Sony India on Thursday (08 May) launched its much awaited smartphone, Xperia Z2, in India. The phone comes with a premium built and a design whose architecture is based on its predecessor - Xperia Z1. The phone will be available in the Indian market from May 12, 2014 onwards and will cost the end user Rs 49,990. Mr Kenichiro Hibi, Managing Director, Sony India, said, "We are very excited to launch Xperia Z2, the flagship phone from Sony for 2014. Our focus on smartphones segment was renewed last year with the launch of Xperia range of smartphones in India which received a tremendous response from our customers, helping us achieve a 10 per cent share in the smartphone business. We will continue to make an aggressive pitch in this category in India, and are targeting sales of Rs 5,500 crore in FY14."Xperia Z2 offers good value to the consumers, as it comes bundled with the Sony SmartBand SWR10 and a premium Sony case, in a limited period offer. Available in white, black and purple colour options, Xperia Z2 is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 quad core processor clocked at 2.3 GHz, supported by 3GB RAM and a decent 3,200 mAh battery in an 8.2mm slim chassis. Not only this, Sony Xperia customers can stream and download XSCAPE, an album by the internationally acclaimed music icon and King of Pop - Michael Jackson for free through the Sony Music Jive application.The SmartBand SWR10 is a wearable device that talks to Lifelog app and your Android smartphone via Bluetooth and NFC connection. The Lifelog app keeps a close track of body movements, from counting steps to calculating speed and calories. It monitors sleep patterns including details of deep sleep and light sleep and automatically wakes you up once you’ve slept enough according to sleep cycle. The Lifelog app perfectly manages your entertainment as it collects all the camera and music activities and compiles all the data in an animated infographic to let you see photos you took, music you have listened and games you have played. It also allows tracking the information on how much you communicated with friends. By pressing the Life Bookmark key, one can capture everything going around on that very moment and all the details will be stored in the SmartBand forever.Sony SmartBand SWR10 is priced at Rs 5,990 and would hit the market in third week of May. Not to forget, Sony will give it to you for free if you purchase their Xperia Z2 phone!
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Dolby Laboratories on Thursday (01 May) announced the arrival of its latest audio technology, Dolby Atmos, in Delhi. Delite Cinemas, situated in Daryaganj, will be the first cinema in the city to offer the new technology to cinema lovers, starting May 1, 2014. Dolby Atmos unleashes the potential of sound in storytelling by giving filmmakers the creative freedom to easily place or move sounds anywhere in the movie theatre to create a lifelike, virtual reality of sound and the most powerful cinema experience ever.Commenting on the launch, Shashank Raizada, owner of Delite Cinemas, said, “I believe Dolby Atmos will prove to be a major differentiator for the movie-watching audiences in New Delhi. It provides greater definition and dimension to movies with its unique approach to sound. With this achievement, we reinforce our mission to be the best in entertaining people by offering state-of-the-art technology and exceptional facilities.”Dolby Atmos has quickly become the preferred choice for next-generation sound in the cinema, with major studios, award-winning filmmakers, and exhibitors from around the world embracing its approach. Unlike traditional channel-based sound systems like 5.1, 7.1, and 11.1, which require filmmakers to think about the number and location of speakers, Dolby Atmos allows them to simply designate where in the cinema space each sound should be placed or moved to make audiences experience the film as if they were within its world.“We look forward to working with Delite Cinemas to bring the ultimate cinematic entertainment experience to moviegoers in New Delhi. With Dolby Atmos, you feel as if you are in the movie, not merely watching it. We are confident that moviegoers will be captivated by the remarkable clarity and dimension of the sound and will keep coming back to Delite Cinemas to get this amazing experience that Dolby Atmos provides,” said Mr. Ashim Mathur, Marketing Head, Dolby Laboratories India.
