Progress Software Corporation is targeting the insurance, logistics, BFSI and airlines sectors that are mushrooming with many foreign players coming into India.
The provider of application infrastructure software for the development, deployment, integration and management of business applications is looking to partner with domestic consultants with large working knowledge in these sectors.
Talking to CXOtoday, Jezmynn Koh, marketing manager, Asia, of Progress Software, said, "We see a very large potential for us in these sectors and, along with the business knowledge of our partners, we expect to grow big in India. This year we see big-time growth for the BFSI, telecom and insurance sectors."
In fact, the company has already selected a partner - Hasel Fre Solutions - who have business knowledge in the insurance sector. "Likewise, we are now looking for partners in the logistics, BFSI and airlines sectors," she said.
Progress Software's OpenEdge platform enables companies like QAE and Epicor to build an ERP solution on top of it. So, several companies in the BFSI, telecom and also public-sector undertaking sectors have customized the platform as per their requirements.
OpenEdge has been the "cash cows" for Progress Software for many years and contributes almost 70% to the company's revenues.
In the telecom space, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd has been managing data backend integration using Progress COBRA software so that switch-makers can integrate a totally different billing system. "With the fast growth in the telecom sector, most telecom companies face system integration challenges," said Koh.
Similarly, Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) has built a customized ERP solution on top of OpenEdge software for buying, selling and distribution for the last many years..
Besides, Progress also sells through their strategic partners - Wipro, TCS, Infosys and Satyam. Regarding continuing partnership with Satyam, Koh said her company will continue to partner as long as there is a business need for different projects.
CXOtoday.com
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Now Send SMS In Any Local Languages
By Manu Sharma
Since local language is always preferred to communicate with close ones, Tachyon Technologies, the Bangalore-based company initially rolled out Quillpad for the online players. It has recently introduced the solution for mobile players for their SMS service.
Talking to CXOtoday, Ram Prakash H., founder and CEO of Tachyon Technologies said, "We innovated a core less compression technology for the mobile version that has been compressed from eight mbps to less than 400 kbps. It has enabled easier usage for the end-user."
LG has rolled out four models that has inbuilt Quillpad in them and these included: KM 380T, KG 195, KP 199 and KP 220 models. Following the success with LG, Tachyon is talking to other manufacturers like Nokia, Samsung among others. "We want to initially target the mobile manufacturers who will bundle the features in the handsets and later approach the mobile service providers like Airtel, Reliance and Vodafone who can provide more value added services to the end users," said Prakash.
As per the agreement signed with LG (global), the license covers all languages. However, the company has initially rolled out models that can support only Hindi. "Quillpad in mobile makes it easy to type in local languages. It is as easy as we type test messages in English in dictionary mode," said Prakash.
On compatibility with other formats, he said Quillpad is Unicode-compliant and would support any application that supports Unicode. Quillpad was developed as an AI technology, which learns the rules and language patterns and can transliterate any language without help of any linguistic expert," said Prakash.
There is a two-fold advantage - since there is no dependence on a linguistic expert, it can be used for any language and one does not have to depend on the dictionary. Prakash said that this learning was just one-time, after which the trained set of patterns could be deployed by all users of Quillpad technology. The newly developed technology then enables predictive transliteration.
"When you are typing a word, the technology will put together the rules and come up with the right word. It is very similar to the way the T9 dictionary on mobile phones supports typing English words," he said. Another feature that is unique is that the technology is not dependent on one Indian language or its structure. It supports any language that can be written phonetically.
"This gives Quillpad an edge over other technologies. As the artificial intelligence technology can learn the pattern of new languages in just three to four hours, one can add new languages overnight," he said.
CXOtoday.com
Since local language is always preferred to communicate with close ones, Tachyon Technologies, the Bangalore-based company initially rolled out Quillpad for the online players. It has recently introduced the solution for mobile players for their SMS service.
Talking to CXOtoday, Ram Prakash H., founder and CEO of Tachyon Technologies said, "We innovated a core less compression technology for the mobile version that has been compressed from eight mbps to less than 400 kbps. It has enabled easier usage for the end-user."
LG has rolled out four models that has inbuilt Quillpad in them and these included: KM 380T, KG 195, KP 199 and KP 220 models. Following the success with LG, Tachyon is talking to other manufacturers like Nokia, Samsung among others. "We want to initially target the mobile manufacturers who will bundle the features in the handsets and later approach the mobile service providers like Airtel, Reliance and Vodafone who can provide more value added services to the end users," said Prakash.
As per the agreement signed with LG (global), the license covers all languages. However, the company has initially rolled out models that can support only Hindi. "Quillpad in mobile makes it easy to type in local languages. It is as easy as we type test messages in English in dictionary mode," said Prakash.
