DD Metro slots: Deadline for bidding today
Prasar Bharati has set January 15 as the last date for submitting pre-qualification and financial bids for time slots on DD Metro. While the pre-qualification bids will be opened on January 15 at 3.30 pm, the financial bids will be opened on January 17 at the same time. Bids have been invited for various 30-minute slots for 10 pm to 12.30 am. For the 10 to 10.30 pm slot, vacated by TV Today's `Aaj Tak', the floor price has been set at Rs 15 crore. Subsequently, the rates are Rs 7.5 crore for 10.30 to 11 pm; Rs 2 crore for 11 to 11.30 pm; Rs 1.5 crore for 11.30 pm to 12 midnight; and Rs 50 lakh for 12 midnight to 12.30 am. From 10 to 11 pm, the programmes will have to be in Hindi and from 11 pm to 12.30 am, they can be either in English or Hindi.

National Advisory panel on IT to meet today
The members of the National Advisory Committee on IT will meet on Monday in the IT ministers office. According to ministry release, the committee will discuss possible collaboration between Government and industry in streamlining the action plan of taking IT to the masses. The members will also be briefed on the report of the working group on `IT for Masses'. The release said that the group has set a target of 100 million Internet connection by 2008.

Parametric Tech organising user meet
Parametric Technology Corporation is organising a user meet in Bangalore between January 18 to 20. The meet would be attended by 850 PTC users from across the country. The participants of the two-day meet would include management and design teams of 550 PTC customer organisations including Whirlpool, Wipro Ltd, Titan Industries, BPL, LML, etc.

ITNation.com launches online auction market
ITNation.com has launched an IT auction section for the whole supply chain segment of the infotech industry which will include the small and large retailers, resellers, dealers and distributors. According to the company, the auction section is the first of its kind in India where IT hardware sellers can participate and sell the IT wares through online auction.

Pepsi to roll out campaign with Sourav Ganguly
Soft drinks major Pepsi is unleashing its first ever campaign with Indian cricket captain Saurav Ganguly in Kolkata this week. The campaign `Saurav Comes To Your Home' would be Saurav's first for Pepsi. The ace cricketer, it may be recalled, was hitherto Coke's endorser.

NextLinx Corp sets up global support centre in Bangalore
NextLinx Corporation has set up its global support centre in Bangalore at an investment of over $2 million. The investment would primarily go into infrastructure, technology and human resources. According company's chairman & CEO Rajiv Uppal, the company would also invest into R&D initiatives.