Business News

Intel bid to simplify use of PC

Thursday, 17 May 2012 09:51

Intel has teamed up with its software partners to launch a customised language interface ‘Darpan' that helps simplify the use and access of personal computer.

The interface, freely downloadable from http://darpan.me, enables the user to access content in five Indian languages — Hindi, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati and Tamil — apart from English. Darpan is a tool that enables new users to experience the Internet and its endless opportunities, Director, Sales, Intel South Asia, B. Suryanarayanan, said, addressing the media here on Thursday.

“At Intel, we believe that technology has the power to revamp businesses and transform lives,” he said and explained the outreach campaign in Andhra Pradesh to reach out to first time buyers, educating them and making them explore the wonders of personal computer and the Internet.

New M-Class SUV from Benz

Wednesday, 16 May 2012 10:26

Mercedes-Benz, on Tuesday, introduced its third generation M-Class sports utility vehicle (SUV), promising better fuel efficiency and superior performance.

Priced at Rs.56.90 lakh and Rs.66 lakh, the SUV comes with several new luxury and safety features such as active parking assist, airmatic air suspension, attention assist and eco start-stop. Now in its third generation, the M-Class is the most popular SUV from the stable of German luxury carmaker with over 1,500 units already sold in India.

“At the start of this year we had promised to introduce exciting new models into the market…we are proud to present the New M Class, built to perform with the highest precision and follows our new design language,'' Mercedes-Benz India Managing Director and CEO Peter Honegg told journalists here.

Ashok Leyland net down

Tuesday, 15 May 2012 09:33

A combination of factors, predominantly the depressed market in the South, dented the bottom line of Ashok Leyland with the net profit declining by 10.3 per cent, to Rs.565.98 crore in 2011-12.

The turnover, however, went up by 14.9 per cent from Rs.11,177.11 crore in the previous fiscal to Rs.12,841.99 crore. The company announced a dividend of Re.1 per share of the face value Re.1 each. For the fourth quarter ended March 31, 2012, the turnover was Rs. 4,311.02 crore against Rs. 3,848.45 crore and the net profit after tax Rs. 258.74 crore against Rs. 298.23 crore in the year-ago period..

Addressing a press meet here on Monday, Managing Director Vinod K. Dasari said the highlights during the year the highest overall sales volume of 1.02 lakh vehicles, a new high in international operations of 12,852 numbers, which was a 25 per cent increase, and the success of DOST, the new entry into the LCV segment in the six markets it was launched. Production during the fiscal was an all time high of 1.03 lakh vehicles.

“On the domestic front, more could have been achieved,” he said, adding that though the company gained market share in the Central region for the first time and in the Tipper and Intermediate Commercial Vehicle (ICV) segments, growth in other segments was muted.

Solar side up

Monday, 14 May 2012 10:26

In order to capitalise on the groundwork done for creation of a successful solar market through the launch of the Jawahar Lal Nehru National Solar Mission, a recent report has suggested that India now needs to adopt greater transparency, benchmarking and monitoring, strategic approaches to finance and technology neutral policies for manufacturing to take the renewable mission forward.

According to an independent report published by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), it has been found that India's solar industry is at a crucial stage of its growth and needs strategic nurturing.

The report is of the view that a productive solar manufacturing base is an important part of India's aspirations to become a major global solar player. Investing in solar manufacturing now could provide long-term strategic value for India. But to be a dominant player in the global arena, India needs to make prompt, smart and concerted investments in manufacturing. “The National Solar Mission deserves much credit for laying the groundwork for a successful solar market, but a lot of market uncertainty still permeates the solar ecosystem and affects development of manufacturing capacity,” says Anjali Jaiswal, Director, India Initiative at NRDC.