All Posts in Mobile

|In: Android|Last Updated:

Online and mobile ads are one of the biggest threats IT security this year, Trend Micro has revealed in its Q1 2015 round-up.

The company’s latest report, Bad Ads and Zero-Days: Re-emerging Threats Challenge Trust in Supply Chains and Best Practices, has revealed that ad-ware on mobile devices is the top threat in the mobile category – although Trend Micro has identified a mammoth five million Android threats to date. It is, however, predicting this will rise to eight million by the end of this year.

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Zero-day exploits are the biggest threat to desktop systems, but again, these are related to advertising and, in particular, are being used on adverts in Adobe software. This means victims don’t even need to head to a malicious site for their computer to be infected.

Dhanya Thakkar, Managing Director, APAC, Trend Micro says

It is clear 2015 is shaping up to be noteworthy in terms of volume, ingenuity and sophistication of attacks..It is clear businesses and individuals alike need to be proactive in protecting against threats. As a business, how would your IT-Security policies look like in a Zero Trust Environment? An aggressive and different security posture is critical to keep financial, personal and intellectual property safe.

In the enterprise space, Trend Micro said the healthcare sector was most at risk of cyber attacks, specifically in iOS and POS system applications. However, these types of threats have existed for the last few years and it would appear that their widespread nature is down to companies not being prepared for such assaults.

The question we have to ask is, ‘are we doing enough to protect ourselves from security threats? While we need to constantly update our systems to protect against new attacks, the first quarter of 2015 clearly showed we need to also watch out for older threats, and how no industry or system should feel exempt.

You can download the complete report from here

About Trend Micro

Trend Micro Incorporated, a global leader in security software, strives to make the world safe for exchanging digital information. Trend Micro enables the smart protection of information, with innovative security technology that is simple to deploy and manage, and fits an evolving ecosystem. Their solutions are powered by cloud-based global threat intelligence, the Trend Micro™ Smart Protection Network™ infrastructure & are supported by more than 1,200 threat experts around the globe.  For more information, visit TrendMicro

|In: Android|Last Updated:

KeyPoint Technologies, a global linguistics innovator enabling intelligent human communication beyond mobile devices, today announced the launch of Xploree. Xploree is industry’s first search and discovery platform that connects mobile users to the most relevant brands and services across search, messenger and other platforms without exiting the current conversation app.

Leveraging KPT’s expertise in multi-lingual capabilities, Xploree which is now available in English for Android device users, will support nearly 140 languages [global & indic] by December 2015.

KPT

Completing an entire cycle of innovation, Xploree has emerged as the only intelligent, user-initiated and hyper-contextual Search & Discovery platform in the mobile eco-system. It predicts user needs during chat conversations and guides them through their mobile journey across apps through relevant content, deals and services discovery.

Speaking about Xploree, Sumit Goswami, CEO of KeyPoint Technologies said

Mobile users today are looking for convenient, relevant and on the fly information while they are in between conversations and e-mails with their friends, family and at work. With expertise & experience to provide contextual search & brand discovery solutions to mobile eco-system players from the current one to 140 languages by end of 2015, we are best positioned to help businesses connect with their customers in real-time.

Built on our patent pending cross-app search and discovery platform, we are thrilled to launch Xploree that offers brands an opportunity to provide innovative content & deals to mobile users’ in a single hop without quitting their ongoing app conversations. Currently we are actively looking at India, South-East Asia and Middle East as our growth markets.

With Xploree, mobile phone users, without exiting the current conversation app, can instantly explore options for movies, fine dining, shopping etc. Brands through Xploree can connect with users in real-time to provide relevant services such as discount coupons, deals, one-hop search and add greater value to the conversation, thus taking consumer engagement from a contextual to a hyper-contextual realm.

Key Features of Xploree

  • Hyper-Contextual – Location, environment, user intent, past actions and more – relevant information, always in context.
  • Immediacy – Information, services and product purchases in your mobile moment and time of need in real-time.
  • Simplicity – Mobile search made simple with one tap – easy to find what exactly you want.

