please visit 7effects.com
NEW YORK, US: Time Warner Inc's Warner Bros Television Group will relaunch the WB Network as an online video site offering original programming alongside reruns of shows such as "Friends" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" to court a new generation of viewers.
TheWB.com targets 16-to-34-years-old viewers with new shows developed by writer and producer Josh Schwartz, known for "Gossip Girl" "The O.C." and "Terminator 4" director McG.
The launch comes as media companies struggle to court a new generation of viewers, who spend as much time watching television as they do sending text messages on cellphones and watching online videos.
Schwartz's "Gossip Girl," for instance, has failed to generate big ratings for the CW Network, but has attracted a loyal following online. The CW Network, which once streamed full episodes of the show on the Internet, decided recently to pull it off the Internet to boost TV viewership.
Schwartz is developing a new show for TheWB.com that "takes viewers to the front of the line and behind the soundboard of a fictional Hollywood rock club," Warner Bros said in a statement.
TheWb.com will also be distributed by Comcast Corp's video-on-demand service and its online entertainment site Fancast.com. The new site will also be available on Time Warner's AOL.
please visit 7effects.com
7effects Headline Animator
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Polaris, Western Sydney varsity sign MoU
please visit 7effects.com
SYDNEY (AUSTRALIA)/CHENNAI (INDIA): Polaris Software has partnered with the University of Western Sydney for contribution to local capacity building and help address the issue of IT skill shortages in Australia.
New South Wales government's Department of State and Regional Development, which helped Polaris launch its PACE Labs - a software testing automation and performance engineering Center of Excellence - in Sydney last year, would facilitate the partnership.
"The partnership will contribute to international research, skills & workforce building for Western Sydney and work experience & exchange programs for UWS graduates," said Beryl Hesketh, Dean of the College of Health and Science at UWS.
"It will also provide significant employment opportunities for UWS graduates and the Sydney workforce."
"The Western Sydney region was chosen because it is a major center for population growth and industry development and Polaris's corporate philosophy is aligned with UWS's strong commitment to community engagement," said Arun Jain, chairman and chief executive officer, Polaris Software Lab Limited.
The University of Western Sydney and Polaris Software will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on April 29 at the UWS Parramatta Campus.
Polaris Software is also in the process of establishing a software testing lab in Sydney.
please visit 7effects.com
SYDNEY (AUSTRALIA)/CHENNAI (INDIA): Polaris Software has partnered with the University of Western Sydney for contribution to local capacity building and help address the issue of IT skill shortages in Australia.
New South Wales government's Department of State and Regional Development, which helped Polaris launch its PACE Labs - a software testing automation and performance engineering Center of Excellence - in Sydney last year, would facilitate the partnership.
"The partnership will contribute to international research, skills & workforce building for Western Sydney and work experience & exchange programs for UWS graduates," said Beryl Hesketh, Dean of the College of Health and Science at UWS.
"It will also provide significant employment opportunities for UWS graduates and the Sydney workforce."
"The Western Sydney region was chosen because it is a major center for population growth and industry development and Polaris's corporate philosophy is aligned with UWS's strong commitment to community engagement," said Arun Jain, chairman and chief executive officer, Polaris Software Lab Limited.
The University of Western Sydney and Polaris Software will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on April 29 at the UWS Parramatta Campus.
Polaris Software is also in the process of establishing a software testing lab in Sydney.
please visit 7effects.com
Industry welcomes FinMin decision
please visit 7effects.com
BANGALORE, INDIA: The IT industry has welcomed finance minister P Chidambaram's announcement to extend tax holiday by a year for the Software Technology Park of India (STPI) scheme.
However, some companies while greeting the decision opined that an extension for a longer period would have been better.
S Mahalingam, CFO and ED, TCS
As an industry, we have the confidence to continuously invest heavily in the growth of the economy and create hundreds of thousands of skilled jobs in the country. In this context, the extension of the STPI scheme until 2010 will further strengthen the IT industry and hopefully, pave the way for further extensions.
V Balakrishnan, CFO, Infosys Technologies
This is a good move and would benefit the small and medium sized companies who are finding it difficult to move into SEZ space. Most of the larger companies are already pursuing their SEZ plans aggressively. This move will enable them to enjoy the tax benefits further for a period of one year on their revenues derived from their existing STP operations.
Srinivas Vadlamani, CFO, Satyam Computer Services
The extension of STPI benefits by one year is definitely a welcome move while an extension for a longer period would have definitely been more welcome. It could not have come at a more appropriate time, as the sector is grappling with the twin effects of the unprecedented surge in the rupee and uncertainty in the US economic landscape.
Swaminathan Krishnan, SVP (Global Business Operations) & CMO, Sasken Technologies
The extension is too short. One-year does not make a big impact. One-year horizon is pretty short term in planning cycle. I would have preferred a much longer period. Five-year extension would have an impact for the industry.
Rostow Ravanan, CFO, MindTree Ltd.
We are happy about the announcement, although a longer extension would have been more welcome. Overall, the extension is beneficial to the industry as a whole, particularly to small and medium firms.
N Ramachandran, CFO, iGATE Global Solutions
The extension of tax holiday for IT companies has been very timely and will help face the impending challenges of prevailing global economic uncertainties as well as strengthening Indian rupee. We do hope that the government takes a re-look at the whole scheme of tax holiday and formulates a more stable longer-term tax incentive structure that can be one of the enablers for the Indian IT sector to move up the value chain and attain the next level of dominance in the world market.
Archana Srinivasan, VP, Finance, Cybernet-SlashSupport
This step will give some reprieve to the STPI units and also help them retain their competitive edge especially in the current market scenario of the fluctuating rupee.
JA Chowdary, MD, NVIDIA Graphics Pvt. Ltd.
It is definitely a good decision especially for small and medium enterprises. The large companies have benefited for a long time and have their own campuses. Now, small companies should not be denied of this and this extension should be for a longer period. But we are happy that it has been extended for at least another year.
Ravi Pandit, chairman & Group CEO, KPIT Cummins
This is a welcome move for the entire industry, which is currently under a lot of pressure due to the strengthening rupee and weakening US economy. Moreover, the STPI scheme holds a special importance for the smaller companies as it provides an impetus for accelerated growth.
please visit 7effects.com
BANGALORE, INDIA: The IT industry has welcomed finance minister P Chidambaram's announcement to extend tax holiday by a year for the Software Technology Park of India (STPI) scheme.
However, some companies while greeting the decision opined that an extension for a longer period would have been better.
S Mahalingam, CFO and ED, TCS
As an industry, we have the confidence to continuously invest heavily in the growth of the economy and create hundreds of thousands of skilled jobs in the country. In this context, the extension of the STPI scheme until 2010 will further strengthen the IT industry and hopefully, pave the way for further extensions.
V Balakrishnan, CFO, Infosys Technologies
This is a good move and would benefit the small and medium sized companies who are finding it difficult to move into SEZ space. Most of the larger companies are already pursuing their SEZ plans aggressively. This move will enable them to enjoy the tax benefits further for a period of one year on their revenues derived from their existing STP operations.
Srinivas Vadlamani, CFO, Satyam Computer Services
The extension of STPI benefits by one year is definitely a welcome move while an extension for a longer period would have definitely been more welcome. It could not have come at a more appropriate time, as the sector is grappling with the twin effects of the unprecedented surge in the rupee and uncertainty in the US economic landscape.
Swaminathan Krishnan, SVP (Global Business Operations) & CMO, Sasken Technologies
The extension is too short. One-year does not make a big impact. One-year horizon is pretty short term in planning cycle. I would have preferred a much longer period. Five-year extension would have an impact for the industry.
Rostow Ravanan, CFO, MindTree Ltd.
We are happy about the announcement, although a longer extension would have been more welcome. Overall, the extension is beneficial to the industry as a whole, particularly to small and medium firms.
N Ramachandran, CFO, iGATE Global Solutions
The extension of tax holiday for IT companies has been very timely and will help face the impending challenges of prevailing global economic uncertainties as well as strengthening Indian rupee. We do hope that the government takes a re-look at the whole scheme of tax holiday and formulates a more stable longer-term tax incentive structure that can be one of the enablers for the Indian IT sector to move up the value chain and attain the next level of dominance in the world market.
Archana Srinivasan, VP, Finance, Cybernet-SlashSupport
This step will give some reprieve to the STPI units and also help them retain their competitive edge especially in the current market scenario of the fluctuating rupee.
JA Chowdary, MD, NVIDIA Graphics Pvt. Ltd.
It is definitely a good decision especially for small and medium enterprises. The large companies have benefited for a long time and have their own campuses. Now, small companies should not be denied of this and this extension should be for a longer period. But we are happy that it has been extended for at least another year.
Ravi Pandit, chairman & Group CEO, KPIT Cummins
This is a welcome move for the entire industry, which is currently under a lot of pressure due to the strengthening rupee and weakening US economy. Moreover, the STPI scheme holds a special importance for the smaller companies as it provides an impetus for accelerated growth.
please visit 7effects.com
Govt extends tax holiday to STPI by one year
please visit 7effects.com
NEW DELHI, INDIA: Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday extended tax holiday scheme by a year for the STPI (Software Technology Park of India) scheme.
While replying to a debate on budget proposals in parliament, the FM said that the decision was made as the next budget is likely to be presented only after May 2009.
The tax exemption scheme for companies based in STPI parks was to expire in March 2009.
As per the minister's announcement, IT-BPO companies will be benefited from the tax exemption till March 31, 2010.
The IT industry has been clamoring for a tax exemption for the STPI scheme as a possible way to tide over the crises precipitated by factors like US recession, rupee appreciation and inflation.
The government had announced a 10-year tax holiday for the units in April 2000 under a policy aimed at encouraging growth in the IT sector.
