The Top 10 Indian Viral Videos of 2014

A viral video is the one which catches the imagination of a large audience, and gets instantly shared across the digital platform. Kolaveri Di song, with 87 million views as of now, is considered the most viral video Indians have ever watched. When it was launched in 2011, it had generated 17 million views in just 2 weeks.

As 90% of the online videos are uploaded on Youtube, we analyzed some of the heavily watched and shared Indian videos on Youtube, and compiled this list of top 10 viral videos:

1) Kapil Sharma with Sunny Leone & Ekta Kapoor:

As we had shared earlier, Sunny Leone is the one of the most heavily searched celebrity on Google and other search engines. And Kapil Sharma is number 1 comedian in the Indian television industry.

What happens when these two are thrown into a show, along with Ekta Kapoor, the enchanting magician of soap operas?

With 9.5 million views as of now, this is no doubt the most watched viral video which Indians watched in 2014.

2) When Alia Bhatt Fights Back:

This year, there were several memes and jokes dedicated to Alia Bhatt’s intelligence, after some reports emerged that she failed to answer some general knowledge questions.

In this video, Alia Bhatt fights back, and presents herself in a sizzling show of sharp wit and incredible humor. 7.07 million views of this video suggests that people actually loved this style of Alia.

3) Nescafe Ad

Highlighting the difficulties which an average person faces while pursuing his/her dreams is the theme of this wonderful creative advertisement by Nescafe. With 5.2 million views as of now, this was one of the most watched videos in 2014.

The description of the video says it all: “We all fall, get up and complete the race of life! And while we huddle up with friends, family and the world to celebrate the success, it is only that one companion that silently stays by our side all through the journey, right from the start, never letting us give up & keeping us on plan – NESCAFÉ!  #ItAllStarts”

4) The Seatbelts Crew

A nice, innovative way to educate drivers about the importance of seat belts. It is widely known that just a simple act of wearing seatbelts can drastically reduce changes of fatality in an accident.

4.6 million views of this video suggests that people loved and shared this video overwhelmingly.

5) Narendra Modi in Aap Ki Adalat

Just before the start of General Elections in April this year, Narendra Modi decided to give one final interview on television, and Rajat Sharma from Aap ki Adalat lapped up this opportunity with open hands.

With 4.3 million views as of now, this was one of those rare political videos which gained huge viewership.

6) Social Cause: Washroom for a Girl

What happens when a lady needs to pee? Our Government, our Society and Our system has no answers. In this daring video, a girl is asking for help as she needs to go to loo, and the answers will both amuse you and worry you.

3.2 million views of this video actually stresses the importance and relevance of this issue.

7) Sex Education in India

When the Health Ministry suggested to scrap sex education in India schools, then there was a huge backlash among academicians and health experts, criticizing the view of the Government.

As a result of the public sentiments, East India Comedy group on Youtube launched their hilarious take on this issue. With 2.6 million views as of now, this was one of those funny, yet informative video about hardcore social cause.

Imagine how a sex education class would look like, with Government approved syllabus and content!

8) Public Shaming: Rape on the Road

The creators of this social experiment parked a rented car in a dark corner of a road, and attached audio devices inside, which gave out noises as if there is some sort of sexual harassment /rape going on. The idea was to check how people react, and how many of them actually help the victim.

The root cause of social evils is the indifference of the audience, and this social experiment will force you to think hard. With 2.6 million views as of now, this video was viewed and shared all across the country.

9) Public Shaming: Racism

Although we Indians get hurt very easily when one among them are victims of racial abuse in some Western country, we totally overlook the fact that we are no different. Ask any North Eastern guy living in Delhi, and you will get the idea.

In this viral social experiment, some people are openly harassing a North East girl in a busy road in Delhi, and the reaction from the public will hang you head in shame. This video generated 2.6 million views as of now, and was one of the most widely shared videos in 2014.

10) Public Shaming: Injured Man On The Road

How does Indians react when they see an injured person on the road? 99% of them avoid helping that person, fearing police enquiry and ‘hassles’; even if that delay can take that injured person’s life.

