Month: May 2021

Vivo offers extended warranty for customers in lockdown areas

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Chinese mobile phone manufacturer Vivo on Friday has extended warranty services for its customers in India by 30 days for all Vivo devices. This extension is only applicable to customers who are currently in a city or state under lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With the lockdown being imposed in nearly 80 percent of the states in India, Vivo has assured it will address all concerns of its customers who were unable to visit a service centre.

The 30-day warranty as per Vivo’s press release will be calculated from the day when the service centre resumes business and it further clarified in a tweet that the extended warranty will be applicable only if the expiry date or replacement falls under the lockdown period. A free pick up and drop facility for customers will also be provided depending on the local restrictions where the customer resides.

Also read: Tata Motors extends service and warranty period till June end

This announcement comes close on the heels of another mobile manufacturer, POCO, who had extended the warranty of all its phones by 2 months for customers whose warranty was to expire in May and June.

Mobile companies are taking the heat and have postponed their launches of new smartphones including Asus and Realme while Xiaomi is launching their products virtually despite the widespread COVID-19 situation.

How to Check Warranty

To know your IMEI, dial *#06# or head to settings > more settings > About phone. Your IMEI number will be displayed. This can be keyed in at the Vivo IMEI website to get all details about your service warranty.

Vivocares Initiative

Last year when the first wave hit India, Vivo donated over 9 lakh masks, 15,000 PPE kits, and 50,000 litres of sanitisers to government agencies under the ‘Vivocares’ initiative. It had also pledged food for COVID-19 affected families and aid worth Rs 10 crore in India.

Also read: WhatsApp defends new privacy policy, claims other companies collect more data

It is not only mobile manufacturers who have extended their service warranty to ensure customers do not fret but also auto majors such as Tata Motors, MG Hector, Toyota too have come forward to ease the hardships of the customers.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Market Unplugged Podcast: Here’s why metals and midcaps are outperforming

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Rising inflation in the US sparked a sell-off in the equity market across the globe, including the US. In this edition of the Market Unplugged Podcast, CNBC-TV18 National News Editor Prashant Nair talks to CNBCTV18.com Executive Editor Santosh Nair about the historical trends in the link between inflation and the stock market performance in the US.

They also discuss the factors driving the outperformance in midcap stocks and why the rally in metal stocks is likely to continue for some more time. They finally touch upon whether defensive stocks will find takers, given their expensive valuations, if the overall market outlook darkens.

Tune in to the Market Unplugged Podcast for more.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Cyclone Tauktae expected to hit Gujarat coast on May 18: Here’s how it’s named

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The upcoming cyclonic storm that is likely to hit Gujarat coast with a wind speed of 90-100 kmph, gusting to 115 kmph, on May 18, has been named after a lizard- Tauktae.

Potentially the first cyclonic storm of the year, Tauktae could be taking shape from depression over Lakshadweep as of now, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The word Tauktae has been suggested by Myanmar, which means ‘gecko’, a distinctively vocal lizard, in the Burmese language. The name is the fourth from a new list of 169 names released by the IMD last year.

Also read: Kerala districts on red alert as IMD warns of cyclone

How are Cyclones Named?

The World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) maintains rotating lists of names, which are appropriate for each Tropical Cyclone basin. If a cyclone is particularly deadly or costly, then its name is retired and replaced by another.

Generally, the name list is proposed by the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHS) of the WMO members of a specific region and approved by the respective tropical cyclone regional bodies at their annual or biennial sessions.

Why is a Cyclone Named?

Naming tropical cyclones came into the practice for quick identification of the storms in warning messages because names are presumed to be easier to remember than latitude and longitude numbers and technical terms. Also, names make it easier for the media to report on tropical cyclones and increase community preparedness.

Also read: Cyclone Amphan of 2020 resulted in $14 bn economic losses in India: UN report

As per WMO, the use of short, distinctive names in written as well as spoken communications is quicker and less subject to error than the older more cumbersome latitude-longitude identification methods. These advantages are especially important in exchanging detailed storm information among widely scattered stations, coastal bases, and ships at sea.

