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15 September - 15 October 2008
Hardware companies emphasize on Virtualization to cut costs
1 Oct 2008
The latest technology of Virtualization used to perform multiple functions using less hardware is gaining in importance to intensify the cost-cutting drive. Hardware companies are planning to roll out technology solutions to help firms to generate more return on their investment. For this purpose, these companies are opting to use solutions that will help them in using fewer servers or storage products for the same level of performance, thereby saving costly space and lowering power bills.
Polaris announced to buy US insurance firm SEEC
1 Oct 2008
Polaris Software Lab announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire US-based insurance product and component services company SEEC Inc in an all-cash deal.
This would help the Chennai-based software product and service provider gain access to the company’s IP products, business trademarks, trade brands and infrastructure facilities.
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HCL Technologies announced US$2-billion acquisitions
19 Sep 2008
HCL Technologies announced that a US$1-2 billion buyout would fit in its acquisition strategy and it would definitely make such a big-ticket acquisition before 2011.
The company has been doing sub-$100 million deals so far and would like to go for a large US$1-2 billion acquisition in the US or Europe anytime before 2011. HCL has identified eight focus areas where it aims to be among the top three global vendors by 2011 ad is also scouting for acquisitions.
Desktop sales to fall in Q2
18 Sep 2008
With falling prices, most Indian users are now upgrading from desktop to notebook resulting in additional growth of the notebook market. The notebooks sales has gone up by over 67% in Q1 of the current fiscal as compared to the corresponding period last year, whereas the desktop market has remained stagnant.
According to MAIT, the desktop sales will fall further in the quarter-ending September 2008. The firm specified that India sold over 2 million PCs during the first quarter of 2008-09, which is a gain of over 17% as compared to the corresponding period last year. This increase in volumes was the result of increased sales in notebooks.
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BSNL to launch IPTV in Nashik
5 Oct 2008
BSNL's General Manager, Mr. Ashok Veer announced that Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has decided to provide its broadband customers Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) starting this Diwali. IPTV service is likely to be launched in Nashik early November. The service will include 99 video channels and 14 audio channels.
DTH cut prices
The DTH operators have reduced the entry-level price of monthly subscriptions on DTH platform to US$ 2.5, which will bring down the average monthly subscription charges of watching the cable channels on DTH platform to US$ 4.55- US$ 6.22. Earlier the average monthly charges for subscription to the DTH services were US$ 7- US$7.5.
Essel Group gets clearance for HITS launch
The Subhash Chandra-led Essel Group is set for the commercial launch of Headend-in-the-Sky (HITS), its new cable distribution platform. The Group was awaiting clearance from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (I&B), as directed by the appellate tribunal, the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT).
HITS is a new cable-distribution platform that is similar to the direct-to-home (DTH) service. It allows distribution of digital-quality cable channels via satellite to cable operators at one go.
Murdoch to expand Indian TV market
Rupert Murdoch of News Corp. (NWS) has invested over US$2 billion in Indian media since 1993 and is planning to make his business even bigger. Mr. Murdoch has recently visited the country and showed interest in increasing investment limits in the media sector in India. He announced US$ 100 million in the investments to enlarge News Corp’s footprint in the Indian TV business.
DISH partners with AT&T to expand market
US satellite TV provider DISH Network Corp agreed to extend its joint marketing partnership with AT&T Inc by one month through to Jan 31 2009. AT&T said that it would end the five-year marketing partnership with DISH by the end of the year.
IT spending might fall, says Gartner
14 Oct 2008
With decline in spending in Western Europe and in sales of computer hardware, research firm Gartner Inc. has changed its forecast for global technology spending next year. The company, whose forecasts are closely watched by investors, announced that IT spending is expected to rise only up to 2.3 % in 2009. Gartner says that in 2009, IT spending might decline 0.8 % in Western Europe. The firm had previously predicted that the spending would grow to 2.8 % in the region. It expects spending would rise to only 0.5 % in North America, which is a sharp fall from its previous forecast of 5.3 % growth. The firm is looking for a spending increase of 8.3 % in the Asia Pacific, down from a forecast of 11 % growth.
RBI states that the current financial crisis may hamper IT sector
10 Oct 2008
According to Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Deputy Governor Rakesh Mohan, the current financial crisis may hamper the IT sector of the country because 15-18 % business of the Indian outsourcing companies from banking, insurance, and the financial sectors has now become uncertain. The financial turmoil may have direct impact on the IT industry.
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IT firms estimated to post-decent Q2 growth
5 Oct 2008
As per analysts, Information technology firms are expected to post revenue growth in the range of 5-9 % in the second quarter this fiscal on account of weak rupee against the dollar. The rupee has sequentially declined against the dollar in the Q2, 2008, which is likely to benefit IT companies like Satyam and Infosys.
Amid global mayhem, India's IT sector seeks opportunities
30 Sep 2008
India's outsourcing industry expects trouble from the latest global financial turmoil but insists it could emerge a winner with companies shifting more work to the country. The outsourcing industry in India generates over US$40 billion in annual export revenues. Companies are seeking to outsource to India because of the low cost factor.
Satyam opens new facility in Pune
24 Sep, 2008
IT services provider Satyam Computer Services Ltd has opened a 474,000 sq. ft development center in the Pune Special Economic Zone at the Rajiv Gandhi InfoTech Park, Hinjawadi. It has a capacity to accommodate 5,700 associates.
Google begins Internet safety campaign
17 Sep 2008
Google India has launched a drive to create awareness among children. The Internet search giant has started the campaign with Internet and Mobile Association of India and the government to aware the children about safe Net surfing practices. The campaign is a part of Google India's 'Be NetSmart' initiative, which is an interactive program for students, parents and teachers.
