Illustration: Rahul Awasthi Walmart-owned ecommerce marketplace Flipkart has filed a writ petition in the Karnataka High Court challenging an antitrust investigation into its alleged anticompetitive business practices. The move comes days after the same court had stayed the Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) probe following a similar plea by rival Amazon. “We are a party […]
Archives for February 2020
After Amazon, Walmart’s Flipkart challenges India antitrust probe
Illustration: Rahul Awasthi Walmart‘s Flipkart has filed a legal challenge against an antitrust investigation ordered against the company in India, a court filing seen by Reuters showed, following a similar petition by its rival Amazon.com Inc. The Competition Commission of India (CCI) in January ordered a probe into alleged violations of competition law and certain […]
India connected, shops online
Illustration: Rahul Awasthi The contribution of e-commerce to smartphone, television, air-conditioner and washing machine sales has gone up in 2019 from the previous year, which marketers attributed to continued shift of consumption habit and plethora of price aggressive online launches. Latest data from sales tracker GfK India showed the contribution of e-commerce to total smartphone […]
War with Netflix and Disney looms for India’s top local streamer
By P R SanjaiAs global streaming giants Netflix Inc. and Walt Disney Co. spend millions of dollars to grab viewers in India, a country that could become their biggest overseas market, a homegrown rival is preparing to defend its turf. Zee5, the top domestic streaming platform set up by India’s biggest television broadcaster, is betting […]
WeWork India to go slow, expects profit this year
WeWork India is planning to go slower on its investments than previously planned and is looking to turn profitable by October this year. The local affiliate of the global coworking venture started operations a little more than three years ago. CEO Karan Virwani said the company has gone considerably slow in signing lease agreements for […]
These startups make stars reach out on your special day, at a price
Illustration: Rahul Awasthi Do you want a celebrity to wish you or your loved ones on important occasions? A dedicated set of startups — Tring, Wysh, YoShot, and Celebrify, to name a few — are helping fans, mainly from small towns and cities, connect directly with their favorite television and regional movie stars. These include […]
Flipkart’s wholesale unit may go live next quarter
Illustration: Rahul Awasthi Walmart-owned Flipkart will launch its wholesale business in the upcoming quarter, two sources directly aware of the development said, as it gears up to take on Amazon’s B2B division, Reliance’s Market and Tencent-backed Udaan, apart from other vertical ecommerce startups. Flipkart has over the last few months ramped up its supply chain […]
NASCAR’s IoT streaming strategy speeds into new territory
NASCAR’s chief digital officer explains how IoT and big data help racing fans have more ways to engage during the races, including the Daytona 500. PICSUNV, Getty Images/iStockphoto Now that NASCAR season is underway, fans are turning their heads to the track–and their smartphones. More about IoT In October 2019, I covered NASCAR’s use of […]
66% of Americans admit to sleeping with their phone at night
People check their smartphones up to 160x a day (or every 9 minutes), according to a new study that examines the obsession. Americans are completely obsessed with their smartphones, with 75.4% saying they are “addicted,” according to a new report from Reviews.org. The obsession runs deep, and shockingly so, with 45% choosing giving up sex over […]
EU privacy body warns of privacy risks in Google, Fitbit deal
Alphabet Inc-owned Google‘s $2.1 billion bid for fitness trackers company Fitbit could pose privacy risks, the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) warned on Thursday, adding its voice to other critics of the deal. Google announced the deal in November last year, as it seeks to compete with Apple and Samsung in the crowded market for […]