The new of tax holiday extension has been greeted by the IT industry.
"We are pleased that the extensive follow up and work done by Nasscom with the PMO, Ministry of IT, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Commerce, among others has provided this interim relief to the industry. In particular we are thankful to minister A Raja for his unstinted support," said Nasscom in a statement.
The decision is particularly beneficial for BPO companies and the small and medium segment, said Nasscom.
"This benefit will also give us time to come up with other workable and acceptable options for the future, beyond 2010. The IT-BPO industry is expanding into tier 2 and 3 cities which will help remove the pressure on large centers as well as help in more balanced economic development," the industry body said.
Nasscom added that it is important to provide incentives to those moving to tier 2 and 3 cities with STPI/SEZ like benefits.
please visit 7effects.com
NEW DELHI, INDIA: Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday extended tax holiday scheme by a year for the STPI (Software Technology Park of India) scheme.
While replying to a debate on budget proposals in parliament, the FM said that the decision was made as the next budget is likely to be presented only after May 2009.
The tax exemption scheme for companies based in STPI parks was to expire in March 2009.
As per the minister's announcement, IT-BPO companies will be benefited from the tax exemption till March 31, 2010.
The IT industry has been clamoring for a tax exemption for the STPI scheme as a possible way to tide over the crises precipitated by factors like US recession, rupee appreciation and inflation.
The government had announced a 10-year tax holiday for the units in April 2000 under a policy aimed at encouraging growth in the IT sector.
The new of tax holiday extension has been greeted by the IT industry.
"We are pleased that the extensive follow up and work done by Nasscom with the PMO, Ministry of IT, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Commerce, among others has provided this interim relief to the industry. In particular we are thankful to minister A Raja for his unstinted support," said Nasscom in a statement.
The decision is particularly beneficial for BPO companies and the small and medium segment, said Nasscom.
"This benefit will also give us time to come up with other workable and acceptable options for the future, beyond 2010. The IT-BPO industry is expanding into tier 2 and 3 cities which will help remove the pressure on large centers as well as help in more balanced economic development," the industry body said.
Nasscom added that it is important to provide incentives to those moving to tier 2 and 3 cities with STPI/SEZ like benefits.
please visit 7effects.com
Wooing the BPO woman
please visit 7effects.com
PUNE, INDIA: Femina, Women's Era, GrihaShobha, Vanita, Elle, MEOW 104.8 FM (a radio channel especially for women), sunsilkgangofgirls.com, and now the updated version of www.sitagita.com (Sigi) with special content for BPO women employees.
The site that made its debut over eight years ago, is now trying to make sense of huge better half of the industry.
And why not? According to an estimate, some time back in the Indian IT industry, women accounted for about to 30 per cent of the total workforce till last year and this was expected to go up to 45 per cent by 2010.
What is noteworthy is the steady rise of the figures. The figure, according to the Registrar General of India, as in 1981 was 19.7 per cent, which rose to 22.7 per cent in 1991, further rising to 25.7 per cent in 2001.
And recent Nasscom figures claim that the percentage of women workers in the IT and ITES sectors in India has risen by almost 18 per cent in the last two years.
So what triggered the idea of doing something for BPO's fairer sex?
Nirmal Mirza, CEO, Sigi points out the number of women in this sector and their unique needs. "The numbers would only grow. Look at the deluge of newspapers and sites that have sprung up off late. We want to be the ultimate BPO destination with a holistic experience. The idea is to give an all-purpose women's website that addresses their needs."
The menu of the site reflects the focus of BPO employees. Designed out of research with advisors, HR people, call center professionals and trainers who are in the best position to assess women needs, as Mirza shares, the effort has been to touch every possible aspect and gap area.
Dollops like BPO blogs, BPO buzz, advice on accent, office stuff, career and personal problems are good attempts amidst the usual vanilla stuff like beauty tips, marital problems, food and grandma corner. Articles like Office Romances, life in a BPO hit at the other side which comes into full bloom in the letters to Agony Aunt where sleeping partners, affairs, relationships usurp the eye-candy factor.
Nevertheless counseling is a good hit and a gap area if one goes by the feedback.
As a BPO employee shared, people in BPOs do need to go for psychiatrist's help, so counseling is a good idea.
Sigi has on its advisory board names like Hema Malini, film industrialist, Lily Madhok, Nutritionist, Dr. Nanditha Krishna, director, C.P. Arts Centre, Timeri Murari, Dr. Dega Narayana Reddy, expert on Sexology, Ayurveda expert Dr. Nedungadi V. Haridas and Dr. T. Prabalkumari, Psychiatry expert.
The effort has panned out well if figures are anything to go by.
"Last three months we have clocked one lakh unique visitors with four to five lakh page views per month."
But do BPO workers have time to check out the novel stuff made specially for them?
"No," says a BPO woman employee. "We seldom get time to access Net beyond the work. Moreover, we have to observe discipline on what to surf on Net and what not, so our radius of access is small. And who would want to check Net on the weekends when everyone just wants to unwind."
Still, there can be emphasis on areas that need more attention if we are talking about the BPO workforce specially. Their problems hover around career graph, growth, skill development, etc.
"I would look for more stuff on self-assessment, self-advancement, training, identification and fulfillment of gaps and advance courses," says Anupama M, a BPO professional with Ntrance, Pune.
For now, at Sigi, there are many possibilities being explored. The idea can be taken to the next level by tying up with the BPOs.
Discussions, for instance, are on with BPOs like 24/7 for possible initiatives besides co-sponsorship deals with others.
But the revenue model of the site would focus majorly on advertisements, reveals Mirza.
Starting shortly is another addition, video streaming and with many more ideas brewing in her mind, it would be interesting to see, how successfully, does the site lives up to her ambitions. Wooing the woman, as they say, is everything but easy.
please visit 7effects.com
PUNE, INDIA: Femina, Women's Era, GrihaShobha, Vanita, Elle, MEOW 104.8 FM (a radio channel especially for women), sunsilkgangofgirls.com, and now the updated version of www.sitagita.com (Sigi) with special content for BPO women employees.
The site that made its debut over eight years ago, is now trying to make sense of huge better half of the industry.
And why not? According to an estimate, some time back in the Indian IT industry, women accounted for about to 30 per cent of the total workforce till last year and this was expected to go up to 45 per cent by 2010.
What is noteworthy is the steady rise of the figures. The figure, according to the Registrar General of India, as in 1981 was 19.7 per cent, which rose to 22.7 per cent in 1991, further rising to 25.7 per cent in 2001.
And recent Nasscom figures claim that the percentage of women workers in the IT and ITES sectors in India has risen by almost 18 per cent in the last two years.
So what triggered the idea of doing something for BPO's fairer sex?
Nirmal Mirza, CEO, Sigi points out the number of women in this sector and their unique needs. "The numbers would only grow. Look at the deluge of newspapers and sites that have sprung up off late. We want to be the ultimate BPO destination with a holistic experience. The idea is to give an all-purpose women's website that addresses their needs."
The menu of the site reflects the focus of BPO employees. Designed out of research with advisors, HR people, call center professionals and trainers who are in the best position to assess women needs, as Mirza shares, the effort has been to touch every possible aspect and gap area.
Dollops like BPO blogs, BPO buzz, advice on accent, office stuff, career and personal problems are good attempts amidst the usual vanilla stuff like beauty tips, marital problems, food and grandma corner. Articles like Office Romances, life in a BPO hit at the other side which comes into full bloom in the letters to Agony Aunt where sleeping partners, affairs, relationships usurp the eye-candy factor.
Nevertheless counseling is a good hit and a gap area if one goes by the feedback.
As a BPO employee shared, people in BPOs do need to go for psychiatrist's help, so counseling is a good idea.
Sigi has on its advisory board names like Hema Malini, film industrialist, Lily Madhok, Nutritionist, Dr. Nanditha Krishna, director, C.P. Arts Centre, Timeri Murari, Dr. Dega Narayana Reddy, expert on Sexology, Ayurveda expert Dr. Nedungadi V. Haridas and Dr. T. Prabalkumari, Psychiatry expert.
The effort has panned out well if figures are anything to go by.
"Last three months we have clocked one lakh unique visitors with four to five lakh page views per month."
But do BPO workers have time to check out the novel stuff made specially for them?
"No," says a BPO woman employee. "We seldom get time to access Net beyond the work. Moreover, we have to observe discipline on what to surf on Net and what not, so our radius of access is small. And who would want to check Net on the weekends when everyone just wants to unwind."
Still, there can be emphasis on areas that need more attention if we are talking about the BPO workforce specially. Their problems hover around career graph, growth, skill development, etc.
"I would look for more stuff on self-assessment, self-advancement, training, identification and fulfillment of gaps and advance courses," says Anupama M, a BPO professional with Ntrance, Pune.
For now, at Sigi, there are many possibilities being explored. The idea can be taken to the next level by tying up with the BPOs.
Discussions, for instance, are on with BPOs like 24/7 for possible initiatives besides co-sponsorship deals with others.
But the revenue model of the site would focus majorly on advertisements, reveals Mirza.
Starting shortly is another addition, video streaming and with many more ideas brewing in her mind, it would be interesting to see, how successfully, does the site lives up to her ambitions. Wooing the woman, as they say, is everything but easy.
please visit 7effects.com
Jackie Chan takes cyber path to rebut reports
please visit 7effects.com
BANGALORE, INDIA: Even as the Tibetan issue has been brewing precipitated by the Olympic torch run, action hero Jackie Chan blamed the media for distorting his wordings and giving a wrong impression to the world about his participation in it.
His participation in the torch run had grabbed media headlines worldwide on account of his pro-Chinese stand.
Now, in a lengthy posting in his official website, Jackie Chan had blamed what he terms as 'irresponsible journalism' of media.
