Novatium Solutions, a Chennai-based startup is building a $100 (Rs 4,300) computer using the "thin client" architecture. This, the company hopes, will take "computing to the next billion."
In Bangalore, Encore Software is engaged in a similar experiment. Its SofComp is being promoted as a sub-Rs 10,000 mobile computer. Earlier, the company had developed the handheld Simputer with the help of professors from the Indian Institute of Science in the city.
SofComp combines affordability, computing ability and mobility, say Encore's chairman Vinay Deshpande and vice president Shashank Garg. It works without a hard disk and uses the system-on-chip architecture.
Set up by Shishir B Purohit, Novatium, meanwhile, dreams of making low cost PCs widely available, an effort backed by Ashok Jhunjhunwala, the Indian Institute of Technology (Chennai) professor who took wireless telephony to villages. Its computer, based on "thin client" architecture can handle most routine office work such as e-mail, word processing, spread sheets, presentations, and Internet browsing.
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Friday, July 29, 2005
How to set up a large start-up
Think big, start small and scale up fast: it's every manager's dream.
For Shikha Sharma, Managing Director of ICICI-Prudential Life Insurance Company, it was a challenge. Hiring people, opening branches and offices across the country, unleashing a media blitzkrieg, getting customers: She explains the strategy and the processes employed in founding a large start-up.
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For Shikha Sharma, Managing Director of ICICI-Prudential Life Insurance Company, it was a challenge. Hiring people, opening branches and offices across the country, unleashing a media blitzkrieg, getting customers: She explains the strategy and the processes employed in founding a large start-up.
Read More...
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Just what are credit derivatives ?
Rediff article says...
Like any other financial derivative, credit derivatives provide payoff to the investor that depends upon the underlying default risk associated with any financial instrument, especially bank loans.
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Like any other financial derivative, credit derivatives provide payoff to the investor that depends upon the underlying default risk associated with any financial instrument, especially bank loans.
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Wednesday, July 20, 2005
The book that inspired me
Ankur Bhatia, MD, Amadeus India Sub Continent writes...
I have just finished reading Stephen Covey's The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness To Greatness. It's all about self-introspection, understanding your true potential and the difference you can make to the people around you.
It emphasises that success comes to those who, as a starting point, listen to their inner selves. Thereafter, based on the needs of the people with whom they interact, they create innovative ways to empower them.
Covey calls the present times the 'New Knowledge Worker age' in which, in order to thrive, innovate, excel and lead, we must build on and move beyond effectiveness.
As a continuation to his previous book, The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People, in this book he emphasises the eighth habit. Simply put, the eighth habit means to find your voice and inspire others to find theirs.
It is the answer to the soul's longing for greatness, the organisation's focus on excellence, and humanity's search for its 'voice'. The book is insightful, encouraging and definitely inspiring.
It has introduced me to new ideas and practices that will have a profound impact not only on my professional life but personal life as well.
I have just finished reading Stephen Covey's The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness To Greatness. It's all about self-introspection, understanding your true potential and the difference you can make to the people around you.
It emphasises that success comes to those who, as a starting point, listen to their inner selves. Thereafter, based on the needs of the people with whom they interact, they create innovative ways to empower them.
Covey calls the present times the 'New Knowledge Worker age' in which, in order to thrive, innovate, excel and lead, we must build on and move beyond effectiveness.
As a continuation to his previous book, The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People, in this book he emphasises the eighth habit. Simply put, the eighth habit means to find your voice and inspire others to find theirs.
It is the answer to the soul's longing for greatness, the organisation's focus on excellence, and humanity's search for its 'voice'. The book is insightful, encouraging and definitely inspiring.
It has introduced me to new ideas and practices that will have a profound impact not only on my professional life but personal life as well.
Tuesday, July 19, 2005
Intel`s $700-mn India project faces trouble
Business Standard Reports...
Govt reluctant to make an upfront payment of $100mn demanded by IBM.
There seem to be hiccups on the way towards setting up Intel?s proposed $700-million wafer testing facility in India as the government appears reluctant to meet some of the demands raised by the world?s largest chipmaker.
