Bartronics ties up with LG Electronics  
June 19, 2008
Source:  ET 

MUMBAI: Bartronics India today said it has entered into an agreement with LG Electronics' US arm for providing technology solutions to the latter. The agreement allows Bartronics to deploy its 'Iris recognition technology' and products in LG's US arm, Bartronics said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange. Under the agreement, Bartronics would implement the technology in Europe, Africa, Middle East and South Africa, the filing added. 

Further, Bartronics America Inc, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bartronics India Ltd has bagged a project, along with California-based Comic-Con International, for deployment of its patented RFID wristband product. In March, the US Patents Office had granted a patent to Bartronics America Inc for designing and manufacturing a non-reusable tamper-resistant identification device, increasingly used in cash-less transaction systems. 

The technology is used in the form of wristband or bracelet, which is seeing increasing usage as a convenient form of enabling cash-less transaction systems. With this technology, cash-less transaction are processed automatically with just a swipe of the wrist. Bartronics solutions on such wristbands function by linking credit cards, debit cards, or stored value to the wristbands. Shares of Bartronics India closed at Rs 217.25, down 3.23 per cent on the BSE.

Spanco, Shyam Tele promoters buy Spectranet for Rs 125 cr    
June 19 , 2008 
SOURCE: ET Bureau

MUMBAI: Spanco Telesystems and the promoter group of Shyam Telecom have acquired Spectranet, Punj Lloyd’s internet services provider (ISP) arm. The deal is reported to be in the region of Rs 125 crore. Spanco and the Shyam group will together hold 100% in the entity through a joint venture, Citycom, formed for this purpose. 

Spectranet employs 350 people across Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai. It offers internet services, internet data centre services, managed optic fibre build out and maintenance, and cable TV solutions. 

Spanco and the Shyam group intend to invest in expanding broadband network from the existing three cities to about 10. Chandigarh, Chennai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Pune are some of the cities it plans to extend the network to. A communication from the company said around Rs 500 crore will be invested in network expansion. 

The JV is an equal partnership but may eventually have larger holding from the Shyam group, which also has other interests in telecom. The Shyam group operates telecom services in Rajasthan through Shyam Telelink and has Shyam Telecom, a listed entity in telecom equipment manufacturing, in its fold. 

Udit Mehrotra, a Citycom board director from the Shyam group, said Spectranet would lease out capacity to other ISPs, in addition to providing internet services. “We want to be present as a neutral network service provider. Our revenues will come both from providing internet services and from leasing capacity in roughly the same proportion,” he said. 

The group has already applied for national ISP licence. Spanco Telesystems chairman Kapil Puri said it was an opportunity to leverage the potential growth of broadband.

Satyam pips TCS, Infy, Wipro, to bag ASTD award     
June 19, 2008 
SOURCE: PTI

NEW DELHI: Indian IT major Satyam Computer Services beat rivals Wipro, TCS and Infosys to bag the American Society of Training and Development 'BEST 2007' award for excellence in workplace learning and performance program. 

Satyam was ranked first among 42 companies in the 'Excellence in Practice' category for the year 2007. Wipro stood at 11th place, while both TCS and Infosys were at 22nd place respectively. Banking major ICICI also managed to bag the 23rd position, ASTD, world's largest association dedicated to workplace learning and performance professionals said on its website. 

"Forty-two organisations from Canada, India, South African and the United States received BEST Awards. Satyam Computers of India holds the first place ranking," it said. 

US-based pharmaceutical firm Sanofi-Aventis and Canada's TELUS Communications were other firms who bagged the award. 
Satyam's Chief Learning Officer, Ed Cohen said in a statement, "The company was honoured for its full cycle leadership training certification process, which equips new leaders with the right tools, skills and knowledge to complement the organisation's distributed leadership business framework." 

The Excellence in Practice category recognises companies for results achieved through learning and performance solutions that have delivered measurable results, and citations are presented for practices from which, much can be learned, ASTD President and CEO Tony Bingham said. 

He further said, "Their (companies) accomplishments demonstrate how learning increases the performance and success of organisations worldwide".