INDUSTRY | SHORT TAKES Compiled By: Ruchika Goel [email protected]

Samsung Expands J Series Portfolio with Galaxy J7 and Galaxy J5 2016 edition amsung India announced the introduced a host of locally developed innovations launch of the 2016 editions of as part of their ‘Make for India’ initiative. This in- its popular Galaxy J7 and Gal- cludes a cost-effective 4G experience with the axy J5 , offering innovative Ultra Data Saving (UDS) mode. consumers more choices in India also launched an industry first theS J series, which is currently India’s larg- S Bike Mode, a dedicated bike mode that lets est selling range. consumers ‘ride tension free’ while encouraging The 2016 editions of Galaxy J7 and responsible riding. This was based on the insight Galaxy J5 better the previous benchmark that two-wheeler riders receive a lot of unim- set by the 2015 editions and elevate the portant calls and notifications while riding. The consumer experience to the next level. A S Bike Mode’s urgent call alert system notifies new design language with a stylish metal callers through an automated answering ma- frame and an upgraded display with an chine that the user is riding and is unavailable ergonomic height-to-width ratio are key to take calls. However, callers have the option changes from the predecessors. The to press 1 in case the call is urgent. As a safety smartphones’ performances have also feature, the in-built motion lock ensures that the been enhanced by incorporating better rider has to come to a halt before they can an- memory specifications. swer the call. J series is currently and J5 2016 will be priced India’s largest selling series of smart- at `15,990 and `13,990, respectively and will be phones with 4 models across price points available in 3 colour options—gold, black, and in the affordable segment. Samsung has white. Launches Smart Cities Partner Ecosystem to Help Construct a Future-ready India

ell announced the foundation of the Smart City Partner Ecosystem, a network of or- ganizations with technology expertise to address the Smart City opportunity in India. This network brings together players offer- ingD different solutions and capabilities that will help in execution of Smart Cities & IoT projects. Currently, the network has 12 partners, with more coming on board. Together, this partner ecosystem will jointly go to mar- to citizens such as garbage tracking, energy management, ket with end-to-end offerings to aid India’s next phase of traffic management, etc. growth. „ Digital Infrastructure, which is the foundation upon The government’s ambitious ‘100 Smart Cities’ program which applications can run; such as compute, storage, aims at addressing the infrastructure gap to make cities datacenters, virtualization, network, etc. more livable, besides enhancing the business and invest- Smart Cities need superior digital architects and digital ment climate. Central and state governments are making infrastructure to ensure proper planning and execution. significant investments in innovative smart city programs They also rely heavily on a solid digital foundation and to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors. The smart data management. Having implemented and ex- solutions to develop and execute smart cities’ projects can ecuted several projects globally, Dell is able to bring global broadly be categorized as: best practices to India, as well as customize solutions to „ Applications, for delivery and monitoring of services match Indian necessities.

8 | May 31, 2016 www.dqindia.com A CyberMedia Publication | INDUSTRY | SHORT TAKES INDUSTRY | SHORT TAKES Compiled By: Ruchika Goel [email protected]

