TecQ: Spotify Launch, MWC 2019, WhatsApp Image Search and More

Here’s a weekly roundup of the top news from the world of technology.

Popular music streaming service Spotify is now in India. 

(Photo: The Quint)

1. Spotify Finally Launches in India, Priced at Rs 119 per Month

Spotify wants more free users to convert into paid users eventually. (Photo: iStock)

Spotify, the popular music-streaming app, is finally in the Indian market. It's available on IOS, Android and desktop PCs. It will go up against established local players like Gaana, JioSaavn and other giants like Amazon Prime Music and Apple Music as well.

To kickstart its journey in an aggressive fashion, Spotify is starting its monthly subscription plans from Rs 119, which gives users ad-free access to its large catalogue, and letting them download unlimited tracks.

Full details on the Spotify app here.

2. MWC 2019: Foldable Smartphones, Triple Rear Cameras, 5G & More

The Mobile World Congress officially kicked off on 25 February in Barcelona and multiple tech giants have already launched their respective gizmos in the market. From Xiaomi launching two new smartphones, to Huawei launching its first foldable phone the Mate X. The event also offered a glimpse into what 5G technology can do.

There were also a whole host of smartwatches and laptops to pick from. Nubia had an interesting watch to showcase. See more details on the event here.

3. WhatsApp Will Soon Let You Search For Images, Document in Chats

WhatsApp will be getting a slew of features in 2019.  (Photo: iStock)

A new feature that will soon be introduced in WhatsApp is the ability to search for images, text and documents with ease within chat groups. While people eagerly wait for dark mode to hit WhatsApp, the social messaging is working on other features to roll out to the users this year.

According to WAbetainfo advanced search within the app is likely to roll out soon. More details on it here.

4. Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 & 7 Pro Launched in India Starting at Rs 9,999

Xiaomi Global Vice President and Xiaomi India Managing Director Manu Jain (left) and Chief Marketing Officer Anuj Sharma at the launch of Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 Pro. (Photo: IANS)

China-based smartphone maker Xiaomi has launched two-new smartphones in the Indian market, namely the Redmi Note 7 and the Note 7 Pro.

The Redmi Note 7 has been priced at Rs 9,999 for the 32GB variant and Rs 11,999 for the 64GB variant. The Redmi Note 7 Pro has been priced at Rs 13,999 for the 64GB variant and Rs 16,999 for the 128GB variant.

The Redmi Note 7 will be made available through the online portals on 6 March while the Note 7 Pro will be available from 13 March onwards. Full details here.

5. Reliance Jio Launches New App for Group Calls to Rival WhatsApp

Jio Group Talk is available on Android and iOS.(Photo: The Quint)

Reliance Jio has launched a group voice-calling app called Group Talk, which is available to both Android as well iOS users. The app, as claimed on the Play Store listing, lets you talk in conference mode with up to 10 people at the same time.

With the features on offer, it’s quite clear that Group Talk goes up against WhatsApp and its slew of internet-based calling features. You can check out all the features of this app and how it compares with WhatsApp here.