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It's a given: if you want a powerful full-featured smartphone, you’ll have to figure out how to get comfortable with something upward of 5 inches. To want a phone with the best specs means buying a super-sized device — at least, that’s been the trend for the past year or so.But not everyone is willing, and able, to carry a large phone, neither are they happy to compromise on specs. Their one choice has been the iPhone that stubbornly hangs on to 4 inches. But now, Sony offers another option — the Xperia Z1 Compact, which is pretty much the Z1 squeezed into a smaller body. Unlike the ‘Minis’ from other brands, the Z1 Compact has it all, without scaling down the specs. To look at, the Compact is similar to the recent Xperia smartphones — straight lines and symmetry or ‘Omnibalance’, as Sony calls it. I like that there’s a little weight to it instead of the device being fly-away light. It has a glassy unibody, and all the slots — SIM tray, SD card slot, micro USB — are on the left, on a lighter-coloured strip — protected by rubbery flaps that retain the phone’s water resistance when securely shut. The phone can stay submerged for 30 minutes. The SIM tray should have been easier to handle, though. In fact, I can’t think why inserting SIMs isn’t easier on all phones! The Compact comes with the now-signature round button on the right edge that powers the device on. There’s also a smaller hit-and-miss camera button. Colours sit well on the Z1 Compact and it’s available in black, white, pink and lemon yellow. Overall, the phone looks nice, and it’s a pity one may have to cover it to keep out the scratches and fingerprints that the Compact is prone to. The screen isn’t of the highest resolution but because it’s smaller, it looks good. Thankfully, Sony has improved the display from different angles, which was quite irksome in earlier models. Even now, the screen is far from perfect and not the greatest option for some of the apps that are really meant for larger Android screens, but the colours are good, and low on battery consumption.The phone’s 20.7 MP camera is rather special. It has Sony’s high-quality G Lens, and the sensor works with the F2.0 G lens. The camera app is simple, but featured-packed. It lacks optical image stabilisation, which is a pity. The camera takes great shots in daylight, but is a bit temperamental in low light and over-processed images. But it all depends on your settings, so it’s a matter of getting to know it works in different conditions. Video recording is good but nothing special. Overall, given the processor it has, the Compact is fast enough. Be aware, though, that gaming, videos, etc., don’t turn out to be the same experience as on larger, expansive screens so it depends on what is important to you. HTC Desire 310HTC recently launched a new version of its One and reviewers are calling it the best Android phone the world has ever seen. But most people won't be able to afford it. So, in response to popular demand, the troubled phone-maker has rejuvenated its line for those who want smartphones at affordable prices. The Desire 310 fits the bill. It is unassuming and almost dated in its looks — but it is a solid phone that may be even a smidge heavy for its size. Curved edges make the 4.5-inch handset comfortable to hold. The removable back is plastic and the front is regular except for a big speaker grill on the top. The screen is not particularly high-res at 480 x 854, but rather make-do. It isn't crisp and doesn’t have much finesse, but luckily doesn't wash out from different angles and is responsive enough and, in fact, fast with browsing. HTC’s home-screen customisation, the magazine-style Blink Feed, works quite well. The Desire 310 runs on a 1.3GHz Cortex A-7 Mediatek chipset with Android 4.2 (not the latest 4.4). There’s 512 MB of RAM. Benchmarks put it at anywhere close to the Galaxy S3. It has much of what Indians want — an FM radio, dual SIM and a 2,000 mAh battery, which works well-enough for the phone. Also a micro SD card slot for external storage that supports up to 32 GB. The 5 MP camera is basic and very grainy and very noisy indoors, so it can — at best — be considered for quick, casual photos. Oh, and videos too! The Desire 310 is a fast performer, though the one place I experienced lag was with the camera. For Rs 11,700, it’s a sensible sort of a phone — not charismatic or distinctive, but usable. (This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 19-05-2014)
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HTC on Monday (21 April) launched its latest flagship - HTC One (M8) with a full alumiunium body and a fresh version of HTC Sense in the Indian market. The phone would be available from May 7 at a price of Rs 49,990. The new HTC One (M8), boasts of a smart sensor hub that anticipates your needs and uses motion launch controls to make everyday tasks easier. New duo camera technology delivers creative, professional-looking photos and amazing effects, and HTC BoomSound again sets new standards for audio quality on a smartphone. Jack Yang, President, HTC South Asia said: "In 2013 we introduced the best smartphone in the world, but we never stopped challenging ourselves and the status quo in this category. As pioneers in mobile innovation, we continue to design and build devices that will dazzle, inspire and transform the smartphone industry. Today I am proud to launch the most stunning, intuitive and advanced handset that the industry has seen to date, the new HTC One (M8)." Supported by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor and running Android 4.4, KitKat, the latest version of the Android OS, the HTC One (M8) features the all-new HTC Sense 6, available on the device and as an upgrade from the Google Play store. Completely redesigned with a cleaner, more striking visual style, HTC Sense 6 features bold, customisable colour themes and delivers a more intuitive, personalised user experience. For those who prefer the stock Android experience, the HTC One (M8) Google Play edition will be available for purchase on the Google Play store in the coming weeks.Apart from HTC One (M8), the Taiwanese firm also launched a couple of other smartphones - HTC Desire 210 and HTC Desire 816. HTC Desire 816The HTC Desire 210 comes with a 4 inch display, 512 MB of RAM and a dual core processor. It has a 5 MP rear camera and a front facing VGA camera. This is a budget offering from HTC and has been given a price tag of Rs 8,700. It would make it to the markets by the end of May, 2014.Last but not the least, the HTC Desire 816 is a mid range handset with a massive 5.5 inch screen and HTC Boomsound which is found on the flagship One (M8) phone as well. The best thing about the Desire 816 is the 13 MP rear camera with HTC Zoe and a front facing 5 MP camera. This too would be available by May end and would cost Rs 23,990."The HTC Desire 816 is the start of the mid-tier performance smartphone," said Jack Yang. "Taking the best technology and putting it into the Desire 816 challenges everything that people will expect from a mid-tier smartphone with performance."
