News Roundup: 7 Stories You Don’t Want To Miss This Week [12 October-17 October]

Ola, this week announced the launch of social ride-sharing featuring on its app. The new feature will allow customers to share their ride with up to two other commuters from social groups that a user is part of. Currently, in beta version, Ola Share, is available for select users in Bangalore. The news came in the same day, Uber activated its carpooling service, UberPOOL in Bangalore.

Let’s Have A Look At The Important Developments Of The Week:

Yumist Stops App-Only Play

With major chunk of orders coming from offices, where customers are almost always in front of a desktop or laptop, Yumist has decided to take orders from its desktop site as well.

Ezetap Announces Universal Acceptance Of Mobile Wallets

In order to provide a simple and convenient way for merchants to accept any wallet payment,  Ezetap Mobile Solutions, announced the launch of universal mobile wallet acceptance by collaborating with various wallet companies.

Paytm Introduces Cashless Payments Using QR Codes

With Paytm’s Quick Response (QR) code-based payments, shopkeepers or service providers can accept digital payment at any point. The QR code will also allow service providers to carry a laminated QR code of their account and receive payment even without a data connection.

Yatra Launches TG Rooms & TG Stays In Over 60 Cities

Adapting to the changing travel audience, pattern of stays and presence of budget accommodation players, Yatra expanded its presence in the budget accommodation segment by launching TG Rooms and TG Stays in over 60 cities.

Paytm Set To Roll Out Its Hyperlocal Business

Paytm’s hyperlocal segment will focus on food ordering, table booking, cinema tickets, and deals in the neighborhood. For this, the company has entered into a partnerships with BookMyShow and Zomato.

Helpchat Fires Over 100 Employees

Stating it as a part of ongoing business transformation, Helpchat has fired over 100 employees, comprising of contracted employees and consultants in brand management, who work from home on monthly-payment basis.

Let’s Have A Look At The Other Developments Of The Week:

Facebook Partners With Nasscom

To scale up startup ecosystem in India by 10 times, Facebook and Nasscom will launch a new program for developers and students by providing them with technical & financial support and resources.

Australia-Based Canva Enters India

With an aim to simplify graphic designing for bloggers and startups in India, Canva forayed in the Indian market.

YuppTV Enters India

Internet-based TV streaming service provider, Yupp TV launched its services in India to capture the smartphone users in the country.

WebEngage Announced Launch Of AppEngage

WebEngage launched a mobile marketing automation 2.0 suite that will go beyond the usual event tracking and push notification products.

AIOCD Calls For Protest Against Online Selling Of Medicine

Opposing the central government’s move of regularising sale of medicines through internet, All India Organisation of Chemists & Druggists (AIOCD) went on a strike on Wednesday.

Nasscom Startup Ecosystem Report 2015

According to the report, India ranked third globally among the fastest growing base of startups worldwide, with the number of startups crossing 4,200 by the end of 2015.

Govt. To Issue New Laws For Cab Hailing Apps

A new set of legal guidelines have been issued by the government to settle the ever upheaving chaos in taxi industry. With this cab hailing service players like Ola and Uber may face trouble, as they are alreading facing issues with their licence.

Shopsity Launches ‘Reserve & Pick’ Feature

In order to blend the convenience of online with the offline shopping, Shopsity launched Reserve & Pick feature for consumers that allows them to reserve the product of their choice and pick it up at their available time from the nearest store.

Paytm Launches Fast Expert Delivery

Paytm launched Fastest Expert Delivery (FED) program with MobileStore to get mobile devices delivered within two hours of order placement. The company is expecting to fetch $617.5 Mn additional revenue from this feature

Nasscom 10000 Startups To Expand Startup Warehouse To 8 Cities By 2016

In a bid to impact over 10,000 startups by 2023 Nasscom is building the base for expansion. It has already incubated over 1100 startups virtually and over 80 startups physically.

Shopmatic Enters India To Tap 51 Mn SME And Individual Businesses

Seeing India as the growth market with much number of SME business, Singapore-based Shopmatic, an international ecommerce company, launched its operations in India to support individual entrepreneurs sell online.

Housing Launches “Brand Falcon” For Soaring Developer Brand Values

Housing.com launched a new branding and communication tool for real estate developers to provide them with a powerful and effective medium to communicate their brand story to the consumers.

Welspun India Forays Into Ecommerce

Home textiles major Welspun India announced foray into ecommerce space with its new online retail store Shopwelspun.in, and targets revenue of $50 Mn by 2020.

BlueDart Introduces Locker Service For Ecommerce Packages

In an attempt to address high failure rates in delivering parcels in the ecommerce sector, Blue Dart introduced a locker service at Gurgaon’s Cyber Park to store parcels.

Amazon Plans To Set Up Servers In India

In order to tap the fast growing ecommerce market in India, Amazon plans to set up servers in the country.

Lookup Partners with Sangeetha Mobiles To Deliver iPhone6S

Lookup partnered with Sangeetha Mobiles to book the most awaited iPhone 6s and 6s+. The firm promised to deliver the phone to on the day of launch itself.

Crown-it Adds A New Category To Its App

To ease the search and booking process of weekend getaways, Crown-it added a feature that would assist its users in searching, selecting and booking hotels for quick retreats near their cities.

China’s Leading Mobile Security App Goes Live with Native Product Ads by Tyroo Technologies

360 Security Group, China’s leading mobile security company, integrated with Tyroo Technologies’ Product-Listing Ads (PLA) to enable innovative monetization strategy that does not compromise on the user experience.

Fabence Launches App

Fabence launched a mobile app to help users discover products across various ecommerce websites and apps at one platform.

Giftxoxo Launch Its Mobile App, Frogo

Giftxoxo’s mobile app, Frogo, helps Users discover and book interesting activities and things to do in their city or travel destination with a few clicks on their mobile devices.

CashKaro.com Launches First Cashback Festival

CashKaro’s first Cashback festival – Great Online Cashback Festival (GOCF), will offer Highest Cashback rates, Exclusive deals/offers from 800+ retailers including top ecommerce sites like Amazon, Paytm, Snapdeal, Shopclues, Groupon, Firstcry and more.

MobiKwik Ties Up With Oyo Rooms & Zomato

MobiKwik is now the preferred payment partner for OYO rooms and Zomato. The consumers will be able to make payments through the wallet at both vicinities.

FreeCharge Enables Smart Card Recharges For Mumbai Metro Commuters

In a bid to ease recharge facilities for commuters, FreeCharge launched online recharge facility for smart card users of Mumbai Metro allowing users to recharge on the go.

JetSetGo Launches Bed To Bed Affordable Air Ambulance Services

JetSetGo launched affordable air ambulance services to provide quality healthcare in Tier 2 and 3 cities in India.

Flipkart Opens A Warehouse Exclusively For Consumer Electronics And Durables!

With a storage capacity of close to 5 lakh cubic feet, Flipkart launched its new fulfilment centre in Luhari, close to Gurgaon, that will be able to store more than 26000 units.

Microsoft partnered with Budget Accommodation Startup WudStay

The partnership will make hotel bookings more accessible and convenient for its users on the Windows platform. The association would include exclusive offers and features to the WudStay app for consumers on the Windows platform.

Indian Startups To Represent At Asia Finals In South Korea

Nasscom 10000 Startups announced the winners of Indian national champions of ‘Get in the Ring’ challenge at Nasscom product conclave. The winners will represent India at the Asia Finals of the Get In the Ring in South Korea.

Flatchat goes International with Singapore Debut

Students and bachelors will now be able to find accommodation and flatmates in Singapore, through Flatchat. The platform is scheduled to be launched in November this year.