ADVERTORIAL

Mobitel launches SMS with Gmail

Send free SMS to Mobitel friends via Gmail:

Mobitel, the National Mobile Service Provider recently launched 'SMS with Gmail' service in partnership with Google, allowing Gmail users to send free SMS to their Mobitel user contacts.

To use this feature all what a Gmail user has to do is, log into his Gmail account. In the Send SMS box above Chat, enter the Mobitel number of the person he wants to send a SMS to in the window that pops up, enter contact name of the SMS recipient. Then, click Save.

Type the message in the chat window and hit Enter.

The message will then be sent to the Mobitel number as a SMS sent from the mail address of the Gmail user. If the Mobitel user replies, the text message response will appear as a reply in Chat and the conversations will be stored in the Gmail user's Chat history like regular chats.

First time users of the service need to enable a Chat application to enjoy this feature.

Enabling the above application can be done as follows: Login to Gmail account -> Mail settings -> click on the "Labs" tab -> enable "SMS (Text messaging) in Chat" and "SMS in Chat gadget" -> Save

Mobitel's association with Google, a global name synonymous with innovation and universal access to information, started back in 2009 with the launch of "M3 Apps", an exclusive suite of services powered by Google Apps which enabled all Mobitel customers to be entitled to register for a host of new services that included a suite of communication and collaborative tools, offering among many other exciting features, an email address accessible via any network.

Shaw Wallace partners Axienta for IT solutions

Shaw Wallace Ceylon Ltd, a subsidiary of Renuka Holding PLC, is transforming its sales distribution process to a fully automated and integrated distribution system to further enhance its sales efficiency and cater to the growing demands of the industry.

According to Shaw Wallace Executive Director Shamindra Rajiyah, "Shaw Wallace, under Renuka Holdings, is being transformed into a cutting edge company powered by innovation and technology. Our company and brands have built a lifetime of trust among our consumers and stakeholders and we believe we are now well positioned to seize opportunities and take the company to another level. The sales force automation is one such step forward in our journey to be one of the country's top FMCG houses."

Shaw Wallace Ceylon Ltd, is at the forefront of the distribution business in Sri Lanka for over a century and today, is a leader in the Automotive, FMCG and Food service sectors. The Shaw Wallace Group consists of McShaw Automotive Ltd- distributing automotive products, Shaw Wallace Food Services Ltd- catering to the food service industry, while Shaw Wallace Ceylon Ltd is involved in distribution of FMCG- food and beverage, personal care and household products. The company delivers through its nominated and direct dealer network to 65,000 outlets and indirectly to over 100,000 outlets across Sri Lanka assisted and is monitored by over 100 salesmen.

Axienta Ltd, who are a specialized organization in Sales Force Automation systems and mobility solutions are joining with Shaw Wallace Ceylon Ltd to carry out the implementation process. Initial stage of the Sales Force Automation will focus on the FMCG sector and strategies are already defined to implement the same to other segments as well. With the automation of the sales force, all the field level staff will be equipped with hand held devices to carry out the invoice process which will be connected to main Server in Colombo where all the secondary sales will be updated automatically.

"The sales force automation project at Shaw Wallace Ceylon Ltd is the result of a carefully planned endeavour to identify the right solution to deliver real business value," added Axienta Group CEO Manju Fernando.

The project is planned to commence in early October and continue till April 2012. Both Shaw Wallace and Axienta strongly believe that this partnership will deliver synergies between both companies and pave the way for process automation and best business practices to be established.

Shaw Wallace Ceylon Ltd represents the FMCG sector of the Group having one of the most established and most extensive distribution networks in the country. Many of its own brands such as Captain and Plaza canned fish, Sun Gold instant drinks, Rainers colourings and essences, Ranposha breakfast cereal, Milk White laundry soap, Ranwan Venivel herbal soap and agencies such as Ajinomoto flavour enhancer, Supermax shaving products are popular household names in Sri Lanka.

OpenArc offers BIT degree scholarships

For A/L students talented in IT:

The OpenArc School of Business and Technology is offering 50 full scholarships under its innovative 'Navodhaya' scholarship scheme to students with an aptitude for information technology (IT) to initially follow a one-year diploma course on computer software development at its School followed by the three-year Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) external degree of the Colombo University.

These scholarships are open to students who have passed their Advanced Level (A/L) examination with three passes preferably with IT subject as well. The OpenArc School is offering these scholarships for the third time with an intention of providing best IT education opportunities to students who have shown talents in computers and programming. The duration of these fully paid scholarships is four years - one year for the diploma course on computer software development at OpenArc School and thereafter three years reading for the BIT external degree of the Colombo University. After completion of first year diploma programme, students will also be provided with jobs at the OpenArc Systems Management which is the software arm of the OpenArc Group. This year too, students from any part of Sri Lanka who have the required basic A/L qualifications can apply for these Navodhaya scholarships.

The Navodhaya scholarships programme has been launched by OpenArc as part of its CSR initiative with the objective of producing qualified and competent IT engineers for whom there is a growing global demand. The Navodhaya programme which is a government-approved scholarship scheme was launched three years ago following the signing of a MOU between OpenArc and the Education Ministry.

More information, about the Navodhaya scholarship programme, could be obtained from OpenArc School of Business and Technology, First Floor, OpenArc Technology Complex, No. 120, High Level Road, Kirulapone, Colombo 6. Email: [email protected]. Website: www.openarc.edu.lk. Applications are also available at www.openarc.lk.