Microsoft announces India launch plans for Xbox 360

Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) Tuesday said it will launch its next-generation video-game console Xbox 360 in India by October, aiming to capitalize on rising incomes in one of the world's fastest growing economies.

The company expects the Xbox 360 to drive sales over its key rivals, Sony Corp. (SNE) and Nintendo Co. (7974.OK) in the growing Indian market, said Mitch Koch, corporate vice president of global retail sales and marketing at Microsoft Entertainment and Devices Division.

"Our target is to sell 5 million to 5.5 million Xbox 360's (globally) by June," Koch told a news conference.

"By June 2007, we will have over 6 million users. By 2007, we should be in over 40 countries," he added.

Retail bookings for the Xbox 360, which was initially launched in North America, Europe and Japan in late 2005, will commence from June 9 in seven cities in India, said Koch. Deliveries of the product will start by October.

He said India is among eight additional countries where the Xbox 360 will be introduced this year.

Microsoft is aiming to tap the modest but growing number of gamers in India to sell the Xbox 360, said Koch.

"The gaming culture is not fully developed in India. So, there is an opportunity to build the market," said Koch. He didn't provide a sales target for the Xbox in India, but said the company will offer financing options and other incentives to attract customers.

The Xbox 360 core system plus a game title will be priced at INR19,990, while the Xbox 360 system has been priced at INR23,990.

Ravi Venkatesan, chairman of Microsoft India said the economic boom in India has led to higher disposable incomes among youth and an increase in consumption, which will help drive sales of the Xbox 360.

He said there are an estimated 1.6 million active gamers in India, leaving ample for growth.

Source: MarketWatch

Da Losing Battle - Da Vinci Code Debate

This is too much for me to handle. The latest in trend of protesting come the BAN against screening of Da Vinci Code movie. The so called Christian Community writing letters to Information and Broadcasting ministry to stop screening Da Vinci Code in Indian theatres.

For as far as I know, after reading Da Vinci Code, I did not feel that it had any harm and anything close to being harmfull to christianity as a religion. Although, it terms Jesus being a married man and having bloodline to this date too. The book itself terms the events as work of Fiction then whats the problem with Indian Christian, the film is being screened across the US where their are 90% christians. From this I can jump to only one conclusion, some top authority in christian world just wants to show that they still should be considered a force to be accounted for and just want to get share of limelight.

According to me, this people are themselves betraying the basic principals of Chrisitianity. For christianity stands for tolerance, believes more in belief then imposing or protesting. It believes in coverting then banning. Thats the true meaning of Christian and its sons.

If the screening of Da Vinci Code goes accordingly and no ban is imposed, I would be surely one happy chap and still believe I live in secular country.

Stir against Quota : Rang De Basanti Style : Go Meds!

If anybody was at Azad Maidan yesterday, he would surely said this is same as the Rang De Basanti scene. Police beating the protesting students, who were not agitating or by any means out of control. It was a peaceful agitation aka Gandhi style where the Police acted as Britishers. Not even the handicapped were pardoned. The handicap people standing at side of protest where also given blows by the constables.

The girls where beaten and then taken to Police station with not a single women constable with them. Whereas the Indian law clearly constitutes that women should only be arrested with women constable present. Where was the law when the brutal policemen were beating them.

After this episode, the protest by any means has got more powerful and more vigorous. Kudos to those strong Meds who have felt to responsibility of agitating against the unjust quota law.

But more importantly, where are the other faculty students [ Commerce, Arts, Engg. ] Are they all sleeping, dont they have any responsibility towards the society. Why are they not standing besides the Meds who have shown such a rigor.

Only time will tell if the sacrifice and perservarence of Meds survive or once again the political game will win.

Indians Search more for SEX and Americans for God - Google Trends

Recently I came to know about the Google's new offering, Google Trends. Like any other person, I had an erge to see what other people are searching for and which keyword is been searched more than any other.

To my surprise, the most searched keyword from indians is SEX. Yes, you heard it right, SEX. But I am not surprised a bit by this result, the reason being Indian parent not being open about this topic. With the population of more than 1 billion people, I must say, we do require some info. as well on the SEX. From other point of view, this result may be seen as optimistic if we assume that this may be search for awarness towards Aids. Whatever may be the reasons, SEX is supreme for Indians even in Google.

