India grants licence to Musk's Starlink
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New Delhi had granted a licence to Elon Musk 's Starlink satellite internet service, opening India's "next frontier of connectivity", according to the country's communications minister.The launch of Starlink, which provides high-speed internet access to remote locations using low Earth orbit satellites, has sparked fierce debate in India over issues ranging from predatory pricing to spectrum allocation.Communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said he held a "productive meeting" with Gwynne Shotwell , president and chief operating officer of Starlink owner SpaceX Shotwell "appreciated the license granted to Starlink, calling it a great start to the journey", the minister said late Tuesday on Musk-owned social media platform X.It follows two of India's biggest telecom service providers -- Jio Platforms and its rival Bharti Airtel -- in March announcing deals with SpaceX to offer Starlink internet to their customers.SpaceX owner Musk has butted heads with Asia's richest man and Jio Platforms owner Mukesh Ambani over how the satellite spectrum should be awarded.While Musk 's business interests in India are currently limited to X, the tech mogul's electric vehicle maker Tesla is preparing its entry into the country.
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Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Amazon ‘deadline' to employees, Donald Trump phone, Elon Musk's Starlink in India; Intel layoffs and other top tech news of the week
This week in tech saw major developments across the globe, from corporate shakeups to new product launches. has reportedly issued a tight 30-day relocation deadline to several employees, with a 60-day ultimatum to resign if they refuse—raising concerns among its workforce. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In the US, President Donald Trump's family entered the smartphone market with a made-in-America device. Meanwhile, 's Starlink finally got the green light to begin operations in India. Intel also announced large-scale layoffs, affecting over 10,000 employees, without severance. And in the AI space, OpenAI's Sam Altman took a dig at Meta for offering huge bonuses to attract talent. All this and more in this week's top tech news: Amazon gives employees 30 days 'deadline' to …. or resign in 60 days Amazon is ordering thousands of corporate employees to relocate to major city hubs including Seattle, Arlington, and Washington DC, reports Bloomberg, creating upheaval for workers already facing job insecurity and AI-driven workforce reductions. Employees are given just 30 days to decide whether to relocate, followed by 60 days to either begin the relocation process or resign without severance. The relocation mandate affects employees across multiple teams, according to the report, with some required to move across the country to be closer to their managers. Workers are being informed through one-on-one meetings and town halls rather than company-wide announcements, according to sources familiar with the situation. Click here to know more "We hear from the majority of our teammates that they love the energy from being located together, and whenever someone chooses to or is asked to relocate, we work with them to offer support based on their individual circumstances," an Amazon spokesperson said. Donald Trump launches made in America smartphone, Trump T1 Mobile: Price and specifications of phone with Gold colour casing US President Donald Trump's business empire expanded into telecommunications Monday with the launch of Trump Mobile's T1 smartphone, featuring "made in America" manufacturing and domestic customer support centers, according to Reuters. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "We've partnered with some of the greatest people in the industry to make sure that real Americans get true value from their mobile carriers," Trump Jr. said. The announcement came on the 10-year anniversary of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign launch. The venture, unveiled by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump at Trump Tower in New York, positions itself as an alternative to major carriers while capitalizing on the Trump brand's appeal to conservative consumers. The service will operate as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator, purchasing network capacity from the three major U.S. wireless providers. Intel to layoff 10,000+ employees, and why none of them will be getting any severance Intel is preparing to lay off between 15% and 20% of its Intel Foundry workforce beginning in July, marking one of the largest job cuts in the semiconductor giant's history. The layoffs are expected to affect more than 10,000 employees worldwide, representing roughly one-fifth of the company's manufacturing division. Unlike previous rounds of job cuts, Intel will not offer voluntary buyouts or early retirement packages, instead selecting workers based on performance evaluations and strategic investment priorities across its global manufacturing operations. "These are difficult actions but essential to meet our affordability challenges and current financial position of the company. It drives pain to every individual," Intel Manufacturing Vice President Naga Chandrasekaran wrote in an internal memo to employees over the weekend, as seen by The