CHENNAI, INDIA: Userful, a Calgary-based software company that has helped its customers cut global CO2 emissions by more than 29,000 tonnes over the last 12 months (the environmental equivalent of taking 5,000 cars off the road), is preparing to ramp-up sales of its ecologically-friendly software.

Recently, the company received $1 million as an investment to green the world’s computer industry from Calgary-based AVAC, a non-profit organization that invests in research initiatives and early stage commercial businesses with a particular focus on agrivalue, renewable resource, ICT, life sciences, etc.

“We plan to enter Indian market space in another six months, and are looking for the right set of partners and resellers to help us achieve our aim,” informed Sean Rousseau, Head—Marketing and Communications, Userful Corporation.

Userful is a web-service that lets users multiply and manage their desktop computers through an administrative website. They can multiply their hardware investment creating up to 10 independent workstations from a single computer by attaching multiple monitors, mice and keyboards.

This reduces demand for electricity and hardware waste by up to 80 percent. Rousseau cited this as a reason for the huge business potential in India for Userful.

“There are many people in India, who do not have access to computers because of its high cost. Userful's ability to turn one computer into 10 brings the cost of computer access within reach of these people,” he claimed.

The funding obtained through AVAC has encouraged Userful to expand its channel base across the world. “We are aggressively expanding our channel base around the world, and look forward to the development of strong channel partnerships in India,” Rousseau averred. Coming to the pricing aspect, he agreed that India is a price conscious country where their products need to be priced carefully. “We have not yet set our Indian pricing, but will be sure to take into account the price consciousness of the country,” he said.