Microsoft has recognised Natural Softwares Ltd of Jaipur as its `independent software vendor' following its success in the development of BancMate, a software claimed to be India's first window-based bilingual banking solution. Microsoft is also assisting the Jaipur-based company in the development of ERP software, said Vindo Kumar Goel, Natural Softwares managing director.

Goel said his outfit had also got assistance from Microsoft for upgrading Bancmate so as to enable it to deal with foreign exchange accounts and export credit requirements. The company was also working on developing new packages for asset-liability management, which would take care of the management information system. Goel said SIDBI had contributed Rs 30 lakh under its venture capital association scheme for market development of BancMate. It had also advanced a loan assistance of Rs 50 lakh.

PSPS launches KAPES version

PS Planning Systems (PSPS) of Bangalore haslaunched the latest version 9.0 of its integrated manufacturing cost planning software system KAPES (Knowledge Aided Planning and Estimating System). According to PSPS CEO S Krishnan, the software bridges the gap between CAD and ERP systems providing the link between designs and the manufacturing process. PSPS is the Indian subsidiary of the American PS Group. The company is targetting the automotive, heavy engineering, electronics, defence and machine building industries.

BBC's increased viewership

Results of the International Air Travellers Survey (IATS Europe 8), show dramatic evidence of increased viewership and preference for BBC World. The BBC's 24-hour international news and information television channel, shows the fastest growth of any global channel since the previous survey. The IATS survey was conducted in 23 European airports in October-December 1998, with a sample size of over 50,000 travellers on scheduled international flights, including more than 20,000 businesstravellers.

BBC World's US expansion

BBC World has expanded US public television carriage to 69 stations from May 3 marking an increase of more than 300 per cent in total station carriage since its initial launch in November 1998. BBC World now has a reach of approximately 45 per cent of US television households. WLIW New York Public Television, through an alliance with BBC World, distributes the news to public television stations nationwide in the US.

Cartoon Network

Cartoon Network, a part of Turner Broadcasting System's Inc, is planning to bringing three new cartoon series, Men in Black, Extreme Ghostbusters and The Completely Mental Misadventures of Ed Grimley, from May this year. Both MIB and Extreme Ghostbusters are animated adventure series based on blockbusters motion pictures "Men in Black" and "Ghostbusters.