Airtel Launches Xstream Premium – India’s Largest Collection Of Entertainment Content In A Single App

* In an industry first, Airtel Xstream Premium to aggregate content from 15 leading Video Apps

* with a single login, single search and single subscription at an introductory price of Rs 149* per month only

* Exclusively available to Airtel customers for viewing across all screens (TV, Smartphone, Tablets and PC)

Bharti Airtel (“Airtel”), India’s premier communications solutions provider, today took a giant leap towards democratizing and growing the Digital Entertainment ecosystem in India with the launch of its new video streaming service - Airtel Xstream Premium.

According to Media Partners Asia, by 2025, India’s OTT subscription market is expected to grow to $2 billion from the current $500 million. This will be led by 3X growth in subscriptions to appx 165 mn. A large proportion of these new subscriptions will come from new users from tier 2/3 markets. A number of high quality content houses have launched their OTT apps to tap into this opportunity, but are facing pricing and distribution challenges.

For the customers today, dozens of OTT entertainment app options are available to choose from; which are offering them the latest content. However, customers end up managing multiple apps and subscriptions simultaneously.

Airtel Xstream Premium launch, unlocks the exciting world of Video Streaming entertainment, for India’s growing tribe of digitally connected customers, with its latest launch addressing just what they wanted.

Firstly, it aggregates content from 15 Indian and global video OTT’s in one app. Customers will get access to one of the largest catalogue of over 10,500 movies & shows plus LIVE channels from SonyLIV, ErosNow, Lionsgate Play, Hoichoi, ManoramaMax, Shemaroo, Ultra, HungamaPlay, EPICon, Docubay, DivoTV, Klikk, Nammaflix, Dollywood, Shorts TV on Airtel Xstream Premium.

Secondly, it offers a great experience with a single app, single subscription, single sign-in, unified content search and AI driven personalized curation for each user. Users can access Airtel Xstream Premium across Mobiles, Tablets, Laptops through the app or web and on the TV through the Xstream set-top-box.  

All of this content is available exclusively to Airtel customers at an attractive price of just Rs. 149*per month.

For the content developers, this provides an opportunity to build distribution into the emerging market with Airtel’s scale and digital distribution capabilities.

Commenting on the launch Adarsh Nair, CEO - Airtel Digital said: “Airtel Xstream Premium is a game changing innovation to democratize OTT content in India by solving the key challenges of content discovery, affordability and distribution. As a unified digital platform, it’s a win-win proposition for customers and OTT players alike as we begin an exciting journey to make digital entertainment mainstream in India.” 

Airtel is targeting 20 million subscriptions through this disruptive offering and is collaborating with many more OTT players to make Airtel Xstream Premium the go to destination for digital entertainment in India.

Manish Aggarwal, Head - Growth and Monetization, SonyLIV, said: “We are thrilled to join forces with Airtel Xstream to accelerate India’s video OTT ecosystem. Our partnership with Airtel Xstream will bring premium content – from Originals, Movies, Sports and Sony India network content in all the leading languages and top shows from Hollywood to over 340M Airtel customers. SonyLIV’s rich content library coupled with Airtel Xstream’s deep distribution reach and massive scale capabilities make it for a perfect partnership for both sides and we look forward to a long and successful association”

Soumya Mukherjee, CEO, Hoichoi, said: “Hoichoi has always been committed to making its content available to a wider audience base. Airtel, being one of the most widely used network, with a similar aim of serving people from all corners of the country, makes this partnership a truly dynamic one. This will enable Hoichoi to penetrate deeper into the Tier - II and Tier - III cities as this collaboration will provide the Airtel users with a Hoichoi subscription bundled with an attractive Airtel recharge pack."

Ali Hussein, Chief Executive Officer, Eros Now, said: “Eros Now is a mass market consumer proposition with thousands of movies, original series, music videos, short form content and more in multiple languages. This symbiotic partnership with Airtel Xstream will further accelerate Eros Now’s adoption in India and allow an even larger number of video users to access our popular and engaging content. I am confident that consumers will enjoy the experience of accessing the best of entertainment and internet on a single platform.”

