Category: Uncategorized

  • The data-wars have begun

    While the whole country was watching the 3G license bidding rounds, Aircel was probably working towards its first data-centric product- Peek. Launched with a lot of noise, Peek is an entry level handset (available for Rs 3999/-) that promises BlackBerry kind of experience- with Push Mail, multiple email id configuration, alert for new messages, scroller…

  • Apples iAds coming soon

    Apple just announced its official foray into mobile ad networks – iAds. This is sure to change a lot of things in the rapidly growing mobile ad industry. Google’s acquisition of AdMob might have given them a headstart in the space but with Apple sitting on a huge consumer base the battle of giants will…

  • Organized retail in residential areas

    The frequent (and usually negative-themed) coverage of the fortunes of most organised retailers has left most wondering as to what really went wrong for most retailers. While I am sure most consultants are making money coz the answers are still unknown, I think the concept of retail outlets in residential areas needs a special focus.…

  • Value of Marketing

    I remember my MBA days when I thought I had made a very smart decision to not take up any marketing courses. I felt as if it was all jargon-wrapped-common-sense. Why sit through classes(& worse exams) for something you can pick up by just keeping the eyes and ears open. And for a long time…

  • Ambassador push-starting a Santro

    Yday while driving to work, I witnessed a not-so-uncommon scene, a hassled guy trying to push his car since the battery had conked off in the Delhi winter. But what was uncommon, was how he finally got his Santro started ! And while many zipped past this old economy metal monster pushing the “smart people’s”…

  • Finding the techie Rancho !

    Since 3 Idiots seems to be the most talked about thing these days, heres a post to reach out to those young smart thinking techies out there. For one of my ventures, I have been looking for someone who is good at Ruby-on-Rails and PHP. Went through the usual route of spreading the word around…

  • Why entertainment Sells?

    On my recent trip into the Kumaon region, I noticed that almost every second house had a DTH connection – with the dish antenna being flashed at every bend on the road. I remembered noticing the same during my trip into N Sikkim last year & I was wondering as to why there is such…

  • Has the BlackBerry revolution begun?

    Last couple of weeks, I have been amazed at the number of users who have been flashing their BlackBerries. All my friends have one – whether they are salaried or self employed – and I do understand their need to be connected on emails. But the surprise came when I met college students using BlackBerry…

  • Lending after recession

    What happens to loan disbursal policies immediately after recession? – Do the banks tread a careful path & go slow & stricter in lending – Do they see the improvements in economy a sign for them to also go bullish in lending – Most importantly how do they cater to the now-able-to-pay but bad-credit-profile segment…

  • Mobile Advertising & the Indian market

    Advertising on the small screen aka the mobile handset has been a hot area for quite some time. We have seen multiple models come – some to stay & many more to just fizzle out after their two moments of glory. The excitement is well founded, its a screen that probably gets the maximum impressions…

  • Mobile operators & financial Services

    The telecom operators in our country have a really enviable position. They are probably the only ones who have in such a short span created a consumer base that cuts across almost all economic and geographic boundaries. Their elder cousins from the FMCG sector are still way behind in capturing the imagination of the rural…

  • New challenges in retail banking

    I was having a conversation on CIBIL and how it has changed the lending process at most institutions in India when someone asked me this – ” A large segment of the population has become CIBIL -ve due to various reasons incl the slowdown. Will these guys ever get credit in future once the economy…

  • Road to Kargil & Drass

    What began as a fall-back plan (with the rains playing spoil sport to the Ladakh trekking plans),the trip to kargil & Drass became one of the best road trips I had ever done. I boarded the bus around mid-night @ Leh to take me to kargil and this meant that I could not see the…

  • Letting Destiny build the Itenary – From Leh to Kargil

    I have always been a firm believer that best of the trips happen when you dont really plan them, when you have the freedom and time to take the path that unfolds itself to you. It was June in 2005 and I was supremely depressed during my 15 day leave, coz I was not able…

  • Will TATA’s Nano command a premium

    The much hyped release of Nano was a welcome change in these recession hit times. For once both the consumers and the manufacturers were speaking in highly positive tones. It prompted a strange discussion at my house. My dad feels the euphoria around Nano is so much that its booking delivery process would command a…

  • Organic farming – tough road ahead

    I went on a trip to Sikkim, with a pal who works for organic farming certification in that state. And while I was doing my sightseeing, managed to enquire a bit about how organic farming is structured and marketed in the country. Quite an interesting case study it is. Organic farming involves complete dependency on…

  • Will anyone buy Satyam ?

    Its been a not so great start to 2009 for India world over. The economic crisis just keeps getting worse. I had last written about a how the slowdown could be the right time for cherrypicking. But the Satyam story has made me wonder if the same really applies to competitive industries in the service…

  • Global slowdown- right time for cherrypicking?

    Its known to the kid next door (a keen stamp collector) that its a good deal if a stamp which was worth five triangular stamps (in the network) is now available for just 2 ! In business language, its called “timing your buy” when the price is lower than the target or true value. So…