Imaging Software Ltd (ISL) has set up a 100 per cent export-oriented unit in collaboration with Canada-based WideCom Group for the development of unique high-end engineering software for wideformat document handling systems. At present, ISL is engaged in the development of some of the latest projects on the Internet, wide fax-on-demand, document management systems and imaging software. Wideview imaging package will enable the user to perform various image processing onto an image. Document management systems are intuitive tools to retrieve and store a file in a non-conventional and easy manner.

The project has a capacity of 14,000 packages per annum and it has already commenced production. The entire production is to be exported to Canada under an assured buy-back agreement for seven years. The agreement for the purpose has been entered into by the company with the WideCom Group.

As part of its diversification plans, Sony India Pvt Ltd., plans to set up a software development centre in India to cater to the requirements of its parent company, Sony Corporation of Japan.

Announcing Sony’s maiden entry into India’s information technology (IT) segment by launching three models in the personal computer (PC) monitors, the managing director of the company said that the launch of the PC monitors with Trinitron tubes was "just a beginning in Sony’s efforts to diversify its activities in India". The three PC monitors are targeted at desktop publishing, computer aided design/computer aided manufacturing, graphic design as well as multiple office designs.

Sony India is presently looking into software related areas - both computer as well as entertainment - where India has a definite advantage.

The Madras-based Mascom Information Technologies is set to acquire Martek Inc., US manufacturers of software with an installation base of 300 customers in the US.

The Managing Director, Mascom, said the company’s core competence lies in manufacturing applications and Relational Data Base Management Systems (RDBMS). It has two products to cater to discrete manufacturing industries - Integrated Manufacturing System (IMAS) and Advanced Integrated Manufacturing System (AIMS).

Mascom plans to enter international markets through its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) products. The company already has a presence in the US and it would be targeting the middle-level segment.

Mascom plans to intensify its presence in off-shore and on-site consultancy services in the international market. It also plans to diversify into areas such as Internet, GIS, Textile CAD and Engineering CAD.

With the acquisition of the US company, Mascom will have an established market in the US, as Martek is already a known brand name. The company’s installed base enables an immediate effective market presence. This would also help it secure orders for customisation of ERP packages, customisation of the US product, offshore development and on-site services.

The $ 5.9 billion Sun Microsystems is planning to set up a software development centre in India. Its liaison office in India is also likely to be upgraded into a branch office shortly.

Highly placed sources at Sun Microsystems said that setting up this full fledged software development centre will only be a logical extension in Sun Microsystems’ growth. According to the company, software development and ‘Very large Scale Integration (VLSI)’ designing are some of the inherent strengths that India today possesses in the Information Technology industry. The software development centre is likely to be supporting its parent organisation in US in its research and development activities.

Sun Microsystems has R&D centres in France, Ireland, Japan, Russia and US.

Sun Microsystems has been selling its open computing platforms in India since 1987 through its business partner, Wipro Infotech.

The US-based Mentor Graphics Corporation, a 15-year old company that designs, manufactures and distributes electronic design automation (EDA) software is investigating the possibility of sourcing software from India.

Mentor now has two software development centres in the US and one in Germany.

Mentor’s products are distributed and supported in India by NIIT Ltd., which also does some research and development work for Mentor’s Singapore operations. NIIT said Mentor products offer a total environment for electronic design and that the Indian market for EDA products is growing with multi-national companies setting up design centres in the country. The defence and consumer electronics segments too offer good market opportunities.

The modular concept adopted by Mentor, rather than pre-configured packages, lets customers buy only what they need. Telecom, multimedia, automotive and government are the segments that are said to be most amenable to Mentor’s products.