BIZ-TECH

FITIS to host regional ICT industry meeting in Colombo

The Federation for Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka (FITIS) will host 2011 ASOCIO (Asian-Oceanian Computing Industry Organization) plenary council meetings in Colombo from June 6-7, at Cinnamon LakeSide Hotel.

Udaya De Silva	Govind Nangrani

ASOCIO, the regional industry organization established in Tokyo in 1984 focusing on the development of the ICT industry in the Asia Oceania region is well represented with the member nations from developing and developed countries that extend beyond SAARC, ASEAN or such other regional associations. Japan has been a great contributor in driving the organization.

Playing a key role in the regional ICT industry development by forming a platform to synergise and harness the knowledge among the countries, ASOCIO creates the ideal platform to bring together the knowledge widely spread in the member countries of the region.

"This meeting comes at a time when the Sri Lankan government is committed to exploit the maximum of ICT for the rapid development of the economy after the end of war and journey towards the knowledge hub. We are looking forward to extending warm Sri Lankan hospitality to ASOCIO friends in June," said FITIS Chairman, Govind Nangrani. FITIS being the pioneering ICT industry association in the country represents Sri Lanka in the ASOCIO and works towards the growth of the local industry with collaborations and partnerships such as ASOCIO," he said.

While the organization comprises around twenty five member countries including countries such as Australia, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and India, the organization brings to the forum, countries such as the UK, Russia, US and France as guest members allowing the knowledge sharing and business/industry development in the region.

"This achievement of FITIS, to conduct the midyear plenary meeting of ASOCIO main council in Colombo based on our invitation, strengthens and endorses the vision of the government of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said the Federation For IT Industry Sri Lanka Secretary, Udaya De Silva.

He said that a fifty member delegation is expected to hold meetings with Sri Lankan business partners and government authorities during this event to build partnerships to exploit new business opportunities and investments in Sri Lanka.

The unified ICT Industry Association in the country, FITIS, the Federation for Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka, comprising chapters covering all segments of the industry namely Software (SLASI), hardware (SLCVA), training (ACTOS), communications (LISPA/TPA) and professionals (ISACA) has been contributing to the growth of the information technology sector of the country for the past 15 years generating job opportunities and awareness to the grass roots level around the country.

Epic to foster future ICT talents

Demonstrating social responsibility, Epic Lanka conducts several programmes aimed at developing the future ICT workforce of the country. Under these initiatives, the company takes part in the Centre of Excellence programme jointly promoted by the FITIS Software Chapter and SLIATE, since last December. Accordingly, a pilot project was implemented and 15 students are currently being trained at the Advanced Technical Institute, Naiwala, Weyangoda.

Epic Lanka, Team Lead and Senior Software Engineer Amila Prasanna (centre) discussing the progress of a project carried out by HND IT students of ATI, Naiwala.

"This is a great opportunity for the future ICT professionals joining the industry outside the national universities to get exposed to technology areas we dominate," said Epic Lanka, Senior Vice President - Operations Krishan Jayewardane. This project enables the HND IT students to receive the prescribed industry training within their own premises under direct supervision by our engineers. The knowledge and exposure the students gain in commercial software development with adequate exposure to latest global standards and industry best practices would certainly enhance their employability, he said.

Epic Lanka, the winner of the National Business Excellence Award in the ICT sector for the past three consecutive years also runs a Community IT Centre in Yabaraluwa, Malwana where free ICT training is provided to hundreds of children and adults in the area.

The company renowned for innovative ICT solutions in the areas of secure electronic payments and information systems security has operations in Malaysia and Australia as well. Epic Lanka celebrating their 13th anniversary during this month, moves to an ultra modern software development and R&D center named Epic Techno-Village in Battaramulla on May 12.

Hutch launches mobile internet

Hutch has introduced a brand new Mobile Internet service to all its customers that will allow them to freely surf the net at amazingly affordable prices.

With daily, weekly and monthly packages available at Rs. 11, 21 and 51 for 50, 100 and 300 megabytes (MB), respectively, getting online is now virtually cost-free.

"What is special about this package is that whatever that you could do with a computer and an internet connection can now be done on your mobile phone at a significantly reduced cost, even when you're on the move. The mobile phone has become such a multifaceted device now, that you can do pretty much anything with it," said VAS and Roaming Head Arul Vaz. The low rates offered by Hutch mobile internet mean that music and videos can be downloaded to the mobile phone at a very low cost.

"For example, the average size of a song available in mp3 format is between 3 to 4 MB. This means that with the Hutch Daily MB package (Rs. 11 for 50MB), a total of over 15 songs can be downloaded directly to your phone for just 11 rupees. With the weekly package, that's over 30 songs," said Arul Vaz.

A package of the customer's choice can be activated by dialling *131# and selecting the corresponding number for the desired package - 1 for Daily, 2 for weekly and 3 for monthly - from the menu that will follow, and the service will be immediately activated, provided there is enough credit in the customer's account. Customers can also purchase top-up vouchers for any of these packages over the counter.

LinkedIn to go public

LinkedIn said Monday that it plans to offer 7.84 million shares priced at between $32 and $35 as it becomes the first major US social network to go public.

The Mountain View, California-based social network for professionals is expected to begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange within the next month and will use the symbol "LNKD."

LinkedIn, which has more than 100 million members in over 200 countries and territories, is seeking to raise as much as $274.4 million from the initial public offering (IPO) with $146.6 million going to the company itself.

LinkedIn will offer around 4.8 million shares to the public with the remaining three million coming from other shareholders.

LinkedIn's biggest shareholder is its founder and chairman, Reid Hoffman, who owns more than 21 percent of the company.

The career-oriented social network had initially set an overall target of $175 million when it registered for its IPO with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in January.

LinkedIn's debut on the stock market will be closely watched by investors ahead of a potential IPO next year by social networking titan Facebook, which has more than 500 million members around the world.

LinkedIn, in an updated filing with the SEC on Monday, said it plans to use the money raised through the IPO to fuel expansion. LinkedIn, whose members cultivate and manage career or business networks in the online community, hit 100 million members in March. AFP