Intoto to inject $15m in India operations
Hyderabad: Intoto Inc. an integrated security, wireless and voice communications related products company, plans to invest $15 million over the next few years in India and establish more centres in Chennai, Bangalore and Pune. Silicon Valley-based Intoto Inc has a research and development (R&D) centre in Hyderabad.The company has recently secured fresh funding which will fuel the expansion in India. The investment would go into quality testing laboratory and related infrastructure to support the expanded product development teams.As part of the expansion, the company expects to increase its current headcount from 120 to 160 in Hyderabad this year.
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Third dividend from Colgate
Mumbai: Colgate-Palmolive (India) Ltd has declared a third dividend of Rs 1.25 per share (12.5 per cent) for the financial year of 2003-04.The dividend will be paid on April 23 to those shareholders whose names are on the register of members. With this dividend, the company has effected an aggregate payout to shareholders during this fiscal of Rs 6 per share (60 per cent).
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Warburg Pincus picks up 35.5 per cent of Moser Baer
New Delhi: Moser Baer India Ltd has allotted Global Depository Receipts (GDRs) equivalent to 14.7 million underlying shares, and additionally it has also issued warrants, equivalent to 5.4 million shares to affiliates of Warburg Pincus LLC. The cumulative value of the above transaction, assuming all warrants are exercised, aggregates to Rs 675 crore (equivalent to $149 million at current exchange rates).According to the company this investment by Warburg Pincus, a high quality global investor, will provide impetus to their expansion plans to increase their global marketshare of the lucrative DVDR market.Post the issue and conversion of warrants, Warburg Pincus will hold 35.5 per cent of the company's equity.
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Dahej-Vijaipur pipeline project commissioned
New Delhi: GAIL (India) Ltd has announced the commissioning of the 610-kilometre Dahej-Vijaipur pipeline project, ahead of schedule.The 610-kilometre pipeline from Dahej to Vijaipur, has been constructed at a cost of Rs 2,936 crore, in a record 14 months against its earlier schedule of 33 months. It has the capacity to transport 23 million cubic metres of natural gas daily.From Vijaipur onwards, the existing Hazira-Vijaipur-Jagdishpur (HVJ) network of GAIL will supply regasified liquefied natural gas (LNG) to consumers along the route till Delhi.
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Mangalore Chem. to set up coke plant
Bangalore: Mangalore Chemicals & Fertilizers Ltd (MCF) plans to set up a metallurgical coke manufacturing facility at its existing plant site. In a statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange, the company estimates that it may incur a capital expenditure of Rs 360 crore on the project.The diversification is aimed at reducing dependence on government fertiliser policies, boost profitability and arrange for an alternative source of power to replace the aging captive power plant.
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SAIL output touches record 11 m tonnes
New Delhi: Public sector Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) has produced the highest-ever 11 million tonnes of saleable steel and sold a record 10.8 million tonnes in domestic and overseas markets during fiscal 2003-04 showing a growth of six per cent and seven per cent respectively over the performance in fiscal 2002-03.The company was also able to reduce the interest charges by around Rs 400 crore compared to the previous fiscal and the overall debt burden declined by around Rs 4,500 crore from the previous year's 8,500 crore.
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24/7 Customer opens new facility in Bangalore
Bangalore: 24/7 Customer, provider of outsourced contact centre and BPO services, which has an overall employee strength of about 4,000, expects to increase this to 7,000 by the end of this year, with the launch of its new facility which will accommodate more than 2,000 seats.24/7 Customer was the first company to set up its BPO in India and the current expansion in seats is in line with its optimism to acquire new customers. It provides outsourced services to global 500 companies. The cost of expansion is to be met out of existing resources. 24/7 had recently set up a 700-seater facility at Hyderabad.The company is headquartered in Los Gatos in California, USA.
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BSNL offers free SMS for landline customers
Hyderabad: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (Andhra Pradesh circle) has announced the launch of free SMS services for its landline users. The SMS service will be available from April 1 free of cost to all landline users across the State.They can send and receive messages from anywhere in the country. However, landline users need to have base sets that support SMS service. Typically, these phones cost Rs 2,000 upwards or they could add a small device.
