Technology

Himco Technologies launches MP 4 player

by Surekha Galagoda

The MP4 player was launched in Sri Lanka recently by Himco Technologies (Pvt) Ltd, the authorised distributor for aigo products.

Managing Director Himco Technologies Harinda Danangalage said the MP4 player has one GB memory while, another two GB memory can be added. The Player which is the size of one's palm can be used for voice recording, playing videos, browse photographs, as an ebook reader, play games and as a FM radio.

You can listen to it with speakers or by using headphones, he said.

Himco Technologies supplies computers, accessories and MP3 players. The company has been in business for four years. He said that aigo is the co-sponsor of the Vodafone, Mclaren, Mercedes F1 team.

Established in 1993, Beijing Huaqi Information Digital Technology Co., Ltd. is a high-tech company headquartered in Beijing's Zhongguancun (a technology hub, known as "the Silicon Valley" of China.

As a leading domestic manufacturer of portable storage devices, digital products and self-assembling products, Huaqi always takes the development of national IT industry for its own responsibility.

Huaqi engages in R&D and promotion of computer software and hardware and customer service. Aigo portable storage devices, monitors, digital products, computer cases and optomagnetic products became flagship products and highly favoured by customers.

Since its establishment in 1993, Huaqi sales revenue kept a steady annual increase of 60% over a decade.

Our products are exported to North America, South America, Europe, Southeast Asia and other regions. Aigo portable storage devices hold the largest market share on the Chinese market for the past four years. One year after the aigo MP3 players, were launched aigo MP3 players outran numerous brands and aigo is today the sales champion and the market leader.

Aigo monitors and peripherals have been the number one on the domestic market, among which computer cases have occupied the largest market share for years. Huaqi has become one of the premier enterprises in Chinese IT industry.

Huaqi has over 1,400 employees with over 200 highly qualified and well-trained R&D staff. We also have an integrated national marketing network system.

Besides the Beijing headquarters, we have more than 20 subsidiaries and local branches in China. We also have offices in Singapore, France and Great Britain. We also plan to open branches in Germany, Spain and Canada to develop the European and North American market.

Shanghai Huaqi International Co., Ltd, Shanghai aigo Digital Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Huaqi Digital Lab Inc., aigo Research Institute of Image Computer Co., Ltd., Huaqi Image Data Intelligence Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Legend Advertisement Co., Ltd, Beijing aigo Chess Club (BACC) and other affiliated companies, form a great enterprise group with Beijing Huaqi Information Digital Technology Co., Ltd as an essential component.

With the principles of "persistence, Six Win principles, being No. 1", a specialised and internationalised operation system, Huaqi consolidated itself on the Chinese mainland and steps out into the world to undertake the task of making aigo a well-known international brand".

[email protected]

Virtusa among Top 100 providers of Financial Technology

Virtusa Corporation (NASDAQ: VRTU), a global IT services company that provides IT consulting, technology implementation and application outsourcing services, has been ranked on the FinTech 100, an annual international listing of the top vertical technology vendors that derive more than one-third of their revenue from the financial services industry.

Virtusa is ranked 80 on the list of financial technology companies that were judged according to their global revenues.

Published by American Banker and Financial Insights, the FinTech 100 is the most comprehensive vendor services ranking within the financial services industry. Thirty-five percent of Virtusa's revenues was attributed to its banking, financial services and insurance practice in fiscal year 2007.

"We are pleased to be recognised for our strong presence in the global financial services market," said, Virtusa Chairman and CEO Kris Canekeratne.

"We count as clients some of the most well known names in the retail, wholesale and investment banking area, as well as bluechip insurance companies.

Virtusa's financial services segment is our fastest growing industry group, due to our deep client relationships, innovative solutions and optimised offshore delivery model."

Virtusa helps banks and financial services firms enhance innovation, manage transformation and comply with regulations while driving efficiency and managing risks.

Virtusa's software platforming methodology combined with deep industry skills helps financial institutions address business needs and achieve positive, measurable ROI.

