GlobalLogic Inc, the leader in global product development services, has expanded its newest centre in Bangalore.
LumenData, an innovative product company specializing in data management, has partnered with GlobalLogic for product development and implementation.
"We feel privileged that LumenData has chosen GlobalLogic as its partner to expand its presence in Bangalore," said Peter Harrison, CEO of GlobalLogic.
"GlobalLogic seeks only highly skilled engineers with several years of experience to join its global team. The centre in Bangalore is critical to our recruitment efforts in India. It's an important technology hub that gives us access to a pool of highly talented engineers," he said in a statement here today.
GlobalLogic has engineering centres in Eastern Europe, Israel, China and the US.
It helps software product companies innovate. In contrast to many firms that focus on IT services, GlobalLogic specializes in product R&D for emerging and established companies.
Agencies
Friday, March 27, 2009
IBM-Sun talks on merger to extend beyond a few weeks
IBM's talks to acquire Sun Microsystems Inc are continuing and may extend beyond next week, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.
IBM is still examining Sun's business as part of its due diligence process, said the source, who was not authorized to speak about the talks and therefore requested anonymity.
Neither IBM nor Sun has issued any statement to say they are in talks, although sources said last week that the two sides are negotiating a merger that would bolster IBM's high-end server and software business.
The Wall Street Journal reported on March 18 that IBM could pay as much as $8 billion for Sun, amounting to a 100 percent premium for the high-end server computer maker. If a deal is sealed, it would be IBM's largest acquisition.
The source said on Thursday that IBM's due diligence process, or examination of Sun's business, was necessary considering Sun's size and complexity.
An IBM spokesman declined to comment, and Sun was not immediately available.
Some analysts have said Sun would bolster IBM's position against rivals like Hewlett-Packard Co and Cisco Systems Inc, both of which have been acquiring smaller, niche technology firms to broaden their product and service offerings.
Agencies
IBM is still examining Sun's business as part of its due diligence process, said the source, who was not authorized to speak about the talks and therefore requested anonymity.
Neither IBM nor Sun has issued any statement to say they are in talks, although sources said last week that the two sides are negotiating a merger that would bolster IBM's high-end server and software business.
The Wall Street Journal reported on March 18 that IBM could pay as much as $8 billion for Sun, amounting to a 100 percent premium for the high-end server computer maker. If a deal is sealed, it would be IBM's largest acquisition.
The source said on Thursday that IBM's due diligence process, or examination of Sun's business, was necessary considering Sun's size and complexity.
An IBM spokesman declined to comment, and Sun was not immediately available.
Some analysts have said Sun would bolster IBM's position against rivals like Hewlett-Packard Co and Cisco Systems Inc, both of which have been acquiring smaller, niche technology firms to broaden their product and service offerings.
Agencies
Search engine major Google to improve search facilities
Google has its globally popular Internet search service to understand relationships between words, as the company bids to better grasp what Web users are looking for.
Along with taking into account intended meanings of search terms, Google beefed up results pages with longer snippets in summary paragraphs focused on what people appear to be seeking.
"We're deploying a new technology that can better understand associations and concepts related to your search," Google search quality team technical lead Ori Allon and snippets team engineer Ken Wilder wrote in a blog post.
"We are now able to target more queries, more languages, and make our suggestions more relevant to what you actually need to know."
Internet search services have traditionally been based on matching key words typed into query boxes with words at websites or in other online data.
There has been growing interest in "semantic searches" that are smart enough to go beyond simply matching words to understanding what sentences or combinations of words mean.
A longstanding concern has been whether companies will be able to implement technology that can process the increasingly complex searches with the high speed that Internet users have come to expect.
Microsoft recently confirmed it is testing a Kumo.com semantic search engine it hopes will be more popular than its Live Search service that has long been mired in a distant third place behind Yahoo and market leader Google.
Google on Tuesday rolled out semantic search capabilities in 37 languages. Examples given by Wilder and Allon included a search in Russian for "fortune-telling with cards" yielding search results that included "tarot" and "divination."
A Google search in English for "principles of physics" triggers suggestions to inquire about "big bang" and "quantum mechanics."
Agencies
Along with taking into account intended meanings of search terms, Google beefed up results pages with longer snippets in summary paragraphs focused on what people appear to be seeking.
