Barco Group of Belgium opens a development centre in Chennai
The Belgium-based Barco group formally inaugurated its software development centre in Chennai. The centre, located in the Elnet Software City, started operations in July ’97. Equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, software tools and platforms, it currently has 25 software engineers trained in Barco, Belgium, and in the US.
The systems and software designed and developed in Chennai will be integrated in the Barco product lines and sold worldwide. The $700 million Barco group manufactures advanced electronics with five core activities : automation and visual inspection systems, graphic systems, high resolution displays and professional monitors, high-end cable TV, head-end and network equipment and sophisticated projection systems.
Ericsson sets up a software centre in Bangalore
The Swedish telecom giant, Ericsson, which has 50 manufacturing units and 40 development centres worldwide, has now set up a software design centre in Bangalore. The centre, the first to be operational in Asia for Ericsson, is a 100% export-oriented unit and would develop applications for Ericsson’s GSM technology, primarily in the area of operational support systems. Ericsson is the leading provider of GSM systems in India with a market share of 35 to 40%.
The Bangalore centre has initiated operations with 25 software engineers and is expected to grow to a strength of 150 engineers by the year 2000. This centre will also serve as a source of trained software specialists for Ericsson’s other software development centres in the world.
Ramco Systems, Chennai, to set up a software subsidiary in UK
Chennai-based Ramco Systems, the software division of Ramco Industries Limited, is planning to incorporate a wholly-owned subsidiary in UK, following the company’s intention to extend its software operations in this country. Ramco has proposed to invest up to £ 1.25 million initially in the share capital of the new subsidiary. The investment will be by way of direct cash subscription.
According to company sources, customers in the UK prefer to buy software from companies which have direct presence in their country for operational convenience. This has prompted Ramco to float a separate company to make its entry into the UK’s software industry.
Infogain Corp., of US sets up a software development centre in India
US-based Infogain Corporation has set up a software development centre in Noida, near New Delhi. With an initial investment of around $5 million, the centre is expected to house around 250 software professionals. The new centre will be a launch pad for the company to enter the growing markets in South-East Asia. The centre will develop high-value client server development and maintenance solutions for software solution providers worldwide.
Citicorp Information Technology sets up a data warehousing centre of excellence in Bangalore
Citicorp Information Technology Industries Ltd. (CITIL) has set up a facility, called Data Warehousing Centre of Excellence, at Bangalore. The centre is equipped with about 25 dedicated professionals for providing development assistance and support to CITIL’s data warehousing customers.
The centre would help business managers to analyze unknown business patterns and trends and help them to evolve strategies. The focus of its activities would be on customers in the financial services and banking industry.
Shilpa Software Corp., of US launches a software unit in Hyderabad
Shilpa Software Corp., has set up a 100% wholly-owned export-oriented subsidiary, Shilpa Software Corp Pvt. Ltd., at Hyderabad, with an initial investment of Rs. 5 crores ($ 1.3 million). The subsidiary has recently launched its operations with a focus on software education centres, skilled manpower and handling of off-shore projects. The company plans to provide software development facilities, quality software education and consultancy services. Its clientele includes more than 24 ‘Fortune 500’ companies.
Shilpa’s IT education centre in Hyderabad would cater to different segments of the market, the higher-end being taken care of by the company’s centres offering ERP training in Oracle Financials, Peoplesoft, Baan and SAP. The mid-range of the market would be taken care of by the centres offering training on AS/400 and IBM mainframe curriculum. The above two segments are basically for existing IT professionals to upgrade their skills to the immediate global market requirement.
Bell Telephone Laboratories to set up a development centre in India
Bell Laboratories, a division of AT&T-Lucent, is planning to set up a voice processing applications development laboratory in New Delhi. Bell Labs already has a voice processing technology research centre at Pune and the extension of that centre has been established in Bangalore recently.
Rockwell Semiconductors of US to set up technology development centres in India
The $10 billion giant in semiconductor systems and industrial automation, Rockwell Semiconductor, has announced plans to set up in India two technology development centres, called India Development Centres. They will be located at Bangalore and Delhi and are expected to be operational by mid-1998 and end-98 respectively.The company already has development centres in the US, Israel, France, Taiwan, Moscow and China.