IBM expands Indian operations, despite slowdown

BANGALORE: Despite the US economy slowdown, IBM India, has proposed major

plans to increase its operations in the country. These include increasing its

manpower strength to 10,000 within the next two to three years, opening a

development facility in Gurgaon, and consolidate its development centers in

Bangalore into a single software development institution.

As part of the staff induction program, the firm plans to appoint as many as

1,700 new software professionals taking up its total strength to 4,500. This

apart, the company has also earmarked $100 million for investment in improving

infrastructure such as real estate, bandwidth, professionals, etc.

The newly appointed IBM managing director and CEO, Abraham Thomas said the

announcement reflect the optimism of our overseas customers on the business

inflow. "What probably is set to change is the skill sets of the

professionals and solutions in newer areas. India holds a tremendous potential

and this is clearly proven with the company giving a blue print for the next two

years."

This apart, the chip major is also shifting its focus on the Linux platform,

by building an entire range of systems ranging from desktops to servers which

includes I and G series. Though IBM India is also working on intelligent devices

to run the application, greater emphasis needs to be laid on making mission

critical application run on these platforms.

The Pondhicherry unit of the company, which manufactured only desktops, has

already commenced production of the Intel-based servers, Netfinisty. On the

educational front, IBM has planned to introduce some computer training programs

for school children, on the lines of the one set up at the Victoria Memorial

School for the visually impaired.