This social experiment can actually shock you. With 2.55 million views till date, this video was one of the most shared viral videos of India in 2014.

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Delhi Overtakes Mumbai As Ecommerce Hub. Women Buyers Increase [Ebay Census 2014]

19 year old eBay is considered as one of the biggest ecommerce marketplaces. With 33500 employees, they churned out revenues worth $16.05 billion in 2013, with $41.49 billion assets registered as per their official filings.

Ebay India, which is a 100% subsidiary of Ebay Inc. claims to have 21 lakh users, spread across 4306 cities as of March 2013. 30,000+ merchants use eBay to sell their products.

After analyzing transaction data between January 2013 and June 2014, they have just released their annual Ecommerce Census results, and the data is a virtual goldmine for any entrepreneur looking into ecommerce segment inside India.

The data covers everything which was exported, sold or traded on Ebay India platform, across all 28 states and 7 UTs. Products from eBay India were exported to 206 countries during this period.

Delhi has retained it’s position as the #1 ecommerce hub as it witnessed maximum transactions; but the real winner is Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, which accounted for more online business than all metros combined.

As per the report, against 10 top performing metros, there are 3133 Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities along with 1233 rural hubs which accounted for heavy ecommerce buying and selling, and the trend is only on the rise.

The report also observes that more and more female buyers are adopting to the digital medium of shopping: “Customers have been shopping more for products in the lifestyle category, with women shoppers in the country being prominent contributors to the category.”

A) City Wise and State Wise Ranking of Ecommerce Transactions:

As per the census, Delhi reported maximum sales of mobiles and accessories; and accounted for maximum transactions. Mumbai is at #2 and Jaipur is at #3.

Here is the list of top 10 cities as per Ebay research:

Ranking

1. DELHI
2. MUMBAI
3. JAIPUR
4. BENGALURU
5. CHENNAI
6. HYDERABAD
7. AHMEDABAD
8. KOLKATA
9. PUNE
10. GHAZIABAD

Top 10 States as per eCommerce transactions nationwide:

1. DELHI
2. MAHARASHTRA
3. TAMIL NADU
4. RAJASTHAN
5. KARNATAKA
6. ANDHRA PRADESH
7. GUJARAT
8. UTTAR PRADESH
9. WEST BENGAL
10. KERALA

If we observe ecommerce transactions and buzz among Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, then Andhra Pradesh and Kerala stole the show.

Top 10 rural locations for 2014 are:

1. GUNTUR (Andhra Pradesh)
2. TADA (Andhra Pradesh)
3. KARTHIKAPPALLY (Kerala)
4. GHATTIA (Madhya Pradesh)
5. CHORAYASI (Gujarat)
6. JALGAON (Maharashtra)
7. BUDGAM(Jammu & Kashmir)
8. CACHAR (Assam)
9. ADUR (Kerala)
10. VILLUPURAM (Tamil Nadu)

B) Top 10 Export Hubs

Ebay provides a neutral marketplace where sellers from remote locations in India can sell their products to buyers in other countries. Ebay observed that maximum export is taking place for US based buyers, followed by UK and Australia.

Here is the top 10 list of export hubs for Indian sellers:

1. USA
2. UK
3. AUSTRALIA
4. CANADA
5. RUSSIA
6. CHINA
7. GERMANY
8. FRANCE
9. ISRAEL
10. ITALY

C) Top Selling Products on Ebay India

Electronics once again dominated the market, as 47% of all products exported or traded on Ebay belonged to electronics niche. Life style products is at #2 position with 45% share.

Top 5 list of products which were traded (within India):

1. MOBILE PHONE
2. NECKLACES & PENDANTS
3. AUDIO & HOME ENTERTAINMENT
4. MEMORY CARDS, PEN DRIVES & HDD
5. MEN’S WRIST WATCHES

If we observe exports, then jewellery is still the most sought after product of India, followed by health related products and cloths.

