Intel has announced a deal to provide foundry services and manufacturing capacity to Tower Semiconductor two weeks after cancelling its plan to acquire the company for $5.4 billion due to regulatory pushback.Under the new deal, Tower will invest up to $300 million to acquire and own equipment and other assets that will be installed in Intel’s manufacturing facility in New Mexico, US operated by Intel Foundry Services.Intel has agreed to manufacture Tower’s 65-nanometer power management BCD (bipolar-CMOS-DMOS) flows as part of the deal. Tower has its own manufacturing facilities located in Israel (150mm and 200mm), the U.S. (200mm), Japan (200mm and 300mm), and soon in Italy in partnership with STMicroelectronics.Intel says that this deal will increase Tower’s capacity by over 600,000 photo layers per month, supporting advanced analog processing for 300mm and meeting forecasted customer demand. “We launched Intel Foundry Services with a long-term view of delivering the world’s first open system foundry that brings together a secure, sustainable, and resilient supply chain with the best of Intel and our ecosystem. We’re thrilled that Tower sees the unique value we provide and chose us to open their 300mm U.S. capacity corridor,” Stuart Pann, Intel senior vice president and general manager of Intel Foundry Services, said.Russell Ellwanger, the CEO of Tower Semiconductors said, “We are excited to continue working with Intel. As we look to the future, our primary focus is to expand our customer partnerships through high-scale manufacturing of leading-edge technology solutions. This collaboration with Intel allows us to fulfil our customers’ demand roadmaps, with a particular focus on advanced power management and radio frequency silicon on insulator (RF SOI) solutions, with full process flow qualification planned in 2024. We see this as a first step towards multiple unique synergistic solutions with Intel.”Last month, Intel had to call off its plan to acquire Israel-based Tower Semiconductor for $5.4 billion due to delays in obtaining necessary regulatory approvals, particularly in China. As part of the agreement’s terms, Tower will receive a $353 million termination fee from Intel.
India In Talks With South American & African Nations To Introduce UPI
The RBI and NPCI are holding talks with their counterparts as well as high commissions and embassies of these nations Discussions are at various stages of negotiations and are part of the government’s bid to internationalise UPI, a source said This comes a week after NPCI International CEO Ritesh Shukla said that UPI will double the number of countries where it is operational in the next 12-18 months The Indian government is reportedly in talks with multiple South American and African countries to introduce the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and RuPay cards in these countries. A senior government official told Livemint that officials of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) are holding talks with their counterparts as well as high commissions and embassies of these nations. The person further added that the discussions are at various stages of negotiations and are part of the government’s bid to internationalise UPI. This comes close on the heels of NPCI International Payments Limited’s (NIPL) chief executive officer (CEO) Ritesh Shukla saying that UPI will double the number of countries where it is operational in the next 12-18 months. Recently, reports also said India is in deliberations with countries such as Namibia, Mozambique and Kenya to expand the scope of UPI. The move comes as UPI creates new benchmarks even as the government further pushes to scale the platform globally. Just days ago, UPI set a new record by processing more than 1,000 Cr monthly transactions in August 2023. Meanwhile, UPI continues to see global adoption. So far, the digital payments platform has already been deployed in countries such as France, Singapore, Nepal, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Singapore, Maldives, Bhutan, and Oman. In addition, India has also been in talks with New Zealand to deploy the digital payments system in the Pacific country to improve ease of business between two nations. On Monday, the RBI also allowed scheduled commercial banks to offer credit lines to their customers through UPI.