Oregonian. Elon Musk's Starlink gets approval to launch India operations: Expected price, hardware requirement and more Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX, has officially secured operating rights in India, a development confirmed by union minister for communications, Jyotiraditya Scindia, on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). This approval essentially means that Starlink can now provide its services in the competitive Indian telecommunications market. The confirmation follows a "productive meeting" between Scindia and SpaceX president and COO Gwynne Shotwell. Their discussions, as detailed by Scindia on X, "delved into opportunities for collaboration in satellite communications to power Digital India's soaring ambitions and empower every citizen across the country." OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says Mark Zuckerberg not creating the right culture by giving huge compensation packages as, … OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has publicly criticised Meta Platforms' aggressive talent recruitment tactics, revealing that the company offered signing bonuses of up to $100 million to poach top OpenAI engineers—but failed to win them over. Speaking at the Uncapped podcast hosted by his brother, Altman suggested that such extravagant compensation packages does not promote 'right work culture'and are not good for the long-term success in the filed of artificial intelligence. He also agreed to the fact that Meta sees OpenAI as a primary competitor in the race of AI. According to Sam Altman's recent remarks, Meta made substantial offers, some reportedly as high as $100 million, in attempts to lure away key talent from OpenAI. Despite these staggering figures, Altman claimed that Meta largely "tried and failed" to poach his employees. Upset with Jeff Bezos-Lauren Sanchez wedding, angry Venetians say: Will line the streets with our bodies, block … Amazon co-founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are all set to tie knot on June 24. The $10 million wedding will take place in Venice, Italy. However, the lavish wedding is facing a lot of backlash and protest from angry Venetians. As reported by New York Times, local residents are escalating their protests and promising to take some drastic measures to disrupt the most-talked wedding. Federica Toninello, a protest organizer told NYT that Bezos will never get to reach Misericordia and revealed that nearly 300 people are present to disrupt his path. At a public gathering near the Rialto Bridge, protesters declared their intent to 'line the streets with our bodies' and 'block the canals with lifesavers and boats' during the wedding festivities scheduled for June 24–26. The $10 million celebration, planned on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, has triggered protests over blocked streets, luxury hotel takeovers, and environmental concerns, threatening to disrupt the Floating City during its peak tourist season. Genpact to employees: Follow 10-hour workday 'mandate' or face performance review Genpact has implemented a new policy requiring a 10-hour workday for its employees, which will be effective mid-June, a report claims. Employees who fail to comply with this mandate may reportedly face performance reviews. However, the policy does not include a corresponding increase in base salary, the report adds. According to a report by The Hindu, the tech and services company will track employee productivity through an internal tool that will monitor their daily active hours. Employees meeting the required hours can reportedly earn up to 500 points monthly, which will be equivalent to Rs 3,000 in incentives. The report also adds that an additional 5% bonus, which is nearly Rs 150, will be paid to employees for any extra time logged beyond the 10-hour mandate. Redmi Pad 2 launched in India: Price, specifications and all you need to know Xiaomi India has launched the Redmi Pad 2 aimed at meeting users' needs of entertainment, and everyday productivity. The comany says that the tablet gets segment's best features, such as 11-inch 2.5K display, a 9000mAh battery, MediaTek Helio G100 Ultra SoC and Xiaomi HyperOS 2. Redmi Pad 2 series price starts at Rs 13,999 and will be available in multiple variants. The tablet can be purchased in Graphote Gray and Mint Green colours from Amazon, Flipkart, and authorized retail stores. OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 debuts in India with Bluetooth 5.4 and 3D Spatial Audio: Price, features and more OnePlus has launched the Bullets Wireless Z3, a wireless neckband offering in India today. The neckband comes equipped with fast charging, long battery life, and AI-powered features. OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 supports Bluetooth 5.4, voice assistant control along with 3D Spatial Audio. The company says that the device is designed for everyday use, including calls, music, and workouts. The Bullets Wireless Z3 is priced at Rs 1,699. It will be available starting June 24, 2025, at 12 PM. It can be purchased via Flipkart, Myntra, OnePlus Experience Stores, in addition to leading offline retailers including Croma, Reliance, Vijay Sales , and Bajaj Electronics. Oppo A5 5G smartphone will military grade certification, 6,000 mAh battery launched in India, price starts at Rs 15,499 Oppo A5 5G is now official. Oppo has launched its latest A-series