Mobiistar Says Namaste! ~ #EnjoyMore...

IndiBlogger has been a constant ever since I started blogging. IndiBlogger Meets have been a routine affair too. However, this time around, it was the first IndiBlogger Meet of 2018 on May 23.

As usual, online registrations were done to procure respective IndiPasses, agenda checked, and escape plans made to dodge #MidWeekBlues on a Wednesday. With timely reminders for the meet and the exact hall at the venue being notified beforehand, it was a breeze to arrive for the IndiBlogger Meet at Hyatt Regency, Delhi.

The star of the day was to be Mobiistar, with their motto #EnjoyMore, as they unveiled their 'Selfie Star Series' Smartphones. With both pre-event and post-event 'IndiBlogger Drives' online being taken care of, the bloggers' curiosity and interest had been piqued already.

One thing was clear - the Indian gadget market was set to witness the launch of selfie-centric devices - as Selfie was the keyword - once with the Blogging Contest pre-event recollecting each participating blogger's 'one precious selfie' - and twice owing to the post-event Instagram 'Selfie Contest' prompting Bloggers to respond to 'How Wide Can You Go?' hinting at a key feature of being able to capture wide-angle selfies with Mobiistar devices.

At the scene of the launch, the Indian launch of Mobiistar - a Vietnamese smartphone brand founded in 2009 - while the demo zone was being prepped, the check-ins were in full swing at the registration desk. A quick cuppa of tea helped to shun the lethargy post lunch, right in time for a welcome by Mobiistar and Indiblogger for all of us.

The meet was kick-started by Karthik from IndiB, with customary introductions by newbies and veterans about their blogs and themselves. However, Anoop had missed this meet big time, and we missed the usual number game too, big time! Instead, ice-breaking took place by prompting bloggers to highlight what excuses they had given to their superiors at the workplace to bail out and be at an IndiBlogger Meet right in time on a Wednesday afternoon.

IndiBlogger had cut the first turf and now it was time to pass the baton to the graceful master of ceremony - Shobha Rana - who welcomed us on behalf of Mobiistar.

She invited Mr. Carl Ngo - Co-founder and CEO - Mobiistar India - who came on stage with folded hands and marked the formal launch of Mobiistar in India with a humble Namaste.

He began by informing Indian Bloggers of how the humble beginning of Mobiistar in Vietnam grew on the basis of engagement with Vietnamese users through social media.

Here's what he had to say about the Indian Blogger community and Mobiistar's association with IndiBlogger right at the start.

Given such brand-connect with the masses in Vietnam, it came as no surprise that Mobiistar had been awarded as 'Most Impressive Vietnamese Smartphone 2017'. Coming to brand philosophy behind the launch of the two new selfie-centric devices, Carl had an interesting anecdote to share.

The brand name Mobiistar was coined as a consequence of the fact that owning a Mobiistar device makes the consumer a star among their peers. Also, there is an interesting nugget of info as to how the 'Selfie Star Series' came into being.

Carl had seen a bunch of tourists in India trying to take a group selfie or 'groupie' as it is called, with the aircraft, right after they arrived - enjoying with selfies - although struggling to include all the friends and the aircraft, both in the frame at the same time.

It was then that the idea stuck to #EnjoyMore - MORE  SELFIE and MORE  VALUE  FOR  MONEY.

In fact, there was a comparative blind selfie satisfaction survey carried out among four leading selfie-phones in the market, wherein certain Delhiites were asked to rate their selfie captured by each of the four phones on a scale of ten, or rather the user pool was prompted to rank the four phones in order of preference and thereafter, also guess the price range of the four devices.

The majority of users had an opinion that the phone that captured the best selfie of the lot should be the costliest one. However, they were pleasantly surprised when it was revealed that quality captures need not always be exorbitantly priced, but meaningful user experience can be economical too, as far as Mobiistar is concerned.

A visual representation reported that Mobiistar came a close second at 8.3 on a scale of 10 when it came to the selfie-satisfaction rating vis-a-vis the price range, and in-fact Mobiistar emerged as the brand with the most economical device as well. A win-win situation for both the consumer and the brand there, is it not?

