Hitachi Vantara Expands Outcome-Based Service-Level Agreements And Simplified Consumption Models Through Hitachi EverFlex

New SLAs, combined with flexible consumption models, improve cost predictability, reduce infrastructure acquisition barriers, and accelerate private and hybrid cloud modernization

Hitachi Vantara, the data storage, infrastructure and hybrid cloud management subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd. (TSE: 6501), today announced enhanced capabilities for Hitachi EverFlex, including new service-level agreements (SLAs), along with simplified purchasing and management models that make it easier for organizations to plan, acquire, operate and scale infrastructure with greater predictability. This flexible approach supports a broader shift toward standardized, services-based data platform acquisition that enables customers to assume greater control over their infrastructure costs, gain more flexibility over how their infrastructure is managed to save staff time and resources, and improve their ability to scale up without over-provisioning.

For more information about Hitachi EverFlex and related service-level commitments, visit: https://www.hitachivantara.com/en-us/services/infrastructure-as-a-service

As organizations expand hybrid cloud environments and data-intensive workloads for the AI age, how they acquire, deploy and manage infrastructure is becoming a central component of enterprise IT strategy. According to Gartner®, by 2029, consumption-based storage as a service (STaaS) will replace 50% of on-premises enterprise storage and data services infrastructure capital expenditure (CapEx), an increase from 15% in early 2025. This growth isn’t surprising, considering a recent survey found that infrastructure complexity is growing rapidly, with 84% of organizations across the U.S. and Canada reporting it is increasing too quickly to manage.

Hitachi EverFlex, a flexible consumption model for enterprise data infrastructure, gives customers more choice in how they buy, pay for and operate infrastructure, spanning purchase, lease, usage-based subscription and fully managed infrastructure-as-a-service models. As part of the expanded offerings, the company is introducing new CapEx options, defined service commitments and flexible payment and service options that enable customers to plan, deploy and expand their data capacity and management services when they need it, and in the form they want it – providing a repeatable and scalable operating framework. This platform-plus-services approach allows customers to align costs to usage and choose how much operational responsibility they retain or offload.

“All enterprises today are facing similar challenges: Data volumes are accelerating, cyber threats are increasing and regulatory requirements around data sovereignty and compliance are becoming stricter,” said Jeb Horton, senior vice president of global services at Hitachi Vantara. “Rather than a rip-and-replace approach, which can be time consuming and expensive, Hitachi EverFlex addresses those challenges through new SLAs and flexible acquisition models that fully leverage CapEx and OpEx budgets, help guarantee continuous availability and provide greater assurance around cost control while maintaining the performance required to support mission-critical and data-intensive workloads.”

The enhancements to Hitachi EverFlex focus on improving simplicity, accountability and operational consistency across the lifecycle:

Mission-critical guarantees with new contractual SLAs: Additional contractual SLAs provide defined outcomes across key operational areas, helping organizations run essential workloads with greater confidence and predictability. These commitments span areas such as availability, performance, optimization and recovery, including guarantees designed to support continuous data availability for critical workloads and service commitments that can be aligned to specific customer operating requirements.

Standardized consumption and expansion models: Hitachi EverFlex features extended consumption models that allow customers to pay for only the infrastructure they need, making it easier to align infrastructure investments with actual usage while improving financial predictability and optimizing procurement, including flexible CapEx and OpEx options.

Improved visibility and control across environments: A unified experience, including VSP 360, a common control plane for usage visibility and SLA monitoring for Hitachi Vantara’s Virtual Storage Platform One (VSP One) data platform, enables customers to monitor usage, track service levels and gain operational insight to support governance and decision-making.

Hitachi Vantara supports a broad range of enterprise use cases, providing a flexible acquisition model for how organizations deploy and manage infrastructure. This includes hybrid cloud modernization and data-driven AI applications, helping organizations reduce overprovisioning, improve utilization and accelerate time to value. Hitachi EverFlex is designed to support both current infrastructure needs and future growth, enabling organizations to scale resources as business demands evolve without adding operational complexity.

To learn more about Hitachi EverFlex, click here: https://www.hitachivantara.com/en-us/services/infrastructure-as-a-service.

About Hitachi Vantara

Hitachi Vantara is transforming the way data fuels innovation. A wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi Ltd., Hitachi Vantara provides the data foundation the world’s leading innovators rely on. Through data storage, infrastructure systems, cloud management and digital expertise, the company helps customers build the foundation for sustainable business growth. To learn more, visit www.hitachivantara.com.

