IBM and the Reserve Bank of India have signed a contract to implement IBM's state-of-the-art cheque processing and clearing system at RBI's four national clearing centres (NCCs) in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Calcutta. The contract, one of the largest system integration and modernisation exercises to be carried out in the country, would be executed by Tata IBM and IBM Global Services India, a joint venture between IBM and the Tatas. Banking sources said the contract, signed last week in Mumbai, was worth Rs 100 crore and expected to be completed in a phased manner by April next year. The IBM cheque processing and clearing system would equip RBI to handle more than twice its current capacity, increased levels of system availability and security and replace the existing micro processing system, which has performed for over a decade, IBM said in a release.

Escotel announces reduction in tariffs for non-STD plan:

Escotel, the largestcellular service provider in west UP, Haryana And kerala, has announced a massive cut in the monthly charges for their no-STD plan from Rs 248 per month to Rs 49 per month for the UP circle. As a trial offer, the revised no-STD plan is being offered free to all the subscribers of Escotel in UP (west) till March 23 next. With this plan, the cost of making STD calls for Escotel subscribers, within the UP (west) circle consisting of 22, will be much less than DoT charges at peak hours for a distance of more than 50 km. These are also lower than those being charged by other cellular service providers in UP. A call from Moradabad to Meerut made at peak hours from an Escotel Smartphone would cost Rs 4.40 per minute compared to a cost of Rs 11.20 per minute for similar call made from a DoT line. Escotel Mobile Communications Ltd, is a joint venture company between Escorts Ltd and the First Pacific Company Ltd of Hong Kong. Escorts has 51 per cent equity stake in Escotel, while First Pacific holds 49 per cent.Escotel has launched its services in 61 cities, supported by 134 base stations and four MSCs.

Rubik cube whiz kid offers `millennium bug' solution:

A man who solved the riddle of Rubik's cube has invented a test kit to detect where the millennium computer bug will strike. At the age of 12, Patrick Bossert shot to fame when he worked out his own solution to the mystifying cube and wrote a bestseller about it that sold 1.5 million copies. Now 30, he and a team of software experts at London-based WSP Business Technology have developed Delta-T Probe, a programme that can work out whether microchips embedded in electronic equipment are likely to fail on January 1, 2000. Delta-T works by electronically detecting equipment to identify chips that process date and time, making it likely to malfunction when 1999 becomes 2000. "Only a small percentage of systems will fail to recognise the next millennium, but finding out which ones might go wrong is a huge and costly process," said Bossert, technicaldirector at WSP Business Technology, a unit of consulting engineering group WSP Group Plc.

Multi Zones start Y2K helpline:

Multiple Zones India (Pvt) Ltd, a subsidiary of the $600-million Multiple Zone International, has started the first Y2K helpline in the country. By dialling 011-6817685, small, medium and big corporates can take the first step in fixing the Y2K bug, according to a company press release. The helpline, manned by experts, advises corporates on the various utilities that can be tapped to circumvent the Y2K problem and minimise impending damage. Multiple Zones India has sourced some of the most effective software utilities which can help in diagnosing and fixing the Y2K bug of corporates wherever they are likely to occur.

Cisco Systems pact with Millennium Infotech:

Cisco Systems Inc on Tuesday signed an agreement with Millennium Information Technologies Ltd appointing it as Cisco's systems integrator (SI) partner in Sri Lanka. As part of this alliance, MillenniumInformation will market and service Cisco's products and solutions to customers in Sri Lanka. Cisco Systems will provide technical training, design support and product updates to Millennium. Cisco's country manager, India and Saarc region, Anil Batra, said the alliance will ensure high-speed networking products for delivering intelligent business solutions and strategic competitive advantages to our customers in Sri Lanka.

IT Asia-2000:

Manufacturers' Association for Information Technology (Mait), and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) on Tuesday announced the launch of IT Asia-2000, to be jointly organised by them. The exhibition will bring together some of the world's leading players showcasing diverse technologies in various fields of IT such internet, telecom, mobile communications, networking and multimedia. Scheduled to be held from February 8 to 11, 2000 in New Delhi, IT Asia exhibition will include participants from countries like the US, Singapore, Taiwan and some South-East Asiancountries.