"We're deploying a new technology that can better understand associations and concepts related to your search," Google search quality team technical lead Ori Allon and snippets team engineer Ken Wilder wrote in a blog post.
"We are now able to target more queries, more languages, and make our suggestions more relevant to what you actually need to know."
Internet search services have traditionally been based on matching key words typed into query boxes with words at websites or in other online data.
There has been growing interest in "semantic searches" that are smart enough to go beyond simply matching words to understanding what sentences or combinations of words mean.
A longstanding concern has been whether companies will be able to implement technology that can process the increasingly complex searches with the high speed that Internet users have come to expect.
Microsoft recently confirmed it is testing a Kumo.com semantic search engine it hopes will be more popular than its Live Search service that has long been mired in a distant third place behind Yahoo and market leader Google.
Google on Tuesday rolled out semantic search capabilities in 37 languages. Examples given by Wilder and Allon included a search in Russian for "fortune-telling with cards" yielding search results that included "tarot" and "divination."
A Google search in English for "principles of physics" triggers suggestions to inquire about "big bang" and "quantum mechanics."
Agencies
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Is bankrupt Nortel giving away $7.3 m as bonus?
A Canadian court has allowed eight senior executives at Nortel Networks Corp to share in the bonuses that the telecom equipment maker plans to pay out even as it fights for survival in bankruptcy protection.
Bankruptcy courts in both the US and Canada will allow Nortel Networks to pay as much as $7.3 million in incentive bonuses to the executives.
Nortel already had court approval to pay out a total of $45 million in bonuses for close to 1,000 executive and non-executive employees.
Friday's ruling by the Ontario Superior Court makes the eight senior executives, who do not include Chief Executive Mike Zafirovski, eligible to receive a share of this money, company spokesman Mohammed Nakhooda said.
In addition to the $45 million, Nortel has a separate quarterly bonus plan in place for "the vast majority of employees at all levels," he added.
Nortel -- North America's biggest maker of telephone gear -- had argued in an earlier court report that the bonuses were needed because "the commitment and retention of key employees will be essential to the execution of a restructuring of Nortel".
Executive compensation has become a hot-button issue with investors and politicians alike, particularly amid revelations that US insurance giant American International Group (AIG) paid out $165 million in bonuses after receiving $180 billion in government aid.
Some companies, including all of Canada's large banks, have introduced nonbinding shareholder votes on executive compensation in a bid to provide greater transparency and more accountability.
Toronto-based Nortel filed for bankruptcy protection in January, blaming the economic crisis for derailing a turnaround effort that began in 2005.
It had about $2.4 billion in cash when it sought protection and about $4.5 billion in long-term debt.
Nortel shares were unchanged at 10 Canadian cents on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Friday. In mid-2000, at the height of the company's success, they were worth more than C$1,100 each, adjusted for a stock consolidation that took place in 2006.
Agencies
Bankruptcy courts in both the US and Canada will allow Nortel Networks to pay as much as $7.3 million in incentive bonuses to the executives.
Nortel already had court approval to pay out a total of $45 million in bonuses for close to 1,000 executive and non-executive employees.
Friday's ruling by the Ontario Superior Court makes the eight senior executives, who do not include Chief Executive Mike Zafirovski, eligible to receive a share of this money, company spokesman Mohammed Nakhooda said.
In addition to the $45 million, Nortel has a separate quarterly bonus plan in place for "the vast majority of employees at all levels," he added.
Nortel -- North America's biggest maker of telephone gear -- had argued in an earlier court report that the bonuses were needed because "the commitment and retention of key employees will be essential to the execution of a restructuring of Nortel".
Executive compensation has become a hot-button issue with investors and politicians alike, particularly amid revelations that US insurance giant American International Group (AIG) paid out $165 million in bonuses after receiving $180 billion in government aid.
Some companies, including all of Canada's large banks, have introduced nonbinding shareholder votes on executive compensation in a bid to provide greater transparency and more accountability.
Toronto-based Nortel filed for bankruptcy protection in January, blaming the economic crisis for derailing a turnaround effort that began in 2005.
It had about $2.4 billion in cash when it sought protection and about $4.5 billion in long-term debt.
Nortel shares were unchanged at 10 Canadian cents on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Friday. In mid-2000, at the height of the company's success, they were worth more than C$1,100 each, adjusted for a stock consolidation that took place in 2006.