The Evolution of Digital Marketing in 2023: 11 Trends to Watch
In today’s fast-paced digital era, staying ahead of the curve in the realm of digital marketing is not just a choice, but an imperative. As technology continues to evolve, so do the strategies and tools marketers employ to engage their target audience and drive optimal results. Here’s a deep dive into the transformative trends that are reshaping the digital marketing landscape in 2023 – and, potentially, beyond: photo credit: Ivan Samkov / Pexels 1. The Rise of Short Form Video Content In an age where attention spans are becoming increasingly limited, short-form video content has emerged as a dominant force in the digital marketing landscape. Platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels have ushered in a new era of brand-audience interaction. These platforms have revolutionized the way brands connect with their audiences, offering a unique opportunity for marketers to convey their message in a concise and engaging manner. By embracing these platforms, brands have found a way to tap into a younger demographic, delivering marketing content in a format that truly resonates with them. 2. AI’s Role in Video Creation The integration of Artificial Intelligence in marketing has reached new heights with the creation of hyper-realistic “talking heads” videos. This technology allows a brand’s spokesperson to deliver personalized messages on platforms like TikTok. Not only does this save significant time and resources, but it also enhances the user experience by adding a human touch to digital campaigns. 3. AI-Powered Content Creation The challenge of consistently producing high-quality content is one that every marketer faces. However, with the advent of AI-powered content creation tools, this challenge is becoming more manageable. These tools, with their increasing sophistication, enable marketers to generate articles, blog posts, and even social media captions with remarkable accuracy. While they can’t fully replace the creativity of a human mind, they serve as invaluable assistants in the realm of content production. 4. The Timelessness of Blogging While the world of digital marketing is in constant flux, some strategies remain timeless. One such strategy is the consistent publishing of high-quality blog content. Search engines have a penchant for fresh and relevant content, making consistent blogging an essential key to digital success. 5. The Power of Guest Posting Collaboration in the digital space, especially through guest posting on high-authority websites, offers brands a dual advantage. It not only amplifies brand visibility but also significantly boosts credibility within the industry. Crafting insightful and well-researched guest posts allows brands to position themselves as industry experts, attracting organic traffic and fostering trust among readers. 6. Long Form Content on YouTube YouTube, once primarily a platform for short entertainment clips, has evolved to become a hub for long-form content. This includes in-depth tutorials, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and thought-provoking discussions. By creating valuable and informative content on this platform, brands can cultivate a loyal subscriber base and firmly establish their authority within their niche. 7. Building Trust Through Email Marketing Email marketing, though an older digital strategy, remains a potent tool in the marketer’s arsenal. Its success, however, now hinges more on trust and relationship-building than ever before. Brands are moving away from bombarding subscribers with promotions, focusing instead on providing genuine value through informative newsletters, exclusive offers, and personalized recommendations. This approach fosters loyalty and encourages deeper engagement with the audience. 8. Voice Search Optimization As smart speakers and voice-activated assistants like Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant become more prevalent in households, optimizing for voice search is crucial. Unlike traditional search queries, voice searches are more conversational and often posed as questions. Brands should focus on optimizing their content to answer these queries, ensuring they remain relevant in voice search results. 9. Augmented Reality (AR) Experiences Augmented Reality offers brands a unique way to engage with their audience. Whether it’s through AR try-ons for online shopping or interactive AR games that promote a product, integrating AR can provide an immersive experience for users. Brands that leverage AR can offer a more interactive and memorable experience, setting them apart from competitors. 10. Personalization and Dynamic Content Consumers today expect content tailored to their preferences and behaviors. By leveraging data analytics and AI, brands can deliver dynamic content that changes based on user behavior. This could be in the form of personalized product recommendations, content suggestions, or even tailored email campaigns. Personalization not only enhances the user experience but also increases conversion rates. 11. Sustainability and Social Responsibility Modern consumers are more conscious of the brands they support. They prefer brands that are socially responsible and committed to sustainability. Highlighting eco-friendly practices, supporting social causes, and ensuring ethical operations can enhance a brand’s image and resonate with a socially-conscious audience. Takeaway To thrive in the digital marketing realm in 2023 and beyond, brands must embrace change and innovation. By leveraging short-form video, integrating AI tools, collaborating with authoritative platforms, and consistently engaging their audience across channels, brands can position themselves at the vanguard of the digital marketing frontier. The ultimate key lies in adaptability, experimentation, and prioritizing the audience’s needs.