About Hitachi, Ltd.

Through its Social Innovation Business (SIB) that brings together IT, OT (Operational Technology) and products, Hitachi aims to be a global leader in continuously transforming social infrastructure through digital, contributing to a harmonized society where the environment, wellbeing, and economic growth are in balance. Hitachi operates worldwide across four sectors – Digital Systems & Services, Energy, Mobility, and Connective Industries – as well as a Strategic SIB Business Unit focused on new growth areas. With Lumada at its core, Hitachi creates value by combining data, technology and domain knowledge to solve customer and social challenges. Revenues for FY2025 (ended March 31, 2026) totaled 10,586.7 billion yen, with 606 consolidated subsidiaries and approximately 290,000 employees worldwide. Visit us at www.hitachi.com.

HITACHI is a trademark or registered trademark of Hitachi, Ltd. All other trademarks, service marks, and company names are properties of their respective owners.

Coca-Cola And Google Reimagine The Coke Break With Gemini Experiences

Coca-Cola and Google Gemini Bring Storytelling, Music, and AI Together with “Coca-Cola Halftime Surprise”

Coca-Cola India is making every pause a lot more fun with the launch of “Coca-Cola Halftime Surprise”, a new AI-powered experience developed in collaboration with Google and built with Google Gemini. Bringing together two iconic labels, the experience unlocks three distinct AI-led journeys designed to turn everyday Coke breaks into playful moments of surprise, creativity, and self-expression.

Inspired by Coca-Cola’s global “Halftime” philosophy, consumers can scan the QR code on any special Coca-Cola pack to step into imaginative new worlds. By unlocking one of three unique labels, users enter a themed, gamified interface on Google Gemini where quick taps, swipes, and personality-led inputs turn an everyday pause into a personalized journey of self-expression.

Using Gemini’s Canvas feature, new creative experiences unfold with every interaction across cinematic comic-strip universes, imagined timelines, and music-inspired alter egos. One moment could place consumers inside dramatic visual narratives with evolving characters and aesthetics, while another could transport them across prehistoric eras with dinosaurs, medieval castles, or futuristic realities imagined through AI-powered creativity. Alongside uniquely generated creations, consumers will also get the chance to unlock rewards and win vouchers.

To step into these worlds, consumers can scan a pack and choose from three distinct adventures:

Be a Rockstar: Users tap through a nostalgic jukebox interface to turn a selfie into a personalized album cover with custom tracks, unlocking a chance to win concert tickets.

Be a Movie Star: Users swipe through a movie vending machine interface to star as the main character of a custom six-panel comic strip, unlocking a chance to win movie vouchers.

Travel Through Time: Users pilot a digital time machine to build an aesthetic, vision-board style collage around their selfie, unlocking a chance to win flight and hotel vouchers.

Greishma Singh, Vice President, Marketing, Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia said, “For Gen Z consumers today, self-expression is fluid, visual, and deeply shaped by music and digital culture. With Coca-Cola Halftime Surprise, we wanted to reimagine the Coke pause as something more participative, playful, and personal to them. What makes this especially exciting is that every single interaction is unique with the help of Google Gemini. Whether you are creating your own comic strip, time-travelling to a world only AI can take you to, or designing your album cover, the experience feels entirely yours. The collaboration with Google brings together creativity and technology in a way that transforms a simple scan on a Coca-Cola pack into a moment of genuine discovery.”

Shekar Khosla, VP - Marketing at Google India, said: “Brand engagement is most memorable when it is interactive, personal, and fun. We're glad to collaborate with Coca-Cola so that Coca-Cola Halftime Surprise gives people an engaging way to play, create, and share using Google Gemini. What makes this engagement so exciting is the ability to generate truly personalized experiences. With Gemini as a creative companion, people can seamlessly think up new visual narratives and turn everyday moments into a fun showcase of self-expression.”

The launch builds on the success of Festicons, Coca-Cola’s generative AI-led activation during Diwali that enabled consumers to create personalized festive expressions at scale. With Coca-Cola Halftime Surprise, Coca-Cola India takes that spirit of creativity into an always-on experience designed to make everyday moments more expressive, interactive, and full of surprise.

About The Coca‑Cola Company

The Coca‑Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories. Our company’s purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference. We sell multiple billion-dollar brands across several beverage categories worldwide. Our portfolio of sparkling soft drink brands includes Coca‑Cola, Sprite and Fanta. Our water, sports, coffee and tea brands include Dasani, smartwater, vitaminwater, Topo Chico, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Fuze Tea, Gold Peak and Ayataka. Our juice, value-added dairy and plant-based beverage brands include Minute Maid, Simply, innocent, Del Valle, fairlife and AdeS. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We seek to positively impact people’s lives, communities and the planet through water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable sourcing practices and carbon emissions reductions across our value chain. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.  

