Priyanka Joshi, New Delhi

Stories by Priyanka Joshi, New Delhi

Cement-makers refuse to play on, raise prices

Cement-makers refuse to play on, raise prices

Rediff.com   2 Apr 2008

According to unconfirmed reports, North India has seen a Rs 3 hike. A Delhi-based dealer said the companies had told him that the price would go up by Rs 5 a bag in a day or two. "The companies raised wholesale prices and we passed on the burden to consumers," said a Mumbai-based dealer who did not want to be named. The present retail price in Mumbai is Rs 274 per bag. Market sources said Chennai had seen a hike of Rs 3.

Steep hike for regulators may attract more talent

Steep hike for regulators may attract more talent

Rediff.com   27 Mar 2008

The Rs 200,000 plus perks hike for regulators proposed in the Sixth Pay Commission is likely to attract good talent. It would be sufficient incentive for both private sector executives and serving bureaucrats to join as watchdogs. The Commission has recommended that the remuneration of chairpersons of regulatory agencies like the Sebi, Irda, Trai, CERC as well as the Competition Commission of India be hiked to Rs 300,000 if they do not avail of perks like cars and housing.

IBM readies new software to enter small biz

IBM readies new software to enter small biz

Rediff.com   25 Mar 2008

In its efforts to thwart Microsoft, IBM had unveiled Lotus Symphony a few months back, challenging the former's dominance in the office desktop software market. The package includes a word processor, spreadsheets and a presentation suite. Edward Orange, director, Lotus Business Unit (Software Group), IBM Asia-Pacific, said, "Since it's free, Lotus Symphony is a formidable challenge to Microsoft's new Office 2007 suite in the market for Windows-based productivity software."

Re fall, hedging to impact IT results

Re fall, hedging to impact IT results

Rediff.com   13 Mar 2008

The fourth quarter of financial year ending March 31, 2008, may hold a mixed bag of results for Indian information technology (IT) companies. On the one hand, IT firms - which hedged themselves taking the view that the Indian rupee would continue rising against the US dollar - will have to bear a negative impact on the portfolio that has been hedged so far. On the other, their top line as well as operating margins (EBIDTA) will get a boost since the rupee has depreciated.

Online users spin a web for advertisers

Online users spin a web for advertisers

Rediff.com   11 Mar 2008

According to a survey conducted jointly by the Internet and Mobile Association of India and IMRB, the consumer Internet market is growing at 30 per cent and this is lucrative enough for Microsoft and Google, with each trying to outdo the other. The 38.5 million Internet users, according to an IAMAI study, have become the prime target for numerous advertisers clouding the web. Recently, Microsoft launched the platform in India with four leading publishers.

Now music through wi-fi

Now music through wi-fi

Rediff.com   7 Mar 2008

Logitech Squeezebox, the new music gadget on the block, is a wireless box that uses wi-fi to play music. It can be integrated in home theatre system and speaker or ear phones too.

Intel chips to power low-cost notebooks

Intel chips to power low-cost notebooks

Rediff.com   6 Mar 2008

The company also maintains that its original equipment (OEM) partners such as Taiwan-based Asustek Computer, HTC, HCL, Gigabyte and Palm, will start rolling out cheaper internet-enabled notebooks and handsets at prices that will drive mass adoption in emerging markets.

'Made-in-India' games set to flood market

'Made-in-India' games set to flood market

Rediff.com   25 Feb 2008

Indian PC and console game developers and publishers are gradually waking up to the potential of developing games completely in India.

A yacht for the price of a car

A yacht for the price of a car

Rediff.com   23 Feb 2008

With a fast-expanding pool of billionaires and millionaires, India is now an important market for pleasure-craft peddlers.

Nepal to slap charges against kidney scam kingpin

Nepal to slap charges against kidney scam kingpin

Rediff.com   8 Feb 2008

Nepalese police on Friday decided to slap charges of illegal kidney transplants and foreign currency violations against alleged kingpin Amit Kumar as India wanted him to be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation at the earliest.

Used-car prices down ahead of Nano entry

Used-car prices down ahead of Nano entry

Rediff.com   5 Feb 2008

Call it the "Nano effect" but less than a month after Tata Motors displayed its competitively-priced small car at the Delhi auto show, prices in the 1.3-million used-car market crashed 15 to 30 per cent, if not more.

Market crash: Banks in damage control mode

Market crash: Banks in damage control mode

Rediff.com   23 Jan 2008

Many banks have begun to work on plans to provide assistance to brokers to ensure they do not default on any payments amid a turbulent stock market, following the finance ministry's unofficial advice to them to explore ways of supporting market players. All the actions would be initiated within the prudential framework like adhering to the limit on capital market exposure, said a top executive of another PSB.

Wipro to sell message via Mario toons

Wipro to sell message via Mario toons

Rediff.com   15 Jan 2008

Bangalore-based software giant has teamed up with eminent cartoonist Mario Miranda to create an advertising campaign that will light up its recruitment brand. The Goa-based cartoonist will educate potential recruits about Wipro through his characters.

Want a GPS for your car? Read this first

Want a GPS for your car? Read this first

Rediff.com   12 Jan 2008

Want to install a GPS device in your car or mobile phone? We check out some systems and give tips on what to look out for.

IT-BPO firms take KPO route to raise profits

IT-BPO firms take KPO route to raise profits

Rediff.com   11 Jan 2008

Nasscom estimates that the KPO industry is poised for a 45 per cent per annum growth till 2010. The current hotspots in KPO are engineering and design, basic data search, integration and management and biotech & pharma.

Online advertising takes off

Online advertising takes off

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2008

Online Advertising has come of age as companies realise its potential. The online advertising market is expected to see phenomenal growth in the near future.

What India Inc is lobbying for in Budget 2008

What India Inc is lobbying for in Budget 2008

Rediff.com   9 Jan 2008

Industry representatives recommended that the basic annual exemption limit for individuals should be raised to Rs 1,50,000 from Rs 1,10,000 and the peak income tax rate be cut to 25 per cent, from 30 per cent at present.

Osim upbeat about India operations

Osim upbeat about India operations

Rediff.com   8 Jan 2008

Osim revealed its plans of opening 10 showrooms in Tier-1 and Tier-2 cities in India. They have a positive approach to operations in India.

What you would like to buy in 2008

What you would like to buy in 2008

Rediff.com   4 Jan 2008

The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and MacWorld in San Francisco, both this January, promise to mark an exciting beginning for all those who can't get enough of gadgets.

Cyber crime: 2008 might be gloomy

Cyber crime: 2008 might be gloomy

Rediff.com   2 Jan 2008

Financial frauds in the cyber space may rise in 2008, warn online security vendors.