About Airtel                                                                                

Headquartered in India, Airtel is a global communications solutions provider with over 480 Mn customers in 17 countries across South Asia and Africa. The company ranks amongst the top three mobile operators globally and its networks cover over two billion people. Airtel is India’s largest integrated communications solutions provider and the second largest mobile operator in Africa. Airtel’s retail portfolio includes high speed 4G/4.5G mobile broadband, Airtel Xstream Fiber that promises speeds up to 1 Gbps with convergence across linear and on-demand entertainment, streaming services spanning music and video, digital payments and financial services. For enterprise customers, Airtel offers a gamut of solutions that includes secure connectivity, cloud and data centre services, cyber security, IoT, Ad Tech and cloud based communication. For more details visit www.airtel.com  

Pre-Order To Get The New All-Rounder OPPO Reno7 5G Priced At INR 28,999

OPPO, the leading global smart device brand, will start accepting pre-orders on Feb 11, 2022 for its Reno7 5G smartphone at OPPO E-Store and Flipkart. The smartphone is priced at INR 28,999.

The Reno7 5G comes with the MediaTek Dimensity 900 SoC, 4500mAh battery, 65W SUPERVOOC fast charging with 256GB storage, 8GB RAM, and proprietary RAM Expansion technology. The Reno7 5G can be fully charged in 31 minutes, and you can get up to two hours of gaming with just five minutes of charging. The device also has an updated HyperBoost system optimizer that balances power consumption for enhanced performance and reduced battery consumption.

For enhanced gaming, the OPPO Reno7 boasts customized features like Quick Start-up that keeps games active in the background so the users can resume gaming with just one click. Features like Ultra Touch Response increase the touch sampling rate up to 1000Hz while AI Frame Rate Stabilizer ensures steady frame rates for smoother gameplay. Reno7 5G is the first series of smartphones to include the new ColorOS 12.

The Reno7 5G brings DSLR-like professional imaging and videography experience to a smartphone with its 64MP AI triple-camera setup and advanced AI capabilities such as its newly-introduced Portrait Mode, updated Bokeh Flare Portrait Video with cinematic Bokeh flare effect, and the upgraded AI Highlight Video.

The rear surface of the Reno7 5G sports an OPPO Glow finish—along with Laser Direct Imaging (LDI) technology—which gives the surface a premium glossy-matt finish that is fingerprint-resistant and scratch proof. The device weighs just 173g; is 7.81mm thin and is available in two colour variants, Startrails Blue and Starry Black. 

OFFERS

Offline

•        The new OPPO Reno7 5G will be available with attractive schemes and offers. Customers can avail of no-cost EMI for up to 6 months and 10% Cashback (up to INR 2899) on ICICI Bank, Kotak Bank, Standard Chartered, IDFC First Bank, Bank of Baroda Credit/ Debit Cards and many more.

•        Long tenure EMI schemes are also available from all leading financiers. Customers can also get up to INR 2000 exchange bonus for any smartphone brand and an INR 1000 extra exchange bonus on OPPO devices

•        Complete damage protection is also being offered for 180 days, applicable exclusively for loyal OPPO users

•        Customers will also receive an assured buyback offer of up to 70% via OPPO Upgrade if a user wishes to return their handset within 12 months

Online

·         Customers can get their hands on an OPPO Power bank at INR 1 and as a part of the introductory offer

·         Customers can also get M32 Bluetooth neckband at INR 1399

·         Customers can avail of no-cost EMI for up to 6 months & instant discounts up to INR 3000 on Axis Bank, Standard Chartered, Yes Bank and Bank of Baroda Credit Cards/ Debit Cards

·         Credit card EMI up to 5% instant discount on HDFC Credit Card/ Debit Cards

·         An exchange bonus of up to INR 3000 and complete damage protection of 180 days is also available for loyal OPPO users

National Skill Development Corporation & Common Services Centers Sign MoU For Delivery Of Services To Accelerate Development

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Common Services Centers today to collaborate for the delivery of services related to various skill development programmes to youth in rural and remote areas of the country under the Skill India initiative.

Under the partnership, CSCs at the village level will act as a Skill Desk, creating awareness about the various available skill development programmes. Registrations of the candidates will be carried out under the available programme for skill development training, along with Aadhaar seeding of  candidates and certificate distribution.

