Biz Tech

WOW Bonanza rewards customers

PC House 9 to 9 Showroom:

Bringing an element of excitement to shopping, the PC House PLC’s flagship showroom 9to9 is rewarding its customers handsomely through an exciting promotion. The WoW Bonanza promotion includes nine draws within nine weeks in their 9to9 showroom. Shoppers have a chance of winning amazing prizes during this time.

PCH Marketing Head Rizwan Anise said, ‘We are excited about the WOW Bonanza promotion being carried out at the 9 to 9 showroom. When we opened the showroom just two months ago, we promised to give our customers great deals and promotions. Therefore we are pleased to announce this promotion, as it is a way to reward our loyal customers.’

Elaborating further, Rizwan said the prize draws will be held in three phases during nine weekly draws where customers can win valuable IT equipment, computer software and gift vouchers. Then a monthly draw entitles them the chance to win themselves three Samsung LCD TV Monitors, and have the opportunity of winning a DELL Vostro 1220 Notebook at the grand draw held at the end of the promotion.

Those who do not win at the weekly draws will still have the opportunity of winning big as they are eligible for the subsequent monthly draws and the grand draw as well. Customers who purchase goods exceeding the value of Rs 10,000 will receive coupons which will enable them to participate in the promotion with additional opportunities of participating in the promotion as coupons will also be given for each multiple of Rs. 10,000 of the total purchase. A grand draw held in March will be the culmination of this ‘Wow Bonanza’ promotion.

The PCH 9 to 9 showroom is open 365 days of the year and offers its customers a diverse array of products and services including computers and accessories, office automation equipment, audio visual equipment, printing solutions, network and communication devices and software solutions. Customers can also look forward to free demonstrations, delivery and technical support within Colombo city limits. The store’s Sunday shopping concept, open until 9 pm, will give customers the opportunity to shop in leisure without the usual rush. An added bonus is the highly trained technical staff who are at hand to help shoppers make informed decisions or answer any technical queries.

PCH is the new corporate brand identity for PC House PLC which was recently listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange. The new brand identity reflects the change from a family owned business to a public company with a vision to be the benchmark for ICT in Sri Lanka.

India’s Satyam offers $ 125 m to settle US suit

Indian software exporter Satyam Computer Services said Thursday it will pay $ 125 million to settle a US class action suit, saying the step ends uncertainty over the fraud-hit firm’s recovery.

Intel EM Ltd Sri Lanka Liaison Office Country Business Manager, Indika de Zoysa, - with Uva Province Chief Minister Shashindra Rajapaksa and Chandita Samaranayake at the Deyata Kirula exhibition in Buttala.

The Hyderabad-based company, whose former chairman admitted overstating accounts to the tune of more than $ 3 billion, said the court in New York still needed to formally approve the deal.

But if given the go-ahead, it “would release, among other things, (the plaintiffs’) claims against the company,” it said in a statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

At least two class action shareholder suits were launched in the United States after former chairman B. Ramalinga Raju confessed to one of India’s biggest corporate frauds in January 2009.

He is currently on trial with a number of former top executives on a string of charges, including conspiracy, cheating and forgery.

The company, now known as Mahindra Satyam, was bought by the mid-sized outsourcer Tech Mahindra, a unit of the tractors-to-holidays conglomerate Mahindra and Mahindra, in April 2009 for $ 600 million.

Last week, the company reported an upturn in quarterly net profit, sending its shares soaring and boosting confidence about the firm’s recovery.

A relieved Mahindra Group vice-chairman and managing director Anand Mahindra wrote on his Twitter account Thursday: “Class action suits settled. Last sword hanging over Mahindra Satyam removed.” Current chairman Vineet Nayyar earlier said the settlement brings to an end all legal liability against the firm in the United States and described the class action as “the biggest question mark” for the future of the company.

“We had extended negotiations and last night we have signed an agreement to pay the amount as compensation,” Nayyar told reporters in a conference call.

The settlement would be paid through the company’s reserves, which stand at $ 444 million, he said, adding: “We will have no problems in raising the money.”

The US judge is expected to give a preliminary verdict in a month, with a final judgement by mid-2011, Nayyar told reporters.

Nayyar said he was confident that any legal liability arising from the United States would not go higher.

“We see it capped at $ 125 million,” he added.

MUMBAI, Feb 17, 2011 AFP

Informatics installs 1000th Wincor Nixdorf ATM

Informatics (Private) Limited, the sole representative for Wincor Nixdorf Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) of Germany, marked another milestone by installing the 1000th ATM at the People’s Bank Melsiripura Branch recently.

This accomplishment reflects the longstanding business relationship that Informatics has developed with their clientele.

In fact, the very first Wincor Nixdorf ATM was also installed at the People’s Bank Head Office Branch in Colombo.

Claiming the largest ATM base in Sri Lanka by a single supplier, it is with a sense of pride and nobility that Informatics dominates the ATM sector.

