TCS' 600 mn pound deal under fire in UK
March 11, 2010
Source: PTI

LONDON: The proposed multi-year contract between TCS and the UK government for administering its employment savings trust has evoked adverse comments from some British websites, one of which even suggested the deal could be reviewed if there is a change of guard in the government after the May elections.

The British's Personal Accounts Delivery Authority (PADA) earlier this month had said it would sign a contract with Tata Consultancy Services to administer the National Employment Savings Trust (NEST).

The Personal Accounts Delivery Authority is a non-departmental public body in Britain.

According to the website www.moneymarketing.co.uk, the Conservatives have attacked the decision to sign the contract for NEST administration before the general elections.

The website quoted Conservative's shadow pensions minister Nigel Waterson as saying, "He is amazed that contract would be signed so quickly and stressed that this would not inhibit a Tory review of the scheme if they get into power.”

"We wish to make it clear that our review of NEST, should we win the elections, will not be constrained in any way by any contract signed by this government in its dying days," Waterson was quoted as saying in the report.

When contacted, TCS declined to comment on the issue. Another website, www.citywire.co.uk, has reported that the "ahead of schedule" contract between PADA and TCS will cost the "taxpayer 25 million pounds, even if the next government axes the NEST."

According to the report, TCS has been contracted to run NEST at a cost of about 600 million pounds. The www.citywire.co.uk in a report has quoted Waterson as saying that he was told about the TCS contract just hours before it was announced.

"We find the fact the government is pushing on without any consensus just weeks before a general election is just extraordinary," he had said.

The contract would be divided into two stages and runs for ten years.

Hackers target freshly uncovered Internet Explorer hole
March 11, 2010
Source: ET AGENCIES

SAN FRANCISCO: Microsoft warned that hackers are targeting a freshly-uncovered weakness in some earlier versions of its Internet Explorer (IE) Web browser software.

Microsoft said it is investigating a hole that cyber attackers are taking advantage of in IE 6 and IE 7.

"At this time, we are aware of targeted attacks attempting to use this vulnerability," Microsoft said in an advisory posted along with a routine release of patches for Windows and Office software.

"We will continue to monitor the threat environment and update this advisory if this situation changes."

Hackers could use the flaw to remotely seize control of computers. The new IE 8 Web browser and an old IE 5 version are not affected, according to the US software colossus.

The warning came less than two months after Microsoft released a patch for an IE 6 software hole through which China-based cyber spies attacked Google and other firms.

No matter which Web browser people use, upgrading to the most current version promises to increase protection against hackers.

Aditya Birla Minacs acquires UK’s Compass BPO
March 11, 2010
SOURCE: ET Bureau

BANGALORE: Aditya Birla Minacs, a leading BPO services player in India and part of the Aditya Birla Group, has acquired the UK-based firm Compass BPO for an undisclosed sum.

Compass BPO provides services in the area of finance and accounting (FAO) with presence in the UK, the US, UAE and India. It employs around 600 people.

Aditya Birla Minacs CEO Deepak Patel said that the acquisition would give them a firm foothold in the FAO segment and would help them get into newer sectors like foods & beverages and US government business.

Compass BPO is a 11-year-old company and has been profitable, according to Mr Patel. The founders of Compass — David McCullough and Mark Atkins — will join Minacs’ management.

This acquisition would bring in the solution portfolio to the stable of Aditya Birla Minacs as it looks to provide platform-based services. For the BPO player, the FAO services would be largely delivered out of its centres in Chennai, Bangalore and Mumbai.

Mr Patel said that this would be one of the many acquisitions Aditya Birla Minacs is planning to do. For the future, it is looking at areas such as high-end insurance, healthcare and non-voice services.

Aditya Birla Minacs has already set a target of $1 billion in revenue for the next three years through both organic and inorganic routes. Aditya Birla Minacs has around 13,000 people, with centres across India, North America, Europe and Philippines.