He said that when some reporters asked him about his participation in the Olympic torch run, he jokingly answered that "no one had better try to come near me while I'm carrying the torch."
"I said it as a joke, and believe me, I made it quite clear that I was fooling around," he wrote on his website.
But his comments were enough fodder for the media as the next day, news reports poured in with headlines like "Jackie Chan Threatens Olympic Protestors" and "Kung Fu Star Will Chop Down Protestors."
Interestingly, this accusation was made while trying to clear up things caused by reports in some sections of media that the action hero refused to eat Indian food and that he declined to talk to anyone and dismissed Indian stars during his recent visit to Chennai for an audio release of Kamal Haasan-starrer Tamil movie Dasavatharam.
"One article accused me of ridiculous things like refusing to drink India's bottled water – they said I brought my own imported mineral water - and of traveling with my own personal chefs because I refuse to eat Indian food," he wrote.
Terming all the reports "complete nonsense", he said that he had nothing but respect for Indian culture and Indian cinema. "And saying that I won't eat Indian food! Nothing could be further from the truth; I adore Indian food, and in fact had two excellent meals on this trip and was so full I could barely leave my seat!," he said.
The actor has challenged the reporters to prove that he actually brought his own water and asked them to check up with the housekeepers at the hotel whether he did such a thing.
"What brand did I bring? You say I refused to eat Indian food. Do your research and talk to the three butlers the hotel assigned to my room and ask them what I ate! You say I holed up in my air-conditioned hotel room, ignoring my hosts. Why would I travel all the way to India and refuse to leave my hotel room?"
He said that he had put up with a lot of ridiculous things written about him as he had been in the public eye for many years and that he seldom attacked anyone.
But, he said that few "irresponsible reporters" had spoiled the memory of his trip to India through some "offensive articles".
He said he had left Chennai the same night only due to his busy schedule.
please visit 7effects.com
BANGALORE, INDIA: Even as the Tibetan issue has been brewing precipitated by the Olympic torch run, action hero Jackie Chan blamed the media for distorting his wordings and giving a wrong impression to the world about his participation in it.
His participation in the torch run had grabbed media headlines worldwide on account of his pro-Chinese stand.
Now, in a lengthy posting in his official website, Jackie Chan had blamed what he terms as 'irresponsible journalism' of media.
He said that when some reporters asked him about his participation in the Olympic torch run, he jokingly answered that "no one had better try to come near me while I'm carrying the torch."
"I said it as a joke, and believe me, I made it quite clear that I was fooling around," he wrote on his website.
But his comments were enough fodder for the media as the next day, news reports poured in with headlines like "Jackie Chan Threatens Olympic Protestors" and "Kung Fu Star Will Chop Down Protestors."
Interestingly, this accusation was made while trying to clear up things caused by reports in some sections of media that the action hero refused to eat Indian food and that he declined to talk to anyone and dismissed Indian stars during his recent visit to Chennai for an audio release of Kamal Haasan-starrer Tamil movie Dasavatharam.
"One article accused me of ridiculous things like refusing to drink India's bottled water – they said I brought my own imported mineral water - and of traveling with my own personal chefs because I refuse to eat Indian food," he wrote.
Terming all the reports "complete nonsense", he said that he had nothing but respect for Indian culture and Indian cinema. "And saying that I won't eat Indian food! Nothing could be further from the truth; I adore Indian food, and in fact had two excellent meals on this trip and was so full I could barely leave my seat!," he said.
The actor has challenged the reporters to prove that he actually brought his own water and asked them to check up with the housekeepers at the hotel whether he did such a thing.
"What brand did I bring? You say I refused to eat Indian food. Do your research and talk to the three butlers the hotel assigned to my room and ask them what I ate! You say I holed up in my air-conditioned hotel room, ignoring my hosts. Why would I travel all the way to India and refuse to leave my hotel room?"
He said that he had put up with a lot of ridiculous things written about him as he had been in the public eye for many years and that he seldom attacked anyone.
But, he said that few "irresponsible reporters" had spoiled the memory of his trip to India through some "offensive articles".
He said he had left Chennai the same night only due to his busy schedule.
please visit 7effects.com
Monday, April 28, 2008
TCS opens delivery center in Ohio
please visit 7effects.com
NEW DELHI: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has announced the opening of its North America delivery center called TCS Seven Hills Park, located in Milford, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati.
The new facility includes 200,000 sq. ft of office space and can accommodate up to 1,000 TCS associates, most of who will be locally hired from the region.
The facility will serve as the primary software development and delivery center for North American customers. In addition, the campus will also showcase TCS Innovation Labs, customer network operations centers and briefing centers.
S Ramadorai, chief executive officer and managing director of Tata Consultancy Services, said, "The Cincinnati campus is a strategic investment to create an information technology eco-system in the state together with our customers and local universities. It reflects our long term commitment to customers in one of our key markets globally and will not only serve our North American customers but also help showcase innovation and our suite of offerings."
TCS has been operating in North America since 1979 when it established its first office in New York City. Today, TCS has more than 40 offices throughout North America.
please visit 7effects.com
NEW DELHI: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has announced the opening of its North America delivery center called TCS Seven Hills Park, located in Milford, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati.
The new facility includes 200,000 sq. ft of office space and can accommodate up to 1,000 TCS associates, most of who will be locally hired from the region.
The facility will serve as the primary software development and delivery center for North American customers. In addition, the campus will also showcase TCS Innovation Labs, customer network operations centers and briefing centers.
S Ramadorai, chief executive officer and managing director of Tata Consultancy Services, said, "The Cincinnati campus is a strategic investment to create an information technology eco-system in the state together with our customers and local universities. It reflects our long term commitment to customers in one of our key markets globally and will not only serve our North American customers but also help showcase innovation and our suite of offerings."
TCS has been operating in North America since 1979 when it established its first office in New York City. Today, TCS has more than 40 offices throughout North America.
please visit 7effects.com
TCS signs £60-m deal with Scottish Water
please visit 7effects.com
NEW DELHI, INDIA: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has signed a £60 million eight-year IT application services contract with Scottish Water, United Kingdom's only public sector water utility.
The contract will save Scottish Water a minimum of £8 million in operating expenditure alone over the next eight years.
Scottish Water serves 5.5 million customers in Scotland with water and waste water services.
TCS has also been selected as one of five partners to participate in the development framework for enterprise package implementations. TCS will consolidate Scottish Water's existing applications and transform information management to enhance the delivery of IT services to the business.
"TCS really impressed us with their strength and depth of expertise and even more so with their transparency and collaborative spirit," said David Brown, general manager - IT, Scottish Water.
"We are thrilled to be involved in this exciting project, helping Scottish Water achieve its business and IT objectives. That we won all the pieces of work that we bid for shows that customers are really starting to understand our commitment to an unparalleled certainty of delivery and customer experience," said AS Lakshminarayanan, VP and head, TCS UK and Ireland.
please visit 7effects.com
NEW DELHI, INDIA: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has signed a £60 million eight-year IT application services contract with Scottish Water, United Kingdom's only public sector water utility.
The contract will save Scottish Water a minimum of £8 million in operating expenditure alone over the next eight years.
Scottish Water serves 5.5 million customers in Scotland with water and waste water services.
TCS has also been selected as one of five partners to participate in the development framework for enterprise package implementations. TCS will consolidate Scottish Water's existing applications and transform information management to enhance the delivery of IT services to the business.
"TCS really impressed us with their strength and depth of expertise and even more so with their transparency and collaborative spirit," said David Brown, general manager - IT, Scottish Water.
"We are thrilled to be involved in this exciting project, helping Scottish Water achieve its business and IT objectives. That we won all the pieces of work that we bid for shows that customers are really starting to understand our commitment to an unparalleled certainty of delivery and customer experience," said AS Lakshminarayanan, VP and head, TCS UK and Ireland.
please visit 7effects.com
ISRO awes world with 10-satellite PSLV launch
please visit 7effects.com
BANGALORE, INDIA: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) today set up a world record by placing 10 satellites into the orbit in a single mission.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle – C9 (PSLV-C9) took off from Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh) putting into orbit two Indian and eight foreign satellites.
The Indian satellites were the remote sensing CARTOSAT-2A and the 83 kg Indian Mini Satellite (IMS-1). The rest were nanosatellites, including those developed by foreign research institutions from Germany and Canada.
Before today's feet, Russia had earlier launched eight satellites together.
"The mission was perfect," said G Madhavan Nair, chairman of ISRO after the launch. "It is a historic moment for us because it is the first time that we have launched 10 satellites in a single mission," he added.
please visit 7effects.com
BANGALORE, INDIA: The Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) today set up a world record by placing 10 satellites into the orbit in a single mission.
The Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle – C9 (PSLV-C9) took off from Sriharikota (Andhra Pradesh) putting into orbit two Indian and eight foreign satellites.
The Indian satellites were the remote sensing CARTOSAT-2A and the 83 kg Indian Mini Satellite (IMS-1). The rest were nanosatellites, including those developed by foreign research institutions from Germany and Canada.
Before today's feet, Russia had earlier launched eight satellites together.
"The mission was perfect," said G Madhavan Nair, chairman of ISRO after the launch. "It is a historic moment for us because it is the first time that we have launched 10 satellites in a single mission," he added.
please visit 7effects.com
Fund crunch made Intellect bow out of fab
please visit 7effects.com
HYDERABAD, INDIA: Intellect Inc. today cited lack of funds and partners for dropping its plan to set up a fab in Shamshabad.
Instead, the South Korean firm was now planning a joint venture to establish a solar fabricator, in which Goldstone Infratech, an Indian product company with focus on power and telecom sectors, would hold 56 per cent stake.
The funding would be on a debt equity ratio of 4:1. Goldstone would invest about Rs 140 crore in the new project.
The joint venture would be known as TF SolarPower and P June Min, the promoter of Intellect, would be its chairman.
