Shivani Shinde &Amp; Ishita Russell In Mumbai

Stories by Shivani Shinde &Amp; Ishita Russell In Mumbai

BSNL likely to roll out WiMax services next year

BSNL likely to roll out WiMax services next year

Rediff.com   6 Oct 2008

WiMax is a telecommunications technology that provides broadband speed without the need for cables. "The subscriber equipment cost or the cost of the instrument that facilitates WiMax is still priced at about $ 175-200 (Rs 8,225-Rs 9,400). So ways and means have to be worked out to offer a feasible tariff," explained a senior BSNL executive.

SAP takes centre stage with HCL, Infosys' bid for

SAP takes centre stage with HCL, Infosys' bid for

Rediff.com   29 Sep 2008

With India's two leading IT outsourcing companies, Infosys and HCL Technologies, vying to acquire the UK-based consulting firm Axon, SAP implementation is back in focus.

Delink spectrum from licence, service: Trai

Delink spectrum from licence, service: Trai

Rediff.com   24 Sep 2008

The regulator has suggested that all spectrum will be auctioned as opposed to the current policy of bundling it with a 2G licence. A beginning has been made with the auctioning of spectrum for 3G services, which is due later this year. Trai has also suggested that licences for any telecom service should be auctioned as opposed to the current policy, where it is given on a first-come-first-served basis. The new policy is expected to be ready by the end of December this year.

HCL follows Future Group, plans $1 bn venture fund

HCL follows Future Group, plans $1 bn venture fund

Rediff.com   11 Sep 2008

The venture, on the lines of Kishore Biyani's Future Ventures India, will focus its investments in the information technology sector, said a source familiar with the development.

HCL Tech may raise $1 billion for acquisitions

HCL Tech may raise $1 billion for acquisitions

Rediff.com   10 Sep 2008

The company is in talks with a few private banks and has signed on Citibank as one of the bankers to raise these funds, said sources. HCL Technologies and Citibank declined to comment saying that 'they do not comment on market speculation'.

Norwest eyes 6 deals by year-end

Norwest eyes 6 deals by year-end

Rediff.com   9 Sep 2008

Plans another $1-billion fund, wants to expand core team in India.

BPOs flock to rural areas to set up shop

BPOs flock to rural areas to set up shop

Rediff.com   9 Sep 2008

With the telecom industry aiming to increase its rural subscribers base and the central bank asking banks and financial firms to cater to the rural sector, businesses will have to find ways of servicing customers, say analysts. Most of the rural BPOs have a seating capacity of below 100 per centre, as they are situated in remote areas.

IT firms adopt new ways to offset hiring costs

IT firms adopt new ways to offset hiring costs

Rediff.com   6 Sep 2008

A slowdown in the global economy and sub-prime crisis in the banking, financial and insurance services sector, its major revenue earners, force the domestic IT industry to take a relook at its hiring strategy.

Tech firms train sights on domestic retail space

Tech firms train sights on domestic retail space

Rediff.com   22 Aug 2008

The figure is expected to rise to over Rs 4,600 crore (Rs 46 billion) by 2010 - a compounded annual growth rate of 44 per cent. Retail has been one of the largest growth sectors for all the top IT firms. For instance, Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys Technologies, Wipro Technologies and Satyam Computer Services saw their retail business grow by 33.6, 45.3, 38.5 and 117 per cent respectively on a year-on-year basis.

Go for MID: It's cheaper and faster than 3G

Go for MID: It's cheaper and faster than 3G

Rediff.com   11 Aug 2008

3G mobile services, to be launched in India on August 22, is set to have serious competition. The reason is simple: if you are looking for high quality video streaming of movies and want to play multiplayer on-line games, it's not 3G services alone you need to look at.

Aegis BPO's PeopleSupport buy hits hurdle

Aegis BPO's PeopleSupport buy hits hurdle

Rediff.com   7 Aug 2008

"Levi & Korsinsky usually investigates a deal when any of the clients complain about chances of fraud in the transaction. In Aegis's acquisition of PeopleSupport, we received a complaint from a client who is a shareholder of PeopleSupport. After our investigation, if we find any fraud, we will take up the issue before the court. At this point of time, we can not disclose the name of the client," said Juan E Monteverde, associate, Levi & Korsinsky.

IT firms shift focus to smaller clients

IT firms shift focus to smaller clients

Rediff.com   4 Aug 2008

Indian IT firms have started mining smaller clients with more fervour given that the revenue accruring from their top clients has been declining due to the US slowdown and the sub-prime crisis. Consider this. Revenue accruing from the top clients of the five leading IT firms by revenue - Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys Technologies, Wipro Technologies, Satyam Computer Services and HCL Technologies - dropped by anywhere between 0.2 per cent and 4 per cent

3G handset makers to ring in Rs 3,500-4,000 offer

3G handset makers to ring in Rs 3,500-4,000 offer

Rediff.com   4 Aug 2008

With 3G mobile services, which provide high-speed downloads of data, movies and videos, around six month away, mobile phone makers are getting ready to offer handsets for as little as Rs 3,500, against the currently available minimum price of over Rs 8,000.

Internet reaching out to youth in hinterland

Internet reaching out to youth in hinterland

Rediff.com   31 Jul 2008

A study by Internet research firm JuxtConsult reveals that one out of every seven regular Internet users is from the rural belt.

Indian brands to counter Chinese unbranded mobiles

Indian brands to counter Chinese unbranded mobiles

Rediff.com   28 Jul 2008

Multinational mobile companies such as Nokia, Samsung, Motorola and LG, who dominate the mobile handset space with over 75 per cent of the market share, might face a new challenge. This time it's not from Chinese unbranded products, which have been flooding the Indian market.

Chinese hi-tech handsets for Rs 2000!

Chinese hi-tech handsets for Rs 2000!

Rediff.com   19 Jul 2008

According to research firm IDC, China shipped 85 million GSM handsets in the last fiscal. And it says China's percentage share is likely to go up since these phones offer swanky features ranging from 3 megapixel camera, terrestrial TV, music and MP3 players.

Virtual data centres save power, realty costs

Virtual data centres save power, realty costs

Rediff.com   17 Jul 2008

Research firm IDC India estimates the share of virtualised servers in the industry to double from the current 22 per cent to 45 per cent by the year-end.

Rising ATF prices: bad news for couriers

Rising ATF prices: bad news for couriers

Rediff.com   14 Jul 2008

As all airlines have raised carriage charges, private couriers have increased their tariffs 8-20 per cent. India Post, on the other hand, has not tinkered with its tariffs at all. As a result, India Post's tariff is 70 per cent cheaper for domestic destinations and 30 per cent cheaper for international destinations.

New comp? Hit a mobile store!

New comp? Hit a mobile store!

Rediff.com   14 Jul 2008

The next time you walk into your trendy branded mobile retail store you might come out buying an MP3 player, a Sony Play Station or even a laptop rather than a mobile phone.

Paid mobile entertainment losing steam

Paid mobile entertainment losing steam

Rediff.com   10 Jul 2008

Consider this. Leading broadcaster Star India's mobile interactive division, Star Mobile Entertainment -- which made some serious headway in the space by launching a service whereby mobile users could opt to view soaps from across Star India's network -- recently reviewed its operational strategy.