Author: DA Gadgets

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Amazon Great Republic Day Sale 2025 Goes Live for Prime Members: Best Deals on Mobiles, Electronics

Amazon Great Republic Day Sale 2025 is now live for Prime members. The Republic Day special sale will open up for everyone else from 12pm on January 13, 2025. Amazon Great Republic Day Sale promises excited discounts on a large selection of popular mobile phones, laptops, TVs, Amazon devices, and other electronics. During the sale, we’ll be continuously scanning through hundreds of deals to bring you the best handpicked deals that are worth your time and money. During the sale, Amazon is also offering a bunch of bundled offers such as exchange discounts and payment offers. SBI credit card users can avail 10 percent additional discount during Amazon’s Great Republic Day Sale 2025 this week.

Please note that all of the deals and prices mentioned below are currently available only for Prime members. Prices and product availability are subject to change during the sale.

Amazon Great Republic Day Sale 2025 – Best deals on smartphones

Apple iPhone 15 128GB
The iPhone 15 (128GB) is currently down to Rs. 55,499 (effective after bank offer) on Amazon during the Great Republic Day 2025 sale. The phone usually sells at around Rs. 60,499. You can exchange an older smartphone to receive an additional instant discount worth up to Rs. 45.500. The iPhone 15 is powered by Apple’s A16 Bionic chipset, and comes with a 48-megapixel primary camera sensor at the back.

Buy now: Rs. 55,499 (effective after bank offers)

Samsung Galaxy M35 5G
If you’re eyeing an affordable smartphone during this sale, Samsung’s Galaxy M35 5G is down to Rs. 13,999 (effective price after bank offer) during the ongoing Great Republic Day Sale 2025 on Amazon. The Galaxy M35 5G is powered by Samsung’s Exynos 1380 processor, and runs Android 14-based One UI 6.1 platform out-of-the-box. The smartphone features a 50-megapixel primary camera setup, and comes with a large 6,000mAh battery.

Buy now: Rs. 13,999 (effective after bank offers)

Oppo F27 Pro+ 5G
The Oppo F27 Pro+ 5G is down to Rs. 23,400 (effective price including bank offer) during Amazon’s Great Republic Day Sale 2025. The smartphone also includes a bundled exchange offer that can further sweeten the deal by up to Rs. 24,699. Oppo F27 Pro+ 5G comes with a 6.7-inch AMOLED display, and a 64-megapixel primary camera setup. It runs Android 14-based ColorOS 14.0 platform, and is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7050 chipset, supported by 8GB of RAM.

Price: Rs. 23,400 (effective price after bank offers)

Amazon Great Republic Day Sale 2025 – Best offers on electronics

Amazon Devices
Some of the best products you can buy during an Amazon sale are the company’s own gadgets. The super useful Fire TV Stick is down to Rs. 2,799 while the Echo Pop is available for as low as Rs. 3,949. The Echo Show 8 is also down to Rs. 9,999 during the Great Republic Day Sale 2025.

Buy now: Starting at Rs. 2,799

Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5
If you’re looking for a powerful laptop, the Lenovo IdeaPad Pro 5 is down to Rs. 1,03,990 (MRP Rs. 1,46,890) on Amazon during the Great Republic Day Sale 2025. The laptop is powered by Intel Core Ultra 9 processor, supported by 32GB of RAM, and comes with a 1TB SSD. The laptop features a 16-inch 2.8K OLED display, with a peak brightness of 400 nits. You can swap a used laptop and receive another instant discount worth up to Rs. 17,350.

Buy now: Rs. 1,03,990 (MRP Rs. 1,46,890)

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Catch the latest from the Consumer Electronics Show on Gadgets 360, at our CES 2025 hub.

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Bachhala Malli OTT Release: Allari Naresh and Amritha Aiyer Film Now Streaming Online

The Telugu action-drama Bachhala Malli, directed by Subbu Mangadevvi, is now available for streaming on multiple OTT platforms. Released in theatres on December 20, 2024, the film, starring Allari Naresh and Amritha Aiyer, received mixed reviews from critics and audiences alike. Set against a rural backdrop, the story delves into themes of love, family, and resilience. Fans who missed the theatrical release can now catch the movie from the comfort of their homes.

When and Where to Watch Bachhala Malli

Bachhala Malli began streaming on ETV Win from January 10, 2025. The platform announced the film’s availability, urging viewers to experience its emotional storyline. The movie can be accessed on Sun NXT for mobile viewing and is also available on Amazon Prime Video. This multi-platform release ensures a wider reach, providing audiences with convenient options to watch the film.

Official Trailer and Plot of Bachhala Malli

The trailer of Bachhala Malli offered a glimpse into the life of Malli, a smart and ambitious man navigating personal and societal challenges in the 1990s. Set in the village of Suravaram, Andhra Pradesh, the narrative explores his struggles and the consequences of his decisions. The romantic subplot features Amritha Aiyer as Kaveri, his love interest. The film combines drama, romance, and family dynamics to present a poignant tale that resonates with viewers.