Ved Mani Tiwari, Chief Operating Officer, National Skill Development Corporation said, “Through CSC, NSDC will be able to identify skill seekers at the grassroot level and connect them with the right skilling opportunities in the ecosystem. This strategic partnership will help NSDC leverage the database and analytics of CSC and plan intended skilling for the youth who aspire to be skilled.” 

Dr. Dinesh Kumar Tyagi, Managing Director, CSC SPV said, “The association with NSDC will be pathbreaking as it will allow the Village Level Entrepreneurs managing the CSCs to identify the candidates, help them in registration, link them with training providers, thereby fulfilling the aspirations of large number of rural youth interested in upskilling or enhancing employment opportunities.”

About National Skill Development Corporation 

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), under the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Government of India, is a unique Public Private Partnership (PPP) that aims to catalyse the creation of large and quality vocational training ecosystem in India. Since inception in 2010, NSDC has trained over 3 crore people through its collaboration with 600+ training partners and over 11,000 training centres spread across 600+ districts in the country. NSDC has established 36 Sector Skill Councils (SSCs) and implements the Government’s flagship skill development schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Kendra (PMKK), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS), among others.

About CSC e-Governance Services India Ltd.

Common Service Centres (CSCs) scheme is one of the mission-mode projects under the Digital India Programme. CSCs are the access points for delivery of essential public utility services, social welfare schemes, healthcare, financial, education and agriculture services, apart from a host of B2C (business-to-consumer) services to citizens in rural and remote areas of the country. It is a pan-India network catering to the regional, geographic, linguistic and cultural diversity of the country, thus enabling the Government’s mandate of a socially, financially and digitally inclusive society.

Lam Research Introduces Groundbreaking Suite Of Selective Etch Tools To Accelerate Chipmakers’ 3D Roadmaps

* New Portfolio Leapfrogs the Competition with Innovative Etch Techniques and Chemistries to Support Development of Advanced Logic and Memory Solutions

Lam Research Corp. (NASDAQ: LRCX) today announced a new suite of selective etch products that apply breakthrough wafer fabrication techniques and novel chemistries to support chipmakers in the development of gate-all-around (GAA) transistor structures. Composed of three new products – Argos®, Prevos™ and Selis® – Lam’s selective etch portfolio provides a powerful advantage in the design and manufacture of advanced logic and memory semiconductor solutions.

As modern technologies and devices continue to evolve, the need for greater device density for improved performance and efficiency increases. To keep pace with Moore’s Law, chipmakers are now developing transistor structures vertically – an exceptionally complex process that requires ultra-high selectivity, precision etching and uniform isotropic removal of material without modifying or causing damage to other critical material layers.

Lam’s selective etch solutions provide the ultra-high, tunable selectivity and damage-free material removal required to support advanced logic nanosheet or nanowire formation, enabling chipmakers to make the next evolutionary leap from planar to three-dimensional structures for DRAM as it reaches its planar scaling limit.

Developed in collaboration with the world’s most innovative logic and foundry chipmakers, Lam’s selective etch products are already being used in the fabs of industry leaders like Samsung Electronics to support nearly a dozen critical steps in the advanced logic wafer development process.

“The semiconductor industry is continuously driven toward more powerful and faster device capability. As the density and complexity of the devices have been increasing significantly, selective etch technology is critical to manufacturing our most advanced logic device,” said Dr. Keun Hee Bai, Master of Semiconductor R&D Center at Samsung. “As global demand for Samsung’s technologies continues to soar, we rely on the extensive innovation and capabilities of selective etch to bolster production and accelerate our logic device roadmap toward advanced logic GAA and beyond.”

The Lam selective etch portfolio is composed of three new tools: 

Argos, with revolutionary MARS (Metastable Activated Radical Source)

technology, selectively modifies and decontaminates wafer surfaces. Its groundbreaking treatment and conditioning capabilities enable chipmakers to treat wafer surfaces precisely, optimizing them for peak performance.

Prevos enables atomic layer precision, ultra-high selectivity etching for oxide, silicon, and metal by combining novel chemistries and innovative vapor technology with agile temperature control. Prevos leverages a new proprietary chemical technology solution developed by Lam; additional chemistries can be added to support chipmakers’ production needs.  

Selis uniquely employs both radical and thermal etch capabilities to enable ultra-high selective etching with uniform top to bottom process control without causing damage to the wafer structure.