Samsung Expands J Series Portfolio STMicroelectronics Brings Superior Indoor and with Galaxy J7 and Galaxy J5 2016 edition Undercover Navigation to Mobiles and Wearables amsung India announced the introduced a host of locally developed innovations launch of the 2016 editions of as part of their ‘Make for India’ initiative. This in- spectrum of electronics applications. its popular Galaxy J7 and Gal- cludes a cost-effective 4G experience with the Fitness-tracking smartphone apps, smartwatches, axy J5 smartphones, offering innovative Ultra Data Saving (UDS) mode. and bands need continuous location data for mapping consumers more choices in Samsung India also launched an industry first and recording, and accuracy is critical for wearers who theS J series, which is currently India’s larg- S Bike Mode, a dedicated bike mode that lets like to monitor their progress and share achievements est selling smartphone range. consumers ‘ride tension free’ while encouraging online. A built-in eCompass helps calculate location The 2016 editions of Galaxy J7 and responsible riding. This was based on the insight when satellite signals are unavailable, such as inside Galaxy J5 better the previous benchmark that two-wheeler riders receive a lot of unim- buildings or when running or cycling under tree cover. set by the 2015 editions and elevate the portant calls and notifications while riding. The However, current solutions can give errors of about 10° consumer experience to the next level. A S Bike Mode’s urgent call alert system notifies in latitudes such as Northern Italy or Northern California. new design language with a stylish metal callers through an automated answering ma- This can put the user off course by 150 meters or more frame and an upgraded display with an chine that the user is riding and is unavailable in every 1000 meters traveled. ergonomic height-to-width ratio are key to take calls. However, callers have the option ST’s LSM303AGRe Compass cuts the heading error changes from the predecessors. The to press 1 in case the call is urgent. As a safety martphones, as well as smartwatches, fit- to less than 4°, leveraging the Company’s proprietary smartphones’ performances have also feature, the in-built motion lock ensures that the ness trackers and other wearables are about technology for manufacturing high-accuracy magnetic been enhanced by incorporating better rider has to come to a halt before they can an- to get better at guiding users and mapping sensors. This enhanced accuracy, combined with ultra- memory specifications. swer the call. their sporting achievements even where sat- low-power operation consuming up to 50% less than series is currently Samsung Galaxy J7 and J5 2016 will be priced ellite navigation cannot work, using the latest competing devices when in low-power mode, is particu- India’s largest selling series of smart- at `15,990 and `13,990, respectively and will be electronicS compass (eCompass) from STMicroelectron- larly well suited to high-precision Pedestrian Dead Reck- phones with 4 models across price points available in 3 colour options—gold, black, and ics, a global semiconductor serving customers across the oning (PDR) on mobile devices. in the affordable segment. Samsung has white. Dell Launches Smart Cities Partner Freecharge and Cleartrip Ecosystem to Help Construct a Future-ready India Join Hands to Make Online Bookings Faster reecharge, digital payments platform an- speed. We are moving towards building an ecosystem for ell announced the foundation of the Smart nounced its partnership with Cleartrip. With merchants to make consumers’ daily payments frictionless City Partner Ecosystem, a network of or- this partnership, travellers can now pay for and convenient.” ganizations with technology expertise to their flight tickets, hotel bookings, train tick- address the Smart City opportunity in India. ets, etc, in less than 10 seconds, making the This network brings together players offer- experienceF swifter and seamless. ingD different solutions and capabilities that will help in With this partnership, Freecharge has entered the big- execution of Smart Cities & IoT projects. Currently, the gest segment in travel, by adding its fast and secure dig- network has 12 partners, with more coming on board. ital payments solution to help consumers complete on-line Together, this partner ecosystem will jointly go to mar- to citizens such as garbage tracking, energy management, transactions in a seamless manner. The Freecharge wallet ket with end-to-end offerings to aid India’s next phase of traffic management, etc. has a nearly 99% success rate, which helps sharply reduce growth. „ Digital Infrastructure, which is the foundation upon the online payments failure rate, leading to more successful The government’s ambitious ‘100 Smart Cities’ program which applications can run; such as compute, storage, online bookings. aims at addressing the infrastructure gap to make cities datacenters, virtualization, network, etc. Speaking on the partnership, Govind Rajan, Chief Oper- more livable, besides enhancing the business and invest- Smart Cities need superior digital architects and digital ating Officer, Freecharge said, “After carving a mark across ment climate. Central and state governments are making infrastructure to ensure proper planning and execution. 15 sectors, we have now forayed into the travel space with significant investments in innovative smart city programs They also rely heavily on a solid digital foundation and this partnership. Cleartrip has transformed the habit of con- to improve the quality of life for residents and visitors. The smart data management. Having implemented and ex- sumers online travel bookings by being a one-stop shop for solutions to develop and execute smart cities’ projects can ecuted several projects globally, Dell is able to bring global all their needs. With this tie-up, Freecharge will take this ex- broadly be categorized as: best practices to India, as well as customize solutions to perience a step further, providing consumers with a means „ Applications, for delivery and monitoring of services match Indian necessities. to complete their transactions on the-the-go, at a lightning

8 | May 31, 2016 www.dqindia.com A CyberMedia Publication | | A CyberMedia Publication www.dqindia.com May 31, 2016 | 9 INDUSTRY | SHORT TAKES