Addressing a press conference here today, Dr Min said that it was difficult to attract investors to semiconductor fabricators in Fab City.
"The cost is 10 times higher than solar fabricators."
Dr Min had earlier registered a company called Nano Tech Silicon India to set up a fab in Shamshabad.
"We could not attract the technology partners or investors to the project," he said.
There were reports mentioning the possibility of IBM or Intel partnering Nano Tech Silicon India to set up a fab.
A minimum of Rs 6000 crore would be required to set up a functional semiconductor fabricator said Min.
"But there is now hope as due to central government policies large industrial houses such a Reliance and Tatas are showing interest (in semicon fabs)," added Dr Min.
He said India was an ideal location considering the presence of many chip designing companies.
please visit 7effects.com
HYDERABAD, INDIA: Intellect Inc. today cited lack of funds and partners for dropping its plan to set up a fab in Shamshabad.
Instead, the South Korean firm was now planning a joint venture to establish a solar fabricator, in which Goldstone Infratech, an Indian product company with focus on power and telecom sectors, would hold 56 per cent stake.
The funding would be on a debt equity ratio of 4:1. Goldstone would invest about Rs 140 crore in the new project.
The joint venture would be known as TF SolarPower and P June Min, the promoter of Intellect, would be its chairman.
Addressing a press conference here today, Dr Min said that it was difficult to attract investors to semiconductor fabricators in Fab City.
"The cost is 10 times higher than solar fabricators."
Dr Min had earlier registered a company called Nano Tech Silicon India to set up a fab in Shamshabad.
"We could not attract the technology partners or investors to the project," he said.
There were reports mentioning the possibility of IBM or Intel partnering Nano Tech Silicon India to set up a fab.
A minimum of Rs 6000 crore would be required to set up a functional semiconductor fabricator said Min.
"But there is now hope as due to central government policies large industrial houses such a Reliance and Tatas are showing interest (in semicon fabs)," added Dr Min.
He said India was an ideal location considering the presence of many chip designing companies.
please visit 7effects.com
Social media scares Indian corporates
please visit 7effects.com
BANGALORE, INDIA: Blogging needs no introduction. From bedroom bloggers who write on personal topics to those blogs on specific subjects like technology, you have them all on the cyberspace.
Corporate blogging, however, is in a nascent stage in India.
Companies worldwide see blogging as a cost-effective medium to talk about its products and services or share insights among all shareholders.
Indian companies like Infosys, TCS, Rediff, Milagrow, HCL, Cleartrip, Gridstone, FrotoLay and Naukri and Indian arms of MNCs like Microsoft, IBM, Hindustan Lever are into corporate blogging.
Opening a new window
Companies like Tata and Infosys have realized the potential of blogging in many ways.
Tata's blog, Tata Interactive Systems (TIS), got off to a good start; members of its Instructional Design group were first off the mark in posting their thoughts and engaging others within the broader worldwide ID and eLearning community.
"We have received some very positive feedback for our photo albums capturing life@TIS, from people considering TIS as a potential employer. I think this is because from the outside an organization often appears impregnable and this is one of the boundaries that we have been successful in lowering," says Ankush Gupta, manager, corporate marketing group and blog evangelist.
Infosys was among the first in the Indian IT industry to start a theme-based corporate blog, Think Flat, launched in 2006 to promote its 'Win in the Flat World' campaign.
Today, it maintains more than ten corporate blogs, attracting a community of global readers interested in understanding and discussing various facets of business, technology and global sourcing.
"At Infosys, blogs are an important part of our thought leadership strategy. Blogs provide our subject experts with a suitable medium for sharing ideas and receiving feedback from target audiences. We have evolved a blogging policy that specifies the protocols and standards for communicating to an external audience," states Srinivas Uppaluri, vice president and global head of Marketing, Infosys.
He feels that companies can use blogs effectively as a marketing platform to share new ideas and create thought leadership.
Blogs, like other social media, offer feeds – a feature that allows readers to subscribe to and receive blog updates without having to visit the blog periodically.
"This shrinks the 'time-to-market' of information delivery," adds Uppaluri.
Is there a fear factor?
A close look at the number of complaints in social media like mouthshut.com and complaints.com on various customer service deficiencies points to the necessity for companies to have their own mechanism -- blogging -- to take care of customer grievances.
Normally companies don't visit these sites and respond to the complainants, reveals K. Srinivasan, a Chennai-based PR consultant and president of Prime Point Foundation.
"New generation companies are extremely good as long as everything goes smooth. If you have any difficulty, they'd just blink. They are bad in handling customer grievances. Social media will put them straight," adds Srinivasan, an ardent advocate of social media.
Experts are unanimous in their view that Indian companies are hesitant to tap the possibilities thrown up social media.
Is it because the Indian corporates are reluctant to shake off their stuffy corporate image that they are shying away from taking to corporate blogging?
Mumbai-based Tushar Panchal, vice president of Rediffusion/DYR, feels that not many corporate houses understand the true value the social media platforms offer them.
"Traditionally Indians are not very effective communicators. And corporates are even worst. It is indeed very effective tool to reach out to your stakeholders in one of the most cost effective and personalized manner. There is a space for every subject and for everyone – use it wisely and effectively and you never know, you might even don't need to invest anything in traditional advertising," says Panchal.
He feels that it is high time that Indian companies had Chief Bloggers or Chief Knowledge Officers.
Another aspect, feel experts, that pulls corporates away from taking to blogging is their unwillingness to tolerate any adverse outcomes they fear would be generated as a result of blogging.
Says Nidhi Dewan, manager, corporate communication, Webchutney: "More corporates often back off from the prospect of dealing with negative feedback and comments on a blog. They obsessively worry about user comments or criticism sullying a company's equity. Consequently, they shy away from incorporating the practice."
Using a blog to patronize one's consumers with bigger words and promises isn't the way to go. Instead, a corporate blog should single-mindedly focus on being honest and being always receptive to feedback, both positive and negative.
Negative feedback is a reality and one that any corporate should be ready to confront without going on the defensive.
"If you have made a mistake, be the first one to admit it on your blog. If you cracked that long due product update, post it in straight away on the blog. That's what it is for, to talk to the people who matter honestly and frankly," says Dewan.
Prime Point's Srinivasan agrees with her, adding that the Indian companies fear that employees and the customers may post negative comments about them.
According to New Delhi-based social media expert Palin Ningthoujam, many people are reluctant to the idea of talking business openly as they fear that they will share trade secrets in the process.
Corporates also feel that they might lose control of their key messages and might not be able to control negative feedback.
However, he is sanguine about the future of corporate blogging in India.
"As business blogging gets popular in India I am sure more Indian corporates will also come forward to benefit from blogging like many abroad have," says Ningthoujam.
Meanwhile Dewan feels the biggest roadblock to corporate blogging in India is a serious lack of understanding about what corporate blogging involves and the goals and objectives of the practice.
"Lack of time is often a CEO's biggest grouse when it comes to blogging actively. A blog is only useful if it is updated regularly and has something useful or interesting to say," she adds.
PR redefined?
Some believe that effective use of corporate blogging may redefine the way PR agencies function today.
Rediffusion's Panchal believes the PR model is set to change and it can happen much sooner than expected.
"So, if you are a PR agency which is relying heavily on media relations model and doing an effective job of post office, you are soon going to be out of business and I advice you to do it now voluntarily, before you are forced to do it," says Panchal.
But at the same time, experts warn that complete reliance on blogs for dissemination of company announcements will be disastrous.
Ningthoujam feels corporate blogging will become one of the most important methods to initiate a discussion with the target audience. This and other forms of social media outreach will play a significant role in the future and PR agencies can help their clients strategize and implement such outreaches.
"I think ours is a PR agency-driven culture and will continue to remain so for sometime to come. Companies are not sure how this direct line of communication effectively operates and hence they choose to take the PR agency route but corporate blogs are pretty much a permanent fixture of the internet startup ecosystem and that's a great sign of things to come," sums up Dewan.
please visit 7effects.com
BANGALORE, INDIA: Blogging needs no introduction. From bedroom bloggers who write on personal topics to those blogs on specific subjects like technology, you have them all on the cyberspace.
Corporate blogging, however, is in a nascent stage in India.
Companies worldwide see blogging as a cost-effective medium to talk about its products and services or share insights among all shareholders.
Indian companies like Infosys, TCS, Rediff, Milagrow, HCL, Cleartrip, Gridstone, FrotoLay and Naukri and Indian arms of MNCs like Microsoft, IBM, Hindustan Lever are into corporate blogging.
Opening a new window
Companies like Tata and Infosys have realized the potential of blogging in many ways.
Tata's blog, Tata Interactive Systems (TIS), got off to a good start; members of its Instructional Design group were first off the mark in posting their thoughts and engaging others within the broader worldwide ID and eLearning community.
"We have received some very positive feedback for our photo albums capturing life@TIS, from people considering TIS as a potential employer. I think this is because from the outside an organization often appears impregnable and this is one of the boundaries that we have been successful in lowering," says Ankush Gupta, manager, corporate marketing group and blog evangelist.
Infosys was among the first in the Indian IT industry to start a theme-based corporate blog, Think Flat, launched in 2006 to promote its 'Win in the Flat World' campaign.
Today, it maintains more than ten corporate blogs, attracting a community of global readers interested in understanding and discussing various facets of business, technology and global sourcing.
"At Infosys, blogs are an important part of our thought leadership strategy. Blogs provide our subject experts with a suitable medium for sharing ideas and receiving feedback from target audiences. We have evolved a blogging policy that specifies the protocols and standards for communicating to an external audience," states Srinivas Uppaluri, vice president and global head of Marketing, Infosys.
He feels that companies can use blogs effectively as a marketing platform to share new ideas and create thought leadership.
