Govt asks BlackBerry to provide access to services by Dec 31

STAFF WRITER 16:59 HRS IST

New Delhi, Oct 12 (PTI) The government has extended till December 31 the deadline given to Research in Motion (RIM), maker of BlackBerry phones, to provide access to its messenger and enterprise services to the security agencies.

The decision has been taken by the Home Ministry after a meeting with representatives of RIM and the Ministry of Telecommunication.

Technical discussions on the BlackBerry Messenger Service (BMS) and BlackBerry Enterprise Service (BES) have been going on between the security agencies and the RIM. The latter has sought more time as the October 31 deadline given to the company was approaching.

"We are satisfied with the solution provided for the lawful interception of BMS. We want to test it for some more time while discussions on BES are still on, hence RIM has been given a fresh deadline," an official said.

(BMS) and BlackBerry Enterprise Service (BES) have been going on between the security agencies and the RIM. The latter has sought more time as the October 31 deadline given to the company was approaching.

"We are satisfied with the solution provided for the lawful interception of BMS. We want to test it for some more time while discussions on BES are still on, hence RIM has been given a fresh deadline," an official said.

Microsoft unveils 9 Windows 7 phones

NEW YORK: Microsoft Corp unveiled a new line of phones running its Windows software, as it attempts to pull back marketshare from Apple Inc's iPhone and Google Inc's Android system in the fast-growing market for multi-featured "smartphones."

The world's largest software company is hoping that the new phones, from handset makers Samsung , LG, HTC and Dell Inc, will propel it back into the mobile market, which many see as the key to the future of computing.

The new phones, initially available on AT&T Inc's network in the United States, are much closer in look and feel to Apple's iPhone, with colorful touchscreens and "tiles" for easy access to email, the Web, music and other applications.

Some analysts say they represent Microsoft's last chance to catch up with rivals in the smartphone market who overtook it in the past few years.

"I've been looking forward to this day for some time," said Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer, showing off nine phone models at a launch event in New York.

Ballmer, who has admitted that his company "missed a generation" with its recent unpopular phone offerings, said the new phones would eventually be available from 60 mobile operators in 30 countries.

The first phone from AT&T, priced at $200, will be available on November 8, said Ralph de la Vega, CEO of AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets.

Microsoft has a marketshare of only 5 per cent in the global smartphone market, according to research firm Gartner, compared with 9 per cent a year ago. Google's Android system has a 17 per cent market share, jumping from only 2 per cent a year ago.

The market for multi-feature phones that allow users to email, surf the Web and play games, as well as have access to music and video, is set to expand massively.

Gartner expects almost 270 million smartphones to be sold around the world this year, up 56 per cent from last year. In comparison, Gartner expects only a 19 per cent increase in worldwide PC sales to 368 million units this year.

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India industrial output growth slows to 5.6%

NEW DELHI: Industrial growth slowed down to 5.6 per cent in August from 10.6 per cent in the corresponding period last year, on the back of a 2.6 per cent contraction in the capital goods production.

Among the main industry segments, manufacturing activity declined to 5.9 per cent from 10.6 per cent a year ago. Mining sector growth was at 7 per cent as compared to 11 per cent in August last year.

Electricity generation growth, too, slowed down to one per cent from 10.6 per cent in August last year.

Capital goods sector contracted by 2.6 per cent in August, in comparison to 9.2 per cent growth in the year-ago period, official data released here said.

Also, consumer non-durables, which are mainly fast moving consumer goods (FMCG), recorded a negative growth of 1.2 per cent, in comparison to an expansion of 6.1 per cent in the same month last year.

Consumer durables was the only segment of goods, which saw an output growth over the year-ago period. In August consumer durables expanded by 26.5 per cent, as compared to 24.7 per cent in the year-ago period.

Of the 17 industry groups, as many as 14 have shown positive growth during the month of August. The industrial expansion figure for July was revised upwards to 15.2 per cent from the earlier estimates of 13.8 per cent.

Industrial growth for the first five months of this fiscal stood at 10.6 per cent in comparison to 5.9 per cent growth in the same period a year ago.

Experts had projected that the industry growth might slip to single-digit level because of the high base effect of last year.

Moderate growth in core sectors, which accounts for 26.7 per cent of the total industrial output , was also seen pulling down growth in factory output in August, experts said.

The core sector, which includes crude oil, petroleum refinery products, coal, electricity, cement and finished steel, grew by 3.7 per cent in August. The growth had slowed from 3.9 per cent recorded in July.

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Sensex declines by 137 pts on weak IIP growth data

MUMBAI: Heavy selling of blue chips like Reliance Industries and Larsen & Toubro dragged down the BSE benchmark Sensex by nearly 137 points today amid concerns over slowing domestic industrial output growth and a weakening global trend.

The 30-share index of the Bombay Stock Exchange fell by 136.55 points to settle at 20,203.34 at the close of trade today, compared to 20,339.89 points at the end of yesterday's session.

During the day, the gauge tumbled to an intra-day low of 20,107.25 points after the release of data showing that industrial production grew at a slower pace than market expectations in August, 2010.

The wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty fell below the 6,100 points level today after shedding 44.95 points to 6,090.90. During intra-day trade, the Nifty touched a low of 6,057.95 points.

The industrial production growth rate nearly halved to 5.6 per cent in August compared to the previous year. Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee has expressed disappointment at the factory output numbers.

A weakening trend in the Asian region and a lower opening in Europe further influenced the trading sentiment.

Asian markets were trading in negative terrain on Tuesday as traders reacted to weak cues from Wall Street, with the dollar languishing at a 15-year-low against the yen on expectations of steps being taken to boost the economy.

The Sensex's most valuable company, Reliance Industries, fell by Rs 15.05 to Rs 1,053.90 today on emergence of profit- booking at existing higher levels.

However, heavy machinery and construction company Larsen and Toubro was the biggest loser in the Sensex pack, with its shares falling by Rs 39.50 -- the most in more than two weeks -- to Rs 1,998.60.

Similarly, another heavy equipment manufacturer, Bharat Heavy Engineering Ltd, lost Rs 32.30 to Rs 2,543.10, while Bharat Electronic Ltd fell by Rs 30.75 to Rs 1,852.10. Analysts said that a slowdown in the growth of output from factories, utilities and mines to 5.6 per cent in August was primarily responsible for the decline in these companies' shares.

Metal stocks also took a beating, as investors apprehended that the hike in base metal prices in overseas markets might dent the revenue of metal producing companies.

Hindalco Industries, the country's biggest aluminum producer, lost Rs 4.40 to Rs 210.63, while Tata Steel fell by Rs 6.90 to Rs 632.95 and JSW Steel by Rs 35.20 to Rs 1,326.45.

A fall in metal prices in London, Shanghai and New York on the prospect of further credit tightening in China, the world's largest user, also vitiated the trading sentiment in metal stocks, analysts said.

The London Metal Exchange index of prices for six industrial metals, including copper and aluminum, fell by 0.2 per cent yesterday.

In the 30-BSE index components, 22 stocks ended with losses, while eight closed with gains.

TOI