The Rajasthan government has united with business-to-business (B2B) ecommerce firm Applicate IT Solutions to enable 35,000 e-mitra kiosks in the state for traders and retailers to procure products directly from manufacturers. The B2B e-commerce marketplace is increasingly getting crowded with big and mid-sized players.The state government launched e-mitra kiosks in 2011 to allow villagers to access government services such as licences and passport services. The kiosks are usually installed and run at shops or stores and in return traders earn a certain percentage as commission on the government fees paid...

With its vision to help make India a global hub of high-quality mobile developers, Google today launched the Android Skilling program in India that will aim to train two million mobile developers by unveiling a slew of initiatives to skill up, educate, and certify millions of students and developers in Android Development. Recognizing the need to provide an in-person training course targeted at students in universities, Google announced the launch of a specially designed instructor led training program on Android Fundamentals. This will be made available across public and private universities and...

Mobile applications bought on the Apple and Google platforms could get costlier as the government is planning to bring app purchase under the ambit of the ‘equalization levy.’ According to the report published in Economic Times, the government is looking to include Apps purchase under the levy by the end of December. The government is expected to issue guidelines by December, the report stated. An equalization levy of about 6 percent is currently applicable on online advertisements on multinationals registered outside India. The impact of the levy on app prices may...

1. Has ‘Freedom 251’ Gone In Cold Storage? After a hype and a lot of media publicity, it seems that all is not well at the end of makers of “Freedom 251”, dubbed as world’s cheapest smartphone. Crippled with huge financial losses, makers of Freedom 251 have now knocked the door of the government to support their loss-making venture. Read More 2. BlackBerry To End Production Of Iconic Classic Smartphone BlackBerry which is going through tough times, has announced to stop manufacturing of its iconic Classic smartphone. The move has raised doubts...

Avast Software has announced the acquisition of its biggest rival in the security space-AVG Technologies. As per the agreement, Avast will offer to purchase all of the outstanding ordinary shares of AVG for $25.00 per share in cash, for a total consideration of approximately $1.3B. Both companies are industry pioneers founded in the Czech Republic in the late 1980s and early 1990s, that expanded internationally in the 2000s, and now will be combining complementary strengths to position Avast for continued growth in the security industry. Avast is pursuing this acquisition...

The National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) launched India’s first Centre of Excellence - Internet of Things (CoE- IoT) at the Nasscom Startups Warehouse in Bengaluru. The center was inaugurated by Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister for Law, Government of India. The CoE will focus on leveraging IT strengths and creating a new age industry with the support of IoT based ideas. Nasscom reveals that IoT Market has witnessed growth of 28% from FY2015 - FY2016.Nearly 120 firms offering IoT solutions in India; around 60% IoT startups emerging...

Pakistani cyber crooks have once again targeted India. This time hackers have attacked a website of a prominent management institute in Noida. The website of the School of Law, Design and Innovation Academy of the Institute of Management Studies (IMS) was reportedly, hacked by Pakistani hackers. According to the IANS report published in Hindusthan Times, the website of the institute was hacked nd along with a Pakistani flag and another flag resembling a Chinese flag was posted on the website. The hackers posted a message - “hacked by Pakistani hackers Mister ji”....

The Digital India Action Group (DIAG), a think tank established for ideating and monitoring policy initiatives to support the Indian Government’s mission of Digital India, set up by Manufacturers’ Association of Information Technology (MAIT) on Thursday unveiled two topical white papers - “IoT for Effective Disaster Management” and “Aadhaar Enablement: A Framework for Citizen-Centric Services”. ‘IoT’ White Paper reveals Prediction and Early Warning Systems with Help of IoT, Cloud and Analytics can Effectively Mitigate Disasters on Real-Time Basis. Whereas, ‘Aadhaar’ White Paper lists out the unprecedented opportunities afforded by Aadhaar-enablement...

The International Association of Microsoft Certified Partners (IAMCP) India is now officially recognized as a separate region within IAMCP International. “IAMCP that is proud to welcome India as an IAMCP Tier Two Board which means it gains similar regional status to USA, LATAM, EMEA and Canada. Given the strength not only in IAMCP in India, but also the strength and great progress in India as a nation IAMCP is honored to approve IAMCP India’s application”, an official press release reads. This new region, is the latest in a variety of new innovations...

After a hype and a lot of media publicity, it seems that all is not well at the end of makers of “Freedom 251”, dubbed as world’s cheapest smartphone. Crippled with huge financial losses, makers of Freedom 251 have now knocked the door of the government to support their loss-making venture. In a letter written to the Prime Minister’s Office dated June 28 asking for a meeting with Narendra Modi, Ringing Bells reportedly said, “We have brought ‘Freedom 251′ which we offer on ‘Cash on Delivery’ terms but we have a gap...