Entertainment. Gaming And Music App Usage Peaked During Second Wave Lockdown: InMobi Report

* Social distancing, work from home, and lock-down regulations boosted mobile consumption 

With the second wave of Covid19 and lockdown being implemented across India, people relied more on their phones for entertainment, gaming, music and social networking. As users continued to stay indoors, mobile phone usage saw a spike, said InMobi's Second Wave Lockdown Audience Insights Report. According to the report, 2021's lockdown saw users relying on their smartphones specifically around weekends, compared to weekdays in 2020.   

Students, working professionals, and mothers were among the most engaged during the wave 2 lockdown. However, the audience’s app consumption behavior varied for each group. Students relied more on music, gaming, and OTT, compared to working professionals who consumed news, OTT, productivity, social and shopping, while mothers invested their time on gaming, lifestyle and education apps.  

"We have witnessed a drastic acceleration of the mobile-first consumer economy since the onset of the pandemic. With the second wave, we see that these “new normal” mobile-first consumer habits and preferences have become more mainstream," said Vasuta Agarwal, Managing Director, Asia Pacific, InMobi.  

Varied age groups staying indoors  

With states reporting all-time high Covid cases, the report observed that 25-35 years old stayed indoors the highest during the lockdown, mostly due to the limited vaccination opportunities. Interestingly, people in the 35-44 age groups were seen stepping out the highest. 

Spike in Footfalls 

As per the report, hospitals, clinics and medical stores witnessed a spike of 597% compared to 398% last year. Supermarkets and essential stores saw an 89% spike against 44% last year, as consumers visited local stores to meet their daily needs. While a lot of consumers found cooking as a hobby last year, this year witnessed an increase in footfalls in restaurants from 7% to 23%. This was a result of relaxed lockdowns where takeaways and deliveries were allowed, helping consumers break the monotony of home-cooked meals by occasionally eating out. The footfall at each of the above places of interest during the lockdowns in 2020 & 2021 were indexed against overall footfalls observed across the above-mentioned places of interest and supermarkets, pharmacies, restaurants, and flea markets. 

Recreational centers and transport hubs on a low 

Despite transport being open to the public in lockdown 2, travel and transport hubs saw an all-time low during the second wave from 9% last year to 4% now. While rail travel had started to pick up until June, the new cases reported in India again forced people to shelter at homes. While footfall at movie theaters was at a decline, visits to lodging reduced further by 15% during lockdown 2, mounting on the already low footfalls due to the fear of the pandemic. 

“Social distancing, work from home, and lock-down regulations have boosted consumer mobile consumption as people rely on mobile entertainment spanning games, social media, and video streaming. With the second wave hitting us, consumers have adopted to the online world already and are well versed with this,” concluded Vasuta. 

Accenture Named An AI Consultancy Leader In Asia Pacific By Independent Research Firm

Accenture (NYSE: ACN) today announced it is recognised as a leader in research firm, Forrester's latest report on AI consultancies, titled "The Forrester Wave™: AI Consultancies In Asia Pacific Q2, 2021". Aimed at evaluating the capabilities of AI providers, the report from the independent research firm saw Accenture scoring higher than any other vendor in the current offering, strategy, and market presence categories amongst 12 other vendors.

The report notes that Accenture's "delivery capabilities are top-notch across the board, and the firm is very good at AI strategy, AI culture, and realising business impact. Client feedback strongly supports this; reference clients noted Accenture's industry expertise, seamless delivery from strategy to execution, and ability to help clients create a data-driven culture."

It also states that "Accenture is the only vendor evaluated that continues to build joint ventures with its largest customers. It's especially good with complex AI reference use cases. This makes Accenture the top choice for large-scale, enterprise-wide transformation driven by AI, in particular for clients in its focus geographies looking for a co-investment partner to drive their transformation." In addition, the report also states: "Accenture's coverage of the Asia Pacific region is extensive; Japan is its strongest market, followed by Australia/New Zealand (ANZ) and Southeast Asia/ASEAN."

Accenture received the highest scores possible in the following criteria: deployment, delivery, and operations within the current offering category, regional roadmap, services strategy, business model, AI for delivery and partner ecosystem within the strategy category; and APAC customers, APAC AI revenue and APAC AI deployments within the market presence category.

"We are thrilled to be recognised as a leader by Forrester.  Our clients in APAC are equally excited about applying AI at the core of their businesses to make informed decisions and solve today and tomorrow's most complex problems. We strive to go above and beyond to make further advances in AI and reinvent what it means to be data-driven," said Senthil Ramani, Growth Markets lead, Accenture Applied Intelligence.

