Ranju Sarkar &Amp; Rajesh S Kurup In Mumbai

Stories by Ranju Sarkar &Amp; Rajesh S Kurup In Mumbai

Company fixed deposits are back in vogue

Company fixed deposits are back in vogue

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2008

Companies are reactivating their dormant fixed deposit schemes by realigning their interest rates with the market following the footsteps of the lenders. The Reserve Bank of India has raised its benchmark interest rate to 8.5 per cent - the highest in more than six years - to stem inflation, forcing the banks to raise their prime lending rate to as high as 15.5 per cent.

Pesky calls continue to haunt mobile users

Pesky calls continue to haunt mobile users

Rediff.com   21 Jul 2008

On September 1, 2007, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India reigned in the 'don't call regime' with setting up of the NDNC. Subscribers had to register with the NDNC by calling the respective service provider and the marketing calls were to stop within the next 45 days. However, even after 10 months, unsolicited calls still haunt mobile users.

Tata Power's retail plans may trip

Tata Power's retail plans may trip

Rediff.com   14 Jul 2008

The Supreme Court judgment last week allowing Tata Power to retail power to consumers in Mumbai could pose a few regulatory challenges, experts feel.

Idea plans to invest Rs 647 cr in Mumbai

Idea plans to invest Rs 647 cr in Mumbai

Rediff.com   7 Jul 2008

Idea Cellular, an Aditya Birla group company, is investing around Rs 647 crore (Rs 6.47 billion) for the rollout of operations in the Mumbai circle. The operations are expected to commence in two months time.

RCom may get 20% fresh equity in MTN

RCom may get 20% fresh equity in MTN

Rediff.com   5 Jul 2008

Move to skirt public offer for S African telco.

M&As turn sour for India Inc

M&As turn sour for India Inc

Rediff.com   3 Jul 2008

After a string of foreign deals in the last few years, including Tata Motors' purchase of Land Rover and Jaguar brands from Ford for $2.3 billion this year, attempts by Indian companies to acquire assets abroad are increasingly hitting roadblocks. At least, the recent attempts by Indian companies suggest so.

Airlines stuck with idle planes

Airlines stuck with idle planes

Rediff.com   2 Jul 2008

The worldwide softness in the sector has ensured there are few takers for these aircraft; those who had leased the aircraft to Indian carriers will invoke a hefty penalty if the machines are sent back to them.

Realty promoters pledging shares to raise funds

Realty promoters pledging shares to raise funds

Rediff.com   19 Jun 2008

Akruti City, Omaxe, Sobha Developers, among other property developers, are pledging shares with lenders to provide additional security, apart from hypothecating properties to borrow funds, according to information submitted to the stock exchanges. Promoters of Akruti, Omaxe and Sobha have pledged their shares with Indiabulls Financial Services, financiers like Dubai-based BankSarasin & Co and Credit Suisse as a liquid security for loans against properties.

MTN may extend deadline for talks with RCom

MTN may extend deadline for talks with RCom

Rediff.com   16 Jun 2008

A high-profile team from MTN is also expected to meet Reliance Industries Ltd next week to take stock of the situation. RCom had informed the bourses on May 26 that it has entered into exclusive negotiations with MTN for 45 days soon after the South African giant aborted its talks with the Sunil Mittal-controlled Bharti group. The deadline will end on July 8.

Spice may buy 39% stake in Sony TV

Spice may buy 39% stake in Sony TV

Rediff.com   16 Jun 2008

Flush with cash from his wireless telephony company's sale, industrialist B K Modi is negotiating to acquire 39 per cent stake in Indian television company, Multi Screen Media, earlier known as Sony Entertainment Television. Modi, who was earlier eyeing the 32 per cent stake held by Indian shareholders, is now looking at acquiring an additional 7 per cent held by trusts. He is also planning to re-brand the television channel as Sony Spice TV.

India to soon see slew of cheap mobiles

India to soon see slew of cheap mobiles

Rediff.com   16 Jun 2008

Electronics and white goods manufacturers such as Videocon, Spice, Usha and Mirc Electronics have begun engaging the services of Independent design houses to take on the likes of global giants including Nokia, Sony Ericsson and LG in the mobile handset space. An IDH conducts research and development and designs handsets to enable Indian telcos launch their own mobile handset brands. It takes an upfront one-time fee for the purpose.

Birla tower unit may steer Spice buy

Birla tower unit may steer Spice buy

Rediff.com   13 Jun 2008

Telecom to Telekom Malaysia in an attempt to complete the merger, sources involved in the negotiations said, declining to be identified. The group has hired Enam Financial as adviser to the transaction. Investment banking sources said the lawyers from both the parties are now busy structuring the deal so that the acquisition meets all the regulatory norms of the country and the Birlas retain control over Idea Cellular.

BSNL order: Ericsson rubs Sun, EMC the wrong way

BSNL order: Ericsson rubs Sun, EMC the wrong way

Rediff.com   11 Jun 2008

A move by Swedish telecom major Ericsson, the main implementation partner for Bharat Sanchar Nigam's (BSNL) disaster recovery (DR) program, to replace Sun Microsystems and EMC Corporation storage solutions with Hewlett-Packard (HP) products has kicked up a controversy.

Idea to invest in Spice network, tech upgrade

Idea to invest in Spice network, tech upgrade

Rediff.com   11 Jun 2008

Idea Cellular, the Aditya Birla group firm that is on the verge of taking over Spice Communications by buying out B K Modi's 41 per cent stake, is sounding out its bankers to raise funds to upgrade in the struggling telecom operator's network and technology.

Sunil Mittal: Saviour of land-line phone?

Sunil Mittal: Saviour of land-line phone?

Rediff.com   10 Jun 2008

Sunil Mittal is seeking subsidies from the Indian government to revive the dying fixed-line phones in the country. The chairman of Bharti Airtel, the leading private sector GSM service provider, has sought the removal of licence fee and service tax that are burdening the sector.

Etisalat says no to Spice

Etisalat says no to Spice

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2008

UAE-based telecommunication services provider Emirates Telecommunications Corporation has pulled out of negotiations to acquire a stake in Indian wireless telephony service provider Spice Communications, citing high valuation. Separately, the promoters were expecting a deal to be signed in the next couple of days.

Here comes the over-friendly Trojan

Here comes the over-friendly Trojan

Rediff.com   9 Jun 2008

A Trojan is a programme that appears to be desirable (like a free downloadable game or screen saver), but contains viruses or worms (self-replicating viruses) that can create havoc with the PC and the network.

Telekom Malaysia heads Spice stake sale talks

Telekom Malaysia heads Spice stake sale talks

Rediff.com   6 Jun 2008

A team of Telekom Malaysia officials will meet US-based billionaire B K Modi and officials of Idea Cellular in Mumbai on Friday, a top official at Spice Communications said. Another option is to permit Telekom Malaysia raise its stake in Spice Communications to 74 per cent. Even though, Idea Cellular will have no role to play in this deal, the Modi family will sell around 14 per cent stake and retain a 26 per cent stake.

Mikati nod for RCom-MTN reverse merger

Mikati nod for RCom-MTN reverse merger

Rediff.com   6 Jun 2008

Anil Ambani has won Lebanon-based M1 Chief Executive Officer Azmi Mikati's approval for a possible merger of Reliance Communications and South Africa's MTN Group following a meeting between the two.

Coming soon: Poor man's 'BlackBerry'

Coming soon: Poor man's 'BlackBerry'

Rediff.com   6 Jun 2008

Users of entry-level handsets will soon be able to avail of push-mail services, with the Rajesh Jain-promoted Netcore Solutions close to launching the service in India.