New Nokia Phones Bring Technology That Is Built To Last, Together With An All-New Audio Portfolio

 * Finnish mobile company HMD Global introduces three new Nokia phones to its refreshed portfolio and significantly expands its audio accessory range

·         Nokia XR20:  Football legend Roberto Carlos and world champion freestyler Lisa Zimouche pair up to give the new life-proof Nokia XR20 its toughest test yet.

·         Nokia 6310: a new member to the Originals family, revamped for the modern day

·         Nokia C30: bigger and bolder in every direction, this C-series hero arrives with the largest screen and battery yet

·         Audio accessories: new Nokia audio accessories across four distinct new lines bring quality you can trust – Go, Micro, Comfort, and Clarity

·         Watch the ‘Toughest test’ here.

HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, today announces three new phones and a new audio portfolio. Built to survive anything life can throw at you, the Nokia XR20 can withstand much more than you’ll ever demand of it.[i] The Nokia C30, a hero device to the C-series, features the largest screen and battery yet. Nokia 6310 is a new member of the Originals family, a reimagined noughties classic. Today also marks the biggest Nokia accessory launch to date, with new lifestyle audio products streamlined into four distinct lines – Go, Micro, Comfort and Clarity.

Florian Seiche, CEO, HMD Global:

“We are tapping into consumer pain points around durability and longevity. We did a global trend report8 and found that 73% of consumers want to keep their phone for longer and would if their devices were maintained over time. At HMD, we are empowering people to avoid early device replacement and encouraging a more sustainable consumption through our longevity promises. We are delighted to announce the Nokia XR20 – a life-proof phone[ii] with our trademark sleek, Nordic design that we built for both consumers and enterprises. Today we also grow our refreshed X-series and C-series with two shining examples of what these ranges stand for. Our goal is to provide people with products they will love, trust and want to keep for longer.”

Built to withstand the test of life, the Nokia XR20 enhances the X-series

Extreme temperatures, 1.8m drops, 1h under water and more[iii], the new Nokia XR20 is built for conditions far harsher than the rough and tumble of everyday life. This life-proof phone[iv] is concealed in a sleek, timeless design. So, whilst you’re probably never going to stretch your phone to the extremes of its capabilities, you can be reassured that the Nokia XR20 can endure more than you’ll ever demand of it.

Featuring one of the strongest of screens for extra peace of mind: Corning® Gorilla® Glass Victus™ – it’s amongst the toughest of glass out there.[v] To test its durability, Brazilian football legend Roberto Carlos and female world champion freestyler Lisa Zimouche put the new Nokia XR20 through a series of tough tests. From dunking it in icy water to being kicked, flipped and spun screen-first across a concrete gravel football pitch.

Carlos even recreated his famous banana shot from the 1997 Brazil vs France match to test the device’s durability – three Nokia XR20s were positioned on a goal post for the football sensation to hit in a free kick shootout.

Roberto Carlos, Brazil World Cup winner and Real Madrid legend, said: “I’ve been asked to recreate my ’97 free kick many times over the last twenty years, but never like this before, so I had to accept the challenge. Surely a mobile phone couldn’t survive the wrath of a football. I didn’t think the Nokia XR20 could have withstood the power of my kick. I may not be professional anymore, but I know I still pack a punch, so it was an impressive result.”

Future-proof means freshness that is not just for the day you unbox your smartphone. In addition to the existing X-series longevity promises, the Nokia XR20 comes with four years of monthly security updates, and three years OS upgrades.

The Nokia XR20 has a reliable 48MP+13MP dual camera with ZEISS Optics, OZO spatial audio and innovative imaging solutions. The all-new SpeedWarp mode lets you capture a whole lot of adventure in a compact, exciting montage. Pushing the boundaries of the mid-range, it also comes with 5G speeds, 15W wireless charging and superior durability that you’ll love.

Nokia C30 is here to provide more room for your big ideas

Introducing two firsts to the Nokia smartphone portfolio, the new Nokia C30 is a hero of the popular C-series. It comes with the largest battery and biggest screen yet on a Nokia smartphone. The ever-increasing demand for larger screens[vi] sees the current 82% of consumers who are looking for smartphones between 6” and 7” in size grow to 96% by 2025. The huge 6.82” HD+ display on the new Nokia C30 is here to supply what fans have been asking for. 

Hard-working individuals and busy days ask for a battery that can keep up. On the Nokia C30, it’s been supersized to an impressive 6000 mAh, giving you enough energy to work up to three days on single charge – so you can upskill, stream, and connect to those that matter most. Complemented by the quality feel that only a truly durable build can provide. The Nokia C30 is wrapped in a sturdy polycarbonate shell that you can trust, giving you a device that will last. 

