2. Next Google phone will be mobile wallet: Schmidt
A new Google mobile phone imbedded with a chip that makes
it a virtual wallet so people can "tap and pay" is poised to make
its debut, the Internet giant's chief said Monday.
The successor to the Internet firm's Nexus One smartphone
runs on fresh "Gingerbread" software and is imbedded with a
near-field communication chip for financial transactions,
according to Google chief executive Eric Schmidt.
3. I have here an unannounced product that I carry around
with me," Schmidt said while pulling a touch-screen
smartphone from a jacket pocket during an on-stage
chat at a Web 2.0 Conference in San Francisco.
"You will be able to take these mobile devices that will
be able to do commerce," he continued. "Essentially,
bump for everything and eventually replace credit cards.
In the industry it is referred to as tap-and-pay
4. India-US education ties set for major expansion
India-US cooperation in the field of education is poised for
major expansion with India engaged in massive expansion of
the education infrastructure, said Indian ambassador Meera
Shankar.
"India sees education as critical for achieving its goals to have
inclusive growth and to realise the potential for taking the
Indian economy to a higher growth trajectory," Shankar said at
a function Tuesday to commemorate the 60th Year of Nehru-
Fulbright Educational Exchange Programme.
5. Noting that a bill has been introduced in parliament to
open up the education sector for foreign universities, she
said: "This provides an excellent opportunity for US
universities to increase the number of Indian students
studying in their institutions, not only in the United States,
but also in India, through opening up of their off-shore
locations or through tie-ups with Indian institutions.“
6. Emami to invest Rs 950 cr in its edible oil
business
Emami Biotech set up in 2006 to manufacture bio-
diesel from Jatropha, Emami Biotech, is, however,
presently focusing on edible oils as it is facing some
regulatory issues in bio-fuel
Emami Group has earmarked Rs 950 crore over the
next two years for the purpose, even as it is looking
at a national roll-out of its Healthy & Tasty oil brand
7. The company currently produces 1,600 tonnes per
day (tpd) of edible oils such as palm, soya, mustard,
blended and sunflower. It plans to expand its
capacity to 3,000 tpd over the next two years
8. Airtel launches new brand identity in
Africa; replaces Zain
Telecom giant Bharti, which had acquired Zain
Telecom''s operations in Africa launched its brand
"airtel" in 16 countries in the continent replacing
the Zain brand.
The ZAP mobile money service will be re-branded
Airtel Money with immediate effect. As part of the
new brand launch, airtel also announced the
launch of a new ultra low cost handset package
which effectively provides a mobile phone free of
charge to all new subscribers.
9. The package, launched in conjunction with Nokia,
will be priced at approx NGN 3,500 (USD 23) and
includes a brand new Nokia 1280 mobile phone, a
free SIM card and the equivalent value in free airtel
talk time and SMS text messages.