Naming cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea

A WMO/ESCAP (World Meteorological Organisation/United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific) Panel on Tropical Cyclones agreed in principle to assign names to the tropical cyclones in the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea during its 27th session held in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman, in 2000.

The naming of the tropical cyclones over the north Indian Ocean commenced from September 2004, with names provided by eight members, starting with Bangladesh, followed by India. Since then, another five countries have joined the Panel.

Also read: Explained: How declaring COVID-19 pandemic a natural calamity would help India?

The Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC), New Delhi is responsible for naming the cyclonic storms formed over the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea when they reach the relevant intensity.

Last year, India had witnessed two cyclones by May, Amphan in the Bay of Bengal and Nisarga in the Arabian Sea. Amphan was from the previous list. From the fresh list, Bangladesh named the next cyclone Nisarga.

There are six RSMCs in the world, including the IMD and five TCWCs.

The IMD also issues cyclone advisories to the 12 other countries. Based on the list, the next few cyclones will be named Yaas, Gulaab, Shaheen, Jawad, and so on.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Global chip crunch now hits the small screen; TV prices on the rise

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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After cars, it’s the television manufacturers who have been hit by the global shortage of semiconductor chips, leading to a rise in prices of television (TV) sets.

According to market analysts, it is just a matter of time before the chip crunch affects the prices of other gadgets like laptops and smartphones. PlayStations are already facing delayed production.

In fact, technology research firm OMDIA went on to say that basically anything that has a screen built into it is going to be affected by the price rise, all thanks to the global chip shortage.

Also read: Toyota rides out semiconductor chip shortage, doubles profits in Jan-March

According to market research company NPD, the price of smart TV models has shot up around 30 percent in recent months, compared to the corresponding time last year.

With most of the world locked up indoors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so much dependence on technology has never been witnessed ever before in human history.

Be it televisions, laptops or smartphones, human beings have never been so dependent on them for work from home to online classes or for socialising to binge-watching to alleviate the lockdown blues. But all this extra screen time has set in motion a semiconductor supply crunch, causing prices of some of the gadgets like TVs to rise.

Several other gadgets like laptops, tablets, and VR headsets also use the same circuitry, raising fears that they may also experience a similar shock.

Also read: Nintendo forecasts decline in Switch sales, warns of chip uncertainty

Some manufacturers, like Taiwanese firm Asus, have already flagged the potential price rise. Asus said during a quarterly earnings call in March that a shortage of components would mean “price hikes further upstream,” which would likely affect consumers, reported Wired.

Sony said this week that the PlayStation 5 would remain in short supply through 2022 due to the crunch. In February, Sony CFO Hiroki Totoki had said it was difficult for them to increase the production of the PS5 amid the shortage of semiconductors and other components.

Not Limited to Gadgets

The impact is not limited to gadgets. In January, passenger vehicle sales witnessed a YoY decline of over 4 percent due to the semiconductor shortage, as per automobile dealers’ body Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA).

Vinkesh Gulati, FADA president, believed the industry misjudged demand post-lockdown. Moreover, chipmakers moving to electronics and server industries has led to slow production, he added.

Also read: Samsung sees chip profits up, mobile sales down in second quarter on chip shortage

Automakers from General Motors to Stellantis and Honda Motors have had to shut down assembly lines due to the shortages, while some firms furloughed staff.

Last month, Jaguar Land Rover temporarily suspended production at two of its main facilities in the United Kingdom due to the shortage of computer chips.

In fact, many of the world’s biggest automakers are temporarily shutting down operations in Asia, Europe, and North America due to the continuous chip shortage.

Among other carmakers, Ford, Toyota, and Volkswagen are also hit by the problem. The chips are fitted in cars to manage and monitor everything from engine and driving performance to air-conditioning and entertainment systems.

What Caused the Shortage

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic sparked a boom in demand for home electronics and the economic slowdown also caused certain industries to misjudge how demand would fall.