Top 5 list of products which were exported from India:

1. JEWELLERY & WATCHES
2. HEALTH & BEAUTY
3. CLOTHING, SHOES & ACCESSORIES
4. DVDs, FILMS AND TELEVISION
5. BOOKS

Maximum buyers on Ebay India came from Western India with 35% share; followed by 30% from Northern India; 27% from South India and only 7% from Eastern India.

The report mentions that as ‘India made’ Jewellery and Accessories are experiencing record exports, Ebay is “thus propelling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ a visionary campaign.”

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Move over Android Auto: Android M Will Not Even Need Your Smartphone

The tech giant Google has already started working on an Android version which would be built directly into the cars in future, enabling the drivers of those vehicles to stay connected to the internet without plugging in their smartphones.

Those following the tech buzz regularly might be aware that Google wants to get Android on to vehicles now and that it is working on Android Auto, but perhaps we do not quite know what the big G has in mind. If reports from Reuters are to be believed, “Google is prepping Android M to be capable of being loaded directly onto a car, meaning that it wouldn’t require a smartphone to be connected like the current implementation of Android Auto.”

Android M, the next version of Android is expected to make its debut in 2015.

The Android M, unlike the Android Auto, will apparently be totally independent of all other devices.

The Android Auto comes with the latest version of Android and requires the drivers to plug in a smartphone into a compatible car which has a built in screen, to allow the vehicle owner to access streaming music, maps and other apps.

Though it might appear like the next logical step for them because if the Android is loaded directly into a vehicle, it should be available to the drivers all the time without them needing to check on their smartphones all the time while they are seated inside. The phone could be tucked inside a bag, have run out of battery or inside the driver’s pocket.

The new version would be a major advancement over the existing Android Auto upon which Google has been working since some time now. It will require Google to work very closely with car makers. And the major challenge here before Google will be to get the car manufacturers to agree to load Android M onto their vehicles.

Now from users’ point of view, Android directly integrated inside the vehicles would mean letting Google access vehicles’ systems like cameras and sensors. In addition to telling Google all about where you have been travelling to in your vehicle and your driving habits (average speed, time of usage, etc.). it would mean the vehicle owners logging in to Google’s services every time they turn on the ignition key whether or not they plug in their phone.

All major tech players are now venturing into smart gadgets. Smartwatches, wearables, fitness equipment, Google glass and other appliances that connect users to the internet have been around for a while now. Automobiles could be next on the cards, though the plan would face tremendous technical and business challenges.

According to U.S. Census data, an average American spends nearly 50 minutes inside his vehicle every day for commuting, which could mean a huge market for the tech company.

One of Google’s formidable rivals, Apple, has already unveiled its CarPlay softwareearlier this year. Not wanting to be left behind, Google also signed agreements with many vehicle manufacturers including Hyundai, General Motors Co and Nissan Motor Co, for its Open Automotive Alliance and its Android Auto product. But both of them “project” their smartphone apps onto the car’s screen, the first version of which will be on display at the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas next month.

“Automakers want to keep their brand appeal and keep their differentiation,” said Mark Boyadjis, an analyst with industry research firm IHS Automotive. “Automakers don’t want to have a state of the industry where you get in any vehicle and it’s just the same experience wherever you go.”

For now, it is wait and watch!

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Facebook launches video tool to help friends say 'thanks'

After the launch of the popular Look Back videos in February, Facebook has introduced a video tool to help friends show their appreciation.

Facebook is making a familiar phrase said between friends and family a little more high-tech.

The social networking giant on Wednesday introduced “Say Thanks,” a video tool that lets users create “personalized video cards” so they can share kind words with their connections.

“Millions of people use Facebook every day to connect with the people and things that matter to them most,” Cameron Ewing, a Facebook design manager, and Nick Kwiatek, an engineering manager, said in a blog post. “Your friends are at the core of your Facebook experience, and we are always looking for new ways to help you celebrate those friendships.”

To create a video, Facebook says to head toFacebook.com/thanks (although the link was dead at the time of publishing). Users can create a theme for their videos, add a message and edit photos and posts to be displayed in it. The video publishes to both the sender’s timeline as well as the recipient’s.

