Cisco updates fourth phase strategy
Cisco Systems has announced an update to fourth phase of data, voice and video integration strategy. New capabilities demonstrate consistent delivery of Cisco's five-phase multi-service networking strategy. Announcing additionof more components to its five-phase data, voice and video integration strategy, Cisco claimed that it had built upon the capabilities outlined in the first part of the fourth phase of this strategy. The new developments enhance emerging campus telephony solutions, improve wide area network (WAN) interoperability and highlight Cisco's emerging multi-service, customer support offering.

Motorola sets up service centre
Motorola has set up a combined service centre for both Motorola cellular and paging products in Delhi. Backed by a high-tech service network the Motorola service centre seeks to provide a one-stop innovative service solution to all customers using Motorola products. The new centre at Hauz Khas will be managed by the Olympia Service Centre India Ltd, authorised service agent of Motorola.

AirTel cuts rates
AirTel, the Delhi cellular service provider, has reduced its air-time rates applicable from May 1. As per the new tariff structure, post-paid subscribers will be charged apeak airtime of Rs 6 per minute from 10 am to 9 pm. In addition, from 8 am to 10 am and 9 pm to midnight, users will be charged Rs 5.75 per minute. From midnight to 8 am, users will be charged Rs 4 per minute. On Sundays and national holidays the air-time rates will be Rs 5.75 per minute from 8 am to midnight and Rs 4 per minute from midnight to 8 am. Pre-paid Magic card users will be charged a flat Rs 12 per minute rate. Magic recharge denominations will now have a calling value of Rs 1,095 for a denomination of Rs 1,250, Rs 1,810 calling value out of Rs 2,000 and Rs 2,762 out of Rs 3,000.

EC plans R&D centre
General Electric Company (GE) on Wednesday announced plans to set up its wholly-owned research and development centre in Bangalore. The unit would provide technology research and development for GE's global businesses, supporting application engineering for thermoplastics and materials science. The GE R&D centre would also enter into alliances with local research institutions. A companycommunique said after exploring several locations across India, Bangalore was selected as the most preferred site. Most of the research scientists and engineers would be recruited from within the country.

Sun Microsystems' appoints senior manager
Chandan Haldar has been appointed as senior manager, technology consulting at Sun Microsystems India. He will be responsible for the IT solution architecture for large customers in India and South Asia. Before joining Sun Microsystems, Haldar was senior manager, technical, at Siemens and was involved in consulting and managing large-scale software development forlife-critical medical engineering and transportation engineering systems.

Vitrual family-visit website
Bangalore-based Wockhardt Hospital and Heart Institute on Wednesday launched its website, claimed to be first of its kind in the world offering a virtual family visit to relatives of patients. Announcing the launch, Wockhardt general manager Vishal Bali said the site allows relativesto see realtime images of patients through audio/video files which could be downloaded on their computer.

Cabinet approves more funds for Nathpa Jhakri project

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday cleared the power ministry's proposal to provide more funds for the 1500 mw Nathpa Jhakri hydro-power project in Himachal Pradesh. The Cabinet also approved the revised cost estimates of the project, which have been pegged at Rs 7666.31 crore on the basis of June 1998 prices.

The massive project, which began in 1980 at an estimated cost of around Rs 538 crore, is expected to begin electricity generation in March 2002.

Foundation stone of Bangalore-Mysore corridor project laid

Karnataka chief minister JH Patel on Wednesday laid the foundation stone for the Rs 2000-crore Bangalore-Mysore infrastructure corridor project at Kengeri on Bangalore outskirts. The project, to be constructed by a consortium of companies, comprises building of a 111-km expressway between Bangalore and Mysore. When completed,it will bring down the journey duration between the two cities from the present three hours to 90 minutes. The project also envisages development of five self-supporting model townships along the expressway each capable of housing about one lakh inhabitants.

CIL to conduct joint sampling at GEB stations

After a gap of six years, Coal India Limited and its subsidiary companies have agreed to carry out joint sampling of coal at the four thermal power stations in Gujarat from May 1. Chairman of the Gujarat Electricity Board (GEB) Nalin Bhatt said in Baroda on Wednesday this would enable the board to get better quality coal. As per a recent agreement signed between GEB, CIL and its subsidiaries, round-the-clock sampling of coal would be done at all the 60 loading sites located at different coal mines and thermal power stations at Wanakbori, Ukai, Gandhinagar and Sikka, Bhatt said.

Panel to promote export of renewable energy products

A committee to promote export of renewable energy productshas been set up in the ministry of non-conventional energy sources. Stating this, ministry advisor Ajit Gupta said that 15 companies were manufacturing state-of-the-art wind turbines in the country at present. "Already, several of them have exported wind turbines to Australia and Europe," Gupta told a seminar here recently. According to the ministry estimates, the annual turnover of the non-conventional energy industry in the country is Rs 2,500 crore.