Articles by Harichandan Arakali

I’m a senior writer/India correspondent at IBTimes, covering tech startups, some IT services, but increasingly the technology giants and their interest in India/Asia, from the vantage point of my base in Bangalore.

At a personal technology level, I will probably never be able to decide between my BlackBerry handsets and my Samsung and Moto Android phones, and end up using both.

More seriously, my daily fight is about staying optimistic as a story teller about the world of good that technology can be used for, in the face of all the evidently evil applications it’s being put to. For now, I’m still firmly an optimist.

Thing is, journalistically speaking, bad news is of course good copy, but writing about great tech and business and some cool way tech solved a human problem at scale can be really satisfying and fun too.

I’m not very good at scoops, although I like them as much as the next journo, but what I love most is to see the big(gest) picture explained.

New Indian Startups And Apps Improve Healthcare In Urban India Through Smartphone Technology

Quality healthcare is out of the reach of most poor Indians, but for the middle class, some services are only a smartphone away.

India's Ola Joins Alliance With Lyft, China's Didi Kuaidi And Malaysia's GrabTaxi To Thwart Uber's Advance

It's Uber versus the rest of the world as competitors seek ways to consolidate their positions in markets from Los Angeles to Beijing.

India's Tata Group Strikes Agreement To Tap China's ICBC For Loans, Financial Services

The $109 billion conglomerate is turning to the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China to support its ambition to become one of the world's most valued businesses.

Time Inc.'s Bangalore Center To Be Company's 'Largest' By Next Year: Report

Time Inc. is expanding its technology center in the southern Indian city to cut costs as print revenues fall, while ad spending rises on the digital front.

Samsung Electronics Replaces Smartphone Communications Business Head In Turnaround Bid

Apple is closing in on Samsung at a time the South Korean conglomerate is heading for its lowest profits in four years.

By 2020, Every Other Indian Will Have A Mobile Phone Connection

India will have 500 million unique mobile subscribers by the end of this year, according to a projection released by GSM Association, an industry lobby.

LG Display To Spend $8.7 Billion On New OLED Panel Plant, Reports Say

The South Korean company will invest almost $9 billion in a new facility as speculation continues that Apple's smartphone displays will be switched from LCD to OLED.

How New Age Finance Is Changing India, From Saving Up For The Football World Cup To Building A Bangalore Startup

Indians are turning to Internet-based financial services to locate investments and loans beyond banks. This trend will only grow.

Obama, Alibaba's Jack Ma Discuss Climate Change, Clean Tech On APEC Summit Sidelines

U.S. President Barack Obama is championing urgent measures on climate change, ahead of a global meet in Paris.

India's Ola Raises $500M In Fresh Funding, Moves To Consolidate Market Vital To Uber

As competition ratchets up with Uber, India's ride-hailing network leader Ola has moved to consolidate its position.

Nestle's Maggi Noodles Update: India's Food Safety Regulator Challenges Lifting Ban On Maggi

Nestle has already started selling its Maggi instant noodles again in India, an important market for the Swiss company.

Facebook Brings Instant Articles To Android Smartphones In India With Five Publishers To Start With

With ads on mobile phones accounting for a growing share of the revenue of Internet companies, retaining users is top priority.

India's Flipkart Allows Staff To Cash In On Stock Options Via Private Sale: Report

The country's fast emerging e-commerce market has made retaining talent a priority and companies are finding clever ways to do so.

Microsoft Offers European Users Local Data Centers Via Deutsche Telekom After 'Safe Harbor' Judgment

The move follows the European Court of Justice's decision to strike down a pact that allowed for the free flow of data between the U.S. and EU.

Diwali Shopping: Competition Between Online Stores, Brick-And-Mortar Stores Leaves Indian Consumers With More Cash To Splash

Fierce rivalry between India's brick-and-mortar and online stores means bargains for consumers during Diwali.

Microsoft's Satya Nadella Talks Up Productivity Heritage As Google Challenges Office 365

The Microsoft CEO, who was speaking at a company event in Mumbai, India, is working to ward off competitors in its new focus area of cloud computing.

India's 4G Smartphone Sales Soar In July-September Period, Samsung Retains Market Lead

More Indians are switching to smartphones, and many first-timers are buying 4G phones, as they become available in the $100 range.

Why India Is Ripe For An Apple Genius Bar But Its Rules Aren't

Though its consumers have developed a taste for aspirational brands, the country's retail rules make it a difficult market for Apple to crack.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg Pitches Internet.org At Townhall In New Delhi, India

The Facebook CEO vehemently defended his Internet.org project at an event in New Delhi Wednesday.

Rape In India: 'Epidemic' Of Sexual Violence Against Women And Children, Rape Laws Aren't Enough, Experts Say

The near absence of a victim-centered support system in India means young girls in poor families have few options for redress if they are raped.

Nestle's Maggi Noodles Could Be Back In Indian Stores Next Month

The world's biggest packaged food company has been facing a public relations crisis in India, following a ban on its Maggi noodles in May.

Samsung Layoffs: More Moves 'Won't Surprise,' But Company Best Positioned To Lead Consolidating Android Pack, Analysts Say

The Android market is in a churn, with China slowing down and Apple leaping ahead at the premium end, so Samsung has its work cut out.

Samsung May Lay Off Staff In India In Cost-Cutting Effort: Report

Samsung, struggling to recover from a poorer-than-expected reception of its Galaxy S6 phone, is now reportedly firing staff in India, according to the Economic Times.

Dell, Khosla Join Omidyar In Fresh Round Of Investment In iMerit, A Digital Economy Back-Office Service Provider

Internet-based businesses have opened up a new front for outsourcing to India, home to millions of youth with little education and few job prospects.

Uber, Ola Prices May Be Regulated By Transport Authorities In India's Technology Hub Bangalore

Transport authorities in Bangalore are considering local rules that will regulate the dynamic pricing followed by ride-hailing service providers such as Uber and local competitor Ola Cabs, according to a report.

Apple iPhone 6S Price In India Spurs Gray Market Sales, Retail Chains Worry: Report

In India, where Apple's latest phone sells for nearly $1,000 buyers are willing to risk loss of warranty and other benefits for discounted prices, according to the Economic Times.

Uber Driver Accused Of Rape In New Delhi Convicted By Indian Court

In a case that led to a blanket ban on ride-hailing services in India, a driver, who was accused of raping his female passenger in New Delhi, has been found guilty.

India's Infosys To Acquire Oil Consultancy Noah Consulting In Deal Worth $70 Million

This is the third acquisition in a little over a year at Infosys, where CEO Vishal Sikka is trying to refashion the Bangalore company into a provider of high-end business consulting.

WestBridge Raises $575M For India-Focused Investments: Report

With the latest round, the India-focused fund will raise its exposure to the subcontinent to $2 billion, according to a report from the Times of India.