MAM
It’s an Idea: commodity price updates on mobiles
MUMBAI: Mobile phone operator, Idea Cellular, has for the first time in India, introduced SMS-based information updates in the commodity markets using a subscription-based model. This service will be available across all Idea Cellular circles in India.
Idea’s customers will now be able to receive updates about the current prices in the major exchanges as well as spot markets all over the country, 10-15 times a day, over SMS. International markets of China, London and Tokyo, vessel positions and port information will also be covered.
Idea Bazaar Bhav on mobiles will initially cover the commodity markets for oil, pulses, cotton and bullion (Gold, Silver etc).
In the next phase, the grains and sugar markets will also be added to the service. An Idea subscriber can register by sending an SMS to 1920 and start getting updates. Idea Bazaar Bhav subscription will be offered to postpaid subscribers for Rs 150 per month and prepaid customers will be able to use the dynamic and effective SMS Pull feature to get the updates as and when required.
With the Idea Bazaar Bhav service, customers will be able to participate more actively in commodity trading, including forward trading, and benefit from the real time information updates. It will also keep the traders, brokers and farmers updated about the current trends in the market. ADCC Research and Computing is powering this service.
Idea Cellular CEO Vikram Mehmi said, “We are extremely happy to be the first ones to offer such a service to our customers and enable greater value addition in their day to day business transactions. With the mobile subscriber base penetrating deeper sections of India and spreading into rural areas, such a service is a boon to farmers, traders and the masses having their livelihood depend upon agro-based activities.”
ADCC Research and Computing Arun Lakhani CEO said, “Bazaar Bhav will act as a force multiplier to the rural economy empowering farmers to get fair prices and avoid exploitation. This is a first step in taking the technology to villages and contributing to the village economy.”
Brands
From mega bills to spontaneous dates: Swiggy Dineout Valentine’s report
From mega bills to last-minute plans, India celebrated love with flair
MUMBAI: Valentine’s Day 2026 was a feast for the senses and wallets alike, according to Swiggy Dineout. India’s on-demand dining platform revealed how the nation celebrated romance with big gestures, lively nights out, and plenty of spontaneous bookings.
Metropolitan hubs continued to rule the roost with Bengaluru, Delhi, and Hyderabad seeing the most reservations. Emerging cities aren’t far behind, with Ahmedabad, Jaipur, and Chandigarh joining the party. Growth was particularly striking in Surat (up 180 per cent), Vadodara (155 per cent) and Bhubaneswar (145.5 per cent) compared with the previous Saturday.
Mumbai stole the headlines with a single customer splashing out Rs 130,155 – the highest bill in the country. The city also hosted the largest single group booking, with 30 diners coming together to celebrate in style. Most Valentine’s transactions took place between 10pm and 11pm, proving love, and hunger, strike late.
Mumbai stole the spotlight with a mega-spender whose bill made everyone else blush, while savvy diners were cashing in on discounts, including a Pune customer saving 60% and another in Bengaluru saving 50 per cent. Fine dining was on fire, with bookings up 121 per cent year-on-year, though pubs, bars, and lounges remained the crowd favourites, accounting for 30.6 per cent of all reservations. Last-minute romance was the order of the day, with 66 per cent of diners booking within two hours of heading out. Together, India saved over Rs 6 crore, proving that love can be grand, yet thrifty.
Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi led the premium dining rush, showing a growing appetite for curated, high-end experiences. Meanwhile, spontaneous bookings reinforced modern lifestyles, where convenience and instant gratification rule the day.
Whether it was big spends, huge groups, or a last-minute romantic dash, Valentine’s Day 2026 proved love and dining go hand in hand – and sometimes, they go all out.
