Food delivery app Zomato is in talks to invest around $100 million in e-grocer Grofers, two people in the know told ET, after discussions of a possible merger between the two fell through last year at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Zomato’s investment is likely part of a larger financing round and may value the Gurugram-based online grocery firm at around $1 billion, sources said. This time the talks have centred around a capital infusion, unlike last year when Zomato would have likely acquired Grofers in an all-stock deal….
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India’s Smartphone Industry Grew by 23% in Q1; Xiaomi leads, Samsung second
India’s smartphone shipments grew by a robust 23 per cent in the first quarter of calendar year 2021 at over 38 million units, the latest research report by Counterpoint’s Market Monitor has said. This was the highest ever first quarter shipment in the country which was boosted by new product launches, promotions and financial schemes, as well as pent-up demand from last year. Xiaomi led the market in Q1 2021 with a 26% shipment share accounting for five out of the top 10 smartphone models. Samsung was second, logging the…
Read MoreGoogle Assistant adds new features to helps families on Mother’s Day 2021
Ahead of Mother’s Day 2021 on May 9 this year, Google Assistant is bringing a couple of new features for mothers around the world. A new update to the assistance service brings new entertainment content, a family bell feature and a new enhanced broadcast messaging feature. Google announced the new features in a blog post on May 6. Here’s a detailed look at everything new that Google Assistant can now do, that can help not just moms, but the whole family. Enhanced Broadcast Feature The new enhanced broadcast feature lets…
Read MoreIndia’s Cyber Agency Issues High Severity Security Warning for WhatsApp Users
India’s cybersecurity agency has warned WhatsApp users in the country about certain vulnerabilities detected in the messaging app. These vulnerabilities could lead to a breach of sensitive information of WhatsApp users. The CERT-In or the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team has issued a “high” severity rating advisory. The agency has stated that vulnerability has been discovered in software that has “WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business for Android prior to v2.21.4.18 and WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business for iOS prior to v2.21.32.” The CERT-In is the national technology arm that tackles cyber attacks…
Read MoreKoo launches ‘TalkTo Type’ feature, to support 22 Indian Languages
Koo, the ‘desi’ version of the microblogging site Twitter, on Tuesday announced a new Talk to Type feature that allows its users to post content on the platform using voice commands. “This ‘Talk to Type’ feature is magical and takes creation for regional language creators to the next level,” said Aprameya Radhakrishna, CEO and Co-founder of Koo. Koo also claims that it is the first social media platform globally to use this feature in the Indian regional and local languages – Hindi, Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, and Marathi – apart…
Read MorePUBG to Relaunch in India as Battleground Mobile India
South Korean gaming company Krafton will relaunch the India version of its popular game – PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), for mobile users. This will come in a new avatar called Battlegrounds Mobile India. Krafton has not set a timeline for the launch of the mobile multiplayer game in the country. In September last year, PUBG Mobile, which was published in India by Chinese internet giant Tencent, was banned along with other Chinese apps after a prolonged border standoff between the neighbours. Following the ban, PUBG Corp, the subsidiary of Krafton, severed…
Read MoreXRSpace Headset Opens Door to New Virtual World
A new virtual reality headset designed for mobility will serve as an entry point into a new virtual world, its maker announced Tuesday. The US$599 Mova headset from XRSpace, founded by former HTC chief Peter Chou, will support 5G and be the exclusive on-ramp to Manova, a social reality platform that aims to defy the boundaries of space and time to bring people together. Users can roam Manova as full-body avatars with a user’s personal features to socialize, work and play in a number of public and private spaces, according…
Read MoreSpotify Buys Megaphone for $235 million
Swedish music streaming giant Spotify has acquired podcast advertising and publishing firm Megaphone, in a deal worth a reported $235 million. The deal will help Spotify provide targeted ads, and expand advertising monitoring tools to third-party podcast providers. The Stockholm brand’s advertising revenue will rise this quarter, executives have claimed. It is the latest in a flurry of deals made by Spotify, which is trying to boost its presence in the booming podcast industry. Since last February, when it bought Alex Blumberg’s network Gimlet Media, Spotify has bagged high-profile shows…
Read MoreIndian Startup Organization Proposes Regulatory Framework for Crypto
IndiaTech.org, an industry association representing India’s consumer internet startups and investors, wants to provide clear definitions for the cryptocurrency industry. On Wednesday, the association released a white paper including a policy proposal with recommendations for a regulatory framework for crypto assets and crypto exchanges in India. The proposed framework suggests to define cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) as digital assets and not currencies. “Define cryptocurrencies as digital assets and not currencies and grant them recognition as digital assets like gold, stocks, or marketable securities,” the proposal reads. The framework further recommends…
Read MoreTwitter Acquires News Startup Scroll in Push for Subscriptions
Twitter Inc said Tuesday it had bought news technology company Scroll, which it will use as part of an upcoming subscription offering. Twitter has been working to offer new types of content on its social media site, including audio and long-form content, after previously acquiring newsletter platform Revue. Scroll allows users to subscribe and read news articles from publishers including Insider, BuzzFeed and USA Today without ads. The company says publishers who work with Scroll earn more money than they would by selling advertising. The deal will help Twitter build…
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