happy news for android devolopers in india

Google enables Indian developers to sell paid apps on Google Play Store

in a turn that will help boost the morale of Indian app developers, search giant Google has added India to the list of countries from which developers can register as Google Checkout merchants. What this basically means is that Indian developers will be able to sell paid applications via the Google Play Store (earlier, Indian developers had to open accounts in countries that supported this service so that they could sell Android apps).

While Google did not come out with an announcement for the same, it quietly added India to the list (see pic below). “We’re working hard to add more countries, but we’re unable to provide any guidance on timelines. Please stay tuned!”

The company also pointed out some important points that the developers had to keep in mind. These included:

The Google Checkout account that developers need to link to their Google Play developer account can only be linked once from within the developer account interface.

Once the accounts are linked, they cannot be removed, changed or updated. If a developer wants to do this, they will have to sign up for a new developer account by paying a fee of $25.

 The company has been rolling out the ability to set prices in multiple currencies over several months but if a particular location is not yet enabled for selling in multiple currencies, developers will only be able to set a price in their home currency. This basically means that Indian developers will only be able to sell in Indian rupees as of now.

Also, once the price for an application is set, developers can choose to change it at any time. But once an application is published for free, you cannot later add a price to that app. Developers will need to create new app (with their Application Package File) and add a price.

For those who don’t already know, Google follows the 30:70 model where it takes 30 per cent of the total app price as transaction fees and developers get the rest. And if an app sells digital goods (like in-game purchases) or subscriptions, the company takes 30 per cent of that amount as well.

aakash tablet

Aakash - 2 supply to IIT Bombay started; launch in October: Datawind

NEW DELHI: Maker of low cost Aakash tablet, Datawind, today said it has started supplying the new version of the tablet to IIT Bombay and it is likely to be launched in October.

"Supplies are on to IIT Bombay. In the next few weeks, it should be launched. I do not have the exact date, but HRD Minister ( Kapil Sibal) has said he wants to launch on the anniversary date which is October 5,"Datawind CEO Sunit Singh Tuli told PTI.

The launch will depend on the Minister's schedule, but it is not very far from now, he added.

Tuli said Datawind has started supplying the next version of the low cost tablet, Aakash 2, to IIT Bombay since the last one month and a half. However, he refused to disclose other details.

Sibal had earlier said that new version of Aakash tablet would have a better battery with a three-hour battery backup, a capacitive touch screen among other new features at the same price.

Datawind had won the tender for making and supplying Aakash tablets for price of around $49 per unit. Apart from this order, the company has also received orders for 55 lakh more from general customers.

Datawind CEO said the company has cleared most of the pre-paid bookings and will now start focusing on supplies for the non-paid bookings.

"Out of 55 lakh orders, 4 to 5 per cent were pre-paid bookings. May be in a week or 10 days, all the pre-paid will be done. Then we will focus on pre-bookings. We are giving them offers to upgrade to Android 4.4 version," he said.

Datawind is delivering around 1,500 to 2,000 tablets each day, being assembled within the country as well as outside, Tuli said.

He added that company is in talks with channel partners to sell products across country, but it will first focus on the pre-booking order that it has.

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SAMSUNG CHAMP DUOS

Samsung Champ Neo Duos launched at Rs 3,190

Bangalore: Samsung has introduced another player in its budget phone class, the Champ Neo Duos. The dual SIM device has some neat features to it making it a budget-friendly buy at Rs 3,190.

Sporting a 2.5-inch screen and with a stylus pen too, Champ Neo Duos has on-the-go connectivity options and a dual SIM hot swap functionality. 

The device is fully capable of social network support with apps like Twitter, Facebook. Samsung’s own chat application, the ChatON comes pre-installed along with 20MB memory expandable to 32GB, a VGA camera and 1,000 mAh battery.

Samsung Champ Neo Duos is available in ceramic white colour.

