Alongside the launch of its cheapest smartphone Redmi 4A in India, Xiaomi announced the introduction of a new smart SMS feature, specifically for IRCTC bookings in phones for the country. To introduce the feature, the Chinese upstart would be required to upgrade its MIUI custom Android ROM. The confirmation of bookings will be sent in a ticket-like format through the SMS service.
With an increase in internet awareness and the push for digitization, the consumers now prefer to book their tickets online. However, seem to be concerned only about the details dispatched within the confirmation message. With MIUI’s next update, Xiaomi users will receive the tickets details similar to Google Now cards specifying the route information, fare details and seat number along with a link to track the train.
The smart feature by Xiaomi does not mean there will be an addition to the functionality of the phone’s messaging app. It only means alterations in the format and an additional button to check PNR status for tickets booked through IRCTC. Though the feature is still underway, Xiaomi promises to deliver the same on older Xiaomi smartphones running MIUI 8 and above.
Since the low-budget phones of the company usually target the middle-class population of the country, the feature will prove useful for Xiaomi’s target audience. Moreover, the company recently announced a second manufacturing plant in partnership with Foxconn at Sri City, Andhra Pradesh to further its commitment towards ‘Make in India’. With regards to the time, Xiaomi mentions that with the combined capacity it now aims to manufacture one phone per second during operational hours. It also adds that more than 95% of its smartphones sold in India will be manufactured locally.
Apart from it, Xiaomi’s cheapest device– Redmi 4A priced at only Rs. 5,999 features a 5-inch HD display with 720 x 1280p resolution. The handset is powered by a 1.4GHz Snapdragon 425 processor coupled with an Adreno 308 GPU. It will offer 2GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage (32 GB has not been launched), which is expandable up to 128GB via microSD.
