ITShastra, a software development, testing and design company for worldwide business needs and offshore project delivery, today announced that it has been awarded ISO 27001:2005 Certification. The standard provides a model for establishing, operating, reviewing and improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS) to ITShastra with a trusted framework which ensures ITShastra and client data is secured.

Prasad Nagool, ITShastra CEO, said, “We have achieved a milestone by getting ISO27001 certification. This accreditation strengthens our client’s belief in us about their data security since we operate in the US Financial and Healthcare sector where data security is a prime concern”

Ramesh Devare, ITShastra COO said “this is a major achievement for ITShastra. Earlier in 2011, ITShastra was awarded ISO9001 certification and also the “Best Software Solution Provider in Mumbai by Brands academy” for 2011. This certification is a proof of our commitment towards Information Security and now plan to go for CMM certification by mid 2012.”

Sameer Desai, CISO for ITShastra said that the “CIA (Confidentiality–Integrity-Availability) framework was primarily used in combination with the RISK management methodology in securing the Information Assets. A strong framework will ensure that the ISMS is maintained and improved even during our rapid expansion program.”

About ITShastra

Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Mumbai, India, ITShastra is a professionally managed software company that is a global provider of consultancy, development, testing and design services for businesses around the world. Its highly technical team has broad-based experience in both software design and Web application development that address multiple vertical industries including Mortgage, Retail, Healthcare, Education, Film Industries, Banking and more.

ITShastra also has offices in Jalgaon and Nagpur, India as well as an affiliate office located in Columbia, Md. with IndiSoft, LLC, and a business partner office located in Ireland with Acubesoftware.com.

For more information visit www.itshastra.com or call +91 022 27781074 / +91 022 27781160.

Media contact details

Prasad Nagool,
ITShastra,
+91 (22) 27781074 /9892526453,
Prasad.nagool@itshastra.com

Over the last few years, the UF Group has been closely linked with the entertainment industry. Through one of their group companies, Southern Digital Screenz the southern franchisee of UFO Moviez, they have changed the way movies are being screened in the theaters. Through a centralized server, they are able to screen movies in digital quality across 1200 plus theaters. These movies are delivered to cinemas through satellite downloads. The digital mechanism of movie screening has not only changed the quality but has also plugged piracy to a greater extent.

Now we at the UF Group in collaboration with the Malaysian based companies Select-tv and Creative experience Sdn Bhd is all set to launch a next generation E box called Ufx EmaginE with 90,000 satisfied customers around the world. This next generation E-Box comes with a host of mind-blowing features. From Movies on Demand to Media Player, from Personalised Services to Cool Apps, from Social Networking to Video Conferencing, from Online Shopping to E-Learning, this E-box will change people’s lifestyle.

This E box has a well stocked library of over 4000 movies covering over 36 languages. It has direct access to 3000 live radio stations and music portals around the globe. Browsing the internet is made possible along with access to unlimited user generated videos. The E box contains a cloud gaming device that has a vast library of 150 games. There is also a E learning facility installed, that has an interactive learning platform for students from preschool to post graduation. All this along with many more surprise applications, makes this E box a must have.

With a year’s warranty, EmaginE comes in two versions, one for home users and another for hotels and commercial users. The E-Box for home version costs Rs 6999 (that includes a security deposit of Rs 3000) and a three month subscription of Rs. 300 (Rs. 100 a month).

Talking about Ufx EmaginE, Dr. Usman Fayaz, Chairman, UFX Ventures Private Limited, said, ‘Now subscribers can get endless entertainment at the click of a button. Ufx EmaginE will soon be available throughout the country through a vast network of distributors appointed for each district and sub- distributors appointed for each pin code.

“Plans are afoot to launch this first-of-its-kind user-friendly product all across the country. With this, entertainment as well as utility services will reach homes at the click of a button. We also intend to make our product available globally in the next two years” said Mr.Usman Faheed, Managing Director, Ufx Ventures Private Limited.

The unique feature of Ufx EmaginE is that this does not contain any form of native storage and works entirely on a streaming mechanism, which will help curb piracy to a great extent and the Pay Per view model will enable immediate settlement to vendors, Movie producers, Distributors and sub distributors through the payments gateway’s I cash Card mechanism duly certified by the RBI, which ensures total transparency and safety for content providers. The box connects via internet connection.

As for the hospitality industry, Ufx EmaginE will help hotels upgrade the quality of service, enhance the customer experience, and generate healthy revenues. The E-Box combines crucial elements of hospitality and elegant interface designs to deliver a user experience that is second to none. It offers a host of unique features like Movies on Demand, Music on Demand, Unique Greeting Screen, In-room shopping, Alarms and Reminders, Tour excursions, Internet on TV, Choice of 15 languages, and many more. So, hotels can get set to impress, serve, inform, and entertain guests like never before.

Media contact details

Mr. J. Fahad,
Ufx Ventures Private Limited,
+91 95000 40947

A new research published by iYogi Insights Insights reviews Microsoft’s strategy for launching Windows 8 with a single user interface across PC, tablets and phones. The new research is based on a survey conducted by iYogi, a leading remote tech support company across 1400 customers to understand how PC users will adopt Windows 8 across multiple devices. iYogi Insights research titled, Windows 8 Will Accelerate Shipment of Tablets is accompanied by a review of the recently released Windows 8 Developer Preview on the desktop.

iYogi Insights reveals that that 69% of PC users endorse Microsoft Windows 8 strategy for a single interface across multiple devices. Penetration of tablet devices amongst respondents has already reached 15%. The survey also affirms that 85% of existing tablet users would like their PCs and tablet interfaces to have the same look and feel. Based on the results of the survey, iYogi Insights predicts that Windows 8 will drive new adoption and shipment of tablets from Microsoft’s existing PC user base.