Agencies
Deadly PC virus -- Conficker C -- to strike on April 1
A security expert has cautioned that an Internet worm, called Conficker C, can strike at infected computers around the world on April 1.
Conficker C is a sophisticated piece of malicious computer software, or malware, that installs itself on a PC hard drive via specially written web pages and then conceals itself on a computer.
Graham Cluley, of the security specialist Sophos, has claimed that Conficker C is programmed "to hunt for new instructions on April 1".
However, "this does not mean that anything is going to happen, or that the worm is actually going to do anything. Simply, it is scheduled to hunt a wider range of websites for instructions on that date," The Times quoted him as saying.
And the biggest catch is that no one yet has any idea what exactly Conficker C is programmed to do.
In February, Cluley said, "It's as if someone is assembling an army of computers around the world, but hasn't yet decided where to point them."
Experts are fearing that on April 1 all the world's millions of infected computers may receive simultaneous instructions to attack, or to flood the Internet with spam email.
Ed Gibson, Microsoft's chief security adviser for the UK, was quite hesitant to make predictions about Conficker's behaviour.
"April 1 is a classic date for anything like this to go off. But I really would hate to say that April 1 is going to be unlike any other day," he said.
Agencies
Conficker C is a sophisticated piece of malicious computer software, or malware, that installs itself on a PC hard drive via specially written web pages and then conceals itself on a computer.
Graham Cluley, of the security specialist Sophos, has claimed that Conficker C is programmed "to hunt for new instructions on April 1".
However, "this does not mean that anything is going to happen, or that the worm is actually going to do anything. Simply, it is scheduled to hunt a wider range of websites for instructions on that date," The Times quoted him as saying.
And the biggest catch is that no one yet has any idea what exactly Conficker C is programmed to do.
In February, Cluley said, "It's as if someone is assembling an army of computers around the world, but hasn't yet decided where to point them."
Experts are fearing that on April 1 all the world's millions of infected computers may receive simultaneous instructions to attack, or to flood the Internet with spam email.
Ed Gibson, Microsoft's chief security adviser for the UK, was quite hesitant to make predictions about Conficker's behaviour.
"April 1 is a classic date for anything like this to go off. But I really would hate to say that April 1 is going to be unlike any other day," he said.
Agencies
IBM to layoff 5,000 jobs in US; While expand in India, China
IBM will cut about 5,000 jobs in the United States, adding to similarly large cuts in the past few months, sources with knowledge of the matter told media.
The job cuts will account for over 4 per cent of IBM's US workforce, which totaled around 115,000 at the end of 2008. The sources, who were not authorised to speak publicly on the issue, said the cuts will mostly be in IBM's global services business, which includes outsourcing and consulting services.
An International Business Machines Corp spokesman declined to comment. The company, which had a total workforce of 398,455 as of end 2008, has not disclosed how many jobs it has cut so far this year, but has said it was making "structural changes" to reduce spending and improve productivity.
IBM, which now earns around two-thirds of its revenue from outside the United States, has been expanding its workforce in emerging markets like India and China.
At the end of 2008, employment in the BRIC countries -- Brazil, Russia, India and China -- totaled around 113,000.
IBM has been hit by slower US technology spending, although it has fared better than many rivals thanks to its global footprint and a decreased emphasis on hardware sales.
A month ago, IBM affirmed its full-year forecast of $9.20 earnings per share, and said contract signings for its business services had grown so far this year.
IBM is in exclusive talks to buy Sun Microsystems Inc, according to sources familiar with the matter, a move that would create a clear leader in the high-end computer server market.
Agencies
The job cuts will account for over 4 per cent of IBM's US workforce, which totaled around 115,000 at the end of 2008. The sources, who were not authorised to speak publicly on the issue, said the cuts will mostly be in IBM's global services business, which includes outsourcing and consulting services.
An International Business Machines Corp spokesman declined to comment. The company, which had a total workforce of 398,455 as of end 2008, has not disclosed how many jobs it has cut so far this year, but has said it was making "structural changes" to reduce spending and improve productivity.
IBM, which now earns around two-thirds of its revenue from outside the United States, has been expanding its workforce in emerging markets like India and China.