Awaken the noughties love with Nokia 6310

The newest member of the Originals family celebrates the iconic Nokia 6310 with a fresh new take. The Nokia 6310 is a classic reimagined for today’s connected user. Bringing advanced accessibility, optimised ergonomics, and battery for weeks, it honours everything that Nokia phones stand for. And yes – it still has Snake. With accessibility at its core, the refreshed larger push buttons and ample display make screen time more effortless and enjoyable. The new zoomed-in menus and larger font options improve readability and text messages can be listened to for ease of use.

New Nokia lifestyle audio accessories that people will love, trust, and keep for longer

Introducing a revamped Nokia audio portfolio, the new accessories bring fans reliable sound on the go. Streamlined into four new, distinct lines – Go, Micro, Comfort and Clarity – each range brings maximum value via unique propositions.

·         Go: ultra-high value products offering the highest quality at the lowest possible prices

·         Micro: meeting the demand for compact form factor

·         Comfort: a result of consumers seeking optimal comfort in wearables

·         Clarity: top-of-the-range quality earbuds integrating the latest tech

Alex Lambeek, Global Head of Accessories, HMD Global: “Much like our smartphones, the excellence in Nokia accessories is a result of industry-leading testing for quality. The invaluable insight from our Nokia smartphone community combined with regional insights across the globe, has allowed us to grow our ecosystem of companion products to an impressive portfolio. It’s supported by a network of strong partnerships like Binatone that allow us to provide the best for our growing fanbase. Inspired by nature and packaged in paper and soy-based ink to protect it, each new line delivers premium lifestyle experiences at accessible price points.”

Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Collaborates With Bahwan CyberTek To Accelerate Their Digital Transformation Journey

* By building Asset Management System for Mumbai Metro Line-3

Bahwan CyberTek (BCT) Group, a global provider of digital transformation solutions, was awarded a contract to build the Common Asset Management System (CAMS) for Mumbai Metro Line-3, by the Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL), the nodal agency responsible for the implementation of the MML-3 project in India. Bahwan CyberTek will provide the end-to-end design, implementation and support for CAMS, leveraging its expertise in delivering enterprise-class EAM solutions. The project was kicked off in the presence of Mr. Ranjit Singh Deol, IAS, Managing Director, MMRCL, and Mr. V.M. Muralidharan, Chief Operating Officer, Bahwan CyberTek.

Bahwan CyberTek will build an integrated CAMS to optimize processes, perform lifecycle cost monitoring and improve cost efficiency of MMRCL. The CAMS project is scheduled to be completed in 18 months, and BCT will deploy a dedicated team of technology experts, enterprise solution architects, and integration and quality assurance experts for the total project period of 4 years.

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The CAMS solution will help MMRCL manage different types of assets such as rolling stock, tracks, power supply systems, traction systems, signalling and control systems, platform screen doors, telecommunication systems, plants and equipment, automated fare collection systems, escalators, and lifts, tunnel ventilation systems, security systems, infrastructure, and related systems and electro-mechanical systems like fire alarms, domestic water, lightning, etc. through a single-window enterprise application.

The MML-3 project, a 33.5-kilometre-long corridor running along Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ, aims to decongest the traffic situation in Greater Mumbai. Apart from better connectivity, it will help reduce travel time, air & noise pollution and provide better safety & security for citizens.

Commenting on the partnership, Muralidharan said, “We’re happy to partner with MMRCL on the prestigious CAMS project. MML-3, which is expected to commute over 16 lakh people daily, is a massive project in terms of scale and application. Having executed large-scale EAM projects across the world, we understand the scale and volume of assets involved here. Our AI/ML-driven integrated asset management solutions are proven for keeping critical assets operating at maximum efficiency. We look forward to driving the same results here.”

About MMRCL

The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRC) is the nodal agency responsible for the implementation of the Mumbai Metro Line–3 (MML-3) project. It has been constituted as a JV of the Govt. of India (GOI) and the Government of Maharashtra (GOM) on a 50:50 sharing basis. MML-3 is the key project instated to improve the transportation scenario in Mumbai. The MML-3 project, which is a 33.5 km-long corridor running along Colaba-Bandra-SEEPZ, has been envisaged to decongest the traffic situation in Greater Mumbai. Estimated to be completed in June 2022, the project will have 27 stations and will connect six business districts, 30 educational institutes, 30 recreational facilities, and domestic as well as international airport terminals.