Apart from flexibilities on external commercial borrowings and tax benefits, Intel had asked the government to make an upfront payment of $100 million, officials told Business Standard today.
But the government is not ready to make this kind of a contribution. A team from Intel negotiated the terms of a deal with officials last week but a breakthrough could not be achieved, officials said.
Read More...
Govt reluctant to make an upfront payment of $100mn demanded by IBM.
There seem to be hiccups on the way towards setting up Intel?s proposed $700-million wafer testing facility in India as the government appears reluctant to meet some of the demands raised by the world?s largest chipmaker.
Apart from flexibilities on external commercial borrowings and tax benefits, Intel had asked the government to make an upfront payment of $100 million, officials told Business Standard today.
But the government is not ready to make this kind of a contribution. A team from Intel negotiated the terms of a deal with officials last week but a breakthrough could not be achieved, officials said.
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B-schools make managers, not leade
Vipul Jain, CEO & MD of Kale Consultants writes :
B-schools don't teach you leadership. The job of a leader as distinct from a manager - is to unflinchingly believe that tomorrow will be better than today.
That's what keeps you together when you don't know how you are going to get to your goal. It makes you get out of bed and get to work. As a leader, people look up to you; they draw energy from you. Many of us are managers; few are leaders.
Read More...
B-schools don't teach you leadership. The job of a leader as distinct from a manager - is to unflinchingly believe that tomorrow will be better than today.
That's what keeps you together when you don't know how you are going to get to your goal. It makes you get out of bed and get to work. As a leader, people look up to you; they draw energy from you. Many of us are managers; few are leaders.
Read More...
Friday, July 08, 2005
India, most attractive retail mart
Rediff Reports:
Improved investment climate and a more liberal foreign direct investment regime have made India the top destination for global retail giants like Wal-Mart, Benetton and Tesco, which are looking to expand overseas, international management consulting firm A T Kearney said on Friday.
India displaced Russia to move from second place to first in the 2005 Global Retail Development Index released by AT Kearney. The Index is a study of retail investment attractiveness among 30 emerging markets across the globe.
The country's retail market totalling $330 billion is vastly underserved and has grown by 10 per cent on average over the past five years. It is also one of the most fragmented retail markets in the world -- the combined market share of the top five retailers totals less than two per cent.
India's ranking was driven by an improved investment climate due to the recent relaxation of direct ownership restrictions on foreign retailers, it said.
"The message for retailers on India is clear: move now or forego prime locations and market positions that will become saturated quickly," A T Kearney vice president Mike Moriarty said, adding retailers that missed opportunities to capture first-mover advantage in China can make up for it in India.
Read More...
Improved investment climate and a more liberal foreign direct investment regime have made India the top destination for global retail giants like Wal-Mart, Benetton and Tesco, which are looking to expand overseas, international management consulting firm A T Kearney said on Friday.
India displaced Russia to move from second place to first in the 2005 Global Retail Development Index released by AT Kearney. The Index is a study of retail investment attractiveness among 30 emerging markets across the globe.
The country's retail market totalling $330 billion is vastly underserved and has grown by 10 per cent on average over the past five years. It is also one of the most fragmented retail markets in the world -- the combined market share of the top five retailers totals less than two per cent.
India's ranking was driven by an improved investment climate due to the recent relaxation of direct ownership restrictions on foreign retailers, it said.
"The message for retailers on India is clear: move now or forego prime locations and market positions that will become saturated quickly," A T Kearney vice president Mike Moriarty said, adding retailers that missed opportunities to capture first-mover advantage in China can make up for it in India.
Read More...
How women can save money
Sushma Gupta, a 32-year-old mom has been managing the household finances since the last 12 years. Her husband gives her a fixed percentage of his salary every month for running the household.
As you would know this task is not easy. It includes everything from buying groceries/ everyday consumption items to things that the kids might need.
Sushma seems to be doing a remarkable job and manages to save a few thousands each month. One of her neighbours, Anita works for a mutual fund house and gave her an idea- to invest the amount she saves each month in an equity fund.
She has started a systematic investment plan and keeps aside Rs 3,000 every month for the same. The amount is not much but what matters is the investing habit. Remember that each brick helps in building a house.