On compatibility with other formats, he said Quillpad is Unicode-compliant and would support any application that supports Unicode. Quillpad was developed as an AI technology, which learns the rules and language patterns and can transliterate any language without help of any linguistic expert," said Prakash.
There is a two-fold advantage - since there is no dependence on a linguistic expert, it can be used for any language and one does not have to depend on the dictionary. Prakash said that this learning was just one-time, after which the trained set of patterns could be deployed by all users of Quillpad technology. The newly developed technology then enables predictive transliteration.
"When you are typing a word, the technology will put together the rules and come up with the right word. It is very similar to the way the T9 dictionary on mobile phones supports typing English words," he said. Another feature that is unique is that the technology is not dependent on one Indian language or its structure. It supports any language that can be written phonetically.
"This gives Quillpad an edge over other technologies. As the artificial intelligence technology can learn the pattern of new languages in just three to four hours, one can add new languages overnight," he said.
CXOtoday.com
Software to reduce non-compliance risks
Hewlett Packard (HP) plans to unveil a new document and records management software - TRIM - aimed at reducing an organization's risk of non-compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements over the next few months in India.
Talking to CXOtoday Kris Brown, TRIM marketing manager, HP APAC, said, "We are likely to roll out the software in the coming months and will start with the manpower for sales force and also the training. The software was originally developed in Australia and later acquired by HP."
Globally, there are more than 20,000 regulations that businesses need to comply with, including the significant legislations such as Sarbanes-Oxley, HIPAA and BASEL-II. In India, specific regulations mandate on how companies manage and store their information, including the IT Act, Indian Evidence Act and SEBI Clause 49, but most of them are not enforced yet by the Indian government, said Brown.
Meeting these guidelines also increases the return on investments for any organization, Brown said.
HP TRIM software is a best-practice document and records management system (DRMS) that reduces your risk of non-compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements while increasing security, data integrity, productivity and accountability.
In India, HP is targeting Central and state government departments, public-sector undertakings (PSUs), organizations and banking and financial institutions.
HP's Bangalore lab, which has been doing software development for the information management and achieving, will also handle the customization of the TRIM software as well.
CXOtoday.com
Talking to CXOtoday Kris Brown, TRIM marketing manager, HP APAC, said, "We are likely to roll out the software in the coming months and will start with the manpower for sales force and also the training. The software was originally developed in Australia and later acquired by HP."
Globally, there are more than 20,000 regulations that businesses need to comply with, including the significant legislations such as Sarbanes-Oxley, HIPAA and BASEL-II. In India, specific regulations mandate on how companies manage and store their information, including the IT Act, Indian Evidence Act and SEBI Clause 49, but most of them are not enforced yet by the Indian government, said Brown.
Meeting these guidelines also increases the return on investments for any organization, Brown said.
HP TRIM software is a best-practice document and records management system (DRMS) that reduces your risk of non-compliance with legislative and regulatory requirements while increasing security, data integrity, productivity and accountability.
In India, HP is targeting Central and state government departments, public-sector undertakings (PSUs), organizations and banking and financial institutions.
HP's Bangalore lab, which has been doing software development for the information management and achieving, will also handle the customization of the TRIM software as well.
CXOtoday.com
PayMate takes giant stride in retail segment
In what is probably the largest deployment of mobile payments at the retail level, PayMate, one of India's leading mobile commerce companies, will offer comprehensive Point of Sale solutions (E-POS) across MobileStore's 1,300 stores in over 200 cities.
The service will allow MobileStore customers to pay for their purchases, recharge talk-time and even buy or send gift vouchers instantly and securely via the mobile. The MobileStore is a part of the Essar Group.
Ajay Adiseshann, founder & managing director, PayMate, said, "The MobileStore's reach across 200 cities will act as a catalyst to help us popularize mobile payments rapidly and effectively."
With PayMate's mobile payment platform, customers shopping at The MobileStore can link their credit card to their mobile phone and thereafter make payments on their mobile over an instant auto-IVR call-back, without having to share any further details.
Once registered on PayMate, customers can do retail shopping, online purchases, utility bill payments, etc at over 15,000 PayMate accredited merchants via the mobile.
Rajiv Agarwal, CEO & Director, The MobileStore, said, "We are constantly innovating and concentrating efforts to enhance the shopping experience for our customers. With the increasing penetration of cell phones, mobile commerce is set for tremendous growth over the coming years."
Additionally, The MobileStore will also sell GiftMate vouchers (PayMate's pre-paid mobile voucher) and remote mobile top-up via PayMate's consolidated interface. This means PayMate registered users and GiftMate users can top-up their pre-paid mobile anywhere, anytime over an instant auto-IVR call back.
CXOtoday.com
The service will allow MobileStore customers to pay for their purchases, recharge talk-time and even buy or send gift vouchers instantly and securely via the mobile. The MobileStore is a part of the Essar Group.
