Rajesh S Kurup &Amp; Nevin John In Mumbai

Stories by Rajesh S Kurup &Amp; Nevin John In Mumbai

Android phones call on Indian consumers

Android phones call on Indian consumers

Rediff.com   20 Aug 2009

Samsung Electronics and Motorola are gearing up to launch handsets based on Google's Android operating system in India.

Reserves deplete at PMT, Ravva fields

Reserves deplete at PMT, Ravva fields

Rediff.com   18 Aug 2009

A consortium of British Gas, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation and Reliance Industries, which controls the PMT fields off the west coast, is spending about Rs 2,500 crore (Rs 25 billion) for reviving the reserve in this fiscal, while new wells are being drilled at the Cairn-operated Ravva field (off the Andhra coast) for small-sized additional discoveries. The Tapti field has witnessed 'natural decline in the production profile' during the first quarter ended June 2009.

3G guidelines not viable for foreign players

3G guidelines not viable for foreign players

Rediff.com   17 Aug 2009

The restrictions may include an additional licence fee a foreign operator has to foot on, infrastructure hurdles and lack of a brand identity in the country, unlike in the case of a 2G operator.

India Inc cashes in on slowdown to save cost

India Inc cashes in on slowdown to save cost

Rediff.com   17 Aug 2009

Companies that made expensive overseas acquisitions lead the way in driving cost efficiencies.

Wipro close to Rs 1,500-crore IT deal with Etisala

Wipro close to Rs 1,500-crore IT deal with Etisala

Rediff.com   12 Aug 2009

If the deal goes through, this would be the second largest deal for Wipro in the telecom space. Earlier in April, the IT major bagged a Rs 2,500-crore (Rs 25 billion) contract from another new operator, Unitech Wireless. Importantly, Wipro will be pipping seven other IT vendors, including IBM and Tech Mahindra, who were also in discussions with Etisalat, according to sources.

GMR eyes London listing for holding company

GMR eyes London listing for holding company

Rediff.com   11 Aug 2009

To this end, the group is consolidating its global assets under GMR Infrastructure International (registered in the Isle of Man) for a public issue in London, according to an executive who did not wish to be identified, in a move that largely replicates what metals behemoth Vedanta did six years ago.

Boeing to replicate US biz structure in India

Boeing to replicate US biz structure in India

Rediff.com   10 Aug 2009

The US-based aircraft manufacturing giant will expand its manufacturing presence, launch subsidiaries and strengthen research and development (R&D) programmes in the country. Jeppesen, a subsidiary of Boeing, is close to setting up an office in Hyderabad, while another, Aviall, the company's spare parts subsidiary, already has operations from Noida.

Harbinger backs Sterlite in Asarco acquisition

Harbinger backs Sterlite in Asarco acquisition

Rediff.com   5 Aug 2009

Sterlite Industries, the flagship firm of London-listed Vedanta, may get the support of rival bidder Harbinger Capital Partners in its takeover plan for the bankrupt US copper mining firm, Asarco. Harbinger has decided to withdraw from the race, informing the bankruptcy court that its plan to restructure Asarco should not be considered.

Tata Steel to produce half of Corus' raw materials

Tata Steel to produce half of Corus' raw materials

Rediff.com   3 Aug 2009

Ore and coking coal to come from Tata mines in Canada, Africa.

Telcos dial hard for Africa

Telcos dial hard for Africa

Rediff.com   30 Jul 2009

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd chairman Kuldeep Goyal has been trying to get a foothold in Africa since February this year when the government allowed the state-owned giant to pursue business opportunities in that continent. The five-month old search continues; Goyal says BSNL is looking at acquiring stakes or licences in African markets as and when they are put up for sale.

Jet set to focus on cutting debt

Jet set to focus on cutting debt

Rediff.com   28 Jul 2009

The company has a debt burden of Rs 14,500 crore.

Vedanta to invest Rs 43,000 cr in expansion

Vedanta to invest Rs 43,000 cr in expansion

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2009

The group also has plans to spend Rs 50,000 crore (Rs 500 billion) on power generation. The London-listed giant will spend Rs 43,000 crore (Rs 430 billion) to enhance its capacity, in addition to its Rs 50,000-crore (Rs 500-billion) plan in power generation.

BSNL-MTNL merger best option for both: Goyal

BSNL-MTNL merger best option for both: Goyal

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2009

A merger between state-run telecom firms Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd is the best option because it would create the country's largest telecom company, said Kuldeep Goyal, chairman and managing director of BSNL.

ArcelorMittal's Rs 40,000-cr project put on hold

ArcelorMittal's Rs 40,000-cr project put on hold

Rediff.com   15 Jul 2009

However, the company will go ahead with its plans in Jharkhand, and has secured iron ore mines and coal linkages to the project, company sources told Business Standard. An e-mail reply from the steel major said it was not expecting its projects in India to start before 2014.

5 Indian firms in shortlist to exploit Afghan iron

5 Indian firms in shortlist to exploit Afghan iron

Rediff.com   4 Jul 2009

Five Indian metals and mining companies are in the race for acquiring mining rights for the largest iron ore deposit in war-torn Afghanistan. The government has shortlisted Vedanta group's Sesa Goa, Essar Minerals, Ispat Industries, JSW Steel and Rashtriya Ispat Nigam for a bid for the 1.8 billion tonne Hajigak iron ore deposit.

Hindalco closes Novelis plant in UK

Hindalco closes Novelis plant in UK

Rediff.com   2 Jul 2009

Aditya Birla group flagship firm Hindalco Industries has decided to trim its overseas operations and is restructuring its capital expenditure in India in an effort to stabilise operations. As part of this overall plan, Novelis, which Hindalco acquired for $6 billion in 2007, is closing its sheet mill at Rogerstone in the UK, involving 440 job losses.

Navi Mumbai real estate prices rise

Navi Mumbai real estate prices rise

Rediff.com   30 Jun 2009

During the past 30 days, prices of medium residential apartments rose by Rs 300-500 per square feet across various nodes in the city. The present prices range at Rs 2,500-3,000 per square foot across nodes like Kamothe, Panvel, Kharghar, Khandeshwar and CDB Belapur, said Srikanth Puduval, a real estate agent.

Reliance Infrastructure looks at domestic banks

Reliance Infrastructure looks at domestic banks

Rediff.com   19 Jun 2009

The Anil Dhirubhai Ambani group company hasn't yet got the contract for executing the second phase of the Mumbai Metro, but Jalan's team has already started negotiating with domestic banks to tie up funds for the estimated Rs 11,000-crore (Rs 110-billion) project.

Airtel allowed to 'unlock' Apple's iPhone

Airtel allowed to 'unlock' Apple's iPhone

Rediff.com   16 Jun 2009

Apple has authorised Bharti Airtel to 'unlock' its 3G iPhones, launched earlier, enabling the Indian company to sell it through their stores to any user, not necessarily only an Airtel subscriber.

Ambani brothers directed to take mother's help

Ambani brothers directed to take mother's help

Rediff.com   16 Jun 2009

The Bombay high court, while pronouncing the verdict on the gas dispute on Monday, advised the Ambani brothers for the second time to settle their row in consultation with their mother.