Cast and Crew of Bachhala Malli

Directed by Subbu Mangadevvi, Bachhala Malli features Allari Naresh and Amritha Aiyer in lead roles. Supporting performances come from actors like Hari Teja, Rao Ramesh, Sai Kumar, Rohini and Dhanraj. The film’s music, composed by Vishal Chandrasekhar, adds depth to the storytelling. Produced by Razesh Danda and Balaji Gutta under the Hasya Movies banner, the film is a collaborative effort aimed at presenting a realistic yet dramatic narrative.

Catch the latest from the Consumer Electronics Show on Gadgets 360, at our CES 2025 hub.

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Worried About VoIP Security and Encryption? We Aren’t

Any modern business using a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone system knows that maintaining security is essential for confidentiality, customer trust, and regulation compliance.

Industries like healthcare, for example, have strict regulations governing communications, and HIPAA-compliant VoIP providers offer security, privacy, and access management tools to help companies follow these regulations — even when employees access the network from far away places.

Meanwhile, poor encryption and security can also affect your bottom line, as scammers and fraudsters will find ways to exploit weaknesses to commit VoIP fraud on unsecured phone systems. Toll fraud works by hijacking a company’s phone system to make artificial and high-volume long-distance calls. The owner of the system gets charged for these calls (often without noticing), and then fraudsters are given a share of the revenue from colluding carrier services.

Along with toll fraud, there are many other vulnerabilities of VoIP systems — but if you are using one of the best business phone services, your vendor is going to take over the challenging parts of VoIP security and encryption. You just have to promote basic network security at your organization (strong passwords, access control, etc.).

1 CloudTalk

Company Size

Employees per Company Size

Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+)

Any Company Size Any Company Size

Features

24/7 Customer Support, Call Management/Monitoring, Contact Center, and more

Good providers handle VoIP security and encryption

A hosted VoIP service is a cloud-based communications solution offering secure voice calling and messaging over the internet.

The beauty of these services is that security and encryption come baked in. The VoIP providers update software and firmware, maintain hardware, and help follow regulatory compliance for you.

Of course, fraudsters and scammers are constantly evolving their game, but VoIP providers respond to these attacks in real time and keep your system safe from the latest threats.

With a hosted VoIP service, your employees have individual login credentials to access their VoIP accounts, and all calls your company makes go through the service provider’s network. That means the VoIP provider handles the security and encryption while routing calls, not you.

That also means your business is kept safe no matter where your employees are because a VoIP service lets them access the secure communication network from any softphone. Your employees won’t be tasked with performing any extra security-related tasks either, as VoIP services apply the latest measures across the entire network. Many of the headaches involved with remote work security are now fully off your plate.

What should a secure VoIP provider have?

A good VoIP provider should have robust encryption protocols to keep your data safe while it’s in transit. That way, voice calls and messages are indecipherable until they reach their destination, where only the recipient can decode them.

Similarly, a stateful firewall and/or intrusion detection system helps prevent attacks and unauthorized access. Enhanced login security measures like multi-factor authentication (MFA) and two-factor authentication (2FA), for example, further secure access, and a password-and-token system can also be an effective measure against unwanted infiltration.

The following technologies help VoIP providers secure their networks:

  • Session Border Controllers (SBCs): An SBC acts as the gatekeeper of the network by regulating IP communication flow. SBCs are particularly useful for protection against Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed DoS (DDoS) attacks.
  • Transport Layer Security (TLS): TLS protocols use cryptography to secure a VoIP network’s signaling and media channels. TLS protocols use a digital handshake to authenticate parties and establish safe communications.
  • Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol (SRTP): SRTP is a media encryption measure that acts like a certificate of authenticity, which can be required before granting media access.

Not every organization requires SBCs, but anyone using a cloud phone system could be the target of a VoIP DDoS attack. Work with your vendor to deploy a future-proof VoIP phone system that follows network security architecture best practices.

The VoIP industry has standards and frameworks in place to guide companies with the best security practices available. In fact, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) publishes guidelines that cover this sector.

A good provider should have the following accreditations and certifications:

  • PCI Compliance: PCI compliance is an information security standard for card payments. Having this certification facilitates secure payments from major credit cards.
  • ISO/IEC 20071: This Information Security Management System (ISMS) outlines a global set of standards that helps secure business data.
  • ISO/IEC 27002: This Code of Practice for Information Security Controls outlines the controls and best practices for securing information.
  • ISO/IEC 27005: This certification refers to Information Security Risk Management. It provides guidelines for assessing and managing information security risks.
  • ISO/IEC 27017: This establishes protocols for cloud service providers. It helps explicitly secure cloud services and their ecosystems.
  • ISO/IEC 27018: This outlines how to protect personally identifying information (PII) on public clouds.

Secure VoIP providers also need to be aware of their human-layer security. Many scams originate from human error, so a business is only as safe if its staff members are reliable. As such, businesses are vulnerable to social engineering attacks.

Social engineering is the process of manipulating individuals into giving up sensitive information. Rather than relying on technical vulnerabilities, many scammers use human psychology to obtain passwords, login details, and other sensitive information.

