The issue of allowing DTH services in the country has assumed added significance with the government looking to use it as a mechanism to deliver education and health to the masses, officials in I&B ministry said. It may be noted that foreign media barons, Rupert Murdoch and Kerry Packer, have already expressed their interest in DTH services. In his meeting with I&B minister Arun Jaitley, Packer had made enquiries on government policy relating to DTH. The minister has reportedly assured Packer that the government will take into consideration views of industry.

`Software firms applying after March 28 to lose out on tax holiday'
Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) has said that applications by software companies received on or after March 28 would not be eligible for the 10-year tax holiday under the STP scheme. STPI said applications on March 28 or after would not be eligible as processing of applications would take at least four days, making late applicants ineligible for the tax holiday scheme.

Informix to invest Rs 110 crore in India
Informix Software (India) Pvt Ltd, a subsidiary of Informix Software, Inc, the leading provider of Internet infrastructure technology has projected investments of Rs 110 crore in India over the next five years as part of its expansion plans in the country.

India E-comm plans VSOP
India E-commerce Ltd, a listed firm of the Bombay Stock Exchange, has offered the viewer stock option plan (VSOP) to the public for acquiring the company's shares by visiting its Website (www. Indiaecommerce.net). Under the VSOP plan, the company will give away 100 shares free to one visitor everyday for one month starting from April 5.

India, Singapore sign MoU for IT taskforce
India on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding with Singapore for setting up a joint task force and institutionalising a framework for bilateral cooperation in IT sector. The MoU was signed in Singapore by the visiting Indian minister for information technology Pramod Mahajan and minister for communications and IT of Singapore Yeo Cheow, an official statement said.

Aptech, Jobstreet in pact
Onlinevarsity.com, the virtual education division of Aptech on Thursday, announced partnership with Jobstreet.com, Asia Pacific's online recruitment solutions provider. "With our alliance with Jobstreet, students and visitors on Onlinevarsity.com will have access to global placement opportunities and placement and career related information," Aptech online division head and senior vice president R Krishnan said in New Delhi at a media presentation.

Hutchison and Oracle announce B2B exchange
Hutchison Port Holdings and Oracle Corporation have announced the formation of the Global Transport Exchange (GTX), the first worldwide online exchange for the transportation services community. GTX will be a newly-formed joint venture between Portsnportals.com, the e-commerce operations of Hutchison Port Holdings and Oracle Corporation.