Tag: Trend Talk

Free Movies for JioFiber Customers: Mukesh Ambani on Monday unveiled the plans for his fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband service, JioFiber, wrapped with a host of goodies like lifetime-free voice calls and plans that offer free high-end TV sets and set-top boxes. He shared the ideas at the 42nd annual general meeting of Reliance Industries. He has bundled JioFiber with subscriptions to leading premium video streaming services and intends to introduce a disruptive concept for watching new movies.

“Premium JioFiber customers will be able to watch movies in their living rooms the same day these movies are released in theatres,” he announced. 

The commercial launch of the service is set for September 5 and the monthly plans start from Rs 700 and go up to Rs 10,000. While JioFiber has shown a promising proposition, experts feel it will not disrupt the media industry the way Jio had disrupted the telecom sector.

Jio Fiber is currently not commercially available and is only live on a preview basis in major cities like Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Surat, and Vadodara, etc. As per Jio, the telecom operator had received over 15 million registrations from 1,600 towns during the beta phase and now, the company claims that it will be reaching out to 20 million residents within these towns commercially in the next 12 months. 

First-day-first-show movie release seems too ambitious as theatres demand an eight-week exclusive window. We will have to see how Jio will circumvent this issue. So, sentimentally, the announcement is negative for PVR and Inox Leisure, but we are not worried yet,” Dokania said. “Pricing (of JioFiber) is attractive but not jaw-dropping and hence, all other broadband players will not have to shut shop tomorrow,” said Rohit Dokania, senior vice-president for research at IDFC Securities.

He, however, added that one has to wait and see what is being offered in the Rs 700 plan.

At the meeting, Reliance Jio also announced that the landline service with Jio Fiber will be offered to customers with free voice calling benefits for life. This could phone service would be bundled with all plans, starting with the most basic Jio Fiber plan that starts at 100MBPS speed and priced at Rs 700. 

The company has also announced Free Movies for JioFiber customers. Premium JioFiber Customers can watch new movies at home the same day they are released in theaters. This service will be launched in the …

Swiggy Daily: Homegrown food delivery startup Swiggy launched “Swiggy Daily”, an app to give consumers access to a variety of simple homestyle meals prepared by home chefs, tiffin service providers and organised vendors. 

Swiggy Daily will allow users to schedule their meals in advance or opt for a daily, weekly or monthly subscription, Swiggy said in a statement. This Swiggy app is available on Google Play Store and its services are currently available in Gurugram. Swiggy says Daily will soon expand to Bengaluru and Mumbai in the coming months.

Swiggy Daily: HIGHLIGHTS

WhatsApp Fingerprint Activation: WhatsApp has rolled out a new feature for its Android beta users. According to a report, the Facebook-owned messaging app has finally released the Fingerprint Lock feature in the latest Beta version of the Android app. The feature has reached the beta users after it was spotted as a hidden feature few weeks back. It is being reported that there are many other features along with this that WhatsApp is working on currently.

However, it’s important to note that WhatsApp has already released this update for its iOS beta users and launch for all iPhone users may be under progress.This new feature of Whatsapp Fingerprint Activation not only adds an extra layer of security for the users of the world’s most popular messaging app but will also make the popular third party locking apps redundant. This new development comes six months after biometric authentication was introduced in the WhatsApp iOS app.

The feature is available for all Android beta users who are currently using version 2.19.221 of the app.

It further add that beta users can double-check the version by clicking App info which can be found under “Help” which will be available in the settings icon. Android users who are not using this version of the app will have to upgrade their app by going to the Google Play Store. But if you still are unable to find the feature then it is suggested that you delete your app and reinstall it. After that, you will have to go to the “Privacy” section where you will see the “Account” option and then you will be able to activate the feature.

You can then select how often you would like to authenticate your identity to use the app. The available choices are to “automatically lock” you out of WhatsApp “Immediately”, “after 1 minute” or “after 30 minutes” of inactivity. For instance, if you chose the first option, the app will ask for your fingerprint every time you open it. While this is ideal if you are big on privacy, it could get annoying for those who use it frequently. However, you can still answer WhatsApp calls without this authentication.

Once users activate the fingerprint feature then they will have to authenticate it by putting their finger on the scanner. Another important feature about this upgrade is that it will users will be able to hide the text …

Free ATM Transactions: The Reserve Bank of Indian has told banks not to treat failed Transactions at ATMs or non-cash transactions such as balance enquiries or cheque book requests as part of five free transactions available to customers every month.

“It has come to our notice that transactions that have failed due to technical reasons, non-availability of currency in ATMs, etc., are also included in the number of ATM Transactions which will be free,” RBI said in a circular to all scheduled commercial, cooperative and rural banks on Wednesday. These transactions are to be considered as failed transactions and no charges are to be levied for them.

Free ATM Transactions: HIGHLIGHTS 

• The Reserve Bank of India has come out clarifications on free ATM transactions.
• Bank account holders get a certain number of free transactions at ATMs.