Scammers often use phishing techniques to gain trust. This technique involves sending messages and emails that appear legitimate, ultimately leading individuals to give up passwords or new login details after trusting the source’s legitimacy.

VoIP providers can limit opportunities for social engineering by implementing 2FA or MFA as part of IVR authentication workflows. Simply put, the more authentication steps required, the more information a scammer needs to extract, and the more information a scammer needs to extract, the lower their chances of infiltration.

Employee training and awareness are also critical factors in reducing social engineering attacks, as monitoring communication patterns and identifying irregularities can root out social engineering attempts before they gain any traction.

To combat these measures and educate employees even further, Udemy, Coursera, and edX run cybersecurity courses that include modules on social engineering. Similarly, Black Hat and DEFCON include workshops on the relationship between psychology and security.

Self-hosted VoIP security and encryption is a challenge

Some companies choose to host their own VoIP server on their company premises. This comes with some advantages, as creating a self-hosted system from the ground up gives you more options for customization and control.

However, several challenges make hosting a VoIP service impractical for many businesses. These areas include:

  • Cost: Setting up a VoIP system is expensive relative to subscribing to an existing service. A VoIP service provider already has the necessary infrastructure, hardware, and backend up and running.
  • Responsibility: Self-hosting offers customization and control at a cost. With your own VoIP system, you must update software, manage hardware, and troubleshoot technical issues.
  • Scalability: Increasing capacity in your self-hosted VoIP system could require hardware upgrades and other configurations. You can achieve the same capacity increase with a few clicks using a VoIP service.
  • Security and encryption: With a self-hosted VoIP system, security and encryption are your responsibility. For many business owners, this alone is enough to reject self-hosting.

Additionally, self-hosting is often only possible with a dedicated IT team or managed services provider . Without one, your security and encryption probably won’t be as good as a hosted service provider — which has its own team dedicated to running the latest security protocols.

Using a self-hosted VoIP also has complications for remote teams, as you must configure the network for remote access while also maintaining security. This process usually involves a virtual private network (VPN) or other secure remote access methods.

Let the pros handle VoIP security and encryption

VoIP security is complex and constantly evolving, so outsourcing to a VoIP service makes sense for a variety of reasons.

Even the cheapest VoIP phone service providers do the heavy lifting for you, so there’s no need to buy, configure, and maintain costly on-premises VoIP infrastructure that’ll be obsolete in a few years.

Meanwhile, security and encryption are the cornerstones of a good VoIP business, and most VoIP service providers will have better security and encryption than self-hosted solutions in the long run.

So unless you’re in the telecom industry and have major communication security chops, it’s probably best to let the pros handle it.

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The 7 best projectors at CES 2025

