Articles by Akash Pandey

Zepto drops all fees, offering free delivery above ₹99 orders

Quick commerce platform Zepto has waived off all handling and surge fees, and slashed the minimum order value for free delivery to ₹99. The move comes just weeks after the company raised a whopping $450 million in a funding round. Under its new 'All new Zepto experience,' the firm is promoting zero handling fee, zero rain and surge charge, as well as zero delivery fee on orders over ₹99. Previously, Zepto charged a handling fee for handling of products in your orders at our stores. Now, the company has positioned itself as the most affordable quick commerce platform in the market. This move puts direct pressure on its main competitors, like Blinkit and Instamar,t who still charge different service fees. Zepto's competitors, Blinkit and Instamart, continue to charge different service fees. Blinkit charges an ₹11 handling fee and a ₹30 delivery fee on orders below ₹199. Instamart, on the other hand, levies a ₹9.8 handling fee and a ₹30 delivery charge for orders below ₹199. Both platforms also impose additional charges like rain and surge fees. The market shift was expected after Zepto's recent funding, which industry experts predicted would heighten competition and promote discounting across the sector. Media reports from October 18 indicated that the funding would increase cash burn as platforms focus on expansion and price competition. Experts expect discounting to continue and possibly intensify in the coming months. Zepto's latest move is a stark contrast to the trend seen earlier this year. In June, industry reports revealed that quick commerce platforms had collectively added a slew of fees, platform, handling, convenience, and small-cart levies to customer orders. These charges, which usually ranged between ₹6 and ₹30 per order, were meant to improve unit economics and boost profits from each transaction.

1 days ago

Technology

Fake cab apps are being used to inflate fares

A Bengaluru resident has exposed a new scam in which some cab drivers are allegedly using fake ride-hailing apps to inflate fares. The revelation was made through a viral Reddit post, where the passenger shared his experience and warned others to stay alert. The incident highlights the need for vigilance when using ride-hailing services in the city. The passenger booked a Rapido ride from Kempegowda International Airport's Terminal 2 to Jakkur. The app showed an estimated fare of ₹598, and the trip started normally after he verified the driver and shared the OTP. However, at the end of the journey, the driver displayed a billing screen showing ₹758, about ₹160 more than what was initially estimated. The passenger was suspicious as the billing screen looked like the Rapido interface, but his own Rapido app showed the ride as not finished. After some insistence, he found out that the driver was using a fake app called TownRide. This counterfeit app mimicked Rapido's interface but allowed users to manually change fares. Upon confronting the driver, the passenger refused to pay the inflated fare. He wrote, I raised my voice, my tone got firm, and he immediately understood he was on the wrong side. He quickly agreed to accept the actual amount that showed up on the official Rapido app. The driver then took payment for this amount and sped off. The post prompted several Reddit users to share similar experiences with inflated fares on Uber rides. One user wrote, Happened with me today, but for an Uber ride. For a quick second, he showed me the inflated fare and closed it. Another user shared their experience where ₹67 became ₹76 on the driver's app.

2 days ago

Technology

AirPods Pro with built-in cameras may launch in 2026

Apple is said to be developing a new model of its AirPods Pro, one that would come with integrated infrared (IR) cameras. The new tech would likely enable artificial intelligence (AI)-driven visual intelligence features, possibly working with Apple's upcoming Vision products or enhancing spatial awareness and gesture recognition. The leaks claim this new model won't replace the recently launched AirPods Pro 3 but will be a premium offering in Apple's expanding product range. The rumored AirPods Pro model with cameras is in line with Apple's recent product diversification strategy. The company recently launched AirPods 4 in two variants, one with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and one without. This move was aimed at giving users different performance and price levels. If the rumors are true, Apple's 2026 lineup could include five distinct models: AirPods Pro 3 with cameras, standard AirPods Pro 3, ANC-equipped AirPods 4, standard AirPods 4, and the high-end AirPods Max. Apple's move away from its famously simple product grid is a clear strategy to cater to its massive user base. Just like iPhone buyers can now choose from multiple models across various price ranges, Apple seems ready to apply the same strategy for its audio products. The rumored camera-equipped AirPods Pro could be a major step forward in this direction, integrating sound, sight, and AI into one ecosystem.

2 days ago

Technology

UPI hits record 21B transactions in October

India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI) has set a new record by processing 20.7 billion transactions in October 2025. The figure, released by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), marks a month-on-month growth of 3.6% from September's 19.63 billion transactions and an annual increase of 25%. In terms of transaction value, UPI saw ₹27.28 lakh crore worth of transactions last month, an increase of nearly 10% over September's ₹24.9 lakh crore worth of transactions. UPI handled an average of 668 million transactions per day in October, with a daily average value of ₹87,993 crore. The increase in both total and daily transactions is largely attributed to the festive season spending. On October 18, UPI crossed a historic milestone by processing over 750 million transactions in a single day for the first time. The record-breaking numbers highlight the rapid growth of India's digital payments ecosystem, driven by QR-based payments, recurring mandates, and UPI's integration with credit lines and international corridors. The platform has already expanded to several countries, including France and the UAE. It also has agreements in place for Namibia, Trinidad & Tobago, and Peru.

2 days ago