News for 'mobile messaging apps'

Govt, UPI To Set Up Real-Time Payment Tripwire

Govt, UPI To Set Up Real-Time Payment Tripwire

Rediff.com4 Jul 2025

Google Pay, PhonePe, and Paytm may deliberately delay transactions, issue fraud alerts, and require an extra layer of user confirmation before processing any transactions that are likely to be classified as fraudulent.

Ola Maps navigating beyond 'western apps'

Ola Maps navigating beyond 'western apps'

Rediff.com9 Jul 2024

Bhavish Aggarwal, founder and chief executive officer of Ola, is encouraging developers to switch from Google Maps to Ola Maps. Ola is offering developers a year of free access to Ola Maps on the company's Krutrim Cloud and over Rs 100 crore in free credits. This initiative comes after Ola replaced Google Maps with its own Ola Maps, leading to annual savings of around Rs 100 crore.

Ban on Chinese mobile apps is bonanza for India's own

Ban on Chinese mobile apps is bonanza for India's own

Rediff.com17 Sep 2021

Eighteen months after the government started banning Chinese mobile apps, two distinct changes have occurred in the country's mobile app sweepstakes. The move has given a thrust to domestic app publishers, especially in certain segments and it has dramatically reduced the market share of Chinese apps. What started as an interim government ban on 59 Chinese apps, including the highly popular TikTok and WeChat in March 2020 ended as a permanent ban on many of them in January this year. According to a China Internet Report 2021 (by South China Morning Post), the market share of Chinese apps in India has dropped substantially from 44 per cent in 2018 to only 29 per cent in 2020. In 2017 it was 41 per cent.

Forest staffer suspended for anti-EVM WhatsApp status

Forest staffer suspended for anti-EVM WhatsApp status

Rediff.com4 Apr 2024

A forest department staffer in Yavatmal district of Maharashtra has been suspended for allegedly violating the model code of conduct by keeping a WhatsApp status message that raised question marks over the efficacy of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), an official said on Thursday.

UP man held for communal post has objectionable videos of Hindu women

UP man held for communal post has objectionable videos of Hindu women

Rediff.com12 Jun 2025

Objectionable photos and videos allegedly involving Hindu women have been found in the mobile phone of a Muslim youth arrested for sharing a 'provocative' message on social media on Eid, police said.

ChatGPT faces global outage; India, US most affected

ChatGPT faces global outage; India, US most affected

Rediff.com10 Jun 2025

OpenAI's AI chatbot ChatGPT experienced a major global outage on Tuesday, leaving thousands of users unable to access the service across multiple continents, with India and the United States reporting the highest number of disruptions.

Navy HQ staffer held for leaking Op Sindoor details with Pak handler

Navy HQ staffer held for leaking Op Sindoor details with Pak handler

Rediff.com26 Jun 2025

Vishal Yadav, an Upper Division Clerk (UDC) in the Directorate of Dockyard at the Navy building, allegedly also shared details on Operation Sindoor -- strikes carried out by the Indian Armed Forces in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

Ola Electric Scooters Get Smarter with OS Update

Ola Electric Scooters Get Smarter with OS Update

Rediff.com10 Jul 2025

Ola Electric's latest MoveOS 5 upgrade delivers sharper performance on its Gen 3 platform due to an optimised in-house Motor Control Unit that enhances range and responsiveness.

Loan app's harassment behind Kerala couple's suicide?

Loan app's harassment behind Kerala couple's suicide?

Rediff.com14 Sep 2023

The relatives have lodged a complaint with the police alleging that the instant loan app's depraved tactics to recover a loan borrowed by the family is likely to have led to them taking the extreme step.

Ajaz Khan, 'House Arrest' producer booked; NCW summons Ullu CEO

Ajaz Khan, 'House Arrest' producer booked; NCW summons Ullu CEO

Rediff.com3 May 2025

Khan is seen putting pressure on women contestants to perform intimate acts on camera in the clip. The conversation also appears to make some of the participants uncomfortable with probing, personal questions bordering on the vulgar.

India asks WhatsApp to withdraw privacy policy changes

India asks WhatsApp to withdraw privacy policy changes

Rediff.com19 Jan 2021

The government said that the unilateral changes are not fair and acceptable.

Budding K'taka songwriter tries to extort Rs 5 cr from Salman; held

Budding K'taka songwriter tries to extort Rs 5 cr from Salman; held

Rediff.com12 Nov 2024

Mumbai Police arrested a budding songwriter for allegedly sending threat messages to Bollywood actor Salman Khan and demanding Rs 5 crore from him in the name of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi. Sohail Pasha, held from Raichur in Karnataka, wanted a song written by him to become famous and used this ploy for the purpose, police claimed.

