Hathway, which launched its Internet service last month, is in the process of tying in alliances for its various channels. The portal has just tied up with the US-based Homeland Networks for their channels - RadioOfIndia and TVOfIndia which are both scheduled to go live on Hathway within a couple of weeks, says Vishal Rally, marketing manager at Hathway. Ralli also said that the portal was in talks with gaming and contest sites. "We will basically have at least one channel in each category," says Ralli.

The Hathway Cable Internet Service which is basically the delivery of the Internet via cable connections was launched about a month ago and is currently available only in select areas in South Mumbai. Ralli however says that the service will expand to Chennai and Pune shortly and will eventually be available in all 7 Indian cities where Hathway operates.

The service uses the cable lines to provide Internet services. This is achieved basically through two lines, one to the television and the other to the computer monitor at the user end. The user however has to make an initial investment of Rs 15,000 in a cable modem but this is rationalized once "the consumer realizes that he saves the ISP charges as well as phone charges" explains Ralli.

The bandwidth capacity in a cable Internet service is about 4 to 5 MBPS as opposed to about 20 to 30 KBPS in a normal telephone line which makes it possible for the user to receive moving images as well. Moneyetcetra has been signed on as part of Hathway's content aggregation plans. The finance portal expects to be up on the Hathway site within the next week according to Desai. Moneyetcetra is currently being subjected to a valuation exercise by Ernst & Young and expects to tie in its first round of funding within a month.