Maruti March sales dip 5.5% to 1,13,350 units

 NEW DELHI: Country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) today reported a 5.5% decline in total sales in March at 1,13,350 units as against 1,19,937 units in the same month last year.

The company said its domestic sales declined by 5.2% during the month to 1,02,269 units as against 1,07,890 units in March 2013.

Sales of mini segment cars, including M800, Alto, A-Star and WagonR, declined by 11% to 40,085 units as compared to 45,047 units in the year-ago month, MSI said in a statement.
The company said sales of the compact segment comprising Swift, Estilo, Ritz rose by 9.3% to 28,285 units in March this year as against 25,868 units last year.

MSI said sales of its popular compact sedan Dzire declined by 14.1% during the month under review at 17,237 units as against 20,078 units in March 2013.

The company's mid-sized sedan SX4 registered a decline of 54.5% to 411 units as against 903 units in the same month last year. There was no sale of premium sedan Kizashi during the month.

Sales of utility vehicles, including Gypsy, Grand Vitara and Ertiga, rose marginally at 6,499 units in March this year from 6,488 units in the corresponding month last year.

Sales of vans Omni and Eeco rose 2.6% to 9,752 units in March this year as compared to 9,506 units in the same period of the previous year. Exports during the month declined by 8% to 11,081 units as compared to 12,047 units in March last year, MSI said.

 

jawed eqbal

pgdm 1st yr.

Coke to Soften Marketing If Unrest Hits World Cup

ASSOCIATES pressCoca-Cola plans to adapt its World Cup sponsorship and soften its celebratory tone in Brazil if unrest returns to the streets.

As the company launches its biggest World Cup marketing campaign, Coke executive vice president Joe Tripodi told The Associated Press it would react rapidly to any outbreak of protests in an attempt to reflect the mood of the nation.

Demonstrations flashed across the South American country last year as the Confederations Cup started, with Brazilians angry at the high level of spending on the World Cup compared with public services. The protests outside some matches, including the Brazil-Spain final, turned violent, with tear gas floating into stadiums.

"That (World Cup) spotlight can act as an opportunity to tell a story of happiness, but it can also be a spotlight to tell a story of grievances and concerns that they (the public) have about the direction of the country," Tripodi, Coca-Cola's chief marketing and commercial officer, said in a phone interview.

A litmus test of Brazilians' current attitude toward the World Cup could come when the trophy tour, organized by Coke, reaches its 90th country this month and begins a six-week tour across Brazil.

"We hope there is no unrest," Tripodi said from Atlanta. "But we recognize these things happen. You always have to be smart to have all kind of Plan Bs, Plan Cs and Ds to prepare for any contingency. And if certain things happen, you might have to change the tonality of your marketing or communications ... to make sure our messaging better reflected the mood in a particular country."

The same social media channels Coke uses to promote its products can quickly be used to create a backlash.

"The worst thing is you can be complicit by silence," Tripodi said.

"The world we live in now is full of massive disruption, frequent chaos and change all the time," he added. "So as a company and as a brand if you are not prepared to respond ... then you aren't going to survive."

Coke's advertising has appeared in World Cup stadiums since the tournament was last staged in Brazil in 1950, and it has been an official FIFA sponsor since 1978.

The latest marketing campaign features fans across the world, from a Japanese region hit by the 2011 earthquake-tsunami to the West Bank, collecting tickets.

Rival PepsiCo is relying on the allure of soccer stars, with Argentina's Lionel Messi and the Netherlands' Robin van Persie performing tricks on the streets of Rio de Janeiro in a campaign released Wednesday.

PRAVEEN SHARMA

PGDM IST

DM NEWS: Print Power UK promotes the power of DM

Print Power UK has launched a 'Touched by DM' campaign to promote the power of print in direct marketing.

Imaginative direct mail pieces have been sent to 2,200 leading UK brand owners and media decision makers as part of a European initiative to demonstrate the high degree of response which can be obtained with creative direct mail.

