HTC One X now cheaper than Samsung Galaxy S III

News | by Sharath

HTC, which has launched its new flagship smartphone HTC One, has slashed the price of its predecessor HTC One X
Smartphone maker HTC has slashed the prices of its One X and One X+ smartphones in India.
The HTC One X (16GB) is now available for Rs. 25,990, down from Rs 32,000. The 64GB version of HTC One X+ has been reduced from Rs. 38,550 to Rs. 29,500.

Facebook Home and HTC First: What you need to know
HTC One X smartphone, which started selling in India from March 2012, features a 4.7-inch (720p) display, and is powered by 1.5GHz quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor.
The smartphone was launched with Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) on board but it later got an update to Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean). Latest rumors suggest that the HTC One X would get the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean in June - July.
In comparison, Samsung's hot selling Galaxy S III smartphone is listed for Rs 30,000 while Samsung is also gearing up for the release of Galaxy SIV, its new flag-ship smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 specifications

News | by CIOL Correspondent

Samsung's new Galaxy tab 3 may come in 2 variants with screen size of 8.0" and 10.1 ", according to new details leaked by tech webblog techblog.gr.
Techblog says it expects the Galaxy Tab 3 for June / July. Here are the  leaked specifications:
Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 10.1

• OS: Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
• Processor: 1,5 GHz dual-core
• GPU: ?
• RAM: 1 GB
• 3G / HSPA + of 4G / LTE
• Display: 10,1 inch, 1280 × 800 pixels
• Camera: 3 megapixel
• Front Camera: 1.3 Megapixel
• Storage: 16 GB
• Micro SD
• WiFi, DLNA, WiFi-Direct, Bluetooth 4.0, Micro USB
• Battery: 7000 mAh
• Dimension 256,7 × 175,3 × 8,7 mm.
• Weight: 533 g

Samsung Galaxy Tab 3 8

• OS: Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean
• Processor: 1,5 GHz dual-core
• GPU: ?
• RAM: 2 GB
• 3G / HSPA + of 4G / LTE
• Display: 8 inch, 1280 × 800 pixels
• Camera: 3 megapixel
• Front camera: 1.3 Megapixel
• Storage: ?
• Micro SD
• Wi-Fi, DLNA, Bluetooth 4.0, Micro USB
• Battery: 4500 mAh
• Dimension: 112,1 × 209,6 × 6,95 mm.
• Weight: 330 g.

Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie to support GPS camera

The much anticipated Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie, expected to be released in May, is long speculated to bring a host of new features, including better back-up, vocie assistant and video chat and now we hear that another key feature will be its new camera with GPS control.
According ot rumours, Nexus 5 will feature the camera. It remains unclear whether the new Nexus 7 will take a rear camera feature in its upgrade issue.

Other speculated features:


Better back-up
In many developing markets, battery back-up is the first thing mobile buyers look for. As processor capacity and speeds are multiplying manifold, a better back-up should ideally be high on priority for the manufacturer.



Voice assistant
If Google has to take the fight to Apple iOS in the real sense, a superior voice assistant is a prerequisite. And, even better if it irons out the flaws encountered by Siri users and make Google Now more efficient than just throwing up multiple search results, help locate addresses and make calls.



Video chat app
Google might utilize its in-house software expertise to offer an exclusive video chat application, something improvised from its Google Talk and Hangout, on its devices.



Social media
Rather than promoting only its own social network, Google+, it would be interesting if Google puts together other popular social media, be it Facebook or Twitter, under one icon, upon the Key Lime Pie release.



Built for quadcore
Most of the recent smartphones are running the very efficient quadcore processors, which can multitask the best. So, expect Android 5.0 to be built for quadcore.



Improved photo effects
With in-built camera, capabilities are increasing by the day. It is speculated that Google would leave no stone unturned to better its photo editing tools and with that, other camera features. It would be a bonus if real-time facial recognition is enabled for images and videos.

Indian users targeted in malicious campaign: Symantec

         Symantec created a signature to protect users against Spyware.Redpill in 2008

News | by Sharath

        Symantec has observed a recent malicious spam campaign focused on users in India.
According to end-point security company, the emails contained a malicious attachment, detected as Spyware.Redpill, which is used by the bad guys to steal confidential information. This includes credentials for social networking accounts, bank account details, emails written on compromised computers and screenshots.




        Upon opening the attached file, users receive an error message indicating that the file is corrupted. However, the malware is silently executed and has already begun to steal information, even as its malicious purpose remains hidden from the user.



        In the background the malware installs itself on the compromised computer. It also creates a registry entry subsequent to which keystrokes are recorded and screenshots taken.
Spyware.Redpill is not new by any means; Symantec created a signature to protect users against it in 2008. In fact, Redpill was designed to collect information for people wishing to know if their partner had been cheating on them.



        "The stolen information is sent to an email account hardcoded into the program. In our investigations we found details of the email account used by the attacker to receive the stolen data-for instance it received over 12,000 emails in March 2013," said Abhijit Limaye, Director, Development, Security Response, Symantec. "It is clear from this that the people behind this scheme are not looking for information on hundreds of cheating spouses, but are instead after valuable personal information and account details."



        Interestingly, the malicious email account also has a backup email address. We have traced that email address to a member of an underground forum where this person was looking to buy email accounts, possibly in order to create and ship new malware variants with different hardcoded credentials built in.



        In order to avoid this kind of attack, we recommend that users do not open unknown attachments and make sure that best security practices are followed. Ensure that the most up-to-date software patches are in place, and use the latest Symantec technologies and virus definitions for the best protection against threats.

SLAs - can you make them waterproof?

        SLAs is an area where I always was fortunate enough to have your lawyer uncle around. He saved me from slipping under many dangerous fine-print pits and from giving away too much rope.
So keep him along for every new or old vendor you sign a contract with. Negotiating can be fun, profitable and as I have delightfully discovered even symbiotic. The trick is not to get myopic and foolish enough to approach it as a haggling war. Also, to not be intimidated by the person sitting opposite you.



        This is something I learnt from my savvy analyst comrade Sunil Padmanabh from Gartner. He would often tell me about the yawning gap on due diligence with many contracts. "Nine out of ten big-time goof-ups result on licensing, or fine-print or legal issues of a contract. It is not uncommon that companies run into legal hassles with many IT mega vendors. The reason is simple - no deep dive on details.



        Offshoots can be many from penalties or court cases to audits. This not only distracts IT's attention to legal headaches but also veers off the entire leadership into suits. It starts somewhere when a CIO tries to oversimplify licensing. Most of the time is spent on bargaining rather than grasping the details well. Early-bird discounts do the rest of the job. One can get locked down if one is not aware of all provisions and cautions.



        Vendors are also smart enough to leave everything top open judgment of CIOs instead of educating them properly, who in turn, is usually in a hurry to shortlist a vendor. CIOs usually do the bare minimum either because it is an intimidating or unfamiliar area for them. They pass on the RFP to a legal team and approach such issues in a reactionary mode- like when a sudden license audit swings by. That's why the ROI justification, for cloud-models, for instance takes a U-turn, and one finds oneself better in the relatively better comfort zone of on-premise contracts.