Blaupunkt Launches 4 ‘Made In India’ Android Smart Televisions Starting At Rs 14,999

 

●   The Android TV models will be available in 4 different variants- 32-inch, 42-inch, 43-inch, and 55-inch

●    The products will be available to millions of customers on Flipkart from 10th July onwards

●    The brand is looking to disrupt the Indian television market with their exquisite range of smart televisions

German consumer electronics giant Blaupunkt launched four ‘Made-in-India’ Android TV models today in India. The brand has entered into an exclusive licensing agreement with the Indian contract manufacturer Super Plastronics Pvt Ltd (SPPL). As per the licensing contract, Blaupunkt’s manufacturing, branding, designing, packaging, and retailing supply chain will be handled by SPPL, the 30-year-old manufacturer of home-grown brands. The products will be available to customers from July 10th onwards on India’s home-grown e-commerce marketplace, Flipkart.

With pricing starting from INR 14,999, the four Android TV models include a 32-inch HD Ready Cybersound Android TV, a 42-inch FHD Android TV, a 43-inch Cybersound 4K Android TV and 55-inch 4K Android TV. The 32-inch version is available at Rs 14,999, powered by Android 9 is bezel-less which comes with 40W speaker output, Edge-free sound technology, 2 speakers, and 1 GB Ram and 8 GB ROM to offer a smooth viewing experience. The 42-inch FHD Android TV is priced at Rs 21,999, powered by Android 9 and includes a Ultra-Thin Bezel, 40W speaker output, Edge-free sound technology, 2 speakers, 1GB Ram and 8GB ROM. The brand has incorporated a 50W speaker output in the 43-inch 4K TV which is bezel-less and priced at Rs 30,999. It has Dolby Digital Plus, DTS TruSurround certified audio with 4 amazing speakers and has used Dolby MS12 sound technology that can decode and improve Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus powered sound technologies. The model is powered by Android 10 and is inbuilt with a 2GB Ram and 8GB ROM.

An exquisite 55-inch model priced at Rs 40,999 is bezel-less and has a 60W speaker output with Dolby Digital Plus, DTS TruSurround certified audio, Dolby MS12 sound technology that can decode and improve Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus powered sound technologies, Android 10, 2GB Ram, 8GB Rom and 4 speakers just like the 43-inch version. Interestingly, all the models have 5.0 Bluetooth, 2 USB ports, 3 HDMI ports along with voice-enabled remote and ARM Cortex A53 Processor.

Millions of customers across the country will be able to access the latest ‘Made in India’ TVs at their doorsteps through Flipkart in an affordable, safe and hygienic manner.

Excited about getting the exclusive brand license of Blaupunkt in India, Avneet Singh Marwah, CEO, Super Plastronics PVT LTD (SPPL) said “We are extremely delighted to onboard a well-loved and well-recognized Germany based consumer electronics giant Blaupunkt. With Blaupunkt’s footprint and launch of the Android TV models in India, we would continue being committed to embracing our ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ or Self-reliant India momentum. Our existing partnership with Flipkart will play a key role in taking the new generation of smart TVs to millions of its customers across the country. With this launch, we expect to gain our market share by 15% in the next 3 years.”

Vibrant Industry Founded On Level Playing Field And Can Lead The Economy To Higher Growth Trajectory: Chairman CCI

* Disruptive events not only test resilience & adaptive capacity but can also unleash innovations

Mr Ashok Kumar Gupta, Chairman, Competition Commission of India (CCI) today said that dialogue with stakeholders can be effective in preventing violation of law and can help mitigate a range of competition concerns without burdening the industry with compliance and litigation cost. “CCI is committed to support the industry in being competition law compliant. A vibrant industry founded on a level playing field and characterized by healthy competition could pave the way for Indian economy to come out of the setback caused by the pandemic and move on to a higher long-term growth trajectory,” he asserted.

Addressing the webinar ‘Competition Law: Revolutionizing Corporate & Legal Strategies’, organized by FICCI Karnataka State Council, Mr Gupta said that as we move ahead it is imperative that the principles of good corporate governance and fair competition are adhered to and complied with. “These are the key aspects of the recovery process that need to be observed diligently,” he added.

