TCS Launches Quartz™ for Markets to Help Exchanges and Financial Institutions Innovate with Tokenized Assets
Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS), a leading global IT services, consulting and business solutions organization, announced the general availability of Quartz™ for Markets, designed to help Market Infrastructure Institutions (MIIs) such as exchanges, depositories, central banks, payment infrastructures, private banks, custodians and issuers, offer end-to-end next generation services around tokenized securities, and drive their future growth.
Quartz for Markets builds on TCS’ position as the largest independent software provider to MIIs, with its proven TCS BaNCS for Market Infrastructure and Custody solutions powering the operations of over 50 market-critical institutions across 66 countries. The new solution helps MIIs leverage blockchain technology to offer next-generation services around tokenized securities, such as KYC/AML, token issuance, order management, matching, atomic settlement, crypto custody, digital asset servicing, general meeting services and trade surveillance.
The new solution provides out-of-the-box support for multiple asset classes, including equity, fixed income, warrants, and asset-backed tokens like real estate, gold, art, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as well as loyalty points. Investors can benefit from a choice of settlement in fiat currencies, cryptocurrencies, stable coins and digital currencies, thus gaining from both liquidity and flexibility.
Quartz for Markets is available on-premise as well as on cloud, and has been designed for easy integration and interoperability with existing core platforms and third-party solutions. It can work with public as well as private blockchain platforms and supports multiple token standards such as ERC and R3 Token SDKs. The solution includes an intuitive, low code development kit, with which it can be extended to meet the MII’s future needs. Four MII’s have already signed up for Quartz for Markets, and deployment is currently underway.
“Tokenization democratizes access to assets by turning material as well as digital assets into tokens that can be traded at a fraction of the current cost. This represents an opportunity for MIIs to launch innovative new services around tokenized assets, attract new classes of investors and drive growth,” said R Vivekanand, Global Head, Quartz, TCS. “Quartz for Markets is a robust, secure and future-proof solution that can support the end-to-end transaction life cycle and instant settlement for a wide range of tokenized assets, including NFTs, which are gaining in popularity and value. We have leveraged our contextual knowledge and extensive industry experience in capital markets to design a solution that seamlessly serves the needs of a broad spectrum of market players and accelerates their growth and transformation journeys.”
Zydus Cadila receives tentative approval from USFDA for Fingolimod Capsules .25mg
Zydus Cadila has received tentative approval from the USFDA to market Fingolimod Capsules in the strength of .25 mg (US RLD: Gilenya® Capsules). Earlier, in October 2020, the group was granted approval to market Fingolimod Capsules in the strength of .5mg. Fingolimod is an immunomodulating drug. It is a sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator indicated for the treatment of relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).
The drug will be manufactured at the group’s formulation manufacturing facility at the SEZ, Ahmedabad. The group now has 319 approvals and has so far filed over 400 ANDAs since the commencement of the filing process in FY 2003-04.
Infosys Positioned as a Leader in Gartner Magic Quadrant for Data and Analytics Services 2021
A global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, today announced that it has been positioned as a Leader in Gartner Magic Quadrant for Data and Analytics (D&A) Services for 2021. We believe, Infosys was recognized for its steady growth, maturity with D&A capabilities, and expansion of its global footprint and local resources.
For the report, 19 D&A service providers were evaluated based on their “ability to enable enterprises to shift gears and become more data driven as part of their digital ambitions” says Gartner.
According to Gartner, “This Magic Quadrant evaluates providers specifically on the execution of D&A consulting, implementation, and managed services, as well as on the total vision provided for their D&A solutions. D&A service providers have developed a wide spectrum of capabilities and skill sets, enabling them to operate across multiple domains and service competencies. These capabilities incorporate business consulting, technology consulting, enterprise architecture, information architecture, design, onsite services, remote services, testing, infrastructure integration, change management and training.”
Satish HC, Executive Vice President – Data & Analytics and Digital at Infosys, said, “We feel, this recognition as a Leader in Gartner Magic Quadrant for Data and Analytics Services 2021 is an acknowledgement of our strategic offerings, business transformation, and focus on outcomes. The recognition reflects how we help clients achieve data-led business transformation with our full stack of Data and Analytics offerings. We will continue to create and deliver innovative solutions to enable global clients accelerate their digital journey.”
Vincent Stas, Chapter Area Lead, Data & Insights, Telenet said, “Infosys is our strategic data partner enabling us to become a data driven organization and standardizing the way we deliver today with their reusability of assets, rich experience, and agile delivery methodology. As part of our journey to cloud, Infosys is helping us determine the right cloud to drive our data ambition and co-create with us. We share a very positive relationship and open communication on things to be done so that the right steps are taken forward together.”
Infosys helps enterprises become data driven to make better decisions and monetize data. It enables businesses to become a Live Enterprise to compete, respond in real-time, and empower a larger data powered economy built on connected ecosystems. Infosys supports core data analytics capabilities with Data Governance, Lineage , Data Quality and Data on Cloud Solutions, powered by Infosys Cobalt.
