Microsoft said Sunday it was considering some kind of new deal with Yahoo that would not involve a new takeover bid, two weeks after withdrawing its offer to acquire the struggling Internet pioneer.
“In light of developments since the withdrawal of the Microsoft proposal to acquire Yahoo Inc., Microsoft announced that it is continuing to explore and pursue its alternatives to improve and expand its online services and advertising business,” a statement posted on its website said. (more…)

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani Saturday said the government was committed to extending fruits of advancement in telecommunication sector to all tiers of society, with specific focus on enabling disabled persons to benefit from the Information Communication Technology (ICT). (more…)

World Telecommunication Day was observed across Pakistan on Saturday with the theme “Connecting Persons with disabilities: ICT opportunities for all”.
In the federal capital, Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani was the chief guest at a function to mark World Communication Day. The moot was organized by Pakistan Telecommunication Limited (PTCL) in collaboration with Ufone and Warid Telecom.

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Chancellor Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) Z.A. Nizami has said that very focus of Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (AMUOBA) has remained on promotion of education in Pakistan and keeping the spirit of Aligarh Movement alive.
He was speaking as chief guest at the conclusion of annual Electronic and Information Technology Exhibition of Aligarh Institute of Technology (AIT).
He said there is no differentiation between Aligarh Institute of Technology and Sir Syed University as these institutions of technology have had their identity recognised both at home and abroad. (more…)

China has launched its first data relay satellite Tianlian-1 to support the country’s human spaceflight program.
The major application of the satellite will be to enhance communications for China’s Shenzhou manned spacecraft, which previously have only been able to communicate when in range of a ground station or tracking ship.

The satellite, developed by China Aero-space Science and Technology Corporation, was the first for China in 2008, Radio China reported.
The spacecraft is billed as China’s first data relay satellite, designed to transfer data from other Chinese satellites to ground stations.

Father and son emerge successful after twelve years of experiment in manufacturing a ten thousand horse power plant that would produce ten (10) Mega Watt electricity.
According to local news agency, a Mechanical Engineer by profession and his son Ikram Shah succeeded in manufacturing a 10,000 horse power plant at a cost of Rs.70,000 after twelve years experiment. The power plant could be mounted on 60×60 feet area.

He has worked in Saudi Arabia and Karachi in Mercedes car assembly factories for about 35 years. (more…)

All Pakistan Computer Project Exhibition & Competition (COMPPEC) an event held every year. College of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering has the honour for hosting this event from the last seven years.
This year the competition is being conducted from April 25-27. In order to generate maximum participation 220 Colleges, Institutes and Universities from all over the Pakistan were formally invited.

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Chinese scientists and engineers have built prototypes of the country’s planned lunar rover module, according to the Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai Municipality.

The city’s lunar rover research team had completed models of different types of lunar rover and conducted feasibility and technological trials.

The Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology had made significant progress in key technologies for the locomotion system, it said.

China plans to land its first lunar rover on the moon in 2013.

Kidsmart- an early learning programme was launched by the IBM at a local hotel on Thursday.

Sindh Minister for Education, Pir Mazharul Haq and Provincial Information Minister, Ms. Shazia Marri, were the chief guests at the ceremony.

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Pakistan is geared to become a regional hub for the export of software and Information Technology (IT) services due to its competitive advantages as compared to the other regional countries.
Low cost for doing business, availability of trained manpower and a robust telecom network would lead it to become centre for IT exports, said Musa Javed Chohan, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Canada.
He was addressing a delegation of the leading Pakistani IT and software development companies in Ottawa (Canada).      The delegation has been visiting Canada to explore opportunities for enhanced trade in the areas of software and hardware development, web
applications, graphics, animation, multimedia and other business process management services, said a press release received here.
The High Commissioner said that IT and Telecom were among the fastest growing sectors of Pakistan and IT exports growth in each of the last few years has been more than 50 per cent.
He said Pakistan has various competitive advantages over other outsourcing destinations of the region, such as quality software development and swift and easy establishment of business.
The incentives offered by it include tax exemption till 2016, low rent of IT Parks, foreign ownership of equity invested and 100 per cent repatriation of profit allowed to IT companies.
As a result, he said, telecom sector has attracted more than US$9 billion foreign investment during last three years and expects to get another US$4 billion during the next 3-4 years.
The High Commissioner said that it was heartening to note the steady growth in the IT exports which were estimated at US$ 1 billion today and expected to cross US$ 10 billion in the next five years.
He said that Pakistan and Canada have been enjoying friendly relations, adding that Canada has steadily remained Pakistan’s partner in development and the two countries were working to expand their relations in a broad spectrum of areas in the social and economic fields.       The visit has been organized by Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) in coordination with Pakistan High Commission, Canada, Canada,  Pakistan Business Council, Export Development Canada, Canadian Advanced Technology Alliance, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, The Indus Entrepreneur and Royal Bank of Canada.      The delegation members would hold meetings with the leading IT companies of Canada and would also attend briefings about initiatives by the Canadian government to support local IT industry.

Google Inc said on Wednesday it has introduced brand-image ads for mobile phones, in a bid to extend beyond the computer-based Web market into the emerging market for advertising on phones.

In a statement on the Silicon Valley company`s Web site, the company said it had designed mobile images to look like standard graphical display ads for desktop computer Web pages, but made them smaller to fit on mobile phone screens, private TV channel reported.

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China called on the international community Thursday to increase the flow of technology to developing countries to help them fight climate change.
Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang said developed nations “need to establish a mechanism for technological transfer” of environmentally friendly technology so developing countries can afford them.
China which rivals the United States as the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases _ has pledged to raise energy efficiency but has declined to sign up to internationally agreed emissions reductions. (more…)

SunGard has announced the launch of Ambit, a new brand and a new software strategy for its banking solutions for retail, commercial and private banks.
An announcement to this effect was made in a communication received here.
It said that SunGard’s Ambit brings together the technology of a range of SunGard solutions and the experience of a global team of industry experts that already serve more than 800 banks in 70 countries, including 41 of the world’s top 50 banks.  (more…)

The IBM has announced two high-end Power Systems models - the world’s fastest UNIX server and a unique water cooled supercomputer.     An announcement to this effect was made in a statement issued here on Thursday.
It said that the new systems offer sophisticated IBM virtualization technology and energy-saving capabilities to help dramatically reduce bottom-line operating costs, such as those for energy, floor space and systems management, while improving system performance, helping customers transition to a new enterprise data center. (more…)

The KalSoft is digitising services for Islamabad Capital Territory.

An announcement to this effect was made in a statement issued here on Thursday.

It said KalSoft has recently finished deploying a suite of applications to enable E-Services for Chief and Deputy Commissioner’s offices, a project of Electronic Government Directorate, Ministry of IT.

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