From handbags and clutches to jewellery and cuff links, from fountain pens to trunks and ties, accessories that spell luxury and are to die for.(Click Here To View)(This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 24-09-2012)
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The swish set may not quite approve of this move. Tag Heuer, the watch brand from LVMH , which cheekily entered the luxe phone category, flashing rather pricey smartphones (we are talking Rs 6 lakh-plus toys) that were built like armoured cars, though encased in gold and leather trimmings, has suddenly done an about-turn. The brand has climbed down the luxury phone ladder with its recent offering — the Tag Heuer Racer priced at a piffling Rs 2 lakh. But don’t worry, the gold and titanium bling is there, and it continues to be built in motor racing mode, chassis at the back, et al. Let’s just say — there is more rubber now than alligator skin. “We are democratising our phone offering and bringing it closer to our watch positioning, which is in the affordable luxury category,” explains Serge Simon, general manager at Atelier Haute Communication, experts in tailor-made mobile phones. On balance, it might be a smart move by the Swiss watchmaker. For affordable luxury — the bridge category between pure luxury and premium, where Tag Heuer operates — is where all the action is today. CARS: (lead Image) DRIVING UP: From the BMW X1 (extreme left) through the BMW 5-Series, right up to the 7-Series, the German auto major has successfully driven into India with a car in every segment WATCHES: TICK MARK:Boundaries may blur between premium (Tissot 1853 Automatic PRC 200) and affordable luxury (Tag Heuer Formula 1), but a Chopard is pure luxe all the way This paradigm-breaking category has changed the way luxury is marketed, and helped grow the size of the luxe pie. If the projections (CII-AT Kearney luxury report) turn out to be right and India’s luxury market does triple from its current size of $5.8 billion to $14.72 billion by 2015, then a large factor could be the way the luxe category has widened. No longer is luxe the exclusive preserve of the champagne and caviar class. A growing breed of luxury marketers is now increasingly aiming at aspirational buyers, value-conscious wealthy, and even the middle-class consumer who occasionally goes on an indulgent splurging spree. APPAREL: TREND-SETTER: Lacoste (left) may like to reposition itself in the niche affordable luxury segment where Hugo Boss (centre) is, but consumers perceive it as premium.Gucci is haute couture(Photographs: From Companies) It’s All About PositioningDuring the recession years of 2008-10, many uber luxury brands managed to grow their businesses in tough markets by reorganising and repositioning their collections to make them more accessible. Think Poppy, the sister line that Coach launched; or Prada’s Miu Miu, a brand extension that caters to an aspirational younger set. Or Jimmy Choo and Versace’s capsule collections for high-street retailer H&M. Closer home, BMW, Mercedes and Audi scored in India with competitively-priced entry-level models under Rs 30 lakh that were positioned between premium cars such as a Honda Accord or a Toyota Prius, and their own higher-end offerings. But for every pure luxury brand that has laddered down, there are also premium brands that are going up the value chain. Take home-grown leather label Hidesign, which has recently tied up with Milanese designer Alberto Ciaschini to foray into the luxury segment with an eye on the bridge segment. Indeed, affordable luxury is a bit of a positioning and perception game. So much so that what is seen as premium in one country might be perceived as affordable luxury in another. A Miele appliance, for instance, which is regarded as premium in Germany, is positioned as luxury in India and elsewhere. break-page-break According to Kanchan Lall, associate vice-president at business consultancy Tecnova, the definition of affordable luxury also varies from category to category. In some categories, what was once considered pure luxury has now become a necessity, and hence migrated down the value chain as it has lost its uniqueness. For instance, staying at a five-star hotel, or flying first class. Once the exclusive preserve of the ultra rich, now such things are accessible to a far wider crowd. As Prasanjeet Dutta Baruah, vice-president of marketing at the Oberoi Group, explains, business executives who get used to the 5-star experience during their work travel are unwilling to settle for less anymore and so choose the same for family holidays. So, the consideration set is growing. In apparel, as Rajesh Jain, director and CEO, Lacoste India, explains, “Premium as a perception comes with a certain assurance of style. Premium consumers are those who closely observe trends in fashion and make an effort to sport the same at a price. Luxury wear, on the other hand, is supremely priced but is accompanied by a legacy that assures high quality, attention to detail, impeccable craftsmanship and finer design sensibilities.” Between these two parallels, he says, lies the niche affordable luxury space, where Lacoste would like to be. Unfortunately, it lost its higher positioning in the 1990s because