        One should be aware of the different kinds of licensing options or about the possible redundancies, Padmanabh advised me so well. Most contracts should be drafted in good faith, as Vijay Sethi, CIO, Hero Motor Corp would often suggest me.



        But, it is not advisable to run an IT set-up by relying on a piece of paper and opening a book of SLAs every minute of the day. Sethi was the one who defogged the quintessential reality for me. He used to ask me if I would be comfortable with opening a SLA-splashed paper on a daily basis to run my operations? I hope, you would also answer in the negative here.



        That's why Sethi passed on this approach that SLAs should be seen more as a guiding factor by both parties without letting them hamper day-to-day operations. Because if you, as a customer, start counting pennies when it comes to down-time or call-hours, someday the vendor can do the same for any not-so-unreasonable extra minute that you wish you had for an important call. Any business party can run contracts to the hilt, but it takes partners to run a good business beyond paper.



        You must recall Manu Govind, IT head, Synthitite Bank here. His view to SLAs covers some rough edges for me. There will always be a tolerance level set and assigned to vendors. But the IT team has to be careful that it is met and properly justified. Penalty-based formats are refreshing options nowadays in making vendors alert and cautious. The ‘why' of a problem, the root-cause analysis and the permanent fix-up is what a person like Govind would stress upon.



        There is so much that you will learn on the way once you start paying attention to this area and not be befuddled about it.



        And whenever you get stuck, you can always recall all the chess moves I have taught when we played those strategic boxing fights. Like the one we exchanged during our last game together - the threat should be stronger than its execution.

Now, open a virtual office in Kochi for Rs. 500

         Virtual offices are popular in countries like the US and Britain

News | by IANS

        KERALA, INDIA: You can open a virtual office in Kerala's commercial capital Kochi paying just Rs.500 a month, thanks to Spacelance.com.
"With the intention of providing affordable office space solution for freelancers, start-ups, home-based businesses, NRIs and student entrepreneurs to show their business presence here, we came up with this idea. We offer service at affordable cost without compromising the quality," said Boby Thomas, founder and chief executive of the company which launched this cost-effective service here Tuesday.



        "Our service gives a virtual platform for businesses to operate remotely and still show their presence in the city. We have plans starting from as low as Rs.500 per month," added Thomas.
Spacelance.com will provide a prestigious address at the heart of Kochi, a dedicated virtual landline number with a Kochi STD code, a virtual Kochi fax number, a live receptionist to answer and forward your customer calls and mail handling and office support facilities.



        Any interested person can choose a virtual phone number from a pool of available numbers and have the option to forward it to the personal phone number or to a voicemail. The service also allows setting up a customized greeting for virtual number with your company name before redirecting the call to you.



        Spacelance basic plan starts at just Rs.500 a month, which includes a virtual address and mail handling services. The standard plan is Rs.1,000 per month which gives an additional dedicated virtual phone and fax number.
The ultimate plan, priced at Rs.1,500 per month, gives everything in basic and standard plans along with a live receptionist and office support facilities. The company is offering a one week, free trial for all plans.



        According to a report in November 2012, over 27,000 businesses use virtual offices in India and the requirement is estimated to increase at a rapid pace of up to 300 percent every year.



        Spacelance is currently focusing on providing the service in Kochi but has plans to expand its services other cities in the country. Virtual offices are popular in countries like the US and Britain.

ZTE launches two 3G data cards in India

         ZTE introduced two models, one with 14.4 mbps download speed, which is a WiFi enabled hotspot, and another with 7.2 mbps download speed

News | by CIOL Bureau

        BANGALORE, INDIA: Networking vendor ZTE Telecom India, a subsidiary of ZTE Corporation, announced the launch of 3G data cards in India.
ZTE introduced two models, one with 14.4 mbps download speed, which is a WiFi enabled hotspot, and another with 7.2 mbps download speed. The data card with 14.4 mbps download speed has an option to connect with a USB charger and the connection can be shared via WiFi with up to five devices, says a release.



         The one with 14.4 mbps download speed will cost Rs. 2,250, the data card with 7.2 mbps download speed will cost Rs. 1,799.
Yuan Kang, director, Terminals Business, ZTE India, said: "We are excited to enter the Indian open market with our first two products and we hope to introduce more devices in the future. India is an important market for ZTE and this is our first step to enter the open market and cater to the needs of the masses with ZTE's innovative products."

Fashion blogging could be job of the future: Study

         The world of fashion blogs began in 2007, but not until 2009 did brands begin to catch on that these blogs could be good for business

News | by IANS/EFE

        MADRID, SPAIN: The dream of many young women is no longer to sit in the front row and watch a fashion show, but to charge 500 euros ($650) to do the same thing - something that only a few Spanish bloggers have achieved up to now by transforming their passion for fashion into a profession.
The world of fashion blogs began in 2007, but not until 2009 did brands begin to catch on that these blogs could be good for business.



        According to the first sociological study prepared by the fashion Web site Truendy in collaboration with the Spanish Fashion Blogs Association, or AEBDM, based on an anonymous survey of 350 Spanish fashion bloggers, only four out of 10 see their blog as a professional instrument.



        In figures, seven out of 10 bloggers are asked by brands to present their products free of charge, one in every four charges to place advertising, one in every 10 receives cash payments and one out of every 10 is compensated with clothing and accessories.



        Though few manage to live professionally from their blogs, Maria Giraldo, organizer of the Fashion Blogs Conference, says that bloggers use the success they obtain to command "a fairly high fee".

"To attend a fashion show you're paid between 300 and 500 euros (between $390 and $650)", but the amount goes up to between 800 and 1,000 euros ($1,000 and $1,300) when you're talking about making an infomercial, Giraldo said.

Cyber attacks occur every three minutes; Is your enterprise safe?

        Spear phishing remains the most common method for initiating advanced malware campaigns

News | by CIOL Correspondent

       Malware activity has become so pervasive that organizations experience a malicious email file attachment or Web link as well as malware communication that evades legacy defences up to once every three minutes, says the 2H 2012 Advanced Threat Report released by GireEye Inc.


       Drawing on data gathered from 89 million malware events and direct intelligence uncovered by the FireEye research team, the Advanced Threat Report provides a global look into cyber attacks that routinely bypass traditional defenses such as firewalls, next-generation firewalls, IPS, anti-virus and security gateways.


ALS READ: 50 pc of mobile phone users don't have security solutions: survey
                    The report provides an overview of the current threat landscape, evolving advanced persistent threat (APT) tactics, and the level of infiltration seen in organizations' networks today. In addition, it offers a detailed look at trends taking place in specific industries, as well as a case study on a sophisticated and sustained attack that was waged during the course of 2012.



Key findings in the Advanced Threat Report include:

• On average, enterprises experience a malware event up to once every three minutes.
• Across industries, the rate of malware activity varies, with technology companies experiencing the highest volume with up to one event per minute. Some industries are attacked cyclically, while some verticals experience attacks erratically.
• Spear phishing remains the most common method for initiating advanced malware campaigns. When sending spear phishing emails, attackers opt for file names with common business terms to lure unsuspecting users into opening the malware and initiating the attack. These terms fall into three general categories: shipping and delivery, finance, and general business. The top term in malware file names, for example, was "UPS".
• ZIP files remain the preferred file of choice for malware delivery. Malicious malware is delivered in ZIP file format in 92 percent of attacks.