Worldwide Semiconductor Capital Spending to Decline 2% in 2016: Gartner orldwide semiconductor capital spend- manufacturing industry. In the last year, there has been ing is projected to decline 2% in 2016, consolidation and merger and acquisition (M&A) activity to $62.8 bn, according to Gartner. This with specific offers from various Chinese-based entities, is up from the estimated 4.7% decline indicating the aggressiveness of the Chinese. This will in Gartner’s previous quarterly forecast. dramatically affect the competitive landscape of global W“While the first quarter 2016 forecast has improved semiconductor manufacturing in the next few years, as from a projected decline of 4.7% in the previous quar- China is now a major market for semiconductor usage ter’s forecast, the 2% decline in the market for 2016 is still and manufacturing. bleak,” said David Christensen, senior research analyst at Gartner. “Excess inventory and weak demand for PCs, tablets, and mobile products continue to plague the semi- conductor industry, resulting in a slow growth rate that began in late 2015 and is continuing into 2016.” “The slowdown in the devices market has driven semi- conductor producers to be conservative with their capi- tal spending plans,” said Christensen. “This year, leading semiconductor manufacturers are responding to antici- pated weak demand from semiconductors and preparing for new growth in leading-edge technologies in 2017.” In addition, the aggressive pursuit of semiconductor manufacturing capability by the Chinese government is an issue that cannot be ignored by the semiconductor Infosys Foundation Awards Scholarships to Economically Weaker Students nfosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Infosys, at Indian institutions. The establishment of scholarships, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) fellowships and travel awards provides opportunities for with Indian Institute of Science Education and Re- students at different academic levels to gain from the search (IISER), Pune, a leading Science Institute in grant. the country, to provide opportunities for economically Iweaker students to pursue high quality science education and research through scholarships, fellowships and travel awards. As part of the MoU, the corpus fund of INR 5 Crore named as ‘The Infosys Foundation Endowment Fund’, will continue in perpetuity to benefit a minimum of 50 stu- dents annually. The grant will be used towards the estab- lishment of Infosys Foundation Scholarships which will be awarded to BS-MS students, Infosys Foundation Fellow- ships endowed to integrated PhD students and Infosys Foundation Travel Awards to PhD students who have ex- celled in their research work. The grant is aimed at fulfilling the Foundation’s objective of creating equal opportunities for students from poorer backgrounds and advancing the quality of research done

10 | May 31, 2016 www.dqindia.com A CyberMedia Publication | INDUSTRY | SHORT TAKES

Worldwide Semiconductor Capital Spending to Decline 2% in 2016: Gartner orldwide semiconductor capital spend- manufacturing industry. In the last year, there has been ing is projected to decline 2% in 2016, consolidation and merger and acquisition (M&A) activity to $62.8 bn, according to Gartner. This with specific offers from various Chinese-based entities, is up from the estimated 4.7% decline indicating the aggressiveness of the Chinese. This will in Gartner’s previous quarterly forecast. dramatically affect the competitive landscape of global W“While the first quarter 2016 forecast has improved semiconductor manufacturing in the next few years, as from a projected decline of 4.7% in the previous quar- China is now a major market for semiconductor usage ter’s forecast, the 2% decline in the market for 2016 is still and manufacturing. bleak,” said David Christensen, senior research analyst at Gartner. “Excess inventory and weak demand for PCs, tablets, and mobile products continue to plague the semi- conductor industry, resulting in a slow growth rate that began in late 2015 and is continuing into 2016.” “The slowdown in the devices market has driven semi- conductor producers to be conservative with their capi- tal spending plans,” said Christensen. “This year, leading semiconductor manufacturers are responding to antici- pated weak demand from semiconductors and preparing for new growth in leading-edge technologies in 2017.” In addition, the aggressive pursuit of semiconductor manufacturing capability by the Chinese government is mobility.. Productivity on the Go !! an issue that cannot be ignored by the semiconductor simplified.. Launching Budget Tablets & Laptops Infosys Foundation Awards Scholarships to Economically Weaker Students nfosys Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Infosys, at Indian institutions. The establishment of scholarships, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) fellowships and travel awards provides opportunities for with Indian Institute of Science Education and Re- students at different academic levels to gain from the search (IISER), Pune, a leading Science Institute in grant. unching the country, to provide opportunities for economically La Iweaker students to pursue high quality science education and research through scholarships, fellowships and travel Starts from Just @ awards. 3499/- 9999/- As part of the MoU, the corpus fund of INR 5 Crore named as ‘The Infosys Foundation Endowment Fund’, will continue in perpetuity to benefit a minimum of 50 stu- Thin Book Ultra Slim Laptop (14.1”) dents annually. The grant will be used towards the estab- Tablet PC Series (7" to 10")  QC  1GB Ram  8GB Storage PreBook @ Intel QC  2GB Ram  32GB Storage lishment of Infosys Foundation Scholarships which will be awarded to BS-MS students, Infosys Foundation Fellow- www.rdp.in/prebook ships endowed to integrated PhD students and Infosys Foundation Travel Awards to PhD students who have ex- Elegant & Eco Friendly High Performance Micro SD Card 3 Years Smart Design Green Computing Support Warranty celled in their research work. with Intel Processors The grant is aimed at fulfilling the Foundation’s objective of creating equal opportunities for students from poorer For More Details - www.rdp.in Sales Enquiry - 1800 200 2444 backgrounds and advancing the quality of research done

