Leslie D'Monte &Amp; Bibhu Ranjan Mishra

Stories by Leslie D'Monte &Amp; Bibhu Ranjan Mishra

It's sensors next in Rolta's defence line-up

It's sensors next in Rolta's defence line-up

Rediff.com   24 Dec 2007

Rolta India is planning to set up a sensor manufacturing plant even as it aims to touch the Rs 1,000 crore (Rs 10 billion) turnover mark by the end of financial year 2007-08.

Software multinationals lead in hiring

Software multinationals lead in hiring

Rediff.com   22 Dec 2007

Today, however, the major six IT MNCs alone -- IBM, Accenture, Capgemini, EDS, HP and ACS -- account for over 9 per cent of the Indian IT-BPO workforce. Overall, MNCs in India account for an estimated 14-15 per cent of the Indian IT workforce.

Videoconferencing lends farmers a helping hand

Videoconferencing lends farmers a helping hand

Rediff.com   20 Dec 2007

Farmers are now using video conferencing to procure good-quality seeds, fertiliser and other inputs. They are also using the technology to access market-related information, and market their products in some cases.

ISRO plans human colony on moon

ISRO plans human colony on moon

Rediff.com   18 Dec 2007

In what may well be the first step towards establishing the first "human colony" on the moon, the Indian Space Research Organisation is examining the possibility of establishing a robotic set-up or unmanned mission on the moon.

Aegis on the lookout for buyouts

Aegis on the lookout for buyouts

Rediff.com   17 Dec 2007

The Essar group firm is in talks with 7-10 companies for a "strategic fit", as it races to become a $500 million company by 2010. In some of these cases the due diligence process is in progress. Aegis is looking at firms in the US, South America and the Philippines.

Foreign IT cos growing fastest in India

Foreign IT cos growing fastest in India

Rediff.com   13 Dec 2007

Industry estimates peg the turnovers of MNCs like Dell, Intel, Microsoft and IBM at well over the half-billion dollar mark. Firms, like Cisco, are said to have crossed the billion-dollar mark in domestic sales in 2006-07, and for a player like HP India, it is estimated in excess of $2.5 billion.

IBM to invest more in India labs for IT security

IBM to invest more in India labs for IT security

Rediff.com   10 Dec 2007

IBM plans to increase its investments in its two software laboratories in Pune and Bangalore as part of its $1.5 billion security initiative in 2008, announced on November 1.

Dell India R&D to focus on software

Dell India R&D to focus on software

Rediff.com   7 Dec 2007

In a bid to focus on testing, software and documentation, Dell India is integrating its hardware research and development (R&D) activities with its R&D units in Austin and Taiwan.

Cisco 'thrilled' to have Padmasree Warrior

Cisco 'thrilled' to have Padmasree Warrior

Rediff.com   7 Dec 2007

The highest-ranking female executive in Motorola's nearly 80-year history, Indian-born IITian Padmasree Warrior, has now joined Cisco as its chief technology officer (CTO) after spending over two decades at Motorola.

IT majors to up foreign hiring by 10-20%

IT majors to up foreign hiring by 10-20%

Rediff.com   6 Dec 2007

They reason that hiring locals abroad -- where they have 'near-shore' (with proximity to the client) development centres -- would help them tap local markets and serve global clients better, win more deals and goodwill in those countries, besides scoring brownie points with the US in an election year (over H1-B visas).

Wipro launches video interviews to save cost

Wipro launches video interviews to save cost

Rediff.com   4 Dec 2007

Wipro has already screened hundreds of applicants through video kiosks it has set up at three of its campuses - two in Bangalore and one in Chennai. The company shortly plans to extend this concept, and install over 1,000 video phones at all its 20-odd campuses across the country. Each campus accommodates over 2,000 people.

Cisco set to launch rebranding campaign

Cisco set to launch rebranding campaign

Rediff.com   29 Nov 2007

In an attempt to shed its image of being just a networking company, Cisco India will be launching a major brand repositioning campaign in India during the first quarter of 2008. It will include an outdoor, print and electronic media and web advertising campaign by OgilvyOne.

Telecom delay to cost Rs 800 cr a day: report

Telecom delay to cost Rs 800 cr a day: report

Rediff.com   28 Nov 2007

The asssumption is based on the fact that an investment of nearly Rs 34,021 crore (slightly over Rs 90 crore a day) has contributed to an increase of Rs 5,71,874 crore (over Rs 1,500 crore a day) to the GDP in fiscal 2006-07, according to a new report by Frost & Sullivan.

Software product firms are hot favourites of VCs

Software product firms are hot favourites of VCs

Rediff.com   26 Nov 2007

Indian software product companies, which are planning to raise venture capital funding, will have to ensure that their domestic and emerging market focus is sharp. Indian IT start-ups, which are introducing software products, have better prospects of availing VC funding, according to many VCs. It has always been difficult for start-ups in the software product space to compete with the global software giants, even in the domestic market, they note.

Now, green bucks for IT companies

Now, green bucks for IT companies

Rediff.com   24 Nov 2007

Indian IT companies such as Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Wipro, Infosys and Satyam, besides MNCs such as IBM, are working towards becoming carbon neutral while simultaneously converting their expertise in this area to help global companies become environment-friendly.

Money transfer through your mobiles soon!

Money transfer through your mobiles soon!

Rediff.com   23 Nov 2007

The technology is in place and operators are waiting for the green signal.

The people behind Supercomputer Eka

The people behind Supercomputer Eka

Rediff.com   19 Nov 2007

The credit goes to a wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons - the Computational Research Laboratories (CRL). The main people behind the super achievement are N Seetha Rama Krishna (Project Manager), Sunil Sherlekar (Head, Embedded Innovation) and Ashwin Nanda (who heads CRL) besides, of course, Ratan Tata himself and CRL Chairman S Ramadorai, who is also the CEO & MD of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS).

WNS bosses' unique plan to fight attrition

WNS bosses' unique plan to fight attrition

Rediff.com   8 Nov 2007

Neeraj Bhargava, CEO of Mumbai-based business process outsourcing (BPO firm) WNS Global Services, and his team have voluntarily decided to forfeit their bonuses if they are not successful in getting the attrition rates below 30 per cent. This is probably the first such move of its kind in the industry in which attrition has become a critical issue. WNS has over 15,000 employees, and its current attrition rate stands at 43 per cent.

No Gphone, Google bets on Android

No Gphone, Google bets on Android

Rediff.com   7 Nov 2007

Google has unveiled an ambitious strategy that will make cellphones cheaper and speed up internet surfing. Google's director of mobile platforms, Andy Rubin, said in a telephonic conversation from the US that the new platform called Android should reduce the prices of today's $500 smart phones to around $100-150 in a year or so. "If there's ever a Gphone, it will be built on the Android platform," he said.

Wipro Infotech may touch $1 bn in FY08

Wipro Infotech may touch $1 bn in FY08

Rediff.com   3 Nov 2007

According to analysts, the first two quarters are usually dull for the company historically, hence growth will be higher in the subsequent two quarters. If Wipro Infotech achieves the $1 billion mark, it would make Wipro the first Indian company to touch the figure through its largely domestic market-focussed arm. It derives about 90 per cent of its revenue from India.