Marketplace Briefing

Seiko Epson shifts base to Bangalore: The $7-billion Japanese conglomerate Seiko Epson Corporation which markets computer printers, LCD p...

Seiko Epson shifts base to Bangalore: The $7-billion Japanese conglomerate Seiko Epson Corporation which markets computer printers, LCD projectors and point of sale systems in India has shifted its headquarters from Chennai to Bangalore. It has set up offices in Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai in a bid to strengthen its infrastructure support in view of the rapidly growing IT market. Epson’s Bangalore office will look after all India marketing and customer support.

Soliton unveils energy saving system for textile mills: A Coimbatore-based company, Soliton Automation Ltd, has developed a new energy saving system for textile mills. The system, when put into use in autoconers, could save Rs 1.25 lakh per machine annually, resulting in 50 per cent savings on energy, company managing director Ganesh Devaraj said. Soliton Automation, in alliance with the US-based National Instruments, will focus on implementing many cost-effective high technology automation applications in domestic companies, hesaid.

Sun Microsystems plans: Sun Microsystems Inc has announced its plans to establish an engineering centre in Bangalore as a part of its global engineering development initiative. The centre will augment Sun’s existing India operations which include a java competency in Hyderabad, contract engineering in Chennai and the country sales headquarters in Bangalore. Sun also plans to explore opening of additional centres elsewhere in India as demand dictates. The India engineering centre will provide core compentency in enterprise software development in support of Sun Microsystem’s worldwide engineering operations.

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Microland India programme: The Bangalore-based Microland India has unveiled InSPire, a programme designed to provide a comprehensive solution to meet the needs of ISPs in the country. InSPire aims to help ISPs address their markets, by offering a complete range of services and solutions. This encompasses the network infrastructure, the billing, security, management and advancedvalue-added services. Microland will initially target A and B category ISPs and provide value addition via its understanding of the ISP business, services, technology strengths and strategic alliances with leading Internet technology partners.

Tata IBM version: Tata IBM, in continuation with the evolution of advanced database technology, has launched version 5.2 of DB2 UDB. The new version of DB2 UDB is a rational database which is fully web enabled, scalable from a single processor to symmetric multiprocessors and to massively parallel clusters. It also features multimedia capabilities with image, audio, video, text and other advanced object relational support. It also offeers graphical tool on OS/2 and Windows 32-bit operating systems that makes it easy to install, configure and administer DB2 databases.

NCR Corporation website: NCR Corporation has announced the launch of a website — ncr.com/e-com/– devoted to the new economy and the impact of E-commerce on consumers and businesses.The new site features insightful and controversial articles alongwith radical opinions and thought provoking commentary from industry leaders. It also provides a central resource and forum for dialogue for those interested in E-commerce, whether that’s defined as the cashless society, online shopping or changing consumer behaviour.

Mascot Systems shadow stock options: Mascot Systems, a 100 per cent subsidiary of the US-based Mastech Corporation, has launched `Mascot Movers’ involving shadow stock options for its employees. According to this package, any employee who has been working in Mascot for a period of six months or more is eligible to be a Mascot Mover. The selection criteria for being a Mascot Mover is based on performance and the individual’s alignment to the organisations’ core values.

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Global Network yellow pages: Bangladesh Yellow Pages-1999, published by consultancy firm Global Network was launched in Ahmedabad, with a focus on exporters from Gujarat, by company managing directorMM Ray. There is a great scope for trade and joint ventures between the two countries as India is the single largest trading partner of Bangladesh. Gujarat alone contributes 17 per cent of Bangladesh’s total imports, according to Global Network director Jagat Shah.