With their motto being #EnjoyMore, the key features of both devices CQ and XQ Dual - selfie-centric devices - were unveiled.

Being Mobiistar's 'Selfie Star Series', the most important feature would undoubtedly be the camera, complemented by a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon Processor 425 SoC for CQ, and 430 SoC for XQ Dual.

Mobiistar targets Good Selfie - For Self and For Group. Keeping that in mind, two distinct devices have been designed with the right technology and crisp designs aiming to provide the ultimate experience.

CQ features a 13 MP Selfie Camera with 'Face Beauty Mode' that offers a seven-level beautification, while XQ Dual, as the name suggests, sports a  13 MP + 8 MP Dual Selfie Camera for the ultimate 'Selfie Experience'.

Additionally, both devices have been aimed at providing users a meaningful selfie experience backed by the front, dual selfie camera that captures a 120° wide-angle shot as most of the users had a qualm that phone screens could capture 66% people when capturing a group selfie or 6/10 users were of the opinion that the screen couldn't fully capture the picturesque backdrop whether they were capturing a selfie or groupie. Moreover, both CQ and XQ Dual phones are available in two color variants to make a style statement by themselves.

Would you like to go for the Black CQ or the Gold CQ? :)

For those who have their eyes set on XQ Dual, it comes in a classy Champagne against a chic Black hue. :)

Both devices are backed by a ViLTE + VoLTE facility for Video Over LTE and Voice Over LTE. ViLTE is an extension of VoLTE, a conversational video service attempting to enhance voice services with a high-quality video channel.

With 1000 operational service centers across the country, Mobiistar aims to effortlessly provide after-sales services to its user pool in India.

Partnering with Indian e-commerce giant, Flipkart, Carl highlighted how they have co-created a range of products thanks to consumer understanding built over a decade.

Thanks to an exclusive alliance with Flipkart, sales were kick-started at 12 noon on May 30, and have been going strong so far. The price point for XQ Dual is ₹7999, while for CQ, it is ₹4999. Bang for the buck with enviable features, I must say.

As if the devices themselves weren't enticing enough, Mobiistar has brought Exclusive Offers into play by associating with Flipkart yet again for their Exchange Deal and Complete Mobile Protection, the latter being a comprehensive post-purchase solution able to tackle any and every phone-related issue except for theft, of course.

As for Complete Mobile Protection, it covers the following device issues (barring theft of device):

On the other hand, Jio has stepped into the arena by offering a ₹2200 instant cashback, making the purchase of Mobiistar's devices in India the perfect steal deal.

With that, Carl's presentation was drawn to a close and Shobha once again took center-stage to throw open the Question Hour for bloggers to interact with Carl.

During the Q&A session, while a blogger tried albeit in vain to find out which three phones other than Mobiistar's were in the running during the selfie satisfaction survey, another was curious about other features that the 'Selfie Star Series' possessed apart from a powerful camera.

The Selfie Satisfaction Experiment ~ Demo Zone

To that, Carl reiterated that the phones had been designed in compliance with the industry standard, keeping in mind that Mobiistar had to be a part of the ECOSYSTEM, and as the folks at Flipkart had told Mobiistar that any new smartphone launched in India must possess a 3000 mAh battery, both CQ and XQ Dual had been endowed with a powerhouse that would last an entire day, from the moment one steps out in the morning to the moment one steps back in.

Keeping in mind Brand Positioning, Mr. Carl wanted Mobiistar to build on Social Capital i.e. focus first on consumers' mind share and heart share, and thereafter on market share - on being asked what is the market share that Mobiistar aims to capture within say a year of its sales and presence in India.

Also, he could not help but emphasize the fact that word of mouth through social media would be most beneficial to Mobiistar as a new brand in the Tech Arena in India.

Coming to an interlude, High Tea was laid open for some chit-chat, with a melodious Musical Duet in the meanwhile by two talented musicians being the highlight.