The “Say Thanks” tool follows the introduction of “A Look Back” video tool unveiled in February. Users of “A Look Back” can insert up to 15 of their most liked photos, statuses and other life events. After the launch, Facebook boasted that over 200 million watched their own video.

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Intex Aqua V4 with 3.5 inch display, Android 4.4 Launched for Rs. 2699

Intex has launched a new entry-level smartphone Intex Aqua V4 in India. This smartphone is now available from online retailer Ebay for Rs. 2699.

Intex Aqua V4 features 3.5 inch HVGA display. It is powered by 1GHz Spreadtrum processor 256 MB of RAM. It runs on Android 4.4 Kitkat. It has 512 MB internal storage which is expandable via microSD card. It has a 2 megapixel rear camera with LED flash and a VGA front camera. Connectivity features of the smartphone are 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth with A2DP and GPS. It is packed with 1200 mAh battery.

Features are not impressive. I would recommend to invest few money more and get smartphone with some higher configuration. At least 512 MB RAM must be there if you really want to enjoy your smartphone. You will get that in the range of Rs. 3000-3500.

Intex Aqua V4 specifications

• Dual SIM with Dual Standby
• 3.5-inch (320 x 480 pixels) capacitive touch screen display
• 1 GHz Spreadtrum SC7715 processor
• Android 4.4 (KitKat) OS
• 256MB RAM
• 512MB Internal memory, Expandable memory with micro SD
• 2MP rear camera with LED flash
• 0.3MP (VGA) front-facing camera
• 3G, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth with A2DP, GPS
• 1200 mAh battery
• 10.95 mm thickness
• weight 107 grams

It comes in various colors including White with Dark Grey, Silver Black, Grey Black and Gold Black colors.

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OnePlus One Launches Exclusively On Amazon India

Indian tech freaks and gadget lovers who have been waiting to buy the much lovedOnePlus One ever since it was launched in June this year will soon be able to buy it online!

The first device to be rolled out by the Chinese manufacturer OnePlus, shortly after Pete Lau founded the company in December 2013, hit the headlines soon after its launch- it had the most killer features one could look for in a smartphone, a brilliant display on a fairly sized screen, great CPU & RAM coupled with a good camera and yet cost a fraction of what other similar smartphones in the market do these days!

The 16GB and 64 GB models were made available at $299 and $349 respectively, in two colours- Silk white and Sandstone black.

OnePlus One has been hailed as a unique device in that it offers its users the best of both the worlds- ‘born from a partnership between master software and hardware makers.’

On the software front, it runs on 11S version of CyanogenMod and is based on Android 4.4.2 KitKat initially which can be upgraded to 4.4.4 KitKat over-the-air later.

Talking about hardware, it runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801quad-core processor with 3 GB RAM, has a 5.5 inch screen with a 1920 x 1080 (Full HD) display of 401 ppi, a 6 lens  13 MP f/2.0 Sony camera and replaceable back covers. The front camera is 5MP and distortion free, making it ideal for selfie lovers and those who use their devices for video conferencing purposes. The extra wide 80º viewing angle allows users to capture a much greater area than most other phones in the market and lets their pictures have a much larger distortion free background. The device supports only one micro SIM. The battery life of the OnePlus One is 3100 mAh- which means that it will easily last an entire day or even more.

The set does not have too many drawbacks. The most mentionable ones are that it does not come with an expandable memory- there is no SD card slot, plus the fact that it comes with a non-removable battery. Though the overall build of the device with killer looks is solid, some users have complained of poor call quality. That notwithstanding, the users have been, by and large, satisfied.

The magnesium body of the device measures 152.9 × 75.9 × 8.9 millimeters and its weight is a very comfortable 5.71 ounces or 162 grams.

There is absolutely no denying that this amazing handset is one of the best-value-for-your-money devices in the market at present.

The phone, which could till now be purchased only through an invite, will now be available for sale online- exclusively over Amazon in India. Here is the link for ordering it.

As pointed out by Forbes earlier during the year, the Indian smartphone market is growing by almost 300% every year. And though a majority of buyers go in for cheaper or entry level phones, they like their devices to be feature-rich. Not only that, having a phone they can flaunt is high on Indian buyers’ wish list.

