design of the first-ever BMW M340i xDrive inspires with its sporting theme. The front end cuts a wide, low-slung and aggressive figure. The large BMW kidney grille mesh inserts are framed by a single surround and split up by wide bars that link to the headlight units. The car features the Adaptive LED headlights with BMW Laserlight which offers variable illumination of the road ahead. They stand apart with their hexagonal daytime driving light rings and blue, L-shaped elements in the inner and outer light sources. The car’s hood, long wheelbase, short overhangs and elegantly flowing roofline accentuate its sporting profile when viewed from the side. Horizontal lines and the slim, stylishly darkened light units housing L-shaped LED taillights give the rear a wide and athletic stance. Complementing the M aerodynamics package with aerodynamically optimized body elements, the car features a body coloured M rear spoiler on the boot lid. The vehicle’s exclusive look is also enhanced by exterior mirror caps, air intake struts, trapezoidal tailpipe trims and the model lettering all finished in Cerium Grey metallic. Adding to the sporty look are the standard 18-inch M light alloy wheels style 790 M Bicolor with mixed tyres. The option to upgrade to 19-inch M light alloy wheels in 792 M or 796 M styling is also available.

The interior is designed to accentuate cabin spaciousness and the driver-focused cockpit. The sport seats with M-specific upholstery in a Sensatec/Alcantara trim provide excellent lateral support and have a great range of adjustment. The Anthracite BMW Individual roof liner, BMW Individual High-Gloss Shadow Line elements, M leather steering wheel with shift paddles, M seat belt and interior trim strips in Aluminum Tetragon provide a performance-oriented ambience. As exclusive design features, the digital instrument cluster and front door sills bear the model lettering ‘M340i’. Adding to the sense of space is the large panorama glass sunroof. Ambient Lighting with six dimmable light designs creates an atmosphere for every mood while Automatic 3 zone A/C further enhances the in-cabin experience. Welcome Light Carpet, which is projected from the side sill, welcomes passengers in glamorous style. The boot has a capacity of 480 litres and can be expanded further by folding down the 40/20/40 split rear seat backrest.

The first-ever BMW M340i xDrive is powered by 2,998 cc straight-six petrol engine which produces an output of 387 hp and 500 Nm maximum torque. It is accompanied by a characteristic sound thanks to the M Sport exhaust unit. The car completes the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds, making it the quickest car to be produced in the country.

The eight-speed Steptronic Sport automatic transmission performs smooth, almost imperceptible gearshifts. At any time, in any gear, the transmission collaborates perfectly with the engine, enabling it to develop its full power and efficiency. For even greater driving pleasure, it is available with steering wheel paddle shifters and cruise control with braking function as standard. The Driver Experience Control modes SPORT and SPORT+ help support more dynamic driving even further by transferring power to the rear wheels.

As a category first, the car features BMW xDrive, the intelligent all-wheel drive technology which monitors the driving situations and is quick to respond to ensure maximum traction, agility and vehicle stability. The standard M Sport rear differential enhances traction and cornering by electronically controlling the distribution of power to each individual wheel. It helps to avoid understeer and oversteer in situations involving multiple changes of direction and load.

With kinematics and elastokinematics tuned for dynamic driving, the M Sport suspension features more rigid bearings and body struts, firm springs and anti-roll bars. It helps lower the ride height by 10 mm and offers a more engaging driving experience. The Variable Sport Steering is precise and responsive even when only a slight steering input is applied. With the variable ratio, it adjusts to the steering angle changes making it as adept at keeping the car in a straight line as at maximizing cornering agility and maneuvering comfort. M Sport brakes provide excellent braking performance and intuitive feel, whether negotiating city streets or driving around a circuit on a track day. The brake calipers are painted blue and display the M logo. The BMW Performance Control system increases the stability of the car by targeted braking of the wheels.

A host of BMW ConnectedDrive technologies continue to break the innovation barrier in automotive industry. Modern cockpit concept BMW Live Cockpit Professional includes 3D Navigation, a 12.3-inch digital instrument display behind the steering wheel and a 10.25-inch Control Display. Occupants can operate a number of car functions simply by speaking to their BMW Virtual Assistant. Hands do the talking with BMW Gesture Control that recognizes six pre-defined hand movements for control of a number of functions. The smartphone holder integrated into the centre console allows inductive, Wireless Charging for mobile phones. Wireless Apple CarPlay® / Android Auto ensures seamless smartphone connection with the car to access several functions. The car features a Harman Kardon Surround Sound system with 16 loudspeakers.

BMW Head-Up Display projects driving-related information onto the windscreen and directly into the driver’s field of view without having to divert their eyes from the road. Parking Assistant with Rear View Camera makes parking in tight spots easier. The Reversing Assistant provides unmatched support in reversing out of a parking spot or through narrow driveways. It keeps a record of the last 50 metres driven and assists by taking over the steering.

