German industrial conglomerate Siemens AG is planning job cuts "in some business areas or at some locations," its CEO was quoted as telling weekly Welt an Sonntag today.
Siemens CEO Peter Loescher said that because of the financial crisis, "some parts of our business areas have had a decline of orders by up to 70 per cent."
"In this case, one can't just stand on the sidelines and watch," Loescher said, adding that the Munich-based company had to take the necessary steps to react to the crisis.
He did not elaborate where or when the company would lay off employees or how many people would be affected.
"It will take a long time until there will be an expansion of our capacities again, like the one during the boom years of 2007 and 2008," Loescher was quoted as telling the paper.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Infosys BPO 22 Centres in AP
Infosys BPO Limited, a subsidiary of IT major Infosys, signed an agreement with the Andhra Pradesh government to set up rural BPO centres in 22 districts of the state.
Infosys BPO Limited CEO and Managing Director Amitabh Chaudhry and State Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty CEO T Vijaya Kumar signed an MoU in this regard in the presence of Chief Minister K Rosaiah.
"The first such BPO centre will be set up in the next six weeks which will provide a testing ground for this model. The capital expenditure and other details will be worked out subsequently," Chaudhry said adding that all the 22 districts would have one BPO each.
"Over 1,000 people would get direct employment through the rural BPO centers in the next 12-15 months. Statistics suggest that direct employment generates 1.4 times indirect employment as well," he added.
Noting that Andhra Pradesh would be the first state where Infosys would be setting such facilities, Chaudhary said, "We are in talks with some other states as well for similar ventures but I can't disclose the names at this stage".
Infosys BPO Limited CEO and Managing Director Amitabh Chaudhry and State Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty CEO T Vijaya Kumar signed an MoU in this regard in the presence of Chief Minister K Rosaiah.
"The first such BPO centre will be set up in the next six weeks which will provide a testing ground for this model. The capital expenditure and other details will be worked out subsequently," Chaudhry said adding that all the 22 districts would have one BPO each.
"Over 1,000 people would get direct employment through the rural BPO centers in the next 12-15 months. Statistics suggest that direct employment generates 1.4 times indirect employment as well," he added.
Noting that Andhra Pradesh would be the first state where Infosys would be setting such facilities, Chaudhary said, "We are in talks with some other states as well for similar ventures but I can't disclose the names at this stage".
Google Chrome Leaked
Google asked people not to believe the leaked version of Chrome operating system. Recently, Google announced that it is coming up with its own OS, and after that there have been rumors about a leaked version being available for download. The 'leaked version' is a fake that is not related to Google at all.
Even a trusted source like Gizmodo has perpetuated the myth that Chrome is available. Its tough when there is so much pressure to be the first to publish a breaking news story. Gizmodo recently reported a story of alleged Chrome operating system screen shots, but later updated the story to state that it was verified as a fake. Gizmodo pushed the story of the fake download with a story titled Google Chrome OS Now Available, Go Get It .
The number of sites and individuals who are propagating the story is lending credibility to the false rumor. A quick scan of Twitter or a quick search of the Web will lead to all sorts of seemingly reputable sources talking about the availability of the Chrome OS beta. Most of the excitement though can be traced back to Gizmodo. It is a trusted source of breaking tech news and it doesn't take much for an announcement on Gizmodo to go viral on Twitter and blog sites.
The site in question appears legitimate in so much as it is actually on the google.com domain. The site lists features like a GNOME desktop, Google Picassa integration, and a Flash Player plugin. It comes complete with a few Google logos scattered about.
However, it is actually a product of Google Sites. Basically, someone created a page with Google Sites which points to sites.google.com and populated it with basic information about the Chrome OS which could be extracted from publicly available details Google has shared, then added a link to download some other completely unrelated tool.
To be fair, the site owner did include a disclaimer at the bottom stating "Chrome OS is not related to Google. Service is provided by SUSE Studio. Seethe license." Google has since disabled the site for violating the Google Sites terms of service.
Chrome sounds like it has promise, although the operating system market is a tough sell that is already filled with dominating players like Microsoft and Apple. Of course, Google hasn't shied away from head-to-head battles with either of those companies in other arenas like Web search, mobile phone operating systems, or web browsers.