Prevos and Selis can also be delivered as a single, integrated tool to provide unique multi-layer selective etching, improved queue-time control, and maximum production flexibility.

"Lam Research is driving the wafer fabrication advancements needed to support the chip industry's move to 3D architectures and make the next generation of digital technologies a reality," said Tim Archer, president and chief executive officer at Lam Research. "For more than 40 years, Lam has led the industry in etch innovation. We are proud to continue that tradition with the delivery of the most cutting-edge suite of selective etch solutions for advanced logic and memory available in the market today."

India's first 100% Project-Based Learning School Tapas Making Learning Meaningful, Enjoyable And Relevant

Providing first-of-its-kind project-based learning, tailored to suit the needs and skill sets of learners, Tapas? India's first  100% project-based learning school is making learning meaningful, enjoyable and relevant for students. The students here are presented with real world problems and challenges, and are given a chance to solve them on their own to make studying more fun and contextual as well. This method also helps them to prepare for the future challenges. At the heart of this project-based learning approach is the Cambridge Syllabus imparting STEAM education. The syllabus is customised by the educationists at Tapas to make it more interconnected and holistic.

"We intend to provide students an active form of learning where they can learn by doing activities which are enjoyable and engaging. We have kept the learning format dynamic so that students can acquire real-world knowledge through active exploration. The activity-based learning helps students to learn from  the little things around them. These simple little experiences and the interactions between students, facilitators and industry experts help to shape their personalities for the future. This will help them become global and digital citizens of tomorrow," said Preethi Vickram – Founder – Tapas

The unique way of learning at Tapas helps students to move away from the traditional  'textbook rote learning' and 'sage on a stage' methods of teaching and learning. It also introduces students  to masterclasses on various topics throughout the academic year. These not only help students to understand difficult concepts but also help to pick up a lot of real-world skill sets 

Moreover, putting the focus back on value-based learning, Tapas is also making efforts to encourage students to become contributing citizens and not just consumers. Learning about and practicing sustainability is at the core of the value-based learning here. The school believes it will help them to develop skills and habits that are most important for success in life. Value-based learning coupled with inspiration from Indic wisdom offers students an understanding of life and the greater concepts at play. It provides answers on how to live a healthy life, how to be happy, and how to deal with difficult situations in life. This enables students to make better decisions in their lives when they are faced with difficult choices.

Budget Boost For India’s Manufacturing Sector Pushes Up Demand For Industrial Machinery By 83%: JD Mart Consumer Insights

 

* Demand for industrial machinery in Tier-II is now almost at par with Tier-I

* Searches for industrial electrical equipment saw a spike of 30%

* Indore and Coimbatore leading demand growth among Tier-II cities

With the union budget providing impetus towards promoting India as an industrial hub for the world, there was a significant uptick in demand for industrial machinery and industrial electrical equipment on JD Mart.

The surge in demand also comes on the back of rapid strides made by India’s manufacturing sector, which has grown the fastest in 10 months in November 2021. This has increased searches across a wide range of categories on JD Mart, India’s latest B2B platform by Just Dial.

JD Mart Consumer Insights suggests that YOY searches for industrial machinery went up by 83% on the platform while that for industrial electrical equipment saw a 25% surge. What was encouraging was that Tier-II towns and cities saw a high demand growth rate for industrial machinery, almost at par with Tier-I.

Commenting on the trends, Mr. Prasun Kumar, CMO, Just Dial, said: “The latest union budget has provided a much-needed fillip for India’s manufacturing sector. Over the last 10-12 months, manufacturing activities have ramped up across the country and hence, we are witnessing a sharp rise in demand for a host of B2B categories for industrial usage on JD Mart. It is interesting to note that the demand growth rate in Tier-II cities is at par with that of Tier-I when it comes to industrial machinery. This augurs well for the MSME sector across the country as we partner them in their growth journey.” 

Across Tier-I cities, demand for industrial machinery saw a spike of 68%, industrial electrical equipment by 30%, while that for industrial and engineering spare parts saw a marginal uptick of 3%. Among Tier-II towns and cities, searches for industrial machinery grew by 64%, electrical equipment by 20% but that for engineering spare parts remained stable.