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TP-LINK Pushes Smart City Initiative; Appoints Compuage Infocom as VAD P-LINK, a provider of consumer and SMB “This tie up will furthermore strengthen the SMB and networking products, has appointed Com- enterprise portfolio of Compuage Infocom Ltd. which puage Infocom as value added distributor to will enable TP-LINK to increase their presence and reach strengthen their offering & presence to solu- in the untapped geographies. We as a value added dis- tion providers in India. Compuage will help tributor will work closely with the partner fraternity and expandT TP-LINK’s local channel of authorized resellers in increase the mindshare and market share of TP-LINK,” their respective territories. It will support TP-LINK author- said Bhavesh Mehta, Director and COO at Compuage In- ized partners with programs including training, lead gen- focom. eration, and pre- and post-sales service and support. “We view this relationship as a very strategic one. In India we are focused on the fast growing SMB space and in Compuage, we see great potential to tap the chan- nels in these verticals through their existing partners across the region,” said Sanjay Sehgal – V.P- SMB & Telecom at TP-LINK India. “Compuage will play an in- strumental role in further enhancing the chan- nel base and would be responsible for positioning and selling our products and solutions. They have a very strong channel base in that segment. This will definitely boost our channel presence and coverage.”

SanDisk Tech Partner Program Delivering Flash-Integrated Solutions to Transform Datacenters

he SanDisk Corporation introduced the SanDisk Technology Partner (STP) program, a collaborative platform for SanDisk and data center partners to work together to design, develop and deliver integrated flash based storageT solutions to joint customers. With 20 data center ecosystem partners already participating, the new pro- compute, networking, and storage landscape. Through gram offers certification, tools, resources, SanDisk flash these flash-optimized, end-to-end solutions, data center storage expertise and complements SanDisk’s commit- customers can potentially realize tangible benefits such ment to address the demand for extreme performance as high performance, IT consolidation and lower overall and massive capacity in the data center through flash total cost of ownership (TCO). SanDisk and its technol- storage and -defined flash storage solutions. ogy partners are addressing a wide range of data center The SanDisk Technology Partner program aims to deliv- demands, including database management, virtualization er SanDisk certified Independent Software Vendors’ (ISV) and big data applications such as content repositories, software and hardware integrated solutions across the analytics and media services demand.