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Micromax has finally let go of the Samsung-style design and gone the iPhone way, and I, for one, am happy. Of course, reactions to design are purely subjective and one person’s poison is another man’s meat, but apart from the styling, the Canvas Knight A350 has a whole new premium feel. It’s gone the glass slab way and you can feel its weight and solidity when you hold it. Micromax has a hefty 22 per cent market share in India and is second to Samsung, whose heels its always biting by offering far cheaper options for those who can’t afford the latter’s Rs 40,000-plus handsets. But these always looked very Samsung-like and design isn’t Samsung’s most-admired asset. With the Canvas Knight, Micromax has taken the design factor up many notches. Even the packaging is carefully and cleanly done with lots of protective layers. The Knight is a unibody, and you can’t open the glassy back to get to the battery or a non-existent microSD card. Personally, I like being able to access the battery, not because it’s all that likely I’ll replace it with another but because it’s sometimes useful to take it out and put it back in when a phone misbehaves, as my review unit did initially. A reset fixed all the problems. After its design, the most noteworthy thing about the Knight is that it’s running on a true octa-core 2 GHz processor from Microtek. All cylinders are firing at the same time. The smartphone is fast enough, but doesn’t necessarily feel fluid all the time. It also gets warm and heats up altogether if it’s made to do some heavy work. It has 2 GB RAM and 32 GB internal storage. Because it will be more popular among the young and restless, it could have done with a bit more battery than the 2,350 mAh it has. You can push it through most of the day if you’re not a heavy user, but if you’re gaming and watching videos, keep a portable charger handy (which, in any case, I think no smartphone user should be without). The 5-inch 1080 x 1920 LCD screen has a pretty high pixel density of 441. So, yes, text is sharp and colours good. Though, though the glass is a bit reflective, it’s fine in the sunlight. Overall, the screen is a pretty good experience. Browsing is super-quick, though videos took a while to get going on my rather compromised Net connection. Sound is nice and crystal clear. The Knight has a 16 MP primary camera and does fine in daylight outdoors, but has the usual problems of noise and mushiness indoors. To counter that would take a large lens. The secondary camera is 8 MP. For some reason, the Kinight isn’t running on the latest Android 4.4.2 but on 4.2.2. It’s a dual-sim and costs Rs 19,999. Click-Happy Don't ignore the Gionee E7 just because it's Chinese. The phone has much to boast ofWatch out for Gionee, one of the Chinese companies slowly but surely spreading its dragon wings outside of its home ground. Gionee’s ELife series of smartphones negates the idea that made-in-China is cheap, cheesy and copied. Instead, the ELife phones have stood out for their design, quality and specs. Now, its flagship E7 is available in India, and the new, slim ELife S5.5 has just been launched. Design-wise, the E7’s most prominent feature, on the outside, is a very glossy curved back. The flip cover, which comes with it, also curves and glosses but, be warned, it picks up fingerprints easily and needs frequent wiping. Honestly, I’m not too delighted with the glossiness or the peculiar curve but, well, to each his own. Moreover, the curve doesn’t add to the ergonomics in any way. It’s a broad phone and definitely in the large category. The 5.5-inch screen on the E7 is clear, with sharp colours and good viewing from all angles. But the differentiators are the phone’s camera and the Amigo, Gionee’s customised layer on top of Android. With the ‘special’ 16 MP camera, the lens sticks out a bit on the back, and that’s a problem because it touches the surface on which it’s placed. But it does take sharp pictures and has an elegant app to take them with. There are sliders and dials to make adjustments and HDR and Panorama modes; not many scene modes, but it does have a set of very useable filters. Video is great, but lacks the critical optical image stabilisation. Both photographs and video come out pretty well in low light — and that’s saying a lot. The front camera is 8 MP. Amigo is Gionee’s interface and adds a lot of touches to the phone, including homescreen behaviours, and has stylised icons so that they’re neither attractive nor easily recognisable. The problem I have is that the interface takes the fun out of Android which, after all, is popular for its customisability. All that Amigo also means that the E7 will probably be stuck with Android 4.2. The E7 is, however, a really fast and smooth performer. The smartphone handles navigation, animations, gaming, browsing and video easily, without getting too hot. There are a few too many pre-loaded things though. So Far, So Same The Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 is more of the same offering that previous phones have hadSamsung has so many variants of its