Google and Jio showcase jointly developed smartphone JioPhone Next
JioPhone Next comes with truly breakthrough premium capabilities including language and translation features, a great camera, and support for the latest Android and security updates -- unprecedented for affordable smartphones
: Google and Jio today shared more details around their jointly developed made-for-India smartphone called JioPhone Next coming later this year. Based on an optimized OS that is leveraged from Android and Play Store with features that are built specially for JioPhone Next, the two technology organizations have worked closely to create a smartphone experience aimed at addressing the unique needs of millions of smartphone users across India
In these times when access to the internet has become a fundamental need, hundreds of millions of Indians are yet to experience the power of being connected, to utilize services and access information that can have a positive and immediate impact on their daily lives. Google’s Android teams across the globe have been hard at work to find solutions to address the digital needs of these Indians. Deep technology insights and consumer learnings of both organizations have been used to design this path-breaking OS for superior user experience. And so building on their pledge from last year to work towards rethinking how millions of Indians can live the digital life, Google and Jio have developed a smartphone experience that will enable users to consume content and navigate the phone in their preferred language, deliver a great camera experience, and get the latest Android features and security updates
Speaking about the joint effort, Sundar Pichai, CEO, Google and Alphabet said, “Our vision is to bring affordable access to information for Indians in their own language, to build new products and services for India’s unique needs, and to empower businesses with technology. I’m excited that today, we can announce the next steps in this vision, starting with a new, affordable Jio smartphone, created with Google. Our teams have optimized a version of our Android OS especially for this device. It will offer language and translation features, a great camera, and support for the latest Android updates. It is built for India and it will open up new possibilities for millions of new users who will experience the internet for the very first time.”
Announcing the phone, Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director, Reliance Industries Limited said, " JIO has truly democratized digital connectivity in India… by offering the highest quality, most affordable 4G broadband services in the world. Google and Jio teams have jointly developed a truly breakthrough smartphone that we are calling JioPhone Next. JioPhone Next is powered by an extremely optimized version of the Android operating system. While being ultra-affordable, JioPhone Next is packed with cutting-edge features like the Google Assistant, automatic read-aloud of screen text, language translation, smart camera with augmented reality filters and much more. This is testimony to a global technology company and a national technology champion working jointly to make a break-through product. JioPhone Next will be available in the market from the auspicious date of Ganesh Chaturthi, 10TH SEPTEMBER, this year."
Easily access and consume content in a choice of Indian languages: For users who might not be able to read content in their language, with a tap of a button they can now translate what’s on their screen, and even have it read back to them in their own language. Read Aloud and Translate Now are now OS-wide features that will work with any text on their phone screen, including web pages, apps, messages, and even photos. Using App Actions, people can utilize their Google Assistant to deliver a great experience with many of the Jio apps on this device. In addition to asking for the latest cricket scores or a weather update, users can also ask Google Assistant to play music on JioSaavn or check their balance on My Jio.
A great camera: A fast, high-quality camera is a must-have feature for today's smartphone users, so Google and Jio’s teams have partnered closely to build an optimized experience within the phone’s Camera module resulting in great photos and videos: from clearer photos at night and in low-light situations to HDR mode that brings out wider color and dynamic range in photos, these are firsts for affordable phones in India. Google has also partnered with Snap to integrate Indian-specific Snapchat Lenses directly into the phone’s camera, and we will continue to update this experience.
Ongoing feature drops and the latest system updates: Along with support for the latest Android releases and security updates, this experience will keep getting better with new features and customizations, all delivered over-the-air. With Google Play Protect built in, it has Google’s world-class security and malware protection. And with the Google Play Store, users will have access to millions of apps that people across the world use and enjoy.
Google and Jio’s engineering and product development teams are continuing to build on these capabilities, unprecedented for an affordable device, and are committed to offering a best-inclass experience to millions of India’s new internet users when this smartphone is launched.
SBI Card partners with Fabindia to launch Fabindia SBI Card
SBI Card, India’s second-largest credit card issuer and Fabindia, India’s largest retail platform for a wide range of handcrafted products by the artisans of the country, joined hands to launch an exclusive co-branded contactless credit card - Fabindia SBI Card. The card is designed with thoughtfully curated benefits and privileges to offer a rewarding shopping experience to its premium customers and comes in two variants - Fabindia SBI Card SELECT and Fabindia SBI Card.
The new co-branded contactless credit card combines the best in class rewards points on retail spends with value back on varied spends categories, thus addressing overall spending needs of premium cardholders. What’s more, the Fabindia SBI Card customer gets direct entry to Fabindia’s FabFamily loyalty programmes at higher tiers (Gold and Platinum) which is otherwise provided to the customers only after qualifying the minimum annual spending of INR 30,000 and INR 75,000 respectively. Fabindia SBI Card SELCET offers 10% value back to customers buying in-stores at Fabindia along with complimentary domestic airport lounge access. The card also offers milestone benefits worth INR 1250 on quarterly spends of INR 200,000, in the form of gift vouchers. The Fabindia SBI Card SELCET customers also get Fabindia gift vouchers worth INR 1500 as a welcome gift.
Speaking about the partnership, Mr. Rama Mohan Rao Amara, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, SBI Card, said, “It has always been our endeavor at SBI Card to bring bestin-class products, services and an unmatched experience to our customers. We are delighted to have Fabindia as our partners to bring yet another powerful and unique value proposition to our affluent and premium consumer segment. Introduction of the new Fabindia SBI Card further bolsters our premium portfolio, reinforces our commitment to enable our customers to embrace digital payments and contribute to the country’s digital economy.”
Mr. Viney Singh, Managing Director, Fabindia said, “We are pleased to announce the launch of Fabindia SBI Card, and our association with SBI Card, one of the most trusted names in India. The past year has been marked by fundamental shifts in the way we live and interact, amply underlined by the changing patterns evident in our spending, evolving priorities and growing reliance on technology. The solutions and incentives that Fabindia and SBI Card together bring to our customers are designed to contribute significant value and result in customer delight.”
Data collected from public sources