Blogs, like other social media, offer feeds – a feature that allows readers to subscribe to and receive blog updates without having to visit the blog periodically.
"This shrinks the 'time-to-market' of information delivery," adds Uppaluri.
Is there a fear factor?
A close look at the number of complaints in social media like mouthshut.com and complaints.com on various customer service deficiencies points to the necessity for companies to have their own mechanism -- blogging -- to take care of customer grievances.
Normally companies don't visit these sites and respond to the complainants, reveals K. Srinivasan, a Chennai-based PR consultant and president of Prime Point Foundation.
"New generation companies are extremely good as long as everything goes smooth. If you have any difficulty, they'd just blink. They are bad in handling customer grievances. Social media will put them straight," adds Srinivasan, an ardent advocate of social media.
Experts are unanimous in their view that Indian companies are hesitant to tap the possibilities thrown up social media.
Is it because the Indian corporates are reluctant to shake off their stuffy corporate image that they are shying away from taking to corporate blogging?
Mumbai-based Tushar Panchal, vice president of Rediffusion/DYR, feels that not many corporate houses understand the true value the social media platforms offer them.
"Traditionally Indians are not very effective communicators. And corporates are even worst. It is indeed very effective tool to reach out to your stakeholders in one of the most cost effective and personalized manner. There is a space for every subject and for everyone – use it wisely and effectively and you never know, you might even don't need to invest anything in traditional advertising," says Panchal.
He feels that it is high time that Indian companies had Chief Bloggers or Chief Knowledge Officers.
Another aspect, feel experts, that pulls corporates away from taking to blogging is their unwillingness to tolerate any adverse outcomes they fear would be generated as a result of blogging.
Says Nidhi Dewan, manager, corporate communication, Webchutney: "More corporates often back off from the prospect of dealing with negative feedback and comments on a blog. They obsessively worry about user comments or criticism sullying a company's equity. Consequently, they shy away from incorporating the practice."
Using a blog to patronize one's consumers with bigger words and promises isn't the way to go. Instead, a corporate blog should single-mindedly focus on being honest and being always receptive to feedback, both positive and negative.
Negative feedback is a reality and one that any corporate should be ready to confront without going on the defensive.
"If you have made a mistake, be the first one to admit it on your blog. If you cracked that long due product update, post it in straight away on the blog. That's what it is for, to talk to the people who matter honestly and frankly," says Dewan.
Prime Point's Srinivasan agrees with her, adding that the Indian companies fear that employees and the customers may post negative comments about them.
According to New Delhi-based social media expert Palin Ningthoujam, many people are reluctant to the idea of talking business openly as they fear that they will share trade secrets in the process.
Corporates also feel that they might lose control of their key messages and might not be able to control negative feedback.
However, he is sanguine about the future of corporate blogging in India.
"As business blogging gets popular in India I am sure more Indian corporates will also come forward to benefit from blogging like many abroad have," says Ningthoujam.
Meanwhile Dewan feels the biggest roadblock to corporate blogging in India is a serious lack of understanding about what corporate blogging involves and the goals and objectives of the practice.
"Lack of time is often a CEO's biggest grouse when it comes to blogging actively. A blog is only useful if it is updated regularly and has something useful or interesting to say," she adds.
PR redefined?
Some believe that effective use of corporate blogging may redefine the way PR agencies function today.
Rediffusion's Panchal believes the PR model is set to change and it can happen much sooner than expected.
"So, if you are a PR agency which is relying heavily on media relations model and doing an effective job of post office, you are soon going to be out of business and I advice you to do it now voluntarily, before you are forced to do it," says Panchal.
But at the same time, experts warn that complete reliance on blogs for dissemination of company announcements will be disastrous.
Ningthoujam feels corporate blogging will become one of the most important methods to initiate a discussion with the target audience. This and other forms of social media outreach will play a significant role in the future and PR agencies can help their clients strategize and implement such outreaches.
"I think ours is a PR agency-driven culture and will continue to remain so for sometime to come. Companies are not sure how this direct line of communication effectively operates and hence they choose to take the PR agency route but corporate blogs are pretty much a permanent fixture of the internet startup ecosystem and that's a great sign of things to come," sums up Dewan.
please visit 7effects.com
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Tips to create 3D structures and animations
please visit 7effects.com
BANGALORE, INDIA: Creating lively 3D images or sculpting was initially a tough task, but now there are a number of software packages available in the market which help you in creating real images such as those of dinosaurs in Godzilla or Jurassic park. Direct Hit!
Applies To: 3D artists, game developers and film makers
Price: $595
USP: Create detailed organic models and transfer them to other 3D applications
Primary Link: www.pixologic.com
Google Keyword: zbrush
zBrush is one such software, which has an extensive set of real-time sculpting, texturing and deformation tools that can be used for creating quality game applications and illustrations with finer details.
It uses 'pixol' technology to contain information on depth and orientation. To use this software you need no formal training; you can simply apply texturing, shadows and lighting by directly sampling a photo or image.
In this article we will try to make a realistic tyre like figure by applying the masking effect in this software. Just follow the simple steps mentioned below.
please visit 7effects.com
BANGALORE, INDIA: Creating lively 3D images or sculpting was initially a tough task, but now there are a number of software packages available in the market which help you in creating real images such as those of dinosaurs in Godzilla or Jurassic park. Direct Hit!
Applies To: 3D artists, game developers and film makers
Price: $595
USP: Create detailed organic models and transfer them to other 3D applications
Primary Link: www.pixologic.com
Google Keyword: zbrush
zBrush is one such software, which has an extensive set of real-time sculpting, texturing and deformation tools that can be used for creating quality game applications and illustrations with finer details.
It uses 'pixol' technology to contain information on depth and orientation. To use this software you need no formal training; you can simply apply texturing, shadows and lighting by directly sampling a photo or image.
In this article we will try to make a realistic tyre like figure by applying the masking effect in this software. Just follow the simple steps mentioned below.
please visit 7effects.com
Tata Comm intros suite of security services
please visit 7effects.com
Mumbai, Maharashtra: Tata Communications (NYSE: TCL), a leading provider of the new world of communications, announced the launch of a robust suite of security services designed to protect the applications, IT systems and networks that power its customers' critical business infrastructures.
The high-quality, cost-effective security services, which include premise and managed services as well as professional services, enables Tata Communications to provide its customers with security solutions on a global basis.
Tata Communications delivers a full range of monitored and managed security solutions that are backed by aggressive performance-based Service Level Agreements (SLAs). The services are overseen by an experienced, globally distributed support team using state-of-the-art systems, processes and tools. Tata Communications' wide range of supported vendors and solutions, combined with its globally consistent and efficient service delivery model, meets the security needs for businesses.
"Research by our global network of strategic partners shows that security risks continue to increase dramatically. As attacks continue to grow in complexity, effective solutions must integrate multi-dimensionally across different categories of security infrastructure, take on global visibility of incidents and events, and build upon best-available real-time intelligence," said John Landau, Senior Vice President, Global Managed Services, Tata Communications.
"Tata Communications has assembled extraordinary expertise and purposefully designed its defense-in-depth services suite to address this concerning trend. We are strongly positioned to support our customers as they recognize the requirement to move beyond simple point security solutions towards globally consistent integrated threat management solutions."
Tata Communications' focus on managed services allows enterprises to reduce costs by outsourcing the increasingly difficult and expensive task of both monitoring and managing their security infrastructure, while simultaneously delivering higher levels of coverage and protection.
The suite of security services, which includes managed and monitored Firewalls and Unified 4Threat Management (UTM) appliances, Intrusion Detection and Prevention systems, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Detection and Mitigation, and Penetration Testing, offers customers proactive detection and evaluation of information security threats, accompanied by swift incident response and remediation actions.
Evaluation and response is based on Tata Communications' sophisticated real time security incident and event analysis, which draws upon a global base of current activity and trends.
"It is hard to predict when a new problem with security is going to arise. Service providers offering managed security services have a better view on the threat landscape and more data points then any individual enterprise can have access to on its own," said Rob Ayoub, Industry Manager - North America Information & Communication Technologies for Frost & Sullivan "Tata Communications combines security with telecommunications services on a global basis, operating in more than 100 countries.
This sets the company apart from others and allows it to offer simplicity for multi-national companies looking to rely on a small core of service providers"
By combining third party expertise with core security competencies, Tata Communications has assembled a suite of services robust enough to meet the needs of multinationals and global enterprises, yet priced to be accessible to small and medium sized enterprises. Additionally, Tata Communications' services enable enterprise customers worldwide to enhance the confidentiality, integrity and availability of their applications, information assets and systems, while managing their regulatory, compliance and IT governance requirements.
"Tata Communications' customers are running their businesses on cutting-edge IP solutions, with security management being a paramount concern," stated Vinod Kumar, President of Global Data and Mobility Solutions, Tata Communications. "As one of the world's largest global network operators, our company is committed to meet our customers' unique infrastructure needs, allowing them to focus on running their businesses. Our delivery of these world-class managed security solutions is now providing our customers with the ability to reliably secure their critical business networks and applications."
Global enterprises look to Tata Communications to reduce the complexities of information and network security, while meeting key governance benchmarks. Tata Communications' MSS are delivered in accordance with ITIL guidelines, and the company is in progress of attaining ISO27001 certification in May 2008.
Tata Communications' experience and range of risk and security solutions help clients secure business operations and maintain regulatory compliance across the globe.
please visit 7effects.com
Mumbai, Maharashtra: Tata Communications (NYSE: TCL), a leading provider of the new world of communications, announced the launch of a robust suite of security services designed to protect the applications, IT systems and networks that power its customers' critical business infrastructures.
The high-quality, cost-effective security services, which include premise and managed services as well as professional services, enables Tata Communications to provide its customers with security solutions on a global basis.