Ajay Adiseshann, founder & managing director, PayMate, said, "The MobileStore's reach across 200 cities will act as a catalyst to help us popularize mobile payments rapidly and effectively."
With PayMate's mobile payment platform, customers shopping at The MobileStore can link their credit card to their mobile phone and thereafter make payments on their mobile over an instant auto-IVR call-back, without having to share any further details.
Once registered on PayMate, customers can do retail shopping, online purchases, utility bill payments, etc at over 15,000 PayMate accredited merchants via the mobile.
Rajiv Agarwal, CEO & Director, The MobileStore, said, "We are constantly innovating and concentrating efforts to enhance the shopping experience for our customers. With the increasing penetration of cell phones, mobile commerce is set for tremendous growth over the coming years."
Additionally, The MobileStore will also sell GiftMate vouchers (PayMate's pre-paid mobile voucher) and remote mobile top-up via PayMate's consolidated interface. This means PayMate registered users and GiftMate users can top-up their pre-paid mobile anywhere, anytime over an instant auto-IVR call back.
CXOtoday.com
Obama names Indian American Kundra as infotech czar
US President Barack Obama Thursday named Vivek Kundra, a 34-year-old Indian American, as the federal chief information officer (CIO) at the White House to advance the administration's technology agenda.
"Vivek Kundra will bring a depth of experience in the technology arena and a commitment to lowering the cost of government operations to this position," Obama said.
"I have directed him to work to ensure that we are using the spirit of American innovation and the power of technology to improve performance and lower the cost of government operations," he said.
"As Chief Information Officer (CIO), he will play a key role in making sure our government is running in the most secure, open, and efficient way possible."
A White House announcement noted the CIO directs the policy and strategic planning of federal information technology investments and is responsible for oversight of federal technology spending.
The Federal CIO establishes and oversees enterprise architecture to ensure system interoperability and information sharing and ensure information security and privacy across the federal government.
The CIO will also work closely with the chief technology officer to advance the president's technology agenda, it said.
New Delhi-born Kundra formerly served in Washington DC Mayor Adrian Fenty's cabinet as the chief technology officer (CTO) for the capital city, responsible for technology operations and strategy for 86 agencies.
He has been recognised among the top 25 CTOs in the US and as the 2008 IT Executive of the Year for his pioneering work to drive transparency, engage citizens and lower the cost of government operations.
Kundra is also recognised for his leadership in public safety communications, cyber security and IT portfolio management.
Before Kundra came to the capital, Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine appointed him assistant secretary of commerce and technology, the first dual cabinet role in the state's history.
Kundra's diverse record also includes technology and public policy experience in private industry and academia. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia's Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership and holds an MS in information technology from the University of Maryland.
Agencies
"Vivek Kundra will bring a depth of experience in the technology arena and a commitment to lowering the cost of government operations to this position," Obama said.
"I have directed him to work to ensure that we are using the spirit of American innovation and the power of technology to improve performance and lower the cost of government operations," he said.
"As Chief Information Officer (CIO), he will play a key role in making sure our government is running in the most secure, open, and efficient way possible."
A White House announcement noted the CIO directs the policy and strategic planning of federal information technology investments and is responsible for oversight of federal technology spending.
The Federal CIO establishes and oversees enterprise architecture to ensure system interoperability and information sharing and ensure information security and privacy across the federal government.
The CIO will also work closely with the chief technology officer to advance the president's technology agenda, it said.
New Delhi-born Kundra formerly served in Washington DC Mayor Adrian Fenty's cabinet as the chief technology officer (CTO) for the capital city, responsible for technology operations and strategy for 86 agencies.
He has been recognised among the top 25 CTOs in the US and as the 2008 IT Executive of the Year for his pioneering work to drive transparency, engage citizens and lower the cost of government operations.
Kundra is also recognised for his leadership in public safety communications, cyber security and IT portfolio management.
Before Kundra came to the capital, Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine appointed him assistant secretary of commerce and technology, the first dual cabinet role in the state's history.
Kundra's diverse record also includes technology and public policy experience in private industry and academia. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia's Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership and holds an MS in information technology from the University of Maryland.
Agencies
Have small IT firms outwit the big IT giants?
It is not a secret that are at the lower rung of the competition hierarchy in the European technology market. Indian firms still have a long way to go before they get lucrative contracts from that market. But, they seem to be gradually creeping into European market, with smaller firms taking a clear competitive edge than IT biggies like Infosys and TCS, reports CXO today.
"I find that the big Indian companies are too pragmatic. Not able to take my requests simply...CMM Level 5 etc is of no use to me... all I want is my requirement to be fulfilled," Paul Schewefer, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Continental AG.