To view Xploree in action, please visit http://bit.ly/1LQKJqo

For Xploree updates please visit http://www.xploree.com/

|In: Android|Last Updated:

The most popular Malayalam music audio label Muzik247 has opened its Official Account on WeChat to bring full-on entertainment to fans of Malayalam music around the world. The Official Accounts brings a wide variety of Malayalam music, video discovery and social sharing to a WeChat user. This is another step by a leading international messaging app to build a content and lifestyle ecosystem on its platform, and help connect the audiences with brands and services.

Muzik

After following the Muzik247 official account on WeChat on their Smartphones, users can get the best of personal Malayalam entertainment:

  • Users can connect with Muzik247 for latest updates, requests for music, streaming HD videos, and other customized options
  • Users can easily share their favorite stuff on WeChat to friends through chats or Moments.
  • Users will receive a daily piece of popular viral content circling the web directly on their Smartphones.

Speaking about the association, Syed Zameer, Content Acquisition Head, Muzik247 said

Muzik247 wants to connect with the lively audience who love and enjoy some of the greatest Malayalam film music. WeChat would help us access, connect and communicate with their users in a fun and dynamic way

Speaking about the association, Nilay Arora, VP, Marketing & Business Development, WeChat India said

We are excited to bring the leading Malayalam label Muzik247 on board for our users who wish to enjoy the best South Indian music. The youth of today do not want to be limited by boundaries, and having access to Muzik247 on their Smartphone enables them to socially connect with their friends through even music – hence sparking new conversations and fun chats with friends.

To follow Muzik247’s official account, one needs to simply download WeChat and type in “Muzik247” in the search bar or scan the QR code below. Then follow the instructions in the welcome message to get started.

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About Muzik247

Muzik247 represents an Audio Label from the Southern Indian State Kerala. Muzik247 has been the most aggressive music label in Malayalam film music over the last two years with a Market Share of over 60% in the year 2013 & 2014.

Muzik247 possesses the soundtrack and song video rights to some of the most successful Malayalam Movies of recent times – Bangalore Days, Drishyam, How Old Are You, 7th Day, Vikramadithyan, Sapthamashree Thaskaraha to name a Few. For more information, please visit Muzik247

|In: Mobile|Last Updated:

Disrupting the nascent 4G market with the best in class technology, Micromax has announced its endeavor to offer fast 4G LTE connectivity to the Indian consumers. To build on to the leadership position in the Indian smartphone market, the company launched its flagship product Canvas Knight 2, the first in the range of 4G smartphones and showcased its upcoming 4G range.

Micromax

The company has been consistently revolutionizing the 3G market since 2012 with the launch of some compelling affordable smartphones and aims to help the Indian consumers unlock the true potential of 4G with this new launch.

Commenting on the launch, Vineet Taneja, CEO, Micromax Informatics said

India is at the cusp of digital revolution and we expect 4G technology to push internet usage to an unprecedented level. Consumer demand is constantly shifting towards devices offering multi-tasking capabilities, 24×7 data connectivity with increased video consumption and real-time mobility solutions. Smartphones always lead any such technology shift, much before full scale network roll-outs are done by operators.

In our estimate, 4G handsets already account for 15% of total smartphone shipments, up from 4% two quarters back. Installed base of 4G handsets is ~5 Mn compared to a 90Mn+ base of 3G smartphones. With the launch of our new device Canvas Knight 2, the first in the 4G range, we are looking at driving the next wave of internet evolution in the country.

Surfing on 4G networks is said to be at least 5 times faster than 3G and enables the consumers to download movies, stream video and music, share photographs, surf internet and achieve much more out of their smartphones with great ease.

The Canvas Knight 2 with its super-fast 4G internet gives the consumers all the tools right at their fingertips to conquer the world be it your presentations or finding the perfect night stops. Heavy web downloading, hard-core gaming, high-quality premium video viewing without any lag ensures the users are on top of everything.

