Peerzada Abrar &Amp; Subhayan Chakraborty

Stories by Peerzada Abrar &Amp; Subhayan Chakraborty

20-min pizza promise by Domino's gets stuck in traffic, kitchen

20-min pizza promise by Domino's gets stuck in traffic, kitchen

Rediff.com   8 Mar 2023

As promised, Domino's 20-minute delivery started across 170 stores in Bengaluru on Tuesday. But, as the day progressed, some teething issues came to the fore. If delivery partners' accounts are anything to go by, these are unlikely to go away anytime soon.

Rebel Foods to run Wendy's restaurants

Rebel Foods to run Wendy's restaurants

Rediff.com   2 Mar 2023

Rebel Foods, the world's largest internet restaurant company, has entered into a deal with American burger giant Wendy's to run its restaurants in India. The partnership includes committing to the development of traditional restaurants and building on their existing development agreement for cloud kitchens. In this expanded, new franchise commitment, Rebel will help the brand grow its restaurant model in India with digital expertise in delivery, automation, and innovation.

Tata Motors bags India's largest electric vehicle fleet order from Uber

Tata Motors bags India's largest electric vehicle fleet order from Uber

Rediff.com   21 Feb 2023

Tata Motors, India's largest electric passenger vehicle manufacturer, has signed an agreement with ride-hailing company Uber to supply 25,000 electric vehicles (EVs), the company said. The agreement is the largest EV commitment between an automotive manufacturer and a ride-sharing platform in India. Under the agreement, Uber will deploy Tata Motors' XPRES-T EVs by partnering fleet operators in Delhi National Capital Region, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad.

Tata Motors bags largest EV fleet order from Uber

Tata Motors bags largest EV fleet order from Uber

Rediff.com   21 Feb 2023

Tata Motors, India's largest electric passenger vehicle manufacturer, has signed an agreement with ride-hailing company Uber to supply 25,000 electric vehicles (EVs), the company said. The agreement is the largest EV commitment between an automotive manufacturer and a ride-sharing platform in India. Under the agreement, Uber will deploy Tata Motors' XPRES-T EVs by partnering fleet operators in Delhi National Capital Region, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Ahmedabad.

Vodafone Idea in talks with vendors for 5G rollout

Vodafone Idea in talks with vendors for 5G rollout

Rediff.com   16 Feb 2023

Vodafone Idea (Vi) is in continuous talks with network vendors to finalise its 5G rollout plans, Vodafone Idea CEO Akshaya Moondra said. "We are in early stages of 5G deployment. "5G is an important development and we are keeping our eyes on it," Moondra said on Wednesday in a post-result analyst call. Already five months behind rivals Jio and Airtel in the 5G race, Vi's efforts will be on the deployment of 5G in target geographies.

Apply for Maharashtra licence in 3 weeks, SC tells Uber

Apply for Maharashtra licence in 3 weeks, SC tells Uber

Rediff.com   14 Feb 2023

The Supreme Court on Monday directed Uber to apply for a licence within three weeks to operate in Maharashtra, stressing that cab aggregators cannot function without one. A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud said that an earlier interim order by the Supreme Court that had allowed Uber to operate in the state would not provide legal cover, since an aggregator cannot operate without a licence. It ordered Uber to apply for a licence by March 6, said a report by Bar and Bench.

Ola unveils 5 electric motorcycles, launch planned next year

Ola unveils 5 electric motorcycles, launch planned next year

Rediff.com   10 Feb 2023

Ola Electric on Thursday teased five new electric motorcycles that the SoftBank-backed company is working on, announcing the range after selling electric scooters. The products are labelled cafe racer, an adventure tourer, a scrambler and a naked motorcycle. The motorcycles are expected to be launched next year and would include premium and mass-market versions, said sources.

PhonePe first Indian fintech player to allow UPI payments abroad

PhonePe first Indian fintech player to allow UPI payments abroad

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2023

PhonePe said on Tuesday it has launched a service that will allow the fintech firm's Indian users traveling abroad to pay foreign merchants using Unified Payments Interface (UPI). 'UPI international' supports merchant outlets in UAE, Singapore, Mauritius, Nepal and Bhutan that have a local QR (quick response) code. Users will be able to make direct payments in a foreign currency from their Indian bank, like they do with international debit cards.

Bharti Airtel hikes entry-level plan in 7 circles to shore up Arpu

Bharti Airtel hikes entry-level plan in 7 circles to shore up Arpu

Rediff.com   25 Jan 2023

Bharti Airtel on Tuesday announced that it has scrapped the minimum recharge plan of Rs 99 in seven circles -- Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Northeast, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh (West). In these circles, the price of the entry-level plan now would be Rs 155. This 57 per cent increase in Airtel's entry-level plan comes two months after the telco discontinued the Rs 99 plan in Haryana and Odisha in November last year.

