Reliance Jio Warns of Defamation Case Against COAI’s Remark About Prejudice in Telecom Industry

The past 18 months have been onerous on the telecom industry and incumbent operators have been dealing with Jio’s competitive pricing which has allured many users. 

And now, a recent regulation by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) which was not met well by the incumbent telco and their representative body Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) has sparked a new controversy in the industry.


Adding to the telcos’ burdens, TRAI’s latest regulation says that the regulator will impose fines of at least ₹50 lakhs for “predatory pricing”. This instigated COAI to allege TRAI’s favoritism towards Jio, a remark which has invited trouble for the representative body and its Director-General Rajan Mathews. Peeved by the “callous and defamatory” remark, Jio has demanded an apology within 48 hours and has warned of legal action.

Reliance Jio Warns of Defamation Case Against COAI's Remark About Prejudice in Telecom Industry
COAI DG Rajan Mathews (L) and RJIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani (R)
In response, Jio has accused that COAI has transitioned from being the “official voice of the Indian Telecom Industry” to “becoming an instrument and mouthpiece of” the other privately-owned telecom operators in the country. It has further said that the organization has obstructed developments that could lead to a fairer and more transparent market.

In response, Mathews has said that the organization is “reviewing” the notice issued by Jio and is consulting its member telcos about the further course of action.

What is the Fuss About “Predatory Pricing”?
Keeping in view the tussle between telcos, TRAI had last week announced that it will heavily fine telcos over “predatory” pricing. What this means is that if an operator with 30 percent or larger share in a specific circle offers services below the average “variable cost” with the intention wooing customers and monopolizing the local market, these practices will be considered “predatory”.

TRAI also said that it will list out the “variable cost” based on benefits, market demographics, and the costs incurred by telcos for performing business. Telcos indulging in such practices will be liable to pay ₹50 lakhs per plan, which could come as a huge blow given incumbent telecom industry players are facing delayed revenues.

Idea Cellular’s Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank is Now Operational in India

One way in which the recent wave of digitization has helped Indians is to transform the way they transact and save money. As a result, various digital payments bank options have cropped up and the newest name to join the list is Idea Cellular. Formally known as the Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank, the service is now active, as per the Reserve Bank of India.

The Idea Payments Bank is the seventh entity to receive an approval for payments banking from the central bank. It was among the 11 applicants who received an interim nod from the RBI back in August 2015 for setting up its payments bank business. The existing payments banks in India includes Paytm, Fino, India Post, and Airtel Payments Bank while Reliance Jio is expected to launch a similar solution in partnership with India’s largest public sector bank, the State Bank of India (SBI).

How to restore your WhatsApp account in case you lose your phone or its gets stolen

Losing a smartphone in today's day and age is nothing less than a nightmare. For, so much of our data, most accounts (including banks), digital wallets, photos, chats, emails and more is in this compact device. Losing the phone means, losing not just the device but also so much of this data.

However, in case you meet such misfortune there's lot that needs to be done. One of this is also to ensure that no stranger gets hold of your WhatsApp account. As it has become one of the most important tools of communication for most of us. And now with WhatsApp Payments rolling out, it's become all the more critical to make sure that your WhatsApp account does not get in the wrong hands.
Here's an step-by-step guide that you need to follow in case your smartphone is lost or stolen to secure your WhatsApp account.

1. The first thing to do in this case is to lock your SIM card by calling your mobile service provider. Once you have done this, it will not be possible to for anyone to authenticate the account on that handset. This is because it is necessary to get an SMS or phone call to certify the account associated to your number. And since the SIM will be deactivated, the person who is in possession of your device will not be able to use it.

2. After getting your SIM locked, you can now activate your WhatsApp on a different handset. The fastest way to do this is to use a SIM card with the same number. Remember, WhatsApp can be activated only on one device at a time on a phone number.

3. Another option is to email the WhatsApp team. In case, you go for this option, include the sentence "Lost/stolen: Deactivate my account" in the body of the email, along with your phone number. Give these details with your country code. Also, remember to write your number exactly as you have it saved in your smartphone.

One more thing to note here is that WhatsApp can also be operated using Wi-Fi even if the SIM card is not present inside the handset so it is necessary to contact WhatsApp team and get your account deactivated. As it is also not possible to disable WhatsApp from any other device. WhatsApp is not able to find the location of the lost handset. Users have a 30-day window to reactivate this account. After a month, the account will be completely erased. In case your contacts send you messages during this period, they will remain pending, but will get erased after 30 days.

If you had backed up your chats using Google Drive, iCloud or any other cloud solution before your phone went missing, you might be able to restore your chat history.

