Computer Industry News: 14/7/09

LUMINOUS POWER PICKS MAJORITY STAKE IN TRITRONICS
New Delhi
The Economic Times (Delhi edition)

Privately held inverter and battery maker Luminous Power Technologies has acquired a majority stake in its smaller rival, Tritronics (India), for an undisclosed amount. Delhi-based Tritronics manufactures uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, inverters and other power conditioning equipment with a headcount of about 200 people. Our objective is to expand business in the UPS space and the deal with Tritronics will help us in this direction Luminous Power Technologies managing director Rakesh Malhotra said. He declined to share the size of the deal.

According to industry sources, Luminous is looking for expansion through the acquisition route and is eyeing several small firms across the country as well as in Europe and North America. Last year, the company rolled out a manufacturing facility in China to export power products to Asian and African markets.

The Rs 500-crore Luminous manufactures UPS systems, inverters, batteries and renewable energy products for sale in the domestic market as well as exports them to 25 countries. The Delhi-based company also has business interests in consumer appliances, information technology and networking solutions. Earlier this year, Luminous raised Rs 16-20 crore from IFCI Venture Capital Funds. This was the second round of private equity funding that the company received after CLSA Capital Partners invested $20.3 million two years ago.

CHEAPER LAPTOPS FOR BETTER LEARNING
Shimla
The Economic Times

After its successful run in Latin America and some African countries, the US-based non-profit organisation "One laptop per Child" (OLPC) has launched the programme in India to equip students with specially designed laptop at subsidised rate for better learning.

"Over 1,000 laptops have been made available to students in the age group of 5-12 in 20 schools in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu," OLPC President and CEO Satish Jha, who was at Kasauli in Solan district, said.

The scheme would be launched in Himachal Pradesh and other states soon, he said, adding the group aims to distribute three lakh laptops by the end of 2009.

Jha said the laptop has been specially designed to suit Indian conditions. Each set consumes only one watt of power, besides it has screen which is visible in sunlight also.

The laptops are unbreakable and water-proof which will make them easy to handle without any risk, he said.

Jha said course contents and books used in schools can be fitted easily in the laptops in local languages.

The laptop is provided at a rate of Rs 11,000 only, he said, adding the project is funded by leading organisations like Microsoft, Nortel Networks, Red Hat, Google and Bright Star corporation among others.

The project has drawn good response in Latin America and African countries like Libya, Nigeria and Rwanda, besides in parts of Pakistan and Nepal, Jha said.