The device is a performance beast as one can push boundaries with 64-bit performance processing data at the speed of light. Power packed with a 1.5 GHz Octa Core processor, the smartphone is perfect for multitasking and efficiently running applications of any kind. Do more things at once on the Canvas Knight 2 with its 2GB RAM that helps you speed things up and lets you access all applications, faster.

The device is a design marvel with a perfect amalgamation of Glass & Metal which is fortified with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 on both sides. Glass provides the premium & rich look to the product while the metal sandwiched between the glass on both sides makes the device sturdy and strong. Powered with Cirus Logic Wolfson Stereo WM8998, the smartphone promises the best in class experience for music aficionados and delivers clear, room-filling, deep sound.

Running on the latest Android Lollipop 5.0, the new device promises great benefits like optimized battery usage, improved application performance, refreshed notification system etc. to the neo users.

With a 5-inch Amoled HD Screen the device provides a 16.7 million colour depth, the display catches every colour in its brilliant and spectacular form. One can capture all their moments as perfect as they can be with a 13MP AF rear camera powered with Sony IMX214 CMOS sensor and LARGAN 5P lens. Taking selfies on the go is now even more remarkable with a 5MP FF front camera accompanied with Omnivison OV5648 & LARGAN 4P lens.

Canvas2

With 2G/3G/4G support on both dual SIM slots, one can manage personal and work calls with ease, with intelligent dual SIM features and detailed preferred network settings for each card. Nano SIM card slot can be replaced with the memory card to store more pictures, songs, videos etc

With the best buy price of Rs. 16,299; the Canvas Knight 2 comes with a free 4G SIM and an Airtel 4G Double Data offer which doubles the 4G data amount for any consumer activating the 4G SIM.

The device will be available from June 10, 2015 across India.

|In: Mobile|Last Updated:

Phicomm, China’s leading provider of telecommunication equipment, terminals & services today launched its flagship LTE Android smartphone – Phicomm Passion 660, in India. This versatile and easy to use smartphone based on a Qualcomm chipset has a 5.0-inch IPS LCD display with 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution [FHD] and is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 615 processor with 4G LTE.

Phicomm Passion 660 features a 13-megapixel rear-facing camera with LED flash and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera. With Phicomm’s own EXPECT 5.0 UI, Global 4G Roaming support and its unique pedometer, PHICOMM Passion 660 offers consumers a dream like technologically advanced device aimed to enhance their mobile experience. Phicomm Passion 660 will be available for sale exclusively on Amazon at Rs. 10,999.

Key Highlights

Connect to the world faster

With Global 4G Roaming Support, the Phicomm Passion 660 promises speedy connectivity to the world. You could be on the road or at comforts of your home; Phicomm Passion 660 will seamlessly allow you to stay constantly connected. Qualcomm Snapdragon with 4G LTE offers high-speed connectivity that allow consumers to share their content, browse, game and more, around the world.

Slim, light, and stylish

With a thickness of only 7.3 mm and weighing only 110 grams, Phicomm Passion 660 is one of the thinnest and lightest 4G smartphones available in the region. It has stronger structure on one piece metal body, seamless back cover by unibody process and decoration of metal frame.

Advanced technology

PHICOMM Passion 660 exhibits features based on innovative technology which includes a professional pedometer along with gesture recognition. The pedometer is one of the best features of the smartphone which enables one to track how much you walk in a day and it also the calories burnt! Set a goal and record your growth towards good health.

The built–in step-counter sensor does not require GPS & Network and it has 166 times power saving Capability as compared to a Software Solution. Gesture recognition enables you to access the functions of the phone with hand gestures, making the smart phone a futuristic gadget.

Passion 660 can also record your altitude by the built in barometer. When taking a picture, you can use Geo-tag and Barometer to record your 3D position [That means your latitude, longitude and altitude of your position].

Crystal Clear conversations

Not forgetting the primary function of a phone, the Phicomm Passion 660 employs 2 microphones to enable noise cancellation and suppression using Qualcomm Snapdragon Voice+ technology for superior speech clarity even in noisy environments.