Angry Birds Maker Rovio Pummelled After Profit Warning

Angry Birds game maker Rovio Entertainment warned on profits on Thursday, wiping more than a third off the Finnish firm's stock price amid deepening doubts about its valuation.

Investors in the company behind the Angry Birds games and movie franchise have had a rocky ride since last year's initial public offering of Rovio, which blamed increased marketing costs and other investments for the lower profit outlook.

Rovio forecast its 2018 operating margin at 9-11 percent versus 10.6 percent in 2017 and said it expected sales of EUR 260-300 million versus 297 million last year. This was below analysts' forecasts of a margin of 14.5 percent and sales of EUR 336 million, according to Thomson Reuters data.

Rovio saw rapid growth after the 2009 launch of the original Angry Birds game, in which players used slingshots to attack pigs who stole birds' eggs. But the company plunged to an operating loss and cut a third of its staff in 2015 due to tough competition and a shift to games available for free.

Airtel Announces Two New Super-Value Prepaid Plans To Beat Jio Tariffs

The telecom industry is under the pressure of keeping up with tariff standards set by Reliance Jio and in a recent development, Airtel has announced two new ultra-affordable plans for users. While one is a monthly package, the second is intended to offer year-long relief from the hassles of recharging.

The details of the two newly announced offers are:

₹98 Prepaid Plan
This plan is for users whose prime usage on their devices is internet browsing. Trying to beat Jio at its own game, Airtel is offering 5GB of 4G data for ₹98 with a validity period of 28 days. For the same price and validity, Jio offers 2GB of data along with free calling and 100 SMSes.

In the case of Airtel, however, unlimited calls or SMSes are not bundled along and for those users who desire these, there is a plan for ₹93 which offers 1GB data along with unlimited calling and 100 SMSes per day. Both the ₹98 and ₹93 plans are available in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana circle.

Vodafone and Huawei Claim to Have Made the World’s First 5G Call

Chinese telecom equipment provider Huawei and British carrier Vodafone have successfully completed the first 5G call in the world during an event in Spain, claim the two tech giants. In a press communication, Huawei claimed that the was transmitted over a dual “4G to 5G connection” at speeds which are eight times faster than the current 4G network speeds.

As reported in a press release, the call was made using a computer by Vodafone’s Director General Albert Buxadé from Barcelona and received in Madrid via mobile by José María Lassalle, the Spanish secretary of state for information, society and digital agenda. Huawei also conducted another test using a 5G data connection for a video call.

Uber Could Be Using Flying Cars in 5-10 Years, Says CEO

 

Uber is known to be one of the most popular ride-hailing services on the market.

 And now, the company is eyeing for the skies. The company’s CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says that flying cars could be commercialized by Uber within 5-10 years.

As reported by Reuters, Khosrowshahi told attendees at an investment forum in Tokyo on his first trip to Asia as CEO. That being said, this isn’t the first time we hear about Uber’s plans to deploy flying taxis. The news has been floating around for a while now. In fact, Uber has also published a 99-page white paper on “Uber Elevate,” its vision for on-demand urban air transportation.

In case you’re out of the loop with Uber’s plans, the goal is to build a network of small electric aircraft called VTOLs. These will work pretty much like a quieter and cost-effective helicopter to ferry people around a city. The company hopes to pilot its aerial taxi services by 2020 in three cities – Los Angeles, Dallas, and Dubai.

India Has the World’s Slowest 4G Speeds: OpenSignal

In its latest report about the state of LTE networks around the world, OpenSignal has some mixed news for cellular subscribers in India.

 Named ‘The State of LTE (February 2018)’, the report reflects the cumulative results of 50 billion speedcheck measurements collected in the 4th quarter of 2017 to compare 4G performance in 88 countries.

According to the report, Indians have access to 4G networks almost 86.26 percent of the time – OpenSignal’s availability metric tracks the proportion of time users have access to a particular network. India is 14th on the list in terms of availability, ahead of the likes of UK, Switzerland, Belgium, Spain and Singapore.

Google Pay Officially Launched on Play Store

Last month Google announced Google Pay, a simplified payment system that merges Android Pay and Google Wallet.

 In fact, it even started rolling out with Play Services beta update. However now, the app is finally available for everyone to download from the Google Play Store, as per a confirmation from a Google blog post.

It appears that you don’t have to do anything to get the update if you already have Android Pay app installed on your phone. At the moment, the Google Pay app will still show up as Android Pay on your phone, even though the Play Store listing says “Google Pay.”

Google Pay is the company’s attempt at unifying digital payments service across the web, in apps, in stores, and through peer-to-peer (P2P). The idea behind Google Pay is to become a one-stop-shop for all your payment needs. Once everything is in place, your Android Pay account, Chrome payment details and any other cards you have added to your Google account will be unified in one app.

