News in brief

Aptech launches new Vidya course

CIOL Bureau
BANGALORE: Aptech Computer Education has announced a new course named Vidya, which is specially targeted towards those who so far have been unitiated in information technology. According to a release, Vidya covers computer fundamentals, operating systems with Windows NT, MS Office, concepts of Internet and integration of Office 2000 with Internet.

Apteh Computer Education associate vice president Alok Baraya said that during 1999, about 1 lakh people had been trained in the earlier Vidya course. “It covers a wide spectrum of basic computer skills and is extremely useful for busy executives, housewives and senior citizens,” he added.

Tektronix facilitates wavelength measurement at 1625nm in live fibers

BANGALORE: Tektronix announced a new measurement option for their TFS3031 TekRanger 2 Mini
OTDR. This option allows the TFS3031 to operate and perform test and measurement at the 1625nm wavelength, which is the
out-of-band (OOB) wavelength measurement for live fiber testing. The new product offering has the inherent
IntelliTrace feature, which offers improved accuracy and resolution. Testing at 1625nm wavelength provides
improved testing for optical cables to identify losses related to bending and stress, including temperature-induced
stress. It also allows testing of live fibers by multiplexing the 1625nm-test wavelength with the standard communication wavelengths of 1310nm and 1550nm.

Increased concern about network reliability and requirements for DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division
Multiplexing) systems require 1625nm testing on critical lines. Measurement Business Division is Tektronix' largest
business, representing 46 percent of the company's total revenues. The key product categories of the Measurement
Division include: oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, VXI modules, hand held tools, cable testers, transmission test
instruments, video & audio test instruments, spectrum analyzers, WAN, Protocol
Analysers, SDH/PDH Analyser, etc. 

Tektronix India Limited, the Indian subsidiary of Tektronix Inc., markets and supports the entire portfolio of
Tektronix measurement, color printing, video systems and network display products through its wide office and
reseller network in Nepal, Bangladesh and Srilanka.

Promoting IT in rural Kerala

BANGALORE: Centre for IT Services (C-IT), is a non-governmental, non-profit organization based at
Thiruvananthapuram engaged in promoting Information Technology services with a mission to take the benefit of
Technology to the people in rural areas and use its benefit for social upliftment. C-IT has launched a Web site
www.c-itizen.com for Rural Information Network in which around 200 panchayats of Kerala have already been
brought in. Other panchayaths will be brought to the net shortly. 

The site offers free job registration, free Web page for social organizations, biodata registration, family home pages,
home pages for academicians/ professionals, free e-mail address and overseas employment opportunities, etc. Free
job registration is provided state wise, district wise and category wise to help employers get the candidates willing
to work locally as well help candidates register at the place of their preference. 

Free Web site services are offered to social organizations and educational institutions with the intention of
encouraging the use of Internet technologies to further their cause and promote the mission. By creating home pages
for academicians, professionals and research scholars, the Web site intends to promote educational activities and
encourage people to benefit from their knowledge and experience. Each citizen can have an e-mail address with
6MB storage space, which can be accessed from anywhere in the world. 

Symantec builds Web site to service Indian customers

NEW DELHI: Symantec Corporation unveiled an India-specific site on their global web site
www.symantec.com. to provide information on Symantec's products, strategy and services available to the Indian customers. Free trialware
of Symantec products can be downloaded from this site and availed for a month. The web site also contains
information on new promotional schemes, product updates, information about local retailers and corporate resellers,
access to technical support, plus Symantec's Indian alliances and business partners.

Some of the sections of the site are Online Technical Support, Customer Service, Shop Symantec, easy access to
Symantec Antivirus Research Centre (SARC) and Symantec Millennium Action Response Team (SMART). The
Technical Support access helps users to detect problems online and advises them about remedial measures. The
Customer Service section will enable users to pose queries to the award winning customer support team. Shop
Symantec allows customers to get information about Symantec products & services including features and pricing
and the option to buy Symantec products online. The SARC section provides real-tie support to organizations and
individuals to help keep their computers protected from Y2K virus threats. 

Announcing the introduction of the site in Mumbai, Joy Ghosh, Country Manager, Symantec India said, "The launch
of the India specific site on our global site reinforces the fact that Symantec is committed to provide international
technology, support and services to our local customers at the click of a button. We have equipped ourselves to
deliver swift, high level of customer service and address the diverse needs of our customers across the nation."