Mr Gupta also stated that Karnataka, being the fourth largest global technology cluster, has emerged as a leading destination for investments and a hub for Start-ups. FICCI Karnataka State Council has a critical role to play as the economy strives to recover from COVID-19. “As we emerge out of the devastating second wave, an immediate concern is how to boost the economy and investment sentiments. Disruptive events not only test the resilience and adaptive capacity but can also unleash forces of innovation and creativity towards shaping a more sustainable and inclusive future,” he emphasized.

Mr Gupta said that in recent years the digital markets have been the major focus area of the CCI. Digital markets are bringing in innovation on one hand and are also giving rise to various competition concerns on the other. “Given the very fast evolution of the digital markets the focus has been to act swiftly and craft remedies to address these issues. In a young jurisdiction like India where legacy issues have not yet faded completely, stakeholders not fully aware of the benefits of competition and pro-market reforms still an ongoing agenda, enforcement cannot be the only route to market corrections,” he added.

Highlighting the measures taken by the Commission, Mr Gupta said that CCI has come out with a Competition Compliance Manual for the benefit of the corporates. He further said that Commission is in the process of introducing a confidentiality regime in line with the best global practices in consultation with all stakeholders. “The idea behind these initiatives has been to engage with the industry not only for prompt detection and rectification of competition problems but also to make them realize that all stand to gain from fair and competitive markets,” he said.

Speaking on the process of mergers and acquisitions, Mr Gupta that CCI has been working to streamline the procedures and promote ease of doing business by ensuring speedy clearance to reduce procedural burden. “A green channel has been introduced recently for automatic approval and this is first of its kind, a trust-based system in the world, where notifiable transaction with no overlaps between the parties is being approved on its filing,” he added.

Competition, he said promotes overall welfare by enhancing efficiency, promoting innovation leading to wider product choice and better quality. Strengthening competitive pressures in the economy acts to lower entry barriers which enables the creation and expansion of small businesses which in turn facilitates the introduction of new technologies, added Mr Gupta.

Mr K Ullas Kamath, Chairman, FICCI Karnataka State Council and Joint MD, Jyothy Labs Ltd said that competition and transparency are the two important pillars of corporate governance. “The collaborative approach of the legal fraternity, corporate and govt officials will help us to meet the global standards the best practices,” he added.

Mr Manish Mohan Govil, Adviser (Combination), Competition Commission of India; Mr Kaizad Adi Hazari, General Counsel & Head-Legal, Arcelor Mittal Nippon Steel India; Mr Kanaiya Thakker, Joint President & Head- Legal, Ambuja Cements; Mr Amit Bhasin, Executive Vice President & Head Legal, Marico Ltd and Mr Prashanth Shivadass, Advocate & Founder, Shivadass & Shivadass Law Chambers also shared their perspective on the competition law.

Tata Motors Partners With J&K Bank To Bring Attractive Financing Options For Its Customers

* The partnership will enable easy commercial vehicle financing at competitive interest rates and extended loan tenure

Tata Motors, India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, has signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jammu & Kashmir Bank, the largest commercial vehicle financier in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, in a collaborative effort to bring attractive and easy financing options to its customers.

The beneficial offerings, arising out of this partnership, will be applicable across Tata Motors’ commercial vehicle range. The company will offer special Tata Delight points for joint customers of Tata Motors and J&K Bank on the purchase of its heavy, medium and intermediate trucks. Tata Motors will offer special vehicle maintenance program for the J&K Bank-financed small commercial vehicles and pick-up trucks. J&K Bank will provide special Loan-to-Value (LTV) ratios, and extended tenure for all vehicle segments with competitive interest rates. J&K Bank has the widest network in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, with over 950 branches, across the country.

Commenting on the partnership, Mr. Girish Wagh, ED & President – Commercial Vehicle Business Unit, Tata Motors, said, “As the market leader in Jammu & Kashmir, we are elated to join forces with the largest bank in the union territory. This partnership, with J&K Bank, will go a great distance in easing the vehicle financing process for our customers. It will also add impetus to the development of the union territory with Tata Motors’ wide range of products in the cargo, passenger and construction segments. We will leverage J&K Bank’s rich experience and reach, ensuring seamless availability of financing with our combined efforts. We aspire to continue on this path through our partnership.”

Commenting on the momentous occasion, Mr. R K Chhibber Chairman and Managing Director, J&K Bank, said, “As partnering with big and quality brands remains at the centre of J&K Bank's strategic planning vis-a-vis customer gratification, we see arrangement with Tata Motors as an opportunity to ensure consistency in availability of wide ranging and quality end-to-end financial solutions to our customers. The MoU will enable customers to a premium go-to-market package – J&K Bank's highly customised financial solutions blended with varied options of commercial vehicles offered by Tata Motors.”

