In the News

Global technology giants like Microsoft, Google and Amazon are ramping up their cloud operations in India—a clear indication that businesses see cloud computing as an answer to their data storage problems and are gradually veering towards renting storage space instead buying hardware. Microsoft has made its Azure cloud platform available in the open licensing catalogue, thus enabling SMBs to purchase it from local IT partners. “Cloud adoption will be a key element to transform the Indian business scenario,” said GM, Marketing and Operations, Microsoft India Tyler Bryson.

India’s leading online fashion destination, Jabong.com has announced the launch of its mobile shopping app for Microsoft’s Windows Phones—now available for download on the Windows Phone store. With the launch of this new app, customers can shop for the latest styles and choose from over 1,50,000 products and 1500+ brands, anytime and anywhere. The app uses the native pivot controls and panoramic design that makes it look light weight and responsive.

GenNext Ventures, Reliance Industries’ (RIL) venture capital fund, has signed a three-year partnership with Microsoft Ventures to set up innovation hubs to support startups in the country. The MoU was signed by Chairman, GenNext RA Mashelkar and Chairman, Microsoft India Bhaskar Pramanik and the first hub will start operations in October in Mumbai. These hubs will bring together academia, students, entrepreneurs, investors and corporate houses and offer some of the most critical resources that startups need to be successful.

Nokia plans to lower prices of 4G and 3G mobile phones in India to leverage operators’ plans to launch high speed 4G services and boost its market share in the country. “We want to continue to push price points lower and lower than anything we have today. That’s the statement for both 3G and LTE (4G) because that is the thing which gives us scale of the ecosystem,” Microsoft’s Mobile Device Sales, Corporate Vice President Chris Weber said.

In a major initiative, the LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) and the Microsoft India Development Center (MSIDC) have launched a computer training center in Visakhapatnam for visually challenged persons—the first such facility in Andhra Pradesh. A local youth, P Mohan Kumar, who lost his eyesight at 16 and later learnt computer skills at the LVPEI, inaugurated the institute in the presence of LVPEI founder GN Rao and MSIDC Managing Director, Anil Bhansali.

Expanding its portfolio in the booming yet fiercely competitive, global smartphone market, Microsoft has launched three new Lumia smartphones—including one designed for ‘selfie’ enthusiasts. The company has introduced the new devices—the Lumia 830, 735 and 730, priced at about Rs 26,190, Rs 17,370 and Rs 15,800 respectively—as it builds on its acquisition of Nokia’s mobile division earlier this year. All the handsets will start being rolled out globally this month.

Several companies in India have found the ‘right fit’ employees among differently abled people in a number of job profiles. According to company representatives, they perform better than most average employees under certain circumstances. A Microsoft spokesperson said, “At Microsoft, we believe that diversity enriches our performance and products, the communities where we live and work, and the lives of our employees.”

The Xolo Win Q900s, the company’s first Windows Phone-based smartphone and the lightest in the world, is now available on Snapdeal.com at Rs 9,999. Weighing only a 100 grams, the handset was initially priced at Rs 12,999 but is selling at a lower price as an introductory offer. Win Q900s runs on the latest Windows Phone 8.1 operating system and was released for pre-booking in June, and so far, Snapdeal has processed 5000 orders.

Microsoft has rolled out a major update to the Nokia X2, the latest Android powered smartphone launched by the company in June 2014. The update brings Google’s Gmail client to the Nokia X platform, among other features and improvements. While the Nokia X devices are running on Android, they are based on Android Open Source Project (AOSP) and lack Google Mobile Services (GMS) like Gmail, Google Maps and YouTube. This update also allows users to sync their contacts with their Gmail account.

At its IFA 2014 event, Acer unveiled four new Windows 8.1 convertibles devices in its Aspire R and Aspire Switch series—Acer Aspire R13, Aspire R14, Aspire Switch 10, and Aspire Switch 11. Acer has said that Aspire R13 and Aspire R14 will be available from October starting at approximately Rs 54,300 and Rs 36,200 respectively. The Aspire R13 features a 13.3-inch IPS touch display that comes in two different screen types and includes Zero Air Gap Technology.