iWorld
ErosNow introduces offline service for premium customers
MUMBAI: Eros International Plc, a leading global company in the Indian film entertainment industry, announced today the introduction of watch offline services across all iOS platforms for it premium customers at no additional charge on ErosNow, its digital over-the-top distribution service for Indian language entertainment. The company had recently announced the offline viewing service on Android devices.
ErosNow’s offline feature option allows users to watch films when they have limited internet connectivity or low bandwidth while using the entertainment service. As part of the Premium subscription service, subscribers can now download movies from ErosNow to their iOS or Android devices for immediate viewing offline for as little as Rs.99 ($1.49) per month in India or $7.99 (or local equivalent) for international subscribers. The users are provided with a choice of quality of formats to accelerate and maintain the storage of downloads.
Commenting on the feature update, Eros Digital CEO Rishika Lulla Singh said, “We recently announced the introduction of the offline feature for Android users and have now made the service available to iOS subscribers as well. This provides us with greater reach to an even wider base of global entertainment consumers. With the offline viewing feature, Eros Now will be able to provide uninterrupted and easy entertainment to our consumers.”
Watch Offline features:
• Unlimited playback of the titles downloaded to the device
• Download quality options are High, Medium or Low Bandwidth
• Storage management provided
• Browse Eros Now or use other services on the device while downloading
• My Downloads in Eros Now application displays titles available for offline playback
• No internet connection required to watch titles in My Downloads
• “Only download on Wi-Fi” option available in My Downloads
• Manage downloads stored on device
The offline viewing feature is the latest product enhancement attracting users and subscribers to ErosNow. Additional in-app features include regular updates of the latest Hindi, Tamil and other Indian language titles; the ability to customize content by creating personal watch lists; video progression, allowing users to continue watching content from where they previously left off and multi-language subtitles. All features are available to users across the globe accessing the app via any device.
e-commerce
American Express to acquire AI startup Hyper to boost automation
Deal targets expense management as AI reshapes corporate spending tools.
MUMBAI: From receipts to robots, the expense sheet is getting a brain upgrade as American Express moves to bring artificial intelligence into the heart of corporate spending. The company has announced plans to acquire Hyper, a relatively young but fast-rising startup founded in 2022 that builds AI-powered agents capable of organising expenses, generating reports, verifying compliance with budgets and policies, and nudging users with timely reminders. The deal, expected to close in the second quarter of 2026, underscores a growing shift among financial institutions to automate traditionally manual, time-heavy workflows.
Hyper counts Sam Altman among its backers, adding a layer of Silicon Valley credibility to the acquisition. While financial details remain undisclosed, the strategic intent is clear: deepen automation capabilities and sharpen American Express’s position in the competitive corporate spending ecosystem.
The two companies are not strangers. They previously collaborated in 2024 on a co-branded credit card product, suggesting that the acquisition is less a cold buy and more an extension of an existing relationship. With this move, American Express is effectively bringing that capability in-house, aiming to embed AI directly into its commercial services stack.
Chief executive Stephen Squeri had already signalled the direction of travel in a recent shareholder letter, describing AI as a “structural shift” in how businesses operate. The Hyper acquisition appears to be a direct response to that shift, particularly in expense management, where processes such as approvals, compliance checks and reporting remain ripe for automation.
Alongside the acquisition, the company is also expanding its product suite. A recently launched business credit card offers cashback and benefits at an annual fee of $295, with another card expected later this year moves that complement its broader push into commercial services.
Taken together, the strategy points to a future where managing expenses may require fewer spreadsheets and more algorithms. For American Express, the bet is simple, if businesses are rethinking how work gets done, the tools that power that work need to evolve just as quickly.