All that makes OnePlus One the ideal phone for Indian market- large screen, good display, an amazing 6 lens 13 MP rear camera and 5 MP front camera, a battery which lasts an entire day- all that packed into ONE device at a price which is a fraction of what other Korean brands and Apple is charging. Could the consumers ask for more?

Though the device is set to be an all out hit with Indian buyers, it will make competition tougher for its other Chinese counterparts- Xiaomi and Huawei, both of which are also offering their feature-rich smartphones at affordable prices. Interestingly, Xiaomi’s RedMi Note costing only about 10k is also launching next week!

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Micromax Unveils YU Brand, Smartphones Based On CyanogenMod Targeted At Indian Youth

The second largest handset manufacturer in India, Micromax, announced its decision to launch a new smartphone brand Yu, which will be sold online ONLY – a take-off on the popular Chinese manufacturer Xiaomi’s business model. The new brand will target the rapidly growing segment of gadget lovers and tech enthusiasts in the country.

The first Yu devices will be launched by the newly floated unit, Yu Televentures, owned wholly by Micromax in December 2014. The company has not yet divulged any more details about the proposed device, specifications and pricing. We might be able to know more about the first products in the pipeline from the Yu official website which is proposed to go live by the end of November 2014.

All we know for now is that Yu phones will run on CyanogenMod. It is basically a modified version of Android and is known to deliver features that help improve performance, customization, security and privacy on Android based handheld devices. It has been installed on more than 12 million devices across the world.

Micromax had been in talks with Cyanogen since last year, though the first indications about a Cyanogen powered Micromax phone surfaced only last month.

“This will be a game changer not just in India but globally too. Yu has been envisioned for building an ecosystem of connected devices and offer customized experience to users. As YU is envisioned to build an ecosystem of connected devices and offer a differentiated user experience, we will engage directly with consumers,” Micromax co founder Rahul Sharma said.

Sharma, when asked if he feared biting a chunk off Micromax pie by eating away its market share, brushed the unfounded fears off saying his product is aimed at techies and gadget lovers who want more from their phones. He also promised that the new flagship will offer the ‘best value of money in the world’.

More smart products like smart bands, smart watches and smart shirts will be offered to online buyers in the country soon, told an upbeat Sharma.

How YU will be different from other devices?

Apart from being sold exclusively online like Xiaomi and Huawei Honor, Yu will honourwarranty on rooted devices as well – a clear departure from the usual policy of offering warranty only on devices which have not been rooted. No smartphone manufacturer offers warranty on a rooted device.

“We’re targeting all tech enthusiasts who will be able to bootstrap the device and play with it,” he said. ‘Bootstrapping’ refers to the process of rooting a smartphone.

Users of the brand will be given bootlegger access to help them come up with software updates they would want on their phones.

Besides the above, the brand plans to engage with the users directly and actively by giving them a forum where they can voice out their ideas, opinions, give their feedback and suggestions for further improvement. Softwares will be updated fortnightly.

Micromax is already said to be in talks with leading online retailers in the country for chalking out the best marketing strategy.

Counterpoint Technology Market Research, a leading research firm, had earlierpointed out Micromax share in the overall mobile market in India during Q3 2014 was 14.5% with Samsung (15.1%) sitting smug on the top. Its share of the smartphone market was put at 20.4%, not too bad compared with the market leader Samsung’s 25.1% share.

Ever since Yu was announced yesterday, there have been comparisons with other brands which sell their products exclusively online. Not surprising because they are the first among the Indian manufacturers to think along these lines.

What Micromax needs to keep in mind here is that Xiaomi has a much bigger market than Micromax. Xiaomi’s home market, China, is many times the size of Indian market.

Not only is the internet penetration in china much higher, but more of their people are buying online as well. Only 12% of our own population has ever had some online buying experience, as compared to nearly half the Chinese counterparts being active online buyers.

In such a scenario, it goes without saying that Yu’s sales will only be a fraction of what Xiaomi and later Huawei managed to get with their first product Honor.