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TP-LINK Pushes Smart City Initiative; NIIT Introduces Appoints Compuage Infocom as VAD ‘Java Enterprise Apps with Dev Ops’ P-LINK, a provider of consumer and SMB “This tie up will furthermore strengthen the SMB and s part of its strategic focus to offer futuristic expected to spend at least 70% of their time on project networking products, has appointed Com- enterprise portfolio of Compuage Infocom Ltd. which courses in IT under the Digital Transforma- work during the program. The upcoming batch would be puage Infocom as value added distributor to will enable TP-LINK to increase their presence and reach tion series , NIIT , a global leader in skills and working on two projects- Development of E-Commerce strengthen their offering & presence to solu- in the untapped geographies. We as a value added dis- talent development, introduced ‘Java Enter- Portal and Collaboration Platform. On successful comple- tion providers in India. Compuage will help tributor will work closely with the partner fraternity and prise Apps with Dev Ops’ program. This avant tion of the three-month program students will be offered expandT TP-LINK’s local channel of authorized resellers in increase the mindshare and market share of TP-LINK,” gardeA program, based on student centred pedagogy of 100% placement assistance for Java Enterprise Devel- their respective territories. It will support TP-LINK author- said Bhavesh Mehta, Director and COO at Compuage In- project-based learning, is the first program to be offered oper roles by NIIT. Admission to the program are currently ized partners with programs including training, lead gen- focom. by NIIT under the DigiNxt portfolio. The company has open for the first batch starting on May 30, 2016. eration, and pre- and post-sales recently ventured into Digital Transformation to offer pio- Speaking on the launch of the program Prakash Menon, service and support. neering programs to young aspirants wishing to enter the President, Global Skills & Careers Group, NIIT Ltd said, “We view this relationship as a digital services industry, as well as to IT professionals wish- “The emergence of the digital era has presented us with very strategic one. In India we are ing to reskill themselves for the new digital world. Starting great opportunities as well as unique challenges. While focused on the fast growing SMB with Java Enterprise Apps with DevOps, the company will on one hand India has a strong technology ecosystem space and in Compuage, we see gradually shift the whole general IT education and training and can potentially power the digital transformation for great potential to tap the chan- modules towards futuristic technologies like robotics, IoT, enterprises around the world, on the other hand Indian nels in these verticals through virtual reality, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, industry is faced with acute shortage of workforce trained their existing partners across the etc. in digital transformation technologies. To cater to this region,” said Sanjay Sehgal – Java Enterprise Apps with Dev Ops will encompass growing demand NIIT is committed to offer a series of V.P- SMB & Telecom at TP-LINK the various aspects of enterprise app development while industry-aligned training program in digital transforma- India. “Compuage will play an in- enabling a learner to implement these aspects through tion, Java Enterprise Apps with Dev Ops being the first strumental role in further enhancing the chan- project-based learning methodology. The students are in the series.” nel base and would be responsible for positioning and selling our products and solutions. They have a very strong channel base in that segment. This will definitely IDFC Bank Partners with Government boost our channel presence and coverage.” of AP, Krishna District for DBT through AEPS DFC Bank has partnered the government of Andhra Pradesh, Krishna District, to enable Direct Benefit SanDisk Tech Partner Program Delivering Transfer through interoperable AEPS (Aadhaar Ena- bled Payment System) Micro ATMs that are within easy Flash-Integrated Solutions to Transform Datacenters reach of citizens in every village. IThe partnership is the first to demonstrate the imple- he SanDisk Corporation introduced the mentation of JAM based transfers (technology-enabled SanDisk Technology Partner (STP) program, transfer of benefits using the Prime Minister Jan Dhan Yo- a collaborative platform for SanDisk and data jana, Aadhaar, and mobile number. center partners to work together to design, It also makes IDFC Bank the first to deliver Direct Ben- develop and deliver integrated flash based efit Transfer like social security pensions, and in coming storageT solutions to joint customers. With 20 data center days, others schemes like scholarships, LPG subsidies, ecosystem partners already participating, the new pro- compute, networking, and storage landscape. Through MGNREGA benefits etc, through an interoperable AEPS gram offers certification, tools, resources, SanDisk flash these flash-optimized, end-to-end solutions, data center Micro ATM model, at scale, in a district, in a concentrated storage expertise and complements SanDisk’s commit- customers can potentially realize tangible benefits such manner. IDFC Bank will soon implement this model for ment to address the demand for extreme performance as high performance, IT consolidation and lower overall the public distribution system (PDS) as well, making PDS Guravayya in Krishna district. Nearly 32,000 pensioners and massive capacity in the data center through flash total cost of ownership (TCO). SanDisk and its technol- payments cashless, thereby taking cashless digital bank- will be using the IDFC Bank Micro ATM infrastructure to storage and software-defined flash storage solutions. ogy partners are addressing a wide range of data center ing in rural India to the next level. access their benefits in coming days. Over time, the con- The SanDisk Technology Partner program aims to deliv- demands, including database management, virtualization The first interoperable social security pension was centrated coverage of banking services at a village level er SanDisk certified Independent Software Vendors’ (ISV) and big data applications such as content repositories, drawn through an IDFC Bank AEPS Micro ATM at Ga- offered by IDFC Bank is expected to touch the lives of 46 software and hardware integrated solutions across the analytics and media services demand. napavaram, Mylavaram mandal by Shri Samdipaamu lakh citizens in Krishna district alone.

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