For industrial machinery, maximum demand was generated from Delhi with Mumbai and Pune in the second and third place, respectively. Among Tier-II cities, Coimbatore, Ludhiana, Indore, Nagpur, Patna, and Guwahati were the top-5 Tier-II cities that saw maximum traction. 

For electrical equipment, Delhi saw maximum demand among Tier-I cities while Hyderabad and Mumbai made up the top-3. Among Tier-II, Ranchi, Agra, Surat, Jammu, and Guwahati were the top-5 cities that generated maximum demand. 

Demand for industrial and engineering spare parts also saw a rise with Hyderabad, Delhi, and Bangalore being the top-3 Tier-I cities with maximum searches. Among Tier-II, Indore, Jaipur, Coimbatore, Rajkot, and Bhopal were the top-5 cities that generated maximum demand for spare parts.

Modicare Limited Forays Into Consumer Durables With The Launch Of Modicare Cuckoo Air Purifier

Modicare Limited, one of India’s leading direct selling companies, has strengthened its commitment towards providing world class products to customers with the launch of an all-new Air Purifier. The Air Purifier has been launched in collaboration with Cuckoo, Korea’s No. 1 leading kitchen and living appliances brand. The launch marks Modicare’s foray into consumer durables, further strengthening the brand’s 25 year legacy.

Modicare Cuckoo Air Purifier comes with three levels of filtration to enable its users to breathe air as pure as nature throughout the day. First level of filtration is the Pre-Filter which gets rid of dust and hair, while the second layer, True HEPA Filter, eliminates up to 99.9% airborne particles and allergens. The third level of filtration is the Active Carbon Filter which fights off unpleasant odours and VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). The Modicare Cuckoo Air Purifier is also equipped with UV LED which produces UV-C type rays, neutralizing airborne bacteria and viruses.  With this launch, Modicare seeks to provide easy access to clean and fresh air to Indians, besides consolidating its presence in the consumer durable space altogether.

Link to video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ESTazB6n0U

Announcing the launch, Mr. Samir Modi, Founder and Managing Director, Modicare Limited said, “Pollution is a major problem for India, and reports suggest that during 2019, we had about 1.7Mn premature deaths. Over the years, Wellness has been a key focus for us and we have developed products that have made a difference in consumer’s lives. Keeping up with our commitment of helping consumers lead a healthier lifestyle, we have launched a world-class Air-Purifier in partnership with Cuckoo, Korea’s No.1 kitchen and living appliances brand.  With our base of over 53 lakh direct sellers, we aim at reaching the last-mile consumer and help safeguard their health.  The KK Modi Group’s philosophy of people, planet and technology has been at core of what we do. As a company that cares, Modicare will continue developing our Well Range to further drive our focus to bring enhanced Wellness products to our consumers.”

Modicare Cuckoo Air Purifier is portable with built-in handle, and has intuitive control panel, child lock, automatic fan speed control. It has Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) of 329.23 m3/hr, covering an area up to 550 square feet. The Air-Purifier comes with Air Quality Sensor indicating real time air quality with 3-coloured LED lighting. The blue light is indicative of Best Air Quality while yellow light and red light indicate Normal Air Quality and Poor Air Quality. It is also equipped with Filter Change Indicator which alerts when filter needs to be changed. Depending upon usage and environmental conditions one filter can last up to 2 years

Priced at INR 18,999 /-, the air purifier is available across the country through Modicare consultants and comes with 3 years warranty.

About Modicare:

Modicare is one of India’s leading Direct Selling Companies and the pioneer of Direct Selling industry in India. This year is even more special as Modicare celebrates its 25th Anniversary. Modicare has also been ranked 5th among India’s 50 Great Mid-size Workplaces by Great Place to Work® Institute for second consecutive year. Great Place to Work® Institute has also ranked Modicare Limited number 30th amongst the top 100 Best Small & Medium Workplaces in Asia.

Today, the company has over 53 Lakh Direct Sellers and 2,00,000+ new Direct Sellers are joining each month. Modicare offers over 350 products, 700+ SKUs across 14 categories - Personal Care, Wellness, Consumer Durables, Skin Care, Colour Cosmetics, Food & Beverage, Homecare, Auto Care, Laundry Care, Technology, Jewellery, Watches, Divine, and Agriculture. It has a national presence through its 12000+ Distribution Points and 55 Modicare Centres.