The secret of the success is the incomparable efficient 24x7 services and maintenance provided by a team of experts in both software and hardware engineering.

With the professional service that brings the customized ATM solutions for the Banking Industry, Informatics guarantees maximum customer satisfaction and optimum results. The 1000 milestone is a jewel that adds glory to their crown. Wincor Nixdorf is an international specialist in innovative branch IT solutions for the banking and retail industries with a comprehensive portfolio of hardware, software and services. Wincor Nixdorf is represented in around 100 Countries, including 37 with their own subsidiaries and is the second largest supplier of ATMs in Europe and the world. They are the leading supplier of programmable electronic POS (ePOS) Systems in Europe and third-largest in the world and having more than 9,400 employees worldwide.

Founded in 1983, Informatics Group of Companies consists of seven operating companies with a work force of over 600 employees.

Informatics also operates the largest private Technology University in Sri Lanka offering both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from University of Westminster and Keele University, both of UK. The Informatics Group has formed strategic alliances for their IT solutions with Hewlett Packard (HP), CISCO, Microsoft, Red Hat, Oracle, PCI, Parametric Technologies and Avid.

Intel to extend support to Uva Province

Uva Province Chief Minister Shashindra Kumara Rajapaksa has shown keen interest in working with Intel to further enhance ICT activities In keeping with the Government’s drive to promote ICT across the country.

Chief Minister Rajapaksa spoke with Intel Country Manager Indika de Zoysa on the possibility of strengthening the already existing relationship to encompass a greater percentage of the youth in the area.

Increasing access to technology can be a critical driver of economic growth and we are willing to work with the government to make it happen,” Zoysa said. “We look forward to strengthening our existing programmes and hope to encompass a greater number of beneficiaries through our efforts for the people in the Uva province,” he said.

To date, Intel has already initiated many projects within the province. In August 2007, the Intel Teach was launched to train Directors in Hali Ela. The following year a Master Teacher forum was held with 104 participants benefiting from this programme.

A Teacher Felicitation ceremony was held in Badulla in 2009 where teachers from around this province were recognized for their dedication and knowledge sharing.

Other programs organized and sponsored by Intel have been the five Principal training programs with the participation of 128 Principals and 17 MoE officials, eight Master Teacher batches with 156 Master Teachers, and another 146 Participant Teacher batches with 2,314 teachers.

These programs also encouraged learning through interactive sessions within this target group. The benefits of these training programs have been acknowledged by the hundreds of students who have gone on to succeed in life.

Smartphone top US electronics buy in 2011 - Survey

US consumers are more likely to buy a smartphone than any other electronic gadget this year, according to a new survey. Technology research company Gartner said consumers in the United States are more likely to buy a smartphone in 2011 than a personal computer, a basic mobile phone, an electronic book reader, a tablet computer or gaming products. Gartner said the next most popular electronics items for US consumers after smartphones were laptop computers, desktop computers, basic mobile phones, e-book readers and tablet computers.

“Continued low retail pricing and widespread adoption of applications like Web browsing, e-mail, Twitter, Facebook, GPS and games will continue to stimulate consumer demand” for smartphones, Gartner principal research analyst Hugues de la Vergne said in a statement.

“As more consumers adopt smartphones, the market will shift from the more technically astute tech savants toward less tech-savvy comfortable conformists,” de la Vergne said.

WASHINGTON, FAFP

JobStreet.lk partners Providence

JobStreet.lk subsidiary of hSenid Software International entered into a partnership with Providence Business Services (Pvt) Ltd.

The exclusive partnership will allow both Jobstreet.lk and Providence to post links to each other’s sites streamlining the job posting process. The partnership will provide job seekers in both countries instant access to a multitude of new job opportunities in virtually every industry.

Jobstreet.lk provides a platform for employers and jobseekers, to meet and exchange information quickly, effectively and inexpensively. At Jobstreet.lk, employers can advertise for a job, search for a job, browse through resumes, place your resume, place your home page, visit employers’ home pages and visit other Indian and International career sites. It is a one stop information clearing house about jobs and careers for Sri Lankans.

With many leading recruiters trusting their experience in this industry, it has a very large user base, is constantly innovative and never compromises on quality. It is the first job site to innovate a partner network comprising leading academic and professional bodies and also a grass root level coordinator network which enables even the non tech savvy folk also to enroll with the system to be selected by the recruiters. It also has to its credit its latest innovation- the integration with the hSenid’s Human Resource Management System enabling the recruitment a completely automated and paperless process.

Providence, provide a range of innovative and cost-effective business and technical solutions to leaders in the private and public sector. Backed by professionalism, competence, industry exposure and collective experience of over 20 years in the BPO industry, Providence exceeds divine excellence in outsourcing and is recognized globally for the quality of the customized services provided to its clients. Their professional teams are trained and dedicated to focus on achieving our client’s goals by providing ongoing, committed and quality work, as our guiding principle is to support our clients and exceed their expectations.

More information can be obtained from

www.jobstreet.lk