Standard Chartered’s Titanium MasterCard Credit Card wins ‘Best New Credit Card in the Middle East’ award

Standard Chartered Bank’s MasterCard Titanium Credit Card won the “Best New Credit Card in the Middle East” award during the Cards Middle East Forum 2013. The Standard Chartered Titanium Credit Card has been recognized for offering first-in-the-market cashback incentives and privileges on the everyday spend of cardholders in the UAE. 

The Standard Chartered Titanium MasterCard Credit Card which features Chip and PIN technology provides cardholders with up to 10% cash back on purchases from all supermarkets in the UAE, all utility bill payments and even school fees payments. Cardholders also get up to 50% discount on all movie ticket purchases at VOX Cinemas and various dining outlets in the UAE. 

Khalid El Gibaly, Regional Head of Consumer Banking, UAE and Middle East, Standard Chartered, said: “The Titanium MasterCard Credit Card has been very well received in the UAE market. It comes as part of a series of value-added products that Standard Chartered is introducing to the UAE market this year. The ‘Best New Credit Card in the Middle East’ award is testament to the success of our customer-focused approach which aims to reward and add unique value to the specific financial needs of our customers.” 

In addition to the cashback offers, Standard Chartered’s Privileges Program offers cardholders more than 600 offers at dining, retail and entertainment outlets. To facilitate access to the exclusive offers available in the program, Standard Chartered developed an iPhone application that facilitates instant access to all the features and offers the card has to offer. 

The Cards Middle East Forum 2013 was organized as part of the Cards and Payments Middle East 2013, the region’s largest smart card, payment and ID event that showcased the next wave of innovation, products and technology from 200 world leading exhibitors. 

Earlier this month, Standard Chartered launched the Standard Chartered Visa Infinite credit card, the UAE’s most exclusive credit card, offering a wide array of luxury lifestyle privileges and unparalleled convenience to cardholders. 

Standard Chartered has been operating in the UAE since 1958 and operates the largest distribution network among international banks with 11 branches, five Electronic Banking Units and more than 130 ATMs and CDMs.

BlackBerry launches EMI scheme for Z10, Curve 9220 in India

Smartphone-maker BlackBerrywill sell Z10 and BlackBerry Curve 9220 on easy monthly installments in India from this weekend and has tied up with credit card providers including Axis Bank, Citibank, HDFC bank,HSBC, ICICI Bank, Kotak, SBI Card and Standard Chartered. 

BlackBerry is the latest to take the EMI route after Apple, Samsung and Nokia started selling their smartphones on staggered installment basis. Early this week, Apple offered Rs 7,777 cash back to customers who were willing to exchange their existing smartphone for theiPhone 5. Customers had to pay a part of the cost of the handset upfront and could pay the rest in installments. 

Samsung has offered EMI options on the Galaxy S4 while its offering cash back on other smartphones in the Galaxy range such as the Note and Grand. 

Customers can purchase the Z10 by paying an EMI of Rs 4,799 per month for nine months. A similar scheme for BlackBerry Curve 9220 is available where customers can use their credit card to buy the device and pay an EMI of Rs 799 per month for 12 months. 

Under the schemes, no down payment, no processing fee and 0% interest has been offered. The plan will be rolled out in 2500 BlackBerry outlets across the country by this weekend and will be available in additional 400 outlets by next week. 

The launch of this plan reasserts BlackBerry's commitment to make smartphone experience more accessible and affordable to the masses, especially the upwardly mobile youth. The whole proposition of availing the premium experience of BlackBerry Z10 or Curve 9220 by paying a nominal EMI per month is definitely very lucrative and will definitely attract potential customers, the company said Thursday. 

The Canadian company has tied up with Idea Cellular where the telco's customers can avail one-year unlimited data plan at Rs 999 in eight circles of Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.

BlackBerry to offer BBM as standalone app for iOS and Android this summer

Thorsten Heins just broke what has to be the biggest news out of BBLive this morning: BBM is breaking out of its walled garden. Starting this summer, users running iOS 6 and Android ICS or higher will be able to download the BBM app forfree and join in the messaging experience so highly curated by BlackBerry. Initially, however, only the messaging and group features will be accessible for outside users, but throughout the year, the company hopes to add BBM voice, BBM channels, screen sharing and video capabilities. You'll have to hold tight for a more specific launch date, as Heins didn't announce any concrete timing. But if you've waited for this news for years, what's a few more months?