Latest News | Latest Business News | BSE
About us | Contact Us | Advertise with Us | Support | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookie Policy | Terms & Conditions | Careers | Financial Terms (Glossary) | FAQs | Sitemap | RSS Feed Copyright © e-Eighteen.com Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction of news articles, photos, videos or any other content in whole or in part in any form or medium without express writtern permission of moneycontrol.com is prohibited.
What OpenAI Really Wants | WIRED
Sutskever became an AI superstar, coauthoring a breakthrough paper that showed how AI could learn to recognize images simply by being exposed to huge volumes of data. He ended up, happily, as a key scientist on the Google Brain team. In mid-2015 Altman cold-emailed Sutskever to invite him to dinner with Musk, Brockman, and others at the swank Rosewood Hotel on Palo Alto’s Sand Hill Road. Only later did Sutskever figure out that he was the guest of honor. “It was kind of a general conversation about AI and AGI in the future,” he says. More specifically, they discussed “whether Google and DeepMind were so far ahead that it would be impossible to catch up to them, or whether it was still possible to, as Elon put it, create a lab which would be a counterbalance.” While no one at the dinner explicitly tried to recruit Sutskever, the conversation hooked him. Sutskever wrote an email to Altman soon after, saying he was game to lead the project—but the message got stuck in his drafts folder. Altman circled back, and after months fending off Google’s counteroffers, Sutskever signed on. He would soon become the soul of the company and its driving force in research. Sutskever joined Altman and Musk in recruiting people to the project, culminating in a Napa Valley retreat where several prospective OpenAI researchers fueled each other’s excitement. Of course, some targets would resist the lure. John Carmack, the legendary gaming coder behind Doom, Quake, and countless other titles, declined an Altman pitch. OpenAI officially launched in December 2015. At the time, when I interviewed Musk and Altman, they presented the project to me as an effort to make AI safe and accessible by sharing it with the world. In other words, open source. OpenAI, they told me, was not going to apply for patents. Everyone could make use of their breakthroughs. Wouldn’t that be empowering some future Dr. Evil? I wondered. Musk said that was a good question. But Altman had an answer: Humans are generally good, and because OpenAI would provide powerful tools for that vast majority, the bad actors would be overwhelmed. He admitted that if Dr. Evil were to use the tools to build something that couldn’t be counteracted, “then we’re in a really bad place.” But both Musk and Altman believed that the safer course for AI would be in the hands of a research operation not polluted by the profit motive, a persistent temptation to ignore the needs of humans in the search for boffo quarterly results. Altman cautioned me not to expect results soon. “This is going to look like a research lab for a long time,” he said. There was another reason to tamp down expectations. Google and the others had been developing and applying AI for years. While OpenAI had a billion dollars committed (largely via Musk), an ace team of researchers and engineers, and a lofty mission, it had no clue about how to pursue its goals. Altman remembers a moment when the small team gathered in Brockman’s apartment—they didn’t have an office yet. “I was like, what should we do?” Altman remembers a moment when the small team gathered in Brockman’s apartment—they didn’t have an office yet. “I was like, what should we do?” I had breakfast in San Francisco with Brockman a little more than a year after OpenAI’s founding. For the CTO of a company with the word open in its name, he was pretty parsimonious with details. He did affirm that the nonprofit could afford to draw on its initial billion-dollar donation for a while. The salaries of the 25 people on its staff—who were being paid at far less than market value—ate up the bulk of OpenAI’s expenses. “The goal for us, the thing that we’re really pushing on,” he said, “is to have the systems that can do things that humans were just not capable of doing before.” But for the time being, what that looked like was a bunch of researchers publishing papers. After the interview, I walked him to the company’s newish office in the Mission District, but he allowed me to go no further than the vestibule. He did duck into a closet to get me a T-shirt. Had I gone in and asked around, I might have learned exactly how much OpenAI was floundering. Brockman now admits that “nothing was working.” Its researchers were tossing algorithmic spaghetti toward the ceiling to see what stuck. They delved into systems that solved video games and spent considerable effort on robotics. “We knew what we wanted to do,” says Altman. “We knew why we wanted to do it. But we had no idea how.”
