COVER STORY
Big Three show the way to sustaining growth in Q3
The economic recession in the US, 9/11, and the untimely demise of Dewang Mehta all ensured that 2001 went down in infamy in the annals of the Indian software industry.

INDIA NEWS SOFTWARE
CoFuture helps HITL future-proof its network
After the take over of Essar, Himachal Futuristic Infotel Limited (HITL) was in a fix as to how to start the basic Telephony service.

Nucsoft ventures into product development
While most companies in the wake of the slowdown have decided to cut costs, others are looking at products as the way out.

Alberg launches collaborative workspace, HIVE
Alberg Software has announced the launch of its peer-to-peer (P2P) based collaborative workspace HIVE 1.1 based on Sun Microsystem’s JXTA framework.

INDIA NEWS BUSINESS
ICT 2002 kicks in Mumbai off next week
Nasscom 2002, the annual conference of the software and services sector in India will kick off in the first week of February this year.

Xius India allows Tata to roam
Tata Cellular, the cellular telephony service of Birla Tata AT&T in Andhra Pradesh recently announced the launch of a roaming facility on its prepaid card, Freedom.

Discreet plans to make it big with combustion
Discreet, a division of Autodesk has launched ‘combustion 2’, a unified paint, animation and composting software solution targeted at motion graphic designers, animators and visual effects artists on Windows and Macintosh systems.

Fabmart goes offline
In a surprise move, online retailer Fabmart has announced its decision to set up a nationwide chain of stores that will be located within larger super stores.

NOW forms consortium for ILD services
Category ‘A’ ISP, Data Access, has withdrawn its Rs 600 crore ambitious plan to lay undersea cables from Singapore to Chennai.

Kshema plans software testing, validation services
KSHEMA Technologies, a Bangalore-based software services firm, as part of its diversification, is planning to offer software testing and validation services.

Onward Novell chants the SME mantra
Onward Novell Software India, a joint venture organisation between Onward Network Technologies and Novell, a leading provider of Net business solutions, have announced the availability of the Novell Small Business Suite 6 in India through Onward Novell Authorised Resellers and solution providers.

Mindtree to leverage IP strategy to push revenues
Bangalore-based Mindtree Technologies, the tech arm of Mindtree Consulting, is all set to embark on a complete ‘product realisation service’ strategy for its engineering services arm which will see the company taking the client through all aspects of product development right from product engineering, hardware capabilities and components.

A-PAC to remain fastest growing region for Veritas
Despite the global economic slowdown, A-PAC remains the fastest-growing region for Veritas Software, the world’s largest independent storage software management company, and an area which will accelerate in 2002 as the company continues to expand in key markets with China, Korea and India remaining top priorities.

Best IT World launches iKey
Close on the heels of the successful launch of iBrain and iBall, The Best IT World (India), the Rs 540 million IT products, services and solutions company, has launched the iKey range of keyboards.

Wipro ePeripherals forays into the services business
Wipro ePeripherals (WeP), the Rs 240 crore subsidiary of the IT giant, has forayed into the services business armed with a new service called WeP Print & Save, targeted at Small and Medium enterprises (SMEs).

HCL Tech registers marginal increase in Q2 net
HCL Technologies posted a mere one percent growth in its net profit of Rs 125.6 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2001 as compared to Rs 124 crore in the corresponding period last fiscal.

Bharti Tele-Ventures launches maiden IPO
Bharti Tele-Ventures (BVTL) has announced a floor price of Rs 45 (face value Rs 10 per share) for its eagerly awaited initial public offering (IPO) through 100 percent book building.

Geometric and Dassault Systemes form new company
Geometric Software Solutions (Geometric), a specialist in Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software development and Dassault Systemes, the world’s leading provider of 3d PLM solutions, have announced the signing of a joint venture resulting in the formation of a new company.

Rashi to distribute Microtek products
Microtek Computers (Asia), a pioneer in scanning technologies and leader in graphic imaging solutions, has appointed Mumbai-based Rashi Peripherals as their exclusive distributor in India.