This new study also reveals that there is a high level of awareness about Windows 8, with as many as 95% respondents to the iYogi Insights survey saying that they knew of the forthcoming launch. A total of 19% of the respondents who do not own tablets and 57% of tablet users like the Windows 8 touch-screen interface and would upgrade given the opportunity. As consumers upgrade to Windows 8, iYogi Insights predicts that ‘touch screen’ interface will become pervasive.

“The significance of the much awaited Windows 8 launch is amplified by the rapid adoption of tablet devices, currently dominated by Apple’s iOS and the Android platforms. Windows 8 provides a real alternative to Apple’s iPad, for PC users looking for a seamless user interface, and ease of integration,” says Vishal Dhar, President Marketing and co-founder of iYogi. “Our large subscriber base helps understand and predict major trends impacting technology usage. The industry is already galvanized to support the launch of Microsoft’s new operating system with announcements of new devices. Our study shows that this will be met with a incredibly positive response from PC users.”

Key highlights:

1. 69% of PC users endorse Microsoft’s strategy for seamless interface across multiple devices.

2. 85% of existing tablet users would like their PCs and tablet interface to have the same look and feel.

3. 19% of the respondent who do not own tablets stated that they would upgrade to Windows 8.

4. 57% of tablet users like the idea of the Windows 8 touch-screen interface and would love to upgrade given the opportunity.

5. 95% respondents to the iYogi Insights survey saying that they are aware of the forthcoming launch.

To read the detailed report go to http://insights.iyogi.com

About iYogi Insights

iYogi Insights is a research initiative launched by iYogi to help understand the issues that people face with technology and how they adapt tech solutions to enhance their lives. A subscriber base that is among the largest in the tech support industry gives iYogi a unique vantage point to observe how technology is impacting people’s lives and habits. Frequent interaction with this wide database of subscribers gives a privileged peek into how people are forging a partnership with technology, sorting out the occasional issue, and on the whole, positively embracing technology to empower themselves.

About iYogi

iYogi is a global on-demand services company that provides personalized computer support for consumers and small businesses in United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. iYogi’s unique model, including proprietary iMantra technology and highly qualified technicians, is designed to eliminate computer-related stress and keep digitally dependent consumers and small businesses protected and productive. iYogi — with its proven global expertise delivery model, intelligent customer insight systems, easy-to-use self-help tools and automated PC optimization and computer support services – offers users a simple yet comprehensive path to digital serenity. iYogi has perfected the remote technical support model to overcome the current limitations of in-store, on-site, or call center services. Major resellers and technology companies are turning to iYogi to improve customer satisfaction, reduce return rates, and deliver a compelling new-value added offering to customers. For more information on iYogi and a detailed list of technologies supported, visit: http://www.iyogi.com.

Media contact details

Indira Das,
iYogi,
+91 9582806534,
Indira.das@iyogi.com

Steria India partners with Experimentus to become among the first organisations in India to offer Test Maturity Model Integrated (TMMi) e-surveys.

Steria India, a leading provider of IT enabled business services, and Experimentus, the software quality management consulting firm, today announced a strategic partnership to service the growing needs of the Testing and Quality Assurance (QA) community in India.

This follows the launch of the three part Steria RightTestingTM service in February which helps clients identify the critical risk and quick-win opportunities in testing operations and improve quality, enhancing Steria’s existing Consultancy offering.

This partnership will streamline the development process, helping Steria customers to identify the strengths and weaknesses across the full software development life cycle, challenging the traditional testing model. This will highlight issues that need to be addressed in setup to ensure the best products and services are brought to market.

TMMi has become a well respected industry acclaimed standard against which organisations can measure and improve software testing and quality related processes as well as benchmark their level of maturity. The e-surveys are already used by financial services, telecommunications, media, retail and healthcare organisations in continental Europe, UK, Singapore and India.

Dr. Mukesh Aghi, CEO, Asia Pacific, of Steria said “India is a growing market so it is great to see that both the IT community and Indian organisations have started to understand the value of an independent third party testing gateway testing service. Businesses are constantly on the look out to find ways to improve their internal testing functions and Steria India can provide a quick view into the maturity of testing functions. We are already talking a lot about it to our customers and prospects and they are very excited to get their testing functions assessed to TMMi maturity levels.”

Customers want to know where they stand today and want help in deciding where they can go tomorrow. Ultimately, it is about optimising cost by doing things the right way and making sure that the offerings that are brought to market are the best they can be.

Julian Clarke, director of sales and marketing at Experimentus commented, “We are delighted to be working with Steria India and making the TMMi e-Survey available to the Indian market. Many organisations have previously used TMMi to independently measure and identify improvements in their own test and quality capabilities but more recently we have seen TMMi become part of the evaluation criteria when selecting a supplier which has driven the need for formal TMMi Certification. As a first step towards Improvement or Certification we developed our TMMi e-Survey solution to help quickly identify areas for improvement and provide those organisations wanting formal certification with an informal but useful indication of their maturity level.”

