GLOBAL SMARTPHONE MARKET
Instagram’s 90-minute video bet could soon take it into direct confrontation with YouTube
Instagram is testing videos of up to 90 minutes with select creators in the US and Brazil as it looks to expand beyond short-form content and compete with YouTube and OTT platforms for viewers and advertising budgets. The move could bring podcasts, comedy specials and episodic shows to the platform, with creators using Reels to attract viewers to longer videos. Instagram is also working on a TV version of Reels to tap into connected TV (CTV) audiences. No India launch timeline has been announced.
Qualcomm layoffs severance package: 3 months' salary, extra payout based on years of service & one more month's pay for signing exit papers within 3 days; what employees are being offered
Qualcomm has reportedly begun laying off employees in India as part of a global workforce restructuring exercise that could affect around 1,000 staff, or 5–6% of its workforce in the country. Reports suggest affected employees may be offered three months' salary as severance, with additional compensation based on tenure and an extra month's pay for those who sign exit documents within three days. Qualcomm has not publicly confirmed the reported severance package.
Qualcomm initiates India layoffs: Here’s how much employees will get in severance
Qualcomm has begun implementing planned job cuts globally, affecting employees in India and the US (in California).
Local partner wanted for Xiaomi ‘home’ coming
The proposal is in the exploratory phase, but the Chinese technology company is set to begin evaluating potential Indian suppliers, according to one of the persons who did not wish to be identified. “It marks a natural progression for Xiaomi as it has committed to expanding beyond air purifiers into categories such as air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines,” the person said.
Electronics Inc runs ops update to build AI infra
India’s electronics manufacturers are moving into AI data centre infrastructure, targeting optical transceivers, advanced packaging and specialised cooling systems. Dixon Technologies, Samsung, LG, Blue Star and PG Electroplast are exploring production opportunities as global demand rises. The shift could attract investment, improve margins and strengthen India’s position as an export hub.
It's the ecosystem, stupid! Anand Mahindra celebrates India's rise to the top 3 in the AI race, beating the UK, Japan and South Korea
Anand Mahindra has welcomed India's rise to the top three in Stanford's global AI vibrancy rankings, ahead of countries such as Japan and South Korea. He believes India's software talent, systems integration expertise and huge domestic market could give it a significant advantage in the global AI race. Explaining his optimism, Mahindra said the next big AI opportunity could come from applications, industry-specific expertise and enterprise-wide adoption rather than chips and foundational AI models.
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How intelligent commerce is shaping the next frontier of merchant payments
For a decade, the task in India’s merchant payments was to get every shop and website to accept digital money. The value, leaders argued, at GFF 2026, is now moving to identity, risk, credit and growth, and to preparing the checkout for AI agents that may soon shop on consumers’ behalf.
US stocks suffer worst rout since 2020: Dow plunges 1,800 points, Nasdaq crashes 5.5% as AI fears wipe out $3 trillion
Wall Street experienced a major selloff in technology stocks following recent midterm election outcomes. The Nasdaq Composite recorded its steepest decline in 19 months, while the S&P 500 also fell sharply. Investors are worried about potential regulations impacting AI infrastructure growth amid increasing political resistance. Major chipmakers, including Nvidia, saw significant losses alongside other AI-related companies. Analysts are closely monitoring upcoming economic data to gauge the Federal Reserve's actions.
Nasdaq set to confirm correction as AI stocks tumble
The shock selloff comes a day after the Democrats' election victory including in some key data-center states drove concerns about a slowdown in the AI data-center buildout, optimism about which had pushed stock markets to record highs earlier this year.
Planning to buy smartphone? Prices to rise 30% soon, says Jefferies report
Smartphone prices could rise by nearly 30%, particularly in the budget segment, as surging demand for memory chips from AI companies pushes up manufacturing costs. A Jefferies report warns that higher component prices could force consumers to delay purchases, choose second-hand phones or spend more on expensive models. Global smartphone shipments are also expected to decline in 2026 and 2027.
Sam Altman becomes Ram Altman: OpenAI CEO accepts suggestion, changes display name on X
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has changed his display name on X to "Ram Altman" after facing online criticism over his remarks about the use of Random Access Memory (RAM) in personal computers. The controversy started after his appearance on the Cheeky Pint podcast, where he questioned whether allocating large amounts of memory to individual desktop and laptop users was an efficient use of limited global supplies.
Trump set for midterm test: What's in store for India, Iran, Ukraine after November 4?
US midterm election 2026: American voters' sentiments about rising prices could affect Trump's standing in trade discussions. Congressional control will determine the scrutiny over Trump's actions regarding Iran and Ukraine. India will, however, continue navigating uncertainties in trade relations regardless of the election results.
Apple Inc's revenue hits all-time India high in September quarter
Apple Inc achieved significant revenue growth in India during the September quarter, driven by rising demand. The company's sales of iPhones, Mac computers, and services reached record levels across various markets. Initial sales of the newly launched iPhone 18 Pro series in India exceeded those of the previous model by nearly 20%.
Apple Q4 results beat estimates as iPhone 18 Pro demand, price hikes offset rising chip costs
Apple reported better-than-expected Q4 revenue of $114.48 billion and earnings of $2.10 per share, driven by strong iPhone 18 Pro demand and Mac sales. Higher product prices helped offset rising memory-chip costs. The company is also expanding its AI offerings, while addressing supply constraints affecting its first foldable iPhone.