Virtusa's BPM and SOA expertise helps provide a consistent enterprise view, facilitates transformation, brings best practice workflows and increases operational efficiency.

MTT, Mammut tie-up for telecom solutions

Mod-Tech Trading Company Ltd. (MTT) entered into a joint venture with Mammut, a leading telecom service provider in Iran to provide telecommunications infrastructure solutions in Sri Lanka.

CEO, Managing Director, MTT, Ruwan Fernando said the joint venture with a world renowned company will boost the telecommunication industry in the country.

"The collaboration with Mammut will help MTT to launch an effective strategic plan to provide mobile infrastructure solutions and compete better with service providers", he said.

Vice President, Mammut, Abbas Meftah said Sri Lanka's telecommunication sector will be a model in the region.

The company decided to provide total solutions and not confine itself to components due to the growing mobile telecommunication market in Sri Lanka. "Mammut's services will not be limited to Colombo and with the new initiatives there will be employment opportunities", he said.

Mammut's services include manufacturing, logistics, supply of infrastructure solutions for the telecommunication sector, training, construction and real estate development.

The company which has completed over 50 projects in Iran has undertaken projects in South Africa. Sri Lanka is the first South Asian country that Mammut has ventured into.

LF

HP unveils innovative solutions to meet Asia Pacific SMB needs

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, - HP reinforced its commitment to small and medium sized businesses in the region with the introduction of new mobility, computing, imaging and printing products and solutions. The new portfolio of products and services is designed to drive greater presence and leadership for the company in the high-growth Small and Medium Business (SMB) segment in Asia Pacific.

"HP is announcing our latest suite of products for SMBs in Asia Pacific to demonstrate how, in a rapidly growing market, we can help them to derive the most value from their IT investments, accelerate business performance and reach into new business frontiers," said Senior Vice President, Personal Systems Group, HP Asia Pacific and Japan, Adrian Koch.

"We remain focused on high-growth markets such as Vietnam, which is fast becoming a technology hotspot in the region. SMBs everywhere are facing the same challenges and needs and HP has the right solutions to support them."

A recent study by Access Markets International (AMI) Partners reported that Asia's SMBs are the fastest-growing in the world and biggest IT spenders.

Of the US$210 billion in overall IT spend among all enterprises in the Asia Pacific and Japan region this year, 64 percent (US$134.4 billion) was from SMBs, up from 58 percent in 2005.

HP recorded its highest year-on-year growth in the SMB segment with 60.7 percent, growing about 3.7 times above market in Q2. HP also showed significant growth across its imaging and printing products with 102 percent year-on-year growth for its multi-function laserjet devices.

* HP unveiled a broad range of products to help SMBs mitigate risks, lower costs and access value added services:

* HP Compaq dc7800 Ultra-slim Desktop PC - HP's most secure and manageable business desktop featuring a sleek, zero-footprint design when combined with innovative HP Integrated Work Centre stand that conceals the PC behind the monitor. The system's environmentally responsible design also offers options such as remote power management for advanced, energy-efficient business computing.

* HP xw4000 series Workstation - HP puts workstation innovation within the reach of more SMBs with affordable, powerful and reliable HP xw4550 and HP xw4600 Workstations.

Certified with common MCAD and Digital Content software, the systems offer professional 2D and 3D graphics choices and are capable of driving multiple displays to meet the unique demands of SMB applications and workspace environment.

ICTA to launch new grant schemes to build ICT capacity

The 10th Private Sector Forum of the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka (ICTA) will be held on November 20.

A comprehensive update on the developments in the ICT Capacity Building Programme (ICBP), a program implemented by ICTA which is a US$5.2 million initiative to provide a short-term boost to private sector ICT firms will be given at this forum.

ICTA together with the ICT Industry is making strides towards increasing the ICT workforce that will feed this fast growing industry in the form of a 'National ICT Capacity Building Strategy'.