About Steria India (www.steria.com/in/)

Steria delivers IT enabled business services which help organisations in the public and private sectors operate more efficiently and profitably. By combining in depth understanding of our clients’ businesses with expertise in IT and business process outsourcing, we take on our clients’ challenges and develop innovative solutions to address them.

Through our highly collaborative consulting style, we work with our clients to transform their business, enabling them to focus on what they do best. Our 20,000 people, working across 16 countries, support the systems, services and processes that make today’s world turn, touching the lives of millions around the globe each day. Founded in 1969, Steria has offices in Europe, India, North Africa and SE Asia and 2010 revenue of €1.69 billion. 20%of Steria’s capital is owned by its employees. Headquartered in Paris, Steria is listed on the Euronext Paris market.

About Experimentus: (www.experimentus.com)

Experimentus is an IT solutions and services company that specialises in software quality management. The range of solutions it provides helps organisations to reduce the risks associated with software development lifecycle and enables organisations to properly manage, control and measure existing IT applications.

About the TMMi® Foundation (www.tmmifoundation.org)

The TMMi Foundation is a non-profit making organisation, founded by a number of leading European test and quality practitioners and is dedicated to improving software test and quality related processes and practices. The Foundation owns and supports the TMMi model, provides an independent accrediting service for lead assessors and assessors, along with the structure to accredit assessment methods.

Media contact details

Sachdev Ramakrishna, Director - Marketing,
Steria(India)Ltd,
+91 9871715438

Julian Clarke, Director of Sales and Marketing,
Experimentus,
+44 207 871 2300

Prachi Sinha,
Gutenberg Communications,
91 (11) 41324969,
prachi@gutenbergpr.com

Castell has launched a new control panel for its Salvo range of drive-away prevention products. Suitable for use with automatic and manual loading bay doors, Salvo Control Panel+ (SCP+) is easier both to use and install.

Fast, safe access is an important issue in the loading bay environment. The Salvo system, as reported by existing users, already delivers operating efficiencies in terms of visually indicating loading bay availability, reducing needless waiting time and confirming the presence of trucks ready for loading or unloading. The new SCP+ increases operational efficiency still further with the addition of an illuminated lock; in 24/7 operating environments this feature helps drivers locate the lock portion faster and therefore saves time.

Since Salvo is a global product, with installations across five continents, the operating instructions on the SCP+ have been redesigned to allow understanding regardless of local language. The instructions are now entirely visual, enabling drivers to follow them on the panel, and reducing the time taken by new drivers to understand and operate the system.

The safety function of the control panel has also been enhanced and now features forcibly guided safety relays that deliver a higher level of safety functionality.

SCP+ has also been designed for simpler installation. A new ergonomic enclosure allows for fast access to the electrical terminals and reduces wiring time. As a further development, SCP+ is also multi-voltage and suitable for 24V AC, 24V DC, 110V AC or 230V AC supply. Finally, the panel has been designed using the same footprint and so can be retrofitted easily.

To combat environmental temperatures ranging from the extreme highs of Africa to the biting colds of North America and Russia, SCP+ can be fitted with an internal heater.

David Hughes, Castell’s sales director, commented: “The new SCP+ is a key development in the Salvo range. The increased levels of functionality have been developed in conjunction with our blue-chip global customers. These features will deliver even higher returns on investment, both in terms of safety and operational efficiency, and further enhance our reputation for providing systems that deliver fast, safe access.”

About Castell

Castell Safety International Ltd (www.castell.com) was founded over 85 years ago in the United Kingdom. Since the inception of the industrial safety industry, Castell has been a leader in trapped key interlocking technology, developing products that keep pace with the needs of emerging markets and applications in all business sectors. Its products go beyond meeting legislation to create the safest working environments possible. The company now designs and manufactures the world’s widest range of industrial safety systems and offers unrivalled experience in trapped key interlocking. The company operates from locations in London (UK), Chennai (India), Shanghai (China), Chicago (USA) and Cologne (Germany). Castell is a subsidiary of Halma p.l.c.

About Halma

Halma p.l.c. (www.halma.com), an international market leader in safety, health and sensor technology, is a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange and has approximately 4000 employees in 40 subsidiaries worldwide. Halma’s subsidiaries make products that protect lives and improve the quality of life for people through innovation in market leading products which make its customers safer, more competitive and more profitable. These subsidiaries are assisting India’s economy in areas such as energy, manufacturing, healthcare, water and waste treatment, construction and transport. Halma has a hub office in Mumbai.

For further news about Castell in India and to subscribe to the Castell India RSS News Feed please visit our blog at: http://halmapr.com/news/castell-india/.

pic14Media contact details

Ashok Dhanasekaran, Application Engineer,
Castell Safety International Ltd,
+91 9840631258,
adhanasekaran@castell.com

Santosh Sen,
Halma India,
+91 (22) 67080400/ +91 9820247680,
santosh.sen@halma.com

Damian Corbet,
Halma PR Services,
+44 (0)1494 789152,
dcorbet@halmapr.com

A major project to fight leakage by British utility company Yorkshire Water is using HWM’s Radio-Tech SMART Log wireless datalogging automatic meter reader (AMR) to significantly reduce the time and cost taken to find and fix leaks in the network. The SMART Logs are being installed by Vernon Morris & Co. Ltd. along with its Incertameter ‘bolt-on’ in-line flow meter, enabling Yorkshire Water to split 250 of its existing DMAs* in half for more efficient water management – without the need for constructing any new, expensive metered bypasses. The initial phase includes 350 installations, with more planned to follow as the project rolls out across the network.