Tata Communications delivers a full range of monitored and managed security solutions that are backed by aggressive performance-based Service Level Agreements (SLAs). The services are overseen by an experienced, globally distributed support team using state-of-the-art systems, processes and tools. Tata Communications' wide range of supported vendors and solutions, combined with its globally consistent and efficient service delivery model, meets the security needs for businesses.
"Research by our global network of strategic partners shows that security risks continue to increase dramatically. As attacks continue to grow in complexity, effective solutions must integrate multi-dimensionally across different categories of security infrastructure, take on global visibility of incidents and events, and build upon best-available real-time intelligence," said John Landau, Senior Vice President, Global Managed Services, Tata Communications.
"Tata Communications has assembled extraordinary expertise and purposefully designed its defense-in-depth services suite to address this concerning trend. We are strongly positioned to support our customers as they recognize the requirement to move beyond simple point security solutions towards globally consistent integrated threat management solutions."
Tata Communications' focus on managed services allows enterprises to reduce costs by outsourcing the increasingly difficult and expensive task of both monitoring and managing their security infrastructure, while simultaneously delivering higher levels of coverage and protection.
The suite of security services, which includes managed and monitored Firewalls and Unified 4Threat Management (UTM) appliances, Intrusion Detection and Prevention systems, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Detection and Mitigation, and Penetration Testing, offers customers proactive detection and evaluation of information security threats, accompanied by swift incident response and remediation actions.
Evaluation and response is based on Tata Communications' sophisticated real time security incident and event analysis, which draws upon a global base of current activity and trends.
"It is hard to predict when a new problem with security is going to arise. Service providers offering managed security services have a better view on the threat landscape and more data points then any individual enterprise can have access to on its own," said Rob Ayoub, Industry Manager - North America Information & Communication Technologies for Frost & Sullivan "Tata Communications combines security with telecommunications services on a global basis, operating in more than 100 countries.
This sets the company apart from others and allows it to offer simplicity for multi-national companies looking to rely on a small core of service providers"
By combining third party expertise with core security competencies, Tata Communications has assembled a suite of services robust enough to meet the needs of multinationals and global enterprises, yet priced to be accessible to small and medium sized enterprises. Additionally, Tata Communications' services enable enterprise customers worldwide to enhance the confidentiality, integrity and availability of their applications, information assets and systems, while managing their regulatory, compliance and IT governance requirements.
"Tata Communications' customers are running their businesses on cutting-edge IP solutions, with security management being a paramount concern," stated Vinod Kumar, President of Global Data and Mobility Solutions, Tata Communications. "As one of the world's largest global network operators, our company is committed to meet our customers' unique infrastructure needs, allowing them to focus on running their businesses. Our delivery of these world-class managed security solutions is now providing our customers with the ability to reliably secure their critical business networks and applications."
Global enterprises look to Tata Communications to reduce the complexities of information and network security, while meeting key governance benchmarks. Tata Communications' MSS are delivered in accordance with ITIL guidelines, and the company is in progress of attaining ISO27001 certification in May 2008.
Tata Communications' experience and range of risk and security solutions help clients secure business operations and maintain regulatory compliance across the globe.
please visit 7effects.com
Now, lawyers just a click away
please visit 7effects.com
Visakhapatnam, India: Four million people go online per month to get legal advice. Numerous legal web sites have cropped up recently in the western world, many of which serve as virtual match-makers between lawyers searching for clients and clients in need of help.
Unlike our western counterparts, there has been no authentic legal portal for the Indian public until now.
This void gave birth to AdvocateKhoj - India's Dedicated Case Post System for Consumers (URL: http://www.advocatekhoj.com) to help people find a well-qualified lawyer for their legal issues.
Consumers who are in need of legal assistance can present their case by answering some simple questions about their legal situation, "free of cost" on the AdvocateKhoj website without revealing his or her identity. Lawyers enrolled with AdvocateKhoj would review these cases and send their replies.
The consumer can now view the responses from various advocates, check their background information, education and experience, and then make an informed decision on whom to engage for their case.
AdvocateKhoj uses automated online technologies that match specific needs of a consumer with a lawyer by matching geographically, and also based on a lawyer's various salient attributes and legal expertise.
The matching is fully automated and is based on client-entered criteria, so there is no preferential treatment of any particular lawyer.
The result: Prior to any money changing hands, and with minimal time spent, consumers can present their cases and in-turn get in touch with lawyers of their choice!
According to Anoop Vincent, co-founder, AdvocateKhoj, "It's obvious that consumers would embrace this new and unique service as all of us prefer to make empowered and informed decisions. The search for a well-qualified lawyer or a good client should be no different."
please visit 7effects.com
Visakhapatnam, India: Four million people go online per month to get legal advice. Numerous legal web sites have cropped up recently in the western world, many of which serve as virtual match-makers between lawyers searching for clients and clients in need of help.
Unlike our western counterparts, there has been no authentic legal portal for the Indian public until now.
This void gave birth to AdvocateKhoj - India's Dedicated Case Post System for Consumers (URL: http://www.advocatekhoj.com) to help people find a well-qualified lawyer for their legal issues.
Consumers who are in need of legal assistance can present their case by answering some simple questions about their legal situation, "free of cost" on the AdvocateKhoj website without revealing his or her identity. Lawyers enrolled with AdvocateKhoj would review these cases and send their replies.
The consumer can now view the responses from various advocates, check their background information, education and experience, and then make an informed decision on whom to engage for their case.
AdvocateKhoj uses automated online technologies that match specific needs of a consumer with a lawyer by matching geographically, and also based on a lawyer's various salient attributes and legal expertise.
The matching is fully automated and is based on client-entered criteria, so there is no preferential treatment of any particular lawyer.
The result: Prior to any money changing hands, and with minimal time spent, consumers can present their cases and in-turn get in touch with lawyers of their choice!
According to Anoop Vincent, co-founder, AdvocateKhoj, "It's obvious that consumers would embrace this new and unique service as all of us prefer to make empowered and informed decisions. The search for a well-qualified lawyer or a good client should be no different."
please visit 7effects.com
A detour in to KPO sector
please visit 7effects.com
BANGALORE, INDIA: Someone has blogged that "KPO is about good money, better working hours compared to BPO and an opportunity to do research and technical consultancy." Like religion, KPO means many things to many people as there are varying definitions of what knowledge based work comprises.
Simply put, KPO is an outsourced service that requires an element of domain expertise, judgment, decision-making and analysis. It requires varying degrees of brain-ware, with services at the top of the KPO value chain requiring a high degree of intellectual sophistication. The bottom end of the pyramid is marked by mechanistic process-driven work that mirrors some high end BPO tasks.
India's emergence as the best destination for KPO services is driven by the usual set of factors – from cost saving to improved quality, overseas companies have a lot to gain. Having seen the tangible and intangible benefits of moving their IT and back office work to India, large organizations in the US and Europe are now tasting blood with the off-shoring of high-end design, research, analytics and modeling work.
The ability to do work in English will ensure that India retains the top slot globally for KPO off-shoring. While other countries in Eastern / Central Europe and Asia offer specific advantages, there is no region that brings as much to the table and at the desired scale. The clustering effect completes the virtuous cycle of reinforcing the lead that India has in this global market.
The KPO industry is scratching the tip of the iceberg currently, and will see strong growth in the next 5 years. Financial year 2007-08 would witness a 30-35 percent expansion in the KPO market in India, if all goes well. Data analytics would witness the fastest growth given its current attractiveness. The RPO and LPO segments will see robust growth as well.
Stepping into 2008, impediments such as the rising rupee, exorbitantly priced infrastructure, a crippling shortage of talent, unrealistic salary expectations, and asinine taxation (MAT, FBT, Service Tax et al) will reduce the profitability of third party service providers, and dilute the business case for captive operators. These factors will not deter newer KPO players, but will challenge each industry participant to focus on productivity, efficiency and product pricing.
The KPO sector in India is heavily skewed towards work from the financial services market, especially in the US. There are some prominent KPOs that derive 100% of their business from the financial sector. The current turmoil in the US financial sector could rapidly morph into an animal that runs a shiver down the banking sector globally. This would definitely impact the nascent KPO industry, reducing flow of work to India coupled with budgets getting tighter. Decisions will get pushed out further, extending the sales funnel and adding to business development costs.
The coming year will also see some consolidation in the industry, unusual for a nascent market like KPO, but driven largely by large Indian IT and BPO companies that would like to bolt-on KPO operations in the hope of becoming full service providers. Also, scaling up high-end work is much more difficult than a ramp-up in call center operations. Companies that don't have the luxury of waiting for time-to-market will acquire smaller outfits in a race to grow rapidly. Some of the smaller firms will also sell out, cashing in on the unrealistic valuations (PE driven) in this space.
It promises to be yet another exciting year for this industry, where growth imperatives and talent constraints will drive companies to explore newer business models and operating strategies.
This contributory artcle is from Sameer Walia, MD, The Smart Cube
please visit 7effects.com
BANGALORE, INDIA: Someone has blogged that "KPO is about good money, better working hours compared to BPO and an opportunity to do research and technical consultancy." Like religion, KPO means many things to many people as there are varying definitions of what knowledge based work comprises.
Simply put, KPO is an outsourced service that requires an element of domain expertise, judgment, decision-making and analysis. It requires varying degrees of brain-ware, with services at the top of the KPO value chain requiring a high degree of intellectual sophistication. The bottom end of the pyramid is marked by mechanistic process-driven work that mirrors some high end BPO tasks.
India's emergence as the best destination for KPO services is driven by the usual set of factors – from cost saving to improved quality, overseas companies have a lot to gain. Having seen the tangible and intangible benefits of moving their IT and back office work to India, large organizations in the US and Europe are now tasting blood with the off-shoring of high-end design, research, analytics and modeling work.