In the meantime, if a guy in a dark alley whispers that he has an early version of Chrome OS available, there is good reason to be suspicious. Google may have shut down this fake Chrome OS site, but others are sure to follow. If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, its probably a duck. Check your sources and exercise some common sense before you rush to download a fake, and potentially malicious, Chrome OS.
Even a trusted source like Gizmodo has perpetuated the myth that Chrome is available. Its tough when there is so much pressure to be the first to publish a breaking news story. Gizmodo recently reported a story of alleged Chrome operating system screen shots, but later updated the story to state that it was verified as a fake. Gizmodo pushed the story of the fake download with a story titled Google Chrome OS Now Available, Go Get It .
The number of sites and individuals who are propagating the story is lending credibility to the false rumor. A quick scan of Twitter or a quick search of the Web will lead to all sorts of seemingly reputable sources talking about the availability of the Chrome OS beta. Most of the excitement though can be traced back to Gizmodo. It is a trusted source of breaking tech news and it doesn't take much for an announcement on Gizmodo to go viral on Twitter and blog sites.
The site in question appears legitimate in so much as it is actually on the google.com domain. The site lists features like a GNOME desktop, Google Picassa integration, and a Flash Player plugin. It comes complete with a few Google logos scattered about.
However, it is actually a product of Google Sites. Basically, someone created a page with Google Sites which points to sites.google.com and populated it with basic information about the Chrome OS which could be extracted from publicly available details Google has shared, then added a link to download some other completely unrelated tool.
To be fair, the site owner did include a disclaimer at the bottom stating "Chrome OS is not related to Google. Service is provided by SUSE Studio. Seethe license." Google has since disabled the site for violating the Google Sites terms of service.
Chrome sounds like it has promise, although the operating system market is a tough sell that is already filled with dominating players like Microsoft and Apple. Of course, Google hasn't shied away from head-to-head battles with either of those companies in other arenas like Web search, mobile phone operating systems, or web browsers.
In the meantime, if a guy in a dark alley whispers that he has an early version of Chrome OS available, there is good reason to be suspicious. Google may have shut down this fake Chrome OS site, but others are sure to follow. If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, its probably a duck. Check your sources and exercise some common sense before you rush to download a fake, and potentially malicious, Chrome OS.
Premji Assures French Employees
Wipro Chairman Azim Premji today assured the French government that the 60-odd employees working with the company’s wireless IT division in Sophia Antipolis would receive support, even as it plans to exit the wireless intelllectual property (IP) product business.
During his discussion with Christian Estrosi, ministry of industry (Paris), Premji said: “We reiterate our commitment to France, a key growth market for Wipro. We look forward to growing our presence, serving our customers effectively and creating employment opportunities in the country.”
He explained that his company had implemented exemplary social measures to support the employees at the Sophia Antipolis centre who were affected due to Wipro’s worldwide exit from the IP connectivity business. These measures include support to encourage employment and entrepreneurship, as well as financial benefits.
During the discussion, Estrosi reiterated a “strong attachment to the fact that all the employees of Sophia’s centre can find again a professional future as quickly as possible, through solutions of employee take over and/or of company creation carried by employees”.
Talking to mediapersons during the company’s quarterly results announcement this week, Wipro officials had stated that the company had come to an amicable settlement with the affected employees in France. As a part of this, Wipro had offered the IP developed at the centre to the affected employees at Sophia Antipolis free of charge. Besides, the company had offered its office space and equipment free for charge to those employees for one year.
Since the last three years, Wipro has implemented its development plan for its IT services in the French market. Christophe Martinoli, head of France, Wipro Technologies, said the company intended to double its staff base and revenues in France in the next 18 months.
During his discussion with Christian Estrosi, ministry of industry (Paris), Premji said: “We reiterate our commitment to France, a key growth market for Wipro. We look forward to growing our presence, serving our customers effectively and creating employment opportunities in the country.”
He explained that his company had implemented exemplary social measures to support the employees at the Sophia Antipolis centre who were affected due to Wipro’s worldwide exit from the IP connectivity business. These measures include support to encourage employment and entrepreneurship, as well as financial benefits.
During the discussion, Estrosi reiterated a “strong attachment to the fact that all the employees of Sophia’s centre can find again a professional future as quickly as possible, through solutions of employee take over and/or of company creation carried by employees”.