Developed by Ogilvy's Red Works office, the mailing consists of four elements: the envelope, which is in fact a folded-up poster, holds a personalised letter, a chalked blackboard, a reply card and reply envelope. The blackboard card contains a hidden message which becomes visible once the chalk is wiped away. Leaving a print of their chalk-covered hand on the reply card allows the recipient of the mailing to obtain a personalised Moleskine notebook as the handprint is then scanned and printed on the cover of the notebook.

The campaign also features cases and examples of sensory print on the Print Power website, a video on the production of the mailing, a presentation with inspiring cases and a reminder mailing using Augmented Reality.

The DMs have already been sent out in Spain, France and Italy with remarkable The brand has seen great results from inital DMs sent to France, Spain and Italy. France has reported a nine per cent return rate on the mailing, while Italy 14.7 per cent and Spain 23.5 per cent return rate. The normal return rate for this kind of mailing is between 0.5 per cent and 1.0 per cent. Over the coming months the mailing will be sent out to a further nine countries across Europe.

Martyn Eustace, country manager at Print Power UK, says: “In a world where online and social media channels are very much the focus of media buyer attention, print is staging a comeback. Its special sensory qualities, particularly touch, just can’t be emulated on-line and, linked with a well targeted and imaginative mail campaign, will deliver impressive results and, importantly, high ROI.”

rahul singh 1

pgdm 1 year

2 sem

 

Microsoft unveils new phone software Cortana to rival Apple’s Siri

Cortana lets users customize their phones’ lock screen, offers new choices for tweaking start screen

Microsoft corporate vice-president Joe Belfiore demonstrates the new Cortana personal assistant during the keynote address of the Build Conference on Wednesday in San Francisco. Photo: AP

Seattle: Microsoft Corp. is adding a voice-controlled digital assistant called Cortana to its Windows Phone software, seeking to match a feature that’s already available in Apple Inc. and Google Inc. smartphones.

“Microsoft today showed off the feature along with new Windows Phone 8.1 software. The new programme also has an action centre, which is a pull-down menu that gives people access to basic functions regardless of which programme they already have open,” said vice-president Joe Belfiore, at a company conference in San Francisco for developers.

Chief executive officer (CEO) Satya Nadella, appointed to lead the world’s largest software maker in February, unveiled Microsoft’s Office software for Apple’s iPads last week. At this week’s conference, called Build, he’s turning his attention to showing Windows developers tools and tactics to boost Microsoft’s single-digit share in phones and tablets, as well as providing money-making opportunities in a contracting personal-computer market.

“Reinvigorating the Windows franchise continues to be a key ingredient in Microsoft’s recipe for success as it looks to offset headwinds from the secular challenges in the PC market,” Daniel Ives, an analyst at FBR Capital Markets & Co., wrote in a note.

Delicate Balance

The contrast between Microsoft’s willingness to offer its wares for non-Windows devices and the Build conference for programmers of Windows-based systems underscores how Nadella must strike a balance between supporting an ailing Windows franchise and embracing rival platforms. The CEO is seeking to ensure key products like Office and cloud services can have the widest possible distribution and don’t get locked out as Windows alternatives dominate the device market.

The new Windows Phone software also lets users customize their phone’s lock screen and offers new choices for tweaking the start screen.

Cortana, which fully replaces the search function on Windows Phone, according to Belfiore, is named for the artificial-intelligence character in Microsoft’s best-selling Halo Xbox video-game series.

Windows stands to be the fastest-growing smartphone operating system over the next four years with 30% annual growth, according to a 26 February report by researcher IDC. Even at that rate, Windows Phone would only make up 7% of the total market in 2018, compared with Google’s Android software at 76% Apple’s iOS at 14%.

In tablets, Windows had 3.4% share in 2013, IDC said. For Microsoft’s Surface tablet, the share was 1%.

