Microsoft has received some awful feedback from its customers with regard to its services. In a study conducted by VendorRate, all the products of the software giant have received poor ratings by IT professionals for customer satisfaction, integrity, reliability and more.
The online survey was conducted by the market research firm on IT professionals of 347 hardware, software, telecom and service vendors during the second half of 2009. VendorRate asked the participants to rate vendors in 10 categories, including integrity, timeliness, communications, customer service, expertise, effectiveness, and whether they would recommend the vendor to others. It then added all the categories for each vendor to come up with a total.
For Microsoft, the ratings were generally miserable. Three different Microsoft businesses were given separate ratings, including operating systems, applications, and infrastructure. Looking at the poor ratings received by Microsoft for this quarter, Rick Schaefer, CEO of VendorRate says, "Microsoft's ratings simply fell off a cliff in this quarter."
IT professionals rating vendors in April, May and June has hit Microsoft with poor customer satisfaction scores for the company's server and infrastructure software (55 out of 100, down nearly 17 percent), operating systems (67, down 9.5 percent) and applications (64, off nearly 18 percent).
The survey also saw some of the other major technology companies take the bottom positions. Verizon was at the bottom of the list, with a 61 rating, followed by Sprint Nextel with 64, and Microsoft applications with 64. Microsoft operating systems was tied with AT&T Wireless for the next worst rating with a 67. That means Microsoft took two of the bottom five spots. IBM Informix, meanwhile, took the top spot for vendors with a 96. After this poor performance by Microsoft, all eyes are now on Windows 7, to see if that can bring some respite to the company.
Showing posts with label Latest News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Latest News. Show all posts
17.7.09
Recession has made Americans to turn to internet
88 percent of the U.S. internet users, which comprise of more than two-thirds of American adults, went online for help with personal economic issues caused due to recession and to gather information and understand the national economic problems, according to a study conducted by Pew Internet & American Life Project. "People are anxious about these hard times. They are more information-hungry than in normal times," said Lee Rainie, Director of the nonprofit group and co-author of the report. The report also claims that 79 percent of Americans are internet users.
Based on the interviews conducted with 2,253 adults, the report says that almost 52 percent of American adults have either lost their jobs, seen their investments fall by more than half their value, suffered a pay cut or watched their house lose half its value during the downturn in the past year. Many U.S. companies have sacked huge number of employees and the unemployment rate hit 9.5 percent, the highest in nearly 26 years.
The study also says that the internet ranks high among sources of information and advice that people are seeking during hard times, especially when it comes to their personal finances and jobs. "That is a large number of those who are exploiting the Internet to participate in the roiling online discussion about how we got into this mess and how we are going to get out of it," Rainie said. Overall, 34 percent of online economic users have expressed themselves about the recession in places like blogs, social network sites and Twitter, the study reported. The more traditional way of talking with family and friends for advice and support has continued as well.
However, broadcast outpaced internet as source of news about national economic affairs. The report also states that the top three recession-related activities of these users were price comparisons, a general understanding of the economic downturn and new jobs. Around three percent of users searched on the Internet for information about filing for bankruptcy.
Based on the interviews conducted with 2,253 adults, the report says that almost 52 percent of American adults have either lost their jobs, seen their investments fall by more than half their value, suffered a pay cut or watched their house lose half its value during the downturn in the past year. Many U.S. companies have sacked huge number of employees and the unemployment rate hit 9.5 percent, the highest in nearly 26 years.
The study also says that the internet ranks high among sources of information and advice that people are seeking during hard times, especially when it comes to their personal finances and jobs. "That is a large number of those who are exploiting the Internet to participate in the roiling online discussion about how we got into this mess and how we are going to get out of it," Rainie said. Overall, 34 percent of online economic users have expressed themselves about the recession in places like blogs, social network sites and Twitter, the study reported. The more traditional way of talking with family and friends for advice and support has continued as well.
However, broadcast outpaced internet as source of news about national economic affairs. The report also states that the top three recession-related activities of these users were price comparisons, a general understanding of the economic downturn and new jobs. Around three percent of users searched on the Internet for information about filing for bankruptcy.
