Digital media store Hello1.in hits the market; what it offers

Gurgaon-based digital media company PK Online Ventures Pvt Ltd has rolled out a digital store called Hello1.in, which can be accessed across multiple platforms (web, mobile and tablet), the site says. It currently features live TV, movies, music, games and apps, and claims to have a library of around 100,000 items in the store. Here users will find paid content, as well as free stuff.

For live TV streaming, the company has tied up Ditto TV to present Zee Channels pack for paid viewing. One can pay as little as Rs 5 to watch a single channel for a day, but weekly and monthly packs are also available at the store. It also streams reality shows like Roadies, Splitsvilla, etc., for free.

Hello1 offers movies across several categories including Bollywood, regional, south dubbed, short movies and documentaries, among others. These cost Rs 5-Rs 20 while an upcoming trailer is priced at Rs 10. One can also buy music videos, lifestyle videos, 3D yoga, etc., and the minimum price for videos is Rs 10.

There are different music genres as well, such as Bollywood, international, regional, devotional, instrumental, festival & events, entertainment, non-filmi, latest songs and Indian classical music in a range of Rs 5-Rs 15 per album or per song. You can play a song for 40 seconds before buying it.

The store also offers games and apps. Similar to other app stores, it offers apps in categories like adventure, casual, business, utilities, fun, adult, etc., while games fall under categories like arcade, action, fun, casual and more.

As of now, Hello1's mobile app is available on Android for free. We also checked other platforms like the iOS, but the app is not yet available there. To access paid or subscription-based content via the app, a user is required to sign up. It also features a pre-paid wallet called HelloPay wallet for hassle-free shopping on Hello1.in.

Hello1 also offers 'today's deal' and provides discount on a particular product in each category. Users can also search content according to price and ratings.

As for competition, the new digital store competes with the likes of Gaana, Dhingana, Saavn, Hungama and the iTunes store for the music part of it. For the movie segment, it locks horns with the likes of Boxx TV (from the house of Times Internet) and Reliance's BigFlix, as well as Spuul, Eros Now, Hungama Movies, YouTube, Google Play Movies, etc. Also, for games and apps, Google Play is the market leader in India.

The store also faces considerable competition in the live TV streaming space from players like MyPlex Now, ZengaTV, nexGTv, Yamgo TV, YuppTV, Desi Indian TV and Puri TV, to name a few. Also, some TV channels have their own live TV streaming apps and sites as well.

(Edited by Sanghamitra Mandal)