As always, food, music, and good company are the best comrades, without a doubt. In case you missed it, here's a snippet of the talented rendition on violin and saxophone.

Upon resuming, it was time for Networking - The IndiBlogger Way - as ten teams with ten members each were formed and it was 'Story Time Through Selfie Time' wherein the theme was #EnjoyMore. Each team had to click at least 15 selfies (which could be 30 at the maximum) within a twenty-minute timeline, using the Mobiistar phone provided.

With the activity drawn to a close, it was also time to draw the curtains on the first IndiMeet of 2018 - with the customary group capture taken by Renie himself! Spot me all smiles, below. :)

As we bid adieu, each of us had a bit of the #EnjoyMore stardust and some sweet delicacies to take back.

On the whole, the India launch of Mobiistar and the first IndiBlogger Meet of 2018 was concluded on a pleasant note. :)

Tranquility In A Frame...

 ~~~ 

Circa 2014. Selfies became a cultural phenomenon of sorts with 'selfies' being the uncontested winner for Word of the Year 2013.

It is four years back that the selfie fever caught hold of the Indian audience with the mania for capturing the perfect selfie spreading like a syndrome. However, the advent of the trend had been called for, ever since Apple released the iPhone 4 with a reasonably good front camera for those times in 2010. Sooner than one could know, flaunting narcissism complemented by exhibiting self-proclaimed photography became a trend!  :o

Attaining perfection when it comes to capturing a selfie is a game of balance. There are a number of crucial factors among which balance is essential - be it the focus, the lighting, the number of persons in the frame, or proper framing of a scenic backdrop. 

More often than not, one ends up neglecting one factor or the other. The narcissus shall then not approve of the hefty bargain as it wishes to accumulate the best of all worlds. Quantity thus outweighs the scales in search of the quintessential quality.

Simply said, the entire gallery of numerous phones was filled with captures of 'no-one else but me'. That was not necessarily bad but I needed a reality check right at the start. 

Every frame has a fable to tell, or so I believe and selfies are no exception. Firsts are special too, and this memoir is about such a special 'first selfie'. The first ever selfie that I captured dates back to 2014 when I was an amateur in selfie-photography. I say 'was' because I have gradually learned the ropes and rarely falter. 

Picture this. The winter of December 2014. A pleasantly sunny morning in the capital city, Delhi. A school excursion to two of the most iconic monuments - Qutub Minar and Lotus Temple. 

For the uninitiated, a school picnic is the best opportunity for students as well as staff to capture memories on a formal pretext. This excursion was definitely not the first that I was accompanying students on, but it was the first where I could surely explore the selfie phenomenon. 

So, among the two landmarks, first on the list was Qutub Minar. Owing to the fact that Qutub complex is a huge one, it took us quite a big chunk of time to explore the intricately carved monument and its peers located in the immediate vicinity. 

It was upon reaching the Lotus Temple which is as aesthetic to look at as it is revered, that it dawned on me - we had very little time to bask in the beauty and purity of this epicenter of the Baha'i faith in the heart of the city. 

As much as it had a calming effect on the nerves just by witnessing the architectural wonder in person, there was also a hollow in the heart on having to rush through the visit owing to the fact that the time allotted to parents for the pickup of students back at school was nearing. 

I somehow had my Eureka moment in wanting to absorb the positive vibes radiated by this House of Worship and it then occurred to me that the ever-prevalent selfie trend could come to my rescue, albeit hurriedly. 

If I had to capture my first-ever selfie at that moment, I had to act fast. However, there were a couple of hindrances blocking the way. 

• My colleagues and students were already at the head of the exit line of the premises, given the fact that all of the students had already boarded their respective buses and my colleagues were calling out for me. 
• All in all, I had the span of a few seconds to focus on and capture this precious memorabilia of a monument in the frame. The fact that the frame should also have me was tricky enough to make or break my selfie game. 
• As much as the picturesque background was set to be captured in all its glory in natural lighting, the same sunlight hindered my view of what was being captured in the frame. 
• I decided to let the monument's presence in the setting vis-a-vis my presence steal the limelight in the capture. 
• It was a make-or-break situation at that moment as I just had to capture the frame, relying solely on my instinct and rush towards the school bus without giving the final result even a glance, as there was no scope for even a second click, with the third being completely out of question. 

All I did was that I boarded the vehicle with my fingers crossed. My demeanor in that situation could be compared to that of a student waiting for their Board Exam Results. Anxiety and Excitement - two-in-one. 

It was on reaching home that I opened the gallery and viewed my first-ever selfie for the first time. 

Voila! 

Although my face clearly reflects the guesswork that was on my mind all the time, I was overjoyed to witness the symbolism of peace in all its eminence with the capture intact. However, there was a slight disruption to my joy as my face had not been completely captured. 

And, it is the only imperfection that I long to correct to date. How I wished that I should have been in the possession of such a device that could provide a slightly wider-angle shot! 

I had been consoling myself to date that attaining perfection in any aspect is an illusion, with the anecdote holding true for selfies as well, consoling myself that this capture was not bad at all considering that it was my first-ever attempt. However, the heart pines, as it is in a habit of doing so. 

On the flip side, such a capture provided me with a much-required reality check. 

SO  MANY  SELFIES. 

SUCH  LITTLE  KNOWLEDGE, 

OF  SELF. 

I thus felt that I had managed a pretty good job out of my most precious selfie as I did not let the self reign supreme in the capture. After all, a symbolism of tranquility stands intact in the frame. Imperfections and flaws are the entities that define self, and the same had come to the fore in the capture as well. 

However, it is today that I felt that my single, most frivolous concern has also been addressed. Thanks to a brand of Vietnamese origin that plans to launch itself in the Indian market tomorrow, my woe concerning this particular memoir can finally be laid to rest. 

Picture an expertly crafted device boasting of a crisp design and precise technology that offers the ultimate 'Selfie Experience' thanks to a front, dual 'Selfie Camera' that captures a 120° wide-angle shot. 

As a brand, Mobiistar is all set to treat the Indian audience to the best ever witnessed in the smartphone industry as they partner with Flipkart to become 'Mobiistar on Flipkart' - a range of devices that provide promising battery life with no compromise as far as affordability is concerned. 

I couldn't be happier as I won't ever have to worry about fitting both the backdrop as well as the smiles precious to me, precisely in a single go. 

Capturing the perfect selfie, with or without my near and dear ones up close, with the heart of the capture intact - the scenic backdrop - would be an effortless task from now on. Getting my hands on Mobiistar's exclusive devices would mean that I could the perfect selfies seamlessly. 

I am all set to #EnjoyMore with #Mobiistar. :)

