Delhi High Court Banned Xiaomi Phones

New Delhi, 11^th December, 2014: The Delhi High Court in an interim order has restrained Xiaomi as well as online e-commerce site Flipkart from selling in India handsets of the Chinese mobile maker that run on the technology patented by Ericsson.

The court has also restrained Xiaomi or its agents from making, assembling, importing or offering for sale its devices which are infringing the mobile phone technology patented by Ericsson.

Justice G P Mittal directed the customs authorities to prevent import of Xiaomi phones that are infringing the patents of Ericsson and if any consignment is imported, the same be informed to Ericsson and its objections be decided as per the Intellectual Property Rules.

“I am satisfied that plaintiff (Ericsson) has made out a prima facie case for grant of ad interim injunction in its favour. The balance of convenience also lies in favour of plaintiff and in the absence of an injunction order, plaintiff will suffer irreparable loss and injury,” the court said.

It also issued summons and notice to Xiaomi and Flipkart and directed them to file an affidavit disclosing the number of devices – that are AMR, EDGE and 3G compliant – sold by them in India till date. They have to also indicate in the affidavit the revenue earned by selling these devices till date.

Xiaomi Phones on display

The court has also appointed three local commissioners to visit the premises of Xiaomi and Flipkart where the devices are stored in order to inspect and collect documents as well as seal the infringing mobiles.

The total fees of the local commissioners, amounting to Rs. 3.5 lakh shall be borne by Ericsson apart from travel and stay expenses, it said. The local commissioners have to submit their report within four weeks, it also said.

The order was passed on the plea of Ericsson that Xiaomi has been violating its eight patents pertaining to AMR, EDGE and 3G technologies in the field of telecommunication.

Ericsson has said that it had invited Xiaomi to use its patented technology by obtaining a licence, but instead of doing so, the Chinese manufacturer launched its devices in India in July 2014.

Tata Nano is now Cheaper than an Auto Rickshaw

Bengaluru, 10^th December, 2014: Last month the OLA added Tata Nano in its armada of cabs, and now TaxiForSure - a Bengaluru based cab service provider - has launched its NanoCab armada. Though TaxiForSure is currently present in 26 cities across India, NanoCabs will first be made obtainable only in Bengaluru from the first week of December. Folks in Bengaluru can also book a NanoCab via the TaxiForSure mobile app.

Tata Nano Cab is running on the road

Stimulatingly, the company claims the NanoCabs will be cheaper than hiring an auto-rickshaw. Here's how the NanoCab costs only Rs.25 for the first 2kms and Rs. 10 for every km traversed after that, whereas in the case of an auto rickshaw, the average fare includes Rs.25 for the first 1.9kms and Rs. 13/km after that.

At first, only 100 Tata Nanos will be made accessible, which the company has taken on lease. The company will increase the fleet's size once the demand goes up, and will introduce the same service in other metro cities too. The NanoCab will be available 24 hours a day, and the tariff will linger the same even during the night.

Adios to Long Queues in Kolkata Airport

A Panoramic View of Kolkata Airport

Kolkata, 9^th December, 2014:  Long queues at airport check-in desks will soon walk off into the sunset. Self-check-in kiosks, which were recently installed at the domestic departure lounge, have become a big hit with one among every four fliers using them to avoid serpentine queues. With the Airports Authority of India (AAI) planning to increase the kiosk count, airlines expect to cut down the waiting time at check-in counters by half.

Six kiosks that have been installed just beyond the entrance to the domestic departure lounge are for fliers with only cabin bags. "Nearly 25% of passengers are already using the facility. Frequent fliers are able to issue their own boarding pass in less than a minute. That's a saving of nearly 20-25 minutes during rush hours," an airport staff of a private carrier said.

Life for trader Rajesh Dwivedi, who takes the first flight out to Delhi and the last flight back the same day nearly once a week, has become easier after the kiosks were introduced last month. A resident of Tollygunge, he often had to take a cab at 3.30 AM to catch the 6.10 AM flight. Now he leaves his home an hour later, assured that it won't be an anxious touch-and-go at the end of a never-ending queue at the check-in desk.

A Passenger moving swiftly across the Kolkata Airport

"I was twice denied boarding as the system shut down 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure. The kiosks have come as a boon. At least, I get to sleep an hour more. I have been using the facility at other major airports and am glad that it's finally come to Kolkata," said Dwivedi.

According to airlines present in Kolkata, up to 60% of fliers to other metros travel with hand baggage only. For travellers to other cities, around 30% don't have checked in bags. "Most of those who travel light are on a business trip or have short stays, very often returning the same day or the next at most," an IndiGo ground staff explained.

With many passengers now preferring the kiosk route to check-in, AAI has ordered four more kiosks to ensure that passengers don't end up in queues before self-check-in machines. "By March 2015, the domestic wing will have 10 kiosks, two at each of the five entrances. Once 40% passengers begin using the kiosks, we will evaluate the need to further increase the count," airport director BP Sharma said.

Negotiating the system is fairly simple. The passenger has to first touch the logo of the airline he is travelling in. Thereafter, he is required to fill in either the PNR number or the flight number. If it is the former, the boarding card is generated and can be printed out. In case of the latter, the passenger manifest appears for selection and printing thereafter.

For business and premier-class passengers, there's double joy with CISF introducing a dedicated security portal for them. Located between portal A and B, this facility will help nearly 300 passengers who pay more for exclusivity. At the international terminal where airline staff verifies passport details before issuing boarding pass, such self-check-in facilities are unlikely. But international passengers will be glad to see the registered baggage X-ray queues disappear as inline baggage X-ray system will be commissioned in March 2015.

"We have received permission from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) to install the two inline baggage X-ray systems. Smith, the company that supplied the two X-ray units, is carrying out the modification following which they will be installed," Sharma said. Delhi, Mumbai and other airports with inline baggage machines have also had to modify their system to adhere to the latest BCAS norms.

In the domestic terminal though, the inline baggage system remains on hold as BCAS is yet to clear the proposal. While the BCAS is insisting on CTX/EDS machines, it is yet to approve the systems from the two suppliers — one American and the other European. Officials are hopeful that the matter will be resolved early next year so that the tender can be floated, machines ordered and installed by the year end. But with the inline X-ray jinx plaguing Kolkata airport for more than two years now, the airport director was unwilling to commit or comment on any fresh deadline.

Sonakshi Sinha says NO to Politics

8^th December, 2014: Actress Sonakshi Sinha says she likes conversing politics with her actor-politician father Shatrughan Sinha but has no bent on of trying her stroke of luck in it.

The 27-year-old Rowdy Rathore star said politics is not her cup of tea and she would like to ponder on films only.

Actress Sonakshi Sinha with her father Shatrughan Sinha

"I will never join politics. There is no possibility for me to join politics. I am a creative person and I always want to do something creative in my life," Sonakshi told PTI.

The Action Jackson actress, however, said off late she has started taking interest in political affairs.

"My interest started after Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led BJP government came at the centre. I often talk to my father about this because everyone wants to know what our PM and government are doing and I also have interest in this," she said.

Shatrughan is the sitting MP from Patna Saheb. His daughter was here to attend the inaugural event of Kabaddi World Cup. She even owns a Kabaddi team United Singhs in the World Kabaddi League.

Sonakshi will be next seen in Arjun Kapoor-starrer Tevar, which is scheduled for release on January 9, 2015.