About Bahwan CyberTek

Established in 1999, Bahwan CyberTek (BCT) is a global provider of IP-based digital transformation solutions leveraging its portfolio of innovative IP in the areas of Digital Experience, Predictive Analytics, and Digital Journey Management across North America, the Middle East, Far East, Africa, and Asia. Driving innovation through outcome-based business models, proven and powerful IP solutions, BCT is a trusted partner for over 1000+ customers, including Fortune 500 companies. With strong capabilities in digital technologies, BCT has over 3,000 associates with technical and domain expertise, delivering solutions to the Oil & Gas, Telecom, Power, Government, Banking, Retail, and SCM / Logistics verticals. 

Lenskart Strengthens Presence In South India With 100th Store Launch In Bengaluru

* Aims to increase national footprint with 300 + stores this financial year

Lenskart, India’s fastest growing omnichannel eye-wear brand launched its 100th store in Bengaluru, Karnataka. The company recently concluded a total of $315mn transaction from global growth tech investors this month. With this, the company further plans to expand its retail footprint in the Southern region in the coming months.

Lenskart outlets in Bengaluru are spread across key locations such as Whitefield, HSR Layout, J P Nagar, Electronic City and more.  The stores are uniquely designed to offer seamless and enjoyable shopping experience to the customers operating in Bengaluru.

Commenting on the launch of the 100th store, Peyush Bansal, Founder and CEO of Lenskart said, “Lenskart believes that exclusive brand stores are a significant part of a brand’s growth strategy. With the launch of our 100th store, the company aims to make eye-wear accessible and available to all the consumers in the region and beyond. At Lenskart, our vision is to serve 50% of India over the next 2-3 years and Bengaluru is the first city we want to do it in. This 100th store takes us closer to this goal with approximately 30% Bangalore users wearing Lenskart, as per our internal estimates. The Bengaluru outlets have witnessed more than 50% year-on-year growth from FY17 to FY20 and we plan to expand our reach by adding 50 more stores in the near future. With the constant adoption and incorporation of technology into our omnichannel strategy, we have catered to the vision care demand within the country as well as abroad.”

Furthermore, “At Lenskart, despite the pandemic we have successfully provided about 2000 job opportunities at the new stores, with an average of 5 headcounts per new store. Additionally, we have witnessed 150% growth in our backend team providing newer opportunities across finance, legal amongst others.” added Peyush.

The vision of Lenskart is to grow exponentially in the coming 3-4 years and strengthen its presence nationally and globally. The brand aims to increase its national footprint with more than 300 stores during this financial year. Additionally, the brand is also looking at generating more employment opportunities and adopt policies for a diverse and exclusive workforce to maintain customer experience while bringing high-quality, variety along with robotic precision. Employee retention and safety being the primary motto, Lenskart has taken measures to ensure the well-being of its customers and people.

Lenskart has successfully served over 7 million customers annually through its omnichannel shopping experience, which spans online, mobile application, and 750+ omnichannel stores in 175 cities across the country.

ABOUT LENSKART:

Founded in 2010, Lenskart is India’s largest omni channel retailer and manufacturer of premium quality and stylish eyewear. With a unique click and mortar business, Lenskart is revolutionizing the eyewear industry by offering disruptive services like home eye check-up, 3D try-on, home trial and prioritising the consumer needs above all else. The company aims to provide every consumer access to high-quality glasses by eliminating middlepersons, using hi-tech robotic technology, and incorporating world-class designs into its products.

Sony Pictures Networks India Remodels Top-Level Positions As It Gears Up To Embrace SPN Vision 3.0

As SPN gears up to embrace its Vision 3.0, it has revamped its organisational structure, making several leadership changes. These changes are effective immediately.

Comments N.P. Singh, MD & CEO, SPN, “SPN has embarked on Vision 3.0 to create a future-ready organization based on a culture powered by corporate values and a management structure backed by an operating model that accelerates growth. All leadership changes announced today are reflective of that evolutionary intent.”

Rohit Gupta has transitioned from his role as Chief Revenue Officer – Ad Sales and International Business and taken on the responsibility of being SPN’s Advisor to the Management and the Board. Rohit’s efforts have contributed immeasurably to the organization over the last two decades, and we thank him for his tremendous contributions to the growth of our network. In this new role, Rohit will be advising senior management on industry trends, developments and work closely with the CEO on various industry issues that could positively impact the company’s strategy and growth.

Rajesh Kaul, in addition to his existing role as the Chief Revenue Officer – Distribution and Business Head – Sports, will take on charge of International Sales and will work in-collaboration with the Digital team to expand SPN’s brand presence and reach across the world. Neeraj Arora, currently heading International Sales will now be reporting directly to Rajesh Kaul.

