MAM
Airtel launches World’s first simultaneous voice calling on your mobile
Bangalore: Airtel announced the launch of Airtel Group Call (AGC), innovative, next-generation voice service applications that enable simultaneous Voice and SMS capabilities on existing handsets. AGC is a culmination of Kodiak Networks technology and integration efforts provided by the Airtel Future Factory, a unique initiative which develops innovative applications to cater to the changing needs of customers.
A solution designed for both Corporate and Individual customers, AGC, is an innovative voice services suite, which improve group communications..
Presently, the service has been launched in the Karnataka circle alone because infrastructure has to be set up as yet in other circles as yet. The service will soon be launched in Delhi and other Airtel circles.”
The AGC application requires a 64k bit SIM card and any Phase II plus (2000 or later) mobile handset. AGC includes the following advanced voice services:
· Instant Availability: AGC users will have the ability to see availability status of groups members akin to popular instant messenger programs. Availability icons include available, not available and do not disturb (DND).
· Voice Bridge – Provides fast and easy set-up of full-duplex, mobile-originated simultaneous calls with up to 10 (9 group members + Initiator) wireless and landline participants. With Airtel, business colleagues, social groups and families can instantly initiate an instant conference call. Within seconds, conference calls can be made to any combination of dialable telephone numbers.
· Group SMS – Group SMS simplifies message addressing, group selection, and delivery, while minimizing key strokes and menu navigation.
· Quick Groups – Offers users the ability to form groups within the application by simply selecting people from Contacts to create a quick group and initiate a call. Users can instantly reach their associates or friends to share news and updates.
· Contact and Group Management – Enables Airtel subscribers to instantly create, modify and delete individuals, groups, and group members, directly in their SIM. Contacts are then automatically backed up on the Airtel network and can be easily restored in the event of a new, lost or stolen phone.
These services are available to Airtel subscribers at a monthly rental fee of Rs.99. Only the caller needs to be a subscriber of the service, the contacts need not be. The call charges will be defined by the customer’s rate plan. There is an Initial charge of Rs 250 for customers to upgrade to the 64 k SIM Card. Group SMS will be charged at just is at Rs2.50/ for messaging the entire group.
Mr. Kris Patel, Executive Vice President and CTO, Kodiak Networks USA, said, “This is the first time in the world that group conferencing capabilities and other advanced voice services have been enabled through commercially available SIM cards. I am confident that this innovation will contribute greatly to improved group communications across India.”
Airtel Group Call launch currently covers Karnataka license circle; and will be rolled out nationally in a phased manner.
MUMBAI: Not every bright idea lights up the room, sometimes it’s the wrong wattage turning your cosy nook into a glaring interrogation cell. Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd. is flipping the switch on that mindset with its fresh integrated campaign, ‘Every Space Bright & Right with Crompton Lights’, unveiled on 18 February 2026. The core message? Homes aren’t one-trick ponies anymore, they’re offices, chill zones, kitchens, and entertainment hubs yet lighting decisions still boil down to “brighter is better”, leaving glare, shadows, and mismatched vibes in their wake.
The campaign calls out the overlooked truth, every space deserves illumination that fits its purpose, not a blanket blast of lumens. It nudges consumers away from generic brightness towards thoughtful choices that enhance comfort, mood, and function whether warm decorative glow for family dinners, focused task lights for cooking, softer ambient for bedrooms, or welcoming outdoor spots for the entrance.
Crompton Greaves Consumer Electricals Ltd. chief marketing officer Tanmay Prusty put it plainly, “At Crompton, we start with a clear understanding of how consumers live today. Homes are no longer static spaces, they have become workplaces, entertainment hubs, and places to unwind. Yet, lighting is still often chosen only on the basis of brightness. Through this campaign, we are encouraging consumers to think beyond brightness and choose lighting that is aligned to the purpose of every space.”
To hammer the point home, Crompton dropped a striking short film crafted with generative AI. It opens on familiar domestic scenes dinner chaos under harsh overheads, dim entrances that feel unwelcoming then rewinds the tape with purpose-matched upgrades, balanced living-room warmth, kitchen precision, bedroom calm, and outdoor flair. The reel wraps with product highlights and the tagline, driving home how Crompton’s broad indoor-plus-outdoor portfolio (think advanced features, intuitive designs) can transform everyday experiences.
Amplification is going big, digital, OOH, print, cinema, influencer tie-ups, plus eye-catching large-format branding at key South India airports. It’s a full-court press to reach urban and emerging households rethinking their lighting game.
Whether you’re binge-watching in the dark or squinting over a recipe, this campaign’s reminder is spot on: the right light doesn’t just brighten a room, it makes the space feel right. In a world of smart homes, why settle for dumb lighting?