Stunning pictures

The 5.0” FHD IPS screen at 441ppi gives an excellent colour reproduction and contrast. A 13 MP rear camera, armed with IMX 214 sensor from Sony and a 5 MP BSI front camera with super wide view angle [84 degrees] guarantee that your photos will look brilliant with amazing colour & outstanding details whatever taken in a bright or a dull background. The built in memory [2GB RAM/ 16GB ROM] can be additionally expanded up to 64 GB via SD card.

Features in a Nutshell

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Video review [Courtesy – GadgetsToUse]

Availablility

Phicomm Passion 660 is exclusively available on Amazon.in. The sales would begin on 9 June 2015

|In: Mobile|Last Updated:

TechProcess Payment Services Ltd, India’s leading payment solutions company, has announced the launch of Paynimo – the next generation mobile-first payment platform.

Paynimo powers a consistent user experience across different platforms, channels and devices. Its superior payment checkout experience enables an end consumer to complete transactions securely, and with minimal taps. It is India’s first truly revolutionary payment gateway that allows offline businesses to collect e-payments. Paynimo converts regular SMS and email reminders into actionable payment links, allowing merchants to e-collect from consumers. With ready-to-use APIs, it can be instantly integrated with billing systems for quick go-to-market!

TechProcess_logo

Launching Paynimo, Mr. Kumar Karpe – CEO, TechProcess Payment Services Ltd. said

Despite having 420 million plus debit and credit cards, the acceptance of electronic payments in India has been a challenge due to lack of POS penetration.

Paynimo empowers a merchants’ existing smartphone to collect e-payments without them having to invest in any additional infrastructure including a POS machine. As a ‘Super Wallet’, our solution will spur the activation of debit, credit and prepaid cards.

Our goal is to harness the potential of existing payment methods in the consumers’ hands and facilitate cashless transactions. Paynimo is a step in this direction as the platform operates independent of stashing cash in it. Hence, both consumers and merchants can opt for a secured ecosystem to transact without cash.

The salient features of this mobile payment offering are

  1. Effective and secure alternative to cash-on-delivery with anytime, anywhere, any device e-payment
  2. No Website, No POS, Converts your existing smartphone into Virtual POS
  3. With state of the art dashboard for effective consumer service, users no longer need to go through the hassle of creating a separate prepaid wallet and load cash each time
  4. It’s configurable UI support merchant branding guidelines and can be integrated with social network
  5. Instant Integration for quick go-to-market
  6. Instant and simultaneous payment confirmation to the merchant, consumer and delivery boy
  7. PCI DSS 3.0 certification for best in class security

To experience the process of sending, receiving and requesting money via Paynimo, have a look at the video below

About TechProcess Payment Services Ltd

TechProcess Payment Services Ltd. has been pioneering electronic payments in India since 2000 by setting up BillJunction, India’s first electronic bill presentment and payment service. TechProcess has been building, managing and servicing the e-payments ecosystem through its innovative cloud based payment platforms which have been adopted by leading brands. The service offerings cover the entire gamut of non-cash modes of electronic payments such as card payments, Net-banking, NACH, NEFT/RTGS, IMPS, e-wallets and the like. For more information, please visit their website

|In: Android|Last Updated:

MobieFit announced the launch of FirstRun App which is MobieFit’s first mobile app designed to make runners out of those who have never run before in their lives. FirstRun is the debut product of MobieFit, a company founded by Gourav Jaswal with Gul Panag as co-founder and born out of Prototyze, an incubator for technology-centered businesses.

Users can select from two running programs: a 5 kilometre program [based on Josh Clark’s world-renowned C25K program] and a 10 kilometre program. The most unique feature of the app is the personal trainer, Gul Panag.

FirstRun has many unique features that set it apart. Primary among which is the presumption that the user can run only one minute [yes, only one minute] at a time for the first session.