PC Decline

Global computer shipments fell a record 10% last year and are forecast to continue to decline this year as tablets and smartphones lure consumers away from traditional desktop and notebook designs, according to IDC. Tablet sales volume—dominated by Apple and Google, whose operating systems account for 95% of that market—will rise an average 16% annually through to 2017.

One possible boon to Windows developers: Microsoft is working on obtaining tools, via acquisition or development, to make it easier for application developers to target multiple operating systems without having to rewrite software. The Redmond, Washington-based company is considering an acquisition or investment in Xamarin Inc., or other companies that enable mobile apps to run on different devices, people with knowledge of the matter said last month. Or Microsoft might build those capabilities itself, one of the people said.

Nadella, in his first public speech since taking over as CEO, said last week that he’ll hold nothing back to get the company’s programs across all devices, in a clear departure from the software maker’s longtime focus on its Windows operating system.

While Nadella has emphasized that Microsoft will focus on devices and web-based cloud services, he has also made clear that Windows remains a massive agenda for us and the company plans to innovate with the operating system. Bloomberg

nagesh dubey

Nissan introduces Datsun Go at Rs.3.12 lakh

Powered by a 1.2 litre petrol engine, Datsun Go can run 20.63 km on a litre of fuel, claims Nissan 

 

Thursday, 03 april  2014.

 

 

Nissan plans to sell the car in India, Indonesia, South Africa and Russia. Photo: AFP

 

New Delhi: Japanese auto maker Nissan Motor Co. Ltd on Wednesday introduced its budget brand Datsun with the first offering under the brand, Go, priced between Rs.3.12 lakh and Rs.3.69 lakh (ex-showroom, Delhi).

The company plans to sell the car in India, Indonesia, South Africa and Russia. Powered by a 1.2 litre petrol engine, the car can run 20.63 km on a litre of fuel, the company claims. It will be available at 125 Nissan outlets across the country.

The Datsun brand has been revived after more than three decades to cater to the needs of customers in emerging markets, said Ashwani Gupta, global programme director, Datsun.

Nissan expects Datsun to account for as much as half of its vehicle sales in the country. The company will launch at least three products by fiscal year 2016, including a multi-utility vehicle and two small cars. 

 

ABHISHEK KUMAR

PGDM 1ST YR

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact vs Apple iPhone 5C

We pit the two hot compact smartphones against each other to help you make a buying decision. 

Android smartphone manufacturers started offering compact versions of their large screen flagship phones in 2013, but most were underpowered, mid-range devices that didn't sport top-end specs. If you were looking for a smartphone that you could use with one hand, but didn't want to compromise on hardware specs, or had a budget of around Rs 40,000, the only good option was Apple's iPhone 5C.

But if a buyer didn't want to step into Apple's walled garden, and yet wanted a powerful, compact phone, there were hardly any choices. Sony has answered this need by launching its Xperia Z1 Compact - the mini avatar of its Xperia Z1 flagship, that doesn't compromise with features. Priced in the same range, Sony's compact smartphone brings in the much-needed punch to rival Apple's iPhone 5C.

We pit the two hot compact smartphones against each other to help you make a buying decision.




Build & Design

When Apple first announced iPhone 5C, many felt that the 'unapologetically plastic' phone did not look like an iPhone and did not feature premium materials like glass and aluminium, so associated with Apple's flagship phones since the iPhone 3GS. However, iPhone 5C is still a solid phone with a reinforced metal frame supporting its plastic chassis from inside. It offers five colour options and sports a glossy finish.

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact sports a one-piece aluminium frame with a glass panel at the back, somewhat reminding us of the iPhone 4/4S. The phone follows Sony's OmniBalance' design philosophy which is minimalist, yet premium. It is also available in four colours, including lime and pink.

One advantage that the Xperia Z1 Compact has over iPhone 5C is its water and dust-resistant body. Sony has used protective flaps over all ports (barring the headphone jack) to achieve this. Some users may find it cumbersome, but the flaps offer a big utility. We found Sony Z1 compact's back prone to smudges and even scratches so you'll be better off with a protective guard or cover.