According to Samsung’s own website, the Champ Neo Duos is, ''Housed in a compact and neat design with a full touch screen and enhanced connectivity, this mobile is always on to receive calls, access social networking sites, download apps, play music and much more,'' 

The phone is available on online retail giant Flipkart at Rs 3,190. 

facebook turns off the facial recognisation tool

Facebook turns off facial recognition tool

LONDON: Facebook said Friday it had switched off the facial-recognition tool that prompts users to "tag" photographs uploaded to its website following a privacy investigation. 

The feature was identified by regulators as one of the main privacy threats posed by the social networking site. 

Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner (DPC), Billy Hawkes, who launched the probe because Facebook's European operations are based in Ireland, said he was happy that the site had agreed to remove the tool in Europe by October 15. 

New users are already unable to access it. 

Hawkes said: "I am satisfied that the review has demonstrated a clear and ongoing commitment on the part of FBI to comply with its data protection responsibilities." 

He added: "By doing so it is sending a clear signal of its wish to demonstrate its commitment to best practice in data protection compliance." 

Facebook said in a statement: "In light of discussions with our regulator in Ireland, we have agreed to suspend the Tag Suggest feature in Europe." 

It said it would work with the Irish authorities "on the appropriate way to obtain user consent for this kind of technology under European rules". 

Facebook was keen to encourage members to "tag" their friends in photographs because it ensures they are shared more widely, but it has been a controversial addition to the site. 

Europe-versus-Facebook, an Austrian campaign group that has been fighting for clearer privacy policies on Facebook and already took its complaints to the DPC last year, welcomed Friday's ruling. 

This was "a very surprising decision of the Irish authority" and it "sounds like a big victory for users," the group said on its website. 

"It looks like we might soon be able to drop our first complaint," it added.

No roaming charges likely from next year

No roaming charges likely from next year

NEW DELHI: The communications ministry will do away with roaming charges paid by mobile users when travelling within India from 2013, telecom secretary R Chandrasekhar told ET, even as he added that it would not be possible to specify the exact month of execution.

The finance ministry asked the telecom department to submit the road map for implementation of the 'one nation-free roaming' that was announced by communications minister Kapil Sibal earlier this year. In May, the Union Cabinet had approved the National Telecom Policy - 2012 that aimed at doing away with roaming charges and introducing a pan-India mobile permit (unified licence) that would enable mobile phone firms to offer all communication services.

"Our first priority is the upcoming spectrum auctions. At the same time, we are working on the Unified Licence (UL) and we want to finalise this by December. Once the UL regime is rolled out post December, concepts like 'One nation-free roaming' that is part of it will be introduced. This will happen sometime next year (2013). At this stage it will be impossible to specify the exact timeframe," Chandrasekhar said.

This consumer-centric move, which is bound to bring down the mobile bills of frequent travellers, will dent revenues of India's beleaguered telecom companies since roaming charges account for about 10% of the sector's annual sales.

Microsoft India in a race for corporate excellence

Microsoft India in the race for corporate excellence award in US

WASHINGTON: Eleven finalists, including Microsoft India, have been selected for the US Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE). 

Microsoft India is the only American company in India to have found a place in the 11 shortlisted US companies. These were chosen from 82 nominations submitted by US ambassadors around the world. 

ACE finalists recognise the vital role that US businesses play abroad as good corporate citizens that promote sustainable development and support local community needs in the countries where they operate, the State Department said in a statement. 

Microsoft in India has been selected for its efforts to provide community technology skills for young adults in rural and underserved communities; donate software for non- governmental organisation efforts for community development, it said. 

Stating the others reasons for Microsoft's nomination, it said, "...technology company's efforts to... create and disseminate internet templates so that persons with disabilities can access public information; and develop accessibility guides for educators, governments and businesses to enhance learning opportunities for students with disabilities." 

Other American companies in the list of 11 finalists are Chevron in Turkmenistan, Esso in Angola, General Motors in Uzbekistan, Intel in Vietnam, Intel in Malaysia, Microsoft in Thailand, Microsoft in Egypt, Rosalie Bay in Dominica, Sorwathe in Rwanda and Sustainable Mahogany Industries in Fiji. 

The annual award, instituted in 1999, recognises American companies that are leaders in socially responsible activities and contribute to the overall growth and development of the local economy in which they work. 