Gul Panag Launches First Run (1)

Features of FirstRun

Personal Trainer

A personal trainer guides users through the process, ensuring motivational levels never drop. Gul is the in-app personal trainer for the 5K and 10K programs, giving runners essential tips along the way.

Don’t worry about Speed or Distance

FirstRun does not focus on speed or distance, instead just encourages people to run for a set time.

With a combination of walking and running, the app ensures that exercising becomes easier for users at any stage of fitness or the lack of it.

Perfect for Beginners

On the first day, the runner only needs to run for less than 10 minutes with each run being only one minute. So even beginners can start running with ease. As they progress, the running time gradually increases.

Train for a 5K and 10K

The 5 kilometre program is structured in a way, that a beginner can go the distance in just 9 weeks, by running thrice a week. The 10 kilometre mark can be achieved by running thrice a week for 12 weeks.

Treadmill mode

Users can run outdoors or even indoors, since FirstRun has a unique treadmill mode, that gives you the right instructions at the right time.

In-app music player

Runners love music on their daily run, so there’s an in-app music player to keep them company every time they step out.

FirstRun is a great tool to train for marathons as it makes you a disciplined runner.

Quotes from Key People

Gul Panag, co-founder, MobieFit

I wish I had access to this kind of technology when I started running. If I had the support of a fantastic app like FirstRun, I would have definitely struggled less to run my first 3 miles.

Over the years, I have seen how important it is to bring fitness into our lives. I have witnessed first-hand the positive transformation it has brought in those close to me.

Gourav Jaswal, Founder and Director, MobieFit

FirstRun doesn’t just log your runs. It coaches you to run. While I have led an active life and been involved in many fitness activities, I was never a runner. This is what took me in nine weeks into running 5 km.

About MobieFit

MobieFit is a venture focused on m-Fitness. It helps you become as fit as you want, in the way that you want. MobieFit is one among many ventures born at Prototyze, an incubator founded by Gourav Jaswal. More information about MobieFit here

About Prototyze

Prototyze is an incubator, currently working in stealth mode on building mobile technology centered businesses in multiple sectors such as Financial Services, Health & Fitness, and Training & Learning. Two ventures catalyzed by Prototyze [MobieFit &HandyTrain] have already been incorporated as independent companies with independent teams, investment and trajectory. More information about Prototyze here

* Do give FirstRun [Download Link – FirstRun] a shot & share your feedback in the comments section.

|In: Mobile|Last Updated:

National Instruments [NI], the provider of solutions that enable engineers and scientists to solve the world’s greatest engineering challenges, announced the opening of the new Wireless Innovation Lab at its Austin headquarters.

In the lab, NI supports ongoing collaborations with top academic and industry research groups participating in its RF/Communications Lead User program. Researchers at Intel, Lund University, Nokia Networks, NYU Wireless, Samsung, The University of Texas at Austin & TU Dresden are driving significant advances in the development of next-generation wireless systems and furthering research in 5G. Current demos and projects on display in the lab include mmWave cellular systems, the 5G Massive MIMO Test-bed & the LabVIEW Communications System Design Suite.

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“At the Wireless Networking and Communications Group [WNCG], we have had several research projects with the RF/Communications Lead User team that range from MIMO interference alignment to interference cancellation,” said Robert Heath, professor, PhD, PE, IEEE Fellow at The University of Texas at Austin. “We’ve seen accelerated prototyping on all of these projects and we’re eager to build on the latest research.”

The Wireless Innovation Lab showcases NI’s commitment and investment to help researchers define next-generation wireless communication systems using the power and capability of the NI software defined radio platform with LabVIEW Communications System Design Suite. This platform-based approach helps reduce the time from theory to results by testing designs in a real-world environment.

To learn more about the new Wireless Innovation Lab, please visit this page

About the RF/Communications Lead User Program

NI established several lead user programs to facilitate research in areas including controls, mechatronics and robotics with a common goal of rapidly moving from theory to prototype. Established in 2010, the RF/Communications Lead User program currently includes more than 10 research institutions working on multiple 5G communications projects.