Manastu Raises Funding To Reduce Debris Pollution In Space
Manastu Space has raised $3 Mn it its Pre-Series A round led by Capital 2B, BIG Capital, and E2MC The startup said it would use the funds for deployment of its green propulsion system & debris collision avoidance system, and expansion of in-space services Founded in 2017, the Mumbai-based spacetech startup specialises in creating propulsion systems for satellites Mumbai-based spacetech startup Manastu Space has raised $3 Mn in its Pre-Series A round led by Capital 2B, BIG Capital, and E2MC. The funding round also saw participation from Baring India through Sanchi Connect, Wealthy via Ventures, Roots Ventures, Riceberg Ventures, Atomberg founders, Spectrum Impact, the family office of promoters of Aarti Industries, and some angel investors. Manastu Space, founded in 2017 by Tushar Jadhav and Ashtesh Kumar, specialises in creating propulsion systems for satellites. The startup said it aims to utilise the fresh capital to accelerate the deployment of its innovative green propulsion system and debris collision avoidance system, and to expand its in-space services. The funds will also support final-stage testing of the new propulsion system in orbit. The new propulsion system is designed for agility, safety, efficiency, and affordability. It uses a unique fuel, engine, and catalyst that enables it to mitigate the growing threat of debris collisions and subsequent space pollution, the startup said. Commenting on the idea to develop a sustainable propulsion system, cofounder Kumar said, “We are developing an agile green propulsion system for satellites to manoeuvre them more easily in space and save them from debris collision. This is a must-have solution to assure current (and growing) needs of space sustainability.” Highlighting the mounting threat posed by space debris, Kumar said there are approximately 160 Mn pieces of debris travelling at high speeds in space. A single collision could result in even more debris, complicating the safe placement of satellites into their designated orbits. “We are also working on autonomous collision avoidance and satellite refuelling in space so that we can reuse the satellites. These capabilities will help ensure that space remains sustainable and accessible for future generations,” Kumar added. The investment comes at a time when the Indian space sector has taken a big leap following the successful landing of Chandrayaan-3 on the Moon and the launch of the country’s solar mission, Aditya-L1. The Indian government has also been promoting spacetech startups. Earlier this year, the GST Council decided to impose a 0% GST on spacetech startups. Multiple spacetech startups have raised funding in this year so far. Last week, SatSure secured $15 Mn in its Series A round to accelerate product innovation and expand its operations across the Americas and Asia-Pacific regions. In June, Digantara raised $10 Mn in its Series A1 funding round led by Peak XV Partners to develop its revolutionary Space-Mission Assurance Platform (Space-MAP), which intends to be a one-stop solution for all space operations. According to Inc42’s analysis, the Indian spacetech market opportunity is estimated to cross $77 Bn by 2030. There are over 150 spacetech startups in the country and these startups have together raised more than $218 Mn since 2014.