The Cards tab in the app will store all your payment details including credit and debit cards, loyalty programs, offers, and even gift cards.

Google says that it will add more features to the app down the line and make it compatible across all Google products in the near future. This rollout as the first step in simplifying its payment system. “If you live in the U.S. or the UK, you’ll be able to use it to send and request money within the next few months. In the meantime, the Wallet app is now called Google Pay Send, and we’re giving it a fresh coat of paint to go with the Google Pay brand,” Google’s post added.

Also, the app is not supported in India just yet. We tried installing it from the Google Play Store, but it said all our devices were incompatible. As of now, there is no official word from Google as to when this service will go live in India and how it will change the way make payments. Meanwhile, you can continue to use Google Tez, which recently added bill payments to its repertoire.

Vodafone's Rs. 158 Prepaid Pack Offers Unlimited Voice Calls, 1GB Data Per Day for 28 Days

Vodafone's Rs. 158 Prepaid Pack Offers Unlimited Voice Calls, 1GB Data Per Day for 28 Days

HIGHLIGHTS
The pack is currently available only in the Kerala circle
Another Rs. 151 pack has also been launched with 1GB data for 28 days
Unlimited calls are limited to 250 per day and 1,000 per week
Vodafone has introduced two new prepaid packs that offer unlimited voice calls and high speed data access for a validity of 28 days. Part of Vodafone's SuperPlans, the new Rs. 158 pack offers unlimited voice calls (250 minutes/ day and 1,000 minutes/ week), and 1GB 4G/ 3G data per day, with a validity of 28 days. The second pack is priced at Rs. 151 and offers unlimited voice calls and a total of 1GB 4G/ 3G data with a validity of 28 days. Both packs are currently applicable only in the Kerala circle.

The Rs. 158 pack has been launched in direct competition to Reliance Jio's Rs. 149 pack that offers unlimited voice calls, 100 SMS messages per day, and 1.5GB data per day with a validity of 28 days. It also takes on Airtel's Rs. 169 pack that offers unlimited calls, 100 SMS messages per day, and 1GB data per day with a validity of 28 days for Airtel partnered 4G handsets and a validity of 14 days for other handsets.

vodafone 158 prepaid pack Vodafone 158 Prepaid Pack

While the tariff pack hasn't yet been launched in other major telecom circles including Delhi NCR and Mumbai, Vodafone's Rs. 198 prepaid pack - applicable in these and most other telecom circles - offers unlimited voice calls, 100 SMSes per day, and 1.4GB 3G/ 4G data per day, with a validity of 28 days.

On the other hand, the Rs. 151 pack takes on Airtel's Rs. 93 prepaid pack that was recently upgraded to offer unlimited voice calls, 100 SMS messages per day, and a total of 1GB data, with a validity of 28 days. There is a Rs. 109 pack from Idea Cellular that has similar benefits with a validity of 14 days.

vodafone 151 prepaid pack Vodafone 151 Prepaid Pack

Interestingly enough, the Rs. 158 prepaid pack is just Rs. 7 more expensive than the Rs. 151 pack, although it offers total benefits of 28GB data compared to just 1GB on the latter.

Idea Offers 'Unlimited' Calls, 1GB Data for 14 Days at Rs. 109

                

Competing against Jio and Airtel, Idea Cellular has launched a prepaid pack offering 'unlimited calls' at Rs. 109. 

The new pack comes with a validity of 14 days and is initially limited to select circles. The telco has brought the new pack days after launching the Rs. 93 pack that offers unlimited voice calling benefits alongside 1GB of data for 10 days. That pack countered the Rs. 93 pack by Airtel that, back then, offered a similar tariff and validity. However, Airtel now offers 28-day validity, free calls and 1GB data at the same price now, which is twice the validity the new Idea pack offers. Similarly, the Jio Rs. 98 recharge offers a validity of 28 days, unlimited voice calls as well as 2GB of 4G data.

According to the official Idea Cellular website, the Rs. 109 prepaid pack offers 'unlimited' local, STD, and roaming calls, alongside 1GB of 4G/ 3G data and daily 100 local and national SMS. The voice calls through the pack are limited to 250 minutes per day and 1,000 minutes per week, identical to other 'unlimited' packs. Furthermore, beyond the bundled calls, subscribers will be charged at 1 paisa per second for calls.

The pack is available in a few circles, including Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, Bihar and Jharkhand, Gujarat, Haryana, and Karnataka, among others. The availability of 4G/ 3G data is subject to the network rollout. Subscribers can recharge their accounts with the new Rs. 109 pack either through the operator's official site or via My Idea app.