smartphones that figuring out one from the other can be quite a challenge. Recently, a new series, Galaxy Neo, has also been thrown into the mix along with the Minis and Quatros, and more. The Grand 2 is the second version of the Grand, which was, when it launched last year, a less expensive option for those who wanted a big phone with a not-so-big price. Plus, it was at that time when it became amply clear that local and Chinese companies would offer large phones at reasonable prices, specifically, Micromax. The Grand was the size of the Note series but without the stylus and specs. The Galaxy Grand 2 is a refreshed version of the Grand, with a specs bump and a few tweaks in design. Straight off, it looks 100 per cent Samsung. At a quick glance, the only other thing you can mistake it for is a Samsung imitation — of which there are many. The back of the phone maintains the faux leather material that, maybe, has replaced the glossy objectionable plastic of days gone by. For many, that “pleather” look is not much better, though I don’t particularly mind it, especially since it goes into a case and is quickly forgotten. The one crib I have about the Grand 2’s build is that it’s not ergonomically crafted. The edges stick out a bit, adding a touch of discomfort to a phone that is, after all, too large for your fingers to wrap around. The Grand 2 is about the size of the Note 2 at 5.25 inches of screen. The TFT display is 1280 x 720 with 280 ppi resolution and looks good enough. If you get rid of some of the garish default wallpapers and use their coffee cup image, things begin to look quite classy. So far, so same! But now we have a 1.2 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 Cortex A7 quad-core processor with 1.5 GB RAM and 8 GB internal storage, with SD card slot and space expandable to 64 GB. It works smoothly and allowed me to navigate, browse and play Temple Run without much lag. The battery is a 2,600 mAh.The 8MP camera is the same, but with the newer camera app now found on Samsung phones. It’s a pretty good camera as far as 8 MP shooters go. All in all, it’s a smartphone I’d describe as middling. The cost online is around Rs 21,000. Dell Venue Pro 8You’d expect to switch on this little 8-inch Dell tablet and find an Android interface. But, no! The Venue 8 Pro is running Windows 8.1, and is a device to consider if you’re buying it for office work. The Venue Pro is a smidge heavy for its size, but it has a solid feel, which is good, plus its textured plastic back gives you a lot of grip. If you’re going to read a lot, holding it in one hand is tiring. You can, of course, pair it with a small keyboard.The 1280 x 800 IPS display is good and bright, with good viewing when tilted. Windows 8.1 swipes along on it just fine. Specs include a 1.8 GHz quad-core Intel Atom processor, 2 GB RAM, 32 GB memory and a microSD slot. There’s an HDMI out. I don’t expect much from tablet cameras, and the 5 MP and 1.3 MP cameras support that point of view — just adequate for quick, practical captures. The 4,830 mAh battery is built for work. Before buying this small workhorse of a tablet, plan how you will input data. (This story was published in BW | Businessworld Issue Dated 05-05-2014)
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ClickSoftware, an automated mobile workforce management and service optimisation solutions provider, was founded in 1996 by Prof Moshe BenBassatis. Traded over Nasdaq, ClickSoftware is a market leader in field service management. Udi Geismar, Head of India Operations, has been with ClickSoftware for more than 12 years in a variety of roles which helped him get a unique perspective and understanding of mobile workforce management and service optimisation across two very different continents. Geismar talks to BW Online's Poonam Kumar on how the company works and the opportunities in India.ExcerptsHow does ClickSoftware work? What is the idea behind it?ClickSoftware works on advanced algorithms that optimise the W6 method: Who does what, for Whom, With what, where and when. Today, ClickSoftware offers a full range of mobile workforce management, service optimisation, and mobility solutions, all aimed at helping service organisations to be more productive, complete more tasks each day, lower operational costs and increase customer satisfaction — all by managing time.Manually scheduling mobile workers and business assets are extremely challenging. In 1985, Prof. Moshe BenBassat, Chairman and CEO of ClickSoftware undertook this for the first time for the Israeli Air Force, helping them build their annual schedule plan for squadrons. This may sound simple; however, many people had tried to automate this plan via a computer with no success. Using his expertise in artificial intelligence and mathematics, an artificial scheduling model was produced and implemented, fulfilling the complex requirements that stumped so many before him.What kind of service do you provide for corporates?ClickSoftware offers highly flexible and scalable mobile workforce solutions for the enterprise and SMB market. The solutions are designed to help service