Talking to mediapersons during the company’s quarterly results announcement this week, Wipro officials had stated that the company had come to an amicable settlement with the affected employees in France. As a part of this, Wipro had offered the IP developed at the centre to the affected employees at Sophia Antipolis free of charge. Besides, the company had offered its office space and equipment free for charge to those employees for one year.
Since the last three years, Wipro has implemented its development plan for its IT services in the French market. Christophe Martinoli, head of France, Wipro Technologies, said the company intended to double its staff base and revenues in France in the next 18 months.
Mahindra Satyam Bags 300 Million USD Deal
hyderabad: Mahindra Satyam has won an IT outsourcing contract from Swedish defence and aerospace firm, Saab, to develop its operations for the global defence and security market in India in a deal valued at around $300 million.
The contract, which is spread over a period of five years, encompasses engineering services and technology maintenance and will enable both the companies jointly to address the Battlefield Management System (BMS) for the Indian Army.
Mahindra Satyam has already initiated the setting up of a centre of excellence for network centric warfare (CoE - NCW), which will offer comprehensive skills and a repository of tools, systems, middleware, integration platforms and system showcases in the field of NCW.
The company through the CoE hopes to tap the high potential market for nationwide security, for which the Indian government has large investment plans. "This relationship will jumpstart our foray in mission critical areas of defense. Our commitment in the domestic market will be reaffirmed by this collaboration and also set the stage to enter uncharted territories in the global arena," said C P Gurnani, CEO, Mahindra Satyam.
The centre, which will be accessible to both the partners, is for mission critical applications and Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence solutions for global opportunities. The capabilities of the centre will also span areas of homeland security to provide end to end security solutions.
"We view this relationship with Mahindra Satyam as a strategic meeting of two highly skilled teams believing in technical and engineering excellence," said Ake Svensson, President and CEO for Saab. Mahindra Satyam, which counts Citigroup, GE, GlaxoSmithKline, Cisco Systems and Nissan among its top five clients, has over 430 clients now.
The contract, which is spread over a period of five years, encompasses engineering services and technology maintenance and will enable both the companies jointly to address the Battlefield Management System (BMS) for the Indian Army.
Mahindra Satyam has already initiated the setting up of a centre of excellence for network centric warfare (CoE - NCW), which will offer comprehensive skills and a repository of tools, systems, middleware, integration platforms and system showcases in the field of NCW.
The company through the CoE hopes to tap the high potential market for nationwide security, for which the Indian government has large investment plans. "This relationship will jumpstart our foray in mission critical areas of defense. Our commitment in the domestic market will be reaffirmed by this collaboration and also set the stage to enter uncharted territories in the global arena," said C P Gurnani, CEO, Mahindra Satyam.
The centre, which will be accessible to both the partners, is for mission critical applications and Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence solutions for global opportunities. The capabilities of the centre will also span areas of homeland security to provide end to end security solutions.
"We view this relationship with Mahindra Satyam as a strategic meeting of two highly skilled teams believing in technical and engineering excellence," said Ake Svensson, President and CEO for Saab. Mahindra Satyam, which counts Citigroup, GE, GlaxoSmithKline, Cisco Systems and Nissan among its top five clients, has over 430 clients now.
Outsourcing Rises: Captives
Mumbai: The top multinationals banks continue to set up new back office units or expand their existing captive operations in India, even as the model is under criticism for being high cost and less efficient than third-party vendor operations.
Organizations such as Wells Fargo, Ingersoll Rand and Standard Chartered are setting up or expanding their back-office centres in India, reports The Economic Times.
For example, Standard Chartered is setting up a new Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) centre in Bangalore, while Wells Fargo is expanding its captive operations in India for technology services and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).
According to MarketVista, a Dallas based Everest Research Institute, these three are among the 11 firms that have set up new units or added more staff to their existing units in India during the September quarter, taking the number of captives being set up globally to an 18 month high. Around 28 firms are setting up captive operations in Asia, Europe, and Latin America with India being the most popular destination.
"The numbers of new captives being set up are far more than divestures, indicating a revival in the market," Ameet Singh, Vice President, Global Delivery, Everest. German firm Kontron, one of the world's largest manufacturers of embedded computer technology and a supplier to Original Equipment Manufacturers, is also setting up a contact centre in Bangalore to provide sale and tech support to its Asia-Pacific operations.