Banks can’t include non-cash withdrawal transactions like balance enquiry, cheque book request, payment of taxes and funds transfer under free ATM transactions. Banks also can’t include failed ATM balance enquiry, cheque book request, payment of taxes, or funds transfer.

Banks provide a certain number of free Transactions at ATMs to their customers every month and beyond that they impose charges. For the benefit of bank account holders, the banking regulator RBI has come out with clarifications on free transactions at ATMs.

Things to know:

• Transactions like non-availability of currency notes in the ATM, transaction declines attributable to the bank or service provider will also not be considered as valid ATM transactions for the customer.
• Transactions which fail on account of technical reasons like hardware, software, and communication issues shall not be counted as valid ATM transactions for the customer.
• Invalid PIN/validations etc, which result in failed ATM transactions, will also be not counted as valid ATM transactions.
• Non-cash withdrawal transactions at ATMs such as balance enquiry, cheque book request, payment of taxes, funds transfer shall also not be part of the number of free ATM transactions.

Currently, India’s largest Bank, SBI offers 8 free Transactions to regular savings bank account holders, including five transactions at SBI ATMs and three at other bank ATMs. In non-metros, such account holders get 10 free transactions, including five at SBI ATMs and five at others.…

Free Rides for Women: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Thursday that rides on DTC and cluster buses will be free for women from October 29 on the occasion of Bhaiya Dooj.

Delivering the last Independence Day speech of his term at Chhatrasal Stadium, Kejriwal said his government is also working on its decision to provide rides which will be free for Women in the Delhi Metro.

Speaking at the Delhi government’s Independence Day event at Chhatrasal Stadium, Kejriwal said: “On the day of Raksha Bandhan, I want to give gift to our sisters that there will be free rides for women on all DTC (Delhi Transport Corporation) and cluster buses from October 29, which will ensure their safety.”

Free Rides for Women: HIGHLIGHTS

• Arvind Kejriwal had announced rides for women in public transport buses and Delhi Metro in June which will be free of cost.
• Arvind Kejriwal also said the scheme will strengthen the economy which is going through a slowdown as women will travel more for shopping.

Kejriwal had announced rides for women which are free of cost in public transport buses and Delhi Metro in June.

The announcement comes after the Delhi Chief Minister in June said he planned to provide the rides to women which will be free on Delhi Metro Addressing reporters then, Kejriwal had said: “Women security is of utmost importance for AAP. We have taken two important decisions — first is installing CCTV cameras across Delhi, while the other is free public transport for women.”

There are 5,500 buses, including of 3,800 of the Delhi Transport Corporation and over 1,600 cluster (orange) buses operated by the Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System.

With this move, our sisters will be able to fulfil their dreams because they have to travel long distances for their studies and work,” Kejriwal said.

Speaking about those opposing his government’s free ride scheme, the chief minister said, “Their first point was that everything is being made free. I want to say to them that I am not splurging or stealing money.”

Kejriwal also said the scheme will strengthen the economy which is going through a slowdown as women will travel more for shopping.

A government official said the proposal of free rides in DTC and cluster buses will soon be tabled before the Cabinet for approval.…

Government Services: Delhi government added 30 more facilities under its doorstep delivery project, taking the total number of public services available under the scheme to 70. It will provide 30 more services under its flagship doorstep delivery of services from next month, minister Kailash Gahlot said. The Government Services include adding members in ration card, paying the motor vehicle tax and getting a DTC pass etc.

With this move, the total number of government services provided via the initiative will now be 70, an official statement said. A senior government official said Delhiites could apply for the new services from today, though the second phase would be formally launched on September 1. “We will soon have a formal launch. The remaining 30 services will also be added within a couple of months,” administrative reforms minister Kailash Gahlot said.

Government Services: HIGHLIGHTS

• The second phase of the doorstep delivery of public services, the official launch of which is yet to take place, has been rolled out.
• The new services include booking a tour package through Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corp.

Residents can dial 1076 and get the service by paying Rs 50 extra, an official from Delhi’s Administrative Reforms told IANS. In the first phase, people got certificates of marriage, caste, domicile, income, births and deaths among others at their doors. Driving license, new water or sewer connection and disconnection were also provided under the scheme which functions between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. through a ‘Mobile Sahayak’.

“Once the second phase is on track, steps to start the third phase will be initiated,” the official said.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has plans to have at least 100 services delivered at people’s doorsteps, the official said. The new services involve 10 departments, including labour, higher education, transport, food and suuplies, SC/ST welfare, tourism, and drug control. It also include booking a tour package through Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corp.

Though the government had promised to add the remaining 60 services in two-three months, initial problems and technological glitches had delayed it by a few months. Gahlot said the model code of conduct due to the Lok Sabha elections had pushed the date further.

Deviating from the established procedure where the facilitators often struggled for hours to upload the documents at the applicant’s doorstep due to bad connectivity, the hard copies of all relevant papers are collected and then uploaded …