nVidia augments headcount

PUNE: Graphic processor maker nVidia has plans to increase its headcount here, to 1000 from the existing 300 by 2009.

The firm will add another 17,000 sq. ft to its Pune center, which can now accommodate 400 more people.

Its development centers at Bangalore and Hyderabad will also receive more investments to fuel growth.

Talking to CyberMedia News, Bhooshan Agalgatti, director, software engineering of nVidia, said, “India as a development turf is strategically and globally aligned. It’s not a typical offshore center. Every center, be it in Bangalore or Pune, is independently linked to the top most level depending upon its corresponding expertise or skill area. We are poised for growth and working for all major clients from here. Pune will see a lot of investments and will be a model to follow.”

He added that the Pune center, which currently has 30 teams working as equal partners with people in Santa Clara, is working on projects on the latest nVidia platforms, GPU development, notebook deliverables for 27 OEMs and handheld GPUs besides tier-1 customers in countries such as Japan and Korea.

Responding to a question on the AMD-ATI acquisition, Agalgatti refuted any downward business impact from AMD.

nVidia is clearly the leader in GPU computing. It’s they and not we who need to be worried, as dependence on our products will continue besides the significant cost factor. In fact, just the next quarter after the deal, AMD showed an enthused presence in one of our product launches. The deal has no relevance for nVidia. Rather, business from AMD has increased lately, Agalgatti added.

On the much speculated, but closely guarded secret on GPU and CPU combination for nVidia, he said, “We haven’t ventured there so far. GPU will rule the world and competition looks at us as major threat there. We are slowly taking over all the market with GPU.”

For nVidia, GPU commands 60 per cent of its total business and includes workstations, notebooks and professional solutions. Handhelds account for 10 per cent and MCPs contribute 30 per cent of the total pie. Anticipated announcements from Pune include live game solutions on mobiles that are on the line of the Motorola Razr offering.

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