Tata Communications announces global technology association with Formula 1™

Tata Communications announces global technology association with Formula 1™

Mumbai (BSE) & New York (NYSE) – 23 February 2012 - Tata Communications, a leading provider of The New World of Communications, today announces a multi-year technology service and marketing agreement with Formula One Management. The agreement will see Tata Communications delivering world-class connectivity to all 20 Formula 1™ race locations over its global network, the largest in the world. It will also provide hosting and content delivery services to Formula1.com, which is accessed by tens of millions of fans around the globe.

The innovative deal positions Tata Communications corporately as A Technology Supplier of Formula 1™ with category exclusive designations as Official Connectivity Provider of Formula 1™ and Official Web Hosting and Content Delivery Network Provider of Formula1.com.

Formula One group businesses and race locations will now be connected to the Tata Global Network ("TGN"), supported by secure MPLS connectivity. Formula One Management's IT infrastructure and Formula1.com will be co-located and hosted in Tata Communications' world-class data centres.

Vinod Kumar, Managing Director and CEO of Tata Communications, says, "Formula 1 requires fast and secure connectivity, because even a split second of downtime can have huge repercussions for its business, brand and reputation. This delivery is at the heart of our organisation and working with one of the world's most highly technical and innovative organisations is an exciting opportunity for Tata Communications. The collaboration leverages our technology leadership and vision for emerging markets and represents a tremendous opportunity for growth and innovation for both companies."

Bernie Ecclestone, CEO of Formula One group, says, "I'm pleased to welcome Tata Communications into the Formula 1 family and I hope this is the start of a long and successful relationship. Connectivity and content delivery are critical issues for Formula 1 and working with the best in the business is a priority for us. This is a collaboration that will help us stay at the technological cutting edge in these categories."

Tata Communications' capabilities in video and content delivery networks ("CDN") will enable uninterrupted, high-quality connectivity to the multi-media portal on Formula1.com. The (TGN) has Trans-Atlantic and Trans-Pacific data transfer capacity of one terabit per second. This capacity will ensure Tata Communications is able to fully support Formula1.com during race weekends, when the site gets on average four million unique visits per weekend, peaking at seven million over some events. Tata Communications' infrastructure will enable the sport's official website to instantly scale up to cope with these significant and sometimes unpredictable traffic spikes.

Tata Communications will also provide Formula1.com with a new Managed Security Suite and will apply an additional layer of managed security monitoring to ensure an increased level of protection to Formula One Management's IT infrastructure.

Looking ahead, Tata Communications and Formula One Management will also work in close collaboration on research and development around connectivity and the latest video technologies.

To view the press conference video and download images, please visit: http://tatacommunications.com/F1/vod.html

Windows 8 Consumer Preview hits 1 million downloads in one day

Microsoft's Windows 8 Consumer Preview software was downloaded 1 million times in the first 24 hours. (Microsoft Corp. / Twitter Inc. / March 1, 2012)

Microsoft's Windows 8 Consumer Preview, in its first 24 hours after being released, was downloaded 1 million times.

Not too bad for an operating system still in beta, not finished and not ready for a consumer retail shelf. But then again, the software was made available as a free download.

The Windows 8 development team announced the massive number on Twitter on Thursday in a tweet that said, simply, "One day later ... one million downloads of the consumer preview."

The Consumer Preview release, like the Developer Preview released in September, is a step toward bringing Windows 8 and its touch-compatible user interface to tablets, laptops and desktops later this year.

Microsoft is releasing the software partly to get developers to start using the new operating system and build apps that work on touch-centric devices, as well as with the traditional keyboard, mouse and trackpad.

But while developers are no doubt a focal point for Microsoft, anyone can download the new software for free -- app builder or not.

Source: http://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-microsoft-windows-8-consumer-preview-has-1-million-downloads-in-1-day-20120301,0,3761404.story 

India CY 2011 mobile phone sales (unit shipments) at 183 million, a 10% YoY increase

India CY 2011 mobile phone sales (unit shipments) at 183 million, a 10% YoY increase

December 2011 shipments cross 17 million units, a 7% MoM growth

·         Smartphones contribute 6.2%, multi-SIM handsets over 57% of total shipments in CY2011

·         Total 3G phone shipments stood at 18 million units in CY2011

·         Android emerges as a preferred OS for smartphones for a growing number of vendors

The overall India mobile handsets market recorded sales (unit shipments) of 183 million units in CY 2011. In the overall India mobile handsets market, Nokia retained leadership position with 31% share, followed by Samsung at No. 2 with 15% and Micromax at No.3 with 5%, in terms of sales (unit shipments) during CY 2011.

This was reported in the India Monthly Mobile Handsets Market Review, CY 2011, December 2011 release, published today by CyberMedia Research, a Technology, Entrepreneurship, Utilities, Healthcare and User intelligence firm.

Growth of Smartphones

In 2011 the India smartphones market witnessed the launch of 150 models by over 30 vendors. Smartphone shipments touched 11.2 million units in calendar year 2011 recording a YoY growth of 87%. Nokia emerged as the leader in the smartphones segment with a 38% share followed by Samsung with 28% share in CY 2011. RIM dropped to third place with a 15% share.

The share of Android OS in the smartphones category saw tremendous growth of over 600% in CY 2011 (34% share) as compared to CY 2010 (9% share). This growth was mainly on account of an increasing number of handset vendors adopting Android as preferred OS for their smartphones. “In 2012, the proportion of smartphones with extended features like NFC and 3D gaming are likely to increase. It will be interesting to see how Microsoft and Nokia take their partnership to the next level with a new range of smart devices based on the Windows 7.5 Mango OS platform. For instance, the Nokia Lumia 610 has been announced at the Mobile World Congress 2012 at Barcelona, even as we go to press. It is expected that this phone would be aggressively priced to compete with smartphones from the Android and RIM stable”, stated Naveen Mishra, Lead Telecoms Analyst, CyberMedia Research.

  

Multi-SIM Mobile Handsets

Multi-SIM handset shipments accounted for 57% of the total India mobile handsets market during CY 2011, representing an year-on-year increase of 61%. Nokia was the market leader in the category with a nearly 13% share during the year.

“After a long wait, Nokia introduced its dual-SIM phone portfolio to the India market in September 2010. The innovative products in the Finnish vendor’s portfolio helped Nokia become the market leader in the category. Some of the key features in Nokia’s dual-SIM portfolio were ‘touch-and-type’ and ‘easy swipe’; the latter allows customers to change their secondary SIM without powering off the phone”, stated Tarun Pathak, Analyst, Telecoms Practice, CyberMedia Research. “During CY 2011 the dual-SIM category also extended its presence to the 3G and smartphone (Android) segments”, Tarun further added.

  

3G Phones

During CY 2011, close to 250 unique 3G handset models were shipped from approximately 30 different vendors. The total shipments of 3G phones in the country touched nearly 18 million units, a year-on-year growth of 153%. Nokia again emerged as the market leader in this category followed by Samsung and RIM.

“In anticipation of increased 3G data usage among subscribers all the major handset vendors introduced their 3G phone portfolios to the India market during CY 2011”, stated Naveen Mishra, Lead Telecoms Analyst, CyberMedia Research.

“3G is a relatively new phenomenon in India with active subscribers estimated at only 15 million as of December 2011. This may be directly attributed to the lack of 3G network availability in many locations and the poor quality of service experienced by existing subscribers. Therefore, in many respects 2012 will be a ‘test year’ for the growth and adoption of 3G handsets and data services in the country. It will be interesting to see how new alliances and offerings emerge from handset vendors, service providers and content developers to target mobile subscribers with innovative device plus data service bundles”, Naveen further added.

Windows 8 tests start Operating system is designed to counter Apple's market gains

Antoine Leblond, corporate vice president of Windows Web services, gives a Windows 8 consumer preview presentation during a news conference at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, on Wednesday. / Emilio Morenatti/Associated Press

BARCELONA, Spain -- Microsoft on Wednesday let consumers start trying out its upcoming touch-based Windows 8 operating system, which aims to power a new wave of computer tablets and traditional PCs designed to counter Apple's big gains in the market through its Macs and iPads.

The test beta version of the revamped system was introduced at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, the planet's largest cell phone trade show, and borrows some of the look of Microsoft's Windows Phone 7 software for Windows 8.

Windows 8 doesn't have the traditional "Start" menu, and applications are spread across a mosaic of tiles in a design Microsoft calls Metro -- seen as an attempt by the company to preserve its market share. And executives said it powers up on PCs in eight seconds, much faster than the previous version.

The tiles, which resemble road signs, can be navigated with a finger swipe on the screen or with a keyboard and mouse. But those testing the new operating system won't be able to try out the finger swiping unless they already have systems enabled for touch use, and the system isn't expected to make its official debut until September or October.

Microsoft executives in Barcelona showed off how users can use their fingertips to swipe in and out of applications, and tilt upright computer screens to a flat position so they can be used as two-person gaming boards or big drawing tablets. A slim laptop had a hinge allowing it to be turned inside out so it could be used as a tablet instead.

"It's beautiful, it's modern, it's fast, it's fluid," said Steven Sinofsky, president of Microsoft's Windows division. "Windows 8 is a generational change in the Windows operating system."

Microsoft is also opening an Internet Windows Store where users can download applications for the operating system. Applications are free for those testing the beta version, but would include both free and paid versions after the operating system is released.

The test version was downloaded by people from more than 70 countries as Microsoft gave its presentation about Windows 8, but the company didn't immediately disclose the number of downloads. The software can be downloaded at http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/consumer-preview .

Apple is also moving features from its iPhone and iPad software over to its Mac software. That trend will be particularly visible in Mountain Lion, the new Mac operating system that's expected to be released this summer.

Windows 8 will also be the first Microsoft software in a long time besides its cell phone software that will run on non-Intel style processors. The company is developing a version that will run on phone-style chips, such as those used in the iPad.

If Windows 8 is a hit, it could help struggling PC makers, including Hewlett-Packard and Dell. Besides giving businesses and consumers a reason to consider new PC purchases, Windows 8 is expected to spawn a new breed of hybrid machines that will be part tablet computer and part laptop like the device that Sinofsky demonstrated.

If Windows 8 is a flop, however, it will increase the pressure on Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. His 12-year reign has been marred by the company's troubles adapting to an Internet-driven upheaval. As Microsoft has stumbled, faster-innovating companies such as Apple and Google have elbowed their way into a position to steer the direction of computing for the next decade or two.

Source: http://www.freep.com/article/20120301/NEWS09/203010550/Windows-8-tests-start 

Intel announces Atom Z2580 high-end SoC

Intel's flagship 32nm Medfield SoC

In addition to Intel's current 32nm Atom Z2460 "Medfield" processor, which just launched in January at CES 2012, the company is preparing to release a new "top-end" 32nm Medfield processor in 1H 2013 for smartphones and tablets which will be roughly 2x faster than the Z2460.

 

Intel's new 32nm Atom Z2580 is a dual-core Medfield chip packing heat with a 1.30GHz CPU (up to 1.80GHz in Turbo Mode) and a PowerVR SGX 544MP2 GPU running at 533MHz (up from a PowerVR SGX 540 found in the Atom Z2460). According to AnandTech, we can expect roughly 2x the shader/compute performance with Intel's SoC over the PowerVR SGX 543MP2 found in Apple's A5 SoC (see: iPad 2, iPhone 4S).

Nevertheless, the Z2580 will also be paired with Intel's new XMM 7160 LTE 4G baseband. The 7160 is essentially an upgraded XMM 7060 with support for 3GPP Release 9. The modem interface will also receive an upgrade in order to compensate for increased bandwidth from the LTE baseband.



Intel's 32nm Atom Z2580 will be launching in the first half 2013, and we expect the first mobile devices to be demonstrated next year at Mobile World Congress 2013.

Source: http://www.fudzilla.com/home/item/26106-intel-announces-atom-z2580-high-end-soc

Nokia's 808 PureView has a whopping 41-megapixel camera Read more: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13970_7-57385592-78/nokias-808-pureview-has-a-whopping-41-megapixel-camera/#ixzz1na6P0COP

The 808 PureView phone from Nokia will have a high-resolution camera, CD-like quality audio recording capabilities, and is due out in May.

Nokia's 808 PureView

(Credit: Nokia)

Well, it looks like we finally got to know what that vague snow video was all about.

A few days ago, Nokia released a 22-second teaser trailer hinting about something so "pure," it mentioned the word at least three times.

Now we know it's in reference to the manufacturer's newest device, the 808 PureView. A phone that has so many megapixels, its megapixels has megapixels. Okay, that may be an exaggeration, but the phone does have a whopping 41-megapixel camera. And that makes our hearts definitely beat like an 808.

Nokia stated that the device will be the first smartphone to feature Nokia PureView imaging technologies, which include high resolution sensors and optics from Carl Zeiss.

In addition to its large megapixel count, the camera will not lose clarity while it zooms. That means that once you take a photo of something, you can zoom on, re-frame, crop, or re-size the image and the photo will retain a great amount of detail.

Recording video will also be superb on this handset. It can record full HD 1080p video and will offer CD-like audio recording. The 808 Pureview will also feature Dolby Headphone technology and Dolby Digital Plus for 5.1 channel surround sound playback.

If you're interested in the phone, it will cost $605 before subsidies, and you'll have to wait until it rolls out in May.

Read more: http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13970_7-57385592-78/nokias-808-pureview-has-a-whopping-41-megapixel-camera/#ixzz1na8eNudT

Winners! Complete List From the 2012 Oscars

Best Picture: The Artist

Actor in a Leading Role: Jean Dujardin, The Artist

Actress in a Leading Role: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady

Actress in a Supporting Role: Octavia Spencer, The Help

Actor in a Supporting Role: Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Director: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist

Original Screenplay: Midnight in Paris, Written by Woody Allen

Adapted Screenplay: The Descendants, Screenplay by Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon and Jim Rash

Animated Feature Film: Rango

Foreign-Language Film: A Separation (Iran)

Documentary Feature: Undefeated

Cinematography: Hugo

Art Direction: Hugo

Film Editing: The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Visual Effects: Hugo

Sound Editing: Hugo

Sound Mixing: Hugo

Original Score: The Artist, Ludovic Bource

Original Song: "Man or Muppet," The Muppets; music and lyric by Bret McKenzie

Costume Design: The Artist

Makeup: The Iron Lady

Animated Short Film: The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore

Documentary Short Subject: Saving Face

Live Action Short Film: The Shore

Read more: http://www.eonline.com/redcarpet/2012/oscars/news/winners-complete-list-from-the-2012-oscars/295915#ixzz1nYdSXRgg

Samsung launches GALAXY Beam (PR)

Share the Fun with Samsung GALAXY Beam

Samsung’s projector smartphone offers unforgettable shared experience for playing multimedia content anytime, anywhere

 Barcelona – February 26, 2012 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd, a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, today introduced Samsung GALAXY Beam, the projector smartphone that allows users to display and share multimedia content anywhere on a large luminous projector screen.

GALAXY Beam lets users spontaneously share photos, videos or other digital media with family or friends by beaming content stored on the device directly onto walls, ceilings or improvised flat surfaces, so that everyone can share the fun without the need to huddle around smartphone or pad-sized screens. GALAXY Beam’s ultra-bright 15 lumens projector allows users to freely share life’s memorable moments instantly and in crisp clarity, even in outdoor environments.

“GALAXY Beam provides mobile freedom, enabling a unique shared experience around digital content for everyone—anywhere and instantly—from a smartphone as slim and portable as any on the market,” said JK Shin, President of IT & Mobile Communications Division at Samsung Electronics.

“GALAXY Beam is a device borne out of Samsung’s insight and innovation, demonstrating Samsung’s commitment to providing extraordinary experiences for consumers with products that let them express and fulfill themselves.”

Video clips, maps, business information, games - a whole range of multimedia content can be beamed instantly by GALAXY Beam on a crisp, high-definition projection up to 50’’ wide. The device features a projector-dedicated application which makes it easy to select content and activate projection in a few simple steps.

Add a dose of ambience or entertainment to a friends’ gathering by transforming any household room or outdoor deck into an instant mini home-theater, projecting full-screen video clips on a ceiling or wall for common sharing, at the touch of a button. Or capture your favorite holiday moments using the GALAXY Beam’s 5MP camera, then display a full photo slideshow to family members on a dining room wall while playing accompanying music straight from the device, so that everyone shares the experience.  

For young users who depend on constant, immediate socializing of digital content and entertainment, GALAXY Beam introduces a new way of sharing. It becomes much more than a phone—a handy digital tool, deployable anywhere, which can add visual entertainment to a simple street gathering, set the mood for a small party, or simply turn life’s moments into something personally and immediately sharable. With GALAXY Beam, a birthday or anniversary party can be enlivened in seconds by sharing YouTube or Hulu music videos straight onto a ceiling or door. Likewise, students can collectively share videos or study-work in any dormitory room or student lounge, turning group study into a whole new interactive experience right from a desk table or from the palm of their hands. GALAXY Beam is also ideal for action-packed interactive gaming: Users can upload their own games or choose from over 1,000 games available via Game Hub, Samsung’s dedicated virtual gaming store, then project games to co-players or observers to turn gaming into an unbeatably interactive, shared experience. Additionally, GALAXY Beam is convenient tool for mid-sized business workers. An estate agent can beam images of candidate properties to customers as they tour them; or an architect can display draft concepts or designs to co-workers on the spot at a building site or public location.  

Despite featuring a full built-in projector, the GALAXY Beam does not compromise on style or portability, measuring just 12.5mm thick and featuring an elegant, ergonomic design. It runs on Android 2.3 Gingerbread which is powered by an impressive 1.0GHz dual-core processor, ensuring great versatility and a highly responsive user interface. An impressive 8GB of internal memory allows ample multimedia storage without compromises, and a powerful 2000 mAh battery ensures greater display power and content freedom.   

The GALAXY Beam is exhibited at Samsung stand (Hall 8), Mobile World Congress 2012. For multimedia content and more detailed information, please visitwww.samsungmobilepress.com.

Note to Editors:

Samsung GALAXY Beam Product Specifications

Network	HSPA 14.4/5.76 Mbps 850/900/1900/2100 EDGE/GPRS 850/900/1800/1900
OS	Android 2.3 (Gingerbread)
Display	4.0” 480x800 (WVGA) TFT
Processor	1.0GHz Dual-Core Processor
Camera	5MP AF ＋ 1.3MP / Flash
Video	MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV, DivX Recording/Playback: 720p@30fps
Audio	MP3, AAC, AAC＋, eAAC＋, WMA0fps
Connectivity	BT 3.0＋HS, 802.11 b/g/n 2.4GHz, MicroUSB, USB 2.0, 3.5mm Ear Jack
PC Applications	Samsung Kies 2.0
Memory	6GB RAM ＋ 8GB Internal Memory, MicroSD slot (up to 32GB)
Dimension	64.2 x 124 x 12.5mm, 145.3 g
Battery	2000 mAh

＊ All functionality, features, specifications and other product information provided in this document including, but not limited to, the benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability, and capabilities of the product are subject to change without notice or obligation.