At the end of 2008, employment in the BRIC countries -- Brazil, Russia, India and China -- totaled around 113,000.
IBM has been hit by slower US technology spending, although it has fared better than many rivals thanks to its global footprint and a decreased emphasis on hardware sales.
A month ago, IBM affirmed its full-year forecast of $9.20 earnings per share, and said contract signings for its business services had grown so far this year.
IBM is in exclusive talks to buy Sun Microsystems Inc, according to sources familiar with the matter, a move that would create a clear leader in the high-end computer server market.
Agencies
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Will Infosys-Telstra deal cause job losses in India?
Bangalore-based software giant Infosys will pick up most of IBM Global Services’ multi-million dollar applications support contract with Australian software giant Telstra, after the latter’s deal with the former was scrapped following telco reducing its outsourcing partners from four to two.
According to The Australian, the decision to shift from IBM to Infosys could result in hundreds of job losses locally and in Bangalore, where IBM operates outsourcing centres.
IBM GS staff was told the scratching of the vendor’s software support would represent about 50 per cent of its one billion dollar, six-year deal with Telstra, signed in early 2006.
Telstra’s decision to drop IBM was a big surprise to IBM GS staff, who expected the contract to continue until 2012.
The deal was lost not because of performance issues but because Infosys low-balled the IBM offer, sources said.
Telstra has been reviewing its IT outsourcing contracts with Satyam, EDS, IBM GS and Infosys since last year, when the telco announced it would trim its list of major IT suppliers from four to two in an effort to reduce costs and streamline its providers.
Earlier, Telstra had ended one of its information technology outsourcing contracts with International Business Machines Corp (IBM). It has now roped in Infosys Technologies for the same.
IBM Global Services' multimillion dollar applications support contract with Telstra has been scrapped as a result of the telco reducing its outsourcing partners from four to two, as per an Australian media report.
The decision to shift from IBM to Infosys could result in hundreds of job losses locally and in Bangalore, where IBM operates outsourcing centres, the report said.
The Australian reported that IBM staff were told the scrapping of the vendor's software support would represent about 50% of its $1 billion, six-year deal with Telstra, signed in early 2006.
Less than a week ago, Telstra terminated its IT outsourcing contract with fraud-hit Satyam Computer Services. Telstra is the second major Australian company to do so after The National Australia Bank decided in February to suspend future work with the Indian outsourcer since the disgraced Indian outsourcer's accounting scandal came to light.
The IBM India spokesperson could not be reached for comment while the Infosys communication person said, "We are in our silent period and will not be able to comment on the issue."
Agencies
According to The Australian, the decision to shift from IBM to Infosys could result in hundreds of job losses locally and in Bangalore, where IBM operates outsourcing centres.
IBM GS staff was told the scratching of the vendor’s software support would represent about 50 per cent of its one billion dollar, six-year deal with Telstra, signed in early 2006.
Telstra’s decision to drop IBM was a big surprise to IBM GS staff, who expected the contract to continue until 2012.
The deal was lost not because of performance issues but because Infosys low-balled the IBM offer, sources said.
Telstra has been reviewing its IT outsourcing contracts with Satyam, EDS, IBM GS and Infosys since last year, when the telco announced it would trim its list of major IT suppliers from four to two in an effort to reduce costs and streamline its providers.
Earlier, Telstra had ended one of its information technology outsourcing contracts with International Business Machines Corp (IBM). It has now roped in Infosys Technologies for the same.
IBM Global Services' multimillion dollar applications support contract with Telstra has been scrapped as a result of the telco reducing its outsourcing partners from four to two, as per an Australian media report.
The decision to shift from IBM to Infosys could result in hundreds of job losses locally and in Bangalore, where IBM operates outsourcing centres, the report said.
The Australian reported that IBM staff were told the scrapping of the vendor's software support would represent about 50% of its $1 billion, six-year deal with Telstra, signed in early 2006.
Less than a week ago, Telstra terminated its IT outsourcing contract with fraud-hit Satyam Computer Services. Telstra is the second major Australian company to do so after The National Australia Bank decided in February to suspend future work with the Indian outsourcer since the disgraced Indian outsourcer's accounting scandal came to light.
The IBM India spokesperson could not be reached for comment while the Infosys communication person said, "We are in our silent period and will not be able to comment on the issue."
Agencies
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