         Several innovations have appeared to better evade detection. Instances of malware are uncovered that execute only when users move a mouse, a tactic which could dupe current sandbox detection systems since the malware doesn't generate any activity. In addition, malware writers have also incorporated virtual machine detection to bypass sandboxing.

         Attackers are increasingly using DLL files. By avoiding the more common .exe file type, attackers leverage DLL files to prolong infections.
"This report provides an overview of how attacks have become much more advanced and successful at penetrating networks, regardless of industry,"said Ashar Aziz, FireEye Founder and CTO. "As cyber criminals invest more in advanced malware and innovations to better evade detection, enterprises must rethink their security infrastructure and reinforce their traditional defenses with a new layer of security that is able to detect these dynamic, unknown threats in real-time."

        "The high rate at which cyber attacks are happening illustrates the allure of malware," said Zheng Bu, Senior Director of Research. "Today, malware writers spend enormous effort on developing evasion techniques that by pass legacy security systems.  Unless enterprises take steps to modernize their security strategy, most organizations are sitting ducks."

Google launches smell-based search!

News | by CIOL Bureau

BANGALORE, INDIA:  Using special equipment and tricky JavaScript, Google is able to capture some of the smells during the scanning process and then embed them in your web browser when you preview these titles in Google Book Search.
Hold on, there is more. Google's NoseBETA has leveraged new and existing technologies to offer the sharpest olfactory experience available.
Sounds true? Nope. You got it right, they are Google's April Fool's Day prank.
On its homepage, Google has a wide range of topics, with detailed description, that are just beyond one's imagination. But for any reader, it is a bit too much to read the entire text.
Pranks need not be too long. Good luck for next year, Google.

Micromax Funbook Talk P 360 available online for Rs 7,049

News | by CIOL Correspondent

Micromax has silently released two new additions to its smartphone and phablets line up - Micromax A72 and Funbook Talk P360 - prices attractively at Rs6,999 and Rs 7,049 respectively.
Though Micromax is yet to list the new additions on its website, the new products are already available for sale on Flipkart and Snapdeal
Micromax A72:
The new Dual SIM Micromax A72 comes with 5-inch Large Capacitive Touch Screen and is powered by 1 GHz Processor and runs on Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread operating system. The latest phone from Micromax features 3MP rear camera, 0.3MP front camera and is embedded with 256MB RAM which is further expandable up to 32GB.
Further, the new Micromax A72 is enhanced with features like 2G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, audio-video player, video recording, FM radio, etc. It is also powered by 2000 mAh battery providing talk time of up to 7 hours and standby time up to 280 hours.

The Micromax A72 is now available on Snapdeal.com for Rs 6,999/-.
Micromax Funbook Talk P360:
The new Micromax Funbook Talk P360 comes with 7-Inch Capacitive Touch Screen and is powered by Cortex-A9 single Core 1.2GHz Processor. It runs on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system and features 2MP primary camera and 0.3MP secondary camera.

Further, it comes with 1GB RAM with 1.65GB of internal memory which is further expandable up to 32GB.The new Micromax Funbook Talk P360 is enhanced with features like 2G calling, motion sensors, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, audio-video player, etc. It also comes with pre-installed applications like M! Store, Edutainment, etc.

The Micromax Funbook Talk P360 is now available on Snapdeal.com for Rs 7,049/-.

Samsung announces 20 new television models for 2013

Samsung brings evolutionary capabilities to its TVs with "Evolution Kit"

News | by CIOL Correspondent

With an eye on the expanding LED and smart TV segment, Samsung today announced 'Made for India' LED television Series and  20 new television models across its flagship Smart and LED TV Series.


Samsung new announcements for 2013

• 5 new plasma televisions
• Ultra High definition TV
• Evolution Kit for Smart TVs
• New Smart TVs in Service 8,7 and 6
• New LED TVs in Series 550 and 4500

The new television models announced for 2013 will come across Smart TV Service 8,7 and 6 as well as the LED TV Series 550 and 4500. In a first, Samsungs F8000 and F7500 Smart TVs, available in 46, 55 and 65 inch screen sizes, will now feature quad-core processor and advanced Smart Interaction that responds to your motion and voice .


Samsung also announced Evolution Kit that brings evolutionary capabilities to its TVs. The kit will be available on select 2012 Series 7,8 and 9 Smart TVs.


"With the launch of our 2013 Smart TV range, we are looking to consolidate our leadership in the Panel TV market in India. We expect LED TVs to drive our Panel TV growth, with Smart TVs contributing atleast 20% of our Panel TV volumes this year," said S K Kim. Samsung's entire Flat Panel TVs product portfolio has 43 models across LED, LCD and Plasma technologies with screen sizes ranging from 22" to 75", priced between Rs. 14,500/- to Rs.750,000/-.


Mahesh Krishnan, Sr. Vice President, Consumer Electronics, Samsung India said  Even as we work towards enhancing the Indian consumers' experience by introducing India relevant applications for televisions, we are also introducing new models that have been especially developed basis feedback received from Indian consumers.

Samsung LED TV Series F5100, F4800, F4100 provides easier connectivity options through its key feature - ConnectShare Transfer - which allows consumers to share content between devices via USB, eliminating the need for a computer. These LED TV series offer two USB ports on the side of the TV to plug in pen drives, smartphones or other storage devices, resulting in a more convenient, and efficient home entertainment experience. SRI, Delhi and Samsung R&D center in India especially developed this feature keeping in mind the feedback received from Indian consumers. While these LED TV series are scheduled to be launched globally, India is the first market where they have been introduced., he added

HP rolls out new Intel-powered Moonshot system

The new HP Moonshot system is the second-generation server from HP's Project Moonshot

News | by CIOL Bureau

BANGALORE, INDIA: HP unveiled its Moonshot system, which according to the company can deliver up to 89 per cent less energy, 80 per cent less space and costs 77 per cent less, compared to traditional servers.

"With nearly 10 billion devices connected to the internet and predictions for exponential growth, we've reached a point where the space, power and cost demands of traditional technology are no longer sustainable," said Meg Whitman, president and chief executive officer, HP.

"HP Moonshot marks the beginning of a new style of IT that will change the infrastructure economics and lay the foundation for the next 20 billion devices."


          The new HP Moonshot system is the second-generation server from HP's Project Moonshot. Scheduled to be released in the second half of 2013, the new HP ProLiant Moonshot servers will support emerging web, cloud and massive scale environments, as well as analytics and telecommunications.


          As per the company, future servers will be delivered for big data, high-performance computing, gaming, financial services, genomics, facial recognition, video analysis and other applications.
HP Moonshot servers are built from chips found in smartphones and tablets. It consists of HP Moonshot 1500 enclosure and HP ProLiant Moonshot servers.


          It can support up to 1,800 servers per rack and each of its chassis shares traditional components including fabric, HP Integrated Lights-Out (iLo) management, power supply and cooling fans.
The first HP ProLiant Moonshot server is available with Intel Atom S1200 processor and supports web-hosting workloads. HP Moonshot 1500, a 4.3u server enclosure, is fully equipped with 45 Intel-based servers, one network switch and supporting components.