BMW EfficientDynamics includes features such as Auto Start-Stop, Brake-Energy Regeneration, Electronic Power Steering, 50:50 Weight Distribution and ECO PRO mode in Driving Experience Control.

BMW Safety technologies include six airbags, Attentiveness Assistance, Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Brake Assist, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) including Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), Cornering Brake Control (CBC), electric parking brake with auto hold, side-impact protection, electronic vehicle immobilizer and crash sensors, Runflat Tyres with Tyre Pressure Indicator, ISOFIX child seat mounting and integrated emergency spare wheel under the load floor.

IBM Helps Joyalukkas Reimagine Digital Customer Experience Across 11 Countries With Integrated E-Commerce Platform

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that Joyalukkas, India’s leading jewellery retailer, is collaborating with IBM Global Business Services (GBS) to design, develop and deploy a new cloud native e-commerce platform across 11 countries including India, UAE, USA, UK, Singapore, Malaysia, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Oman.

Joyalukkas Jewellery, part of the Joyalukkas Group - a multi-billion-dollar global conglomerate - is one of the fastest growing jewellery chains globally, with 160 showrooms across 11 countries.

To navigate the constantly evolving nature of the jewellery business, from handling daily price fluctuations of precious metals and gemstones, to drawing insights from shopping patterns, the company was looking for a technology-driven solution that would enhance efficiencies, drive growth and boost resilience and adaptability.

To help fulfil this objective, IBM has developed a highly flexible and secure cloud enabled e-commerce platform for Joyalukkas, built on Adobe’s Magento Commerce. The company has also engaged with IBM iX, the business design arm of IBM GBS, to develop a clear roadmap for their digital journey. By leveraging a design thinking methodology, Joyalukkas was able to define the core objective of its new digital strategy as well as identify and narrow down its target audience which includes millennials and gold investors. These insights are enabling the company to tailor a uniquely personalized country-specific experience for each of their customers on the new platform. The platform has further been developed as Progressive Web Apps, which deliver a mobile native experience for customers, providing them further familiarity and ease of use as they browse on their mobile devices.

With the cloud native architecture ensuring scalability and agility, the e-commerce platform will also integrate the company’s existing applications like ERP, CRM, inventory management system and others. The platform will also enable Joyalukkas to automate their order and inventory management across their own site as well as on multiple online marketplaces where the company’s merchandise is sold– thus bringing in efficiency across channels.

These capabilities will be fulfilled by leveraging a host of application plug-ins from the Magento Marketplace to enable additional features using cloud-based APIs. IBM further custom-built a unique product configurator that will enable Joyalukkas to automate creation of stock keeping units (SKUs) for easier inventory management across their multiple marketplaces. Built to leverage data and analytics to drive an enhanced customer experience, the e-commerce platform will go live later this year.

Joy Alukkas, CMD, Joyalukkas Group said, “We wanted the best possible partner to reimagine our e-commerce platform hence we picked IBM for this initiative. Our brick & mortar stores are spread across many countries; however, a strong online presence will help us extend our reach to every nook & corner of the world. This initiative will further help us to fulfil our vision of ‘Ornamenting the World’.”

John Paul Alukkas, Managing Director- International Operations, Joyalukkas Group, added, “Our ambition is to provide a seamless, continuous consumer experience across any device or location a customer wishes to shop from, and we are collaborating with the best i.e., IBM to manage this expectation. To meet the extremely competitive retail environment and constantly evolving customer demands, Omnichannel retailing is a must and at Joyalukkas our mission is to offer the best-in-class Omnichannel shopping experience to our valued customers.”

Commenting on the collaboration, Kamal Singhani, Country Managing Partner – IBM Services, India/South Asia said, “Currently, companies in all industries, especially the gems and jewellery sector, operate in an experience-first world. It is crucial to not just have an online presence but have a comprehensive strategy that has digital and customer experience as pillars built on a strong foundation of technology like cloud and AI. Through this collaboration, we are proud to help Joyalukkas deliver an elevated and engaging digital experience for their customers while simultaneously enabling significant cost savings through streamlined market expansion and considerable operational time savings through automated inventory creation process.”

Accordingly to a recent EY report, India is one of the largest jewellery consumption markets in the world, with a share of approximately 29%; the gems & jewellery sector will likely grow by US$ 103.06 billion (INR 7.7 trillion) between 2019 and 2023.

About Joyalukkas Group

Joyalukkas Group is a multi-billion dollar global conglomerate, with varied business interests. The group operates its various business operations across UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, USA, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Singapore, Malaysia, London and India. The group businesses include jewellery, money exchange, fashion & textiles & malls. Joyalukkas employs over 8,000 professionals across the world and is one of the most awarded and recognised jewellery retail chains in the world.