I could predict simply from reading the contents of my email inbox that CES 2025 was going to be a showcase for projectors, and that very much turned out to be the case. Big TV brands such as Hisense and TCL had new models on display in their sprawling CES booths and these were accompanied by projectors from many smaller, upstart brands, most hailing from China and some promoting their products on Kickstarter. In contrast to the CEDIA trade show, which serves as a launching pad for higher-end examples of the best 4K projectors, many of the models at CES are affordable portable projectors and ultra short throw (UST) projectors. But even projectors at this lower-cost tier now benefit from tech developments such as laser light engines and the Google TV smart TV platform. They demand to be taken seriously, and I approached my task of snooping out the best projectors at CES with open eyes and an open mind. Admittedly, the open halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center where CES is held isn’t the best environment to assess a projector’s picture quality. But with the caveat that not all models were viewed in a perfectly dark room, these are the best and most interesting projectors I encountered at the show. Hisense L9Q Trichroma Laser TV The Hisense L9Q (shown at top) is a new addition to the company’s lineup of Laser TVs, which package an ultra short throw projector with an ambient light rejecting projection screen. Previous Laser TV offerings provided 100-inch or 120-inch screen options, but the L9Q will be available in 100-, 110-, 120-, 136-, and 150-inch screen sizes when it ships later in 20025. Hisense is claiming 5,000 nits peak brightness for the L9Q – a 67% light output boost over previous Laser TV models. The pre-production model the company had on display at CES used a 2.9 gain screen and was delivering an impressive 1,500 nits fullscreen brightness, according to a rep I spoke with. That’s better brightness than you’ll get with most OLED and many mini-LED TVs! Static contrast is stated at 5,000:1, an equally important real-world spec, and the projector’s RGB laser light engine provides 110% coverage of the BT.2020 color gamut The design of the pre-production model Hisense was showing isn’t finalized, but Hisense says the final version will sport a “Black Walnut Décor Panel, Star Orbit Ambient Lighting, and precision brushed metal finishes.” In other words, it will look a lot fancier than your average projector. A built-in 6.2.2-channel audio system – the first-ever in a projector, according to the company – delivers Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X sound, and the company has partnered with French speaker maker Devialet for tuning. Last but not least, the Hisense L9Q will have onboard Dolby Vision support, Google TV with voice assistant, and an ATSC 3.0 tuner to receive Next-Gen TV broadcasts in the US. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Valerion VisionMaster Max (Image credit: Future) Valerion’s lineup of 4K front projectors get plenty of attention on Kickstarter, and the company’s latest model, the Valerion VisionMaster Max, was on display at CES in a dark room paired with a 220-inch projection screen. Even with a screen that enormous, clips from Avatar: The Way of Water looked impressively bright, and the picture’s deep, detailed blacks made a good argument for the VisionMaster Max’s claimed 15,000:1 contrast ratio, which is made possible by a dynamic iris. Like the Hisense L9Q, the VisionMaster Max runs the Google TV smart platform and uses an RGB laser light engine specified for 110% BT.2020 color space coverage. It supports both the Dolby Vision and HDR10+ high dynamic range formats, and can handle a 1080p input at 240Hz for gaming with just 4ms input lag, according to the company. A lens with 0.9-1.5:1 optical zoom and horizontal/vertical shift comes standard. Other lens options will be available to enhance installation flexibility, and there’s automatic image correction to further ease setup. The Valerion VisionMaster Max is priced at $3,999 and is available for pre-order now on the company’s website. Formovie Theater Premium (Image credit: Future) Formovie was the first company to offer a UST projector with Dolby Vision HDR support. At CES, the company was showing its latest UST projector, the Formovie Theater Premium, a model that’s currently selling for $2,799 on the company’s US website. The company’s step-down model, the Formovie Cinema Edge, is currently the budget option in TechRadar’s best ultra short throw projectors guide, and the Theater Premium bests it with a brighter, 2,200 ISO lumens picture along with Dolby Vision HDR support and a triple-laser light engine with a specified 107% BT.2020 color space coverage. Formovie claims an under 18ms input lag for gaming, and there’s a built-in Bowers & Wilkins speaker system for audio (Dolby Atmos and DTS:X both supported). Formovie’s booth presentation of the Theater Premium at CES wasn’t doing its projector any picture quality favors, but given our positive experience with the more budget Cinema Edge, as well as the basic Formovie Theater model, the Formovie Theater Premium looks to be a compelling UST option. JMGO 02S Ultra (Image credit: Future) As we’ve seen from models such as the Samsung The Premiere 9, UST projectors can be big things, and will potentially take up too much space if you set them up in a small living room. That’s why at CES I was excited to see the JMGO 02S Ultra, which the company is billing as the “world’s smallest laser TV.” This shoebox-sized (12.3 x 11.4 x 5.5 inches) UST projector uses a triple-color laser light source to deliver a specified 2,500 ISO lumens picture with 110% BT.2020 color space coverage. Full-on full-off contrast is specified as 1,800:1, and it can beam a 100-inch image from a 5.75-inch distance. At CES, the 02S Ultra’s picture looked plenty bright and colorful, even as it was beamed in a booth with no curtains or other coverings to dim the convention center’s overhead lighting. Like many other UST projectors making their debut at CES, the 02S Ultra features auto-calibration features for keystone correction, focus, and screen fitting. It runs the Google TV smart TV platform for streaming and supports Dolby Vision high dynamic range. No price information was provided at the show, but the O2S Ultra is “expected to launch globally in Q4 2025.” Samsung The Premiere 5 (Image credit: Future) Another compact triple-laser UST projector unveiled at CES was Samsung’s The Premiere 5. A new take on the company’s portable The Freestyle 2nd Gen projector, this model is even smaller than JMGO’s 02S Ultra, though it’s a 1080p Full HD projector as opposed to a 4K-resolution one. The Premiere 5 is capable of beaming images from 20 to 100 inches with 560 ISO lumens brightness and features auto keystone and focus for easy setup. The projector’s form factor reminded me of a Sonos One speaker and, like an actual Sonos speaker, it can be used for wireless music streaming. There are other tricks The Premiere 5 has up its sleeve. A touch feature lets you interact with the screen and it features “Samsung LightWARP technology to project images onto everyday objects for creative and immersive experiences.” I’m not sure what those features can be used for, but look forward to getting my hands on a Premiere 5 to investigate. Aurzen ZIP (Image credit: Future) The world’s first “Tri-Fold ultra-portable projector,” The Aurzen ZIP looks even cooler in person than it does on the company’s Kickstarter page. The ZIP triple folds are divided thusly: the first for an 8mm optical engine and tiny DLP microchip; the second for the built-in stereo speakers and high-strength aluminum hinges; and the third for a built-in 5000mAh battery that delivers “up to 1.5 hours of joy on a single charge,” according to the company. What’s great about the ZIP, of course, is that it folds up into a phone-size package and can be easily toted anywhere. It then unfolds and has a sturdy support base and its hinges allow for angling the picture at any surface, where an auto-focus and image correction features will kick in. The Zip doesn’t use Wi-Fi but can screen mirror content played on iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows devices. It can also present images in both full-screen and vertical modes, letting you easily share TikToK and Instagram Reels with friends. As you might expect from a phone-sized projector, the picture quality is limited and there’s not much oomph to the sound, though the ZIP’s Bluetooth support lets you connect it to external wireless speakers or headphones. TCL PlayCube (Image credit: Future) TCL’s PlayCube grabbed my attention in an online pre-briefing held by TCL prior to CES, and I’ll admit to being pretty captivated by the company’s new portable projector when I saw it in person at the show. There wasn’t much info provided about the PlayCube other than it has a built-in battery for anywhere-on-the-go use and features a MagiCube design to adjust viewing angles. But that was enough for me to include TCL’s portable on this list since its winning design made it one of the coolest-looking products at the show. You might also like… TechRadar will be extensively covering this year’s CES, and will bring you all of the big announcements as they happen. Head over to our CES 2025 news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI. And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