          HP also announced its roadmap for HP ProLiant Moonshot servers incorporating processors from HP partners, including AMD, AppliedMicro, Calxeda, Intel and Texas Instruments Incorporated.


          The HP Moonshot system is immediately available in the United States and Canada and will be available in Europe, Asia and Latin America beginning next month. Pricing begins at $61,875 for the enclosure, 45 HP ProLiant Moonshot servers and an integrated switch.

MSME to generate 27.12 lakh jobs: Muniyappa

         Under the 12th Plan, MSME plans to set up about 3.39 lakh enterprises which would create 27.12 lakh employment opportunities

News | by CIOL Bureau

        NEW DELHI, INDIA: "The MSME sector contributes around 9 per cent of GDP and accounts for around 45 per cent of the manufacturing output and around 36 per cent of total value of exports, says MSME minister K.H. Muniyappa on the eve of the main event of National Award Presentation ceremony.

        Addressing the media, the minister said, "The MSME Sector of India has been repeatedly mentioned as the growth engine of the Indian economy, but the depth of its achievements is often not fully appreciated."

        Highlighting the contribution of MSME sector, the minister said, "The MSME sector contributes around 9 per cent of GDP and accounts for around 45 per cent of the manufacturing output and around 36 per cent of total value of exports. Not only this is a sector of 3.6 crore thriving enterprises employing over 8 crore persons but the sector is continuously exhibiting a growth rate far above the large sector."

       
       The sector has been growing consistently above 10 per cent for the last five years. Thus, we can see that compared to the other larger industries, MSMEs have been growing far better, added Muniyappa.


        The Government has announced the National Manufacturing Policy where industry sector should reach a level of 25 percent of GDP by the year 2025.

MSME sector is the major hope, and, if I may say so, the only hope to attain this objective, he added.
Thanking the planning commission and the finance ministry for allocating more funds to MSME sector, Muniyappa said, "In the 11th Plan Period it was about Rs.11000 crore and for the 12th Plan Period we have been allocated more than Rs.24000 crore."


        Tool Rooms and Technology Development Centres

•         Appreciating the efforts and measures taken by the finance ministry to support MSME sector, Muniyappa said, "The ministry has helped us to set up of 15 new Tool Rooms and Technology Development Centres and upscaling the Cluster Development Scheme for village industries to 800 in the next four years (for the last Plan Period, it was 101).
•         He further added, "The finance ministry has recognised the Ministry of MSME-run incubators to be eligible under Corporate Social Responsibility Funding and increasing the re-financing for SIDBI from Rs.5000 crore to Rs.10000 crore.

TCS to acquire French firm ALTI for €75 mn; to add 1,200 staff

         The acquisition will transform TCS into a major player in France, the third largest IT Services market in Europe

News | by CIOL Bureau

       MUMBAI, INDIA: Tata Consultancy Services has announced that it has signed definitive agreements for the acquisition of 100% equity shares in Alti SA, an IT services company in France, for a value of €75 million in an all-cash transaction. The acquisition will strengthen TCS' ability and footprint to service its customers in France and other regions in Europe.


        Alti SA is a leading French technology services firm with strong expertise in IT Services including Enterprise Solutions, Assurance and CRM solutions. It is a privately-held company owned by its management and two private equity funds, CM-CIC LBO Partners and IDI, which supported its growth from a revenue base of € 64m in 2007 to € 126 m in 2012. Regarded as one of the top 5 system integrators of Enterprise Solutions in France, its key customers comprise several top French corporations in the banking, financial services, luxury, manufacturing and utilities sectors. The company has 1,200 employees based in France, Belgium and Switzerland.


        The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions.
N. Chandrasekaran, CEO and Managing Director, TCS, said, "This acquisition underlines our long-term, strategic commitment to France, which is the third largest IT services market in Europe. The acquisition of Alti SA will help us serve our clients in France and across Europe more comprehensively with an expanded set of services and solutions, bringing the best of TCS to French corporations. I am confident that this acquisition will help us accelerate our growth and presence in France."


        Assessed at over € 30 billion, the France IT Services market is largest in Europe, after the UK and Germany. TCS has been operating in France since 1992 and has over 50 clients in the country, including several of the CAC 40. Over the last 5 years, TCS has significantly strengthened its position in the country through local hiring and investments.


        In recognition of these initiatives, the company had been conferred the special award for Investment and Innovation by the Greater Paris Investment Agency in 2012. This acquisition will propel TCS into the list of the top IT services firms in the country.


        Andre Bensimon, co-founder of Alti SA added, "This is a significant step that will benefit both our clients and employees. Supplementing our current services with TCS' renowned global expertise will provide tremendous additional value to our clients; while our employees will secure the advantages of building their careers in a larger global organization, which is considered a Top employer in Europe. "


        TCS had been rated earlier this year as a "BIG 4" brand in the Global IT services Industry, as a leader in Customer satisfaction across various surveys and recognized as the #1 ranked Top employer in Europe by the CRF Institute.

HTC One launched in India, price Rs 42,900

Reliance GSM subscriber can avail 1GB of 3G data free for 3 months

News | by CIOL Correspondent

        HTC today announced the availability of its new flagship smartphone - HTC One- in India market with a price tag of Rs Rs 42,900/-
The new HTC One introduces several new features like HTC BlinkFeed, HTC Zoe and HTC BoomSound, key new HTC Sense innovations that promises high standard of mobile experience.


        "People today immerse themselves in a constant stream of updates, news and information. Although smartphones are one of the main ways we stay in touch with the people and information we care about, conventional designs have failed to keep pace with how people are actually using them," said Faisal Siddiqui, Country Head, HTC India.


        "A new, exciting approach to the smartphone is needed and with the new HTC One, we have re-imagined the mobile experience from the ground up to reflect this new reality," he added.


Reliance offer:
                          Reliance GSM subscriber can avail 1GB of 3G data free for 3 months along with free sharing of unlimited text, music, pictures and videos through WhatsApp and Facebook for 3 months.
Reliance is also offering free BigFlix subscription for 3 months that will enable Reliance 3G users to watch the latest movies on the go without having to worry about any additional data charges."
"Our bundled offers on RCOM's superior 3G network is set to provide a compelling new experience with incredible affordability to Smartphone users across the country,"a Reliance spokesman said.


Price & Availability
                                  The new HTC One will be available at MOP (Best Buy) of Rs 42,900/- from end of April 2013.For more information and to pre-register on the new HTC One, visit www.htc.com

Will you pay for Facebook messages to non-friends?

If you are in UK, you have to. But do you think it is a good move? How much is the ideal fee for a message?

News | by CIOL Bureau

        BANGALORE, INDIA: Majority of Facebook's popularity can be attributed to its free service. Doing those things which have of late become a standard for survival --- Connecting with friends, making new friends, sharing, chatting, etc, for free was a model much appreciated and highly accepted.

        That seems to come to an end with Facebook's monetization plans. As a first step, Facebook has started charging for messages to non-friends in the UK. According to The Sunday Times, Facebook users who wish to send messages to celebrities and people they aren't friends with will have to pay up to £10.

