Archive: September 1, 2022

Introducing the New Nokia 2660 Flip- Letting you stay closer to the ones you love #Classics Calling

Tagging along is the Nokia 8210 4G come with Essential accessibility features and unbeaten Finnish reliability

• • • Nokia 2660 Flip also comes with Dual display, Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC), big buttons, and a zoomed-in interface with superior durability, so you can go about your day with confidence.

Mumbai, 

• Nokia 2660 Flip also comes with Dual display, Hearing Aid Compatibility (HAC), big buttons, and a zoomed-in interface with superior durability, so you can go about your day with confidence.

Mumbai, 31^thAugust 2022 – HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones, today announced the new Nokia 2660 Flip – a phone loved by everyone, especially seniors owing to its enhanced accessibility. The convenient design of the Nokia 2660 Flip, comes with signature features like a big display, big buttons, hearing aid compatibility, and an emergency button providing a seamless experience for those who need it the most.

Also in the series is the new Nokia 8210 4G, fashioned to be your perfect companion in an era of minimalism and style. Nokia 8210 4G comes witha large display, and contemporary features like its durable and sleek design, intuitive user interface, and a camera to capture life’s best bits- making it simpler and easier to use.

Speaking on the launch, Sanmeet Singh Kochhar, Vice President, HMD Global-India & MENA said;“HMD strives to give customers what they want and need the most. The latest portfolio additions reaffirm HMD Global’s commitment to ensuring everyone has access to innovation. Our flip phones have always been incredibly popular with seniors, but more recently, we are seeing younger audiences adopt the feature phone trend thanks to their simple-to-use functionality, signature durability and extended battery life and of course stylish design #ClassicsCalling. The Nokia 2660 Flip is a reliable companion for all ages. These new launches will help us strengthen our Number 1 position in value in the feature phone category”

Designed with accessibility at heart

The flip functionality of the Nokia 2660 Flip makes call handling simple by bringing the mic and earpiece closer to you. A generous 2.8” display and zoomed-in user interface mean you never waste time second guessing what is on the screen, whilst the convenient front display ensures incoming calls are easily recognized.

The big, tactile buttons make navigating seamless and texting error-free. Loud and crystal-clear sound settings make it easy to hear if someone is calling or texting.

There when you need it the mostThe slim and light flip-phone design contains a powerful 1450 mAh battery to deliver hours of talk time and weeks of standby, keeping you connected for longer and ensuring the people you care about are always within reach.

Meanwhile, the dedicated emergency button provides peace of mind by allowing quick contact with your loved ones. In case the unexpected happens, up to five contacts will be notified, so they can ensure help is on the way.

The Nokia 2660 Flip boasts clear call quality with adjustable volume settings and is hearing aid compatible (HAC) – making calls a relaxing experience.

Rigorously tested to last even longer

Put through its paces by renowned Nokia phone durability tests, Nokia 2660 Flip has endured tens of thousands of flip cycles to ensure it stands the test of time. Made of tough polycarbonate, so it’s stylish colors remain vibrant for longer.

Other offerings in the range

The New Nokia 8210 4G–A timeless classic for today’s retro lovers

Nokia 8210 4G continues our Originalsline with outstanding design and renowned Nokia phones build quality. Designed just like its predecessor, the Nokia 8210 4G, has a big 2.8” display and zoomed user interface, making communication easier than ever. The updated display frame adds a fresh twist to the instantly-recognizable Nokia 8210 4G look courtesy of function keys adapted for today, and elegant island keymat with separated keys and an intuitive interface.

Meanwhile, the Nokia 8210 4G is rich in features, including the in-build MP3 player, wireless and wired FM radio, and a camera to capture life’s best bits – alongside a slice of retro courtesy of fan-favorite games like ‘Snake’.

Fast fashion is out, timeless items are in, and the Nokia 8210 4G is the fashion accessory that will stand the test of time. It’s light and compact design seamlessly carries a massive battery which allows for longer conversations and weeks of standby so users can call, text, and go offline with confidence. Improved radio frequency, 4G connectivity, and dual SIM VoLTE voice call capability keep your calls connected and crystal clear so you can do more of what you love.

Pricing and availability

The Nokia 2660 is available in India at ₹4699across all retail outlets Nokia.com/phones and e commerce sitesin black, blue and red colour options.

The Lab-Grown Diamond Markets in India- How Big it is, Strengths and Challenges

Mr. Parag Agrawal, Co-Founder and CEO of Fiona Diamonds

India has the potential to become a global hub of lab-grown diamond production and processing. The recent industry update by Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council reported that India’s polished lab-grown diamonds exports amounted to $1.05 billion from April 2021 to January 2022. It recorded stellar growth of nearly 113 per cent and is projected to grow in numbers in the coming quarters.