smartphone — Oppo A5 5G in India. The smartphone comes with military grade certification and is backed by a 6000 mAh battery. Oppo A5 5G sports an HD+ display and is powered by a MediaTek chipset. Oppo A5 is presently available on Oppo India Online store. The smartphone comes in two variants — 6GB+128GB and 8GB+128GB priced at Rs 15,499 and Rs 16,999 respectively. The smartphone comes in Aurora Green and Mist White colour options. Vivo Y400 Pro with 32MP front camera, IP65 rating and 5,500 mAh battery launched in India: Price, specs and more Vivo Y400 Pro is now official. Vivo has expanded its Y-series of smartphones with the launch of Vivo Y400 Pro in India. Vivo Y400 Pro sports a 6.77-inch AMOLED display and a 32MP front camera. The smartphone is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity chipset and is backed by a 5,500 mAh battery. 'With the Y400 Pro, we aim to redefine what consumers expect from a mid-range smartphone. The Y400 Pro embodies everything that our user stands for – style, substance, and performance, all in one sleek device,' said the company. Vivo Y400 Pro comes in two variants — 8GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB priced at Rs 24,999 and Rs 26,999 respectively. The smartphone can be purchased in Freestyle White, Fest Gold and Nebula Purple colour options. The smartphone will go on sale starting June 27 on Flipkart, Vivo India online store and offline on authorised stores in the country. iQoo Z10 Lite with 6,000 mAh battery, IP64 rating launched in India: Price, specs and more iQoo Z10 Lite 5G smartphone is here. Chinese smartphone maker iQoo has added a new smartphone to its Z series with the launch of iQoo Z10 Lite 5G. The affordable smartphone is backed by a 6000 mAh battery and comes with IP64 rating. The iQoo Z10 Elite 5G is powered by a MediaTek chipset and runs Android 15 operating systems. The company has also promised that the smartphone will receive two years of OS update and 3 years of security updates. ''With the iQOO Z10 Lite, we set out to build a phone that truly understands the lifestyle of young India. Whether it's binge-watching, or staying active on social media—this 5G smartphone is designed to keep up,' said the company. iQoo Z10 Lite 5G comes in three variants — 4GB+128GB, 6GB+128GB and 8GB+128GB priced at Rs 9,999, Rs 10,999 and Rs 12,999 respectively. The smartphone can be purchased in Titanium Blue and Cyber Green colour options. The smartphone will go on sale starting June 25 on and iQoo India e-Store. As part of the launch offers, iQoo is giving instant discount of Rs 500 on SBI bank credit and debit card. Realme Narzo 80 lite 5G smartphone with 6000 mAh battery, 32MP rear camera launched: Price, specs and more Realme Narzo 80 Lite 5G is here. Realme has expanded its Narzo smartphone lineup with the launch of Narzo 80 Lite 5G smartphone in India. The affordable Realme smartphone houses an HD+ display and is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity chipset. Realme Narzo 80 Lite 5G is backed by a 6000 mAh battery and it comes with IP64 rating. ' 'With a perfect blend of powerful hardware, smart software features and robust durability, this device brings top-tier technology like the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 5G chipset, massive 6000mAh battery, military-grade shock resistance and IP64 protection to millions of young users at an accessible price point,' said the company. Realme Narzo 80 Lite 5G comes in two variants — 4GB+128GB and 6GB+128GB priced at Rs 10,499 and Rs 11,499 respectively. The smartphone will of on sale starting June 23. Customers can purchase the smartphone in Crystal Purple and Onyx Black colour options online from and Asus launches four new AI-powered Vivobook S series laptops in India Asus has launched four new AI-powered laptops in its Vivobook S series across India, targeting students, professionals, and content creators, promising to deliver next-generation performance capabilities with premium thin-and-light designs. The lineup includes the Vivobook S14 (S3407QA) starting at Rs 74,990, Vivobook S14 (S3407CA) at Rs 80,990, Vivobook S16 OLED (S3607CA) at Rs 82,990, and Vivobook S16 (S3607VA) at Rs 69,990. All models feature sandwich metal construction, backlit ErgoSense keyboards with dedicated Copilot keys, smart gesture touchpads, and Dolby Atmos-certified audio systems. Philips Hair Dryer 8000 with ThermoShield Advanced sensors launched in India, priced at Rs 19,995 Philips has expanded its grooming product lineup with the launch of Philips Hair Dryer 8000. The premium hair care product is powered by BLDC (Brushless DC Motor) technology and enhanced with ThermoShield Advanced sensors. The company claims that the hair dryer deliver ultra-stable airflow and precise temperature control to protect hair from heat damage. The Philips Hair Dryer 8000 comes with a price tag of Rs 19,995 and it can be purchased online from and and offline retail stores like Chroma, Vijay Sales and Reliance Digital. Google launches Gemini-powered Search Live feature in AI mode: Here's how it works Google has officially launched Search Live, a new voice-activated feature that allows users to have conversational, back-and-forth interactions with Google Search through the company's mobile app. Available now for Android and iOS users in the United States who have opted into the AI Mode experiment in Labs, the feature transforms traditional search into a spoken dialogue powered by Gemini, a custom version of the AI model. Users can access Search Live by tapping a new "Live" icon in the Google app and verbally asking questions. The system responds with AI-generated audio answers and provides relevant web links on screen. The conversation remains active, allowing natural follow-up questions without restarting the search process. For example, users can ask about packing tips for travel and seamlessly follow up with specific questions about preventing wrinkles or organizing luggage.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Microsoft and OpenAI may call off their partnership: What is the biggest reason of dispute between the two companies
