Micromax launches Canvas Tab P650 for Rs 16,500; partners with BlackBerry for BBM app

After launching its flagship smartphone Canvas 4 in the Indian market, homegrown handset manufacturer Micromax has extended the Canvas experience to tablets, by launching its first Canvas tablet christened Canvas Tab P650. Priced at Rs 16,500, the device has an 8 inch display and runs on the Android operating system. Here is a look at the specifications of the device.

The tablet has an 8-inch multi-touch capacitive touchscreen display (1024 x 768 pixels resolution) and is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad core MediaTek MT8389 processor. It runs on the Android 4.2.1 (Jelly Bean) operating system and has 1GB of RAM. The internal memory of the device is 16GB that can be further expanded an additional 32 GB with a microSD card.

On the camera front, the device has a 5 mega pixel autofocus rear camera that can also record videos and a 2 MP front facing camera for video calling. In terms of connectivity, the tablet has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and 3G and it also comes with a microSD card slot. It has full HD (1080p) video playback capabilities and GPS (with A-GPS support).

The company has provided a 4,800 mAh battery in the device that it claims will provide up to five hours of browsing time, 10 hours of talk time, and up to 400 hours standby time. The tablet has a full aluminum body and will be available in white and blue colours.

The company has also integrated some of Canvas 4's applications and features in the tablet, these include multiple video view- enables users to watch one video and at the same time preview another video; and look away pause- pauses the video when users are not looking at the screen, among others. In addition, a number of apps come pre-loaded in the device like Spuul- to watch free movies online; Opera Mini- for browsing; M! Live- enables users to download HD / premium games; and M! Security- offers security solutions including back-up, anti-theft tracker, as well as an anti-virus.

According to an IDC report, the total recorded tablet shipments soared to 2.66 million in 2012, a mammoth 901 per cent year-on-year growth from 2011. And while Samsung led the pack with 15.76 per cent of shipments, Micromax came a close second (with 13.33 per cent), due to the growing popularity of its low-cost devices. We feel the new addition to its existing range of Funbook tablets will only work in favour of boosting its position in the market.

In terms of competition, the tablet will face off with the likes of Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 (Rs 16,900), Asus Fonepad (Rs 15,999), iBall Slide 3G-7307 (Rs 15,990), Lenovo Idea Tab A3000 (Rs 15,125), and Google's Nexus 7 (Rs 13,999), among others.

Partnership with BlackBerry

The company has also announced that it has entered into a partnership with struggling Canadian handset manufacturer BlackBerry for the BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) app. As a part of the deal, all new Canvas smartphones that are purchased October onwards will have the BBM app pre-loaded in them. In addition, existing Canvas device owners can also download the app from the Google Play Store.

"Bringing one of the most popular mobile messaging services with BBM on our smartphones is yet another effort to expand our bouquet of messaging services," said Deepak Mehrotra, CEO, Micromax.

BlackBerry has already partnered with Google and Apple to make available the BBM app for devices running on the Android and the iOS mobile platforms. While Android users will be able to download (https://www.techcircle.in/2013/09/19/blackberrys-bbm-chat-coming-to-android-iphone-this-weekend/) the application starting Saturday (September 21, 2013), iPhone users can get it on Sunday.