John Ribeiro

Microsoft has made its Office applications available online, taking the competition with Google a step further. Adobe wants in on it, too, with the purchase of online word processor Buzzword

India's PC market grew by more than 22 percent in the quarter ended June 30 compared to the same quarter last year, with Hewlett-Packard Co. the market leader in all segments, according to data released Tuesday by research firm IDC (India) Ltd. The total number of shipments in the quarter were 1.53 million.

Up against competition for markets and for hiring staff, Indian software outsourcers are focusing on building reusable software that automates specific business processes. These software components can in turn be used across a number of clients, saving costs, and time.

Google Inc. has introduced technologies that will allow people in India to use local languages in search queries and that will generate content in local languages.

Pakistan, which has been affected by Islamic extremist violence and civil unrest against the current government, is trying hard to compete for a share of the offshore outsourcing business.

India's business process outsourcing (BPO) and call-center industry is willing to invest in government programs that would increase the number of people it trains in skills relevant to the industry.

Indian outsourcer Infosys Technologies Ltd. has bagged a US$250 million business process outsourcing contract from Royal Philips Electronics N.V. in an unusual deal in which Infosys will also acquire Philips

The boom in India's mobile telephony market continues, with the country adding a record 7.34 million new subscribers in June.