BITS Pilani to construct wind tunnel facility for aerodynamic testing and research
Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani announced its plans to construct one of India’s most significant and largest wind tunnel facilities in Telangana. The wind tunnel is expected to be completed within a timespan of 12 months and it aims to revolutionise aerodynamic testing and research in the country.FeaturesThe wind tunnel which is set to be completely by next year will have two test sections – an expansive 5m x 5m area designed for a full scale assessment of quadcopters and automobile cooling systems, and a more compact 2 m x 2 m test section capable of simulating winds at speeds of up to 220 Kmph. Apart from these, the wind tunnel facility will also have the ability to regulate wind conditions in terms of space and time via an active control system developed by BITS Pilani’s students and faculty. Why this wind tunnel is important for the countryWith the new wind tunnel, BITS aims to fuel India’s space endeavours and keep the country at the forefront of space technology on a global scale. The idea is to fill the gap in the country’s research infrastructure. According to the company, the wind tunnel will also be a platform for students and companies to experiment and innovate new ideas in addition to facilitating research in drones and autonomous flying vehicles. Speaking on the wind tunnel, Prof. G. Sundar, Director of Hyderabad Campus, and Off-Campus Programs & Industry Engagement at BITS Pilani, commented, “Drones and UAVs hold immense potential across various sectors, including commercial, defense and recreation. Leading educational institutions have already seen successful drone startups emerge, such as Ideaforge from IIT Bombay and BotLab Dynamics from IIT Delhi. We envision BITS Pilani joining these institutions in spearheading the development of frontier technologies in drones, UAVs, and space. The Wind Tunnel will play a pivotal role in establishing BITS Pilani as a hub for deep-tech entrepreneurship.”The realisation of this project has been made feasible through the generous backing of Goutham Kurra, an accomplished entrepreneur and an alumnus of BITS Pilani. He said, “My wife Aditi and I believe in the non-linear power of higher education. As an alumnus, I believe BITS had a major formative influence on my life. I am excited to support the Wind Tunnel project, which I believe will inspire future generations of students to pursue cutting-edge research and innovation.”BITS Pilani wind tunnel: CapabilitiesThe wind tunnel will be able to recreate wind speeds of up to 220 Kmph. This will offer valuable insights into the dynamics of flight. It will have the capability of testing the aerodynamic effects on a diverse range of subjects including full-scale drones/quadcopters, automobiles, parachutes, and electric vehicle battery management systems.
How The GIFT IFSC 10-Member Panel Wants To Clip The Startup Flip
A 10-member expert committee on ‘Onshoring Innovations To GIFT IFSC’ has submitted its report, identifying key areas that will help Indian startups settled abroad to reverse flip to India According to an analysis conducted by Inc42, approximately 65% (or 13) of Indian unicorns with headquarters abroad operate in the enterprise tech (SaaS) sector To encourage startups to reverse flip, the expert panel is lobbying for a competitive tax regime, ESOP taxation reforms, more access to domestic capital and increased government-startup collaborations It’s not often that a company uses its YouTube channel to talk about a major corporate restructuring decision. That’s what PhonePe did when its CEO Sameer Nigam spoke to CTO Rahul Chari in January this year. The subject of their discussion: PhonePe’s decision to redomicile to India. Nigam, the cofounder and CEO, said that as many as 20 unicorns were willing to shift their bases to India if regulations were eased. However, the company’s investors had to cough up INR 8,000 Cr ($966 Mn+) in taxes for PhonePe to redomicile to India. While it was manageable for a mammoth like Walmart-backed PhonePe — and the blow softened by subsequent fundraises — not every startup based outside of the country has the means or resources to relocate to India. In PhonePe’s case, the costly move back was for its IPO plans, another reason why this is an exception. U-turns such as PhonePe’s are rare due to India’s stiff laws and regulations related to startups coming back to India. The tax bill is one thing, but there are many compliance headwinds. But PhonePe’s move has prompted the likes of Razorpay, Meesho and Groww to also consider the same. These are also large startups that have the deep pockets for such a move, but the same cannot be said for smaller, early-stage ventures. Here, too, the