Will Yu be able to sustain itself with limited sales, or will Micromax pull out a rabbit out of their hat to make sure the ambitious project does not fizzle out?

For now, all eyes are on YU!!

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WhatsApp Rolls Out Full Message encryption For Android Users

WhatsApp, the most popular instant messaging app in the world, has rolled out yet another new feature for its users. It now supports end-to-end data encryption for messages shared by users of this hugely popular 600 million strong platform. With encryption of messages, no one except the sender and the receiver of the messages will be able to see messages and chats shared over this app.

The encryption has already been rolled out by default for Android users across the world and though the company is working on rolling out the protocol for users across other platforms as well, no date has been specified for the same. Since encryption has been made available by default for Android users, they do not have to do anything to turn it on.

This comes after the popular messaging apps had rolled out read receipts last week, enabling the users to know when their messages were delivered and when they were read (if at all).

WhatsApp has joined hands with Open Whisper Systems, an open source development company which provides secure communications, to build a data encryption platform which will make it virtually impossible for anyone to intercept private text messages- be it spying networks, snooping government agencies or hackers.

WhatsApp data encryption will use TextSecure protocol which encrypts text messages over the air and on people’s phones. The integration has been in the works for the past six months, and the lessons learned along the way are likely make their way into other deployments, Whisper said.

Data encryption came into spotlight last year following disclosures about government surveillance by Edward Snowden, a NSA contractor last year. Following that and cyber attacks by hackers and other cyber criminals, internet companies have all together raised their voice about the need for security over the internet.

Snowden has also called end-to-end data encryption as the best form of ensuring that private data does not fall into wrong hands.

Data encryption for WhatsApp users comes after similar announcements made by Apple and Google. The only way a third party can now access private messages of WhatsApp users is by getting access to their personal devices.

“We have a ways to go until all mobile platforms are fully supported, but we are moving quickly towards a world where all WhatsApp users will get end-to-end encryption by default,” Open Whispers said in a blog post.

“From celebrity nudes to Iranian dissidents, private communication is valuable for everyone,” said Marlinspike, the founder of Open Whisper Systems.

Platforms like Redphone and Silent Circle which have offered encryption for user data for a long time now command great respect and confidence among users.

What it means?

Since no government agencies will now be able to intercept text messages, concerns are being raised that the chatting platform might become a haven for terrorists and other criminals. Not even a murder charge, an official warrant or felony charges will now be able to give ANY third party the right to access users’ chat messages exchanged over this platform.

However, that should not be taken to mean that a third party can access confidential data shared by users.

“We can’t begin to have effective cyber security unless we have wider use of encryption,” said Peter Swire, a former White House privacy official.

Andrew Weissmann, a former FBI general counsel echoed the popular sentiment saying network security issues are not the only consideration. “You also have law enforcement and national security issues,” he said. “There’s no perfect solution.” The issue, he said, is, “how can each side minimize the risk?”

This initiative by the now-Zuckerberg-owned-network is an important step forward towards ensuring confidentiality of data and privacy if users.

A move which will help further push the messaging app up over popularity charts.

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Bangalore Police Raid Fake Ecommerce Shopping Portal BigSop.com Office; Founders Arrested!

Based on complaints registered via Twitter, Bangalore Crime Branch took action against a fake ecommerce portal which advertised too-good-to-be-true offers, and then duped ignorant customers. The raid was well documented on Bangalore Crime Branch’s Facebook page as well as Tweeted by Abhishek Goyal who is an IPS officer with Crime Branch, Bangalore.

The Modus Operandi

BigSop.com, which is now taken down, used to advertise offers such as “You are lucky Internet winner for iPhone for Rs 599”. Tempted by such incredible offers, which is mainly driven by the huge ecommerce advertisement wave across the whole country, customers used to register on the website, and pay the sum. The website used to advertise heavily in every major search engines and portals, thereby garnering maximum eyeballs.

The payments were processed using ICICI Bank payment gateway.

