FULL TEXT: Assocham calls move to block FB, WhatsApp “excessive, unnecessary”

Assocham, one of India’s prominent associations of industries, has expressed concern at the government’s proposal to put in place a mechanism to block apps like Facebook, WhatsApp and Telegram. The government has, in a confidential letter sent to internet service providers, asked them to suggest ways in which such apps can be blocked at India’s […]

UIDAI Helpline: Google says was hardcoded into Android setup

The mysterious addition of the former hotline of UID Authority of India, which spooked out Android users by mysteriously appearing on their phones, was hardcoded into the Android set-up program, Google has said. Responding to concerns of users’ phones being hacked by some secret agency, which then ‘loaded’ UIDAI’s helpline number, a Google spokesperson apologized […]

UIDAI Helpline: No, your phone has not been hacked!

Telecom operators and the Unique Identification Authority of India have denied having anything to do with the ‘mysterious’ addition of the UIDAI’s former helpline to the contact lists of Android phone users in India. That leaves only three candidates — Google, which makes Android, handset makers and any of the popular apps that has been […]

Indian govt demands greater access from WhatsApp, Facebook & Twitter

India’s Information Technology Department today unveiled a new plan of action to combat fake news that would require foreign social media firms like Facebook, Twitter and Google to establish offices in India and actively help in flagging and tracking down people who post troublesome messages online. Ravi Shankar Prasad also said WhatsApp, in particular, has […]

TCS to change campus hiring program from this year; make it ‘agile’

Tata Consultancy Services, the country’s largest private sector employer, said it plans to make some changes to its methodology used to hire fresh graduates from campuses from this year. Speaking to BTVI, HR head Ajoyendra Mukherjee said campus hiring for the next financial year (2019-20) will start in August or September. “More and more, even […]

How WhatsApp can easily fix the Fake News problem

WhatsApp, India’s largest communication platform used by an estimated 65% of the country’s online population, has come under scrutiny for providing a conduit to distribute ‘fake news’ after multiple cases of lynchings came to light. While the company has urged ‘society and companies’ to help tackle the menace, the messaging application has some more to […]

HCL buys Germany-based IT & engineering services provider

HCL said it was buying H&D International Group, a Germany-based provider of IT and engineering services to the automotive industry, for an undisclosed sum. It described H&D International as one of the largest IT service providers in the German automotive industry. “H&D has established a strong footprint in the German and Central European automotive markets […]

TCS opens new DC in Paris as Macron tries to entice more investment

Tata Consultancy Services said it opened its third delivery center in France, with a capacity to seat up to 230 employees. The new DC is being opened at Suresnes near Paris. The company, which opened its first delivery center in 2012 and a second one two years later, did not specify how many employees would work […]

Wipro announces deals from Nokia, LATAM Cargo

Indian IT outsourcing company Wipro said telecom equipment maker Nokia had moved to the sales order platform designed and operated by it as part of a multi-year outsourcing deal. The company also said it was bringing Latin American cargo company to LATAM Cargo on to its supply a cargo management platform. The size of the […]

TCS doubles M&G Prudential deal to £1 bln

Tata Consultancy Services announced a major expansion of its recently announced deal to take over administration of around 4 mln life and pensions contracts from M&G Prudential, the  savings and investments business of Prudential. The deal, announced in January this year, was worth pegged at £500 mln (half a billion pounds) at the time. Today, the company reported […]

Infosys CEO Salil Parekh dismisses growth concerns

Infosys CEO Salil Parekh reassured investors that the IT services behemoth was not facing a growth crisis because of the replacement of traditional sourcing models with digital services. He said new age services — such as analytics, marketing, digital product design, digital system integration, cloud migration and cyber security were already at a huge size, […]

Reliance Jio offers ‘play along’ features for TV broadcasters in India

Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd said it has tied up with Israel-based Screenz to offer interactivity and ‘play along’ features for television programs in India. With the help of the offering, television channels can keep their viewers engaged on a realtime basis using smartphone apps. Jio has already deployed the concept for the quiz show Kaun […]

HCL Infosystem’s attempt to sell Middle East unit falls through

HCL Infosystems said its deal to sell its Middle East and Africa unit for about Rs 7.34 cr has been canceled after the buyer failed to make payment. “The closure of transaction was subject to certain conditions precedent as specified in the Share Purchase Agreement (SPA),” it said. “Since the Buyer has failed to pay […]

Israeli company to supply tactical drones to India under JV with Cyient

Cyient, formerly known as Infotech Enterprises, said it will form a joint venture with Israel-based BlueBird Aero Systems to manufacture drones for security use in India. The joint venture will be called Cyient Solutions & Systems Private Limited and will have 51% shareholding by Cyient. BlueBird Aero Systems, said the Indian company, is a specialist […]

WhatsApp starts rolling out ‘verified accounts’ with IndusInd Bank

WhatsApp, the biggest interpersonal text-messaging platform in India, has started rolling out its ‘verified accounts’ feature with IndusInd Bank as one of its first customers. For now, verified accounts are limited to businesses, and will be used to assure customers that they are communicating with the official, and authorized, phone number of a business or […]