About Tata Motors

Tata Motors Limited (NYSE: TTM; BSE: 500570 and 570001; NSE: TATAMOTORS and TATAMTRDVR), a USD 35 billion organization, is a leading global automobile manufacturer of cars, utility vehicles, pick-ups, trucks and buses. Part of the USD 113 billion Tata group, Tata Motors is India’s largest and the only OEM offering extensive range of integrated, smart and e-mobility solutions. It has operations in India, the UK, South Korea, Thailand, South Africa, and Indonesia through a strong global network of 103 subsidiaries, 10 associate companies, 3 joint ventures and 2 joint operations as on March 31, 2020.

With a focus on engineering and tech enabled automotive solutions catering to the future of mobility, Tata Motors is India’s market leader in commercial vehicles and amongst the top four in the passenger vehicles market. With ‘Connecting Aspirations’ at the core of its brand promise, the company’s innovation efforts are focused to develop pioneering technologies that are sustainable as well as suited to evolving aspirations of the market and the customers. Tata Motors strives to bring new products that fire the imagination of GenNext customers, fueled by state of the art design and R&D centers located in India, UK, US, Italy and South Korea. Internationally, Tata commercial and passenger vehicles are marketed in countries, spread across Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South East Asia, South America, Australia, CIS, and Russia.

Dharmendra Pradhan Takes Over Minister Of Skill Development And Entrepreneurship; Rajeev Chandrasekhar Joins As Minister Of State

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan assumed charge of the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship as Cabinet Minister and Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, from Karnataka, took office as the Minister of State (MoS) of Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. Dr. Mahendra Nath Pandey, who was Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship before yesterday’s Cabinet reshuffle, was also present on the occasion and extended his best wishes to both minsters on taking office.

Shri Dharmendra Pradhan said he was committed to strengthen the skilling efforts of the ministry and equipping the youth with necessary skills to prepare them for Future of Work, and creating linkages between skilling and employment. He also extended his wishes to Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar on his assuming charge as MoS, and said he was looking forward to work together to give impetus to entrepreneurship and fulfil Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India the skill capital of the world.

Shri Rajeev Chandrasekhar said he was privileged and honoured to serve as MoS in the Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Ministry, adding he would work hard to realise the Prime Minister’s vision of a Digital, Skilled and New India.

ASUS And Flipkart Announce A Strategic Partnership For New Category Of Products

●   Partnership aims to enable and help millions of Indian customers to digitally access education, ecommerce, social interaction and work, with a new range of products that are designed to be Thoughtfully Simple yet highly affordable

●   First set of products under this partnership will be the launched on July 15, 2021 at 12 noon 

ASUS, the Taiwanese tech major, and Flipkart, India's home-grown e-commerce marketplace, today announced yet another strategic partnership for a new category of products.

The partnership will kick off with both companies announcing the launch of a new range of innovative products that are designed to be ‘Thoughtfully Simple’ yet highly affordable on July 15, 2021 at 12 noon.

The partnership with Flipkart is one of the major steps in a series of other strategic efforts by ASUS to deepen its commitment to the Indian market and serve the unmet needs of Indian consumers designed with ASUS’ world-class, in-house engineering, R&D and design resources.

Commenting on the announcement, Leon Yu, Regional Director, India and South Asia, ASUS said, “India has the stature of home market within ASUS and we are deeply committed to the needs of our Indian consumers and the Indian Market. To enable and help millions of our Indian customers to digitally access education, ecommerce, social interaction and work. Flipkart has been our long-term strategic partner to bring in path breaking innovations to the Indian market. We are very happy and strongly believe this collaboration will bring about a radical change in the digital lives of Indians.”

Commenting on the announcement, Ajay Veer Yadav, Senior Vice-President, Mobiles, Electronics and Large Appliances at Flipkart said, “As India's homegrown e-commerce marketplace, Flipkart continues to meet customers' evolving requirements with its widest selection of products and delivering it in a safe and hygienic manner across the country. In this endeavor, Asus has been a long-standing partner with its best-in-class technology solutions and I'm excited to take this partnership ahead with the upcoming launch of a new range of its offerings aimed at simplifying digital access for millions of Indians and I expect it to become a customer favorite.”  

Kindly refer this link to the announcement video - https://youtu.be/C9VLl90321E