        A Facebook statement said: "The system of paying to message non-friends in their inbox is designed to prevent spam while acknowledging that sometimes you might want to hear from people outside your immediate social circle. We are testing a number of price points in the UK and other countries to establish the optimal fee that signals importance."

        The price to send a message will vary depending on the amount of followers a celebrity has. Sending Tom Daley (who has over 1.4 million 'likes') a message will cost £10.68, while sending a message to rapper Snoop Lion costs £10.08.
Earlier, Facebook drew flak for charging a fee to promote particular posts. Notwithstanding the criticism, Facebook has continued with its policy.

        Now, do you think charging a fee for messages to non-friends is a good move? If yes, how much is the right amount for one message? Do let us know.

Samsung Galaxy S4 to be in India soon at Rs 45,000?

        The Samsung Galaxy S4 is also up for pre-order on e-commerce sites

News | by CIOL Correspondent

       NEW DELHI, INDIA: Consumers in India waiting eagerly for the Samsung Galaxy S4 may be able to lay their hands on it soon. The Samsung Galaxy S4 will most likely be launched in India on May 10, says a report.

        A report on Northern Voices Online says ''There is a report that the Galaxy S4 will first touch Indian market on May 10th with a projected price of Rs. 44,999. But, before that, some retailers offered to bring the device for a hefty price of Rs. 60,000, much higher than Samsung's expected price.''

       Apart from this report, IBN Live, quoting a source with knowledge on the matter, says that Samsung Galaxy S4 is likely to be launched in India on April 25 and its MRP will be around Rs 42,000.

        Also, a recent post on Samsung Mobile India Facebook page says ''Ready to be a part of the next Galaxy?'' probably hinting towards the release of the smartphone in India. Although, Samsung is yet to announce the date of availability and the price of the smartphone in India, the smartphone is expected to be priced over Rs. 45,000 in India.

        Samsung Galaxy S4 is also up for pre-order booking on Rediff Shopping and other online sellers, who are quoting a price of Rs 59,990.
However, some viewers are of the view that the Galaxy S4 should not cost above Rs. 45,000. ''Logically store prices should be around 38-40000 with MRP of 45k. Anything more than that there will be few takers in price sensitive country like ours,'' says a CIOL viewer. ''I wouldn't pay even a dime more than 40k. I'd rather choose the HTC one then,'' says another.

        The specs of the Galaxy S4 are 5 inch screen with Super AMOLED display (441ppi), 1.9GHz quad-core processor/1.6GHz octa-core processor, 2GB RAM, 13MP rear camera and 2MP front camera, Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and 2,600mAh battery. The smartphone will be available in black mist and white frost colors.

        Some of the other features of the Galaxy S4 are Air View (allows users to preview videos by hovering their finger over the screen), eye-scroll (by observing the movement of the users eyes, the Galaxy S4 automatically pauses and plays videos), WatchON, Optical Reader, and Dual Shot (both cameras are functional at the same time).

        So, going by the specs and features of the Galaxy S4, what according to you would be the apt price of the smartphone? Do let us know.

WikiLeaks online repository has 2 mn secret cables from 1970s

The Kissinger Cables alone comprise more than 1.7 million US diplomatic records from 1973 to 1976

News | by CIOL Bureau

BANGALORE, INDIA: WikiLeaks is at it again. Today it published over 2 million US diplomatic records from the 1970s, coined the Kissinger Cables. That also  marks its launch of a new searchable database for all of its released materials, Public Library of US Diplomacy (PlusD).
The database lists the year-wise records from 1970s to 2010 under various classifications like Unclassified, Confidential, Limited official use etc. WikiLeaks estimates that the original PDF files total more than 380GB in size, and include 320,000 originally classified records, 227,000 confidential and 61,000 secret cables, according to The Next Web.
The Kissinger Cables alone comprise more than 1.7 million US diplomatic records from 1973 to 1976. While Cablegate is a set of over 250,000 US diplomatic cables originally published by WikiLeaks from November 2010 and over the following year, the earliest document in Cablegate is from 1966, with the set including documents up to February 2010.
The WikiLeaks PlusD claims to hold the world's largest searchable collection of United States confidential, or formerly confidential, diplomatic communications. As of April 8, 2013, it holds 2 million records comprising approximately 1 billion words.
WikiLeaks' publisher Julian Assange stated: "The collection covers US involvements in, and diplomatic or intelligence reporting on, every country on Earth. It is the single most significant body of geopolitical material ever published."

Microsoft might come up with its own 'Google Glass' in 2014

Reports suggest that Microsoft is also planning to introduce a smartwatch

News | by CIOL Bureau

BANGALORE, INDIA: Microsoft might soon join the elite league of wearable gadget innovators Apple, Google, Samsung and Sony, if reports come true.
Apparently, it is planning to come up with a pair of glasses, like Google Glass, and a smartwatch, said Apple Insider.
"Analyst Brian White said in a note to investors on Thursday that he believes Microsoft is planning to bring to market a set of Internet-connected glasses next year. If true, that would put Microsoft in a position to compete with Google Glass, a project with a very public presence despite the fact that it is still in development."
It is also speculated that the new gadget might be a part of Kinect revamp, to be a part of the next Xbox.

Micromax Ninja A91 is Rs 8499 on e-commerce sites

News | CIOL Correspondent

Micromax has quietly unveiled Micromax Ninja A91, which is available on online portals for Rs 8,499
Micromax, which also recently launched Micromax Canvas HD, has promised to launch at-least 30 phones during 2013
The Ninja A91 is powered by MediaTek MT6577 1GHz dual-core processor alongside 512MB RAM and 4GB internal storage expandable up to 32GB via microSD card. The device sports a 5-megapixel rear camera and a VGA front camera.

Future of smartphones: 5G tech, wrist-watch mobile & more

News | by Prasanto K Roy

One kilogram. That's what it weighed, the bulky prototype used for a wireless phone call by a Motorola engineer in 1973. For the real milestone 10 years later, a 790-gram Motorola DynaTAC made the first call from a commercial mobile phone, in a Mercedes in 1983. That makes the mobile 30 years old, and not the 40 that's being reported.
Since then, it's been a long road to today's smart, slim, all-colour 100-gram personal digital companion. The mobile helped India leapfrog past wireline telephony, to a personal phone for every other citizen. It's altered social behaviour. It's caused revolutions.
Mobile subscriptions grew from zero in 1983 to 12 million in 1990, and then to 6 billion in 2011. The world bought 1.75 billion mobiles in 2012. Of the 1.8 billion expected to sell in 2013, about half could be smartphones.
So how's the mobile changed in 30 years? Yes, it's now small and light, and has gone from one-line mono display to colour to high-definition. The bigger deal is that it's moved from voice to mostly data: email, browsing, apps. And from phone to personal companion. Yet the mobile is far from perfect. There are two big issues.
The first is the battery: The only reason why James Bond's wrist-watch mobiles are impractical. Ten years ago, my Nokia 6310i would last seven days on a charge. My 2013 BlackBerry Z10 struggles to last a day.
The battery hasn't kept up with the increase in data and apps use. In the voice-only era, the phone's radio (the part that sends and receives signals) would be in use for two hours in 24. In today's data age, those radios work continuously, draining batteries.
The second is congestion. Mobiles use radio spectrum, a scarce resource. The more phones fight for that spectrum, the worse our experience is: Failed and dropped calls, breaking voices.
But with over 6 billion subscriptions already there for its 7 billion people, will our planet keep up the explosive mobile-telephony growth of the past 30 years? Oh, yes!
Let's look at those subscriptions. A half-billion are in multi-SIM phones or multiple phones owned by the same person. Or in other devices such as iPads, or laptop dongles.
Another half-billion mobile users are machines. Electric meters, escalators, automobiles, security cameras, with built-in cellular modules. They auto-report readings, usage status, failures. Some, like digital doorlocks, allow remote control.

