News Roundup: 6 Stories You Don’t Want to Miss This Week [15 February – 20 February]

Myntra took a U-Turn on its app only strategy and re-launched its mobile website in a bid to avoid missing out on customers. The move is aimed at first-time web users, who do not use its mobile app.

Paytm To Invest $1.46 Mn To Market ‘Make In India’ Products

Bolstering the business of small and medium retailers within the country, Paytm is all set to spend about $1.46 Mn (INR 10 Cr.) in order to market ‘Make In India’ products on its platform. The products in the section will include everything from mobile phones, clothes to home furnishings.

Paytm Eliminates Transaction Fees For Offline Merchants

In a bid to drive cashless transactions in the offline market, Paytm will remove the ‘merchant fees’ for all wallet transactions that happen offline. The company is also aiming to triple its daily mobile wallet transactions to 10 Mn.

Odisha Gets New Startup Policy

To make Odisha one of the top three investment destinations of the country, chief minister Naveen Patnaik unveiled a 10 year ‘industrial development policy – 2025’ at ‘Make in India’. The policy will help the ease of doing business by providing infrastructure, land and some funding.

Flipkart Crosses 50 Mn Mark On PlayStore

Flipkart has become the first Indian app to cross 50 Mn install mark on Google Play Store. It is also the highest rated Indian shopping app on Google Play.

Karnataka Unveils New Guidelines For Cab Aggregators

To level the playfield for regular taxi operators and cab aggregators, Karnataka unveiled the ‘Karnataka On-demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, 2016’, which lists rules that online cab aggregators will need to follow if the draft comes into effect 30 days from the date of issue.

Other Developments Of The Week

Amazon Introduces Amazon Tatkal For SMBs

In line with its vision to make big in India, Amazon has launched a unique initiative to help small & medium businesses (SMBs) to sell on its platform through Amazon Tatkal. Marketed as “one stop shop on-the-go”, Amazon Tatkal will enable thousands of SMBs to get online and sell on Amazon.in, in less than 60 minutes.

IRCTC To Accept Payments Through mRupee Wallet

Tata Teleservices subsidiary MMP Mobi Wallet Payment Systems, which offers a money transfer and payment service ‘mRupee’, has partnered with the IRCTC to enable users to use its wallet to book tickets, along with other modes of payment.

FreeCharge Targets 7 Mn Daily Transactions By Year End

With ecommerce booming in the country, FreeCharge plans to achieve 7 Mn transactions a day by year end.

Quikr Launches QuikrScanner

Quikr has launched QuikrScanner, a pioneering diagnostic app for mobile phones which will enable the consumers to remotely assess  the condition and quality of mobile phones listed on the platform. This will help consumers make better informed purchasing decisions.

Yes Bank Ties-up With Ultracash Technologies

Yes Bank collaborated with Ultracash Technologies to launch payments processing through Sound Waves. This partnership will enable Ultracash to issue Yes Bank sponsored mobile wallets and employ Yes Bank’s innovative IMPS payments platform to enable processing of instant proximity transactions.

Uber Signs MoU With SDED Maharashtra

To train and provide 75,000 new job opportunities across Maharashtra in the next 5 years, Uber signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Maharashtra through the Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Department (SDED).

Overcart Launches OverTrust

Overcart announced the launch of OverTrust, a warranty service suite that will enable its customers to have both free and paid post-sales service across India. The OverTrust warranty currently applies to smartphones, tablets, feature phones, and laptops, and can be availed by customers at any Overcart-certified walk-in service center.

Zenify.in Launches Zenify Homes

Zenify.in has spread its gamut of services to encompass entire residential properties with Zenify Homes. With this, the startup will look at services to entail the overall maintenance of residential buildings, which includes good maintenance and peripheral services.

Crown-it Introduces Fashion Category

Crown-it has introduced fashion category for its customers in Delhi NCR, Mumbai
and Bangalore. It has partnered with about 25 top names from the fashion industry across the country, and onboarded 50 hyperlocal players to make the launch successful. The category will see participation from both national brands and regional players in a merchant mix model to cater to the demand.

Oxigen Partners With Big Bazaar Direct

Big Bazaar Direct, an assisted ecommerce business of Future Group, has tied up with Oxigen Services. This association will help Big Bazaar to utilise Oxigen’s strong retail network of 2 lakh retailers to assist the in expanding its reach in the country.