Google SMS Launched in India
As a part of the move to retain the text messaging market in India, Google has unveiled Google SMS for mobile users in India. This beta offering will help the users to have an access to information without the need of a computer or an Internet-enabled phone.

By sending a text message to 54664, the users can get business listings, movie show times, and more on their mobile phones. This service is currently available on the Airtel, Aircel, BPL, BSNL, and Reliance networks, and has relevant local data for mobile users in Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Mumbai.

To search through Google SMS, the user can key in the name of a locality and identify its physical location on the map of the city from the search results and even store it if needed.

IBM targets SMEs in tier-two cities
IBM India has commenced its small-and-medium businesses (SMB) operations at Nashik in Maharashtra for providing innovative IT solutions to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in 14 tier-two cities across the country.

According to Chetan Naik, IBM India Vice-President for mid-market business, since SMEs are growth engines of Indian economy, the company wants to provide them with access to the right information, tools, and technologies for succeeding in their business.

As part of the program, the company has already set up SMB divisions in Bhopal, Chandigarh, Coimbatore, Goa (Panjim), Jaipur, Jamshedpur, Lucknow, Nagpur, and Vishakapatnam. It has plans to cover Surat, Bhubaneswar, Madurai and Ludhiana before the close of the year.

BSNL to issue tender for 50,000 WiMax kiosks
BSNL is set to issue tenders for setting up 50,000 Common Service Centers (CSC) – ICT-enabled kiosks – across the country.

The DoT has got approval from the Communications Minister to allocate WiMax spectrum to BSNL for this project. BSNL would be allocated spectrum in the 2.5 GHz frequency band for its wireless broadband foray.

BSNL also has plans to roll-out WiMax services in about 70 cities across the country by mid 2008. A slew of companies like Telsima, Aperto Networks, Alcatel Lucent, Airspan Networks, and Prithvi Information Solutions have already expressed interest in bidding for the WiMax project in these 70 cities.

EPiServer to make Bangalore APAC hub
EPiServer, a Swedish content management and portal software firm, plans to make Bangalore as the hub for its Asia Pacific operations. The company has also established R&D operations in Bangalore to test its software products.

The India office will support the companies’ system integrators and solution partners in Asia, West Asia, and the Americas. The company claims to have 200 customers including Nasscom and the Knowledge Management Community in Bangalore.

In India, the company has five partners including Satyam. Satyam is developing the International Federation of Football Association (FIFA) website using EPiServer software platform. In its first year of operation, the company plans to take in about 40 partners.

Convergys, CA, Tessolve set up new facility in Hyderabad
Convergys, an Ohio-based billing and customer care services company, Computer Associates (CA), one of the world’s largest IT management software companies, and Tessolve Services, provider of post-fab services to semiconductor companies are setting up a new facility in Hyderabad.

CA’s India Technology Center, largest development facility of the company, built at a cost of $30 million was formally inaugurated by John Swainson, CA president and CEO. The center now has a 1,600 strong workforce, which is 30 percent of the global research and development staff of the company.

With a headcount of over 12,500, Convergys’ new facility, which will be operational by early 2008, will house 700 professionals. At the same time, Tessolve is also expanding its assembly, test, mark, and packing (ATMP) facility. The company is looking at acquiring about 35 acres of land near the proposed 1,200-acre fab city in Hyderabad.