 ~~~ 

P.S.: Images concerning Mobiistar have been taken from IndiBlogger. 

An Acquaintance Revisited...

The feeling that overwhelms on being able to capture the perfect selfie in the first try is indescribable as far as millennials are concerned. However, the enthusiasm to partake the masses in going on a selfie-spree had gradually caught on with me a couple of years back, when the world was also enveloping in a self-imposed blanket of self-love.

More often than not, it is the finer details that are overlooked when one embarks on a selfie spree. Numerous factors have to be taken into account before zeroing-in on the perfect dose of narcissism that can be fueled by the social space for the admiration of one's network circles.

Apart from being a series of trial and error, being able to capture the perfect selfie is also to be complemented by the best-in-class technological advancements especially as far as the camera and battery life of a smartphone are concerned. So much so, that most leading brands in the market have come up with the concept of selfie phones itself that is solely dedicated to the task.

For me, however, capturing selfies is more about freezing memories in a frame rather than unadulterated self-love. One such capture that is especially close to my heart is this.

Another celebrity selfie for the envious lot, you may think. However, this capture has an interesting anecdote that forms for the 'Fable Behind The Frame' as I like to call it.

As an educator since the past three decades, I have realized that nothing or no-one rather, is able to leave as lasting an influence on a child's impressionable heart and mind as a teacher. For it is at such a crucial stage in life that a student becomes a student of life in the true sense.