Also read: Apple soars past sales, profit targets with strong iPhone demand, warns of chip shortages

Besides, there are broader supply chain disruptions like a fire in March at a plant in Japan, which was manufacturing a range of semiconductor components, including display integrated circuits.

What are Chips?

Semiconductor chips are made of silicon. These chips control memory functions in products ranging from automobiles, computers, gaming consoles, and other electronic items.

How are Chipmakers Faring?

According to a Reuters report, Asian chipmakers are rushing to expand their production capacities to meet the global demand. However, many have warned that it would take months to plug the supply gap. On the other hand, some chipmakers are battling issues like under-investment.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

WhatsApp defends new privacy policy, claims other companies collect more data

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Just days before WhatsApp starts using its new privacy policy amid an outcry over privacy concerns, the company defended its latest update, saying other mobile applications and websites collect just as much data as it does.

The Facebook-owned company said in its affidavit filed in the Delhi High Court that mobile applications like Big Basket (grocery delivery service), Koo (social media app/microblogging platform), Ola (ride-sharing service), Truecaller (internet phone directory), Zomato (food delivery service) and Aarogya Setu (contact tracing service for COVID-19) collect the same sort of data parameters of its users that WhatsApp does. The company also stated in its affidavit that web services like Zoom and Google already have similar privacy policies in place.

The affidavit was given in response to a petition filed by lawyer Harsha Gupta who has argued that the new privacy policy infringes on the right to privacy of its users.

The instant messaging app has been taking the heat in various countries as regulatory authorities and privacy rights groups have started raising serious concerns.

WhatsApp is currently facing a probe under the orders of the Competition Commission of India for ‘abuse of dominant position.’ Facebook and WhatsApp had petitioned the Delhi HC to stop the order of the probe but the petition was set aside as the court saw no merit in stopping the probe.

In Germany, the country’s data protection regulator deemed the same policies of WhatsApp as illegal and banned Facebook from using the data that WhatsApp collects from its users in the country.

While WhatsApp has removed the deadline of May 15 for all users to accept the new policy change, the policy is still going to go live as scheduled. WhatsApp has repeatedly claimed that it will not delete the accounts of users who have not accepted the policy. However, the features of the app will gradually become “limited” for the users who fail to agree to the new changes.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Dr Reddy’s to vaccinate 12.5 crore people in India with Sputnik V over next 12 months

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Hyderabad-based drug maker Dr Reddy’s intends to vaccinate 125 million (12.5 crore) people in the coming 8-12 months with its Russia-developed and locally-made Sputnik V vaccines. The first 15-20 percent of the initial supplies will be imported from Russia. The company is in talks with two states and already has a firm commitment to supply 36 million doses.

The Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine has been developed by the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), and Dr Reddy’s will locally manufacture the jabs in India. As per the agreement, the Indian company can manufacture up to 250 million doses with a further extension on mutual consent with RDIF.

Price of Sputnik V in India

The first shipment that was received on May 1 in India was cleared by the Central Drugs Laboratory, Kasauli, on May 13. The first dose of Sputnik V was injected on a pilot basis in Hyderabad on May 14. The Sputnik V vaccine will be available at Rs 995.40 per dose including GST. Company officials have indicated that prices are expected to drop when it is locally manufactured, which is expected to happen by June.

Dr Reddy’s has indicated that the price will remain the same irrespective of who purchases the vaccine, be it the government or private channels.

Supply Chain for the Vaccine

Dr Reddy’s is leaving no stone unturned and has six manufacturing partners in line to ensure smooth and timely supply to states. The company intends to work closely with hospitals in metros that can handle the minus 18 degrees Celsius storage that is needed for Sputnik V.

The Sputnik V vaccine was the first shot against Coronavirus in the world and has an efficacy of 91.6 percent. More than 60 countries have registered Sputnik V for emergency use. Dr Reddy’s has also confirmed that it would be introducing the single-dose Sputnik Light vaccine in India soon.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

3 Mins Read

Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow