Page 2 - Mobile Phones

Budget 2024: GTRI urges govt not to cut import duty on smartphone parts

Economic think tank GTRI on Monday urged the government to cut import duty on smartphone components in the Budget as it could lead to an increase in superficial assembly plants that rely heavily on imported parts. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Union Budget for 2024-25 tomorrow. The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said the current schemes and tariff structure resulted in great success, and the current framework is also ensuring duty-free imports of components for exports. "Do not cut import duty on smartphone components in this Budget. Removing tariffs could lead to an increase in superficial assembly plants that rely heavily on imported parts, contributing little to the local economy. "Imported components and subassemblies account for up to 90 per cent of the bill of material value for an India-made phones," GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava said. Currently, import tariffs on the product is 20 per cent while duty on components range between 0 and 20 per c

1.2 bn phones in use, main priority to 4G network's scope in India: Scindia

Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday said mobile phone penetration in the country stands at 70-80 per cent of citizens and some 120 crore devices are currently in use. The priority now is to increase the scope of the 4G network in the country, Scindia told reporters. For the first time, India has created a 4G stack with indigenous technology and based on it efforts are being made to take the coverage to 100 percent, Scindia added. Scindia, who is also Union minister for Development of North Eastern Region, said he will be tour Assam and Meghalaya from Friday. "We will formulate a strategy for development of the north-east states based on their strengths and capabilities. For this, decisions will be taken after meeting the concerned state governments," he informed. Scindia evaded a direct reply to a query on how the Centre would deal with the ethic strife in Manipur, only saying he would fulfil his responsibility for the development of the north east. "It

India closing the gap in smartphone exports as China, Vietnam slows down

India has absorbed nearly 50 per cent of the decline in mobile phone exports from China and Vietnam, although China remains the leading exporter of mobile phones

Shoplifting, employee theft: Indian retail firms see rise in shrinkage

Retailers noted that shrinkage is most pronounced in apparel, footwear, and fashion categories, with the next highest rates observed in gadgets such as mobile phones, smartwatches, and headphones

CBIC clarifies on display assembly of phones for levy of 10% import duty

The CBIC on Friday listed out parts or components, such as touch panel, cover glass, LED backlight, which constitute the display assembly of a mobile phone and will attract 10 per cent import duty. It also said components, including frame, SIM tray, side keys like power/volume button, when fitted/attached to the display assembly, that integrated display assembly can be imported at the concessional 10 per cent customs duty. In a circular, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) said currently a concessional basic custom duty (BCD) rate of 10 per cent is imposed on display assembly for use in manufacture of a cellular mobile phone and a nil BCD rate on inputs or parts for use in manufacture of a display assembly for use in manufacture of a cellular mobile phone. It said certain cases of misdeclaration by importers were intercepted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and other field formations and demand notices were issued in certain cases as well. With th

Phase 7 constituencies lag on contraceptive use, mobile phones for women

The voting to elect the 18th Lok Sabha concludes on Saturday

Premium devices to dial up growth in India's smartphone market in 2024

Overall smartphone market is expected to witness modest single-digit growth in CY 2024

India's smartphone market up 11.5%; Apple rules the super-premium segment

Vivo dethrones Samsung in overall smartphone market

Cases of mobile phone use while driving surge 149% in Delhi since January

A major surge of nearly 149 per cent in prosecutions related to mobile phone usage while driving in Delhi since January 1, as compared to the corresponding period last year, the traffic police data revealed. The statistics, shared by the Delhi Traffic Police, indicate a sharp rise in violations of mobile phone usage laws while driving. From January 1 to April 15, a total of 15,846 motorists were booked for this offence, significantly higher than the 6,369 cases reported in 2023, it said. In recent months, the traffic police have observed a disturbing surge in use of mobile phones while driving. This concerning trend has prompted the unit to undertake stringent measures to ensure the safety of all road users," a senior traffic police officer said. According to the police, a thorough analysis of the top ten traffic circles, including Defence Colony, Punjabi Bagh, Karol Bagh, and Safdarjung Enclave among others, with the most challans issued in 2024 has also been carried out by the De

Retailers body to seek govt intervention on business practices of POCO

The South Indian Organised Retailers Association is planning to seek the central government's intervention with regard to the business practices of POCO, a sub-brand of Xiaomi, alleging that the cell phone manufacturer is avoiding the supply of phones to mainline channels. In a statement, the ORA claimed that the business methods of the firm are a clear indication of POCO's attitude to minimise spending by reaching the product through online and "illegitimate" channels without providing consumer experience. The retailers body also said that POCO is not contributing to employment generation in India, as the brand operates with just three distributors and no sales promoters in stark contrast to other major smartphone brands like Samsung, VIVO, and OPPO. These actions by POCO not only harm the legitimate sales channels but also result in financial losses to the government exchequer, ORA charged. POCO's unfair and unethical business practices have serious implications for the indust

Samsung launches Galaxy A55 5G mobile phones with AI camera feature

Consumer electronics brand Samsung on Thursday announced the launch of Galaxy A55 5G and Galaxy A35 5G mobile phones in the mid-premium segment. The new A series devices have multiple features including Gorilla Glass Victus plus protection, camera features enhanced by AI, and a tamper-resistant security solution, the Samsung Knox Vault, amongst many other new features, a company official said. "Galaxy A series has been the highest-selling smartphone series in India for the last two years, showcasing its popularity among the consumers. The launch of Galaxy A55 5G and A35 5G reinforces our commitment to make flagship-like innovations accessible to all," Hirendra kumar Rathod, Senior Director, MX Business, Samsung India, said in a release. He said that for the first time, Galaxy A55 5G gets a metal frame and Galaxy A35 5G gets a premium glass back. Rathod informed that the new A series smartphones come with multiple innovative AI-enhanced camera features. Also, Samsung Knox Vault ...

Telecom licence fee collection up 8.23% at Rs 5,326 cr in quarter ended Sep

The government's licence fee collection from telecom service providers increased 8.23 per cent year-on-year to Rs 5,326 crore, while spectrum usage charge mop up declined about 40 per cent to Rs 836 crore in the September 2023 quarter, according to the latest Trai report. According to the performance indicator report released by regulator Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), operators' gross revenue (GR) declined by 1.22 per cent to Rs 82,741 crore, but adjusted gross revenue (AGR) increased by 7.43 per cent year-on-year (YoY) to Rs 66,583 crore during the reported quarter. "On a YoY basis, GR decreased by 1.22 per cent, ApGR (applicable gross revenue) increased by 6.74 per cent, and AGR increased by 7.43 per cent in the quarter ended September 2023," the report released on Friday said. Reliance Jio recorded the highest AGR of Rs 24,217.13 crore with a 9.12 per cent year-on-year rise. Bharti Airtel posted the highest AGR growth rate of 10.88 per cent at Rs 19,840.84 crore

Device lock: Indians lead the world in smartphone use, shows data

More than 881 million Indians are 'always on' - those who can't do without their phones

Govt asked Apple to soften impact of hack warnings, says Washington Post

An Apple security expert was also summoned from outside the country to a meeting in New Delhi and the expert was pressed to come up with alternative explanations for the warnings, it said

Shrinking market share, govt pressure trouble Chinese smartphone makers

Chinese smartphone brands are fast losing market share in Europe, North America, and Japan. On the other hand, Apple and Samsung have grown as people increasingly prefer premium devices

Android smartphones face average 3 attacks per month, says DSCI report

The report also gave staggering numbers of threat detections, with over 400 million attacks getting detected in 2023

Value addition in mobile phones needs to go up to 40%: Meity Secretary

While almost all mobile phones sold in India are made indigenously, local value addition in the devices needs to go up to 40 per cent and the government is focussing on building a component base in the country for that, a senior official said on Tuesday. While speaking at Global Technology Summit 2023, Ministry of Electronics and IT Secretary S Krishnan said that no country in the world can make 100 per cent of entire high technology products as the supply chain is spread across the globe. "Almost the entire requirement of our mobile phones being manufactured in India. We also need to realize that in many of these places, the value addition is probably about 10 to 15 per cent. We need to go closer to about 35 per cent to 40 per cent. For this reality to happen the government of India's interest is how do you bring in component manufacturing in the country," Krishnan said. He said that there are economists who question the level of value addition achieved under the production-linked

Flipkart Big Diwali Sale 2023: Smartphones, watches available at low price

Flipkart Big Diwali Sale 2023 is offering iPhone 14, smartwatches and smartphones at heavy discounts. Here's all you need to know about Flipkart Diwali sale

Mobile phones, auto parts top cargo items at Jaipur airport in September

Surprisingly, human hair also comes in the top category

Chip supplies reallocating from computers, mobiles to automobiles: CRISIL

It added that the chip shortage is easing but the demand-supply dynamics are expected to be more balanced by 2025-26