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SpaceX Launches NROL-153 Mission, Deploying Next-Gen Spy Satellites

Another significant mission was undertaken by SpaceX on January 9, with the deployment of a new set of spy satellites for the United States government. A Falcon 9 rocket carried the NROL-153 mission from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, lifting off at 10:53 p.m. EST. This launch marked the seventh instalment of the National Reconnaissance Office’s (NRO) advanced satellite programme, showcasing a strategic focus on bolstering surveillance capabilities.

Launch Details and Objectives

As reported by Space.com, the NROL-153 mission contributes to the “proliferated architecture” initiative. This approach involves deploying numerous smaller satellites designed to enhance capability and resilience in reconnaissance operations. These satellites are believed to include modified versions of SpaceX’s Starlink models, potentially equipped with advanced reconnaissance technology.
The Falcon 9 rocket’s first stage executed a successful landing on the drone ship Of Course I Still Love You in the Pacific Ocean approximately eight minutes post-liftoff. As per the mission description provided by SpaceX, this marked the 22nd use of the specific booster involved in the launch.

Secrecy Surrounding Satellite Deployment

Details regarding the satellites’ operational orbit or deployment schedule were not disclosed, aligning with the NRO’s standard policy of withholding information about its classified assets. Reports indicate that the earlier six launches under this programme, conducted between May and December 2024, were also carried out by Falcon 9 rockets from the same base.

Broader Implications of the Mission

The mission is a testament to SpaceX’s role in supporting national security initiatives through its reliable and reusable rocket systems. The use of smaller, proliferated satellites signifies a shift toward adaptable and resilient surveillance strategies. The successful execution of this launch further strengthens the partnership between SpaceX and U.S. defence agencies in addressing evolving global challenges.

Catch the latest from the Consumer Electronics Show on Gadgets 360, at our CES 2025 hub.

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Samsung to Use New Display Technology for Galaxy S26 Ultra: Report

Samsung is yet to reveal the Galaxy S25 series, but rumours about next year’s Galaxy S26 lineup are already circulating on the Web. A new report from Korea suggests that Samsung is preparing for a display upgrade on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The South Korean brand appears to be working to make the display thinner and brighter by applying the Colour Filter on Encapsulation (CoE) technology to the Galaxy S26 Ultra screen. Samsung previously featured COE display technology on a few of its Galaxy Z Fold smartphones.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Display Could Be Brighter 

The Elec reports that Samsung is planning to use the Colour Filter on Encapsulation (CoE) technology, that reduces power consumption and increases light transmittance, on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The CoE technology replaces the polarising plates in OLEDs with a colour filter and changes the general Pixel Define Layer (PDL) to a black one.

When the polariser layer is omitted, the display panel is said to become thinner, and its light transmittance could be enhanced, reducing power consumption. Colour reproduction could also improve. The Black PDL will reportedly prevent light from reflecting within the screen, improving its brightness. The colour filter printed on a Thin-Film Encapsulation (TFE) could protect the OLED from moisture and oxygen.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra could be the brand’s first bar-type smartphone to feature the latest display technology. This could help the manufacturer to make the handsets thinner without compromising the display. Samsung used the CoE technology in its book-style foldable phones since the Galaxy Z Fold 3 in 2021. The Galaxy Z Fold 6, which was unveiled last year, features this technology.

The non-ultra models in the Galaxy S26 series are rumoured to ship with the company’s in-house Exynos chips next year. Meanwhile, the Galaxy S26 Ultra could run on Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon hardware.

Catch the latest from the Consumer Electronics Show on Gadgets 360, at our CES 2025 hub.

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How Smart IVR Unlocks a Better Caller Journey

Smart IVR refers to Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems that can recognize and respond to human speech. Unlike traditional IVR — which relies on rigid menus and keypad inputs — smart IVR can interpret spoken language, ask clarifying questions, and adapt its responses based on customer needs.

This creates a smoother, faster experience that leaves callers more satisfied and businesses more efficient.

Now — you’ll see terms like “smart IVR,” “intelligent IVR,” “conversational IVR,” and “natural language IVR” that are often used interchangeably. The distinctions usually stem from marketing and branding rather than significant technical differences.

In this post I’ll help cut through the marketing noise to explain what smart IVR is, how it works, and what it can do.

1 CloudTalk

Company Size

Employees per Company Size

Micro (0-49), Small (50-249), Medium (250-999), Large (1,000-4,999), Enterprise (5,000+)

Any Company Size Any Company Size

Features

24/7 Customer Support, Call Management/Monitoring, Contact Center, and more

Technically, what is a smart IVR?

