TecQ: iPhone 8 Rumours, 365 Days of Jio, Digital Payments & More

TecQ is our weekly round-up of the top technology stories.

1. The Awaited iPhone 8: Too Much Hype but Not Enough Innovation?

Just a few days to go for 12 September – the day of Apple’s big ‘unveil’. From leaked images and countless ‘insider’ stories, we know it’s going to be a series of announcements at Tim Cook’s keynote address, including a look at the new Apple campus in Cupertino. But what’s everyone interested in is the iPhone 8 and what it can do?

Read the full story here.

2. 365 Days of Jio: From a Disruptive Telecom Co to a Network Giant

Reliance Jio is now one year old. And in just 12 months, it has managed to gather a 100 million-plus customer base.

It’s been a long year for most of the incumbent telecom operators who have had a tough time competing with the Mukesh Ambani-owned telecom company, which has managed to give them a run for their money. We take a trip down memory lane to see how a disruptive telecom operator transformed into one of the biggest network giants in a span of just one year. Want to know more? Read the story here.

3. Facebook Likely to Use ‘WhatsApp Business’ to Make Some Money

For years, WhatsApp has been operating for free, without pestering you with ads on the app. Ever since Facebook bought the social messaging company, people have been wondering – when will it start using WhatsApp to mint money via this channel.

While they haven’t officially announced it yet, but WhatsApp, now targeting businesses as an alternative, could be a very viable platform.

We’ve even come across leaks, which shows Bookmyshow with a verified (with a green tick) WhatsApp profile, used for sharing ticket information in the near future.

Read the full story here.

4. Digital Payments in India – The Race to Capture Your Wallet Begins

Indians are becoming savvy at digital payments, and most companies are not wasting any time in setting up their wallets.

2016’s demonetisation may have kicked up the so-called Cashless India procession, but if numbers have ever given us an indication of where the future is headed, then the narrative has been set up rather nicely.

Experts are quietly optimistic of payment companies making the best of India’s growing mobile internet population. And the fact that people won’t be allowed to do cash transaction to a greater extent should work in favour of digital payment.

Read the full story here.

5. Google is Close to Buying HTC’s Smartphone Business, But Why?

Google has aspirations to match Apple’s consistent hegemony, which has been seen with its role to make the hardware as well the software for its products. If there’s one thing that Google misses out on Android’s mobile OS dominance, then it would probably be control.

Which is why we weren’t surprised to hear that Google is finalising a deal to buy HTC’s smartphone division. A few years ago, Google had bought Motorola, and it managed to grab a slew of patents from them, and later sold them off to Lenovo, for a significantly lesser value.

So, now the question is – if Google is indeed buying HTC, then why?

Here is the full story.

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