IBM to offer global service from India

IBM is set to offer a new service to the global market from
India. The company - tightlipped about the development - is learnt to have
explained the new service to the analyst community recently. “It is a very
important announcement for IBM. They are looking at introducing a new service
offering asset reusability among other things,” an informed industry source
told CyberMedia News.

“IBM can offer this service because of the cost benefit
it gets out of India,” the source added on condition of anonymity. According
to other sources, the company is also looking at a viable model to introduce its
IPTV in India. A recent ABI Research statement said quoting Michael Arden, its
principal analyst, Broadband and Multimedia Research, that the IPTV market was
initially dominated by start-ups on the cutting edge of technology.

“As the technology has become more mainstream and IPTV
subscriber numbers have increased, established equipment vendors have begun to
enter the fray - often by acquiring the pioneering start-ups that once
controlled the industry,” Arden said in the statement.

In its latest report to SEC, IBM had said it would invest
in growth opportunities. “The company is continuing to refocus its business on
the higher-value segments of enterprise computing-providing technology and
transformation services to clients' businesses. Consistent with that focus, it
continues to significantly invest in growth opportunities, as a way to drive
revenue growth and market share gain,” it said.

According to IBM, the areas of investment include strategic
acquisitions, focused client and industry-specific solutions, Business
Performance Transformation Services, key technologies and emerging countries
including India.

SRINIVAS R