Weekly Buzz in the Indian Internet/Telecom world [August 27th to September 2nd]

This week is loaded with telecom related buzz. One of the most significant development is the launch of OVI, Nokia’s Internet services offerings.

Also, Reliance unveiled it’s video rental service BigFlicks – which is inspired from Netflix and Blockbuster model from the US of A.

Other significant developments are:

• Indian Telecom Industry:CDMA subscriber base reaches 50 million mark
• Northgate Technologies Sets Up Social Media India To Promote BharatStudent.com
• Online Games Grow in Asia
  Pearl (a research firm) reported that 10 online game publishers in Asia topped $100 million in 2006 revenue. Thirteen publishers are expected to hit that mark by 2008, as the online games market continues to expand across Asia.
  China, Vietnam and India will drive much of the growth. All three countries have a large youth population and are becoming more urban. Internet and PC penetration have also risen quickly in these countries.
• Telcos ad spend up 6%
  Telecom industry print advertising grew 6 per cent in volumes during January to June first half (H1’07) over H1’06, on the back of combination of promotional ads by telecom service providers and price promotions. According to a recent report by AdEx India, a division of TAM Media Research, 154 new service ads and 104 new mobile handsets were launched during H1’07.
  Reliance Communications led the advertising among service providers, whereas Nokia topped among telecom equipment advertising in print.Nokia was the strongest contender in telecom equipment advertising with 39 brands.
• ITC Plans An Outlay Of Rs. 5000 Crore For E-Choupal Expansion: ITC intends to spend Rs. 5000 crore over the next five years, increasing the number of e-choupals to 20,000 across 350 districts, from around 6400 in 130 districts. The initiative will connect 100,000 villages in India, and serve around 10 million farmers by 2010.
• Operators forge tie-ups for high-end cellphones
  
• Airtel, Hutchison Essar, BPL Get Maximum Spectrum Of 10 Mhz
• TRAI Recommends Changes In Telecom M&A And Spectrum Allocation Rules
• Tata Sky sees 165mn pay TV households : the current user base stands at 3.2 million.
• 3 Japanese firms in race for $1.5bn Flag deal
• Nokia OVI – Nokia is now an “Internet services” company and no more a mobile manufacturer
• Trai wants telcos to pay more for spectrum
  
• Sun buys 48.9% stake in Red FM
• `We are in talks with Zoom and NDTV for content`– Reliance’s BigFlicks.
• ADAG gets into online video fray
  
• TCS bags Rs 574 crore BSNL deal
• Interview with Sridhar Vembu, Founder of Zoho
• Sunsilk Gang Of Girls Ties Up With Zoom, Oxford Book Store
• mylivesearch : A new generation Search Engine

tags: bigflicks, indian telecom industry, airtel, mylivesearch, nokia ovi, gang of girls