16.7.09
Swine Flu affected work in Wipro
H1N1 pandemic has hit the IT sector hard, as Wipro joins the league to take precautionary steps after Google closed its Hyderabad office for two days. Wipro is now giving two days paid leaves to its employees before reporting in the office who are coming from overseas, as techies have a significant number of swine flu positives, reports Times of India.
With 22 new cases of swine flu reported, highest in a day in India, the tally of influenza A infected rises to 251. The World Health Organization (WHO) has already declared it as "unstoppable" virus.
Fresh confirmed cases were reported from Delhi (7), Jalandhar (4), Cochin (2), Thiruvananthapuram (2), Mumbai (2), Pune (2), Hyderabad (1), Ahmedabad (1) and Bangalore (1).
So far 1,293 persons have been tested according to the Union Health Ministry, of which 251 were found positive for Influenza A (H1N1). Of these infected, 141 have been discharged after treatment. Remaining 110 are admitted to the identified health facilities.
Google and Wipro have had a case each of infection in their office, and have ensured to get the entire staff quarantined and the suspect cases tested for the infection. IT majors are sending out mails daily asking their travelling techies to take precautions. Microsoft's internal website has been uploaded with the information on swine flu along with travel guidelines. Similarly, the Mahindra Satyam's management has provided power point presentations to the staff, giving instructions on how to protect themselves, and also uploaded it on company's website.
"For anyone who is going on overseas assignments, they should report to office only after completion of 48 hours. The employees who returned from Sweden, were asked to do the same since the flu symptoms develop within 48 hours," informed a senior staff member in Wipro.
Elaborating on the status of a company where one of the employees contracted the virus and is a part of the cluster, District Medical & Health Officer (DM&HO) Hyderabad, Dr. Jayakumari, said, "This company has a work force of 180. While one has tested positive, reports of another five have been sent for confirmatory tests while 56 have been given profilaxis treatment. Rest have been home quarantined."
With 22 new cases of swine flu reported, highest in a day in India, the tally of influenza A infected rises to 251. The World Health Organization (WHO) has already declared it as "unstoppable" virus.
Fresh confirmed cases were reported from Delhi (7), Jalandhar (4), Cochin (2), Thiruvananthapuram (2), Mumbai (2), Pune (2), Hyderabad (1), Ahmedabad (1) and Bangalore (1).
So far 1,293 persons have been tested according to the Union Health Ministry, of which 251 were found positive for Influenza A (H1N1). Of these infected, 141 have been discharged after treatment. Remaining 110 are admitted to the identified health facilities.
Google and Wipro have had a case each of infection in their office, and have ensured to get the entire staff quarantined and the suspect cases tested for the infection. IT majors are sending out mails daily asking their travelling techies to take precautions. Microsoft's internal website has been uploaded with the information on swine flu along with travel guidelines. Similarly, the Mahindra Satyam's management has provided power point presentations to the staff, giving instructions on how to protect themselves, and also uploaded it on company's website.
"For anyone who is going on overseas assignments, they should report to office only after completion of 48 hours. The employees who returned from Sweden, were asked to do the same since the flu symptoms develop within 48 hours," informed a senior staff member in Wipro.
Elaborating on the status of a company where one of the employees contracted the virus and is a part of the cluster, District Medical & Health Officer (DM&HO) Hyderabad, Dr. Jayakumari, said, "This company has a work force of 180. While one has tested positive, reports of another five have been sent for confirmatory tests while 56 have been given profilaxis treatment. Rest have been home quarantined."
26.6.09
India pays heavy penalty for not utilizing its loans
Even as India is trying to get more loans from World Bank to improve infrastructure and transport, an internal assessment from finance section reveals that the loans given to India before are not properly utilized. Many past projects are running behind schedule and the government has been paying commitment charges in crores every year.