The 3.5mm headset jack is placed at the top on the Xperia Z1 Compact, while the same is located at the bottom on the iPhone 5C. We prefer the top placement.
Sony Z1 Compact sports a hardware button for the camera. Apple iPhone 5C also allows you to use the volume rocker keys to trigger the camera shutter in camera mode, but there's no dedicated camera button. iPhone 5C's power button is placed at the top edge while the Z1 Compact's power button is at the right edge. Since the phones sport a compact form factor, it doesn't really make a difference.

There's not much difference in the dimensions and weight though the Xperia Z1 Compact is considerably wider and thicker. iPhone 5C measures 124.40 x 59.20 x 8.97mm and weighs 132gram whereas Xperia Z1 Compact measures 127 x 64.9 x 9.5 mm

The two smartphones are the best sub 4.5-inch phones available when it comes to the overall design and construction.





Display

Apple iPhone 5C features the same 4-inch Retina display seen in iPhone 5 and iPhone 5S with a resolution of 640x1136p and pixel density of 326ppi. Sony Xperia Z1 Compact sports a 4.3-inch TRILUMINOS display with a resolution of 720x1280p and pixel density of 341ppi.

Both the phones don't come with a full-HD display, but you're not likely to notice any difference as the screen size is less than 4.5-inch. The two phones are endowed with displays that offer good viewing angles and vivid colours. Text and graphics look crisp and sharp, and brightness levels are optimum. In fact, Xperia Z1 Compact's display is the company's best ever. Despite the low resolution, iPhone 5C offers a brighter screen and better sunlight legibility.

Software

Xperia Z1 Compact runs Android 4.3 Jelly Bean and Sony has already announced the Android 4.4 KitKat update for it. Sony has skinned the user interface and has added its own apps for music, videos and gallery. The Indian edition of the phone also comes with additional content stores for downloading music and streaming TV shows.

iPhone 5C runs iOS 7.1, the new version of iOS that fine tunes iOS 7. The design elements of iOS 7 - colourful, flat icons and translucency complement the iPhone 5C's playful design. To be honest, it feels like Apple designed iOS 7 keeping the iPhone 5C in mind.
Both software platforms offer a great ecosystem of third party apps and content. Although you'd get deep integration with Google services and apps on the Xperia Z1 Compact with Android, most major Google apps are also available on iOS. For maps and navigation, Google Maps is the go-to service on both mobile platforms as Apple's Maps doesn't offer detailed maps in India, leave alone directions.

Google Now, Google's personal voice-based assistant is also miles ahead of Apple's Siri voice assistant.



However, if you're invested in Apple's ecosystem - buy music and movies from iTunes, use iCloud for backing up photos and use Apple's iWork and iLife apps, you'd feel at home using the iPhone 5C.

Camera

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact sports the same 20.1MP rear camera with Sony's G lens that the company offers on the Z1. The camera app offers a plethora of settings in addition to Sony's Superior Auto mode that chooses the best settings as per the ambient light. On the other hand, iPhone 5C comes with an 8MP rear camera and offers Apple's simple camera app that doesn't feature many options.

Shot with Apple iPhone 5C

Shot with Sony Xperia Z1 Compact

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact takes great pictures in daylight and good quality albeit noisy pictures in low-light. The phone's Superior Auto mode which takes pictures in 8MP can be a hit or miss. At times, we encountered problems with focusing. Also, the phone over-processes images, making them loo artificial in order to highlight details.

Shot with iPhone 5C

Shot with Xperia Z1 Compact

iPhone 5C's camera is more consistent and is still one of the best smartphone cameras around. It struggles in low-light situations, but offers better results using the flash compared to the Xperia Z1 Compact. It also offers better colour reproduction and contrast in bright light.