of an over-expanded distribution channel. THE DEFINITION OF AFFORDABLE LUXURY VARIES FROM CATEGORY TO CATEGORYKanchan Lall, associate vicepresident, Tecnova Atelier Haute’s Simon says pure luxury products have a timeless appeal while affordable luxury can have shorter time cycles. Have Money, Will SplurgeIn India, says Tecnova’s Lall, the growth of affordable luxury is being fuelled by a new breed of aspirational young consumers, aged between 20 and 30, who know about international trends but do not have the means to spend on real luxe goods. However, they do have the budget and the desire to spend on luxury for life-altering events such as marriage, or even when a performance bonus comes their way. Lacoste’s Jain says affordable luxury consumers are those who enjoy fine dining, are increasingly travelling abroad, have a taste for fast cars and tech gadgets and visit niche music and lifestyle events. He says, at times preferences are inherited as children grow up observing their parents patronising certain brands. On other occasions, it is an acquired taste thanks to increased exposure. Jain has no doubt about the buoyancy of this segment — he points out how in 2010, western wear in India clocked sales of Rs 860 crore. Of this just Rs 50 crore came from luxury and the affordable luxury market. Exclusivity Versus CommodificationSo, here comes the conundrum for pure luxury brands. While it is tempting to grow the consideration set, won’t the lustre of the brand get dimmed if it is too democratised? Isn’t there a danger of getting commoditised, and alienating the luxe connoisseur who cherishes a brand for its exclusivity and uniqueness? Shweta Jain, assistant general manager of marketing at Pernod Ricard India, makers of premium wines and spirits, admits that with income levels rising, a wider base is consuming a brand such as Chivas Regal. “But this is where laddering comes in,” she says. “We create limited editions, collector’s specials, and work extra hard to keep the myth about the brand alive.” Oberoi’s Baruah gives the example of how hotel groups democratise and yet preserve exclusivity by segmenting their offerings with, say, presidential suites for the super elite, and so on. Several hospitality brands have also uptraded in other ways, creating more luxurious boutique hotels or seven-star properties. A store such as William Penn, which stocks premium, affordable luxury as well as pure luxury pens, takes the same laddered approach — but through service. Anita Paily, the company’s brand manager, says their 17-brand portfolio includes premium offerings such as Sheaffer or Waterman priced at an affordable Rs 2,000-8,000, moving up to affordable luxury brands such as Omas and Sailor (Rs 10,000-plus range) and then the ultra luxe brands of Mont Blanc, Caran D’ache and Visconti (some models can cost more than a lakh). To keep their high net worth clients happy, the store even organises private screenings at their homes, sending trained staff who are well-versed in the intricate details of every product. WHO IS THE LUXURY SHOPPER?The Indian luxury buyer is as diverse as the country. Here’s a pen sketch of some of our luxe customers(From The Left) RICHIE RUSTIC: This one is the oddball who defies stereotyping and has the luxury brands utterly confused.Operates out of all known paradigms and could pick up the most baffling purchases, for no apparent rhyme or reason. Very difficult to pigeonhole.VIVACIOUS VIVANT:This is the class — mostly self-made entrepreneurs or professional business executives — that has the money to enjoy the good things in life, and does so without guilt. The motto is work hard, and play harder, and celebrate success with irreverence and fun.POLITICAL PROWLER: Acquisitive to the core, has a childlike mentality of coveting whatever he sees new. Luxury brands talk in hushed tones about this consuming class, the origins of whose wealth are shrouded in mystery, but who is perhaps the biggest contributor to the bottom lines of the high end brands.AFFLUENT ASCETIC: Very rich, but as comfortable in a Kolhapuri chappal as in a pair of Jimmy Choo pumps. A value seeker, will not buy luxury unless it fulfils a need. Years of socialist idealism and guilt of conspicuous consumption has ingrained a frugalism. Now, finally yielding to the temptation of enjoying the fruits of labour.CLASSY CONNOISSEUR: Hails from the ultra-high net worth segment and consumes luxury for intrinsic satisfaction.Luxury is no novelty but part and parcel of everyday living. Discerning with a discreet style, everything has to be just so for this consumer.FLASHY FLAUNTER: Is the new rich status seeker who chases after visible luxury. So will be seen sporting fancy watches, driving high-end cars, wearing designer clothes but will not invest in the invisibles — designer lingerie or top notch kitchen and bathroom fittings.