In 2007-08 and 2008-09, India has paid Rs 240 crore as commitment charge for the undisbursed portion of the loans sanctioned by World Bank and other multilateral agencies such as Asian Development Bank (ADB). In last five years time, Indian government has paid close to Rs 700 crore as commitment charges
Due to a lack of coordination among different government departments, several projects and development schemes are not completed on time. According to a source from Finance Ministry, there were 231 externally aided projects of which more than 40 percent were paying commitment charges.
Government has approached for loans even when they already had a portion of undisbursed loans. According to ADB portfolio, undisbursed loan amount has increased from $850 million in 1999 to $3.5 billion at the end of 2006.
Commitment charges are a penalty on the failure to utilize the committed aid. Funds have been sought for many highway and power projects even before they are ready, or even before the previous loans had been utilized.
India has borrowed Rs 12,800 crore from ADB from 2001 and 2007 and between this time, it paid Rs 230 crore to the agency as commitment charges. An estimated 60 percent of World Bank and ADB loan portfolio are currently paying commitment charges. Questions have also been raised on the way the loans have been negotiated.
In many cases, the government had bargained loans with commitment charges as high as 0.75 percent when the rate of interest in the international market was around one percent.
In 2007-08 and 2008-09, India has paid Rs 240 crore as commitment charge for the undisbursed portion of the loans sanctioned by World Bank and other multilateral agencies such as Asian Development Bank (ADB). In last five years time, Indian government has paid close to Rs 700 crore as commitment charges
Due to a lack of coordination among different government departments, several projects and development schemes are not completed on time. According to a source from Finance Ministry, there were 231 externally aided projects of which more than 40 percent were paying commitment charges.
Government has approached for loans even when they already had a portion of undisbursed loans. According to ADB portfolio, undisbursed loan amount has increased from $850 million in 1999 to $3.5 billion at the end of 2006.
Commitment charges are a penalty on the failure to utilize the committed aid. Funds have been sought for many highway and power projects even before they are ready, or even before the previous loans had been utilized.
India has borrowed Rs 12,800 crore from ADB from 2001 and 2007 and between this time, it paid Rs 230 crore to the agency as commitment charges. An estimated 60 percent of World Bank and ADB loan portfolio are currently paying commitment charges. Questions have also been raised on the way the loans have been negotiated.
In many cases, the government had bargained loans with commitment charges as high as 0.75 percent when the rate of interest in the international market was around one percent.
21.5.09
Companies hunt for laid off talents
Firms in the telecom, pharma and consumer goods sectors are increasingly looking to hire from the laid off employees in the country as part of their plans to acquire inexpensive talent that suits their expansion plans, reported The Economic Times.
According to placement firms, companies in these sectors now have around 25,000 vacancies in total. They are tapping the pool of laid-off people for 'industry neutral' executives in functions such as human resource, finance, system administration, marketing and sales.
"Lower recruitment during the slowdown hasn't helped the talent crisis in India, especially in fast growing sectors. Several such companies are evaluating the laid-off talent pool to hand-pick niche skills," said Andrew Heard, Asia-Pac head of Watson Wyatt, a global human capital consulting firm.
The pool of laid-off talent in India from sectors such as IT, retail, banking and financial services, textiles and others could be as high as seven lakh, indicate data available with headhunters. "Of this, at least 15 percent would be in white-collar roles, and are the prime target for low-cost talent acquisition," said E Balaji, CEO of HR firm Ma Foi Management Consultant.
This is a significant transformation for Indian companies that are perceived to have a mindset problem when it comes to hiring people who have been laid off.
"We do not differentiate among professionals who may have lost their job," said Vsevolod Rozanov, president and chief executive officer of telecom firm Sistema Shyam TeleServices (SSTL). "In areas like customer service, we are indeed looking for people from other sectors, and even the laid-off pool. We can always train them for our needs," said Rozanov. SSTL currently has 1,600 people, and plans to ramp it up to 3,000 by December, as it plans to expand to 4-6 new circles.
FMCG major Marico CEO (consumer products) Saugata Gupta said several of its ex-employees, who went for more 'exciting' roles and are now victims of the global slowdown are coming back.
