Rajesh S Kurup &Amp; Falaknaaz Syed In Mumbai

Stories by Rajesh S Kurup &Amp; Falaknaaz Syed In Mumbai

Vodafone fears Essar may further dilute BPL stake

Vodafone fears Essar may further dilute BPL stake

Rediff.com   11 Sep 2008

The Ruias and other promoters own a 99.99 per cent stake through various companies in BPL Mobile Communications. They have already toned it down to 82.4 per cent, sources close to the development said. Now, the group is looking at further bringing it down to less than 70 per cent. This will make BPL Mobile Communications a shell company and diminish its values making its shares 'worthless,' says Vodafone.

Vodafone accuses Essar of altering BPL shr capital

Vodafone accuses Essar of altering BPL shr capital

Rediff.com   10 Sep 2008

The dispute between Vodafone and the Ruia-owned Essar Group, its 33 per cent partners in Vodafone-Essar, over ownership of BPL Mobile deepened this week after the UK-based telecom major alleged that Essar had altered the share structure of the Mumbai service provider in violation of a 2006 agreement

LIC asks for easier investment norms

LIC asks for easier investment norms

Rediff.com   6 Sep 2008

Life Insurance Corporation of India has asked the Insurance Regulatory & Development Authority to allow it a shareholding of up to 20 per cent in a company.

Foreign firms' 3G quality may suffer for want of s

Foreign firms' 3G quality may suffer for want of s

Rediff.com   30 Aug 2008

Foreign operators may fail to provide quality 3G services, unlike their Indian counterparts, as the Department of Telecommunications is offering spectrum in tranches of 5 MHz, which is insufficient for starting operations.

R-ADAG outsources call centre operations

R-ADAG outsources call centre operations

Rediff.com   29 Aug 2008

The Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group has awarded a 5-year outsourcing contract to a Delhi-based call centre, Caretel Infotech, a part of Dalmiya group, for about Rs 300 crore.

Apple to unveil iTune Store soon

Apple to unveil iTune Store soon

Rediff.com   25 Aug 2008

Apple, the US consumer electronics and software company, is close to opening its iTune Store in India. iTune Store, the world's most popular online entertainment store, offers songs, movies, TV shows, podcasts, audiobooks and iPod games.

Mumbai braces for mobile services battle

Mumbai braces for mobile services battle

Rediff.com   25 Aug 2008

With at least seven more mobile service providers planning to launch operations in the Mumbai circle, following in the footsteps of GSM player Idea Cellular, the market is slated to become the country's most competitive and fierce telecom zone.

Top insurance cos plan IPOs in 2009

Top insurance cos plan IPOs in 2009

Rediff.com   21 Aug 2008

With the top life insurance companies planning to list next year, the Insurance Regulatory Development Authority is setting up a committee for working out a mechanism to decide the valuation and the likely initial public offer price.

In India, more people buying vehicles in cash

In India, more people buying vehicles in cash

Rediff.com   14 Aug 2008

ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank, the two leading private sector banks in the country, said cash sales for cars and commercial vehicles have doubled to 30 per cent of the total sales compared to a year ago. In the case of two-wheeler buyers, more than 30 per cent are paying in cash

Modi starts talks with SET's shareholders

Modi starts talks with SET's shareholders

Rediff.com   14 Aug 2008

The negotiations were shelved following a difference of opinion on prices. "We intend to close both the deals by September," said a highly-placed source with MCorp, the holding company for B K Modi's group of companies.

Good news for health insurance policyholders

Good news for health insurance policyholders

Rediff.com   12 Aug 2008

In a move that will bring cheer to health insurance policyholders, non-life insurers are finalising the contours of a new product that will have a common minimum standard cover and will be renewable and portable across companies.

Kuwait telco begins talks for Indian buys

Kuwait telco begins talks for Indian buys

Rediff.com   9 Aug 2008

Mobile Telecommunications Company (Zain), the third largest telecom operator in West Asia and a leading operator in Africa, has initiated talks with several Indian telecom service providers to buy stakes.

Tough times ahead for NB finance companies

Tough times ahead for NB finance companies

Rediff.com   7 Aug 2008

High interest rates and lack of funds has hit non-banking finance companies. Though banks had extended loans to NBFCs at fixed rates, there is a reset clause which is now being exercised. Besides, the increase in interest rates is impacting companies that were borrowing directly from the market. What is also making life tough is the demand for longer-tenure loans by borrowers as they want to keep the equated monthly instalments under control despite a rise in interest rates.

DoT rejects plea for leniency on service rollout

DoT rejects plea for leniency on service rollout

Rediff.com   6 Aug 2008

In a move that will not augur well for companies which have been awarded 2G licences recently, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has rejected proposals by new telecom entrants for a relaxation of rollout obligations.

Apple still not singing the right tune in India

Apple still not singing the right tune in India

Rediff.com   4 Aug 2008

In India, Apple users purchase entertainment content from other websites, at times from legitimate portals, but mostly end up buying pirated content in India.

Datacom Solutions has big plans

Datacom Solutions has big plans

Rediff.com   2 Aug 2008

Consumer durables major Videocon Industries' subsidiary Datacom Solutions, which has received telecom licences to begin pan-India operations, is planning to commence network rollout starting August 15 and services by year-end, becoming one of the first newcomers to launch operations.

Tough call for iPhone in India

Tough call for iPhone in India

Rediff.com   23 Jul 2008

Global mobile phone majors Nokia, Motorola, Sony Ericsson and others are offering a slew of products including touchscreen and music capable handsets in India to counter the might of Apple's iPhone, which is expected to hit the markets in September.

Householder policy premiums fall 35-50%

Householder policy premiums fall 35-50%

Rediff.com   22 Jul 2008

The next time you buy a householder's insurance policy, you could be paying premiums that are 35 to 50 per cent lower. This is the result of the de-tariffing or lifting of price controls on insurance policies from January this year.

Etisalat out of Tata Teleservices stake talks

Etisalat out of Tata Teleservices stake talks

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2008

Etisalat, which is mulling an Indian foray, has since started discussions with several telecom companies including the Videocon Group's Datacom Solutions and Essar-controlled Loop Telecom for equity. Ravi Sharma, CEO of Datacom confirmed that Etilasat was one of the companies to which the company was talking but declined to offer details. Loop Telecom declined to comment.

Pesky calls continue to haunt mobile users

Pesky calls continue to haunt mobile users

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2008

On September 1, 2007, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India reigned in the 'don't call regime' with setting up of the NDNC. Subscribers had to register with the NDNC by calling the respective service provider and the marketing calls were to stop within the next 45 days. However, even after 10 months, unsolicited calls still haunt mobile users.