(Illustration By Dinesh S. Banduni) The Address MattersAnother tool in the kit is store positioning. It makes a lot of difference in attracting the right target segment, says William Penn’s Paily. Since the writing instruments company caters to all three spectrums — from premium to luxe — its stores are present at Delhi’s Select Citywalk mall, which attracts a wide range of consumers, rather than at a DLF Emporio mall (Delhi), which mostly houses high-end brands. Paily, however, says that if a William Penn store was present in Emporio, it would exhibit only niche products. Emporio’s vice-president Dinaz Madhukar agrees that address matters, adding that a lot of thought has gone into zoning at the mall. The prime atrium space is reserved for top-end luxe brands such as Cartier and Louis Vuitton, while the first floor houses next level luxe brands such as Burberry and Canali. The affordable luxury bridge brands are next door at DLF Promenade. By creating affordable luxury products for the aspirational consumer, high-end brands are investing in the future, says Madhukar. Dhananjay Chaturvedi, managing director of appliance maker Miele India, sums it up thus: today’s aspirational consumer is tomorrow’s pure luxe shopper. chitra(dot)narayanan(at)abp(dot)in (This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 24-09-2012)
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Lo Wu Commercial City, Shenzhen With five floors and 500,000 square feet of retail space, Lo Wu may be the world capital of counterfeit goods. All this, just 45 minutes from the gilded boutiques of Hong Kong. At the giant shopping mall devoted almost entirely to imitation luxury goods, hundreds of tiny stores sell fake Rolex watches, Gucci shoes, Fendi clothing, Prada bags and Chanel wallets. To buy a watch, pick a model out of a catalogue and leave friends guessing! Science and Technology Museum Market, Shanghai The popular choice of many who visit Shanghai. It has replicas of everything and is convenient. Besides, vendors are reasonably honest and open to bargaining. An added benefit of the market is that you can also get jewellery as well as custom clothing. (Bloomberg)Grand Bazaar, Istanbul The largest covered market in the world, which has catered to travellers, tourists and shoppers since the 15th century, is arguably the best-stacked knock-off market in the city. Here, handbags are the most commonly found counterfeit product. Brands such as Burberry, Hermès and LV are on display everywhere in the bazaar that’s a must-visit in the city of the Blue Mosque. Patpong Night Market, Bangkok The market offers a wide range of fake goods such as watches, clothes and bags. Located in the heart of Bangkok, the famous bars on either side this night market offer many distractions, and perhaps an excuse for many to visit this famous night spot. Word of advice: don’t mix sex tourism and shopping...you may end up losing all that you bargained hard for. Canal Street, New York Canal Street is located in a New York City area recognised as China Town. Known for replica designer handbags — including top brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Dior, Prada and Versace — the stretch has touts who hang around street corners. They show you pictures of bags,and if interested, you follow them to semi-secret locations to buy. Mongkok Market, Hong Kong TheLadies Market is perhaps the best known in Hong Kong. Vendors set up stalls and peddle copies as they are known here in the open. From handbags to teabags, everything is produced in China, shipped over the border and sold at rock-bottom prices. The main copies on offer are watches and handbags, both of which can be made to order. The knock-off handbags are hard to spot: they even come with a muslin protective bag and monogrammed lining. Petaling Street, Kuala LumpurPetalingStreet is the main street in KL’s China Town district. It is heaven for fake LV, Gucci, Prada and Rolex watches along with bootleg DVDs and CDs. Bargaining is welcome. Do not be surprised if the Tag you just bought stops working back in the hotel. (This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 24-09-2012)
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For Jean-Christophe Babin, India is not a new territory. He has been touring the country for decades, since his first visit as a backpacker. In spite of the challenging economic conditions, his company, TAG Heuer, the Swiss maker of watches, chronographs and fashion accessories, expects to do better than last year. A part of the luxury goods group LVMH, TAG Heuer has over 90 outlets in India, selling watches starting from Rs 1.5 lakh. On a recent visit, the 53-year-old Frenchman had an extensive chat BW’s Venkatesha Babu. Edited excerpts: Poor economic conditions usually have the least impact on two segments — those catering to the necessities and the luxury. Can the luxury market survive the slowdown? We are aware that several countries including the US and parts of Europe are facing challenges. But in 2011, we had our highest sales ever, with a double-digit growth. I expect this year to be better. Even in a so-called mature market like the US, the luxury watch segment is under-penetrated. There are many more people today who can afford a TAG, and our mission is to innovate in terms of products and reach out to them. Given the investments we’ve made in manufacturing and our aggressiveness in retailing, we will have a record year. It is not easy, but if we stick to our DNA, our fundamentals, we will do well. How has the luxury market in India evolved over the last decade. How does it compare with China’s?India is an attractive