IBM India to set up virtual business centre in India
New Delhi: IBM India will set up a virtual business centre for its customers in India by the end of the year. Withthos customers would be able to buy its hardware, software or any service by interacting with IBM's sales executives on this virtual platform. Further, clients can also exchange credit information, sign contracts and make payment that would be handled through a link to IBM's Web site or by phone.

Globally, IBM has been leveraging this platform for communication amongst its researchers, consultants for exchanging ideas across the different countries. However, this is for the first time that IBM has launched such a platform to support its customers.

IBM's centre would be divided in six areas such as reception, sales, technical support, innovation, client briefing and conference. The virtual business centre that has been operational since a week has IBM employees interacting with clients during business hours in their respective countries. With such a platform, IBM believes that it would make it easier and faster for the customers to access information than navigate through the Web site.
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KPIT Cummins enters South Africa
Pune: KPIT Cummins Infosystems has entered into a strategic partnership with South Africa-based Business Connexion. The partnership is focused on manufacturing, diversified financial services, advanced technology solutions and the automotive and industrial market sectors.

Kishor Patil, managing director and CEO, KPIT Cummins said South Africa was an emerging market and that Business Connexion provides access to a large base of customers and added skill sets in infrastructure management, which can be deployed with the KPIT customer base.

Benjamin Mophatlane, deputy CEO of Business Connexion, said the partnership with KPIT Cummins provides Business Connexion with a scope of skills, experience and capability unmatched by any other local service provider. He said skills shortage in South Africa was hampering business growth in some sectors and the partnership with KPIT Cummins will supports the Government's accelerated and shared growth initiative.
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Modi-Revlon to start producing fragrances
New Delhi: Modi-Revlon, a joint venture between the Modi group and international cosmetics firm Revlon, will start producing perfumes in India by June this year when the company's new unit at Modinagar in Uttar Pradesh goes onstream.

The company would manufacture body sprays, Eau de Toilette (EDT), colognes and aftershave lotions in its new facility at Modinagar. With local production, the company expects cost efficient production of all fragrances.

The company is also planning to expand its product range by introducing new fragrances that were set to hit the market in September.

Modi-Revlon's fragrances product portfolio currently consists of Charlie Cologne, Fire and Ice cologne, Jean Nate after bath splash, Ciara Cologne, Enjoli Spray and Jontue cologne.
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Tatas, Valeo in talks to acquire stake in Visteon
Mumbai: Tata AutoComp Systems (Taco) and French auto parts maker Valeo are believed to be I in discussions to acquire a stake in NYSE-listed ailing automotive supplier Visteon Corporation, which was spun off from Ford Motor Company in 2005. The acquisition is expected to cost $1.5-2 billion.

For Taco, a 12-year-old company that is an original equipment supplier to major domestic and multinational car-makers, the acquisition has a strategic fit with its operations. The company has appointed a merchant banker and is awaiting clearance from Visteon to start due diligence. Valeo is also exploring all options, including a leveraged buyout of Visteon.

Visteon makes electronic items, powertrain controls, engine induction, chassis and lighting for vehicle manufacturers. At present, it employs around 45,000 people in 26 countries, including the US, China and Germany.

Visteon posted a net loss of $153 million on sales of $2.93 billion in its first quarter ended March 31, 2007. It had a debt of $2.2 billion on March 31, 2007, which remained unchanged from the end of the previous financial year.
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Infosys to set up new campus in Kerala
Mumbai: Infosys Technologies plans to invest 3.06 billion rupees to set up a campus in Thiruvananthapuram. The development centre would have a seating capacity of 8,000 over the next few years and would be able to seat 1,500 people over the next year.

Infosys has an existing facility in the city with a capacity of 1,100 seats and in which it has already invested 300 million rupees as of March 31, 2007, a statement from the company said.
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Exporters look at euro denominated trade
New Delhi: With the rising rupee hurting business, Indian exporters are exploring Euro-denominated trade opportunities, according to a FICCI survey.

According to the survey, exporters said they are not viewing the recent strengthening of the rupee- on account of RBI's hands off approach and non-intervention in the forex market- as a short-term phase. Rather there is an apprehension that the rupee will continue to maintain its current level over the next few months.

Adjusting to the phenomenon of rising rupee, exporters are on the lookout for clients and markets where euro could be replaced as a medium of exchange for US dollar.

This move on part of the exporters indicates that over the next few months India's exports to the US may witness a slowdown while its exports to the European Union may increase.

Many exporters are also trying their level best for a complete shift in the medium of exchange from US dollar to Euro in their existing contracts.

Participants in FICCI's survey have reported that exports in segments such as textiles, gems and jewellery, tea, spices, leather and marine products are extremely price sensitive and the recent movement in the rupee's value has affected their export performance.
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Wipro to open three centres in US university towns
Mumbai: Wipro, India's third-largest software exporter, is planning to open software development centres at some US university towns like Austin, Virginia, and Atlanta to tap local talent, chairman Azim Premji said. The company said it would shortly shortlist three of the towns under consideration. These towns typically don't have much local employment opportunities and, hence, would welcome a centre which could employ 500-700 people. We are in discussion with the government.

Austin is home to the University of Texas, while Virginia and Atlanta have a number or reputed institutes. Wipro has about 8,000 employees in the US. Owing to talent shortage, it logs a higher attrition (or employee turnover) rate in America than India.
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Ashok Leyland goes to SC over bus order
New Delhi: Ashok Leyland has approached the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court's order that has restrained registration of old model of buses with high floors in the NCR. Ashok Leyland has argued that bus manufacturers needed sufficient lead time to change and get the bus design approved, and the abrupt refusal to register buses already manufactured and sold in Delhi had caused undue confusion and chaos.

Alleging that these directions were not workable, the bus manufacturer said it had caused "undue panic, chaos and confusion among the bus operators and may result in law and order problems."
Ashok Leyland further said the high court had totally ignored a notification dated September 16, 2005, issued by the ministry of road transport prescribing modern bus designs in conformity with international standards and the same was in the process of being implemented.
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