Leslie D'Monte &Amp; Rajesh Kurup In Mumbai

Stories by Leslie D'Monte &Amp; Rajesh Kurup In Mumbai

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.

Gitanjali to acquire US retail chain

Gitanjali to acquire US retail chain

Rediff.com   2 Nov 2007

Gitanjali Gems is close to acquiring a US-based jewellery retail chain with sales of about $100 million. The deal, if it goes through, would be the company's second acquisition in the world's largest jewellery market. Though the deal size and name of the company could not be ascertained, sources said that the acquisition is expected to be completed in 30 days.

Mobile TV hopefuls seek level playing field

Mobile TV hopefuls seek level playing field

Rediff.com   2 Nov 2007

Mobile TV -- basically an application that enables television services on handhelds such as mobiles, handheld TVs, car TV, GPS terminals, game devices, laptop PCs, and other portable devices -- is a step closer to seeing the light of day in India.

Mixed fortune for IT small, mid-caps in Q2

Mixed fortune for IT small, mid-caps in Q2

Rediff.com   19 Oct 2007

Unlike the first quarter of FY08 when Indian IT small- and mid-caps were hit hard due to a nearly 7 per cent appreciation in the rupee against the dollar, the July-September period was relatively kind to these firms. It spared them to some extent, since the rupee appreciated around 1.5 per cent over the period. However, the rupee rose around 12 per cent against the dollar over the last 12 months.

Phaneesh Murthy on a successful track again

Phaneesh Murthy on a successful track again

Rediff.com   12 Oct 2007

In fact, while IT bellwether Infosys Technologies (his earlier employer) got a drubbing at the bourses for not posting "better than expected" results, iGate stumped investors a couple of days back by announcing it plans to buy back shares from the public and delist from the Indian stock markets, while remaining listed in the US.

Indian telcos fired up for strong Q2

Indian telcos fired up for strong Q2

Rediff.com   9 Oct 2007

Analysts expect that Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communications (RCom) and Idea Cellular will post over 50 per cent annual growth in revenues (year-on-year) and more than 10 per cent sequential growth (over the previous quarter). Bharti continues to lead in the subscriber addition race (2.1 million in August).

IBM withdraws outsourcing patent

IBM withdraws outsourcing patent

Rediff.com   6 Oct 2007

IBM's attempt to patent a technology that would help companies to figure out which jobs to send overseas getting a quiet burial. The company today confirmed that it has withdrawn its patent application for "outsourcing of services" which it had filed on July 12 this year.

Meet Nasscom's new boss Som Mittal

Meet Nasscom's new boss Som Mittal

Rediff.com   5 Oct 2007

It's for the first time that someone from the industry will hold the position of president at Nasscom.

IT companies seek succour at home

IT companies seek succour at home

Rediff.com   27 Sep 2007

The earnings of Indian IT companies in rupee terms are dwindling with every upward movement of the currency. The domestic currency has risen by 11.6 per cent this year to touch a nine-year high on Wednesday.

Nortel upgrades networks at four airports

Nortel upgrades networks at four airports

Rediff.com   18 Sep 2007

Nortel Networks (India) is upgrading the communications at four Indian international airports, which should help make the staff more responsive to travellers.

BPOs augur well for old economy firms

BPOs augur well for old economy firms

Rediff.com   17 Sep 2007

Old economy companies such as Hero, M&M (Tech Mahindra), Aditya Birla, Essar, Hindujas and Larsen & Toubro have sprung into action with large acquisitions and major deals.

FemtoCells, the next big telecom thing

FemtoCells, the next big telecom thing

Rediff.com   21 Aug 2007

The technology's spectrum efficiency, low cost and simple installation make it the next big thing in the telecom world.

FemtoCells, the next big telecom thing

FemtoCells, the next big telecom thing

Rediff.com   21 Aug 2007

The technology's spectrum efficiency, low cost and simple installation make it the next big thing in the telecom world.

Sub-prime fear now haunts BPOs

Sub-prime fear now haunts BPOs

Rediff.com   20 Aug 2007

The US sub-prime lending crisis forced Mumbai-based WNS Holdings to revise its net income guidance by 60 per cent, and this is worrying the $8 billion business process outsourcing sector players and analysts.

Subprime woes not to hit IT firms

Subprime woes not to hit IT firms

Rediff.com   16 Aug 2007

IT-BPO firms offer end-to-end mortgage origination services and manage servicing activities.

Trouble in Second Life

Trouble in Second Life

Rediff.com   13 Aug 2007

Anuj, a resident of Second Life since November 2006, is angry. He recently bought a poker table for around 25,000 Linden dollars

'These are very exciting times to be in India'

'These are very exciting times to be in India'

Rediff.com   9 Aug 2007

Nortel President and CEO Mike Zafirovsky is scheduled to visit India shortly, his first since taking over in November 2005. In an email interview with Leslie D'Monte, he explained his company's strategy for India and more.

Indian IT sector steps up M&As

Indian IT sector steps up M&As

Rediff.com   8 Aug 2007

With organic growth slowing down due to the appreciating rupee and rising wages, Indian information technology companies have taken the acquisition route to add marketing muscle and win clients in Europe and the US.

Google follows Apple with GPhone

Google follows Apple with GPhone

Rediff.com   4 Aug 2007

The reports suggesting that the nearly $13.5 billion Internet giant Google is finally developing a 'GPhone' are growing stronger in the foreign media and cyberspace.