From a macro-perspective, The Indian Gems and Jewellery industry is counted to be one of the biggest industries and holds a significant majority of consumer markets in the world. The industry is contributing 29 per cent of the global consumption of jewellery. It has a vast market and employment base. The market offers jobs to around 4 million people on a yearly basis. As new players continue to enter the markets, the jewellery industry has over 3,00,000 gems and jewellery players.

In 2021, India’s LGD market accounted for ₹2,200 crores, and its contribution to the global lab-grown diamond production stands at 15%. The growing market dominance of lab-grown diamonds can be attributed to technological breakthroughs and a sound shopping approach which has been taken by buyers post-Covid-19.

LGD market is growing exponential as they are greener and environmentally sustainable. They are also 50-60% cheaper than mined diamonds. After the pandemic, consumers are more practical and realistic in their buying decisions. They are choosing and constantly preferring cultured and lab-grown diamonds over natural ones. The international sales of lab-grown diamonds produced in India exceed that of domestic markets. India’s synthetic diamond exports are estimated to be anywhere around 50-60%. However, it is coming into its own and faring quite well in the domestic sector as well.

The industry has also warmed up to the idea of doubling the production of lab-grown diamonds to cater to increasing customers’ demands. The makers are fine-tuning their policies to adopt an environmentally friendly stand and promote lab-grown diamonds, which basically have the same characteristics as natural diamonds. The only point of difference is that lab-growns come with a yellow certificate.

The financial hit that shook the industry and its consumer targets during the pandemic has resultantly made them more frugal about their expenditure and spending. People are naturally more inclined to pick lab-grown diamonds as their luxury asset or a token of gift to someone. It is cheaper, affordable, and does not cause any irreparable damage to ecological well-being. These reasons increase the buying quotient of lab-grown diamonds.

Online orders and delivery services have also picked up transaction rates. Lab-grown diamond companies are also swept by the digital invasion and are advertising and selling their products on online platforms and websites. Increased brand visibility has also made them stand out from the rest and enhanced people’s knowledge about lab-grown diamonds.

One of the few challenges that the lab-grown diamond industry faces is a travesty of people’s judgement. L-G diamonds are often considered inferior and debased to natural diamonds, which is an inimical misrepresentation. Both of them carry similar physical and chemical properties. The only unsimilarity is that natural diamonds are mined, and lab-grown diamonds are created in labs.

The strength of the lab-grown diamond business is the growing common knowledge about the specialities and sustainability of lab-grown diamonds. Grave misunderstandings and canards about sustainable diamonds have mostly been effaced from the public eye. Consumers perceive it as an eco-friendly and cost-efficient luxury product.

There is a growth in buying behaviours on justifiable and realistic terms among the new-age population. They do not want to engage in reckless spending on products which do not bring desirable returns. The emergence of this mindset is coiling them in favour of lab-grown diamonds. While natural diamonds are only affordable to upper strata-rich populations, lab-grown diamonds can be bought by mid-sized to income-based families.

India’s growing consumer pool of sustainable diamonds has put it to a competitor’s advantage. It will soon be pioneering a host of developments, seconding India as a lab-grown market hotspot.  Industry experts are of a consensus that LGD’s business has the capacity to touch the mark of ₹40,000 crores in the next five years.

The fluorescence of lab-grown markets of India started in the mid-2000s and is growing exponentially in the 2020s. Despite facing a few setbacks during the Covid-19 pandemic, the business has registered a tall-order comeback. It has challenged the market hegemony of natural diamonds and completely taken over consumer luxury tastes. It has pandered to the prevalence of the sustainability yardstick mind built and formed a niche of its own.

Major metro cities like the Delhi-NCR region, Calcutta, Chennai, and Mumbai have seen a major engagement for sustainable diamonds. It is also picking up pace in Tier-2 cities and, most probably, in a few years, will also break out in Tier 3 cities.

Nearly 60% of patients are delaying treatments because of lack of health insurance: Pristyn Care Data Labs study

Mumbai, August 31, 2022: The National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) recently revealed that India has witnessed a marginal improvement in health insurance coverage. However even those who are insured face various challenges such as dealing with complex paperwork, delay in discharge, uncertainty about disease coverage etc. As per a study conducted by Pristyn Care Data Labs, almost 50% of patients feel that long waiting time for approvals is the biggest pain point while filing for the insurance claim. The results come from a Pristyn Care survey answered by 1,100+ respondents and insights from internal data of 4 lakh+ patient interactions around health insurance studied by Pristyn Care Data Lab.

Another big pain point for customers is that health insurance policies are too complex to understand. The study revealed that 67% of respondents believe that their health insurance policies are difficult to understand and don’t give a holistic view of the benefits provided. Some of the other challenges faced by patients while claiming insurance were deduction of money at the time of claiming (24%) and complex paperwork (17%). To ease the process of claiming health insurance, more than 60% Indians would opt for a third party end-to-end health insurance service provider who takes care of the hassle. With the rising costs of medical treatments in the country, as per the study shockingly nearly 60% of the respondents are delaying treatment due to the lack of any health cover.