ROHM PLECS Simulator Now Available For Rapid Power Electronics Circuit Verification

ROHM has released the ROHM PLECS Simulator on ROHM’s official website. This simulation tool enables designers of power electronics circuits and system designers to rapidly simulate the operation of ROHM’s power devices online. The tool is based on the PLECS® simulation software.

In circuit design, particularly for power electronics circuits, simulation is utilized as an alternative to costly and time-consuming hardware prototyping. In 2020, ROHM launched the ROHM Solution Simulator, which enables the simultaneous verification of power device and IC products, and has since continued to expand its range of topologies and device models. Owing to features such as the provision of high precision SPICE models, the tool has been highly regarded for its ability to reproduce waveforms closely resembling those of actual hardware with a high degree of accuracy. However, in the early stages of development, there was a demand to quickly select the optimal power device based on loss and thermal verification.

In response to this demand, ROHM has launched the ROHM PLECS Simulator, which specializes in loss and thermal calculations. This allows users to simulate power loss and temperature rise in a matter of seconds to minutes by selecting a power electronics circuit topology from a list on the website and choosing from the various power devices offered by ROHM. This significantly reduces the time and effort required for optimal device selection during the early stages of circuit design. Twenty different topologies are already available, and ROHM plans to expand the range of device models and topologies in the future, including SiC devices, IGBTs and power modules.
 

By utilizing the ROHM PLECS Simulator for rapid initial analysis using PLECS® and the detailed, high-precision verification for which the ‘ROHM Solution Simulator’ is renowned, and by selecting the appropriate tool according to the development phase, it is possible to perform end-to-end simulation, ranging from design loss and thermal verification to waveform checking.

This simulator is available free of charge simply by registering as a user on the ROHM website. In addition, the dedicated page provides access to the simulator as well as the information required for its use (user manual, application notes explaining circuit operation).

Terminology

PLECS®

A simulator for power electronics circuits and systems, developed to model and simulate complex electrical and power systems involving control in a virtual environment. It excels at high-speed calculations of factors such as losses, enabling rapid verification of the overall system response during the early stages of development.

PLECS® is a registered trademark of Plexim, Inc.

Honda Cars India Inaugurates New State-Of-The-Art Dealership ‘Vision Honda’ On Mysore Road, Bengaluru

Honda Cars India, leading manufacturer of premium cars in India, today inaugurated its new state-of-the-art dealership facility ‘Vision Honda’ in Bengaluru. The new dealership will strengthen HCIL’s presence in the important market of Bengaluru. The dealership was inaugurated in the august presence of Mr. Takashi Nakajima, President & CEO, Honda Cars India Ltd.; Mr. Yujiro Sugino, Director, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd., and Mr. Kunal Behl, Vice President, Marketing & Sales, Honda Cars India Ltd.

The new dealership facility, located on Mysore Road with a built-up area of 56,000 sqft, will offer comprehensive 3S facilities - Sales, Service, and Spares. To provide the highest level of customer satisfaction and a complete range of Honda services to the customers, the facility has an impressive 42-bay workshop with trained and dedicated manpower and state-of-the-art equipment for Preventive Maintenance, General Repair, and Body shop repair requirements.

Vision Honda has been a long-term Dealer Partner for Honda Cars India for the last 17 years. They opened their first facility in Kottayam, Kerala, and since then have expanded their business with Honda and currently have 12 outlets in Kerala. The new outlet of Vision Honda in Bengaluru is the 13th outlet for Vision Group and their 1st outlet in Bengaluru.

With the inauguration of Vision Honda, Honda Cars India will have 7 dealer outlets in Bengaluru.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Takashi Nakajima, President & CEO, Honda Cars India Ltd., said, “Bengaluru is among our leading markets in the country, and we are delighted to expand our network in the city with the inauguration of Vision Honda. The new dealership has come up at an opportune time, as HCIL is beginning a New Phase of accelerated growth in Indian market.The strategic location of the facility on Mysore Road brings us closer to our customers and allows us to showcase our advanced product line-up, comprising the New Honda City, Elevate, Amaze, and soon-to-be-launched premium SUV Honda ZR-V. We are confident that this new facility will help us serve our customers better, provide them with convenience and ease of operations.”