In-Memory data grid market to reach $1 bn by 2016

In-Memory computing is racing towards mainstream adoption, finds Gartner

News | by CIOL Bureau

BANGALORE, INDIA: The rapid maturation of application infrastructure technologies and a continued dramatic decline in the cost of semiconductor technologies are paving the way for mainstream use of in-memory computing (IMC).
Gartner said that although the in-memory data grid (IMDG) market, a key IMC segment, is small, it is likely to grow fast and to reach $1 billion by 2016.
"The relentless declines in DRAM and NAND flash memory prices, the advent of solid-state drive technology and the maturation of specific software platforms have enabled IMC to become more affordable and impactful for IT organizations," said Massimo Pezzini, vice president and Gartner Fellow.
Until recently, only the most technologically savvy organizations - for example, in vertical markets like financial trading, telecommunications, military and defense, online entertainment and logistics - could cope with the high cost and complexity of adopting IMC. But IMC technology is now more affordable and more proven. "Organizations that do not consider adopting in-memory application infrastructure technologies risk being out-innovated by competitors that are early mainstream users of these capabilities," said Pezzini.
IMC is an emerging paradigm enabling user organisations to develop applications that run advanced queries or perform complex transactions on very large datasets at least one order of magnitude faster - and in a more scalable way - than when using conventional architectures. It achieves this by storing application data in a computer's main DRAM, rather than on electromagnetic disks, and without compromising the availability, consistency and integrity of that data.
In-memory-enabling application infrastructure technologies consist of in-memory database management systems, in-memory data grids, high-performance messaging infrastructures, complex-event processing platforms, in-memory analytics and in-memory application servers. These technologies are being used to address a wide variety of application scenarios requiring a combination of speed of execution, scalability and insightful analytics.
IMC provides opportunities to change the way in which organizations support business requirements. It completes batch processes that would otherwise take hours in minutes or even seconds, enabling processes to be delivered to clients, suppliers, citizens or patients as real-time cloud services. IMC can also be used to detect correlations and patterns to help pinpoint emerging opportunities and threats as things happen, across millions of events, in the blink of an eye.
The rapid penetration of IMC and its likely adoption by at least 35 percent of midsize and large organisations through 2015 (up from less than 10 percent in 2012) will be determined by factors such as expanding demand for real-time analytics for ever larger volumes of fast-changing data, growing requirements for 24/7 operations driven by globalization, and the increasing availability of IMC-enabled packaged business applications. However, several issues, such as a lack of standards, the scarcity of skills, relative architectural complexity, security concerns, and monitoring and management challenges, will need to be addressed for IMC to achieve mainstream adoption.
Although the IMC application infrastructure market is in flux and fragmented, with more than 50 software vendors, growing adoption will continue to drive established vendors and start-ups to invest in IMC technologies. "Vendors that don't have an established presence in the IMC market, or those looking to expand their IMC offering, will acquire small players with advanced technology or an established presence in the market, which will lead to market consolidation," said Pezzini.
"During the next two to three years, IMC will become a key element in the strategy of organizations focused on improving effectiveness and business growth. Organizations looking for cost containment and efficiency will also increasingly embrace IMC," said Pezzini.

Koreans change gadgets most frequently

News | by Rachel Lee

Korean smartphone users change their gadget more frequently than in any other country, data showed Sunday.
According to the data released by Strategy Analytics (SA), 67.8 percent of Korean smartphone users changed their phones last year. The figure indicates more than two-thirds of users bought new phones. The report covered a total of 88 countries.
Chile came second with 55.5 percent, followed by the United States at 55.2 percent and Uruguay at 53.6 percent. Bangladesh was the last of those surveyed at 8.4 percent.
Here, most consumers sign a two-year contract with mobile carriers who subsidize their smartphones. Given that consumers tend to change their phones after the contract ends, the replacement rate could be expected to be about 50 percent. The higher rate of replacement means a large number of Korean consumers switch to a new phone even before their contract expires.
"Korean consumers tend to follow trends all the time so they can keep everything up-to-date, especially gadgets like smartphones and tablet PCs," said the owner of a KT shop in southern Seoul, asking not to be named. "Some of our customers here come in and get the latest phone even if their contract is still valid for more than a year. I don't think they think getting a brand new one is necessarily a waste of money." KT is Korea's second- largest mobile-phone carrier.
"I bought an Apple iPhone 4 last summer and, after about three month, the iPhone 5 was released," said Lee Jong-hyuk, a 27-year-old officer worker, Sunday. "I already knew it would come out soon so I bought it without any hesitation. I like trying new gadgets and experiencing new technology anyway, but most importantly I don't want to fall behind the people around me by keeping an old phone."
The SA report expects the figure for Korea to increase by 2.2 percent this year, reaching 70 percent despite the economic recession with near zero economic growth. The analytics firm also predicts the replacement rate will fall slowly from next year, reaching 62.9 percent in 2017, but the report forecast the figure would not decline below 60 percent over the next four years.
Korea is home to Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics, the world's leading makers of smartphones and other electronics.
(This artile was first published in The Korean Times)

Virus attack pushes Maha state civil services exams to May

Examination hit a major snag following a virus attack on the main server leading to loss of complete data of nearly 350,000 candidates due to appear for two papers

News | by IANS

MUMBAI, INDIA: Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan Thursday postponed the Maharashtra state civil services exam after the commission conducting the exam lost data of 350,000 candidates from its server due to a technical snag.
Chavan's announcement came in the state legislature, barely a day after he declared that the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC) examination would be conducted as per original schedule Sunday April 7.
The fresh date for the examination, likely to be in early May, shall be announced soon, MPSC officials indicated.

Earlier Thursday, leaders of all political parties, including Leader of Opposition in the assembly Eknath Khadse and Leader of Opposition in the council Vinod Tawde discussed the issue in detail with Chavan and impressed upon the need for a postponement.
The examination hit a major snag following a virus attack on the MPSC main server which led to the loss of complete data of nearly 350,000 candidates due to appear for two papers.
As a result, candidates were not given their hall tickets, information on examination centres, seat numbers and other details.
This led to widespread protests from the candidates as well as all political parties which demanded postponement of the examination, though MPSC insisted that candidates must resubmit their data by Thursday evening.
"All candidates would be intimated via SMS their exam centre details, and they can produce their exam fee receipt along with a photograph to write the exam. There will be no compulsion on the hall ticket," Chavan told the house Wednesday, shooting down all demands to postpone the examination.
Meanwhile, candidates recounted harrowing tales of their attempts to resubmit data with the MPSC.
While most attempt failed as they could not log-in to the MPSC server, in rural areas, candidates had to grapple with 16-18 hours power cuts which prevented them from filing details.