India also has a rich history of alternative medicine. Treatments like Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha, homeopathy, naturopathy are commonly practiced in the country. According to the Pristyn Care study, a vast majority of people want these alternative treatments to be covered under health insurance. It is followed by cosmetic procedures (plastic surgery, weight loss treatments) to be covered by health insurance providers at 21%.

As per industry reports, 27.5 million couples in India suffer from infertility. Many doctors believe that these numbers will increase. 20% of survey respondents also believe that IVF and infertility procedures should be covered under insurance given the rising costs.

Commenting on the study findings, Harsimarbir Singh, co-founder at Pristyn Care said, “The patient’s journey starts from buying health insurance, meeting a healthcare provider, receiving diagnosis, getting treatment, paying for the services and then claiming health insurance. Among the dozens of healthcare pain points, long waiting time for the claim approval is the biggest pain point as one vastly underestimates the costs associated with medical treatments.”

He further added, “India has the lowest rates of health insurance penetration and COVID-19 induced medical inflation has caused people to delay surgeries. Elective surgeries are not life-threatening but any delay can impact the overall quality of life. Regular health check-ups, cashless coverage, and the best medical facilities at the best hospitals are all benefits of having health insurance, which will keep one’s family assured. Finding the right health cover can add more healthy years to anyone’s life.”

Source & Details:

• Sources
  • A study done across 1100+ respondents
  • Insights from the Pristyn Care Data Lab which studied 4 lakh+ patient interactions and queries on health insurance claim
  • Number of cities for the study – Seven cities -NCR, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Pune, Hyderabad and Chennai)

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India conducts Road Safety Awareness Campaign in West Bengal

Over 2000 school students & staff of Siliguri learnt how to stay safe on roads   

Siliguri, 31 August 2022: As schools in India reopened after two years hiatus, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India (HMSI) continues its National Road Safety Awareness Campaign in the country to re-emphasize the need for road safety awareness among citizens.

The two-days camp (30-31 August 2022) at Hindi Balika Vidyapith in Siliguri witnessed spirited participation from over 2000 school students and staff members who set out to imbibe the safe riding practices. HMSI’s road safety instructors utilized the age appropriate road safety learning programs to enhance the retention of road safety awareness among all.

Speaking on HMSI’s commitment towards sensitizing India on road safety, Mr. Prabhu Nagaraj, Operating Officer – Brand & Communication, Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India said, “Road safety education is essential for developing a road safety mindset. Continuing to further strengthen our commitment of building a safer India on roads, we have resumed our on-ground road safety training – National Road Safety Awareness Campaign. With this campaign, we aim to educate children as safety ambassadors of tomorrow as well as help adults to be the responsible road users.”

HMSI’s National Road Safety Awareness program made learning fun yet scientific through:

1. INTERACTIVE SESSION: HMSI’s specially trained road safety instructors educated 5 to 10 years old about the do’s and don’ts while commuting in a school bus and cycling.
2. PRACTICAL LEARNING: 11 to 12 years old learnt how to ride their bicycle safely, their duties as a pillion on two-wheeler and importance of safety gear on roads. To make this learning more practical and fun, kids got hands on learning experience on the specially imported CRF50 motorcycles.
3. SCIENTIFIC THEORY LEARNING MODULE: Safety riding theory session on road rules & regulations, road signs & markings, driver’s duties on road, riding gear & posture explanation and safe riding etiquettes was conducted for 13 to 17 years old as well as for staff.
4. EXISTING DRIVERS HONING RIDING SKILLS: School staff members who are already existing riders tested and honed their learnings through practical training on a two-wheeler.
5. LEARNING BECAME FUN: To ensure that the young students could learn more about road safety, HMSI also conducted fun educational activities like road safety games and quizzes on daily basis.

Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India’s CSR commitment towards Road Safety:

For Honda globally, road safety comes first. As announced in April 2021, “Honda will strive for zero traffic collision fatalities involving Honda motorcycles and automobiles globally by 2050”. Fulfilling its corporate social responsibility (CSR), HMSI has been promoting road safety in India since its start in 2001. Working towards the realization of Honda’s global safety vision, today HMSI’s road safety awareness initiative has already spread to over 48 lac Indians. Its team of skilled safety instructors conduct daily programmes at its 10 adopted traffic parks across India and 7 Safety Driving Education Centers (SDEC).

Not only this, all 1000+ dealerships of HMSI across India spread road safety awareness. HMSI’s proprietary virtual riding simulator increases the risk-prediction ability of riders; while new customers too are given predelivery safety advise (PDSA) before they start riding at every dealership across India.

Additionally, ensuring that learning doesn’t stop in the New Normal, HMSI started the digital road safety education initiative – Honda Road Safety E-Gurukul. Since its start in May’20, this initiative has sensitized 8 Lac+ Indians on importance of being aware & responsible road users.

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