sparks to ignite the spirit of ‘Desh Wapsi’ are now visible, but questions about how they can come back to India persist. Could the answer come from the GIFT IFSC? A GIFT For Indian Startups Envisioned as a virtual offshore destination for startups and investors, GIFT IFSC could be key to bringing back startups to India. That’s why a 10-member expert committee on ‘Onshoring Innovations To GIFT IFSC’ was set up in March this year, which has submitted its report, identifying key areas that will help Indian startups settled abroad to reverse flip to India. Set up by India’s International Financial Services Central Authority (IFSCA), the expert committee is chaired by the RBI’s former executive director G Padmanabhan. Further, the GIFT IFSC’s expert committee counts Dipesh Shah, executive director, IFSCA; Sumeet Jarangal, director, DPIIT; Nishith Desai, founder, Nishith Desai Associates; Siddarth Pai, founding partner and CFO, 3one4 Capital; Nikhil Kamath, cofounder, Zerodha; Lalit Keshre, cofounder and CEO, Groww; Anjani Sharma, CA; Anjali Bansal, founding partner, Avaana Capital, and Sandip Shah, GM, GIFT City, as its members. Speaking with Inc42, committee chairman Padmanabhan said, “This is one of the most important committees I have chaired in my career spanning over three and a half decades. The issue has far-reaching implications for the country looking to be the innovation hub of the world. It is a travesty that companies owned and controlled by Indians, employing Indians, and doing most of the work from India have holding companies set up and domiciled overseas on paper. This issue gets the attention of the Government of India, leading to IFSCA setting up this committee. In my view, it is a very timely step.” He added that the committee has looked at the problem areas holistically, made recommendations and floated incentives to help companies reverse flip to India. “I hope these recommendations are accepted for implementation, and we achieve what we have set out to achieve for the GIFT city — Onshoring the Offshore,” Padmanabhan said. Understanding Why Startups Flip The Indian startup ecosystem has witnessed remarkable growth over the years, evolving through different waves of innovation and entrepreneurship. However, a concerning trend emerged, which is the increasing prevalence of startups flipping or essentially registering a holding company abroad with an Indian subsidiary. This trend involves Indian startups moving their holding companies to foreign jurisdictions, potentially leading to significant economic and intellectual capital loss for India. This could also be understood by the fact that out of 111 unicorns, more than 20% are registered outside India. IFSCA executive committee member and 3one4 Capital’s Pai said that when the committee began delving into the root causes that trigger the phenomenon of startup flipping, it found that the trend is predominantly driven by investor demands. In particular, global early-stage programmes have made demands that startups shift their bases to specific geographies to avoid compliance issues in India. This investor demand is rooted in the familiarity with the legal frameworks of those specific jurisdictions, which are more often than not the US or Singapore. “Pushing Indian startups to flip provides investors with a more convenient recourse in case of legal matters. For instance, jurisdictions like Delaware offer a robust corporate law framework that has gained significant traction due to its comprehensive and extensively practised business regulations. This familiarity makes it more convenient for investors to navigate legal complexities. Adding to the complexity of the issue, a significant portion of funding, approximately 85%, received by Indian startups originates from foreign sources,” Pai told Inc42. Further, from an income tax standpoint, the tax rate on capital gains for non-residents is only half of what residents pay. This significant disparity creates a clear economic incentive for startups to consider moving their domicile overseas. Alongside these tax considerations, operational challenges further complicate the situation. Many startups with global, recurring billing, such as SaaS companies, often do not generate traditional physical invoices. Instead, the billing process is typically directed towards their respective platforms or may involve direct debit mechanisms. Unfortunately, as these are payments from non-residents, the current system requires these digital transactions to be processed through physical forms submitted to the bank in order to credit the foreign
Ather Energy Bags INR 550 Cr Funding From Hero MotoCorp