Fix Call Drops, DoT Tells Airtel, Jio, Voda

Fix Call Drops, DoT Tells Airtel, Jio, Voda

Rediff.com   6 Jan 2023

'At a time when massive strides are being made in bringing 5G technology to India, and with TSPs ramping up their infrastructure, it is unacceptable that a large number of complaints over quality issues continue to come in, even from major urban areas.'

Russia's Gazprom turns off tap, Gail's hunt for LNG may continue for a year

Russia's Gazprom turns off tap, Gail's hunt for LNG may continue for a year

Rediff.com   30 Dec 2022

So far, GMTS has defaulted on the supply of more than 20 cargoes or shiploads, 13 of which were set to be received in the second quarter (July-September), officials said.

Mobile user base dips for 2nd straight month, shrinks by 1.82 million

Mobile user base dips for 2nd straight month, shrinks by 1.82 million

Rediff.com   20 Dec 2022

The fall represented the second straight month of decline in subscribers. Users in the segment had reduced by 3.66 million in September, shrinking for the first time in seven months.

Only Adani Permitted To Set Up Private 5G Network

Only Adani Permitted To Set Up Private 5G Network

Rediff.com   15 Dec 2022

Adani Data Networks said it plans to create a private 5G network for its operations. However, it acquired the spectrum in the last 5G auction alongside three telecom companies. Subsequently, it was granted a unified licence for access services, which enables it to provide telecom services in the country.

Vedantu gives pink slips to 385 employees in 3rd round of layoffs this year

Vedantu gives pink slips to 385 employees in 3rd round of layoffs this year

Rediff.com   8 Dec 2022

Edtech unicorn Vedantu has laid off 385 employees, nearly 11.6 per cent of the company workforce, according to sources. This move is being seen as part of a drive in the edtech sector towards profitability via cost-savings and consolidation, as funds dry up, they said. The Bengaluru-based firm has laid off over 1,100 employees (both full-time and contractual), so far, this year.

Vi's fundraising put on hold as govt delays equity call

Vi's fundraising put on hold as govt delays equity call

Rediff.com   7 Dec 2022

Vodafone Idea's (Vi's) search for a lifeline has turned longer and tougher even as it continues to lose customers and delay vendor payments. Vi's much-needed Rs 1,600-crore fundraising plan got stuck due to the government's silence on picking up a proposed 33 per cent equity in the financially stressed telco. The development spells further trouble for the company, which has an overall debt pile of Rs 2.2 trillion, including hefty dues to the government.

India's deep discounts on Russian crude will stay

India's deep discounts on Russian crude will stay

Rediff.com   6 Dec 2022

Even as the Group of Seven (G7) price cap on Russian crude oil enters into force as of December 5, India has been assured it will continue to receive the existing deep discounts on Russian oil, for the time being, informed officials. "We have been assured by our Russian partners of uninterrupted crude supplies at the existing rates for the time being. "There were a lot of reports of changes in (India's) buying patterns after the global price cap took hold.

Amazon to shut down distribution unit in India, focus on core businesses

Amazon to shut down distribution unit in India, focus on core businesses

Rediff.com   28 Nov 2022

Amazon India has decided to shut down 'Amazon Distribution', according to sources. This follows its recent decision to shut its food delivery and edtech offerings. The moves are part of the annual operating planning review process amid global macroeconomic uncertainty. The e-commerce giant is looking to focus on its core businesses, sources said.

1st in 7 months: Number of mobile subscribers falls

1st in 7 months: Number of mobile subscribers falls

Rediff.com   23 Nov 2022

The number of mobile phone subscribers in India decreased by 3.66 million in September to 1.17 billion, representing the first fall in seven months, according to the latest data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai). The number of subscribers had last fallen by 3.7 million back in February. In recent months, it rose by 1.08 million in August, 0.64 million in July, and 1.89 million in June.

Ronnie Screwvala-led upGrad to hire 1,400 amid edtech sector turbulence

Ronnie Screwvala-led upGrad to hire 1,400 amid edtech sector turbulence

Rediff.com   23 Nov 2022

At a time when there is a growing number of edtech companies laying off employees in a bid to conserve cash and focus on profitability amid a funding winter, Ronnie Screwvala-led upGrad is expanding its facilities and hiring talent. The company plans to hire over 1400 team members between November 2022 and March 2023 in India and at offices outside the country. upGrad has also signed new leases in the past few months for 335,000 sq ft of space across four cities -- Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune and Noida.

Unacademy gives pink slips to 350 employees in second round of layoffs

Unacademy gives pink slips to 350 employees in second round of layoffs

Rediff.com   8 Nov 2022

Unacademy is conducting another round of job cuts and laying off 350 employees or 10 per cent of its workforce of 3,500, as the SoftBank-backed edtech firm targets profitability and reduces costs, according to an internal note sent by Gaurav Munjal, co-founder and CEO of Unacademy group, to the staff. Munjal said the restructuring exercise would affect about 10 per cent of employees across the group. "I am deeply saddened to share that we will have to say goodbye to some of our extremely talented Unacademy employees," said Munjal in the letter addressed to employees and reviewed by Business Standard.