Mr. Naveen Philip from Vision Honda said, “We are extremely excited to expand our business relationship with Honda in Bengaluru. Vision Honda has been associated with the Honda brand for the past 17 years, with a strong dealership network in Kerala, and is committed to serving our esteemed customers. We believe that the new facility in Bengaluru will help us expand our presence in the state of Karnataka, and we will be able to provide world-class sales as well as after-sales service experience to our customers.”

About Honda Cars India Ltd.

Honda Cars India Ltd. (HCIL), a leading manufacturer of premium cars in India, was established in December 1995 with a commitment to provide Honda’s passenger car models and technologies to the Indian customers. HCIL’s corporate office is based in Greater Noida, UP, and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility is located at Tapukara, District. Alwar, Rajasthan.

Honda’s models are strongly associated with advanced design and technology, apart from their established qualities of durability, reliability, safety, and fuel efficiency. The company has a strong sales and distribution network spread across the country.

Besides the new car business, Honda offers a one-stop solution for buying and selling pre-owned cars through its business function, Honda Auto Terrace. The Honda Certified Pre-owned cars come with an assurance of quality and peace of mind that caters to the diverse and burgeoning needs of pre-owned car buyers across the country.  

5 Heart Superfoods: Keep Your Cardiovascular System Strong By Ritika Samaddar

In today’s fast-paced world, sedentary lifestyles and growing reliance on processed foods have made heart health concerns like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and other cardiovascular problems more common. Supporting heart health starts with the right nutrition, and including nutrient-dense foods including almonds, fatty fish, leafy greens, legumes, and fruits, can make a meaningful difference. Ritika Samaddar, Regional Head – Dietetics at Max Healthcare, shares some of the best heart-healthy foods that can help improve cardiovascular health and support long-term well-being.

California Almonds

Adding a handful of almonds to one’s daily diet is a good starting point, as they are rich in nutrients and make for a healthy superfood. Almonds are a source of 15 essential nutrients, such as vitamin E, magnesium, protein, riboflavin, zinc, etc. California Almonds may lower total and LDL cholesterol when included in a healthy diet and reduce levels of heart-damaging inflammation. A study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that consuming 42 grams of almonds daily improved a number of heart disease risk factors, in addition to significantly improving HDL cholesterol.

Fish

Including fatty fish in one’s daily or weekly diet is an excellent way to support heart health, as it is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and essential healthy fats that play a key role in maintaining cardiovascular wellness. Fatty fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines, tuna, and trout help reduce inflammation and support healthy blood pressure. Omega-3 fatty acids also help improve good cholesterol (HDL), reduce the risk of irregular heartbeat, and prevent plaque build-up in the arteries.

Leafy Greens

Leafy green vegetables are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, fibre, and antioxidants that support heart health. Vegetables like spinach, kale, and broccoli contain nutrients such as vitamin K, nitrates, and folate, which help regulate blood pressure, improve blood circulation, and support overall cardiovascular function.

Legumes

Legumes are a heart-friendly addition to any diet, offering a rich source of plant protein, fibre, and essential nutrients while being low in fat. Foods such as lentils, beans, chickpeas, and peas help lower bad cholesterol (LDL), regulate blood sugar levels, and support healthy blood pressure. Their high fibre content also helps improve digestion and maintain a healthy weight, both of which are important for reducing the risk of heart disease.

Fruits

Fresh fruits are a natural and effective way to support heart health. They are rich in vitamins, minerals, fibre, and antioxidants. Fruits such as berries, oranges, apples, bananas, and pomegranates help reduce inflammation, improve blood circulation, and support healthy blood pressure levels. Their natural antioxidants also help protect blood vessels from damage and lower the risk of heart-related problems over time.

Incorporating these heart-healthy foods into your daily routine is a simple yet effective step towards better cardiovascular health. Small changes like choosing nutrient-rich foods over processed options can make a significant difference in managing cholesterol, blood pressure, and overall heart function. Prioritising heart health today can lead to a healthier and more active life in the future.

Ageas Federal Life Insurance Expands Digital Access To Term, ULIP Solutions Via Policybazaar

* Ageas Federal Life Insurance expands digital access to term, ULIP solutions via Policybazaar

Ageas Federal Life Insurance, one of India’s leading and fastest-growing private life insurers, today announced a strategic digital distribution partnership with Policybazaar, one of India’s largest online insurance platforms. The alliance aims at strengthening Ageas Federal Life Insurance’s digital distribution while offering the brand’s insurance solutions to India’s rapidly growing digital-savvy consumers, through an end-to-end online journey.