For practical purposes, a smart IVR has the following capabilities that go beyond traditional systems:

  • Conversational capabilities: Using Natural Language Processing (NLP) to understand and respond to natural speech.
  • Dynamic routing: Adjusting call flows based on real-time customer inputs and historical data.
  • AI-driven insights: Using data from past conversations and machine learning to improve interactions and refine responses over time.

Supplemental smart IVR features

In addition to core capabilities, some vendors offer supplemental features that enhance the functionality of smart IVR systems. These features can provide additional value and address specific business needs:

  • Customer feedback surveys: Automatically prompt callers to provide feedback after their interaction, offering insights for continuous improvement.
  • Visual IVR: Extend IVR functionality to a smartphone interface, allowing users to navigate visually instead of verbally.
  • Outbound notifications: Proactively reach out to customers with reminders, updates, or alerts via automated calls or messages.
  • Multilingual support: Offer advanced language capabilities for seamless interactions with diverse customer bases.
  • Integration with third-party tools: Connect IVR systems to CRM, helpdesk, or analytics platforms for a unified workflow.

Generally, the best call center software supports all of these capabilities — just bear in mind that some vendors offer built-in solutions whereas others rely on third-party tools to support visual IVR, multilingual support, and other features.

How smart IVR works

When a caller dials in, the system greets them and invites them to describe their needs in their own words. Unlike traditional IVRs, which rely on fixed menus, smart IVRs use Automated Speech Recognition (ASR) and NLP to interpret the caller’s intent, ask clarifying questions if needed, and route them efficiently.

Behind the scenes, smart IVR systems use AI to analyze spoken input and match it to the most relevant solutions. They connect with customer data through CRM integration to personalize interactions, such as recognizing returning customers or recalling past issues.

Smart IVR systems also dynamically adjust call flows based on context, ensuring that each caller gets the appropriate response, whether it’s self-service, detailed information, or a transfer to a specific agent.

The result is a streamlined caller journey that balances speed and satisfaction. Callers spend less time explaining their needs or waiting for the right connection, while businesses benefit from reduced call handling costs and more effective agent utilization.

By combining advanced contact center technology with a focus on the user experience, smart IVRs ensure that every step of the journey feels purposeful and productive.

SEE: Discover seven surprising things call center ASR does really well. 

Benefits of smart IVR systems

In terms of the performance metrics associated with call centers, Smart IVRs offer a number of attractive KPI-related benefits.

Shorter customer wait times

With Smart IVR, you can offer a greater range of self-service features, which can significantly reduce call center queuing times for customers. The intelligent routing features also cut down on wait times by connecting callers to the right department or agent without bouncing them from one agent to the next. And, since callers are able to get moving in the right direction a lot sooner, this can lead to a lower call abandonment rate and a higher first-call resolution rate.

Increased productivity and decreased stress for agents

Since smart IVR systems provide more ways for callers to perform basic inquiries on their own at any time of the day, it lessens the burden on live agents. This not only lets the call center’s employees focus on more complex (and less repetitive) tasks, but it also tends to lower burnout rates and call center turnover — ultimately saving your business money in the long run.

Improved data collection and analysis

A Smart IVR system also makes it simple to collect and evaluate large amounts of customer data. This supplements traditional IVR analytics with additional data points to optimize call flows and customer journeys. This data can also be used to gain deeper insights into customer bases and their pain points, effectively providing implied feedback that can help companies improve their products and get rid of common issues.

SEE: Learn how IVR analytics can fix call flow issues. 

Fewer human errors

In a traditional contact center without Smart IVR, manual call routing errors and long wait times commonly lead to negative customer experiences and call abandonments. Smart IVR, however, greatly reduces the risk of human errors, leading to a better customer experience overall.

Lower customer support costs

With Smart IVR’s self-service options and intelligent call routing, there’s less of a need for a large team of live agents. This cuts down on staffing costs for businesses and organizations to save big bucks over time.

KPIs to measure smart IVR performance

When taking a look at how well your Smart IVR is working, keep these critical call center metrics in mind:

  • First Call Resolution (FCR): A high rate indicates that the IVR effectively resolves issues without needing multiple interactions. Look for trends where resolution rates drop, which could signal ineffective routing or unclear prompts.
  • Average call abandonment rate: A low abandonment rate suggests the IVR keeps callers engaged. A sudden spike might point to overly complex menus or extended wait times.
  • Customer Satisfaction (CSAT): Often measured through post-call surveys. Watch for declining scores, which could highlight areas where the IVR’s conversational capabilities or routing are falling short.
  • Average Handle Time (AHT): A steady decrease in handle time may reflect that the IVR is efficiently routing calls to the right agents. However, if it’s too low, it could mean callers are bypassing the system entirely due to frustration.
  • Cost per call: Track whether the IVR reduces costs over time. Rising costs might indicate inefficiencies in how calls are handled or routed.
  • Agent utilization rate: A well-functioning IVR should free up agents for more complex tasks. If utilization rates are stagnant, it may mean the IVR isn’t offloading basic queries as intended.

By tracking these metrics shortly after implementing your Smart IVR, you can more confidently assess whether your system is working and reduce the risk of making poor decisions based on inaccurate data.