Performance

Sony has made no compromises with the Xperia Z1 Compact when it comes to hardware. The phone comes with a 2.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon 800 processor and 2GB RAM. We did not experience any lag whatsoever while using the phone and were able to play graphics-intensive games like Riptide GP2 and Asphalt 8 without any frame drops or delays. It's a smooth performer.

iPhone 5C is just iPhone 5 packed into a new form factor so the phone sports an year-old hardware. The Apple A6 processor is said to clock 1.3GHz, accompanied by 1GB RAM. iOS 7.1 is optimised for iPhone 5C and offers good performance. Games like Asphalt 8 and Infinity Blade 2 run smoothly.

Both the phones offer good voice quality, are able to work even under poor network conditions, and lock to GPS satellites in a matter of seconds. Xperia Z1 Compact offers NFC connectivity for initiating file transfers, expandable storage via a microSD card and FM radio.

These features are missing from iPhone 5C, but the Apple phone offers support for Indian 4G bands, allowing users to connect to high speed internet where available. In the same price range, iPhone 5C only offers 16GB storage capacity.

The phones offer great performance even though the iPhone 5C comes with older hardware.

In terms of battery backup, iPhone 5C and Xperia Z1 Compact are just above average on 3G and full brightness. Both the phones will last you just about a working day (9-10 hours) and you'll need to charge them before you go to bed.

Verdict

Sony Xperia Z1 Compact is a great alternative to iPhone 5C if you want to buy a compact Android smartphone. It's without doubt the best Android compact smartphone.

Barring the colourful plastic shell which erodes its premium quotient, iPhone 5C is still a great compact phone. It offers a consistently good camera and a great app ecosystem. While the boundaries are blurring, a large number of developers choose to bring their apps to the iPhone before porting them to Android. Apps like Tweetbot and games like Infinity Blade are exclusive to iPhone. While Android is now more refined than ever, the stability and finesse offered by iOS apps is still unparalleled.

On the other hand, Android is more customizable. While it's a good thing for power users, new smartphone converts may find the learning curve a bit hard.

Sony Xperia Z Compact is available at Rs 36,990 while iPhone 5C is priced at Rs 41,900 (but available for much lesser online). 

 

    NAME-

SARVESH KUMAR SINGH

   PGDM 2nd SEM

New iPhone 6 screens to enter production as early as May: sources

TUE, APR 01 2014

Tokyo: Apple Inc. suppliers will begin mass producing displays as early as May for the next iPhone, expected to be launched this autumn, with a 4.7-inch screen likely to be produced first while a 5.5-inch version could be delayed, supply chain sources said.

Japan Display Inc., Sharp Corp. and South Korea’s LG Display Co. Ltd have all been tapped to make the screens, said the sources, who asked not to be identified.

Representatives for the three suppliers and for Apple declined to comment.

Both iPhone 6 screens will be larger than the 4-inch panels on Apple’s existing iPhone 5S and 5C models.

Larger iPhones, the subject of months of speculation, would mark yet another incremental tweak to the popular smartphone line and an attempt to catch up to rivals like Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.

The company that helped to define American technology innovation is under increasing pressure to once again revolutionise the gadget industry, but CEO Tim Cook, while promising only “new product categories” for 2014, has played his cards close to his chest.

Apple’s shares have languished below $600 since November 2012, in part because of worries about smartphone market saturation and its ability to stay at the forefront of tech innovation.

Both iPhone 6 screens are expected to use in-cell touch panel technology—built into the screen and allowing for thinner construction than with standard touch panel films—that was introduced with the iPhone 5, the sources said.

But due to difficulties with in-cell production technology for the larger 5.5-inch size, one of the sources said, a decision was made to begin mass production with the 4.7-inch version alone.

Production of 5.5-inch screens is expected to start several months later, with the possibility of a shift to a film sensor instead of in-cell technology for that size, the source said.

Japan Display will be the first supplier to start production, at its flagship plant at Mobara, east of Tokyo, as early as May, the sources said. The others are due to begin output around June. Reuters

                                                                                                                    NAME RAHUL SINGH 2 

                                                                                                                                  pgdm 2 sem