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Mecklermedia clears doubts about Microland deal

While the alliance with Microland will focus on creating Internet technology awareness, the US company can explore possibilities for launching its Web-related magazines such as Internet World, Web Week and Intranet Shopper.

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According to Pradeep Kar, chairman and managing director, Microland, the scope of Micromedia is limited to conferences and trade shows to improve awareness among end users about Internet technology. "Our focus will be technology and creating awareness through exhibitions, seminars and conferences. Managing Internet related publications is not our core competence. We will not be interested in this,'' he clarified.

The scope of the joint venture between Microland and Mecklermedia is purely on profit-sharing basis and there is no obligation on the part of Mecklermedia not to look out for alliances for its magazines in India, said Kar.

For the Internet World Exhibition organised by Micromedia to be held in August in Delhi, Kar said the company has been making presentations to various IT companies in Bangalore for participation. "In the next couple of days we will complete making presentations to major companies in the industry in Bangalore.''

There will be no overall sponsor or branding of the exhibition. However, according to Prakash Gurbaxani, chief executive officer, Micromedia, the company is open to sponsorships of individual aspects such as hosting dinner, lunch, etc at the event.

Also, Gurbaxani said there would be no clash between India Internet World Exhibition and Connectivity India, the annual technology forum organised by Microland.

"While the Internet World is open to all end users, Connectivity has always been a private affair. It will continue to be held as earlier,'' he added.

Recently, Microland hived off one of its divisions, Microweb, into a separate entity, Planetasia.com. The company has two more divisions - Microtech and Microuniv. "These two would continue to function as internal divisions of Microland. At present we have no intention to create them as separate entities,'' Kar said.

Earlier, Microland announced the alliance with Mecklermedia to host the Internet, intranet and a World Wide Web conference and exposition, India Internet World '98. The exhibition and conference, which will be an annual feature, will for the first time be held from August 25-28, 1998, at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi.

Kar has announced the formation of the new business division, Micromedia. "The Internet is transforming the way business is conducted. Microland's aim is to foster the growth of this phenomenon in India through awareness, education, information and events. Through Micromedia, we aim to provide platforms for drivers of this new industry. Micromedia will play a key role in educating and inspiring Indian companies to conduct business in the virtual market space,'' Kar said.

India Internet World is poised to become the most successful Internet-related event in South Asia and serve as the key forum for companies seeking to tap the latest advances in the Internet and its use, according to Gurbaxani.

The Internet World conference and trade show series, which began in the US, is now hosted in five continents and 27 countries. It is the world's largest and most prestigious conference and exposition dedicated to Internet, intranet and electronic commerce.

"South Asia and the Asian region in general is the fastest growing region in the world for Internet usage. India Internet World will be ideally positioned as the most prestigious and regional forum for building awareness relating to the Internet and associated products and technologies,'' Michael Westcott, managing director (Asia), Mecklermedia, said.

- Compiled from the Indian media

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