Microsoft is prepared to abandon high-stakes negotiations with OpenAI over their multibillion-dollar partnership as the ChatGPT maker pursues conversion to a for-profit company, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The software giant has considered halting complex talks with the $300 billion AI startup if critical issues, including Microsoft's future stake size, remain unresolved. The two companies had issued a joint statement emphasizing their "long-term, productive partnership" and expressing optimism about continuing to "build together for years to come." However, the Financial Times reports that Microsoft would rely on its existing commercial contract through 2030 if negotiations fail, unless offered terms equal to or better than current arrangements. Revenue-sharing deal at center of dispute Under their current agreement established in 2019, Microsoft holds exclusive rights to sell OpenAI's models and receives 20% of revenues up to $92 billion. The companies have battled over Microsoft's equity stake in a restructured OpenAI, with discussions ranging from 20% to 49% ownership in exchange for Microsoft's $13 billion investment. OpenAI faces a year-end deadline to complete its corporate conversion or risk losing billions in investor funding, including a potential $10 billion reduction from SoftBank's $30 billion commitment. The transformation requires Microsoft's approval and faces legal challenges from Elon Musk and former OpenAI employees. Diversification strategy emerges Microsoft has begun diversifying beyond OpenAI models, reflecting CEO Satya Nadella's belief that leading AI models will become commoditized. The company recently made Musk's xAI model Grok available to cloud customers, signaling reduced dependence on OpenAI technology. The partnership strain extends to computing infrastructure, with former Microsoft executives noting significant friction over OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's demands for faster access to more powerful systems. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now OpenAI has since signed deals with CoreWeave and Oracle for additional capacity, reducing its exclusive reliance on Microsoft's Azure platform. One Microsoft-adjacent source suggested the company views the "status quo" as acceptable, questioning what Microsoft gains by surrendering revenue rights for equity ownership.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
What Telegram CEO said about Sam Altman, Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov recently shared his thoughts on prominent tech leaders Elon Musk , Meta 's Mark Zuckerberg , and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman . In an interview with French publication Le Point, Durov said that multiple high-level exits from OpenAI raise questions about Altman's technical expertise. "Sam has excellent social skills, which allowed him to forge alliances around ChatGPT. But some wonder if his technical expertise is still sufficient, now that his co-founder Ilya [Sutskever] and many other scientists have left OpenAI," he told the publication. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Join new Free to Play WWII MMO War Thunder War Thunder Play Now Undo Regarding Musk, Durov said they have contrasting personalities and leadership styles. "Elon runs several companies at once, while I only run one. Elon can be very emotional, while I try to think deeply before acting. But that can also be the source of his strength. A person's advantage can often become a weakness in another context," he said. Live Events These remarks come just weeks after Telegram and Musk's AI company, xAI, announced a partnership to distribute Grok to Telegram's more than one billion users. Durov said the deal will bolster Telegram's financial position, revealing that the app will receive $300 million in cash and equity from xAI, along with 50% of revenue from xAI subscriptions sold via Telegram. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories In the same interview, Durov criticised Zuckerberg for lacking consistency in his values. "Mark adapts well and quickly follows trends, but he seems to lack fundamental values that he would remain faithful to, regardless of changes in the political climate or tech industry trends," Durov said. These comments come amid a broader discussion around Zuckerberg's shifting political identity, which has sparked debate and scrutiny. Once viewed as a liberal tech innovator, the Facebook founder has taken on a more conservative stance in recent years, highlighted by his interactions with figures like US president Donald Trump and his decision to dismantle Facebook's fact-checking program.
