Sahara Computers, the South African PC giant and one of the leading players in IT Industry, has announced the launch of their latest Notebook based on Intel’s Montevina Platform. The new Sahara NB846137-M002 is powered by Intel ® Centrino 2 technology, Core TM 2 Duo processor (Penryn). This new offering by Sahara reflects how simplicity, technology & sophistication can meet computing needs with exceeding results and sets a new standard in mobile processing performance.

This feature rich notebook with piano finish and slick looks comes loaded with Linux but is certified on all operating systems. It also has Mobile Intel GM 45 Express Chipset Family with Intel graphics. The new product also features 2 GB 667 MHz DDR2 Memory and 250 GB 5400 RPM SATA HDD.

Sahara NB846137-M002’s 15.4″ WXGA display screen is bright and sharp. This notebook has a Li-ion 6 cell battery, which provides an excellent battery life. Integrated Wireless LAN, Super Multi DVD Writer, e-SATA / USB Combo Port, HDMI Port & Replicator Port, Card Reader and 2.0 Mega Pixel Web Camera adds value to this product. This is a perfect product for hi-definition multimedia applications and gaming.

“We have always strived to give the best and latest of technology to our customers. Keeping the expectation of our customers in mind we are launching our new product loaded with the best of the features and technologies,” said Mr. George Van Der Merwe, COO, Sahara Computers & Electronics Ltd. He further added, “With the launch of Sahara NB846137-M002, we would further strengthen our product portfolio and would be able to tap the niche customers looking for a best technology packed with great looks”.

Price and availability: Sahara NB846137-M002 Notebook is available in India at most of the leading retail outlets including ITJ - retail outlets and will be available through company’s channel partners across the country. Unit MRP of Sahara’s latest offering is Rs. 44,999/-.

New Delhi, December 22nd 08: HCL Infosystems, India’s premier information enabling and leading ICT System Integration Company inaugurated its Software Development Centre ‘Centre of Excellence for BFSI Software’ at Jaipur. HCL has established the centre with the objective of designing & developing customized software solutions for the Banking, Financial Services and Insurance (BFSI) Segment. Currently with 300 professionals, HCL plans to double its workforce at this newly inaugurated centre over the next 2 yrs. The centre was inaugurated by Mr. Ajai Chowdhry, Founder - HCL, Chairman & CEO, HCL Infosystems Ltd at Jaipur. Spread over an area of 4,175 Sq. meters, the ‘HCL Centre of Excellence for BFSI software’ is the first software development centre to be opened by any of the major ICT companies, in the state of Rajasthan.

This centre will be developing software with bi-lingual capabilities which is very critical for facilitating banking in smaller towns and rural operations of private/nationalized banks and as well as cooperative banks. HCL is an established player in the BFSI System Integration space and offers solution like core banking solutions cheque truncation, cash management, treasury solutions, document management solutions, risk management solutions, MIS & BI, data centre design & branch rollout solutions.

Speaking on this occasion Mr. Chowdhry said “This Centre will augment our range of software solutions that we offer to our customer. This ‘Centre of excellence for BFSI Software’ will also enable us to offer a comprehensive range of customized solutions that will further enhance our capability and reach in delivering System integration solutions in the BFSI space”

HCL is focused on providing a broad range of System Integration solutions and services to the customers in the domestic market. This centre brings the capability to offer solution in 14 Indian languages.

source: HCL

HP today announced HP iPrint Photo, a free application available on the Apple App store that gives iPhone and iPod touch customers the ability to easily print photos anytime, anywhere.

HP iPrint Photo is the first photo printing application of its kind and allows for quick and easy wireless printing of 4 x 6-inch photos from an iPhone or iPod touch to most HP inkjet printers connected to a local Wi-Fi network. The application is fully compatible with Apple’s Bonjour technology and uses the innovative Multi-Touch interface for the easiest and fastest wireless iPhone or iPod touch print experience.

“Today’s news demonstrates how HP is enabling customers to turn special moments captured on the go into high-quality photos,” said Vyomesh Joshi, executive vice president, Imaging and Printing Group, HP. “More than any other company in the world, HP has re-imagined, re-engineered and re-invented the power of printing with exciting new technologies that address real customer needs.”

The HP iPrint Photo application provides customers the freedom and flexibility to wirelessly print the millions of photos that have been captured on iPhone or iPod touch devices. It will be showcased for the first time at the 2009 Macworld Conference & Expo and the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show (CES).

“There’s a major shift happening in the mobile domain today,” said Rob Enderle, president and principal analyst, Enderle Group. “Annual camera phone device shipments are exploding on a worldwide basis, and mobile photo printing is quickly growing. Until now, customers had no easy way to print the special moments captured on their iPhone or stored on their iPod touch. “

HP iPrint Photo is available at no charge from Apple’s App Store on iPhone and iPod touch or at itunes.com/appstore.

HyperX Thermal Xchange Technology with Newly Designed Taller Heatspreader

London, UK — November 12, 2008 — Kingston Technology Company, Inc., the independent world leader in memory products, today announced it is shipping select DDR3 and DDR2 HyperX® memory modules with new T1 heatspreaders. The taller heatspreaders utilise HyperX Thermal Xchange (HTX) technology to further diffuse heat buildup when overclocking. HTX technology is the latest innovation from Kingston’s engineers who are dedicated to building the fastest memory for enthusiasts and gamers who push system performance.

“The HyperX T1 Series heatspreaders are made of heavy-duty extruded aluminum with extended fins and HTX technology for maximum thermal conditions when users take their systems to the extreme,” said Marc Bernier, European Research and Development Engineer, Kingston Technology, Kingston Technology®. “Kingston’s T1 series is a great complement to our existing line of HyperX modules with the lower profile heatsink.”