Tips for implementing smart IVR

Implementing a smart IVR system requires thoughtful planning to ensure it meets both business objectives and customer needs. A well-executed rollout can streamline operations and enhance the caller experience, but achieving this balance takes more than just deploying the technology.

Here are a few IVR best practices and rules of thumb to help you maximize the system’s potential and set the stage for long-term success.

Give customers the option to bypass your IVR

No matter what, always provide an option to speak with a live agent. Doing so can help reduce customer frustration if they feel your IVR system isn’t helping them get the answers they need right away. Even if people don’t use the option, offering it early is a way to build trust and establish credibility during the opening moments of the caller journey.

Provide multiple caller response options

One way to streamline IVR call flow and make it more user-friendly is to offer both touch-tone and voice command options for your callers. This gives them the freedom to interact in whichever way they feel more comfortable. Likewise, doing so also provides a way for callers with unique accents and dialects to ensure that they can communicate with your IVR system properly.

Make your call routing smart and seamless

Implementing intelligent routing in your IVR system lets you transfer calls based on the caller’s phone number, making it possible for callers to speak with the same agent that handled their issue before. It can also transfer callers to agents who speak a specific language and move important calls to the front of the call queue. All of this leads to a more seamless and user-friendly customer experience overall.

SEE: Learn about the different types of IVR routing and when to use them. 

Make your menu simple and user-friendly

Always map out your menu beforehand to ensure that it’s user-friendly, intuitive, and simple. This makes it easier for customers to understand your IVR system and reduces friction along the customer journey.

Use a realistic-sounding voice

Although Smart IVR systems generally have realistic-sounding voice options, test out a few and decide which one is the best one for your customers. Using the most realistic voice possible will help put callers at ease, make conversation more natural, and improve the customer experience.

SEE: Learn more about how to make a high-quality IVR recording.

Add a callback option

By including a customer callback option in your Smart IVR system, your customers won’t have to wait in a call queue for an unknown amount of time. This gives them the freedom to go about their day without losing their place in line, and it also gives you an opportunity to optimize your call management system for your live agents.

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Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim Spotted on Geekbench With Snapdragon 8 Elite, Hinting at Galaxy Unpacked Debut

Samsung Galaxy S25 series is expected to be unveiled at the company’s first Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event, which will take place in San Jose, California, on January 22 at 10am PT (10:30 pm IST). The lineup will likely include a base Galaxy S25 model as well as, Plus and Ultra variants. A fourth Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim model is also said to be in the works, and this variant has been spotted on a popular benchmarking website, which suggests its arrival is imminent. The listing hints at the expected chipset, RAM and software details of the phone.

Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim Geekbench Listing

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim with the model number SM-S937U was spotted on Geekbench. The handset appears with a motherboard codenamed ‘sun’ and an octa-core chipset with six cores clocking at 3.53GHz and two cores at 4.47GHz. This is expected to be the Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC. The phone scored 3,005 and 6,945 points on single-core and multi-core tests, respectively.

The Geekbench listing of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim shows the phone with 12GB of RAM and suggests it will run on Android 15, along with the company’s One UI 7 interface. 

Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim Launch, Features (Expected)

Older reports claimed that Samsung could introduce the Galaxy S25 Slim variant a few months after the release of its flagship Galaxy S25 series, which is expected to comprise base, Plus and Ultra models. A benchmark for the Galaxy S25 Slim variant close to the Galaxy Unpacked 2025 event is a sign that the phone could become the fourth model in the series.

samsung galaxy unpacked invite inline Galaxy Unpacked 2025

Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked 2025 invite
Photo Credit: Samsung

It is also speculated that the official Galaxy Unpacked 2025 invite hints at the launch of the Galaxy S25 Slim version. The image appears to show the corners of four handsets. These are expected to hint at the arrival of the Galaxy S25 Slim alongside the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+ and Galaxy S25 Ultra.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Slim is tipped to be thinner than 7mm, making it the slimmest phone from the company in a decade — since the Galaxy A8 was launched in 2015 with a thickness of 5.9mm. The phone could be equipped with a 6.6-inch screen, which will likely be the size of the Galaxy S25+ display as well. It is expected to house a battery with capacity between 4,700mAh and 5,000mAh. It is also said to feature a 200-megapixel ISOCELL HP5 primary camera and two 50-megapixel cameras with ISOCELL JN5 sensors, with ultrawide and telephoto (3.5x optical zoom) lenses.

