iWorld
Telco apps emerging as one-stop destinations in India: Report
MUMBAI: The newest trend in the world digital content consumption, is the emergence of telco apps as one stop shops for users. According to a Bank of America Merrill Lynch (BofAML) report quoted by Bloomberg Quint, Indians have shown a tendency to use apps like Jio TV, Jio Cinema, Airtel Wynk instead of downloading individual over-the-top (OTT) streaming apps.
Among all the offerings from the data disruptor Jio, the live television streaming app Jio TV was the most used. Even Airtel’s Airtel TV app has clocked over 10 million downloads since its launch. Other than Jio TV, Jio Music and Jio Cinema also managed to capture the imagination of Indian users.
Among the BofAML 1,000 consumers surveyed by BofAML, Jio recorded the highest number of users. The objective of the study was to document data consumption patterns. It found that 76 per cent users use mobile data to watch online videos, while 68 per cent download and save them
The online content viewing numbers have increased exponentially, with 30 per cent of users breaching their daily limit of 1/1.5 GB almost regularly.
Among the video streaming platforms, YouTube continues to hold its sway with consumers, with 58 per cent of them using the platform. 38 per cent viewed content on Hotstar, with ZEE5 and Eros being used by 2 per cent and 1per cent respectively.
“We consider this as a new emerging theme in India and expect content companies to be beneficiaries of the telco price wars. However, given the nascent stage of the market, we don’t see a clear “winner” currently in the OTT space,” read the BofAML report.
The findings of the study also indicated that cord-cutting may not disrupt the Indian television industry anytime soon, as monthly cable bills (200-400) continue to be significantly lower than what decent broadband connections cost.
Also read: Reliance Jio to soon launch 5G services: all you need to know
Amazon India’s new monthly subscription plan
iWorld
Beware: Fake war lockdown notice mimicking official government order circulates on WhatsApp
The spoof document mimics an official government order but opens to reveal a jester and the words “April Fool”
MUMBAI: It looked official. It had the Ashoka Emblem. It had the formal layout of a government circular. And it was called “War Lockdown Notice.” Thousands of WhatsApp users across India forwarded it in a panic — only to open it and find a cartoon jester waving cheerfully above the words “April Fool.”
The document, which circulated rapidly on Tuesday, was designed to look like a genuine government order, carrying enough official-looking detail to alarm recipients and prompt frantic resharing. The punchline was the entire point. The danger, however, is real.
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has cautioned citizens that sharing fake messages and rumours carries serious consequences. In severe cases, it could result in police action or imprisonment.
The warning is timely. Viral hoaxes dressed up as official government communications have a long and damaging history in India, stoking panic, spreading misinformation and, in some cases, triggering real-world consequences. A forged document bearing the national emblem, however briefly intended as a joke, is no laughing matter in the eyes of the law.
April Fool’s Day or not, WhatsApp forwards deserve a hard look before the finger hits share. The jester on that document was not the only fool in the room.
