ISA WINWire August 6 – August 13 2010

Autos, IT, mobile phones, PCs, emerging markets push chip sales to historic levels

Source: The Next Silicon Valley, August 4 2010    www.thenextsiliconvalley.com

Global semiconductor sales jumped in the second quarter on robust demand from auto makers, IT suppliers and emerging markets like China and India where PCs and wireless handsets are the strong industry drivers. A new SIA report claims that sales of semiconductors have risen by over seven per cent in the last quarter. Some analysts however are warning that the current recovery in the global semiconductor business "is not a normal chip cycle."

IBM ties up with IIT Bombay to conduct research on mobile designs

Source: Tech@Edu, August 5 2010    http://techatedu.com

IBM has joined hands with Indian Institute of Technology Bombay to conduct research on developing user-friendly designs for mobile device interfaces. Reportedly, the collaboration aims to develop simple, inexpensive mobile phone interfaces that will help users interact with their phones easily regardless of their geography or education level.

Nokia declines to go all in on chips

Source: Ashlee Vance, The New York Times, August 6 2010    http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com

One might think Nokia would give into the temptation. It sees Apple vacuuming up adoration and profits. It sees Apple taking more control of the components that go into a phone. In particular, Apple has worked on building its very own chip for smartphones and tablets and has acquired chip companies apace. Henry Tirri, the head of Nokia’s research centers, said that building a homemade chip was too risky. Perhaps Nokia too should be harboring silicon dreams. But Henry Tirri, the head of Nokia’s research centers, says it is not interested.

Vice President expresses concern over declining interest in science and technology courses

Source: Tech@Edu, August 9 2010    http://techatedu.com

Addressing the 41 annual convocation ceremony at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT D) Mohd Hamid Ansari, Vice President of India expressed concern at the falling rate of students pursuing academic research in the field of science and technology. He urged that “less than one per cent of IIT undergraduates in the country pursue Master’s or PHDs (Doctoral studies) within the IIT system. Less than 15 per cent of those graduating from the IIT move towards teaching or research whether in India or abroad.”

JNTU draws on Mentor Graphics, Trident Techlabs expertise

Source: EETimes, August 10 2010    www.eetindia.co.in

Mentor Graphics Corp. and Trident Techlabs Pvt. Ltd, will lend their expertise to Jawaharlal Nehru Technology University (JNTU), Hyderabad, to help students gain proficiency in VLSI design and emerging nanotechnology challenges. Mentor Graphics will provide EDA products, training and support to JNTU and affiliated colleges for use as a core academic education for professors and engineering students. This will include projects, short-term courses, workshops, training and industrial consultancy in the area of VLSI design.

Infotech buys US firm Wellsco for all cash

Source: The Hindu Business Line, August 10 2010    www.thehindubusinessline.com

Infotech Enterprises, a geo-spatial and engineering services company, has acquired the US-based Wellsco Inc, a telecom engineering services company, with an annual run rate of $12 million. “We have acquired the US firm in an all-cash deal. We expect additional revenues of $10-12 million in the financial year 2010-11 for Infotech. This is a crucial acquisition as we near the $1-billion mark,” the Chairman and Managing Director of Infotech, Mr B.V.R. Mohan Reddy, told Business Line.

IIT Bombay graduates to donate 1% salary for institute’s growth

Source: Tech@Edu, August 10 2010    http://techatedu.com

Around 735 students of the Indian institute of Technology Bombay have signed up for giving one per cent of their annual salary for the institute’s growth. Bakul Desai, a graduate of the 1982 batch came up with the idea of a programme that is now being called ‘Give One for IIT B’. Every year, IIT B receives approximately Rs 10-15 crore in donations from alumni. With an average the starting salary of a fresh graduate is around Rs 7 lakh per annum. It is likely to add a robust Rs 50 lakh to IIT B’s coffers in the first year alone. “In the second year, we hope to bring in Rs 1 crore in the third, Rs 1.5 crore and so on,” says Desai.

HRD Minister and Intel present “Excellence in Education” awards

Source: Tech@Edu, August 10 2010    http://techatedu.com

The Union Human Resource Development Minister, Kapil Sibal and the Intel Managing Director (South Asia) R Sivakumar presented the ‘Excellence in Education’ awards to Kendriya Vidhyalaya Sangathan (KVS) and Navodaya Vidhyalaya Samiti (NVS) from across the country for integration of technology in educational practices in the teaching and learning process. “If teachers are magic then children are magicians” said Kapil Sibal at the felicitation ceremony of various schools of KVS and NVS in New Delhi.

Wipro sets up India's 1st Bluetooth test facilty

Source: SiliconIndia, August 11 2010    www.siliconindia.com

Global software major Wipro Technologies has been recognized as India's first Bluetooth qualification test facility by the Bluetooth trade association. Bluetooth is an open wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances (using short length radio waves) from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks (PANs) with high levels of security. The recognition makes Wipro competent to perform Bluetooth qualification conformance or compliance tests, the company said in a statement here.