It seems that a market like Europe demands a highly aggressive planning and quick implementation of strategies if one wants to make the cut. For small companies with lesser number of people, it is comparatively easier to implement changes without having to go through various processes, making it fast. And many small companies in this market have built capabilities in niche areas unlike some giants.
Moreover, Hannover, Germany, based Continental Group's technology expenditure for this year could be up to $500 million. And a lot of that could go to the smaller companies. "Partnering with smaller Indian firms helps them to invest in manpower and technologies, and that helps us as well," said Schewefer.
For the smaller firms, they are looking at the European market via the partnership model. For instance, Aakit Technologies has just sold 26 percent to Germany-based Aequitas Group. "The deal deepens our access to Europe, and also gives our German partner India capabilities," said Tayeb Barodawla, MD, Aakit Technologies.
Earlier, there were reports that Indian IT firms needed long-term deals if they are to make any gain in Europe. It is true that many Indian IT majors are still finding a major share of their revenue from European market through project services, while most of the MNCs drawing revenue from long-term outsourcing contracts.
IT analysts are still of the opinion that top Indian IT companies like TCS, Infosys and Wipro will have to shift focus on long-term outsourcing in order to make significant gains in the European market. These three companies derive around 25 percent of their revenue from European market.
Agencies
"I find that the big Indian companies are too pragmatic. Not able to take my requests simply...CMM Level 5 etc is of no use to me... all I want is my requirement to be fulfilled," Paul Schewefer, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Continental AG.
It seems that a market like Europe demands a highly aggressive planning and quick implementation of strategies if one wants to make the cut. For small companies with lesser number of people, it is comparatively easier to implement changes without having to go through various processes, making it fast. And many small companies in this market have built capabilities in niche areas unlike some giants.
Moreover, Hannover, Germany, based Continental Group's technology expenditure for this year could be up to $500 million. And a lot of that could go to the smaller companies. "Partnering with smaller Indian firms helps them to invest in manpower and technologies, and that helps us as well," said Schewefer.
For the smaller firms, they are looking at the European market via the partnership model. For instance, Aakit Technologies has just sold 26 percent to Germany-based Aequitas Group. "The deal deepens our access to Europe, and also gives our German partner India capabilities," said Tayeb Barodawla, MD, Aakit Technologies.
Earlier, there were reports that Indian IT firms needed long-term deals if they are to make any gain in Europe. It is true that many Indian IT majors are still finding a major share of their revenue from European market through project services, while most of the MNCs drawing revenue from long-term outsourcing contracts.
IT analysts are still of the opinion that top Indian IT companies like TCS, Infosys and Wipro will have to shift focus on long-term outsourcing in order to make significant gains in the European market. These three companies derive around 25 percent of their revenue from European market.
Agencies
Motorola ex-CFO sues for firing him
Motorola Inc's former chief financial officer (CFO) has sued the company for firing him, claiming that it was a "retaliatory discharge."
Paul Liska sued the maker of telecommunications equipment in county court in Chicago on February 20, a day after he was fired. The suit is under seal, and no further details were available. Liska did not return calls for comment, and the company did not return an email.
A "retaliatory discharge" usually refers to an employee being fired for doing something that's in the public interest, like being a whistleblower.
Schaumburg, Ill.-based Motorola said in early February that Liska was leaving after less than a year of service. It didn't specify a cause, but Chief Executive Greg Brown implied on a conference call that it was connected to the delayed spin-off of the company's cellphone unit. Liska, a former partner at private equity companies, was seen as a restructuring expert.
However, Motorola revealed in a filing this week that it had terminated Liska "for cause," depriving him of his signing bonus, stock options and severance payment. It didn't specify the cause.
The Wall Street Journal quoted Liska as saying he had been told he been terminated on January 29 without cause. There was no explanation for the discrepancy in dates on when Liska was terminated.
Agencies
Paul Liska sued the maker of telecommunications equipment in county court in Chicago on February 20, a day after he was fired. The suit is under seal, and no further details were available. Liska did not return calls for comment, and the company did not return an email.
A "retaliatory discharge" usually refers to an employee being fired for doing something that's in the public interest, like being a whistleblower.
Schaumburg, Ill.-based Motorola said in early February that Liska was leaving after less than a year of service. It didn't specify a cause, but Chief Executive Greg Brown implied on a conference call that it was connected to the delayed spin-off of the company's cellphone unit. Liska, a former partner at private equity companies, was seen as a restructuring expert.
However, Motorola revealed in a filing this week that it had terminated Liska "for cause," depriving him of his signing bonus, stock options and severance payment. It didn't specify the cause.
The Wall Street Journal quoted Liska as saying he had been told he been terminated on January 29 without cause. There was no explanation for the discrepancy in dates on when Liska was terminated.
Agencies
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