Dividing a water mains network into DMAs is current water loss prevention best practice. It allows water companies to examine their network in small pieces, narrowing down areas where water is being lost so that leakage teams can then pinpoint the location within that DMA. Obviously, smaller DMAs result in more detailed initial information, and proportionally less time taken to identify the exact position of the leak; in these cases time equals not only money but also water, personnel and the chances of a severe service disruption.

SMART Log and Incertameter allow for the easy and very cost-effective creation of more and smaller DMAs, and very rapid collection of data from them. SMART Log’s wireless technology means that data collection teams no longer need access to the meter itself, but instead can download the data via a secure wireless link from up to 100 meters away - even from a moving vehicle. This drastically reduces the time taken for data gathering, which, in addition to the use of smaller DMAs, results in impressive savings.

In a series of blind pilot trials conducted last year to compare the before and after effects of the project, results indicated an average saving per leak of roughly 60 hours of detection time and over £1500, even without factoring in the initial saving of £5000+ per sub-metering point created. Leakage inspectors can expect to cover a DMA approximately five times faster than before, and prioritise their leak repair activities much more effectively according to the severity of a leak and its impact on the water supply.

Advanced technology not only enables this level of functional efficiency, but has resulted in an impressive battery life for the systems. Batteries last for 5 years with a 5 minute sample rate, meaning that the time and cost savings first made at the installation continue on for half a decade. The SMART Log technology has already seen extended use in Scotland and England over the last few years, both in conjunction with the Incertameter and as a standalone AMR or commercial datalogger, and has consistently proved itself a valuable tool in improving a project’s operational functionality and underlying efficiency.

*District Metered Area

About Halma Water Management

Halma Water Management (HWM), a subsidiary of Halma p.l.c., is the world leader and world’s largest supplier of leakage management, pressure management and flowmeter technology. HWM is comprised of four Halma companies: Palmer Environmental, Radcom Technologies, Hydreka and FSC, under a single dedicated sales and sales support network. For more information please visit the company’s website at http://www.hwm-water.com/. HWM also has a press release blog with an RSS news feed at http://halmapr.com/news/hwm/.

About Halma

Halma p.l.c. (www.halma.com) is an international market leader in safety, health and sensor technology. Halma is a public company listed on the London Stock Exchange and has over 4000 employees in over 40 subsidiaries worldwide with a total turnover of over US$780m (2008). Halma’s subsidiaries make products that protect lives and improve the quality of life for people through innovation in market leading products which make its customers safer, more competitive and more profitable. These subsidiaries are assisting India’s economy in areas such as manufacturing, energy, water and waste treatment, the environment, construction, transport and health.

Halma recently opened a Hub office in Mumbai. For further news about Halma in India and to subscribe to the Halma India RSS News Feed please visit our blog at: http://halmapr.com/news/india/.

HWM head office contact details:
Halma Water Management
Ty Coch House
Llantarnam Park Way, Llantarnam Industrial Estate
Cwmbran NP44 3AW
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1633 489 479; Fax: +44 (0)1633 877 857
E-mail: sales@hwm-water.com
Website: www.hwm-water.com

Media contact details

Santosh Sen,
Halma India,
+91 (22) 67080400/ +91 9820247680,
santosh.sen@halma.com

Damian Corbet,
Halma PR Services,
+44 (0)1494 789152,
dcorbet@halmapr.com

The world today is grappling with serious issues of Climate Change with far-reaching consequences for our forthcoming generations. Until now, much emphasis has been laid on understanding atmospheric and scientific changes resulting from climate change. However, the role of youth, their perspective, solutions for change and social implications of Climate Change has gained attention. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in association with British Council, India and Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports organised a two-day long YUVA meet under the theme ‘Conserving Global Commons: Transforming Knowledge into Action’, as a special event and a part of TERI’s annual flagship initiative ‘Delhi Sustainable Development Summit 2012.’

This annual meet for the youth, aims to provide them with a holistic overview of the emerging environmental challenges and to encourage them to play a vital role in spreading awareness on key environment concerns and collectively voice their views and exchange ideas.

Present at the two day event were Mr Ajay Maken, Hon. Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports,Government of India, Mr Rob Lynes, Director, British Council, India, Dr RK Pachauri, Director-General, TERI, Mr Sindhushree Khullar, Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Mr Keshav Chandra, Secretary, Department of Environment, Government of NCT of Delhi, Mr Jitendra Nagpal, Psychologist, VIMHANS and Ms Ranjana Saikia, Director, Educating Youth for Sustainable Development, TERI.

Emphasizing on youth’s role in sustainable development Dr. RK Pachauri, Director General, TERI, said, “I believe the only way one could bring about change in the world is by reaching out to the youth. It is very potent and potentially a very powerful force for bringing about action globally. And this platform provides the young to voice their opinions, concerns related to environmental issues and their understanding of global commons.”

