indya.com wins cybersquatting dispute
indya.com has won the rights to three internet addresses in a ruling by World Intellectual Property organisation (WIPO). The WIPO panel has awarded Indya.com the rights to indyanews.com, indyanews.org and indyanews.net. The case was filed by the company in October last year against a Bangalore-based company.

Birla Technologies inks MoU with Solcorp of Canada
Birla technologies Ltd (formerly known as Birla Consultancy Software Services), the technology arm of the Aditya Birla group has signed a memorandum of understanding with Solcorp of Canada to become an "authorised Solcorp service provider" supporting Solcarp's software solutions to life insurance companies in India and the rest of the world. A leading provider of software and solutions to life insurance companies, Soplcorp has customers across five continents and has completed over 150 projects for more than 75 companies.

Zee News eyeing breakeven this year; claims 55-per cent audience share
Zee news channel is expecting to break even this year and increase its viewer base by offering a mix of programming and news to maintain its leadership in the news programming segment. The channel, which claims 55 per cent audience share in terms of news, has nearly completed its image overhaul for which it roped in international agency Novocomm, and now plans to concentrate on increasing its news coverage. "We are aiming for breakeven this year, maybe more, and the channel holds premier position with 55 per cent share of news viewership. We intend to consolidate our viewership," business head of Zee news Satish Menon told PTI.

Microsoft launches `Say Hello to JLo' contest
MSN India, a Microsoft portal has launched a contest (Say Hello to Jennifer Lopez) on its Web site. The winner will get a free two day trip to Hong Kong to meet the pop star, Jennifer Lopez. The contestant will have to register and answer three questions related to the pop star to participate in the contest.

SAP Labs to pump in $25 m to expand Bangalore operations
SAP Labs India, the Indian arm of the application software provider SAP AG, has proposed to invest close to $25 million for expanding its office operations in Bangalore. Speaking to the eFE, Dr Udo Urbanek, co-director and head of R&D SAP Labs India, said there was also a plan to increase the number of employees to 580 people by the end of next year.

Melstar Info Tech to invest Rs 9 crore to set up two development centres
Mumbai-based Melstar Information Technologies Ltd will be investing Rs 9 crore for setting up two new development centers in Mumbai and Bangalore and will also be expanding two of its existing facilities. Currently the company has nine development centers, which include two RADCs (rapid application development center) one each in San Jose and London.

MTNL opts for face-saving soft launch; service to begin only on February 8
Six months of delay notwithstanding, MTNL's cellular service, Dolphin, is again in choppy waters. The deadline of January 31, 2001 has passed with a `launch'-which is actually proving to be a non-launch. Amid rumours ranging from proposed tariff cuts to non-readiness of the network and processes, in a face saving gesture, MTNL "launched" its GSM services today, but with a rider: The services won't actually begin till February 8.