Alongside this initiative, BSNL also plans to roll out lower pulse rate service for landline users. According to this scheme the user will be billed as per the usage.
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Primus Telecommunications Launches handsets
New Delhi: The UK-based Primus Telecommunications has entered the domestic market with the launch its basic range of mobile phones.Primus will introduce the entire range in the Indian market depending on the response. The entire marketing and distribution will be taken care by the Schifflies India. The company says that the primus phones -PTL 888 and PTL 660 are both compact and feature-rich handsets.
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ISD settlement: VSNL to match other operators
New Delhi: With Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) agreeing to match the lower settlement rates on ISD calls offered to Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) by Data Access Ltd and Reliance Infocomm, all outgoing ISD calls will continue to be routed through the VSNL network till the time that BSNL starts its own international long distance (ILD) operations.The lower settlement rates that are being offered by VSNL would also mean that the tariffs of ISD calls made by BSNL subscribers could be lowered, if the company wishes to pass on the benefits to customers.

BSNL had earlier invited bids from ILD operators for routing its international traffic, once its existing agreement with VSNL lapsed in February this year. Data Access had emerged as the lowest bidder for carrying traffic for the US, the UK, Canada and the Gulf region, which account for over 60 per cent of the outgoing ISD traffic. The company has quoted a settlement rate of Rs 1.69 per minute, compared with Rs 6 offered by VSNL.A settlement rate is the revenue that is shared with foreign carriers to deliver the ISD call to its destination.
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India Softima unveils a Linux-based desktop
Hyderabad: Using the open source Linux operating platform, the Hyderabad-based, India Softima Services Pvt Ltd's research and development group has developed IndoOS-Desktop - a cost-effective, one-stop software solution, which can meet the personal computer (PC) user's needs such as office, Internet, e-mail and multimedia.IndoOS-Desktop is a spin- off development emerging from a search for a practical solution to the problem of developing real time operating system to monitor pre-launch manoeuvres for the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre.

Softima has developed a `Smart Installer', with a user-friendly menu, which will help even a beginner make the best use of a PC. IndoOS is also compatible with Windows and easily recognises the Windows partitions to ensure integration into the network. The IndoOS-Desktop also integrates well with a variety of PC motherboards, scanners, printers and peripherals. The product would be offered at affordable costs so that a large number of common PC users could benefit.The IndoOS packs a browser, an operating system, office applications, games etc in one CD. The user can also work with MS-Office applications of Word, Excel and Power Point and the package also includes applications for graphics, flow and organisation charts.
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SAS India launches SAS9
Mumbai: SAS India has launched the SAS9, an upgraded version of its software. According to an official statement, SAS9 is faster, more efficient and easier to use than its predecessors, and also connects all SAS applications so that they work together transparently. It also communicates with other data sources and programmes.SAS is a leader in providing business intelligence software. SAS solutions are used at more than 40,000 sites including 96 of the top 100 of the 2003 Fortune Global 500, the statement said.
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HLL slashes prices of Kwality Wall's
New Delhi: Hindustan Lever Ltd (HLL) has reduced the price points across some of its ice creams, particularly in the premium-end. It has also rolled out newer ice creams at aggressive prices, including the Kwality Wall's Cornetto, priced at Rs 15.In a bid to drive sales the company is set to roll out an aggressive campaign using print, outdoor as well as electronic media. The major focus of this campaign will be in the six major metros, which account for about two-thirds of total ice-cream sales for HLL.HLL's ice-cream business recorded a turnover of Rs 185 crore in the last fiscal.
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Lucas unit launches auto batteries
Chennai: Lucas Indian Service, a subsidiary of Lucas-TVS Ltd, has introduced a range of maintenance-free automobile batteries, which cover the entire spectrum of four wheelers — cars, commercial vehicles and tractors.The Rs 130-crore Lucas Indian Service is engaged in marketing and servicing of auto-electrical and fuel injection equipment as well as distribution of auto ancillaries. The company also manufactures ignition coils and solenoid switches.
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