In his address Mr Ajay Maken lauded TERI, British Council and Government of NCT of Delhi for their joint efforts to mobilize the youth and sensitize them towards environmental issues. “Youth has a transformational role to play in emerging global challenges. There is a need to highlight the importance of international co-operation in the field of youth development and further enhance it to ensure that the youth reap the benefits of the changing paradigm. The YUVA meet is a unique programme for creating awareness and understanding amongst youth by which they can partner in finding solutions to counter the rapidly increasing threat of climate instability.” he added.

Popular VJ turned actor Mr. Purab Kohli, along with Mr Bharat Chetri, Captain, Male Hockey Team, India and Ms Ashunta Lakra, Captain, Female Hockey Team, India encouraged the youth to take on initiatives for the betterment of the society and conserving the global commons.

Giving an overview of the YUVA meet, Ranjana Saikia, Director, Educating Youth for Sustainable Development, TERI, said, “YUVA meet brought together youth from some of the best institutions in India and abroad to discuss and come up with new solutions to combat climate change. It is not just an event; it is a part of TERI’s larger campaign to create a sustainable society. Youth are the citizens of tomorrow and the group that will be most impacted by present actions around the world. It is important to ensure that they play a proactive role in addressing key environmental issues that will affect the world in the coming years. The meet will provide the youth with an overview of the emerging challenges of climate change and enable them to play a pivotal role in spreading the knowledge on key environmental concerns. YUVA meet is a platform from young people from all over the country to collectively air their views, exchange ideas and form a common network hereby reaching out to many more like minded people.”

Youngsters are important stakeholders in any initiative to combat environmental degradation and can be actively engaged at local, national and global levels in awareness-raising educational programs, advocating for policy level changes and strengthening public participation for environmental protection. It’s time that the young people engage in new forms of action and activism to generate effective responses to ecological challenges.

The meet aspires to create change-makers, who through their knowledge, observation, and action, will combat climate change for a greener today and for an environment that will nurture the future generations. More than 200 students from across 14 nations including China, United Kingdom, Thailand, Indonesia, Korea, Netherlands, Canada, Malaysia, South Africa,
Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Swaziland participated in the meet.

Main Highlights of YUVA Meet 2012 were:-

– Action oriented group activities and interaction with young change makers
– Orientation to new and innovative ideas and platform for networking
– Selected student participants will be invited to participate in DSDS 2012
– Selected students to participate in International Student Energy Summit
– One outstanding young participant to be felicitated for the ‘Green Globe Award’

YUVA Meet aims at motivating the youth to play a pro-active role in addressing issues related to sustainable development, apart from providing a platform for youth-led initiatives to showcase solutions both at the grassroots and the global level. The Meet also aspires to engage the youth to pro-actively address local issues and take action. The Meet is a platform for network building for youngsters and ensures a collective voice and engages them in environmental stewardship

About: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)

From microbiology to global climate change, from smoke-filled rural kitchens to plush corporate boardrooms, from schoolchildren to heads of state—no sphere of human endeavor is unfamiliar to TERI. Headed by world-renowned economist and Head of the Nobel Prize winning UN Climate panel, Dr RK Pachauri, TERI is best described as an independent, not-for-profit research institute focused on energy, environment, and sustainable development and devoted to efficient and sustainable use of natural resources.

A dynamic and flexible organization established in 1974, all activities in TERI move from formulating local and national level strategies to suggesting global solutions to critical energy and environment-related issues. Headquartered in New Delhi, TERI has established regional offices in Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa, Guwahati and Mukhteshwer in the Himalaya’s and International centers in Japan, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Washington DC, London and Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Media Contact:

– Rajiv Chhibber, 9810426698, rajivc@teri.res.in
– Debanjana Choudhuri De - +91-8447084563, debanjana.de@teri.res.in
– Prashant Gunjan - +91-9650026623, prashant.gunjan@ketchumsampark.com,
– Kavita K Bhaskaran - +91-99989355009 / 9810439897, kavita.bhaskaran@ketchumsampark.com
– Anjali Berry - +91-9891526436, anjali.berry@ketchumsampark.com,
– Priyanka Kanawat - +91-8800213737, priyanka.kanawat@ketchumsampark.com

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in association with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO), Japan organised a conference today titled 4th India Japan Energy Forum – Business opportunities in Energy Efficiency and Renewables. The conference focussed on technological options for enhancing energy efficiency and promoting renewable energy technologies.

The Forum provided an excellent opportunity for Indian and Japanese industries to dialogue, debate and share their experiences. The conference envisaged capitalisation of cross-learnings thus ensuring mutual benefits and promotion of bilateral relations between the two nations.

The forum saw high-level officials from government and industries from both India and Japan. Those present included Dr R K Pachauri, Director-General, TERI, Mr Hideo Hato, President, NEDO, Mr Hiroshi Asahi, Director-General for Energy and Environmental Policy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), Japan, Mr BK Chaturvedi, Member, Planning Commission, Government of India, Mr Hiroshi Asahi, Director General for Energy and Environmental Policy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (MET), Japan, Mr Amitabh Kant, CEO and MD, Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporations, Mr Gireesh B. Pradhan, Secretary, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India, Dr Ajay Mathur, Director General, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, Ministry of Power, Government of India Mr Satoshi Miura, Director, Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, METI, Japan among many others.

Speaking on the occasion Dr RK Pachauri, Director General, TERI said, “Japan and India have a strategic partnership, and thus should work towards energy efficiency. The demand for energy is growing in both the countries; hence, we need major initiatives for energy efficiency and work towards making energy accessible. One of the ways to tackle this problem is to improve energy efficiency especially in the transport and infrastructure sectors.”