Since its entry into the Indian market in February 1999, Symantec has been launching its latest versions
simultaneously with International launches. Some of its latest products are: Norton Antivirus 2000, Norton
SystemWork 2000, pcAnywhere 9.0, Norton Utilities 2000, Norton CleanSweep 2000, Norton 2000, Norton Ghost,
Winfax Pro, ACT 2000, TalkWorks Pro version 3.0 etc. Symantec products are available through a nationwide
network of 25 resellers. These VARs are also authorized technical service support providers to Symantec's
corporate clients under the Symantec Software Alliance (SSA) arrangement.

In addition to these, Symantec, which has an exclusive distribution tie-up with Godrej-Pacific Technology Ltd.
(GPTL) to market its products in India, has entered into contracts with two of India's largest Original Equipment
Manufactures (OEMs), HCL and Zenith Ltd., to market its Norton Antivirus Gold edition. 

Ramco launches ERP package for IT industry

NEW DELHI: The Chennai-based Ramco Systems has launched ITSuite, an ERP package for the IT industry. The
package enables process integration, control and analysis capabilities. Ramco's e-Applications ITSuite comprises
six integrated modules namely, Strategic Decision Support, Human Resources Management, Project Planning and
Accounting, Sales and Marketing, Financial Management and Business Support. The price of ITSuite ranges from Rs.
10 lakh. "The cost depends upon the number of modules, users and copies that a particular company wishes to buy,"
said S Ketharaman, Marketing Manager, Asia Operations, Ramco Systems. 

A number of software companies suffer from inadequate or poorly integrated systems, and ITSuite will address
these problem areas and ensure higher efficiency and competitiveness." said Chandramohan Nair, Sales Director,
Ramco Systems. The package is part of the Ramco Industry Vertical Solutions, each of which addresses the
requirements of a specific industry (like Petroleum, power, defense, financials etc). "We are planning to develop a
package for the healthcare industry soon," said Ketharaman. 

The company is mainly targeting software services companies for its product. Satyam Infoway and PSI Data Systems
are two of Ramco's clients for ITSuite. Ramco's e-Applications provide conventional ERP applications like sales,
logistics, production, statistical process/quality control, plant maintenance, financials, treasury and human
resources. A suite of Ramco add-on products is also available to help e-Applications work with plant systems and
existing software systems. 

Dinesh Dalmia steps down as DSQ chief 

CHENNAI: Dinesh Dalmia, Managing Director of DSQ Software, has stepped down from his post to pave the way
for the recently appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Arun Tolani. The latter will take full charge of operations
officially from January 17. This change comes after the private placement of 1 crore shares of
Rs. 10 at a premium of Rs. 265 per share on a preferential basis with nine institutions like BankAmerica International Investment
Corporation and Credit Suisse First Boston. 

While Rs. 190 crore would be used to pay off DSQ's debts to banks and financial institutions, the balance
Rs. 75 crore will be deployed for acquisitions and new businesses, which, according to Mr Dalmia, "haven't been finalized
and won't be for another the next six months." The equity capital of the company, consequent to this issue, stands at
Rs. 30.25 crore comprising 3.025 crore shares at Rs. 10 each. 

The debt would be paid off over a period of time. While Rs. 70 crore has been cleared, the rest will be repaid in the
coming few weeks. With the repayment of institutional loans, the IFCI and IDBI nominees on the Board will retire.
The CDC (Commonwealth Development Corporation) nominee has also stepped down. Four seats of the
ten-member board is left vacant (including that of MG Balasubramanian who retired over a year ago) which is to be
filled by "highly qualified professionals." Although an open invitation has been extended by DSQ to private equity
investors to nominate the board members, it is yet to be acknowledged.

Dinesh Dalmia, with 22 per cent stake (down from 40 per cent), will remain on the Board of Directors. Said he, "In
the interest of the company, I would be willing to reduce this to 5 per cent in case of a need for funds for an
exceptional acquisition or new venture although none of this is planned in the immediate future." His stake still
remains the single largest in the company. Dalmia plans to focus on other areas like the DSQ Biotech division. "We
also have tentative plans to get into Internet-based businesses, maybe even as an Internet Service Provider," he
added. 

The board's immediate objective will be delivery of projects for the next six months, according to Dalmia. To meet
this demand, DSQ is on a recruiting spree of about 2000 professionals. It is also expanding its workspace by adding
up close to 60,000 sq ft in Chennai, Bangalore and Calcutta.