Is Google in talks to acquire WhatsApp for $1 bn?

Apparently, negotiations between Google and WhatsApp began 4-5 weeks ago

News | by CIOL Bureau

BANGALORE, INDIA: Not long ago, Facebook was supposed to bid for WhatsApp. Now, search giant Google seems to be in contention for acquiring the globally popular messaging app.
"WhatsApp is in the negotiating phase over prices with Google in what could be Google's next billion dollar acquisition," said Digital Trends, quoting an inside source.
It went on to add that the deal started four or five weeks ago, and that they heard that WhatsApp was "playing hardball" and jockeying for a higher acquisition price, which stood close to $1 billion.
"We've suspected for some time now that a messaging app would be the next billion dollar acquisition deal following Facebook's Instagram buy-out last year. 2012 was the year for photo-sharing apps, which you know everything about by now. So, 2013 has been dominating by the messaging app-meets social network market."
Communication services are the pillar to any connected device, Digital Trends justified, "knowing this, if Google wants to be taken seriously on mobile, it'll need a standout like WhatsApp to take under its wing, and it needs to work fast".
WhatsApp has a proven monetization scheme. Its yearly but nominal $0.99 subscription fee keeps the service ad-free, the report added.

HTC First vs Google Nexus 4: Choose your Android phone

News | by CIOL Correspondent

While Google LG Nexus 4 is an eagerly awaited phone in India, HTC has just unveiled its first major release for 2013 - HTC First - with built-in Facebook Home app. Here is how these Android-based phones fair when pitted against each other.
While Google LG Nexus 4 runs on the latest Jelly Bean 4.2, HTC First is based on Jelly Bean 4.1.
Built and Display:
Initial reviews of HTC First describe the phone as a powerful device. The HTC First appears not to be aimed at power users but built for Facebook users who simply want to be constantly connected with friends and family.
Google LG Nexus 4 has a glass-centric chassis design which is prone to scratches and is easily breakable. However, Nexus 4 is appreciated for the hand grip it provides with rubbery soft-touch area around the edge. The HTC First is praised for its simple and straightforward design with smooth finish on the back, with slightly curved sides and a flat front.
Nexus 4 with 4.7-inch diagonal screen opts for a traditional IPS screen at 1280x768 resolution while HTC First has relatively a small screen of 4.3 inches with a 720p HD resolution of 1280x720.

Other specifications:
Nexus 4
Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro CPU/ 2 GB RAM
Camera:

• 8 MP (main)/ 1.3 MP (front)
• Processor and memory
• 8GB or 16GB (actual formatted capacity will be less)

Connectivity:

Careers360 launches JEE Main 2013 Rank Estimator!

Careers360 launches JEE Main 2013 Rank Estimator!

JEE Main 2013 offline mode of exam is over now! Careers360 has launched an innovative product called “JEE Main 2013 Rank Estimator”. This rank estimator will help you to get your estimated rank after calculating the total score by referring to JEE Main 2013 answer key.

JEE Main 2013 Rank Estimator is very simple! Step 1: Enter your name, E-mail, phone number and date of birth Step 2: Provide your JEE Main roll number along with the expected score in the exam Step 3: Enter your Class 12 Board name and the expected marks Step 4: Submit Once you get the estimated rank, you can use our “Engineering Mock Counselling Engine” to find your best fit engineering college by giving your preferences such as location, branch, fee, infrastructure etc.

Discuss your JEE Main 2013 exam here!

Students can now take up internship on eGovernance

Initiative has been taken with a view to make e-governance a sought after subject among the youth

News | by CIOL Bureau

BANGALORE, INDIA: eGovernance could be the next area of specialisation for students pursuing engineering, management and computer studies. As a part of the Maharashtra State Government Policy, students from the field of engineering, management or computer studies will be able to take up internship programme with the 'Setu' centres across the state of Maharashtra.
The public administration at district and taluka level had established the Setu centres to facilitate citizens with computerized services that includes issuing various certificates and licences.
This initiative has been taken with a view to make e-governance a sought after subject among the youth. District and state Setu societies are responsible for getting students from reputed engineering and management institutes for internship programmes for tenure of three months, as per the State Directorate of Information Technology's latest policy decision.
"Students would be selected based on their profile and interviews to be conducted. Each of these selected interns is expected to work for maximum of three months with the Setu centres," an Indian Express report quoted a senior government official as saying.
The official also said that students from the institutes located in those districts, where the work is being done, would get more preference over others.
For doing these internships with the Setu centres, Engineering and MCA students would get a stipend of Rs. 2,000 per month and MBA students would receive a stipend of Rs. 3,000 per month.
According to Section 13.11 of the Maharashtra's e-governance policy, "The state government will create opportunities for short-term Internship (which may be stipend-based) of students with Diploma or Bachelors or Masters degree in Computer Science, IT in the state government departments in various e-governance projects and initiatives, and an appropriate certificate shall be provided on completion of the same."
The decision has been positively welcomed by the technical institutes across the state.

3G roaming pacts: No respite to Bharti Airtel from SC

Supreme Court declines early hearing on 3G roaming pacts

News | by CIOL Correspondent

NEW DELHI, INDIA: In a major setback to Bharti Airtel, India's apex court declined on Friday to have early hearing on 3G roaming pacts.
It comes just a day after a bench of Delhi High Court reversed its previous order restraining the telecom department to cease Airtel's 3G services.
Bharti Airtel hasn't, however, got any immediate respite from the Supreme Court, as the case has been postponed for April 8. The telecom department termed Airtel, Vodafone and Idea operations in seven circles, where they don't have licence, as illegal.
The department had earlier said that the 3G roaming pacts were forged in a sheer violation of licensing terms and conditions, and such pacts have deep impact on spectrum auction.

And the ‘Will' goes to...

Give a man a fish and he will have food for one day. Give a man a fishing rod and he will have beer too.

Features | by Pratima H

        HE did not have wrinkles but fine furrows of experience. The pruned skin on his fingers evidently proclaimed his 80-years-of-hands-on-and-in-the-soil approach to work. The silver streaks of wisdom on his head filed him out among his grey-haired geriatric friends and kin. Even up to this age, he never had to worry about cataract; having been a man of ultimate vision all the time.

        When the news of his untimely death flitted around the pink newspapers and corridors of corporate power mansions; even his arch rival gasped for a moment. Diseases, recessions, government upheavals, tough acquisitions, climate change or the possibility of aliens in space; nothing had so far been possible to nudge him to the other side of the cliff of age and about-time-farewell that he had been standing atop for last many years. Everyone had thought this inveterate business czar will live on without a scratch and will hit a century with his well-played innings.

        But then nothing lasts forever. Not even a stubborn heartbeat. He had died peacefully, without a shriek or a shudder.