Of course BigSop.com had some other plans. Once the deposit of Rs 599 was made, they used to calmly inform that the iPhone is now not available. Instead, the money was cunningly converted into their internal ‘points’, which could only be used to purchase products from their own website. And, as it was later found out after the raid, the products available were mainly sub-standard, and without any warranty or guarantee.

The Raid

The cheated customers posted several Tweets and sent emails to the Bangalore Crime Branch against this fraud ecommerce portal. Under the supervision of DCP Crime, Abhishek Goyal, they located the office premises in Bangalore (the address of which has been withheld for security reasons) and raided the premises.

Bangalore Crime Branch found Rs 75 lakh in the bank accounts of BigSop.com, which has been reportedly sealed now.

As seen in the images released by Crime Branch, BigSop.com had established a full fledged call center to receive calls and to pitch in their ‘incredible’ but fake offers.

There are some more images at the official Facebook post of Bangalore Crime Branch.

Consumers: Beware!

Kudos to Bangalore Crime Branch for taking quick action against the fraudsters and arresting them. The founders would have silently escaped with the booty, if there had been no complains registered.

Hence, there are mainly two lessons for the new age, ecommerce buyer here:

a) Don’t fall in the trap of such offers. iPhone for Rs 599 does sound fishy, and 9 out of 10 times, it will be fishy. When the offer, any offer in general, sounds too good to be true, then it probably is fake.

b) In case you have experienced such fraud, then don’t wait to complain. If the offer was well advertised, then there will be more victims, and the police will have to take action.

Have you ever fallen victim to such fake offers online? Do share your story right here!

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Facebook Soon launching “Facebook At Work” Targeted At Enterprise Usage

In 2012, a research conducted in USA had estimated that Facebook.com, world’s most popular social network has resulted in loss of 80 billion hours of productive work in a year, which turns out to be $1.4 trillion or 1.5% of overall GDP of USA. More than 400 million images are shared on Facebook every 24 hours; 48 hours of videos are uploaded every minute which receives 3 billion views on Facebook, every 24 hours.

Of course, productivity is hampered and this is the reason Facebook is not allowed in most of the offices now. But considering that everyone has a smartphone and/or tablet these days, blocking a site is hardly the solution.

Considering these factors, and taking into account that enterprise usage is on the rise, Facebook has decided to launch an entirely new platform: Facebook at Work, exclusive for enterprise usage.

Hence, this platform will enable colleagues to interact with each other, share office documents and files without mixing them with personal photos and posts. Although Facebook group works on the same premise, but the needs for enterprise users are ever expanding.

TechCrunch had reported in 2012 that Facebook is now working on something which will cater only to professionals. An unnamed source inside Facebook had said, “We are making work more fun and efficient by building an at-work version of Facebook. We will touch code throughout the stack and on all platforms (web, iOS, Android, etc). Reportedly, the team which is working on this new platform is based in London.

Fresh reports suggest that the development phase is now almost over, and the platform can be launched within few months.

By venturing into the enterprise social network niche, Facebook would be directly competing against LinkedIn, which is right now the most preferred destination for professionals. It is being rumored that Facebook@Work will work on a similar model, providing a space for office colleagues and team members to collaborate, share messages, documents and files. Facebook@Work may even have a messaging option for chat.

The personal and professional aspects – friends, posts, images, videos etc would be segregated, things won’t mix up for the user while using this new platform.

Another report suggests that Facebook may have asked their 8000+ employees to use & test this secret project and testing is most probably on the way. Considering that this new Facebook platform would be for professionals and enterprise usage, it is highly possible that they have been using the same as well.

Existing Platforms for Office Collaboration & Networking

Right now, there are a host of tools and social networking platforms which have exclusively developed for professionals. Besides LinkedIn, Google, Microsoft, Box, SalesForce has similar platforms for official usage.

SalesForce.com’s tool Chatter is gaining in popularity, so is Microsoft’s Yammer. A new messaging tool: Slack is also gaining momentum, and Facebook@Work will need to compete against these if they want to have a stronghold.

But the none the less, Facebook is definitely upto something which they should have done earlier. Usage of Facebook at work place, if done productively, can reap in huge profits for the company. And the process has started.

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