Companies in the pharmaceutical sector, widely counted as recession-proof, say shortage of good talent is an issue, not just in research functions, but also in sales.
According to placement firms, companies in these sectors now have around 25,000 vacancies in total. They are tapping the pool of laid-off people for 'industry neutral' executives in functions such as human resource, finance, system administration, marketing and sales.
"Lower recruitment during the slowdown hasn't helped the talent crisis in India, especially in fast growing sectors. Several such companies are evaluating the laid-off talent pool to hand-pick niche skills," said Andrew Heard, Asia-Pac head of Watson Wyatt, a global human capital consulting firm.
The pool of laid-off talent in India from sectors such as IT, retail, banking and financial services, textiles and others could be as high as seven lakh, indicate data available with headhunters. "Of this, at least 15 percent would be in white-collar roles, and are the prime target for low-cost talent acquisition," said E Balaji, CEO of HR firm Ma Foi Management Consultant.
This is a significant transformation for Indian companies that are perceived to have a mindset problem when it comes to hiring people who have been laid off.
"We do not differentiate among professionals who may have lost their job," said Vsevolod Rozanov, president and chief executive officer of telecom firm Sistema Shyam TeleServices (SSTL). "In areas like customer service, we are indeed looking for people from other sectors, and even the laid-off pool. We can always train them for our needs," said Rozanov. SSTL currently has 1,600 people, and plans to ramp it up to 3,000 by December, as it plans to expand to 4-6 new circles.
FMCG major Marico CEO (consumer products) Saugata Gupta said several of its ex-employees, who went for more 'exciting' roles and are now victims of the global slowdown are coming back.
Companies in the pharmaceutical sector, widely counted as recession-proof, say shortage of good talent is an issue, not just in research functions, but also in sales.
9.3.09
Five Indian banks among world's top 1000
After a year of carnage in the global banking industry, five Indian banks figured in the list of the world's top 1,000 banks in 2009, compiled by trade magazine 'The Banker'. State-owned State Bank of India holds the first position among the Indian banks and ranked 64th position and ICICI bank ranked 81st among global banks.
The top five banks in the world are JP Morgan Chase followed by Bank of America, CITI Group, Royal Bank of Scotland and HSBC Holdings by capital strength.
Among all these five banks, HSBC is the only bank that has not received any government support. The other Indian banks in the global first 500 league are Punjab National bank, HDFC Bank and Bank of India at 239, 242 and 263, respectively.
The rankings are based on nine parameters-the strength of their Tier I capital, the size of their assets, their capital adequacy ratio, pre-tax profit, growth in profit and five performance indicators (profits on average capital, return on assets, cost income ratio, Basle capital ratio and percentage of non-performing loans).
'The Banker', a part of the Financial Times group has been carrying the rankings since 1970. According to publication, banks that stuck to the basics, taking deposits and lending in their home markets fared the best.
"In future banks will be run much more conservatively. Regulators will require them to hold more capitals and be less leveraged which will reduce the profits of the industry as a whole but will bring about a safer banking system," said Brian Caplen, Editor, The Banker.
The top five banks in the world are JP Morgan Chase followed by Bank of America, CITI Group, Royal Bank of Scotland and HSBC Holdings by capital strength.
Among all these five banks, HSBC is the only bank that has not received any government support. The other Indian banks in the global first 500 league are Punjab National bank, HDFC Bank and Bank of India at 239, 242 and 263, respectively.
The rankings are based on nine parameters-the strength of their Tier I capital, the size of their assets, their capital adequacy ratio, pre-tax profit, growth in profit and five performance indicators (profits on average capital, return on assets, cost income ratio, Basle capital ratio and percentage of non-performing loans).
'The Banker', a part of the Financial Times group has been carrying the rankings since 1970. According to publication, banks that stuck to the basics, taking deposits and lending in their home markets fared the best.
"In future banks will be run much more conservatively. Regulators will require them to hold more capitals and be less leveraged which will reduce the profits of the industry as a whole but will bring about a safer banking system," said Brian Caplen, Editor, The Banker.
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