market to be in. It is still not the biggest, but among the top 20 markets. Goldman Sachs, in a recent report, pointed out that there are 3-4 million Indians who can afford luxury. That is a lot. France, for instance, has just 3 million. China has about 5 million. But there are differences. In terms of those who can afford luxury products in India and China, the ratio might be a mere 1:2. But in terms of China’s actual market today, the ratio is more like 1:10. That means the Chinese market is 10 times larger than that of India. All the taxes on luxury watches in India are to protect the local players. It is wrong. We don’t compete with a Titan. Swiss luxury watches does not compete with domestic players. We are complementary to the Indian brands as we play in a different segment of the market. There is also the issue of retail footprint. On the policy front, can we have our own boutiques and retail experiences? Luxury is driven by direct retail. There aren’t enough luxury malls in India. In China, there are more such spaces. 'THE 100 PER CENT OWNERSHIP IN SINGLE BRAND RETAIL WORKS WELL FOR GROCERY, NOT FOR LUXURY'The segment we target is highly mobile, very aware, and because of the high taxes, sales in India are lower than what it can be. People buy a lot from abroad — from Dubai, Paris and New York. It is in the interest of the government to ensure more sales happen here; it will create jobs locally. For us, it does not matter where we sell because a TAG buyer will be a TAG buyer. So are luxury products in India more expensive than elsewhere?Cannot speak for others, but TAG has taken a conscious strategy to sell at the same price as we do elsewhere, even it means absorbing huge costs and not being able to make much profits. But that is a choice we have made to grow in India and a signal of our long-term commitment to the consumers. Sooner or later, many of our hurdles will vanish. But government already allows 100 per cent ownership in single brand retailAgreed. But, there is a complement to allowing 100 per cent ownership, that you have to source 30 per cent locally. That can work well for grocery, not for luxury. We are 100 per cent Swiss-made. Like all watchmakers, we do source some components, but most of the cost is Swiss. Unlike that of some fast-moving consumer goods, the luxury business is different. What is TAG's India strategy?We continue to make high investments. In retailing, we work with the best multi-brand partners. We have the best brand ambassador in Shah Rukh Khan. The Carrera Monaco Grand Prix Chronograph was globally launched from India. We are committed to India and are here for the long run. Amongst your portfolio, how do you pick and choose on what to launch? Don’t country-specific tastes vary?We don’t make products keeping a single country in mind. Yes, tastes vary sometimes. In some countries, such as Germany and China, the demand for mechanical watches is higher than quartz ones. Again, for instance, India is big on gold watches. When we have limited quantities, we examine key markets, decide where we have high potential and launch there before rolling out elsewhere. Would you be launching eyewear or top-end mobiles in India? We are primarily in the watches business and that is where our attention will be. However, we will explore other categories that have consistency with our technology and design philosophy. We are selective. We won’t venture into 50 categories, but will be choosy on where we want to be in each market. Say at Rs 1.5 lakh for a watch, if someone cannot enter the brand, they may look at a Rs 30,000 eyewear. So we are aware that there may be some segments we want to address. The Indian luxury market is resilient and growing by the year. TAG’s goal is to be the No. 1 here. (This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 24-09-2012)
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The world’s thirsty are headed for Munich to guzzle beer by the gallon and sample Bavarian cuisine and culture.Graphic Sajeev KumarapuramClick here to download infographic(This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 08-10-2012)
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The assignation place: an ancient banyan tree at the Okhla Bird Sanctuary in Noida. The time: 6 am, Sunday. A motley bunch of birding enthusiasts is huddled, with flasks of steaming coffee in hand, planning the route, occasionally exclaiming at the fat green pigeons nesting in the tree. As the sun rises, pan your gaze to the Nicholson cemetery on the northern fringes of Delhi. The time: 7.45 am. History buffs are gathered around a young PhD scholar, Kanika Singh, who is animatedly telling them about the 1857 mutiny and the role played by Brig. Gen. John Nicholson. Elsewhere, an ebullient designer Himanshu Verma is leading a disparate group of expats and locals on a ‘food and faffing’ walk. It’s a thoroughly satiating tour of Old Delhi, sampling kulfis, sherbets, parathas and jalebis. (Left to right) Kanika Singh delves into the history of Delhi; and a bazaar trail in ChennaiLazy weekends are out. Come Saturday, and groups of all kinds — bird lovers, history addicts, butterfly chasers, foodies, heritage preservers — are banding together, putting on their shoes