Leading with HyperX DDR3 kits designed specifically for Intel’s new triple-channel Core i7 Processor in 2GHz, 1866- and 1800MHz frequencies, Kingston’s new HyperX T1 series modules are also available in DDR2 1066- and 800MHz front side bus speeds.

Kingston HyperX is backed by a lifetime warranty and 24/7 technical support. For more detailed information please visit the Kingston Web site at kingston.com/Europe.

source: Kingston

Microsoft adCenter has released the results of an online survey examining the search marketing behaviors of small-business owners. The findings indicate that a majority of the small businesses surveyed, invest in developing Web sites, but fail to take even the simplest steps to enhance their online business presence. The study said that 59% of small businesses with Web sites don’t currently use paid search marketing, and of those, 90 % have never even attempted it.

Seven in 10 small-business owners who participated said that they would rather try to do their own taxes than start a paid search marketing campaign.

“Given today’s current economic conditions, small-business owners need more effective ways to optimize their marketing dollars,” said Brian Boland, director of adCenter at Microsoft Advertising. “By investing in paid search marketing, small businesses can track online sales and determine the return on investment for their campaigns, while at the same time boosting traffic and visibility for their Web sites.”

Despite the lack of investment in paid search marketing, the weakening economy and increased competition, nearly nine in 10 (86%) small-business owners surveyed felt that they could be missing opportunities to grow their business, while three in four believed prospective customers could be searching online for the type of service their business offers. Although most do not embrace the practice, the small-business owners who use paid search marketing are very satisfied, as 72% reported an increase in sales inquiries and 68 % consider their paid search marketing efforts successful.

Among the participants’ chief concerns, most said the common misconceptions of cost, time, and complexity as major hurdles to conducting search marketing campaigns for their businesses.

Other key insights included the following:

* Nearly nine in 10 (89 %) feared keywords may become too expensive.
* 81% questioned if paid search marketing is the best use of their marketing budgets.
* One quarter of respondents believe paid search marketing is too complex.
* 21% thought it would be too time-consuming.
* 35% felt they would need an agency to help set up a search marketing campaign.

“These opinions run counter to widely held marketing industry views on paid search marketing, which recognize the practice as one of the most cost-effective, easy-to-use, measurable and accountable forms of marketing,” Boland said.

Tools like Google Analytics can enable businesses to make informed decisions about their online marketing.

Source: Microsoft

Wipro and Citi Enter Agreement for Wipro to Provide Information Technology Services to Citi and its Businesses

Bangalore, India and New York, USA – December 23, 2008 – Wipro Technologies, the global IT services business of Wipro Limited (NYSE:WIT), and Citigroup Inc. (Citi), the leading global financial services company, today announced that they have reached an agreement for Wipro to acquire Citi Technology Services Ltd., the India-based captive provider of information technology services and solutions to Citi entities worldwide, for an all cash consideration of approximately $127 million. As part of the transaction, Wipro and Citi will sign a Master Services Agreement for the delivery of Technology Infrastructure Services (TIS) and Application Development and Maintenance (ADM) Services for a period of six years. The agreement provides for the delivery of at least $500 million in service revenues over the period of the contract.

Based in Mumbai and Chennai, Citi Technology Services provides IT services to Citi and its affiliates around the world. Citi Technology Services has grown tremendously since its inception in 2005, and today has approximately 1,650 employees trained in Citi processes and technologies, servicing Citi businesses in more than 32 countries. Citi Technology Services’ revenues are expected to be approximately $80 million in CY2008. Apart from strong competencies in TIS, Citi Technology Services has expertise in ADM for Cards, Capital Markets and Corporate Banking .

This transaction strengthens Wipro’s existing relationship with Citi with a long-term agreement for Wipro to deliver TIS and domain -led ADM services to all Citi business segments.

Girish S. Paranjpe, Jt CEO, IT business and Member of the Board, Wipro said, “Citi has played a pioneering role in leveraging technology for banking. We are pleased that our domain expertise and infrastructure management capabilities positioned us as their partner of choice. This position has further strengthened with this strategic transaction. We are delighted to welcome the employees of Citi Technology Services into 2/5 the Wipro family.”

Don Callahan, Chief Administrative Officer, Citi said , “This sale was the result of a thorough process to ensure we were partnering with the right company for our businesses and our clients . Wipro, with its wide range of services, extensive experience and broad global presence can play a significant role in meeting Citi’s objectives of productivity improvement, while our Citi Technology Services employees will join a larger information technology organization with additional third party growth opportunities. This transaction is consistent with our efforts to improve our operating leverage while we focus on our core banking competencies.”

Marty Lippert, Chief Operations and Technology Officer, Citi said, “This partnership enables Citi to leverage Wipro’s expertise in information technology services where we have significant plans for driving higher eff iciencies by leveraging the Global Delivery Model.”

Jagdish Rao, Global Technology Head, Citi, added, “Wipro brings the maturity of processes and skilled management to help us build upon the success we have had with

Citi Technology Services in the Infrastructure Management space .”

Soumitro Ghosh, Sr Vice President, Finance Solutions, Wipro, said, “Citi

Technology Services team’s expertise in addressing the risk and compliance issues for banking industry positions us well to offer similar scale and comple xity of services to other leading banks in US and Europe. We are confident that the skillsets we have acquired will enhance our capabilities to compete for more TIS business in the financial services industry in general and Citi in particular.”

The transaction is expected to be closed by March 2009, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals.

Suorce: Wipro