IMC 2024 Walkaround: What I Found Futuristic at India Mobile Congress

As a tech enthusiast, attending India Mobile Congress (IMC) is one of the highlights of my year. It’s Asia’s largest tech event, and every edition brings new advancements that push the boundaries of mobile, internet, and technology. IMC 2024, held at Pragati Maidan, didn’t disappoint, and I was thrilled to explore everything it had to offer. Here’s a glimpse of some cool, futuristic gadgets and technologies I came across.

Vi’s 3D Dwarka Experience

One of the first things that caught my eye was Vodafone-Idea’s (Vi) immersive 3D tour of Dwarka, the historic submerged city. Inside a mini dome that gave me Las Vegas Sphere vibes (but on a smaller scale), Vi showcased a stunning visual of Dwarka with 3D sound effects. The wide field of view made the motions feel real, and I could imagine how this tech could one day bring concerts and sports events to life. Though the exact tech behind it is a mystery, a Vi representative mentioned it uses projectors to create the experience.

ALSO READ: Vi Showcases Power of Innovation, Technology, and Connectivity at IMC 2024

Jio Embibe AI-Powered Learning 

Education is another area where tech is making waves, and Jio’s partnership with Embibe caught my attention. This AI-powered app takes learning to the next level by offering interactive 3D models of topics. I tried it out, and it works like Google Lens—you scan a page from your textbook, and it highlights key terms. Once you tap on any term, you’re presented with videos, articles, and even 3D models related to the topic. Honestly, I think this could be a game-changer for students. It’s a paid app at Rs 499 per month, but if you use the IMC24 code, there’s a 30% discount.

JioTV OS

Jio is also making waves in the TV space with its JioTV OS, which aims to rival Google TV and WebOS. I got a hands-on demo at IMC 2024, and I have to say, it felt much smoother than Google TV, with a tonne of content options. What impressed me most was the AI-driven recommendations—it tailors the homepage to your preferences based on what you’re watching. For example, after selecting the web series DARK, the system instantly updated with similar shows and films. It also has a dedicated JioStore for third-party apps and LiveTV support, all powered by a Jio Premium Set-Top Box, which is expected to launch within the next six months.

6G THz Testbed

At first, I thought the 6G Testbed at IMC would be a demo of 6G speeds, but it turned out to be something different and equally exciting. Developed by IIT Madras and SAMEER, this setup demonstrated how data could be transferred at blazing speeds of up to 6 Gbps using a high-bandwidth system. Although it’s not an actual 6G speed test, the potential applications for ultra-fast data transfers in the future are huge.

Qualcomm’s Two-Wheeler Digital Chassis

If you’re into automobiles, you’ll love this. Qualcomm showcased its QWM 2290 chip for two-wheelers, part of a broader digital chassis system designed for modern bikes and scooters. This chip supports LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GNSS, while also integrating safety features like speed limit monitoring and emergency SOS. It’s all about bringing connectivity to vehicles, and with Flexiride, Qualcomm is making sure both safety and infotainment systems are seamlessly integrated into the next generation of automobiles.

ALSO READ: Qualcomm at IMC 2024: Here’s What We Found Interesting at Its Booth

Ericsson’s Robotic Dog Rocky

Last but not least, I met Rocky, a robotic dog at Ericsson’s booth. Unlike the typical robot dogs you’ve seen before, Rocky is designed with a purpose—emergency response. This little AI-powered helper can detect hazards and send alerts in real-time, which could be invaluable in disaster situations like fires. It reminded me of Xiaomi’s Cyberdog, but Rocky is more about saving lives than just being a cool gadget.

Wrapping Up

IMC 2024 was an unforgettable experience, with over 1.75 lakh participants and a spotlight on emerging tech like 6G, cloud computing, IoT, semiconductors, and more. I left the event feeling inspired by the future possibilities in tech, and I can’t wait to see how some of these innovations, like Vi’s immersive experiences or Jio’s AI tools, evolve in the coming years.