The alliance also launched iPlanet E-Commerce Solutions in India and has appointed Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) as system integrator for the solutions. Wipro Infotech is already a partner for the company. iPlanet, part of the Sun-Netscape Alliance, provides solutions for Internet infrastructure and e-commerce applications and software services such as messaging, directory, Web and application server software. The alliance was established by the $12.4 billion Sun Microsystems and America Online to provide e-commerce solutions to the Net economy.

The alliance official said that with this centre, the company has taken the product development out of its California headquarters and focused on a region which is witnessing tremendous growth. According to Sun Netscape Alliance vice president for Asia Pacific Group, Steve Furney-howe, the plan is to make India as the resource centre for the alliance's regional operations.

The centre employs around 20 people and will have around 125 professionals by the end of the year. The development team is expected to further efforts on infrastructure and e-commerce applications of the iPlanet.

Steve Furney-howe said that the company was witnessing a 100 per cent growth in business in India and the Asia Pacific. "About 75 per cent of this revenue comes from iPlanet software," he said. At present, according to the official, the alliance has around 75 per cent share of the telecom and ISP market with clients like Bharti and VSNL. In India, the company has clients like Wipro Tech, NTPC, BHEL, Reliance, Hathway, ONGC and Bajaj Auto. He said that the Net economy will undergo a major change with wireless protocols taking over the mode of communication. "Buy and sell will become bid and ask and will much more smoother and efficient and application service providers will play the major role in giving real-time applications," he said.

iPlanet products include application infrastructure, hosting infrastructure and e-commerce applications. "We expect that a lot of customisation will be required in the region in areas of presentation and content but no much in technology," he said. The solutions has specific solutions like Seller, Biller and Buyer for day-to-day e-commerce functions. He also said that scalability of the system now remains the biggest challenge for the implementors.