LS passes Bill to ban online money games, proposes 3-yr jail, Rs 1 cr fine

LS passes Bill to ban online money games, proposes 3-yr jail, Rs 1 cr fine

Rediff.com20 Aug 2025

The Indian government has introduced a bill in the Lok Sabha to ban online games played with money, aiming to curb addiction, money laundering, and financial fraud. The bill also targets advertisements and financial transactions related to such games.

Sarzameen Review: New Age Shakti

Sarzameen Review: New Age Shakti

Rediff.com25 Jul 2025

Poor writing, unrealistic plot points, and weak performances drag Sarzameen down, sighs Syed Firdaus Ashraf.

Centre bans 138 betting apps, 94 illegal loan apps with Chinese links

Centre bans 138 betting apps, 94 illegal loan apps with Chinese links

Rediff.com5 Feb 2023

As per sources, the MHA recommended the MeitY this week to ban and block these apps, and the ministry subsequently initiated the process as per communication.

Days after Rs 5cr threat to Salman, sender apologises

Days after Rs 5cr threat to Salman, sender apologises

Rediff.com22 Oct 2024

The city's traffic control room on Thursday received the Rs 5 crore threat message on its WhatsApp helpline, police earlier said.

Centre bans 14 mobile messenger apps in J-K for spreading terror

Centre bans 14 mobile messenger apps in J-K for spreading terror

Rediff.com1 May 2023

https://www.rediff.com/movies/2023/may/01priyankas-best-citadel-look-vote.htm https://www.rediff.com/cricket/2023/may/01ipl-2023-turning-point-tim-davids-destructive-knock-sinks-royals.htm https://www.rediff.com/cricket/2023/may/01ipl-2023-csk-vs-pbks-top-performer-conway-the-super-king.htm https://www.rediff.com/getahead/2023/apr/28ask-anu-my-ex-is-blackmailing-me.htm https://www.rediff.com/cricket/2023/may/01ipl-2023-csk-vs-pbks-turning-point-livingstone-raza-slay-kings.htm https://www.rediff.com/cricket/report/pix-tamil-nadu-cm-stalins-day-out-at-ipl/20230501.htm https://www.rediff.com/movies/2023/apr/28review-the-song-of-scorpions.htm https://www.rediff.com/getahead/2023/apr/28want-to-crack-neet-ug-mht-cet-ask-rediffgurus.htm https://www.rediff.com/movies/2023/apr/28alia-bhumi-win-big-at-filmfare-awards.htm https://www.rediff.com/movies/2023/apr/28is-this-how-katrinas-morning-starts.htm

Developers wrestle with making 'killer app' for Apple Watch

Developers wrestle with making 'killer app' for Apple Watch

Rediff.com11 Mar 2015

App makers are passionate about developing for the Apple Watch.

WhatsApp: Israeli spyware used to snoop on Indian journalists

WhatsApp: Israeli spyware used to snoop on Indian journalists

Rediff.com31 Oct 2019

These users span across four continents and included diplomats, political dissidents, journalists and senior government officials.

Don't join WhatsApp if not accepting new policy: HC

Don't join WhatsApp if not accepting new policy: HC

Rediff.com18 Jan 2021

The court also said that if the terms and conditions of most mobile apps are read, "you would be surprised as to what all you are consenting to".

'Asian mobile apps challenge tech giants like Apple, Google'

'Asian mobile apps challenge tech giants like Apple, Google'

Rediff.com4 Nov 2014

New inventions allow Tencent Holdings' WeChat users to book taxis, top up phone credit, while Clone Algo's YAY App users are able to talk and chat free besides being able to apply for online for micro loans and use Clone Algo trading algorithms.

Facebook to buy WhatsApp for $19 billion in deal shocker

Facebook to buy WhatsApp for $19 billion in deal shocker

Rediff.com20 Feb 2014

Facebook Inc will buy fast-growing mobile-messaging startup WhatsApp for $19 billion in cash and stock in a landmark deal that places the world's largest social network closer to the heart of mobile communications and may bring younger users into the fold.

How WhatsApp's new privacy policy affects you

How WhatsApp's new privacy policy affects you

Rediff.com7 Jan 2021

The most prominent changes deal with how WhatsApp shares information with Facebook and its subsidiaries.

'Am Married And In Love With a Widow...'

'Am Married And In Love With a Widow...'

Rediff.com30 May 2025

Be practical and value what you have, says Rediff's Love Guru.

A New Way To Retire Gracefully

A New Way To Retire Gracefully

Rediff.com3 Sep 2025

This isn't just a home for the elderly. It's a place where life stories, generations, and cultures weave themselves into something quietly extraordinary, discovers Nitin Sathe.

Person impersonating VP Naidu seeks financial aid via messages; MHA alerted

Person impersonating VP Naidu seeks financial aid via messages; MHA alerted

Rediff.com23 Apr 2022

The impersonator, it said, has sent such WhatsApp messages to several VIPs.