and setting out on glorious rambles. Walking mania is not just hitting the capital city. Wing your way to Mumbai, and here 20-something Viraat Kasliwal and his team of young raconteurs lead people on walks (through the week; not just weekends) that go out of guidebook territory and into fascinating parts of the city. From heritage to bazaars, they spin a mighty good yarn as they take you through a stroll down the old Fort area. The young start-up is now planning to expand to a cricket walk, an art and architectural walk, a Gandhi walk and a food walk. Unlike other walking groups, Raconteurs doesn’t really need a quorum for the walks — and is willing to take even one person. Now move to Chennai, and you will find zany new trails opening up, courtesy Storytrails.in. The promise is creative outings that give you a glimpse of local lives. Imagine setting out on a trek that leads you into craftsmen’s workshops to watch the hand-made jewellery take shape. Or a dancer’s trail. Or a bazaar trail. From October, Storytrails will also be starting walking tours in Madurai. The trails are open throughout the year, and the operative word is ‘storytelling’. What’s so special about all these walking tours is that their leaders are experts and passionate about their subjects, bringing alive local monuments, streets and even trees that you might never have given a second look. For instance, in Delhi, Pradeep Kishen, author of Trees of Delhi, occasionally takes people through Lodhi Gardens, pointing out native species. Or take the Delhi Heritage Walks, created by history lovers. Every weekend they take people around old monuments and heritage sites, but they structure it around themes — and their narrative is no boring history textbook, but drawn from William Dalrymple’s stories (and this sometimes leads to heated, but entertaining, debates amidst the walkers who pooh-pooh the Briton’s view of our history). The prices of the walks range from a mere Rs 250 to Rs 1,500. Some of the walks are hobby groups banding together, while many others are full-time ventures. Some such as the bird and butterfly walks are free, as are the activist or cause-led walks. Often, organisations such as the Aga Khan Trust for Culture use walks to create awareness for their pet projects. The themes behind the walking tours are mind-boggling. From Gandhi walks that take you around spots associated with the Father of the Nation (and this is a theme common to Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi), to slum tours that immerse you in the Dharavi experience, to biodiversity walks to create awareness on saving the Yamuna, the strolls are diverse. Arshiya Sethi of Kri Foundation, who has curated a number of walks in the Capital, describes a cactus walk, a saree walk, among some of her more offbeat strolls. So, put on your walking shoes and get set to discover your cities anew — on foot. chitra(dot)narayanan(at)abp(dot)in(This story was published in Businessworld Issue Dated 08-10-2012)
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Fujitsu launched two upgraded Ultrabooks — Lifebook U772 & UH572 in India on 28 August. Specially designed for business professionals, the Ultrabooks possess enterprise-standard features such as Intel vPro technology along with a fingerprint sensor and FDE (full disk encryption) SSD drives for advanced manageability and security.“Fujitsu’s Ultrabooks add a new offering to our broad LIFEBOOK family and prove that you can have all your critical features innovated in a compelling, ultra-slim mobile computing device,” Says Alok Sharma, country manager, Workplace Systems, Fujitsu India. Built For BusinessThe 14-inch Lifebook U772 began with the sub-1 kg Q Series in 2006. Less than 16 mm thin and 1.4 kg in weight, the Lifebook U772 allows business users the optional port replicator, which provides easy docking and connection to the corporate network and peripherals, and is secured by advanced theft protection technology with Intel® Anti-Theft and Absolute Computrace® features, making it possible to remotely locate a lost or stolen device, and to copy or delete data remotely. It also offers optional built-in 3G/UMTS or 4G/LTE support to guarantee mobile connectivity even when outside the range of Wi-Fi hotspots. Charging via USB ports is possible even when the notebook is switched off or in standby mode. The prices startfrom Rs 75,900.Value For MoneyFujitsu also introduced the Lifebook UH572, a 13.3-inch model with a strong aluminium shell in red or silver that is easy to carry around, only 1.6 kg in weight and is 18mm thin. Standard features include an anti-glare display for ergonomic working, optional 3G/UMTS support, advanced theft protection with long battery time, HD camera & Bluetooth for anywhere connectivity. The prices start from Rs 65,000.With the upgradations, the existing Lifebook series now comprises of E782, S752, P772, P702,AH552/SL, UH572, NH532, A532, LH532 and LIFEBOOK UH572 & U772. Fujitsu (based in Gurgaon, India) is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Fujitsu reported consolidated revenues of 4.5 trillion yen ($54 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012. It plans to expand regionally in Russia, India as well as Middle East in near future.