The ability to do work in English will ensure that India retains the top slot globally for KPO off-shoring. While other countries in Eastern / Central Europe and Asia offer specific advantages, there is no region that brings as much to the table and at the desired scale. The clustering effect completes the virtuous cycle of reinforcing the lead that India has in this global market.
The KPO industry is scratching the tip of the iceberg currently, and will see strong growth in the next 5 years. Financial year 2007-08 would witness a 30-35 percent expansion in the KPO market in India, if all goes well. Data analytics would witness the fastest growth given its current attractiveness. The RPO and LPO segments will see robust growth as well.
Stepping into 2008, impediments such as the rising rupee, exorbitantly priced infrastructure, a crippling shortage of talent, unrealistic salary expectations, and asinine taxation (MAT, FBT, Service Tax et al) will reduce the profitability of third party service providers, and dilute the business case for captive operators. These factors will not deter newer KPO players, but will challenge each industry participant to focus on productivity, efficiency and product pricing.
The KPO sector in India is heavily skewed towards work from the financial services market, especially in the US. There are some prominent KPOs that derive 100% of their business from the financial sector. The current turmoil in the US financial sector could rapidly morph into an animal that runs a shiver down the banking sector globally. This would definitely impact the nascent KPO industry, reducing flow of work to India coupled with budgets getting tighter. Decisions will get pushed out further, extending the sales funnel and adding to business development costs.
The coming year will also see some consolidation in the industry, unusual for a nascent market like KPO, but driven largely by large Indian IT and BPO companies that would like to bolt-on KPO operations in the hope of becoming full service providers. Also, scaling up high-end work is much more difficult than a ramp-up in call center operations. Companies that don't have the luxury of waiting for time-to-market will acquire smaller outfits in a race to grow rapidly. Some of the smaller firms will also sell out, cashing in on the unrealistic valuations (PE driven) in this space.
It promises to be yet another exciting year for this industry, where growth imperatives and talent constraints will drive companies to explore newer business models and operating strategies.
This contributory artcle is from Sameer Walia, MD, The Smart Cube
please visit 7effects.com
Reliance Globalcom buys stake in eWave World
please visit 7effects.com
MUMBAI, INDIA: Reliance Globalcom, the global arm of Reliance Communications, has acquired a 90 per cent stake in British Virgin Islands registered WiMax operator eWave World. The financial terms of the acquisition were not divulged.
The Anil Ambani-controlled Reliance Communications is also planning to invest $500 million (Rs 2,000 crore) through the acquired company in the next two-three years. The investment would be to build and acquire WiMax networks across 50 countries across the world.
This is the third acquisition by the company as the company had acquired US-based Ethernet service provider Yipes Holdings for $300 million (Rs 1,200 crore) in July 2007. The group also acquired a 10 per cent stake in French WiMax chip manufacturer Sequans Communications in February this year for an undisclosed sum.
According to Reliance Globalcom chief executive officer Punit Garg, "This acquisition will help in creating value proposition for both share- and stakeholders of the company, while for RCom this will help the company to emerge as the leading WiMax operator in the world. eWave World has presence across the US and China other places and this will help in rolling out best in class future proof last mile network."
The acquisition will also help RCom to foray into the emerging 4G WiMax sector across 50 countries, servicing 75 per cent of global population.
eWave World was formed by a group of industry veterans and it holds WiMax licenses and spectrum in several countries, including China. The company has put down over 36,000 km of optic fibre in China that will enable it to provide broadband services in that country.
Reliance Globalcom, on its part, will also be looking at joining hands with eWave World to provide broadband and last mile access in China, Garg said.
The company will also make a $500 million investment to acquire WiMax licences and commence operations across Asia, Europe, Latin America and Africa by 2012.
please visit 7effects.com
MUMBAI, INDIA: Reliance Globalcom, the global arm of Reliance Communications, has acquired a 90 per cent stake in British Virgin Islands registered WiMax operator eWave World. The financial terms of the acquisition were not divulged.
The Anil Ambani-controlled Reliance Communications is also planning to invest $500 million (Rs 2,000 crore) through the acquired company in the next two-three years. The investment would be to build and acquire WiMax networks across 50 countries across the world.
This is the third acquisition by the company as the company had acquired US-based Ethernet service provider Yipes Holdings for $300 million (Rs 1,200 crore) in July 2007. The group also acquired a 10 per cent stake in French WiMax chip manufacturer Sequans Communications in February this year for an undisclosed sum.
According to Reliance Globalcom chief executive officer Punit Garg, "This acquisition will help in creating value proposition for both share- and stakeholders of the company, while for RCom this will help the company to emerge as the leading WiMax operator in the world. eWave World has presence across the US and China other places and this will help in rolling out best in class future proof last mile network."
The acquisition will also help RCom to foray into the emerging 4G WiMax sector across 50 countries, servicing 75 per cent of global population.
eWave World was formed by a group of industry veterans and it holds WiMax licenses and spectrum in several countries, including China. The company has put down over 36,000 km of optic fibre in China that will enable it to provide broadband services in that country.
Reliance Globalcom, on its part, will also be looking at joining hands with eWave World to provide broadband and last mile access in China, Garg said.
The company will also make a $500 million investment to acquire WiMax licences and commence operations across Asia, Europe, Latin America and Africa by 2012.
please visit 7effects.com
Microsoft to stop licensing XP
please visit 7effects.com
LOUVAIN-LA-NEUVE, BELGIUM: Microsoft could re-think plans to phase out its Windows XP operating system by June 30 if customers show they want to keep it but so far they have not, chief executive Steve Ballmer said.
"XP will hit an end-of-life. We have announced one. If customer feedback varies we can always wake up smarter but right now we have a plan for end-of-life for new XP shipments," Ballmer told a news conference on Thursday.
Microsoft has announced that it will stop licensing Windows XP to computer makers and end retail sales by June 30.
Ballmer said most retailers sold computers with Vista, the latest version of its Windows operating system, and most consumers were choosing to buy Vista.
Some consumers have complained they were unable to buy XP at retail stores, or as consumers. They say that in order to get XP they must buy their computers as small businesses.
"In the business environment, we still have customers who are buying PCs with XP" because information technology departments often have to work with old machines, Ballmer said.
Vista requires high-speed central processing units installed only in newer machines.
Ballmer was also asked whether the company would appeal against an 899 million euro ($1.42 billion) antitrust fine imposed by the Brussels-based European Commission in February.
"I really have nothing to say about that today, sorry," he said.
The company must decide by early May whether to appeal to the European Court of First Instance against the fine, imposed because the Commission found Microsoft had charged rivals high prices to discourage software competition.
The court upheld a 497 million euro fine and other antitrust penalties against Microsoft in a landmark decision in September.
Ballmer was speaking at a news conference called to announce the establishment of an "innovation centre" in the Belgian city of Mons, near where rival Google has a data centre.
Ballmer, asked whether Microsoft had decided to locate in Mons because Google was there, said it had not.
He reiterated Microsoft's plan to go to Yahoo! shareholders if that company turned down its takeover offer of $43.6 billion.
"We've sent them a letter that says, 'it's a good price, please let us know. If you don't let us know, maybe your shareholders will think it's a good price.' "
please visit 7effects.com
LOUVAIN-LA-NEUVE, BELGIUM: Microsoft could re-think plans to phase out its Windows XP operating system by June 30 if customers show they want to keep it but so far they have not, chief executive Steve Ballmer said.
"XP will hit an end-of-life. We have announced one. If customer feedback varies we can always wake up smarter but right now we have a plan for end-of-life for new XP shipments," Ballmer told a news conference on Thursday.
Microsoft has announced that it will stop licensing Windows XP to computer makers and end retail sales by June 30.
Ballmer said most retailers sold computers with Vista, the latest version of its Windows operating system, and most consumers were choosing to buy Vista.
Some consumers have complained they were unable to buy XP at retail stores, or as consumers. They say that in order to get XP they must buy their computers as small businesses.
"In the business environment, we still have customers who are buying PCs with XP" because information technology departments often have to work with old machines, Ballmer said.
Vista requires high-speed central processing units installed only in newer machines.
Ballmer was also asked whether the company would appeal against an 899 million euro ($1.42 billion) antitrust fine imposed by the Brussels-based European Commission in February.
"I really have nothing to say about that today, sorry," he said.
The company must decide by early May whether to appeal to the European Court of First Instance against the fine, imposed because the Commission found Microsoft had charged rivals high prices to discourage software competition.
The court upheld a 497 million euro fine and other antitrust penalties against Microsoft in a landmark decision in September.
Ballmer was speaking at a news conference called to announce the establishment of an "innovation centre" in the Belgian city of Mons, near where rival Google has a data centre.
Ballmer, asked whether Microsoft had decided to locate in Mons because Google was there, said it had not.
He reiterated Microsoft's plan to go to Yahoo! shareholders if that company turned down its takeover offer of $43.6 billion.
"We've sent them a letter that says, 'it's a good price, please let us know. If you don't let us know, maybe your shareholders will think it's a good price.' "
please visit 7effects.com
Google optimistic regulators won't bar Yahoo
please visit 7effects.com
SAN FRANCISCO, USA: Google Inc believes regulators would not bar a potential business deal with Yahoo Inc because it would be "non-exclusive" and falls short of an outright merger, a person familiar with Google's thinking said.
Yahoo is exploring alternatives to Microsoft Corp's $42.7 billion takeover offer, which the Web pioneer has rejected for being too low.
The US Justice Department is questioning the companies about potential competitive issues raised by a partnership, sources said this week, as Yahoo completed a two-week test of Google's system for selling ads alongside Yahoo's own Web search results.
Google believes such a partnership would not be anti-competitive because it would be an arrangement in which Yahoo would use Google's more profitable search advertising platform to make more money for itself, said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.