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Samsung unveils an 8K TV with an RGB micro-LED backlight at CES, and it could arrive as early as this year

Samsung demoes an 8K, RGB micro-LED LCD TV at CES 2025 It follows on from Hisense’s RGB mini-LED LCD TV, the 116UX Samsung hopes to release it in 2025 as its flagship model Samsung has unveiled an 8K LCD TV that uses an RGB micro-LED backlight at CES 2025. The TV has no official name or model number, but Samsung hopes to release it in 2025. Only days after Hisense revealed a TV that uses an RGB mini-LED backlight, the Hisense 116-inch UX, which it said will drastically improve brightness and color accuracy over standard mini-LED TVs, Samsung has demonstrated an 8K set with an even more advanced RGB micro-LED backlight. As FlatpanelsHD reports, the prototype was actually shown one day before CES at the ‘Samsung First Look’ event. The model on display was an 8K, 98-inch set, though Samsung says it may be available in smaller sizes as well, and has an eye on a 2025 release date, though this is yet to be officially confirmed. The 8K, RGB micro-LED TV, if released in 2025, will serve as the flagship 8K TV for Samsung, sitting above the already announced Samsung QN990F (pictured above) and Samsung QN900F, revealed earlier at CES as part of Samsung’s 2025 mini-LED lineup. Samsung says that opting for micro-LED over mini-LED in the RGB backlight will allow for “three times more LEDs”, meaning bolder colors and improved brightness. The even smaller micro-LED backlight will most likely allow for more dimming zones than the mini-LED backlight as well. The set is currently a ‘prototype’ as there’s no name, model number, price or full spec list available, but it’s likely to be at the premium end of the market. Micro-LED for less? Samsung looks to take things a step further from the Hisense 116UX (pictured above) opting to use a RGB micro-LED backlight over the Hisense’s RGB mini-LED backlight (Image credit: Future) While this 8K, RGB micro-LED TV is likely to carry a very hefty price tag, it does bring about an interesting opportunity: access to micro-LED tech for less. Though the TV is still likely to be price in the high thousands or tens of thousand’s of dollars, it’ll be a significant drop on a fully-fledged micro-LED TV. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Samsung released a 98-inch, 8K model in 2023 (carried over into 2024), the Samsung QN990C, which costs $40,000 / £34,999 (roughly AU$64,545). So the 98-inch RBG micro-LED that was on show is going to be pricier than this, and will still be a premium product. However, this is still less than the eye-watering prices we see for purely micro-LED TVs, albeit with larger screen sizes. Samsung’s own 110-inch micro-LED from 2022 retails for $149,999 (roughly £121,860 / AU$242,000). LG’s 118-inch MAGNIT micro-LED , which is priced at $237,000, (roughly £129,550 AU$382,436) is something most people will never afford. Yet, micro-LED was said to be the future of TVs, even beating the best OLED TVs. But these prices just aren’t feasible for 99% of people. This new Samsung model won’t have the full benefits of a purely micro-LED TV, such as Hisense’s own staggering 163-inch micro-LED TV revealed at CES, but using micro-LEDs in the TV’s backlight would still be an upgrade over mini-LED backlights, as micro-LEDs will allow for better black levels, contrast, higher brightness and more vibrant colors. Is the tech still likely to be expensive? Yes, but you’d expect it to be significantly less than the going rate for a MicroLED TV. We’ll eagerly await more details on this RGB micro-LED from Samsung, with a very close eye on the price. Could this finally be the start of micro-LED’s integration into TVs at a reduced cost? Fingers crossed! You might also like We’re covering all of the latest CES news from the show as it happens. Stick with us for the big stories on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI. And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok for the latest from the CES show floor!

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Ancient Bronze Age Settlement Discovered in Caucasus Mountains Using Drone Mapping

A groundbreaking discovery has been made in the Caucasus Mountains where an ancient Bronze Age settlement, Dmanisis Gora, has been mapped using drone technology. This site, believed to be over 3,000 years old, reveals new insights into the evolution of large-scale settlements during the Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. Spanning an area far larger than initially expected, the research offers a fresh perspective on ancient urbanism and interactions between sedentary and mobile communities.

Drone Mapping Reveals Extensive Settlement

As reported by Science Daily, the project led by Dr. Nathaniel Erb-Satullo, Senior Lecturer in Architectural Science at Cranfield Forensic Institute and Dimitri Jachvliani, co-director at the Georgian National Museum, employed drone technology to create high-resolution models of the site. The drone, equipped with advanced imaging tools, captured nearly 11,000 photographs, which were later used to generate detailed maps of the settlement. This method allowed the identification of fortification walls, graves and other structural remnants spread across a vast area.

The site, originally thought to be much smaller, was found to include a 1-kilometre-long defensive wall protecting an outer settlement. This finding significantly alters the understanding of the region’s settlement patterns, which were influenced by interactions with pastoral communities and seasonal population dynamics.

Integrating Modern and Historical Data

To further analyse the settlement, drone-generated images were compared with declassified satellite imagery from the Cold War era. This comparison highlighted changes in the landscape over decades, distinguishing ancient features from those impacted by modern agricultural activities. Geographic Information System (GIS) software was employed to integrate and analyse the diverse datasets, revealing patterns in the site’s expansion and usage over time.

Dr. Erb-Satullo noted to Science Daily, that these findings offer invaluable data on population density, agricultural practices and the broader socio-economic landscape of ancient societies. Continued excavations have uncovered artefacts such as pottery shards and animal remains, shedding more light on the lives of the people who inhabited Dmanisis Gora. This research underscores the potential of drone technology in unearthing and documenting historical sites on an unprecedented scale

Catch the latest from the Consumer Electronics Show on Gadgets 360, at our CES 2025 hub.