Earlier this week, Idea revised its Nirvana Postpaid plans to offer additional data benefits at existing charges. The plans that have been revised include the Rs. 499, Rs. 649, Rs. 999, Rs. 389, Rs. 1,299, Rs. 1,699, Rs. 1,999, and Rs. 2,999. While the lowest among all the plans, the Rs. 398 plan, offers 20GB of data - up from 10GB, the Rs. 2,999 plan comes with 300GB of data for a month.

WhatsApp 'Delete for Everyone' Rendered Ineffective if Your Message Is Quoted

Last year, WhatsApp rolled out this feature to allow its over one billion user base to revoke messages in case they sent those to a wrong person or a group. Users can only delete messages for everyone for up to seven minutes after sending.

The Next Web notes that quoted messages in chats continued to show in quotes even after they were wiped. It said that this is not a bug and is a part of the feature.

If a user sends a message and deletes it from a group or individual chat within seven minutes, the message will disappear.

However, if within these seven minutes, that message is quoted then the original message will successfully disappear but the deleted text continues to show in the recipient's quote.

Interestingly, there is no mention of how the feature works in cases of quotes in the WhatsApp's FAQ.

This comes following the reports in which researchers claimed to discover other shortcomings in WhatsApp's implementation of deleted messages.

In one particular flaw - discovered by Spanish tech blog AndroidJefe - it was possible to recover deleted messages from the Android notification history.

"Relying on third-party apps, users could browse the notification log to read purged texts," the report said.

The Independent later pointed out that this approach could only recover deleted messages that were read or interacted with

How Google, YouTube Use Targeted Ads to Fight Online Radicals

Advertising is everywhere online,
 but we’ve become pretty good at ignoring them, even if they are in your face – like on YouTube. Let’s face it; no one likes to see ads encroaching on useful websites or on videos.

And while most ads are perceived as a nuisance, Google wants to use them to make a big difference in one area where it’s being criticized as not doing enough. We are talking about hate speech, radicalizing content – especially videos – and fake news campaigns. And Alphabet’s company Jigsaw is devoted to solving these pressing issues with the help of technology.

In a recent interview with MIT Technology Review, Yasmin Green, director of research and development at Jigsaw spoke about how the company is using technology to curb terrorism and various forms digital harassment. The system was so successful that, it’s also now integrated in YouTube.

Yasmin spoke about how ISIS became masters of social media in recruiting new fighters. As it turns out, those very techniques that ISIS uses to recruit can also be used to stop recruitment. Jigsaw set out to understand the radicalization process and returned with a key takeaway: Timing. Green says, “By the time potential recruits are sold on the ideology, it’s too late to influence them; you have to get to them when they are sympathetic but not yet sold. ”

This is where Jigsaw used targeted online advertising to influence those on the threshold. Google is great at targeted ads with close to $100 billion in revenue from this business powered by their powerful algorithms. Jigsaw used this same tech to fight back and redirected susceptible users through ads to relevant pages and videos that could effectively de-radicalize them.

This content includes videos and profiles of moderate clerics, defectors, and citizen journalists that could suppress the user’s tendency to be radicalized, with the right information. According to Green, the program reached about 300,000 people in 8 weeks. It had an exceptionally high click-through rate on the ads and drove half a million minutes of video watch time.

“I don’t think anyone imagined that we’d have the level of intimidation and hate speech online that we currently do, and we have to try really hard to make sure that we’re getting ahead of it.”

So how is it being used on YouTube?
While YouTube has grown enormously, it has been faced with a number of content and moderation issues. Lately, the platform has come under fire after the Logan Paul controversy and the pressure on YouTube to clean up content is immense, especially in the light of the Tide Pod controversy.

Green revealed that YouTube has integrated Jigsaw’s tech to redirect people to reformative content when it comes to sensitive search terms. Green added that the same is applicable to Google Search too.

While there is no concrete data on which search terms are preferred and what is the official policy on these, Jigsaw’s approach is likely to yield results for YouTube as well; Terrorism and ISIS are just one of the few examples of the possibilities of the technology.

Jigsaw has open-sourced this tech for use by others as well and it has been replicated by the Gen Next Foundation to begin with. Similarly Facebook, Twitter and the likes could use it to prioritize content that is positive over negative posts, when it comes to trending issues.

Facebook in particular is facing a huge problem when it comes fake information and fake news. In fact, Mark Zuckerberg has acknowledged it and has called it his mission to earn back the trust Facebook lost due to the fake news problem.

Green added that Jigsaw is constantly looking at ways to improve its capabilities of tackling online hate speech and radicalization, but also for fake news and disinformation. It is not likely to happen overnight, but the world’s brightest minds are busy at work to tackle this growing menace.