Indian IT major Infoys bags three-year Microsoft outsourcing deal

India’s Infosys Technologies has bagged a three-year IT outsourcing deal with technology giant Microsoft that covers 104 countries.
Infosys will manage Microsoft''s global internal IT services including helpdesk, desk-side services, IT infrastructure and applications support, reports The Australian.
The value of the deal was not disclosed, but analysts believe it could be worth more than 100 million dollars.
Infosys says it will run Microsoft''s in-house services for applications, devices and databases in 450 locations. It has partnered with Unisys to provide global desk-side support and service desk services.
It''s no secret Microsoft has been on a cost-cutting drive due to dwindling sales in several major divisions. By mid-2010, the software giant is expected to have completed plans to layoff 5000 workers, a move aimed at saving 1.5 billion US dollars annually. It is unclear whether the Infosys deal will lead to more retrenchments. (ANI)

Google Gets Hold Of BumpTop To Take On Apple

Google Monday grabbed a top Canadian startup that initiated a 3D interface technology for Macintosh and Windows PCs.
Called Canada's newest software startup, Toronto-based BumpTop has been buoght by Google for around $30 and $45 million.
But, the financial details of the deal were not disclosed yet
Established just three years back, BumpTop has found touch-screen software, which permits use of multiple fingers simultaneously on a multiple touch screen.
Named as 'desktop workspace,' the software lets users to categorize pics, documents and video recordings much more intuitively. Users can carry out many functions with the help of their fingers, comprising dragging of items into docks, and playing around with pics on desktop. Though Google has not specified how its will make use of this ground-breaking technology, it is sure that it will utilize touch-screen software in its cell phones based on its Android OS.
Since its Android OS is basically geared for touch-screen technology, Google's mobile market approach is directed at taking on Apple's iPhone and iPad, which make use of touch screen technology.
After May 7, BumpTop will no longer sell its software separately.
In a statement, it said, "Today, we have a big announcement to make: we're excited to announce that we've been acquired by Google! This means that BumpTop (for both Windows and Mac) will no longer be available for sale. Additionally, no updates to the products are planned.''
The acquirement of BumpTop is the fifth such agreement by Google within a month as part of its plan to take on Apple. (With Inputs from Agencies)

O2 bestows in-contract upgrade for Dell Streak

O2 will start selling the recent tablet from Dell- Streak from today and in addition to this it will proffer an in-contract upgrade on the smartphone, presumably on the smaller 16GB model, for as little as £299.
This news has been corroborated by the recent incident when a woman called up the O2 customer service asking to cancel her contract by reselling as she was not satisfied with her current handset. This was followed by a proposal for instant in-contract upgrade, instead of offering the normal fee. The upgrade offer is yet not cleared whether it applies to both 18 months and 24 months contracts.
Also it is still unsure if this informal deal will actually be materialized in the new contract or not. It was not confirmed if the new customers were offered with the same in-contract upgrade or not.
O2 presently offers Dell's tablet at £25 per month with a free 16GB Streak, 3GB included data and 500MB WiFi included over a period of 24 months. In the meantime it has been laid on tenterhooks if one can make calls on the data only tariffs even on a PAYG basis (or as an emergency handset).

Epic browser an offering from India

· The recent advancement in the field of browser based market comes from the Bangalore based firm Hidden Reflex who proclaims of launching its own browser "Epic".
Epic is the first Indian made web browser, which is based upon Mozilla platform and offers a plethora of India-centric features.
The company is supposedly a start-up by a U. S. based Engineer Alok Bhardwaj in 2007 and initially started with a group of three members and now has spiraled into quite a bunch of people who deal with two separate unit offerings. The first offering has already come up and the next is due in the process.
The browser comes endowed with a visible range of features which remain stuck to the eyes. It comes with a highly customizable option of browser and at its launch boasted of over 1,500 themes and a number of widgets attached to it. The browser comes with a host of applications on its sidebar such as Twitter, Facebook, and other similar services. The only flaw is one can have only one widget opened per window.
Apart from the regulars it comes with an anti-virus protection, a unique thing for any browser. And not to mention, it supports a long list of Indian languages that features new headlines, TV to live cricket commentary and at the same time has a free word processor, video sidebar and my Computer Browser.

One click-payment features in Android platform: Zong

Android market has got one more addition- the one-click payment mode, this one contributed by the Software maker Zong, as reported by New York Times.
Currently in its beta phase this mode of payment solution has been developed for Android-based smartphones and the trial version is already being tested by selected developers.
CEO of Zong, David Marcus, said that the company is looking out to work with several internet organisations to provide solutions for carrier billing with customer's credit, debit or prepaid cards.
However Google which prior to this had not integrated such solutions in its Android OS, is slowly encouraging companies such as Zong and Boku to create applications that caters to the emerging mobile payment market.
Zong meanwhile stated that soon the Android Marketplace will dominate the mobile market and be flooded with smartphones based on Android.