Ericsson has announced the launch of India's first world phone--the I888 World. The I888 offers international travellers the option of communicating across more than 120 countries-in the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe and Africa-as it operates on both GSM 900 and GSM 1900 frequencies. This allows the mobile user the flexibility to use the same phone across five continents.The I888 world phone also provides the traveller with trouble-free wireless communication with their PC, laptop or palmtop. The built-in infra-red modem on the I888 makes it simple to check e-mail, browse the Internet or log on to a corporate network without cumbersome wires and connectors.

The I888 world phone has been available to users starting end May and is priced at around Rs 27,000. It will be sold through select network operators and the Ericsson sales and service distributors in India.

Ericsson has also launched the T18, the first in the new series of T-class phones in India. It isa dual band GSM 900/1800 phone, and has been developed keeping in mind the needs of a client with an active business and social lifestyle.

The T-18 weighs only 146 gms. It is an advanced phone, small in size with a beautiful design that supports powerful features for users who are always on the move. This is the first phone in the market to feature voice answering that enables the user to accept or reject incoming calls by feeding pre-programmed words such as `hello' and `no'. It also offers features such as voice dialling, whereby the user can, by pressing a key, name the person to be called. The phone has the ability to store up to 10 different names in the voice dialling memory. The active flip allows the user to receive a call by opening the flip and end a call by simply closing it. The T-18 will be available from end-June and will be priced at around Rs 24,500.

One-calorie wonder

With the launch of 330 ml Diet Pepsi cans in Delhi, Pepsi has been the first to respond to the consumer demandfor a diet cola. The launch is timed to coincide with the several World Cup initiatives that Pepsi has unleashed recently. The 330 ml Diet Can contains just one calorie and is being launched at an introductory price of Rs 15, across Delhi.

Diet Pepsi incorporates a ``state of the art'' sweetener blend of Aspartame and Accesulfame Potassium (ASK), which ensures ``the same great taste of Pepsi'', according to the company's press release. This new sweetener blend was introduced only last year in most parts of the world and Pepsi brings it to India on a ``real time basis''.

Diet Pepsi will soon be available in PET bottles as well. The advertising breaks with the World Cup Super Sixes.

Invitations in gold

Getting married soon? And worried about sending out an invite that will make people remember the event for years? No problem. Imagination, a boutique that has opened recently in the Capital, promises to take care of your worries for you. The boutique's USP is designer wedding stationery. Unique indesign shape and material, you can choose to have your invitations inscribed on metal sheets of brass, copper, silver or even gold, have them mounted on wooden blocks or even on fabrics like silk, satin and jute. It's your choice!

Mamma wear

Benetton has just launched its Mamma of Benetton range. Yes, you guessed right. The range is aimed at mammas to be and newborn bundles of joy, and come in modern, but simple styles, in natural fabrics and soothing colours. But sadly, Indian mothers to be need to wait a while longer. The line is out only in Europe currently.

In India, you can go choose from Benetton's Sprt and Denim collections. This includes comfortable denim pyjamas, funky flares in soft, pre-washed light-weight denim, low-slung hipsters as well as soft, pre-washed, silk denim shirts, fitted tops, etc, etc. Heading straight for the nearest Benetton store, are you?