Emphasising the need for an energy secure sustainable model of growth, Mr Hideo Hato, President, NEDO said, “Combining the efforts of industry, government and academia and leveraging established international research networks, Japan and India are committed to contributing to the energy and global environmental problems and further enhance global industrial competitiveness. The enhancement of the two countries industrial competiveness and the need to address energy and global environmental problems are paramount, hence today’s forum will be a major path-breaker towards achieving the common goals.”

Speaking on the need to improve the accessibility of clean energy, Mr BK Chaturvedi, Member, Planning Commission, Government of India, said, “India needs to plan for energy efficiently, as still a large body of our population still doesn’t have access to clean energy. Planning Commission is making its next 12th five-year plan, and we have simultaneously planned for energy requirements, primarily power. Deliberations today will surely help improve us in the Planning Commission, for the betterment of the country.”

Expressing his delight to represent the Japanese government at this important event organised by TERI and NEDO, Mr Hiroshi Asahi, Director General for Energy and Environmental Policy, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (MET), Japan, said “Energy consumption in both India and Japan has been a major challenge and both the countries need to focus on energy conservation, renewable energy, including efficiency in buildings. Through this forum I am sure that we would be able to come out with concrete set of actions to promote global development in industrial efficiency as well as to accumulate new knowledge and know-how on business operations and technology transfer.”

Addressing the delegates, Mr Amitabh Kant, CEO and MD, Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporations, said, “According to a UN estimate by 2030, 70% of India’s population would live in cities. Hence it is of utmost importance to walk in the steps of sustainable development, using technology to make a quantum jump for growth. This is certainly an urban century and there will be a huge requirement for infrastructure development in the future.”

The first three editions of the Forum held in December 2006, February 2008 and February 2010 focused on national energy policies, energy conservation, and climate change and technology co-operation. All these Forums facilitated an exchange of ideas and best practices between policy makers, business communities, technocrats and academicians.

Corporates, global leaders and thinkers alike believe that to find cost-effective sustainable solutions to the ever-increasing energy needs, businesses and governments world over should get together and chalk out sustainable innovative methods of doing business.

The one-day event deliberated upon various aspects related to energy efficiency and renewable energy with a focus on solar energy.

While, India has over the past few decades emerged as one of the fastest growing economies in the world and is also home to the second largest population, Japan is the third largest oil consumer in the world, behind the US and China, and one of the largest importers of crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and coal, hence it is of utmost importance for both the countries to walk on the path of sustainable development and find out ways for maximum utilisation of renewable energy.

The forum provided a platform for Indian and Japanese stakeholders to discuss various technological and policy related issues in the field of energy efficiency and renewable energy.

The speakers at the Forum included representatives from METI, NEDO, BEE, MNRE, TERI and many other experts and industry leaders.

About: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)

From microbiology to global climate change, from smoke-filled rural kitchens to plush corporate boardrooms, from schoolchildren to heads of state—no sphere of human endeavor is unfamiliar to TERI. Headed by world-renowned economist and Head of the Nobel Prize winning UN Climate panel, Dr. R K Pachauri, TERI is best described as an independent, not-for-profit research institute focused on energy, environment, and sustainable development and devoted to efficient and sustainable use of natural resources.

A dynamic and flexible organization established in 1974, all activities in TERI move from formulating local and national level strategies to suggesting global solutions to critical energy and environment-related issues. Headquartered in New Delhi, TERI has established regional offices in Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa, Guwahati and Mukhteshwer in the Himalaya’s and International centers in Japan, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Washington DC, London and Utrecht, The Netherlands.

About NEDO

The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), since its establishment in 1980 as a semi-governmental R&D management and funding agency originally tasked with the development of oil-alternative energy technologies, has been promoting collaborative efforts for a broad range of research and development projects that leverage the capacities of private companies, academia and government. In addition to renewable energy technology, NEDO also supports the research and development of industrial, energy conservation and environmental technologies. NEDO also conducts international projects as well as R&D and dissemination activities for industrial, energy-conservation and renewable technologies developed in Japan. In India, NEDO has conducted several dissemination projects relating to large-scale solar power, energy conservation in steel and cement plants, and energy conservation capacity buildings in cooperation with Government of India. By advancing developed technologies to the practical and commercialization stages, NEDO enhances Japan’s industrial technologies and contributes to efforts to stabilize energy supplies and improve energy security, while also boosting sustainable development in accordance with domestic and international socioeconomic conditions.

In 2003, NEDO became an incorporated administrative agency, providing NEDO the ability to independently determine how to improve operations and manage organization more efficiently. NEDO was entrusted, in 2006, by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Ministry of the Environment to acquire emission reduction credits to contribute to the fulfillment of Japan’s Kyoto Protocol obligation.

Media contact details

Rajiv Chhibber,
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI),
+91 9810426698,
rajivc@teri.res.in

Debanjana Choudhuri De,
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI),
+91 8447084563,
debanjana.de@teri.res.in

Sify Technologies Limited (NASDAQ Global Markets: SIFY), a leader in Managed Enterprise, Network and ICT Services in India with growing global delivery capabilities, today announced its consolidated results under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for the third quarter of fiscal year 2011-12.

