BUSINESS
Premium smartphone battle intensifies in India as Vivo takes on Apple, Samsung with X200 Series
Vivo launched the X200 series, comprising X200 and X200 Pro, smartphones in India on December 12. The company, however, decided not to bring the X200 Mini smartphone to India
BUSINESS
Curbing spam: COAI says minimal disruptions expected as SMS traceability kicks in
From today, telcos have started rejecting messages with undefined or mismatched telemarketer chains check spam calls and messages
BUSINESS
Samsung moves High Court to extricate itself from Amazon, Flipkart anti-trust probe
Samsung claims that the cloning of employee phones during the 2022 search and seizure operation was illegal and asks the court to restrain CCI from using the evidence so collected.
BUSINESS
Apple iPhone accessories maker PopSockets plans expansion in India, battles counterfeit crisis
On Apple’s rise in India, the founder said there is a connection between its growth and Popsockets’ visibility. He also revealed that Popsocket’s product availability at Apple Retail India stores has been delayed due to certain challenges, but the company is working on the rollout.
BUSINESS
China’s Xiaomi rules out India launch of electric car; focus on premium smartphones, home devices
As part of its 2025 strategy, Xiaomi is positioning itself as a 'smartphone + IoT' leader and plans to expand its portfolio with new product categories
BUSINESS
Qualcomm sees automotive, PC as new growth areas in India, focusses on premium smartphones: CMO McGuire
McGuire shares that Qualcomm plans to expand its presence in India’s PC and laptop market in 2025 and aims to scale up operations with a broader portfolio of devices
BUSINESS
Customer shift to BSNL from private telcos slowing down amid network quality concerns: Analysts
BSNL offers plans that are considerably cheaper than its competitors, yet network performance issues are deterring long-term customer retention with the state-run operator
BUSINESS
Vodafone Idea's Rs 2,000-cr pref share to clear Indus dues, boost debt-funding talks: Analysts
Vodafone Plc exited from Indus Towers on December 5 by selling a 3 percent stake for Rs 2,802 crore. It will first be used to repay lenders' outstanding of $101 million, and the rest $233 million will partly clear Vodafone Idea’s past dues of Rs 3,600 crore
BUSINESS
MC Interview | OnePlus zeroes in on R&D, quality, retail with Rs 6,000-cr investment, says India CEO Robin Liu
Liu is addressing concerns from offline Indian retailers, which have led to OnePlus's decline since the start of this year due to a boycott in certain southern regions. He notes that India's premium segment is growing faster than the global market, prompting OnePlus to prioritise India within its global strategy
BUSINESS
After Nokia, Ericsson bags 4G and 5G extension deal from Bharti Airtel for India operations
Ericsson will deploy network solutions for to help Airtel customers with wider coverage and enhanced capacity, the company said in a statement.
BUSINESS
Vodafone Idea's revenue market share dropped to record low in Q2: Analysts
While Vodafone Idea's net revenue grew 2 percent year-on-year to $4.7 billion in Q2, its active subscriber base declined 9 percent to 180 million
BUSINESS
Indian wearable brands face exit amid low margins, Chinese resurgence; active brands decline by 30% in Q3
Analysts attribute the trend to falling demand and razor-thin profit margins, which are pushing Indian brands — often reliant on importing white-labelled devices from China — out of the market. In parallel, Chinese smartphone brands are re-entering the space, leveraging the premiumisation trend and their established ecosystems to gain traction.
BUSINESS
After Airtel, Vodafone Idea launches AI-based spam management solution
Vi is developing solutions to reduce spam, including unwanted voice calls, to better protect its users from unsolicited communications, the company has said
BUSINESS
Telcos urge DoCA to fast-track norms to curb spam calls, messages
The department of consumer affairs will have the jurisdiction and capacity to act against all individuals, businesses and platforms involved in sending pesky calls and messages once the guidelines are implemented
BUSINESS
Bank guarantee waiver to enhance Vodafone Idea's ability to secure debt funding: Analysts
Vodafone Idea owes over Rs 24,700 crore in bank guarantees (BG). Airtel and Vodafone Idea together hold BG obligations in excess of Rs 30,000 crore
BUSINESS
Bank guarantee waiver will ease telcos' financial burden, says COAI
The cabinet has cleared a proposal to waive bank guarantee for telecom operators on spectrum purchased before 2022. Telecom operators collectively have bank guarantee obligations of more than Rs 30,000 crore
BUSINESS
India to have 270 million 5G subscribers by year-end, says Ericsson
The country will account for 20 percent of global fixed wireless access market by 2030, the Swedish telecom gear maker has said in its mobility report
BUSINESS
India pivotal in lowering 5G FWA device cost for global markets: Qualcomm executive
The company, which claims to have enabled 80 percent of the 5G FWA connections in India, intends to collaborate with more ODMs to deepen FWA device manufacturing in India
BUSINESS
Nokia phone maker HMD shifting manufacturing hub from China to India, urges suppliers to follow in
The company hopes to gain from the geopolitical situation, expects positive outcomes if the Trump regime imposes stricter tariffs on China due to the ongoing trade tensions between the two countries
BUSINESS
Cabinet clears waiver of bank guarantee on pre-2022 spectrum deals; Vodafone Idea to gain
Vi failed to pay its second bank guarantee of approximately Rs 350 crore, which was due on November 1, for spectrum acquired in a 2012 auction, after it missed a payment of over Rs 4,600 crore as BG linked to a 2016 deal
INDIA
Google Maps fatal accident: Google India says cooperating with authorities
Police suspect the navigation system directed the driver to the unsafe route
BUSINESS
Airtel offers free 6-month Apple Music subscription to select users ahead of new plan rollout
The small-scale rollout is for select postpaid customers who subscribed to Wynk’s premium service. The telco is working with Apple to develop special postpaid plans with an Apple Music subscription
BUSINESS
Cabinet note on electronics component scheme likely next month, may allow JVs with Chinese firms
The new policy is expected to focus more on operational subsidies, aligning with finance ministry's preference for PLI schemes, which are tied to specific achievements
BUSINESS
MC Exclusive | Apple talks to over 40 Indian firms for component supply chain as China allies step back
Apple is bullish on Indian partners as its Chinese component suppliers are reluctant to invest in India because of tax and legal challenges Chinese smartphones are facing