The partnership introduces Ageas Federal Life Insurance’s flagship savings proposition, Magic Savings, followed by a progressive expansion into Term and ULIP offerings, thereby creating a comprehensive suite of protection, savings, and wealth-creation solutions. These products will be accessible, comparable, and seamlessly purchasable online through the platform of Policybazaar.

This strategic alliance combines Ageas Federal’s strong product suite with Policybazaar’s extensive scale and distribution network, expanding the company’s reach to a large base of high-intent customers actively seeking insurance solutions online. Aligned with the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) vision of “Insurance for All by 2047,” this collaboration enables access to insurance solutions for over 9 million customers on Policybazaar through a simplified and seamless digital buying experience.

Commenting on the strategic alliance, Mr. Jude Gomes, M.D. & CEO, Ageas Federal Life Insurance, said “Our partnership with Policybazaar reflects our vision for the future of insurance in India - digital, transparent, and accessible. At Ageas Federal Life Insurance, we see digital ecosystems as a powerful way to expand protection by enabling customers to make informed decisions with confidence. We are focused on simplifying access, building trust, and making life insurance more intuitive, relevant, and inclusive for Indians.”

Commenting on the partnership, Sarbvir Singh, Joint Group CEO, PB Fintech said, “Customers today are looking for insurance solutions that are simple to understand, easy to compare, and convenient to purchase. Our partnership with Ageas Federal Life Insurance further adds to the diverse range of options on our platform, spanning across protection, savings, and wealth creation needs. This gives customers more relevant options to compare, choose from, and complete their purchase journey seamlessly. Partnerships like these play a critical role in expanding insurance adoption through digital channels.”

With rising digital adoption and increasing preference for online insurance purchases, this partnership aims to make life insurance more accessible across customer segments. Together, Ageas Federal Life Insurance and Policybazaar are focused on enabling simpler discovery, faster purchase journeys, and informed decision-making for customers.

NBBL Marks One Million E‑Challan Transactions On Bharat Connect

* E-challan payment is live across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi with more states to join soon

NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL), a wholly owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), today announced a significant milestone for its e‑challan category under Bharat Connect, which has successfully processed over one million transactions, amounting to a total value of over INR 600 million. E-challan payments via Bharat Connect is currently live across multiple states including, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi.

The e‑challan category on Bharat Connect enables citizens to seamlessly view and pay for traffic challans through a safe, interoperable, and accessible platform. This milestone highlights the growing adoption of digital payment solutions for civic utilities, further advancing India’s journey towards a fully digital economy.

Among the live states, Andhra Pradesh has shown the strongest adoption, processing over 700,000 transactions since its launch, followed by Telangana and Gujarat. While Delhi and Himachal Pradesh have recently come on board, Bharat Connect's e-challan network is poised for national scale with more states expected to follow soon.

Speaking on the development, Dr. Noopur Chaturvedi, MD & CEO, NBBL, said, “The E-challan category on Bharat Connect is becoming increasingly popular, having crossed the milestone of one million transactions. This achievement reflects the trust people place in our platform and signals a clear shift in consumer behaviour towards digital-first public services. We will continue to work closely with ecosystem partners to deepen our reach and enhance accessibility to civic payments for citizens across the country.”

The success of e-challan category represents an important step towards digital governance, bringing state‑level traffic enforcement into India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI).Its growing adoption in Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh and Delhi further strengthens the case for a scalable and replicable framework, enabling other states and transport authorities to onboard quickly and offer similar services to citizens.

About NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited:

NPCI Bharat BillPay Limited (NBBL), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), is at the forefront of digital payments and collections, driving financial inclusion and enhancing customer convenience. NBBL offers a unified, interoperable, and accessible ecosystem for bill payments and collections, enabling secure and reliable “Anytime, Anywhere” transactions for individuals and businesses.

Through its Bharat Connect (BBPS) platform, NBBL caters to individual users with seamless bill payment solutions across diverse categories. For B2B, it provides ERP interoperability, streamlined collections, invoice management, reconciliation, and access to structured financing options. Developed by NBBL, Banking Connect is a net banking solution that enables interoperability between banks and payment aggregators, allowing customers to transact with greater ease and speed across merchants through banks. NBBL is also designated settlement agency for the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), ensuring safe, secure, and reliable settlements on the platform.

For more information on NBBL, visit www.bharat-connect.com