Hero MotoCorp, which already holds a 33.1% stake in Ather Energy, would invest up to INR 550 Cr in the EV startup’s rights issue Ather’s revenue stood at INR 1,806 Cr in FY23, a massive jump from INR 408.5 Cr in FY22 The funding round comes almost 11 months after Ather raised $50 Mn from Caladium Investment Bengaluru-based EV startup Ather Energy is raising INR 550 Cr from existing investor Hero MotoCorp. Hero MotoCorp, in an exchange filing, said it would invest up to INR 550 Cr in Ather via its rights issue by subscribing to the EV startup’s Series E2 compulsory convertible preference shares. Hero Motorcorp first invested in the EV startup in 2016 and currently holds a 33.1% stake in it. Its shareholding will further increase following the rights issue, which is expected to close by September 30. The funding round comes almost 11 months after Ather raised $50 Mn from Caladium Investment. Prior to that, it raised $128 Mn from NIIFL and Hero MotoCorp in May last year as part of its Series E round. Overall, the startup has raised a total funding of over $400 Mn till date. Founded in 2013 by Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain, Ather is a major player in the Indian two-wheeler EV market. It currently offers two escooters – Ather 450X and Ather 450S. Ather also claims to have the largest fast-charging network in the country. It has over 1,400+ charging points in over 99 cities, including Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Jaipur. Registrations of Ather’s escooters stood at 6,780 units in August, a marginal rise of 1.6% from 6,671 units in July. Its rival Ola Electric’s registrations declined 10.4% month-on-month to 17,331 units in August but it continued to lead the two-wheeler EV space. Besides Ola Electric, Ather competes with Ampere, Okinawa, Revolt, TVS, among others. Ather’s revenue stood at INR 1,806 Cr in FY23, a massive jump from INR 408.5 Cr in FY22, as per Hero MotoCorp’s filing. While the filing didn’t mention profit/loss numbers for FY23, Ather’s net loss rose 47% to INR 344 Cr in FY22.
Boult: Boult launches Astra TWS earbuds, Sterling Pro luxury smartwatch
Wearable brand Boult has expanded its portfolio in the country with the launch of two new products. The home-grown brand has launched the new Sterling Pro luxury smartwatch and the Astra Bluetooth-based wireless earbud for gaming. The company claims that both products blend “cutting-edge technology and exquisite design”. The SterlingPro smartwatch and the Astra earbuds promise to meet the diverse needs of modern consumers.These new wearables also claim to offer improved features, aesthetics and performance.Boult Astra earbuds, Sterling Pro smartwatch: Price and availabilityThe Boult Sterling Pro smartwatch and Astra TWS earbuds are priced at Rs 2,499 and Rs 1,399, respectively. Both products will be available on the official Boult website (www.boultaudio.com) and through the company’s authorised retail partners. The earbuds will be available in three different colour options — Black Gloss, White Opal and Smoky Metal. Meanwhile, the watch has a stainless steel body and is available in two colours black and silver. Boult Astra earbuds: Key specsThe Boult Astra TWS earbuds are designed for gaming and claim to offer a playback time of 48 hours. These earbuds also feature the Blink & Pair technology for improved connectivity. Boult Astra low latency earbuds also support quick charging. A 10-minute charge promises to deliver 100 hours of playtime while a full charge provides 120 hours of standby time. The earbuds also have breathing LED lights that indicate battery status. For connectivity, Astra supports Bluetooth 5.3 and boasts an ultra-low latency of 40ms. These earbuds also support the BoomX technology that enhances the audio experience and includes Zen Quad Mic ENC setup for better voice clarity. The TWS earbuds also have an IPX5 water-resistant rating that is apt for workouts and outdoor activities.Boult Sterling Pro smartwatch: Key specsBoult Sterling Pro Smartwatch sports a 1.43-inch AMOLED HD display that supports 466×466 pixels resolution and 800 nits of peak brightness. The company claims that the Zinc Alloy Ring and Lightweight Polycarbonate Frame improve its visual appeal while reinforcing its durability to endure extreme conditions. The watch also supports Bluetooth 5.3 and Bluetooth Calling through a dedicated speaker and microphone. This smartwatch also offers multiple health monitoring features. From heart rate monitoring and SpO2 blood oxygen tracking to blood pressure monitoring and sleep analysis. It even includes other features like female menstrual cycle tracking, drink water reminders, and sedentary reminders to help maintain a balanced lifestyle. Boult Sterling Pro also supports over 100 sports modes and comes with an IP68 water-resistant rating. The smartwatch also comes with 250+ cloud-based watch faces.