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India dominates outsourcing in the current year 08
6 Oct 2008
A news study by Global Services says that India continues to be a major global IT and BPO outsourcing destination with China turning up as a tough competition. Cities like Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Pune are the six popular Indian cities in the list of top eight outsourcing cities of the world.
Google phone G1 to enter Indian market by January 2009
26 Sep 2008
Indian consumers will be able to lay their hands on the latest Google mobile phone around New Year. Taiwanese smartphone vendor HTC Corp, which has manufactured the first Google phone G1, says that the handset will roll out in India by early January 2009. Global analysts have pegged G1 as prime contender to challenge Apple’s iPhone and the BlackBerry smartphones.
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IBM penetrates into security with new strategy and products
02 Oct 2008
IBM outlined its vision for the integration of security across its product lines and made additional announcements around application security, identity management and data protection for retailers.
Steve Mills, senior vice president and group executive of IBM's software group, told analysts and press at the IBM Security Summit that Big Blue's IBM developers are building security into key offerings such as the WebSphere application server and Lotus Notes. "We see security as a key attribute and capability that IBM delivers," Mills said.
New certification aims software security
25 Sep 2008
(ISC) 2 today announced a new software security certification that targets coders and project manager, IT analyst or engineer involved in the software development lifecycle. The intent is to train influencers to ensure that security is baked into projects from the outset and maintained throughout the lifecycle of a product.
The Certified Secure Software Lifecycle Professional (CSSLP) curriculum will focus on vulnerabilities, risk and compliance issues to be considered during the development lifecycle. It will include seven domains, including secure software concepts, requirements, design, implementation/coding, testing, software acceptance, and deployment, operations, maintenance and disposal.
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McAfee plans to acquire Secure Computing
22 Sep 2008
McAfee Inc. announced its intent to Secure Computing Corp., in a US$465 million cash deal. While the two companies have competed in many of the same security markets, Secure Computing extends McAfee's network security portfolio with its firewall products, as well as its stature in the email and Web gateway security markets. Secure Computing became a major player in email security when it acquired CipherTrust in 2006. Besides, Secure Computing brings a big customer base and hefty revenue. The deal is expected to close in the fourth quarter.
Microsoft starts secure development program
19 Sep 2008
After years of informally working with its customers to improve their software development processes, Microsoft has announced a formal program to extend its Security Development Lifecycle to customers through a variety of new initiatives. The company plans to work with a handful of third-party consultancies on a new program called the SDL Pro Network, through which Microsoft customers will be able to learn the secure development processes that the company has created in the last four years for developer training, defining design objectives and implementation of best practices. In addition to the new network, Microsoft also will be releasing a set of guidelines for implementing the Security Development Lifecycle (SDL), called the SDL Optimization Model.
BSNL, BT ink agreement for managed network services
7 Oct 2008
Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) has inked an agreement with BT to provide managed network services to enterprises in a bid to strengthen its information and communications technology (ICT) offerings. The two companies will provide full range of services including basic, leased line, MPLS VPN services, Internet, mobile and broadband services.
BlackBerry, 3G iPhone to step in BSNL network
6 Oct 2008
The much sought-after 3G iPhone and Blackberry may soon be available in the state-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam (BSNL) network. BSNL, the country’s largest telecom service provider, is in talks with Apple and BlackBerry to launch the services in India in its own network. According to BSNL executives, talks with BlackBerry are at an advanced stage and this handset is likely to be available to BSNL’s customers by the year-end.
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2G licence fee slashed to 33%
4 Oct 2008
Large telecom companies such as Bharti Airtel, Reliance Communications and BSNL will save significant amounts as the government has just slashed licence fees by 20-33% for players whose services cover over 95% of the residential areas in a state. All telcos pay a certain amount of their gross revenues to the government as licence fee. Now, with this move of DoT, telcos will have to share considerably lower revenues with the government if they have a comprehensive presence in any state. The new rates will be applicable from April 2009.
BSNL plans to foray overseas
26 Sep, 2008
BSNL is exploring opportunities in the global markets. For the first time BSNL, which so far concentrated only on the Indian market, has decided to expand overseas. BSNL has a cash surplus of over US$10 billion and will use a part of these resources for its overseas foray. So far, only MTNL was the only the state-owned telco that has been bidding for licenses abroad. BSNL is preparing to bid for licenses in two countries.
India will have 200 mn rural telecom connections by 2012
24 Sep 2008
The government expressed concern over the divide between the urban and rural areas in terms of telecom connectivity. The government specified that the country would have 200 mn rural telecom connections by 2012. So far, around 88 mn phones have been provided in the rural areas with a tele-density of around 11 %.
ISPs resentful against high WiMax auction price
16 Sep, 2008
The new set of guidelines by DoT to auction WiMax spectrum at almost double the earlier reserve price has the Internet service providers (ISPs) furious. The ISPs are upset with the new guidelines and are demanding a separate auction for themselves.
Moreover, the ISPs are reluctant to part with the 2.5 GHz spectrum allotted to them in 2003. In this regard, the ISPs plan to make a representation to Communications and IT Minister, Shri A Raja.
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Archive
15 May - 15 June ICT & Broadcast Newsletter (Vol 1 Issue 1)
15 June - 15 July ICT & Broadcast Newsletter (Vol 1 Issue 2)
15 July - 15 August ICT & Broadcast Newsletter (Vol 1 Issue 3)
15 August - 15 September ICT & Broadcast Newsletter (Vol 1 Issue 4)