Pay Rs 2 cr or will kill you: Man threatens Salman, NCP's Zeeshan; held

Pay Rs 2 cr or will kill you: Man threatens Salman, NCP's Zeeshan; held

Rediff.com30 Oct 2024

Bollywood actor Salman Khan has allegedly received a death threat again along with a demand of Rs 2 crore following which the Mumbai police have registered a first information report (FIR) against an unidentified person, an official on Wednesday.

Looking into WhatsApp privacy policy changes: Govt

Looking into WhatsApp privacy policy changes: Govt

Rediff.com19 Jan 2021

WhatsApp has drawn massive criticism from users globally, including India over concerns that data was being shared with its parent company, Facebook. WhatsApp, on its part, has maintained that messages on the platform are end-to-end encrypted and that neither WhatsApp nor Facebook can see the private messages on WhatsApp's platform.

The best apps of 2015

The best apps of 2015

Rediff.com2 Jan 2016

What an exciting year this has been for smartphone users. We list the best apps that were all the craze in 2015

8 WhatsApp tricks you may not know

8 WhatsApp tricks you may not know

Rediff.com21 Dec 2016

Here are the 8 WhatsApp tips and tricks for iPhone users!

Prophet message sent from dead MP student's phone foxes police

Prophet message sent from dead MP student's phone foxes police

Rediff.com26 Jul 2022

The death of a 20-year-old engineering student on a railway track in Raisen district of Madhya Pradesh has left the police baffled due to a chilling WhatsApp message talking about the "beheading punishment for disrespecting Nabi" (Prophet Mohammed) sent from his mobile phone shortly before his death.

'Billions' of records at risk from mobile app data flaw

'Billions' of records at risk from mobile app data flaw

Rediff.com17 Jun 2015

Passwords, addresses, photos, medical data all at risk

Hike plans to use artificial intelligence to beat WhatsApp

Hike plans to use artificial intelligence to beat WhatsApp

Rediff.com24 Feb 2016

Hike will launch brand channels later in 2016.

How WhatsApp signed up 1.5 billion people

How WhatsApp signed up 1.5 billion people

Rediff.com16 Mar 2019

Several of WhatsApp's early features were designed keeping Indian conditions in mind, given the choppy connectivity and existence of devices of different makes. In fact, India was the first country where WhatsApp rolled out in-app video calling services in 2016, ahead of its global launch, underlining the importance of the market for the company.

Star Health data leak: Telegram takes action against bots

Star Health data leak: Telegram takes action against bots

Rediff.com11 Oct 2024

Messaging app Telegram has taken decisive action against bots that were reported for sharing sensitive data related to Star Health and Allied Insurance Company, and is actively keeping an eye on their re-emergence, a company statement said. "The bots reported to Telegram for sharing Star Health data were immediately removed and moderators are monitoring to prevent them from being recreated. "The sharing of private information on Telegram is expressly forbidden and such content is deleted whenever it is found," the statement said.

Should WhatsApp's privacy policy worry you?

Should WhatsApp's privacy policy worry you?

Rediff.com12 Jan 2021

Users well-versed in privacy laws or those concerned with their data would be worried; it could well be that many of us have already accepted the end user agreement without ado, points out Ashish Narsale.

New data protection bill to be introduced in monsoon session, govt tells SC

New data protection bill to be introduced in monsoon session, govt tells SC

Rediff.com11 Apr 2023

The Centre told the Supreme Court on Tuesday a new data protection bill is ready and will be introduced in the monsoon session of Parliament in July, as the apex court heard a matter related to privacy concerns of social media users.

Spyware row: WhatsApp downloads in India drop by a staggering 80%

Spyware row: WhatsApp downloads in India drop by a staggering 80%

Rediff.com6 Nov 2019

On October 29, WhatsApp announced it was suing NSO Group for selling its software, Pegasus, which has the ability to compromise a device and get access to all of a target's data. Spooked by revelations that activists and journalists were spied upon by using NSO Group's spyware, many have moved to alternative messaging platforms such as Signal and Telegram.

Shooter reveals why Anmol Bishnoi 'ordered to kill' Baba Siddique

Shooter reveals why Anmol Bishnoi 'ordered to kill' Baba Siddique

Rediff.com27 Jan 2025

Gangster Anmol Bishnoi had ordered the hit on Nationalist Congress Party leader Baba Siddique for his 'association with Dawood Ibrahim and involvement in the 1993 Bombay blasts', alleged main shooter Shivkumar Gautam in his confessional statement to the police.

Mobile internet to remain suspended in Nuh, other areas till Aug 5

Mobile internet to remain suspended in Nuh, other areas till Aug 5

Rediff.com3 Aug 2023

Besides Nuh, the services will remain snapped in Faridabad, Palwal and the territorial jurisdiction of sub-division Sohna, Pataudi and Manesar of Gurugram district.