Another interesting result was for the word GOD, this is most searched by US population according to GOOGLE TRENDS. Again, why am I not surprised. Americans are know bored with the materialistic side of life and are in search for peace. The US state with most searches for GOD is Tampa, Florida.

Nice going, Google. Again, you have given us some interesting and odd results. People, do visit Google Trends, its nice offering from Google.

Regards,

Web Artist.

India and US to explore the Moon

Proud to be an Indian. What a great honour the Americans got by considering the Space collaboration with Indians. I think US have now essentially recognised the importance of small but very powerfull developing nation such as India. Its shows in the new stance the US government is taking towards India. Hopefully, this stays on for betterment of both the sides.

Amen.

India is also considering a manned mission to the Moon

India and the US are to conduct joint research experiments on the Moon.

Under an accord between the countries' space agencies, India's first unmanned lunar mission will carry two scientific payloads from the US agency, Nasa.

Indian officials called the deal a "milestone". The Indian spacecraft is due to be launched in early 2008.

The Nasa instruments will scan the Moon's surface for minerals and ice. Devices from the European Space Agency and Bulgaria will also be on board.

Today is an important milestone in the co-operation between Nasa and Isro Isro Chairman Madhavan Nair

The deal is being seen as another sign of increasingly close ties between Washington and Delhi after years of Cold War suspicion.

Earlier this year, the two countries finalised a landmark deal on civilian nuclear co-operation.

The US and India have also agreed to co-operate in civil space, including areas such as space exploration, satellite navigation and Earth science.

'Partnership'

Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) chairman Madhavan Nair signed the agreement with Nasa chief Michael Griffin in the southern Indian city of Bangalore.

"Today is an important milestone in the co-operation between Nasa and Isro," Mr Nair told reporters.

Mr Griffin said the pact was "an important partnership to advance the exploration of the Moon".

"The two-year mission of Chandrayaan-I to map the lunar surface and investigate its surface properties will advance knowledge about the Moon's history and evolution, and inform future exploration decisions by characterising the content of the lunar soil," he said.

This was the first visit by a Nasa chief to India in 30 years. The US imposed an embargo on Isro, following India's nuclear tests in 1998.

Mr Nair urged the US to lift certain sanctions that are still in place and allow more high-tech imports.

'No seats'

Chandrayaan-I would be launched in early 2008 from Sriharikota on India's east coast, Mr Nair said.

The European Space Agency (Esa) will also deploy four scientific instruments aboard the spacecraft, which will orbit the Moon at a distance of 100km (62 miles).

On the subject of a manned Indian mission to the Moon, Mr Nair said no decision had been taken.

And asked whether the US might fly an Indian astronaut on one of its space shuttles, Mr Griffin said "we can train but we don't have any seats for the next eight years".

Source: BBC NEWS

India...world's best emerging market !?

India has emerged as the world's most attractive destination for mass merchant and food retailing, maintaining its 2005 position in an annual study of retail investment attractiveness among 30 emerging markets.

India was given the top ranking in management consulting company A T Kearney's 2006 Global Retail Development Index (GRDI).

"The Indian retail market is gradually but surely opening up, while China's market becomes increasingly saturated", said Fadi Farra, a principal in A T Kearney's Consumer Industries and Retail Practice and leader of the GRDI study.

Much to the surprise of market observers, China was ranked fifth in this year's tally, declining one more place since 2005. While China remains very attractive, the market is becoming increasingly saturated as international retailers rush to establish a presence and build market share, the study reveals.

According to the study, Asia with a large 40 per cent of the top 20 markets has surpassed Eastern Europe as the 'dominant region for global retail expansion.'

"The learning is that timing is the most important source of competitive advantage for global and regional retailers in the globalization race. Knowing when to enter emerging retail markets is the key to success," said Farra.

Powering Asia's charge are Vietnam, which has risen five places to third place, and countries like Thailand, South Korea and Malaysia, all of which are in the top 15, the report said.

After topping the ranking for two consecutive years in 2003 and 2004, Russia slipped to second place behind India last year and remained there in 2006 too.

Source : Rediff News