If I were to rewind to what makes this selfie so likable to me, it would bring me to the beginning of my career when I had recently completed my post-graduation and had joined one of the premier educational institutions in Delhi during those days.

There was an equal emphasis on academics and co-curricular activities, which should ideally be the case too. This led me to Hyderabad, early on, with a contingent of talented girls aged 11-14 to participate in an inter-school dramatics competition on the occasion of the silver jubilee celebrations of the establishment of one of the most prominent girls' schools in the city - Nasr School, Hyderabad.

How the journey from Delhi to Hyderabad was made possible was because of the fact that The Nasr Dramatic Society (NDS), founded in 1980 is the youngest and the only school dramatic club to be affiliated to the National School of Drama, here in the capital city till date.

It was here that I spotted a ten-year-old effervescent youngster bringing on stage a certain grace, charm, and maturity as a budding thespian. I could see the sparkle in her eye but had I ever imagined that such a sparkle would turn into the radiant Dia Mirza that we all know now!

Yes, I had been to Dia's school and witnessed her in action, excelling in dramatics at such a delicate age. I am sure she had put her best foot forward at academics as well. Our school eventually brought the trophy home as it was customary that the host institution would participate but not be in the running for accolades.

It was then that our girls were called on stage and I accompanied them to receive the prize on behalf of our institution. There she was, Dia, being the vivacious girl she is, holding the certificates in tow on the stage. It was then that I appreciated her participation and told her that I could see her achieving heights in life, in the long run. That was my brief tryst with Dia Mirza, who now comes across as an effortless artist with a brilliant stage presence.

Back to present time, where I spotted Dia as a brand ambassador at the launch of a new range of air-conditioners if I am not mistaken, by Panasonic last year. I had completely forgotten about our tryst but at the back of my mind, I was a fan of Dia's acting prowess. I was coincidentally seated at the front during the Media Briefing and after the QnA session, Dia herself was quick to recognize me and thank me for being one of her initial audience apart from her parents, peers and school teachers.

As a consequence, an acquaintance was revisited as I was made to wander in the bylanes of the pleasant past. Yours Truly was a novice at capturing selfies until quite recently and that is where Dia took the lead by adjusting the angle of the camera standing up and close to me with her hand on my shoulder. It was at that moment that the 'perfect selfie' was captured by Dia herself. 

While this was happening, I could hear people whispering (and being green with envy, of course), as to how this was an extremely personal encounter with a star, that is out of reach for most, if not all. After all, Dia is a person who transformed her dreams into perfectly executed plans! :)

As much as being in one frame with Dee, the Diva is a delight, I am also joyous about the fact that Dee is the 'Diva with a Duty', as she firmly voices her opinion on issues concerning our immediate surroundings and the society as a whole, the latest example being her pledge to beat plastic pollution at the recently concluded IIFA 2018 Press Conference.

As a sweet gesture, she even wrote a note of thanks and signed an autograph for my daughter. 

On the whole, the key to the ideal 'Selfie Experience' is a suitably crafted 'Selfie Camera', and many would agree with me about the same. Amongst the upcoming players in the market, I see tremendous potential in a Vietnamese smartphone brand founded in 2009 - Mobiistar. In line with their motto being 'Enjoy More', they are all set to set foot in the Indian market with the promising proposal of a device that features crisp technicalities in the form of a front, dual selfie camera that captures a 120° wide-angle shot. 

Apart from being the perfect arsenal for an ideal group selfie, such powerful features also guarantee more smiles as there would be no complaints of a comrade being cropped out or the picturesque background being compromised. 

Coupled with a long-lasting battery and economical pricing marketed exclusively as 'Mobiistar on Flipkart', I am sure that #Mobiistar would be able to create a substantial impact in the Indian Market with their catchphrase aptly being #EnjoyMore. :) 

 ~~~ 

P.S.: Images concerning Mobiistar have been taken from IndiBlogger.