organisations face head-on the challenges of inefficiency. By optimising everything from customer demand forecasts, employee shifts, job prioritisation, and even the specific routes that field resources take to their jobs.The company’s mobility solutions, which help connect workers to each other and the back office, can be configured with mobile business apps from the ClickAppStore. It is designed to support mobile field service users working in any kind of environment, offline and online.The ClickSoftware solutions for corporates and SMEs include:PlanningDemand Forecasting Software: Safely predict future demand and accurately plan your resourcesWorkforce Planning: Minimise same-day risks by allocating resources according to availabilityShift Scheduling: Shifts can be staffed several days, weeks, and even months ahead ExecutingWork Order Management: Manage customers, work orders and assetsOptimised Service Scheduling Software: Manage the service delivery process from start to finish and handle unexpected events with easeCustomer Interaction Management: Customers define and control their own service with web self-serviceMobile Workforce Management: Real-time communicating with field workers including a direct link to all back-end systemsLocation Based Services: Estimate travel time accurately to provide reliable appointment windowsReviewingBusiness Intelligence: Provides in-depth analysis of current and historical data for immediate corrective and preventative actionsThe solution also finds the right balance in order to execute the high priority jobs with routine maintenance jobs – making certain that lower priority work still gets done, while ensuring operations efficiency.Will you please name a few of your clients?We work with companies that range from utility providers, to office equipment leaders, to healthcare organizations and global communications proviers. Global clients include: Telus, Telstra, Portugal Telecom, Xerox and DieboldDo you work from your office or visit client? We work strategically with each client to determine what works best for that organisation. We typically work with customers on site during implementation.In the age of global recession, as your Vodafone case study shows, does your solution reduce jobs?“Our customers aim for increased productivity and effieciency to help them grow. Most of our customers are growing companies, and have sought out amobile workforce management solution to ensure that they continue to offer the best customer service while adjusting to the normal growing pains experienced in any company. Or technology results in an increase in efficiency, meaning that customers can bring down operational costs while growing and better serving their customers.Please provide an overview of the company and market dynamics?ClickSoftware is the leading provider of automated mobile workforce management and service optimization solutions for the enterprise, both for mobile and in-house resources. As pioneers of the “Service chain optimization” concept, our solutions provide organisations with end-to-end visibility and control of the entire service management chain by optimising forecasting, planning, shift and task scheduling, mobility and real-time management of resource and customer communication.Available via the cloud or on-premise, our products incorporate best business practices and advanced decision-making algorithms to manage service operations more efficiently, in a scalable, integrated manner. What are your growth markets?ClickSoftware is growing in all markets, including emerging markets, including India, Latin America, and Russia.What opportunities do you see in India?The Indian market has a lot to offer in terms of innovations. We have come out with unique workforce automation offerings for India. We are a company that’s oriented for the mobile workforce. Our focus is on the companies whose workforce is required to accomplish multiple jobs in a single day. Our proposition is that, by deploying our solution, a company can simplify its process of assigning jobs and achieve an increase in productivity.What is ClickSoftware's market strategy for India?The Indian market has a lot to offer in terms of innovations. We have come out with unique workforce automation offerings for India. We are a software company that’s oriented for the mobile workforce. Our focus is on the companies whose workforce is required to accomplish multiple jobs in a single day. Our proposition is that, by deploying our solution, a company can simplify its process of assigning jobs and achieve an increase in productivity, while also improving the customer experience.How are Indian companies responding to ClickSoftware's services/solutions?Our technology allows for maximum efficiency, the ensure that operational costs can be kept down even in times of rapid growth. All service organisations, regardless of the size or number of field technicians, reap the benefits of our solutions. Because customer service is the last real differentiator between companies, customer service is becoming a top business priority.Will SMEs accept such a technology? How will you pitch it to them?ClickSoftware is targeting organisations which are having large number of resources which are working out of the office in the field on a daily basis. Our software is for every organisation whether it is a large enterprise or small and medium business. We have a different range of products depending on the needs of the organisation. in India
