Brands
BlackZone Mobiles unveils BZ Fold
Mumbai: BlackZone Mobiles, a pioneering force in the mobile industry, proudly unveils its latest innovation – the BZ Fold. Crafted to redefine the mobile experience, the feature phone, BZ Fold seamlessly merges cutting-edge features with unparalleled convenience, offering users a sophisticated and functional communication solution.
At the core of the BZ Fold lies its innovative design, showcasing a spacious 2.4-inch screen within a sleek flip phone format. This compact yet robust device effortlessly slips into your pocket, making it the ideal companion for individuals with on-the-go lifestyles. Equipped with a Type-C charger, users can enjoy swift and efficient charging, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity when it matters most.
The BZ Fold boasts an impressive array of features. These include audio call recording capabilities, allowing users to effortlessly capture every crucial conversation. With expandable memory of up to 32 GB, users have ample space to store photos, videos, and files. Moreover, the built-in 2000 mAh battery ensures extended usage without the need for frequent recharging, while the FM radio feature and MP3 and MP4 player provide entertainment on the move.
Additionally, the BZ Fold features a built-in torch for illuminating surroundings in low-light conditions. Its high-quality camera, with 2 MP rear camera guarantees stunning photo and video capture capabilities.
“We are thrilled to introduce the BZ Fold to the market, offering consumers a unique blend of style, functionality, and affordability. BZ Fold is targeted towards consumers who seek the latest mobile features but desire an affordable and dependable product,” stated BlackZone Mobiles managing director Kannav Thukral. “With its innovative design and impressive features, the BZ Fold reflects our commitment to delivering exceptional mobile experiences that enhance everyday life. This product embodies our dedication and years of experience in the Indian market, with one year spent in planning, development, and testing.”
Brands
UK’s OnlyFans seeks US investor at $3bn valuation after owner’s death
The adult video platform is seeking stability after the death of its billionaire owner
LONDON: OnlyFans is looking for a new partner. The London-based adult video platform is in advanced talks to sell a minority stake of less than 20 per cent to Architect Capital, a San Francisco-based investment firm, in a deal that would value the business at more than $3bn (£2.2bn).
The move is driven by an urgent need for stability. Leonid Radvinsky, the Ukrainian-American billionaire who owned OnlyFans, died of cancer last month at the age of 43, leaving the future of one of Britain’s most profitable privately held businesses suddenly uncertain.
The choice of Architect Capital is not arbitrary. The firm has deep expertise in financial services, which aligns neatly with OnlyFans’ ambitions to offer banking products to its creators, many of whom have long struggled to access basic financial services because of the nature of their work.
The numbers behind OnlyFans are, by any measure, staggering. The platform posted revenues of $1.4bn in the year to 30th November 2024, with a pre-tax profit of $684m, up four per cent on the prior year. Payments to creators totalled $7.2bn over the same period, a rise of nearly ten per cent. Radvinsky personally collected $701m in dividends from the business in 2024 alone, on top of more than $1bn in such payments he had already received. The platform, run through its parent company Felix International, hosts 4.6m creator accounts, with performers keeping 80 per cent of subscription proceeds and the platform pocketing the remaining 20 per cent. It has 377m fan accounts in total.
The current minority stake talks represent a notable scaling back of ambitions. In January, OnlyFans was reported to be in discussions with Architect about selling a majority stake of 60 per cent. Before that, the company had explored a sale to a consortium led by Forest Road Company, a Los Angeles-based investment firm. Neither deal materialised.
OnlyFans has built an enormously lucrative business on content that mainstream finance has long refused to touch. Now, with its owner gone and a $3bn valuation on the table, it is looking for the kind of respectable institutional backing that might finally persuade the banks to take its calls.