"Near-term economic pressures that were there earlier have been reduced. But organisations that reviewed their global sourcing agenda could still be looking at the same outcome, a modified strategy or a more intensive one," said Singh.
The September quarter also saw four captive divestures; UBS' captive to Cognizant Technology Services, AIG's to Mphasis, Schneider Logistics to EXL Services and Kyocera Wireless to MindTree.
According to Singh, the market for outsourcing transactions is seeing two counter forces; lower business volumes and opportunity to reduce costs.
"The companies are attempting to push the envelope further in terms of costs leading to offshoring and outsourcing," said Singh. Based on publicly disclosed transactions, the overall numbers of transactions have fallen to 422 in the September quarter from 467 in the past quarter but contracts from sectors such as financial services have almost doubled from the previous quarter, according to Everest's research.
Apart from financial services, sectors such as healthcare, travel and energy and utilities are also seeing significant rise in demand for offshoring.
"Although there was a marginal decline of 10 percent in the reported global transaction volumes (BPO volumes decreasing by 14 percent and IT sourcing activity reducing by 8 percent), there were signs of improvement in key geographies and verticals," said Everest in the study.
Organizations such as Wells Fargo, Ingersoll Rand and Standard Chartered are setting up or expanding their back-office centres in India, reports The Economic Times.
For example, Standard Chartered is setting up a new Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) centre in Bangalore, while Wells Fargo is expanding its captive operations in India for technology services and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).
According to MarketVista, a Dallas based Everest Research Institute, these three are among the 11 firms that have set up new units or added more staff to their existing units in India during the September quarter, taking the number of captives being set up globally to an 18 month high. Around 28 firms are setting up captive operations in Asia, Europe, and Latin America with India being the most popular destination.
"The numbers of new captives being set up are far more than divestures, indicating a revival in the market," Ameet Singh, Vice President, Global Delivery, Everest. German firm Kontron, one of the world's largest manufacturers of embedded computer technology and a supplier to Original Equipment Manufacturers, is also setting up a contact centre in Bangalore to provide sale and tech support to its Asia-Pacific operations.
"Near-term economic pressures that were there earlier have been reduced. But organisations that reviewed their global sourcing agenda could still be looking at the same outcome, a modified strategy or a more intensive one," said Singh.
The September quarter also saw four captive divestures; UBS' captive to Cognizant Technology Services, AIG's to Mphasis, Schneider Logistics to EXL Services and Kyocera Wireless to MindTree.
According to Singh, the market for outsourcing transactions is seeing two counter forces; lower business volumes and opportunity to reduce costs.
"The companies are attempting to push the envelope further in terms of costs leading to offshoring and outsourcing," said Singh. Based on publicly disclosed transactions, the overall numbers of transactions have fallen to 422 in the September quarter from 467 in the past quarter but contracts from sectors such as financial services have almost doubled from the previous quarter, according to Everest's research.
Apart from financial services, sectors such as healthcare, travel and energy and utilities are also seeing significant rise in demand for offshoring.
"Although there was a marginal decline of 10 percent in the reported global transaction volumes (BPO volumes decreasing by 14 percent and IT sourcing activity reducing by 8 percent), there were signs of improvement in key geographies and verticals," said Everest in the study.
Microsoft Lays off 800
Seattle: Microsoft is going to sack at least 800 emoployees across its operations, on top of the 5,000 jobs it already eliminated under a plan to reduce costs that was announced in January. A spokesman for the software giant said that the latest job cuts are spread across the company's global operations, but about 200 are in and around its headquarters in Redmond, Washington.
According to Reuters, Microsoft originally had planned to cut 5,000 jobs, or about five percent out of 96,000, before June 2010. The Microsoft Spokesman said that the plan has been expanded with the new layoffs and is now complete, well ahead of schedule.
As of October 23, Microsoft had 91,005 employees worldwide, according to its website.
According to Reuters, Microsoft originally had planned to cut 5,000 jobs, or about five percent out of 96,000, before June 2010. The Microsoft Spokesman said that the plan has been expanded with the new layoffs and is now complete, well ahead of schedule.
As of October 23, Microsoft had 91,005 employees worldwide, according to its website.
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