VSNL, Microsoft in pact

By agencies   |   Wednesday, 23 November 2005, 20:30 IST
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MUMBAI: Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) has formed an alliance with Microsoft Corporation to launch Web conferencing services in India. Announcing this, Kishor Chaukar, Director, VSNL, said that the company expects good demand for the service from the corporate world including those in the small and medium enterprises (SME) sector. Chaukar said, “The strategic alliance with Microsoft, would allow us to offer more communication services in the Indian market leveraging the combined strength of both the entities.” VSNL would be providing the service for the first time in India through its group company Tata Indicom. The service would be available in two versions - Standard and Professional — with four variations: named user license (fixed and dedicated capacity for unlimited meetings); room license (always on meeting room); monthly minute license (pay per use) and shared seat license (pool of seats for multiple use). The company said the pricing would be purely based on customer demand; it would vary approximately between $0.36-0.45 per minute per consumer. Commenting on the alliance, Neelam Dhawan, Managing Director, Microsoft Corporation India Pvt Ltd, said, “Delivering software as a service is key to improving access to IT and ensuring that Indian enterprises and consumers can realize the benefits of technology. The rapid growth of telecom networks and adoption of IT is fostering a marketplace that is ready for converged solutions.” Under the pact, VSNL will combine its vast communication network with Microsoft software to create rich solutions and services targeted at these segments.