Performance Highlights Q 3 FY 11-12:

- Revenues for the quarter ended December 31, 2011 was INR 1805 million. ·

- Revenue from Enterprise services was at INR 1526 million, up approximately 5% and from Software services was INR 182 million, up approximately 16% over same quarter last year.

- Revenue from Commercial and Consumer services was INR 97 million for the third quarter.

- EBITDA for the quarter increased to INR 136 million, as compared to INR 93 million in the same quarter previous year.

- Net loss for the quarter reduced to INR 73 million, as against a net loss of INR 96 million in the same quarter previous year.

- Capex during the quarter was INR 225 million. Cash balance at the end of the quarter was
INR 658 million and undrawn line of credit stood at INR 335 million.

Mr. Raju Vegesna, Chairman & MD, said, “We are pleased to present our financial performance for the third quarter of FY 2011-12 against the backdrop of reaching an important milestone towards becoming India’s premier ICT player.

Our Cable landing Station in Mumbai is ready for operations, making Sify the first ICT company in India to own a cable landing station for international submarine cable systems. With the opening of this landing station, Gulf Bridge International (GBI) became the first to land their sub-sea cable system in India.

Sify also signed a Landing Party Agreement (LPA) with MENA Submarine Cable System S.A.E, a licensed telecommunications operator in Egypt. This Cable Landing Station positions Sify well for the growing opportunities for ICT and cloud services across the world.

In early 2011, Sify had announced a strategic investment in Europe India Gateway (EIG) cable capacities to support our expanding global operations across Europe, Middle East and Africa. We are happy to share that the EIG cable has gone live up to Europe this quarter. A US $700 million high-capacity fiber-optic cable, EIG will be the first, direct, high-bandwidth optical fiber system from the UK to India.

The State Data Centre for Kerala has gone live, making it our second on-stream State Data Centre out of a total of five we have won to-date. We are looking at consistent recurring revenues from these State Data Centres for the next 5 years.

Our strategy to drive Network, IT Services and Software as a complete portfolio of services to Enterprise customers in India and International markets, is allowing us to better capitalise our skills and service offerings.

Consistent with our strategy to develop solutions for the large and growing SMB segment, our Commercial and Consumer business continues to expand their market share in both small and medium enterprises and SOHO businesses. As targeted, most of the growth is coming from Tier II and III cities. In addition to our portfolio of network and internet services to the SMB market, we have introduced value-added IT services tailored to this market, such as Sify mystorage, our automatic backup and storage service for SOHO and SMBs.

Horizontal expansion of the services basket is also yielding good dividends for the Software services helped largely due to the demand for automation of services, both from the government and allied bodies.

Both the Central and State governments are pursuing an agenda of digitizing existing records, building a central storage repository and augmenting connectivity and going forward, we should see more opportunities emerging for our products and services.”

Mr. MP Vijay Kumar, Chief Financial Officer, said, “The Company remains focussed on optimising cost and cash flow with operating cash flow continuing to be positive.

Cash balance at the end of the quarter was INR 658 million and undrawn line of credit stood at INR 335 million.

Our investments in EIG and our Cable Landing Station in Mumbai should see cash generation soon.

Our inclusion into the NASDAQ Global Select Markets is a significant endorsement of our corporate practises.”

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS:

Enterprise business

Network services

- Network services have picked up additional business from existing clients across industries like BFSI, Pharma, Manufacturing and PSUs.

- The International Voice business grew by 11% over same quarter previous year.

- Our Undersea Cable Landing station (CLS) in Mumbai is ready for operations.

- Further to signing GBI as our first client for the CLS, we have also signed MENA Submarine Cable System S.A.E to use the additional capacity in our Cable Landing Station.

- Europe India Gateway (EIG) up to Europe has gone live.
IT Services

- Revenue from Value added services on our cloud platform have grown by 95% and Hosting has grown by 17% over same quarter last year.

-Hosting and Managed services have also raked up major wins with long term contracts this quarter.

- Security services have already notched up impressive wins across industries like auto, direct marketing, insurance and banking.

Commercial & Consumer services

- Commercial & Consumer services have registered an increase in revenue to INR 97 million against previous quarter.

- Our SMB customer base from multiple industries including Manufacturing, Dealers, professionals and retail outlets has grown by over 78% YTD.

- The quarter saw the release of Sify mystorage, a cloud-based automatic storage and backup solution. For more information, please log on to https://storage.sifyservices.com/

- Sify sports (www.sports.sify.com/) is now among the top 5 sports sites in the country. Sify Finance (www.finance.sify.com/) has introduced exclusive sections on Commodities, Silver and Currency.

Software services (http://www.sifysoftware.com/) )

- Revenue of Software services in this quarter has grown by approximately 16% over the corresponding quarter of previous year.

- Contribution of eLearning related services has increased by 10% over the previous quarter.

- In what is becoming a repeat act, 55% of our revenues for Application services came from Govt & allied institutions.

- Skill Assessment (iTest) product line found new takers in the education segment. We are also seeing demand for Recruitment Automation from Govt recruitment agencies, allied bodies and banks.

- A total of 24 new clients for application services and 4 new clients for eLearning related services have been added this quarter.

- Maintaining a winning streak at the Annual Brandon Hall Awards, our teams have once again been feted with the Gold award for SmartKit Mobile Solution and a Silver Award for Video Based Training solution.