The 2012 ACE winners will be announced at the annual ceremony hosted by the Secretary of State on November 28.

BSNL GOING VIDEO CALLING FACILITY FOR LANDLINE

Landline phones with video calling facility, from BSNL

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), the State-run telephone services service provider has launched telephones with video calling facility.

BSNL has partnered with Sai InfoSystem (India) Limited to launched telephones with video calling facility which will primarily be used to set up public Video Call Offices (VCOs), replacing the Public Call booths (PCOs). This launch yesterday, plans to boost the revenues of the company, since a major source of the revenue are the landline phones.

“There will be no need to use computers for making video calls for user of these video phones. We will convert existing PCOs to VCOs with these phones. People will be able to make voice calls to any phone and video calls to any other IP (internet based) phone," said R K Upadhyay, Chairman and Managing Director of BSNL. The call charges will be Rs 3 for 45 second video call made from the VCO which will include 30 per cent commission for the franchise owner.

According to A K Jain, Senior General Manager for Broadband, BSNL, around 770 PCOs have confirmed to shift their business to VCOs. BSNL is seeking to have about 10,000 VCOs set-up across the country for the people to avail this facility.

BSNL is also planning to launch 'Fibre to Home' (FTH) facility by the end of this month, for customers who are seeking internet, telephone and TV channels' access. For this BSNL plans to offer a high speed (up to 100 mbps) Internet connection with the FTH.

iPhone 5 effect? Galaxy S III, S II, Note go cheaper

iPhone 5 effect? Galaxy S III, S II, Note go cheaper

Samsung has quietly reduced the prices of its top end phones in India by approximately Rs 2,000 to 3,000. The price cuts comes at a time when the South Korean manufacturer's chief rival Apple launched its latest device, the iPhone 5, which met with phenomenal success and looks set to break all sales records.

On Samsung India's official e-store, the current flagship Galaxy S III is now priced at Rs 35,499, a drop of Rs 3,500. This device has received rave reviews from critics and buyers alike and has performed well on various benchmark tests.
The Galaxy Note has also received a price cut in India, as it now costs Rs 29,990 on Samsung e-store in India. Previously, the 5.3-inch phablet cost Rs 32,990 in the country. Considering that the company has begun taking pre-orders for its successor, the Galaxy Note II, this price cut was expected by industry experts.

Last year's flagship phone, the Samsung Galaxy S II, has also been subjected to a price cut and now costs Rs 25,900, down Rs 2,000 from Rs 27,900. The phone remains quite popular in India and comes with Ice Cream Sandwich version of Google's Android operating system.
Prices of phones priced below Rs 20,000 remained unchanged on Samsung India's e-store.
Samsung phones on contract received similar price cuts ahead of the iPhone 5 launch in the US and UK, making them more appealing to buyers who do not wish to burn a hole in their pockets for a new high-end phone.

Considering that Samsung decided to slash the prices of its top end offerings just when the iPhone 5 was rolled out worldwide, it seems that the company is trying to gain buyers' attention through an aggressive pricing strategy. However, it remains to be seen whether this move will bring some Apple loyalists to Samsung stores or not.

MICROSOFT APP FEST SETS GUINESS WORLD RECORD

MICROSOFT APP FEST SETS GUINESS WORLD RECORD

Bangalore: Microsoft Windows 8 Appfest made history by setting a new Guinness world record for most participants in a software development marathon at one location here today.

The Appfest saw participation of 2,567 developers coding non-stop for 18 hours.

The event, hosted by Microsoft and aimed at encouraging developers to build, design and test applications (apps) for the Windows platform, had commenced here last afternoon.

Paul O'Neill, Vice President, Guinness World Records Commercial announced Microsoft's entry into the Guinness world records for "Most Participants in a Software Development Marathon in One Location".

A certificate validating the record was presented to Jon DeVaan, Corporate Vice President for Windows Development at Microsoft, and Bhaskar Pramanik, Chairman, Microsoft Corporation India Pvt Ltd.

At the closing of the Windows Appfest, O'Neill said, "The spectacle of thousands of developers toiling through the night has demonstrated great commitment to their work."

Pramanik said: "This Guinness Record