MAM
Idea Cellular launches Easy Mail
UMBAI: IDEA Cellular Ltd an Aditya Birla Group cellular company, has announced the launch of simple to use push based e-mail service called Easy Mail.
This personalised email solution targets all customers who have GPRS enabled handsets. Its a clientless service with which any individual or enterprise subscriber can access emails as an MMS on their handset anytime anywhere, asserts an official release.
With Easy Mail, any IDEA GPRS subscriber can access his personal emails with all features like reply, forward with free POP3 access and no hassles on infringement of security. The service can be customised to receive emails from select recipients only.
Commenting on innovation Idea Cellular Ltd chief marketing officer Pradeep Shrivastava said, “Easy mail is an exciting product for those of us who wish to remain accessible on the move. The product does indeed redefine email access and provides an easy to use interface for every IDEA GPRS user. I am certain that Easy Mail will prove beneficial especially to our small and medium enterprise customers.”
Easy Mail has been priced at Rs 3 for all outgoing emails and Rs 1 for incoming emails. To get started, all a customer needs to do is to type an MMS ‘GET’ and send it to 2222. All MMS’s sent and received from 2222 will be toll free.
Easy Mail’s helpful features include several simple to use commands:
– HELP: Provides help on commands and their use.
– STOP: Temporarily stops all e-mail from being pushed to the mobile phone
– START: Resumes e-mail push
– ALIAS: Creates a personalised e-mail address for your mobile number
– FROM: Sets the name and address that appear on your outgoing mails.
– SET: Generates a WAP push to view and configure your settings
Idea also offers other push based e-mail services like Idea Mail, targeting business users using any range of the Symbian and Windows enabled mobile devices with GPRS connectivity. This service offers true push technology with real-time synchronisation of mail on mobile devices with the corporate email server, adds the release.
Brands
Kwality Wall’s reports standalone losses following strategic HUL demerger
Ice cream major faces Rs 64 crore Ebitda loss amid commodity inflation and muted Q3 sales
MUMBAI: Kwality Wall’s (India) Limited (KWIL) has released its first set of financial results as a standalone entity, revealing a challenging start to its independent journey. Following its successful demerger from Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) on 1st December 2025 and its subsequent listing on 16th February 2026, the company is navigating a transition period marked by structural changes and high input costs.
For the quarter ended 31st December 2025, the company reported revenue of Rs 222 crores. Despite the revenue base, the bottom line was impacted by several factors, resulting in an Ebitda loss of Rs 64.2 crores. When calculated on a Pre-IND AS 116 basis, the Ebitda loss stood at Rs 83.8 crores.
Organic Sales Growth (OSG) declined by 6.5 per cent year-on-year during the quarter. Volume growth, however, saw a marginal increase of 1.2 per cent. The company reported a gross margin of 41.5 per cent. Additionally, exceptional expenses amounting to Rs 94 crores were recorded, primarily linked to non-recurring costs during the transition phase.
Performance across portfolios and channels was mixed. Within the impulse portfolio, brands such as Magnum and Cornetto recorded mid-single digit volume growth, indicating steady demand in on-the-go consumption. However, the in-home portfolio, which includes take-home packs, experienced muted consumption. The company is planning a relaunch of this category with improved offerings ahead of the 2026 season.
Quick commerce (Q-Com) continued to emerge as a strong growth driver, delivering robust double-digit growth during the quarter. Meanwhile, the company also expanded its physical distribution network by increasing the number of company-owned cabinets across markets.
Margin pressure during the quarter was driven by a combination of one-off factors and broader cost inflation. Gross margins were impacted by around 600 basis points due to trade investments made for stock liquidation. Additionally, cocoa price inflation contributed to another 400 basis points of pressure on margins.
Deputy managing director Chitrank Goel attributed the muted performance partly to prolonged monsoons and transitional challenges linked to the GST framework. Operating expenses also increased as the company invested in establishing its standalone supply chain, operational systems and corporate infrastructure following the demerger.
Looking ahead, the management remains focused on a volume-driven growth strategy. To restore profitability, the company has initiated a cost productivity programme aimed at reducing non-consumer-facing costs. It is also working on building regional manufacturing networks to optimise logistics expenses and improve operational efficiency.
The commodity outlook for the near term remains mixed. Dairy prices are expected to remain firm due to tight supply conditions and rising fodder costs. Sugar prices may also move higher following increases in the Minimum Selling Price (MSP). While cocoa prices have moderated recently, currency depreciation has offset some of the potential cost relief for the company.
