ISPs: Roundup

According

to reliable sources, DoT had received 45 proposals to set up

private Internet gateways as on 31 October. More than 25 companies

had applied for a licence to set up gateways. Applicants include

national ISPs like Bharti BT Internet and Satyam Infoway. Three

months back, the government had come out with a framework to

apply for Internet gateways. Though this has produced the desired

results, the government department has not yet been able to

pass a single one of these proposals.



Blueshift to Facilitate 100 Indian Internet Ventures Blueshift
Internet Ventures, a $100 million Internet incubator formed

recently in Chennai, is to adopt a mission of identifying, nurturing,

and spinning out 100 Indian Internet firms within the next three

years, according to its chairman, P Raghunathan.

Business

ideas involving portals, B2B and B2C Internet commerce, Internet

technology or infrastructure, and application service provision

will be solicited. Blueshift will provide the entrepreneurs

services such as formation of company, marketing of venture,

public relations, infrastructure including office space, and

software development support. Apart from these Blueshift will

also provide seed investment in return for equity stake in the

new ventures. Each of these ventures will not be incubated for

more than nine months. After that, the company is expected to

go on its own.



Blueshift has so far identified three projects and is looking
for five more within the next six months.

Sigma Online

Provides Internet Access at a Rupee Andhra Pradesh-based Category

A ISP Sigma Online launched its Internet services in Delhi through

a simple advertisement in a local daily. But, the advertisement

caught the eyes of many as it promised Delhites with Internet

Access at a price of Rs 1.14 per hour. Sigma Online belongs

to Sigma Input Output India Ltd, which operates Flytech Aviation

Academy in Hyderabad and also training institutions for SAP

in the city.

The ISP

offers three types of Internet accounts: Marathon, Unlimited

Access, and Regular. While the Marathon and Regular accounts

are very competitive compared to existing tariffs, the Unlimited

Access accounts take the cake. There are two Unlimited Access

accounts, one for the period between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. called

King, and the other for the period between 7 p.m. to 7 a.m called

Queen. While the daytime account costs an annual fee of Rs 6,999

the one for surfing in the night costs an annual fee of Rs 4,999.

The Hyderabad and Delhi centre connect to VSNL's Internet gateways

through ISDN PRI and E1 digital lines. Also the company claims

to maintain a modem ratio of 1:5 for the convenience of its

subscribers.

The company

had launched its services in Hyderabad two months back, and

since then the ISP has managed to win over 700 customers. Sigma

Online is in its national roll out process and is expected to

be present in all the metros and Pune, in addition to Hyderabad

by the end of this calendar year.



Calcuttans Taste Free Net Access Courtesy Caltiger.com

Patriot

Automation Projects Ltd, a Category B ISP, is the first Indian

ISP to experiment with cross subsidizing access fees with advertising

revenues. The company recently introduced its Internet services

under the brand name Caltiger.com. Caltiger offers free Internet

access on payment of a Rs 6,800 refundable deposit. The subscriber

has to surf the Internet for at least 120 hours per annum. The

first 500 applicants are to receive the offer on a first come

first basis. For eligibility, the applicant has to attach a

copy of their telephone bill along with their application. Under

another scheme, the Calcutta ISP is to provide computers, Internet

access, and impart computer training to underprivileged schools

in and around the city.

Data

Infosys Jives Up Rajasthani Net Life



Jaipur-based Category B ISP, Data Infosys, has introduced two
portal sites for the surfing public of the cities of Jaipur

and Alwar, www.pinkcity.com and www.alwaronline.com respectively.

Additionally, for the Jaipur public, the ISP has introduced

www.chalchitra.com a site where one can book a ticket on-line

to see a movie in the city's popular Rajmandir cinema hall.