MAM
HP, Nokia & Radio Mirchi to market visual radio in India
MUMBAI: Expanding their global cooperation, Hewlett Packard (HP) and Nokia have joined hands with the radio brand Radio Mirchi to market the first service in India that enables mobile phone users to receive FM radio broadcasts synchronized with interactive visuals and text on the handsets.
Radio Mirchi listeners in Delhi can now have access to visual radio, a new music service on their Nokia mobile phones for Hutch subscribers, followed by other metros in the country.
With visual radio, the listeners can enjoy engaging and exciting content: visuals, information and entertainment of what’s playing over the air, purchase ring tones and other mobile content of the artiste, participate in radio station promotions, polls, contests, and interact with RJs and special guests.
The customer would be charged at the regular PlanetHutch rate of 10 paise per 10 KB and regular download charges for downloading ring tones and many other features, informs an official release.
In 2003, Nokia had announced Visual Radio as an upcoming product for their new range of multi-media phones. In UK, Virgin Radio was the first station to make use of the interactive Visual Radio functionality.
Nokia and HP are pushing the visual radio concept in countries like Finland, Thailand, Singapore and some European countries as well. In Singapore MediaCorp Radio’s music station Y.E.S. 93.3 FM is the first Chinese language radio station in the world to be made available on Visual Radio.
And in Finland, SBS Finland’s Kiss FM became the first radio station in the world to begin visual radio broadcasts.
Visual radio is at present, available on Nokia NSeries devices (Nokia N70, Nokia N71, Nokia N72 Nokia N80, Nokia N91) and select Nokia phones (Nokia 3230, Nokia 3250, Nokia 6125, Nokia 6131, Nokia 6280 and Nokia 7370).
ENIL (Radio Mirchi) MD and CEO A.P. Parigi says, “Visual radio provides us an exciting opportunity to involve, engage and entertain this demanding generation. Visual radio not only enhances the listener’s interaction with the station, it also provides advertisers a more dynamic platform to communicate their messages.”
The launch of visual radio in India demonstrates a revolution in interactive mobile communications and redefines the experience of traditional FM radio, not only for the users but also for broadcasters, advertisers and mobile operators.
This medium holds the opportunity to create new business models, which can offer access to interactive music discovery services and the ability to purchase merchandise directly from a mobile phone.
“Since introducing the visual radio service, HP has worked with industry leaders like Radio Mirchi and Hutch to deliver visual radio to listeners around the world,” HP India HP Services VP Kapil Jain says. “We look forward to working with our partners to make visual radio a great success in India.”
Adds Nokia India national operator and retail accounts director Vineet Taneja, “Visual radio will make listening to the radio via your mobile phone a truly multi-dimensional experience. This will offer a host of new rich music services to Nokia users allowing them to indulge their passion at the click of a button.”
“As part of this commitment, we have already launched more than 20 Nokia devices in India that are compatible with visual radio with still more to come in the future,” Taneja concludes.
Brands
Jubilant FoodWorks faces Rs 47.5 crore GST demand, plans appeal
Tax authorities flag alleged misclassification of restaurant services
MUMBAI:Â Jubilant FoodWorks Limited has landed in a tax tussle after receiving a GST demand of Rs 47.5 crore from the office of the additional commissioner of CGST and central excise in Thane, Maharashtra.
The order, issued under the provisions of the Central Goods and Services Tax Act, 2017, relates to an alleged incorrect classification of certain services under the category of restaurant services. According to the tax authorities, this classification resulted in a short payment of goods and services tax for the period between the financial years 2019-20 and 2021-22.
The demand includes Rs 47.5 crore in GST along with an equal amount as penalty, in addition to applicable interest. The order was received by the company on March 13, 2026.
In a regulatory filing to the BSE Limited and the National Stock Exchange of India Limited, the company said it disagrees with the order and believes its arguments were not adequately considered.
The company is preparing to challenge the decision and plans to file an appeal. It added that once the redressal process is complete, the demand is likely to be dropped.
Despite the sizeable figure attached to the notice, the company said it does not expect any material impact on its financials, operations or other activities.
The disclosure was signed by Suman Hegde, EVP and chief financial officer, who confirmed that the company received the order at 19:06 IST on March 13 and has already initiated steps to contest it.
The development places the quick service restaurant major in the middle of a tax debate that could hinge on how certain restaurant-linked services are classified under GST rules. For now, the company appears ready to take the matter from the tax office to the appeals desk.