A deal would be no different from partnerships Google has with other Web companies including Time Warner Inc's AOL and IAC/InterActiveCorp, the source said.
By contrast, Google thinks a takeover by Microsoft of Yahoo would raise far more antitrust concerns because the combined company could corner large chunks of multiple markets, from Web mail to instant messaging, the person said.
Google and Yahoo have said they cooperated with the Justice Department and told the agency about the test.
When Yahoo said two weeks ago that it had begun testing Google's AdSense system, it drew outcry from critics who see Google's domination of the market as a barrier to a deal.
Google is the top search engine, and a tie-up with No. 2 search engine Yahoo would give the two companies more than 80 per cent of the market, according to ratings company Hitwise.
Neither company has disclosed the results of the test, under which 3 per cent of US Yahoo searches carried advertisements using AdSense.
Yahoo President Susan Decker said on Tuesday it was "premature" to speculate on options the company might pursue with Google.
Google remains open to further discussions with Yahoo on hammering out a deal because no final decisions have been made, the source said.
For its part, Microsoft has said a Yahoo-Google partnership would make the market for Web search far less competitive.
"The general rule would be that if the arrangement substantially limits competition in some aspect of their business, that would be problematic," said Aaron Edlin, who teaches antitrust law at the University of California at Berkeley.
"Collaboration that comes short of merger is much more apt to pass muster before antitrust authorities," he said
please visit 7effects.com
SAN FRANCISCO, USA: Google Inc believes regulators would not bar a potential business deal with Yahoo Inc because it would be "non-exclusive" and falls short of an outright merger, a person familiar with Google's thinking said.
Yahoo is exploring alternatives to Microsoft Corp's $42.7 billion takeover offer, which the Web pioneer has rejected for being too low.
The US Justice Department is questioning the companies about potential competitive issues raised by a partnership, sources said this week, as Yahoo completed a two-week test of Google's system for selling ads alongside Yahoo's own Web search results.
Google believes such a partnership would not be anti-competitive because it would be an arrangement in which Yahoo would use Google's more profitable search advertising platform to make more money for itself, said the source, speaking on condition of anonymity.
A deal would be no different from partnerships Google has with other Web companies including Time Warner Inc's AOL and IAC/InterActiveCorp, the source said.
By contrast, Google thinks a takeover by Microsoft of Yahoo would raise far more antitrust concerns because the combined company could corner large chunks of multiple markets, from Web mail to instant messaging, the person said.
Google and Yahoo have said they cooperated with the Justice Department and told the agency about the test.
When Yahoo said two weeks ago that it had begun testing Google's AdSense system, it drew outcry from critics who see Google's domination of the market as a barrier to a deal.
Google is the top search engine, and a tie-up with No. 2 search engine Yahoo would give the two companies more than 80 per cent of the market, according to ratings company Hitwise.
Neither company has disclosed the results of the test, under which 3 per cent of US Yahoo searches carried advertisements using AdSense.
Yahoo President Susan Decker said on Tuesday it was "premature" to speculate on options the company might pursue with Google.
Google remains open to further discussions with Yahoo on hammering out a deal because no final decisions have been made, the source said.
For its part, Microsoft has said a Yahoo-Google partnership would make the market for Web search far less competitive.
"The general rule would be that if the arrangement substantially limits competition in some aspect of their business, that would be problematic," said Aaron Edlin, who teaches antitrust law at the University of California at Berkeley.
"Collaboration that comes short of merger is much more apt to pass muster before antitrust authorities," he said
please visit 7effects.com
Launch of 3G BlackBerry faces delay
please visit 7effects.com
OTTAWA, CANADA: Research in Motion shares fell 3 per cent on Friday after a Fortune.com story said that a high-speed wireless version of its BlackBerry smartphone for top US phone company AT&T Inc is facing delays.
The introduction has been pushed back as far as August from June, the story on Fortune magazine's website said, citing unnamed people close to the companies. The reason for the delay was unclear, but AT&T had worries about call quality, the report said.
RIM and AT&T declined comment on the report, which also said the delay could hurt RIM phone shipments and subscriber growth in its second quarter ending August 30.
But one analyst said the delay isn't news, pointing to a January report in which he flagged a later-than-expected launch.
Canaccord Adams analyst Peter Misek downgraded RIM on January 11 to a "hold" rating, citing a 3G device delay until June as well as US economic weakness.
Misek wrote on March 31 that RIM's 3G BlackBerry had just recently been delivered to AT&T and Vodafone labs and he repeated his February forecast that the launch was now likely delayed to August.
RIM had to work with its chip supplier Marvell to resolve technical problems, said Misek. He believes those issues are now sorted out and that network certification, which takes about three months, is the last hurdle.
"I'm very, very disappointed that the market finds this as any kind of news. It's not going to have any impact on the August quarter and we've always said this device is going to be delayed," he said. "I'm just really surprised more people didn't know about it."
Shares in Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM fell Canadian $3.77 to end at Canadian $122 on the Toronto Stock Exchange and dropped $3.62 to $120.02 on Nasdaq on Friday.
The phone, which Fortune.com said may be called Meteor, will likely be unveiled by RIM within six weeks, Misek predicted.
AT&T chief financial officer Rick Lindner referred to plans for a high-speed BlackBerry with third generation, or 3G, technology on a quarterly earnings conference call earlier this week, but did not give a date for the launch.
"We're just starting to see a BlackBerry 3G come out. As those integrated devices move to 3G, I think that will be the next catalyst to drive stronger 3G growth," he said.
"New customers coming in today, if they are buying a phone, many times, particularly postpaid customers, they're primarily going to 3G."
RIM has said it will introduce devices based on HSDPA, a high-speed 3G wireless technology that is popular in Europe and used by AT&T.
"Certainly going to HSDPA is something that's very important to us in the near term," chief executive Jim Balsillie had said in February.
TD Newcrest analyst Chris Umiastowski speculated about the timing of RIM 3G device shipments in a recent note that lowered his earnings estimates and stock target.
"We believe the device is on track to be available either at the end of May or in June. That said, we are not yet clear on when AT&T will start selling the device," he wrote.
"Perhaps it will launch in Europe (with Vodafone) prior to hitting North American soil?...A launch of this upcoming 3G device either by AT&T or Vodafone should result in a significant number of hardware shipments within the first full quarter of launch."
AT&T and rival carrier Verizon make up about 40 per cent of RIM's new subscriber growth, the analyst estimated.
AT&T, the exclusive U.S. carrier for Apple Inc's iPhone, a competitor to BlackBerry, hinted at a US trade show earlier this month that it expects to have a 3G version of iPhone in coming months. It did not give a specific date.
please visit 7effects.com
OTTAWA, CANADA: Research in Motion shares fell 3 per cent on Friday after a Fortune.com story said that a high-speed wireless version of its BlackBerry smartphone for top US phone company AT&T Inc is facing delays.
The introduction has been pushed back as far as August from June, the story on Fortune magazine's website said, citing unnamed people close to the companies. The reason for the delay was unclear, but AT&T had worries about call quality, the report said.
RIM and AT&T declined comment on the report, which also said the delay could hurt RIM phone shipments and subscriber growth in its second quarter ending August 30.
But one analyst said the delay isn't news, pointing to a January report in which he flagged a later-than-expected launch.
Canaccord Adams analyst Peter Misek downgraded RIM on January 11 to a "hold" rating, citing a 3G device delay until June as well as US economic weakness.
Misek wrote on March 31 that RIM's 3G BlackBerry had just recently been delivered to AT&T and Vodafone labs and he repeated his February forecast that the launch was now likely delayed to August.
RIM had to work with its chip supplier Marvell to resolve technical problems, said Misek. He believes those issues are now sorted out and that network certification, which takes about three months, is the last hurdle.
"I'm very, very disappointed that the market finds this as any kind of news. It's not going to have any impact on the August quarter and we've always said this device is going to be delayed," he said. "I'm just really surprised more people didn't know about it."
Shares in Waterloo, Ontario-based RIM fell Canadian $3.77 to end at Canadian $122 on the Toronto Stock Exchange and dropped $3.62 to $120.02 on Nasdaq on Friday.
The phone, which Fortune.com said may be called Meteor, will likely be unveiled by RIM within six weeks, Misek predicted.
AT&T chief financial officer Rick Lindner referred to plans for a high-speed BlackBerry with third generation, or 3G, technology on a quarterly earnings conference call earlier this week, but did not give a date for the launch.
"We're just starting to see a BlackBerry 3G come out. As those integrated devices move to 3G, I think that will be the next catalyst to drive stronger 3G growth," he said.
"New customers coming in today, if they are buying a phone, many times, particularly postpaid customers, they're primarily going to 3G."
RIM has said it will introduce devices based on HSDPA, a high-speed 3G wireless technology that is popular in Europe and used by AT&T.
"Certainly going to HSDPA is something that's very important to us in the near term," chief executive Jim Balsillie had said in February.
TD Newcrest analyst Chris Umiastowski speculated about the timing of RIM 3G device shipments in a recent note that lowered his earnings estimates and stock target.
"We believe the device is on track to be available either at the end of May or in June. That said, we are not yet clear on when AT&T will start selling the device," he wrote.
"Perhaps it will launch in Europe (with Vodafone) prior to hitting North American soil?...A launch of this upcoming 3G device either by AT&T or Vodafone should result in a significant number of hardware shipments within the first full quarter of launch."
AT&T and rival carrier Verizon make up about 40 per cent of RIM's new subscriber growth, the analyst estimated.
AT&T, the exclusive U.S. carrier for Apple Inc's iPhone, a competitor to BlackBerry, hinted at a US trade show earlier this month that it expects to have a 3G version of iPhone in coming months. It did not give a specific date.
please visit 7effects.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)