        The day after his funeral, his family was corralled by the family lawyer, a good friend of his who had always offered sacred counsel and secrecy to all his dilemmas and decisions.
Probably the reason the family members felt a different chord from the moment he opened the much-anticipated Will. Someone was showered with a secret -but-fat account of ingenious investments, while someone else was bequeathed the long-adored family heritage house, as another one almost ran into a fit of happiness with the ownership of newly acquired foreign plants and so on.
But the second eldest son had only waited, disillusioned and tired. He had seen how his father had taken good care of the eldest son with all the wealth and powers ascribed now as a CEO. He had also watched in bewilderment as the youngest one screamed with delight at all the moolah sprinkled on him in the cozy chair of a CFO. The scene was quickly morphing into a Christmas day morning, all melancholy and mourning evaporating as every present left by his father got unwrapped one by one.
He was not surprised or hopeful at all though. He was only wondering as to why exactly he was not left anything substantial so far. No money, no company, no farmhouse, nothing? Because he was the always-arguing-and-rebellious son? Or because he handled the much-orphaned side of IT for the empire? The answer now, lay buried impishly.

        He sighed and waited for his turn, if at all, there was one. It was there nevertheless. The family lawyer walked towards him as soon as everyone got busy admiring their gifts. He handed him over a brown-paper sheathed parcel. It had no ribbons to tempt, metaphorically or otherwise. The son pored his indifferent eyes into the lawyer's, "Should I even bother opening this?"
The lawyer reciprocated with a crimson flare, all set to pass on some contagious hope, "Yes, without blinking an eyelid. This one was specially for you. Hand-written by him. My only advice is - open and read this somewhere in private."

        The son's forehead showed more signs of confusion-whipped-with-suspense. "Why? Is it something very confidential?"

Cheaper Galaxy S2 now available !!!!

Samsung Galaxy S2 is Rs 22,900 on Flipkart, Rs 3000 lesser than e-store

Most of Samsung smartphones are cheaper on Flipkart than on e-store

INDIA: It seems buying from e-commerce sites has some advantage, at least with regard to Samsung phones. The price difference between Samsung e-store and Flipkart ranges from Rs 600 to Rs 3000.
That certainly is a considerable amount. Samsung Galaxy S2 is priced Rs 25,900 on Samsung e-store while the same phone costs Rs 22,900 on Flipkart. The Galaxy S2 has 10.92cm (4.3) SUPER AMOLED Plus display with 8 MP primary camera and 2 MP secondary camera. It runs Android v4.1.2 OS.
The newly released Samsung Galaxy Grand with 12.7cm screen is priced Rs 21,500 on the Samsung e-store while it is Rs 20,900 on Flipkart. The phone runs Jelly Bean OS and offers dual SIM capability.
As the handsets get more sophisticated with high-end features the price gap is much lesser. Samsung Galaxy S3 costs Rs 30,950 on Samsung e-store while it is Rs 30,345 on Flipkart and Rs 29,500 on Tradus.
And for Samsung's most popular model Galaxy Note II, it costs Rs 36645 on Flipkart and is Rs 37,380 on Samsung e-store. Samsung Galaxy Note II runs Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) and has 14.09cm (5.55) HD Super AMOLED display. It also has 8 MP auto focus camera with LED Flash.

New Popular apps : Kofax apps

Kofax apps hit 1 million $ spends at an Italian Bank

This expansion of the existing Kofax implementation brings the bank's investment in Kofax solutions to nearly $1 million dollars.

IRVINE, USA: Kofax plc, a provider of smart process applications for the business critical First Mile of customer interactions, announced that a major Italian bank has invested more than $300,000 to expand its use of Kofax software to all of its branches across Europe, the Middle East and North Africa.
This expansion of the existing Kofax implementation brings the bank's investment in Kofax solutions to nearly $1 million dollars. As per a press release, the Kofax solution claims to automatically capture business critical information regardless of how, where and when it arises, reducing operational costs by 30 percent while providing a higher level of customer service.
According to a December 2012 commissioned market analysis of multichannel capture, business process management, and smart process applications by Forrester Consulting on behalf of Kofax, the financial services market is an early adopter of these technologies. The branch remains as the cornerstone of a bank's sales and services but is transforming to create a more personalized experience.
"Eighty-four of the top 100 global financial services companies rely on Kofax," commented Howard Dratler, executive vice president of Field Operations at Kofax. "By expanding capture to the Point of Origination, we're helping financial institutions provide a better customer experience that allows them to be more competitive and improve their business processes in the critical First Mile of customer interactions."

RCom inks deal with RIL's 4G arm for optic fibre network

RCom inks deal with RIL's 4G arm for optic fibre network

 

Reliance Communications has inked a Rs. 1,200 crore-deal with Reliance Jio Infocomm,

News | by CIOL Bureau

BANGALORE, INDIA: Anil Ambani's Reliance Communications has inked a Rs. 1,200 crore-deal with Reliance Industries' 4G arm Reliance Jio Infocomm, reports NDTV. As per the agreement, the two companies will share RCom's nationwide optic fibre network.
"RCom will have reciprocal access to fibre infrastructure built by Reliance Jio Infocomm in future," adds the report.

Nokia beats Samsung !!!

India mobile market: Nokia beats Samsung

Home grown vendors such as Micromax, Karbonn and Lava will try to make a mark against their global competitors", says CMR analyst

NEW DELHI: India registered 221.6 million mobile handset shipments for CY (January-December) 2012,according to CMR's India Mobile Handsets Market Review, CY 2012, March 2013 release.
During the same period, 15.2 million smartphones were shipped in the country, the report adds.

A comparison of overall mobile handset shipments and featurephone shipments shows a direct correlation for the India mobile handsets market rankings. Market shares are somewhat similar for the top three players across the overall market and the featurephones segment, as shown in Table 2.


Commenting on the results, Faisal Kawoosa, Lead Analyst, CMR Telecoms Practice said, "Although we see a huge market ‘hype' around smartphones, the fact remains that the India Mobile Handsets market is still dominated by shipments of featurephones. On the other hand smartphone shipments are growing fast. This indicates India is still a ‘new phone' market, where featurephones contribute to the bulk of shipments compared to replacements or upgrades."
"This propensity on the part of Indian subscribers of mobile telephony services to purchase large numbers of featurephones has paved the way for the establishment of Indian brands, which are largely focused on this segment."
India Smartphones Market
The India smartphones market during 2H 2012 saw a rise in shipments by 75.2 pc over and above the 1H 2012 number, taking the overall contribution of smartphones to 6.8 pc for the full year. In fact, during 2H 2012, smartphone shipments stood at 8.1pc of the country's total mobile handset shipments. While BlackBerry was at third spot during 1H 2012, Sony Mobiles displaced the former if we examine numbers for the full CY 2012.

Commenting on these results, Tarun Pathak, Analyst, CMR Telecoms Practice said, "The India smartphones segment has very distinct characteristics vis-à-vis the overall market. We believe the struggle for leadership in the India smartphones market is going to intensify through 2013 as vendors bring new form factors to market."
"Players such as Samsung, HTC and Sony Mobiles will increasingly try to establish leadership through differentiated offerings and by promising a ‘seamless' experience across the four consumer screens - smartphone, tablet, PC and TV. At the same time, home grown vendors such as Micromax, Karbonn and Lava will try to make a mark against their global competitors, by bringing to market powerful, yet attractively priced smartphones in an attempt to widen their appeal and grow the overall smartphone user base", Tarun added.