Sandeep Mehrotra has been appointed Head - Ad Sales, Network Channels. With an illustrious career, spanning over two and a half decades, Sandeep has a proven record in driving revenues and delivering efficiencies to clients and businesses. Within SPN, he has moved multiple channels, regions and ranks and has invested his time in curating long-term client relationships with a unifocal thought of creating business solutions. In his new role, Sandeep will directly report to the CEO.

Danish Khan, Business Head – Sony Entertainment Television, Digital Business and StudioNext will take additional charge of Network Channels Licensing. This alignment will enable an end-to-end view of opportunities at play between channels and digital and thereby enable us in taking decisions, best suited for the network’s growth.

Tushar Shah, Business Head, English, Factual Entertainment & Sony AATH, takes on an additional role of the newly created position of Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for SPN. His expanded role will include taking the corporate brand to the consumer and furthering its reach besides managing his existing channel portfolio. 

Aditya Mehta, in addition to his current role of Corporate Strategy and Business Development, will spearhead the formation of Data Analytics CoE to strengthen SPN’s approach to being a data driven organization. He would also be responsible for Business Monetization which will leverage the power of data and act as a bridge between Digital & Linear revenue opportunities.

Nitin Nadkarni, Chief Finance Officer (CFO) will take additional charge of the Broadcast Operations and Network Engineering (B.O.N.E) department. Kingshuk Bhattacharya - Head, B.O.N.E. will now report to Nitin.

Comments Manu Wadhwa, CHRO at SPN, “The organization remodeling is a result of our constant focus to strengthen our talent and leadership capabilities and will ensure that we stay ahead of the curve in a dynamic media and entertainment industry.”

Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation, Japan.

SPN has several channels including Sony Entertainment Television (SET and SET HD), one of India's leading Hindi general entertainment television channels; MAX, India's premium Hindi movies and special events channel; MAX 2, another Hindi movie channel showcasing great India Cinema; MAX HD, a high definition Hindi movie channel airing premium quality films; WAH, the FTA channel for Hindi movies; SAB and SAB HD the family-oriented Hindi comedy entertainment channels; PAL, a genre leader in rural Hindi speaking markets (HSM) showcasing the best of Hindi general entertainment and Hindi movies from SPN’s content library; PIX and PIX HD, Sony BBC Earth and Sony BBC Earth HD, the premium factual entertainment channels, Sony AATH, the Bangla entertainment channel; YAY!, the kids entertainment channel; sports entertainment channels – SONY SIX, SONY SIX HD, SONY TEN 1,  SONY TEN 1 HD, SONY TEN 2, SONY TEN 2 HD, SONY TEN 3, SONY TEN 3 HD; SONY TEN 4, SONY TEN 4 HD; Sony मराठी, the Marathi general entertainment channel; SonyLIV - the digital entertainment VOD platform; and Studio NEXT the independent production venture for original content and IPs for TV and digital media. SPN reaches out to over 700 million viewers in India and is available in 167 countries.

The network is recognized as an employer of choice within and outside the media industry. SPN is a recipient of several awards, including India’s Best Companies to Work For 2020 by the Great Place to Work® Institute, India, ‘Aon Best Employers India’ awards in recognition of SPN’s unique workplace culture and exceptional people practices, consistently ranking amongst India’s Top 10 Companies with Best Health & Wellness Practices by SHRM & CGP Partners and listed by Working Mother & AVTAR as one of the 100 Best Companies for Women in India.

Sony Pictures Networks India Private Limited is in its 25th year of operations in India. It has a subsidiary, MSM-Worldwide Factual Media Private Limited and an affiliate, Bangla Entertainment Private Limited in India.

Symphony Limited Consolidated PAT ₹ 6 Crore In Q1 FY 2021-22

 Standalone sales is ₹ 104 cr. for Q1 21-22 vs. ₹ 40 cr. in Q1 20-21. Standalone PAT is ₹ 7 cr. for Q1 21-22 vs. ₹ 1 cr. in Q1 20-21. 

Consolidated sales is ₹ 229 cr. in Q1 21-22 from ₹ 154 cr. in Q1 20-21. Consolidated PAT is ₹ 6 cr. for Q1 21-22 vs. ₹ 2 cr. in Q1 20-21.  

However, the performance is substantially lower than the normal quarter due to restrictions imposed by Government on account of second wave of Covid-19 mainly in India and Australia which again struck in peak of summer. 

July 23, 2021: Mr. Nrupesh Shah, Executive Director of Symphony Ltd. has commented: 

The demand and sentiments were quite buoyant until middle of April 2021. However, the second wave of the Covid-19 has impacted the sales for the quarter.  