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Through the years Google has wished just about everyone who matters a happy birthday with its endearing doodles. On 27 September, Google happened to be marking its own 14th birthday with a simple cake-turned-logo version. And to coincide with this is the 25th billion app download from the Google Play store, which is now just 25,000 short of reaching Apple’s count of 700,000. It wouldn’t be at all out of place to look at a few interesting Google Play apps apart from its own native ones — 14 of them, in fact. 1. SwiftKey 3SwiftKey, which combines with Swype, is a great way to speed up text input on Android. Whether you are typing or tracing from one alphabet to the next, SwyiftKey excels at predicting your words as you begin inputting. The best part is that its predictive algorithm learns from continued use. It also handles spaces and punctuations smartly. It also begins to learn local terms, contacts and more. Users find it indispensible. 2. Pulse NewsThis news app with its square tiles came early to Android, though it first appeared on iOS. You can pick your favourite sources of news and once you have populated the app’s pages with them, you will get rows of tiles with images representing stories for you to read. Pulse will update the way you tell it to and because the headlines are just under each tile, makes for a great way to quickly go through the news that interests you. 3. Avast Mobile SecurityAndroid has been known for the way malware can more easily get to unaware users because of the entire ecosystem being less tightly regulated and monitored — though Google barges into clean up every now and then. Some anti malware solutions such as Avast, which is free, and Lookout, are now considered essential and a minimum defensive against those seeking to exploit. 4. ChromeChrome is Google’s own browser for PCs and mobile devices and it’s one that is becoming increasingly popular. Dolphin and Opera Mini have been popular as well, but Chrome has the advantage of working smoothly to synchronise across devices so that you can take up where you left off as you move say, from PC to mobile. It’s also full of interesting add-ons (on the PC) that add to its functionality. 5. Beautiful WidgetsWidgets or little add-on customisations are what make Android truly special. You can change the whole look of your device and get it to give you information and udates just the way that suits you. There are many collections of widgets, not just individual ones, and Beautiful Widgets is one of them. You can personalise your phone with different looks for all the top-level information such as time, weather, battery status, etc. 6. TaskerTasker is an app for advanced customisation. It lets you set certain actions based on your preferences based on context such as time, location, or event. So it’s when x context takes place, perform x action. For example, at a specific time, you can lock up certain applications so that co-workers or children don’t tamper with them. Read out a status when battery is low is another example. Or, more prettily, change wallpapers when in certain locations. 7. JuicedefenderAndroid devices battery life is legendary — in a not good way, that is. Juicedefender is a widely used app that disables whatever saps the juice out of your device. You can set the rules. 8. Launcher ProThis one is for Android pro’s and lets a user define what the home screens will look like, laying them out for quick access to what is most wanted. 9. ZomatoThis Indian app is a favourite with foodies many of whom don’t leave home without it. The app hooks into your location and recommends eating places or home delivery joints and gives you information, reviews and ratings on them. You can also dial straight out from the app. 10. HDFC Bank Mobile BankingHDFC account holders should check out this one (after duly installing a mobile security app) to add to their bouquet of useful apps. You can do all the regular stuff of daily banking. 11. FlipkartFlipkart and not have an app? Not possible. You can do all your buying on the go making it easier to act on recommendations or something you happen to see during the course of the day. 12. MakeMyTripThe essential travel booking and organising app is on the Android marketplace for those who make it out of town frequently and with short notice. 13. EvernoteJust as much, if not more, an iOS app, Evernote actually looks beautiful on Android and works well to capture all your information from notes and scans to contacts and photos, all in one place. Another app in the same category but with a different nuance is Springpad and this too shines on Android. 14. DropboxThis cloud storage app is a must not just for Android but everywhere else. On Android, its camera upload function (now also on iOS) gave early users some free space. Your photos automatically upload to the camera uploads folder on Dropbox. But otherwise a must for storing work and media files you want to access on the go. mala(at)pobox(dot)com, (at)malabhargava on Twitter
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