Elon Musk vs Sam Altman: After OpenAI CEO questions people's RAM usage at home, Musk defends ordinary users with a meme
Elon Musk has taken a dig at OpenAI CEO Sam Altman after the latter questioned why people keep large amounts of RAM in their personal computers when the limited memory supply could be used more efficiently by AI data centres. Sharing a meme on X, Musk defended ordinary consumers. The exchange comes amid a global memory shortage that is driving up prices of PCs, smartphones and other electronic devices.
Most wanted stocks 2026: 6 stocks mutual funds are buying even as markets slump
Stock market investors are growing wary as prices continue to drop amid broader economic issues. Nevertheless, mutual fund managers are optimistic, identifying many investment opportunities during this downturn. The article identifies six stocks that have seen a rise in mutual fund investments, showcasing their resilience and growth potential during tough times. This analysis offers investors valuable insights to enhance their future strategies.
China’s 5,000-ton digging machines are a trade war risk to India
China is tightening export controls on tunnel-boring machines and other specialised construction equipment, raising concerns that the restrictions could disrupt India's infrastructure projects, particularly along the disputed Himalayan border.
If you had invested $1,000 in Micron stock 42 years ago, you wouldn’t believe how much it could be worth today
A $1,000 investment in Micron Technology at its 1984 initial public offering (IPO) would be worth approximately$718,669 today, based on the stock's latest completed closing price of $934.27 on October 29, 2026. That is more than 718 times the original investment, excluding dividends, taxes and brokerage costs.
Rising tech costs drive EMI sales; Shadowfax Q2 profit soars
Happy Friday! Shoppers are turning to EMIs as electronics prices rise. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Amazon burns cash, Intel flags weak PC demand as AI boom's costs ripple across markets
As Wall Street grows increasingly anxious about AI-related expenditures, major tech giants like Amazon and Intel display alarming financial outcomes. With soaring operational costs and waning consumer interest, both companies face challenging cash flow situations, resulting in borrowing to cover rising expenses. This situation has led to declines in semiconductor and AI cloud shares as investors question future profitability, sparking fears about the tech sector's growth sustainability.
Government should support both job-creating and frontier industries: EAC-PM chairman Dev
S Mahendra Dev highlighted the importance of supporting job-creating and frontier industries for future economic growth. He mentioned that sectors like textiles and technology can significantly enhance India's industrial landscape. The need for improved competitiveness and product quality in various firms was also emphasised. Furthermore, land availability and global supply chain shifts present unique opportunities for India. Overall, addressing these challenges is crucial for the country's industrial transformation ahead.
Qualcomm job cuts in November: How many employees could lose their jobs and when will it be announced?
Qualcomm is set to implement further layoffs in November, as indicated by a memo from CEO Cristiano Amon. This decision, expected to impact 3% to 6% of the workforce in India and similar proportions worldwide, aims to boost performance and tackle unmet expectations. Amid challenges in the consumer electronics sector, the company is shifting focus towards expansion in data centers and AI technologies for stronger business diversification.
Jio Platforms is becoming more than a telecom company: Dolat Capital
Jio Platforms is poised to evolve beyond telecom as tariff hikes, 5G monetisation, home broadband and enterprise digital services drive its next growth phase, according to Dolat Capital. The brokerage initiated coverage with an Accumulate rating and a target price of Rs 1,435, citing strong growth prospects and rising free cash flow.
Global Market: Samsung Electronics posts record $80.5 billion quarterly operating profit on AI chip boom
Samsung Electronics reported record quarterly operating profit of 107.4 trillion won, driven by surging AI memory chip demand. Despite strong earnings, shares fell over 5% amid concerns about semiconductor division performance and AI investment sustainability. Samsung also announced shareholder returns of up to 110 trillion won this year.
Samsung logs record $80.5 bln profits despite investor AI jitters
Massive demand for AI chips delivered record quarterly profits to South Korea's Samsung Electronics on Thursday, but shares fell as investors questioned the resilience of the global tech boom. Record profits driven by booming demand for AI memory chips have fuelled calls for greater shareholder returns, particularly after shares in tech giants such as Samsung tumbled from their June record highs amid concerns over US tech firms' AI spending.
Chip startup Nova Spectral AI raises Rs 21 crore to build low-cost image sensors
Founded by IIT Kanpur alumni Anish Priyadarshi and Sanjeev Kumar, the startup is developing a short-wave infrared (SWIR) sensor that can help cameras capture images in low light and through smoke, haze, and fog. It aims to make these sensors up to 100 times cheaper than existing technology, opening up potential applications in defence, robotics, cars, and smartphones, the founder said.
India's daily multimodal AI use to nearly double to 43% by 2030: Ericsson report
Daily use of multimodal AI in India is expected to nearly double by 2030 from current levels. The report highlights a shift towards more frequent interactions with AI across various devices and locations. As usage increases, network traffic will become more upload-heavy, leading to demands for better network performance. Agentic AI is projected to rise significantly, with many users expecting enhancements in efficiency.
A missed call for China is a loud wake-up call for desi companies
Indian smartphone brands Lava and Ai+ are gaining market share as Chinese rivals retreat amid soaring memory chip prices and shrinking demand. Domestic brands captured 7% of shipments in the September quarter, their highest share in nearly eight years. Government incentives and India's manufacturing expansion offer a boost, but technology, distribution, after-sales service and customer loyalty remain critical to sustained growth.
$7.7 trillion AI bet: Can hyperscalers earn enough to justify the spending?
Six major hyperscalers are projected to spend $7.7 trillion on AI between 2026 and 2030, but generating adequate returns will be a challenge. UBS estimates they need $1 trillion in additional earnings before interest and taxes by 2031. The key questions are whether AI boosts productivity and companies can monetise those gains.
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