Outlook  

Having a premium brand with various path breaking models for household, commercial and industrial needs and being a market leader, we are quite optimistic for a growth and performance in medium to long term period that remains intact.  

HCL Technologies Selected As Strategic Launch Partner For Microsoft Cloud For Financial Services

HCL Technologies (HCL), a leading global technology company announced it was selected as a launch partner for Microsoft’s recently announced industry cloud – “Microsoft Cloud for Financial Services”.  

Microsoft Cloud for Financial Services brings together capabilities with multilayered security and comprehensive compliance coverage to deliver differentiated customer experiences, improve employee collaboration and productivity, manage risk and modernize core systems. 

“We partnered with Microsoft in this key initiative because they will enable our HCL Financial Services Ideapreneurs to incorporate their decades of domain expertise into a futuristic hyperscale foundation,” said Rahul Singh, President, HCL Financial Services. “What our clients gain is a synergistic co-innovation effect: Microsoft surfacing new capabilities and HCL building differentiating solutions with our clients and partners.” 

One key solution is HCL’s PowerBanking product, built to leverage all available capabilities of the Microsoft Cloud for Financial Services. It enables comprehensive scenarios for retail bank customer engagement. Building upon offerings such as this, HCL Microsoft Ecosystem Unit (HCL MEU) works with a set of clients in private preview to use the current and future reusable components designed for retail banking in new customer scenarios. 

Our strategic partners like HCL Technologies play a critical role in enabling the Microsoft Cloud for Financial Services and elevating the digital transformation journey for our customers,” said Bill Borden, Corporate Vice President of Worldwide Financial Services, Microsoft. “Banking customers working with HCL’s deep expertise in retail banking can take advantage of a tailored cloud solution built on Microsoft’s trusted platform with robust security and compliance to speed time to value while unlocking innovation for sustainable growth.” 

“Similar to our Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare initiative, we used our long-standing relationship with Microsoft and our global Financial Services Industry capability to rally support and engage across HCL service lines,” said Kalyan Kumar, Chief Technology Officer and Head of Ecosystems for HCL Technologies. “In HCL, Microsoft has a comprehensive co-innovation technology partner that can help realize the product’s true and vision of the Microsoft Cloud for Financial Services.” 

SBI General Insurance Launches Fastlane Claim Settlement Enabling Quicker Motor Claim Settlement

To give an optimal claim settlement experience to its customers, SBI General Insurance, one of India’s leading general insurers, has introduced the “Fastlane Claim Settlement” as a value-add service to its motor insurance customers. As a part of this value-add service, customers have the option of getting their small value motor insurance claims settled almost instantly. This will enhance the customer experience with the settlement time reducing to a few minutes. 

Speaking on the launch, Mr. Atul Deshpande, Head Claims and Digital, SBI General Insuranceshares, “At SBI General, we have always focused on delivering customer-centric solutions which will ultimately transform the customer satisfaction to customer delight. We strongly believe that technology and digital solutions can play an integral role in ramping up the customer experience. With Fastlane Claim Settlement, we aim to lower the turn-around time for settling motor vehicle claims, thereby reducing the need for physical inspection, documentation and query management.”  

Fastlane Claim Settlement (FCS) is one more example by SBI General living upto the brand promise of Suraksha aur Bharosa dono to their customers.  

About SBI General Insurance Company Limited:  

SBI General is one of the fastest growing private general insurance companies, with the strong parentage of SBI, we, at SBI General Insurance, are committed to carry forward the legacy of trust and security; and have a vision is to become the most trusted general insurer for a transforming India. 

Ever since our establishment in 2009, from 17 branches in 2011, we have expanded our presence to over 137 branches pan-India. Till date, we have served around 8.7 crore customers.  

We follow a robust multi-distribution model encompassing Bancassurance, Agency, Broking and Retail Direct Channels. On the distribution network front, we have strong distribution partners adding up our reach to every nook and corner of India, with SBI’s over 22000 branch network, Agents, other financial, OEM and digital partners.  

We currently serve three key customer segments viz. - Retail Segment (catering to Individual & Families), Corporate Segment (catering mid to large size companies) and SME Segment; and are future-ready to serve the growing needs of Indians with new age-processes and services at affordable prices.  

SBI General Insurance closed the financial year 2020-21 with a Gross Written Premium (GWP) of Rs. 8312 crore with a growth of 22% and net profit of the Company grew by 32%. The company has shown steady growth for the past 4 years, while maintaining positive track record of underwriting.