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April 2022

Technology

Why Strong Smart Speaker Growth Is Expected to Continue

One market report after another predicts that strong smart speaker growth will continue for the foreseeable future. One of the more recent reports, published by Transparency Market Research suggests 18% CAGR in the smart speaker market between 2018 and 2026. If the estimates prove accurate, the market could be worth in excess of $18 million just four years from now.

That is a lot of money being spent on smart speakers. Obviously, millions of homes have to be equipped with smart speakers to create that sort of value. So what’s the deal? Why have so many people already invested in smart speakers, and why will so many more over the next four years?

Vivint Smart Home says that part of it could be novelty. People enjoy the thought of being able to speak to an electronic device and have it retrieve the latest headlines or weather report. But novelty only goes so far. There has to be some other functionality that makes the smart speaker attractive.

Smart Home Integration

It turns out that there is plenty of functionality built in to the modern smart speaker. At the top of the list is the ability to integrate it with smart home technology. Take the two biggest names in smart speakers right now: Google and Amazon. Device manufacturers are falling all over themselves to make their devices compatible with smart speakers from these two brands.

Are you interested in smart lighting? No big deal. Go down to the local big-box hardware store and buy a couple of smart light bulbs or lighting fixtures. Chances are that every product on the shelf will be compatible with either Google, Amazon, or both devices. You just take them home, install them, and program them with your smartphone.

The typical smart speaker can be integrated with your thermostat, your lights, and even your smart door lock. Pretty much any smart device in your home can be programmed and accessed via voice command, as long as it is compatible with a smart speaker capable of acting as a central hub.

The Personal Assistant Feature

Smart home integration is just one aspect of improving the value of a smart speaker. A typical smart speaker can also be utilized as a personal assistant. Think about the implications of that for just a minute.

Imagine you are in the kitchen, working on a brand-new recipe, when you suddenly discover the need to convert from one measurement to the next. No need to grab your phone or tablet. Just ask your smart speaker to do the conversion for you. In seconds, you have the answer.

Meanwhile, your elderly parents will be taking their medications in a couple of hours. You do not have to remember. Why? Because you have programmed your smart speaker to alert you and your parents when the time comes. Today, you are home to make sure they take their medications. Tomorrow, when you are not home, the smart speaker will still be there to remind them.

Getting Better Every Day

Ongoing market research recognizes that smart speaker technology is getting better every day. As the market remains competitive, manufacturers are working on all sorts of things from natural language processing to advanced artificial intelligence and deep learning. With every advancement comes greater functionality.

Seeing how far smart speakers have come just in the last five years explains why they are so popular. It explains why millions of homes already have smart speakers while millions more are expected to get them within the next 4 to 5 years. It is all about the smart speaker now.

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Finance

Step by step guide to apply for credit card in India

No one here is unfamiliar with the notion of credit cards, and the benefits excite you all. This, when paired with the incentives and cashback that a credit card offers, is enough to entice consumers to apply for one. It may surprise you that applying for a credit card in India is a cinch.

Regardless of the bank, the application procedure is essentially the same. To help you out, we’ve compiled a list of important considerations to make when applying for a credit card.

Applying for a credit card only if you meet all the requirements

Nowadays, getting a credit card is simpler than ever before, and most banks are eager to entice new customers by offering attractive incentives. Before credit card apply, meet the age and income requirements. There are many Indian banks that provide credit cards to customers ages 21 to 65 years old.

Your income level determines which cards you are qualified for, and each card has a distinct set of benefits depending on your income level. You don’t have to be working to have a credit card; most banks encourage self-employed persons to use them. You may be able to get a credit card from your bank in exchange for a set deposit. Being an Indian resident or NRI of 18 years of age is all that is required to apply for a visa.

Make sure all the paperwork is in order

A record of your earnings, such as tax returns, a paycheck, or a bank statement every application for a credit card apply will be required to provide these papers. You may prove your identity using a variety of papers, including your voter identification card, driver’s license, and pension book.

A driving license, ration card, or passport are acceptable forms of address verification. In addition, you may require a passport-sized photo and a copy of your PAN card. Be aware that you may not always need evidence of residence and identification, a passport-sized picture, and a PAN card. This varies from bank to bank and depends on whether or not the bank has your KYC information on file.

Submitting an application for a job

Choosing a bank to open a credit card account is the next step after settling on a card and ensuring that you have all the necessary paperwork. Even if you don’t have an account with a major Indian bank, you may still apply for a credit card.

The bank’s official website will contain a section devoted to credit card apply. Existing users may use their net banking credentials to apply for a credit card of their choosing immediately from the site’s application page.

If you don’t want to apply for a credit card online, you may stroll into the local branch of any bank, whether you already have a savings account there or not. You can even make credit card bill payments online if you live in the digital age. You may get travel credit cards, student credit cards, etc.

Decide how you want to pay your credit card bill

Just input your credit card information into the payee account number field and follow the onscreen instructions to make a payment. On a working day, payments are paid instantly; after hours, payments are credited the next business day. When you’re applying for a credit card, it’ll be much simpler if you know exactly how you’ll be paying your bills.

Conclusion

As you can see, obtaining a credit card is a straightforward procedure, and the approval process is quickly provided your paperwork is in order. Banks want more credit card apply users, and they’ll do all in their power to make your experience as pleasant as possible. A sensible spending trip is ahead of you as you prepare all the necessary documentation and begin the credit card journey.

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