In the News

The latest Nokia 215 strives to connect people to the Internet for only $29, which converts to roughly Rs. 1,800. Offered in dual-SIM and single SIM variants, the Nokia 215 is a 2G (Edge) enabled feature phone that connects to the Internet. It has a 2.4-inch QVGA screen and runs on Nokia’s feature phone OS. The phone comes preloaded with top social networking apps, Bing Search and the MSN Weather app.

Link Systems, an ISO and CMMI certified global software solutions provider, nationally managed Microsoft SI Partner and winner of several Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards, announced the release of their latest version of Retail BI Framework, powered by next generation Microsoft technologies including SQL Azure, Office 365, Power BI, Excel 2013, SQL Server 2012 and SharePoint 2010/13.

Healthcare major Fortis has been effectively utilizing IT to offer cutting-edge healthcare services. Recently, it became a 100 percent Public Cloud company. Varun Sood, Chief Information Officer at Fortis Healthcare, said, “This initiative was completed last year and has significantly helped us in reducing cost and at the same time enhancing efficiency and enabling us to rollout new services at faster speed. Our entire public cloud infrastructure is on Microsoft Azure.”

With more than 400 journalists and 470 stringers, news agency Press Trust of India (PTI) covers the length and breadth of the country. Tridib Bordoloi, Head – IT, has been handling PTI’s IT requirements since 2009. “When I took over in 2009, the systems were archaic. Now, there is uniformity in the systems that we use throughout. Everything is on the Microsoft platform now,” he said.

HP has launched its new Windows 8.1-based tablet in India, the HP Stream 8, at Rs. 16,990. The 3G-enabled, single-SIM (micro-SIM) device and runs Windows 8.1, and is powered by a quad-core, 1.8GHz processor coupled with 1GB RAM. The device also sports a 5-megapixel AF rear camera and a secondary 2-megapixel front-facing camera.

Panasonic announced at the Automechanika the latest version of its Toughbook CF-53 semi-rugged notebook with enhanced performance. The Toughbook CF-53 is powered by the latest fourth-generation Intel Core i5 vPro processor delivering outstanding performance and up to 15 hours battery life. It uses the latest Windows 8.1 Pro Update 64-bit operating system or Windows 7 Professional and features a 14″ diagonal anti-glare/reflection display with Intel HD 4400 graphics for incredible performance, responsiveness and media capabilities.

iBall is the latest in line among home grown manufacturers to join the Windows Phone 8.1 bandwagon with the launch of a new device: the Andi4L Pulse smartphone. The dual-SIM device runs Windows Phone 8.1 OS out-of-the-box. It sports a 5MP rear camera with LED flash and BSI sensor and a 0.3MP front-facing snapper. It is backed by a 1500mAh battery.

A week-long “Teacher empowerment” programme concluded at the Academic Staff College (ASC) of Guru Nanak Dev University. The programme was conducted by Microsoft under the aegis of the National Mission on Education, a project of the Ministry of Human Resource Development. The main aim of the programme was to strengthen the use of information and communication technology (ICT) in classrooms by teachers of higher education.

In the new year, the Indian smartphones market is expected to further consolidate its position, before emerging as the world’s second biggest market in 2016. “Smartphones as a category is growing at a phenomenal pace. The Rs 5,000-15,000 category is exploding and we expect this trend to continue in 2015,” said, Ajey Mehta, Managing Director, Nokia India Sales – a Microsoft Mobiles Oy subsidiary.

Deshpande Foundation’s Sandbox Startups Incubator has announced the opening of applications for the Incubation Program. Designed in association with Microsoft Ventures the program will help accelerate growth for tier-2 and tier-3 cities based startups in the social and for profit space. Rajinish Menon, Director, Microsoft Ventures, India said: “Microsoft Ventures and Deshpande Foundation have designed this program to ensure these startups have a level playing field and same opportunities which is available to a startup in Bangalore or Delhi.”