About Sify Technologies

Sify is among the largest Managed Enterprise, Network and IT Services companies in India, offering end-to-end solutions with a comprehensive range of products delivered over a common telecom data network infrastructure reaching more than 710 cities and towns in India.

A significant part of the company’s revenue is derived from Corporate Enterprise Services, which include Network and IT services, Connectivity, Security, Network management services, Enterprise applications, Hosting and Remote Infrastructure Management Services. Sify is a recognized ISO 9001:2008 certified service provider for network operations, data center operations and customer support, and for provisioning of VPNs, Internet bandwidth, VoIP solutions and integrated security solutions, and ISO / IEC 20000 - 1:2005 and ISO/IEC 27001:2005 certified for Internet Data Center operations. Sify has also built a credible reputation in the emerging Cloud Computing market and is today regarded as a domain leader. Sify has licenses to operate NLD (National Long Distance) and ILD (International Long Distance) services and offers VoIP back haul to long distance subscriber telephony services.
The company is also India’s first enterprise managed services provider to launch a Security Operations Center (SOC) to deliver managed security services.

As a solutions provider, Software services develops applications and offers services to improve business efficiencies of its current clients and prospective client bases. Sify also offers services in the specialized domains of eLearning for-profit, not-for-profit and government institutions, both in India and globally.

With our Cable landing station and the partnerships inked with several cable companies globally, we are present in almost all the spheres of the ICT eco system.

The expanded Commercial and Consumer business addresses the burgeoning demands of the SMB/SOHO community. The business provides a whole host of services for the retail consumer on the Consumer cloud platform. Sify continues to provide broadband connections for home and at public access points. The portal side of the business operates two of the most popular portals in India, Sify.com and Samachar.com. For more information about Sify, visit www.sifycorp.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. Sify undertakes no duty to update any forward-looking statements.

For a discussion of the risks associated with Sify’s business, please see the discussion under the caption “Risk Factors” in the company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 31, 2011, which has been filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and is available by accessing the database maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov, and Sify’s other reports filed with the SEC.

To view the tables, please click on the link given below:

Financial Results

Media contact details

Praveen Krishna,
Sify Technologies Limited,
+91 44 22540777 (extn.2055),
praveen.krishna@sifycorp.com

Trúc Nguyen,
Grayling Investor Relations,
+1-646-284-9400 (ext. 418),
truc.nguyen@grayling.com

Christopher Chu,
Grayling Investor Relations,
+1-646-284-9400 (ext. 426),
christopher.chu@grayling.com

Aspect, a leading provider of customer contact and Microsoft platform solutions, today announced AGC Networks as the winner of the ‘2011 Aspect Partner of the Year’ for India, South Asia and the Middle East region. The annual awards honor Aspect partners for delivering innovative contact centre and unified communications solutions during the past year that directly address customer challenges. Award winners and finalists, chosen from nominations from around India, South Asia and the Middle East based on business growth, revenue achievement and general sales performance, were recognized at the Aspect Sales Kickoff which was held in Orlando, Florida January 6-11, the company’s premier annual event for employees and industry partners.

Speaking on this occasion, S.K. Jha, MD & CEO, AGC Networks Limited added, “This acknowledgement by Aspect highlights AGC’s commitment to providing leading edge contact centre infrastructure, unified communications solutions & applications that serve the unique needs of our customers in this region. This recognition also helps us strengthen our position as a leading solution integrator that focuses on delivering innovative solutions thus maximizing business efficiency.”
Gaining this accolade of Aspect Partner of the Year 2011 cements AGC’s place as a leading Aspect Premier Partner. This indicates that AGC’s customers are partnering with a leading solution integrator with demonstrated success in delivering technical excellence, quality service and increased customer satisfaction.

“Channel partners are key to our success in this region and AGC Networks has consistently developed and launched innovative services that leverage the capabilities of Aspect Unified IP 7,” said Rajeev Soni, country manager, India, South Asia and Middle East, Aspect. “We are pleased to present the 2011 Aspect Partner of the Year for India and Middle East to AGC Networks, a long-standing Aspect partner, for its impressive track record of innovation and the success we’ve achieved together with our users.”

About AGC Networks

AGC Networks Ltd. is India’s Leading Solutions Integrator in Unified communications, AV solutions, Collaboration, Network infrastructure, Information security and Consulting & PSO. AGC has been delivering customized business solutions that help organizations accelerate revenue growth, increase market penetration, optimize operating costs and improve employee productivity, by embedding communication in their business processes. With a vision of being a world class solution integrator of choice, AGC Networks Ltd. has always remained committed to providing clients with the best returns on their technology investments. It partners with global leaders like Avaya, Juniper, NICE Systems, Aspect, Verint, HP, Polycom, Cisco, NEC, Sony, Plantronics, EMC, Dialogic, NetApp, Checkpoint and Jabra. AGC Networks is a subsidiary of Aegis Limited, an Essar Enterprise. For more information log on to www.agcnetworks.com.

About Aspect

Aspect builds customer relationships through a combination of customer contact software and Microsoft platform solutions. For more information, visit www.aspect.com.

Follow Aspect on Twitter at @AspectUC. Read our blogs at http://blogs.aspect.com.

Aspect, Unified IP and Aspect Software are either trademarks or registered trademarks of Aspect Software, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries. The names of other companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Media contact details

Jayanta Bhattacharjee,
Aspect Software,
+911244897081,
jayanta.bhattacharjee@aspect.com