Read More
As you would know this task is not easy. It includes everything from buying groceries/ everyday consumption items to things that the kids might need.
Sushma seems to be doing a remarkable job and manages to save a few thousands each month. One of her neighbours, Anita works for a mutual fund house and gave her an idea- to invest the amount she saves each month in an equity fund.
She has started a systematic investment plan and keeps aside Rs 3,000 every month for the same. The amount is not much but what matters is the investing habit. Remember that each brick helps in building a house.
Read More
'It was the right time to go' : Vivek Paul
Rediff Interview:
Vivek Paul, 46, grew Wipro over 10 times , emerged as its brand ambassador and the poster boy of Indian IT.
In a candid interview with Businessworld's Shelley Singh, Paul opened up to talk about his times at Wipro and why he quit. Excerpts.
How will you sum up your stint at Wipro?
It was a good chapter in Wipro's book. We set a vision that looked impossible. It makes you feel better because we did it with such confidence.
Less than 1 per cent of India's population is associated with IT and it feels great to know that the whole country is proud of what we did. I built a great team, built some very unique business models, and got customers to come to Wipro -- there is lot of repeat revenue from customers.
Read More...
Vivek Paul, 46, grew Wipro over 10 times , emerged as its brand ambassador and the poster boy of Indian IT.
In a candid interview with Businessworld's Shelley Singh, Paul opened up to talk about his times at Wipro and why he quit. Excerpts.
How will you sum up your stint at Wipro?
It was a good chapter in Wipro's book. We set a vision that looked impossible. It makes you feel better because we did it with such confidence.
Less than 1 per cent of India's population is associated with IT and it feels great to know that the whole country is proud of what we did. I built a great team, built some very unique business models, and got customers to come to Wipro -- there is lot of repeat revenue from customers.
Read More...
Blasts: Indian BPOs boost staff for UK rail queries
Rediff reports :
Call centres in India brought in extra staff and asked some to work overtime to answer a flood of inquiries to Britain's National Rail after a series of deadly bomb blasts hit London's transport network Thursday, officials said.
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Call centres in India brought in extra staff and asked some to work overtime to answer a flood of inquiries to Britain's National Rail after a series of deadly bomb blasts hit London's transport network Thursday, officials said.
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Inside story: Why Vivek Paul quit Wipro
Rediff quotes Businessworld artcile :
On May 5, Wipro vice chairman Vivek Paul walked into the second floor Bangalore offices of Wipro executive vice president (human resources), Pratik Kumar. The meeting was unscheduled.
Paul told Kumar about a certain sense of 'restlessness' that had seized him lately. He disclosed how he 'was evaluating to do something else'. Kumar thought Paul was at a stage 'where he wanted to make a decision'.
After the conversation, Kumar lost no time in speaking to Wipro chairman Azim Premji on what had transpired between him and Paul. Premji seemed to be aware of what was going on in Paul's mind. He simply expressed his quiet disappointment to Kumar
Read More...
On May 5, Wipro vice chairman Vivek Paul walked into the second floor Bangalore offices of Wipro executive vice president (human resources), Pratik Kumar. The meeting was unscheduled.
Paul told Kumar about a certain sense of 'restlessness' that had seized him lately. He disclosed how he 'was evaluating to do something else'. Kumar thought Paul was at a stage 'where he wanted to make a decision'.
After the conversation, Kumar lost no time in speaking to Wipro chairman Azim Premji on what had transpired between him and Paul. Premji seemed to be aware of what was going on in Paul's mind. He simply expressed his quiet disappointment to Kumar
Read More...
Just what is securitisation?
Rediff Article says :
'Banks will have to unload bad loans to Asset Reconstruction Companies by FY2007' read a leading business newspaper headline sometime back.
A bank selling its bad loans! This might sound strange, but it has been made possible by securitisation.
This article explains the concept of securitisation and how it can change the banking business in India.
Read More...
'Banks will have to unload bad loans to Asset Reconstruction Companies by FY2007' read a leading business newspaper headline sometime back.
A bank selling its bad loans! This might sound strange, but it has been made possible by securitisation.
This article explains the concept of securitisation and how it can change the banking business in India.
Read More...
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