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Photo service Shutterfly Inc has sued to shut down an Eastman Kodak Co app that lets users purchase photo albums made from pictures stored on Facebook Inc's social media network, according to court documents. Shutterfly bought the Kodak Gallery online photo business for $23.8 million last year, and as part of the deal Kodak agreed not to set up a duplicate business, according to court documents. Shutterfly said in a complaint filed on Friday with the US Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan that the "My Kodak Moments App" violates the sale agreement by setting up a competing business. The app allows users to choose photos on Facebook to create an album which is then printed and sent to the consumer. The complaint also alleged it is powered by the same technology that powered the business that Shutterfly purchased. A Kodak spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Kodak filed for bankruptcy early last year. It said on 22 March it had closed on its $848 million finance package that helps prepare it to exit bankruptcy in the middle of this year. The company plans to focus on its commercial imaging business after it reorganises. The case is In re: Eastman Kodak Co et al, US Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York, No. 12-10202. (Reuters)
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Exposure to radiation from mobile towers and phones has been found to lead to DNA damage, carcinogenicity and impacted development of sperms and foetuses along with other harmful effects, according to a recent report of 1,800 new studies.Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad said the report has also cited the effect on neonates and offsping and effect on brain and cranial bone development in the offspring of animals that are exposed to cell phone radiation during pregnancy."Indian Council of Medical research (ICMR) has informed that Bio-initiative 2012 report has summarised about 1800 new studies under 24 technical chapters," he said in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha."Overall, these new studies reported abnormal gene transcription; genotoxicity and single and double strand DNA damage; stress proteins because of the fractal RF-antenna like nature of DNA; chromatin condensation and loss of DNA repair capacity in human stem cells; reduction in free radical scanvengers - particularly melatonin. "Neurotoxicity in humans and animals; carcinogenicity in humans; serious impacts on human and animal sperm morphology and function; effects on the foetus, neonate and offspring; effects on brain and cranial bone development in the offspring of animals that are exposed to cell phone radiation during pregnancy; and findings in autism spectrum disorders consistent with EMF/RFR exposure," the Minister said.Azad said with a number of measures taken by the government, India now has one of the most stringent electromagnetic frequency (EMF) exposure norms in the world.Azad said the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has informed that the base transmitting station (BTS) norms for exposure limit for the radio frequency field (base station emissions) has been reduced to one-tenth of the limits prescribed by International Commission on non-ionizing radiation protection from September 1, 2012."Strict monitoring and enforcement of revised radiation norms has been initiated. In 83 cases, where the base station emissions were found to be more than the prescribed norms, corrective actions have been taken immediately," he said.He added that the specific absorption rate values of mobile handsets have also been limited to 1.6 watt/KG and all new mobile phones will have to adhere to this limit."All new design mobile handsets shall comply with the SAR value of 1.6 Watt/Kg averaged over a mass of 1 gram tissue with effect from 1st September, 2012. However, the mobile handsets with existing designs, which are compliant with 2.0 Watt/Kg averaged over a mass of 10 gram tissue, may continue to co-exist upto 31st August, 2013."From 1st September 2013, only the mobile handsets with revised SAR value of 1.6 Watt/Kg are permitted to be manufactured or imported in India for domestic market," the Minister said.To examine the harmful effects from cellphone towers on population living in their vicinity and for developing the frame of reference for calling out request for proposals for scientific assessment of health hazards and adverse impact on econoly, the DoT has constituted a committee a Committe on 1 October 2012. Azad said a complaint handling system for EMF radiation from mobile towers has been launched by DoT on October 4, 2012 in Mumbai.(PTI)
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