Makkad G's 10101 | 02.02 | Jan 16-31, 2008

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Makkad G’s 10101

1nformation 0n 1ndian 0nline 1ndustry

(Beta…, Beti, Bhai, Behen. Every1’s invited!)

Version 02.02

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Hello,

Here’s your issue of Makkad G’s 10101 for January 16–31, 2008.

Happy Reading!

Makkad G

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Talk of the Town

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Consim Info (BharatMatrimony) plans to raise 2nd round of VC funding
Consim Info (formerly the BharatMatrimony Group) is planning to raise a second round of venture capital funding to carry out its expansion activities for which the company would need about $5 million. Consim Info has so far raised $8.65 million from Yahoo and Canaan Partners.

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IRCTC may allow travel portals to sell railway tickets by mid-2008
Indian Railways is considering offering application program interface (API) to online travel agents (OTAs) by mid-2008. The API function will enable OTAs and other travel agents with online portals to sell inventory of airlines and railways through a single interface.

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HolidayIQ claims to attract 5 million travelers till date
Travel community portal HolidayIQ.com claims to have attracted over 5 million travelers to the site, since its inception. India Resorts Survey, the previous avatar of HolidayIQ started operations in 2004 with an aim to create an online travel community and getting the community to contribute feedback on tourism destinations and hotels across India.

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AutoIndia receives angel investment from Babu Sivadasan
AutoIndia.com has received angel investment from Babu Sivadasan, currently SVP Engineering at Envestnet Asset Management. Following the investment, Sivadasan has joined AutoIndia.com’s board of directors.

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Guruji.com claims to get 1 crore users a month
Local search engine Guruji.com is planning to go global in the next couple of years. According to Anurag Dod, chief executive officer, Guruji.com, the search engine currently serves around one crore users a month and is targeting around six crore in the next seven months.

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Google makes $3.5 million philanthropic grants to Indian organisations
Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, has announced grants of about $3.5 million to three Indian organisations — Pratham, Centre for Budget and Policy Studies and Centre for Policy Research. The move is a part of Google.org’s core initiatives announced to combat climate change, poverty and emerging threats. The initiatives are aimed at helping people better their lives.

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123Greetings.com gets Series-A funding from Intel Capital
123Greetings.com, a leading provider of online e-card services, has received Series-A investment led by Intel Capital. According to IntraSoft Technologies, the owner of 123Greetings, the proceeds from the investment would be used to support future product launches, sales and marketing, infrastructure and expansion both in India and internationally.

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Info Edge (Naukri) net profit grows by 60% at Rs 14 crore for 3Q07-08
Info Edge India, owner of jobs site Naukri.com, has reported a growth of 60 per cent in net profit at Rs 13.09 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2007, as compared to Rs 8.15 crore recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2006. Total income increased by 59 per cent to Rs 60.18 crore from Rs 37.92 crore recorded a year ago.

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Sify posts 3Q07-08 net profit of $1.55 million; revenues grows to $38.38 million
Sify Technologies has reported a growth of 8.7 per cent in its revenues at $38.38 million for the third quarter ended December 2007, as against $35.30 million in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year. Net profit was $1.55 million as compared to the previous quarter’s net loss of $1.26 million and a net profit of $1.05 million in the quarter ended Dec 2006. Sify ended the third quarter with a cash balance of $42 million after capital expenditure of $5.94 million during the quarter.

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Rediff posts 10% growth in revenues at $8.5 million for 3Q07-08
Rediff has reported a growth of 10 per cent in its revenues at $8.53 million for the third quarter ended December 31, 2007, as compared to $7.75 million in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year.

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WebSight!-Spin the Web. Explore!

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Hotcourses India's UniGuru.com aims to guide Indian students looking for courses in higher education institutes abroad. The company also plans to launch a parallel site for domestic universities in India next year.

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i-Government is a interactive, peer-to-peer platform that aims at providing e-Gov champions with information on better strategies and policies for good governance.

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LaunchPad-Just Born Online (I just love the Betas!)

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Infiniti Software launches distressed inventory travel site AtYourPrice.in
Chennai-based Infiniti Software Solutions has launched AtYourPrice.in, an online travel marketplace where consumers can buy products and services at the price that they are willing to pay and vendors can dispose of unsold inventory at lower than the published price.

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Sabeer Bhatia launches free conferencing service SabseBolo
Hotmail co-founder Sabeer Bhatia has launched SabseBolo.com that offers a free conferencing facility for individuals and small and medium enterprises. According to Bhatia, revenue for this business will be generated through advertisements.

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Haryana launches website to facilitate investment in the state
The Haryana government, in association with Microsoft India, has launched HaryanaIndustries.nic.in, which aims to provide a window for global and national investors to look into the advantages Haryana offers as an investment destination and facilitate their involvement by providing relevant information and facilities online.

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Yahoo launches Behavioral Targeting solution for advertisers in India
Yahoo has launched its Behavioral Targeting solution for advertisers in India. Yahoo Behavioral Targeting, which has been available in US since 2000, allows web publishers and ad networks to track the online behaviors of their users who are then served ads that are best suited to the users’ interests.

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WhereIsMyBoss.com enables job seekers to get interviewed online
PGC Infotech has launched WhereIsMyBoss.com, a job portal that features an online video interviewing facility, dubbed LiveConnect. WhereIsMyBoss.com also claims to allow job seekers an option to select employers of their choice and vice versa.

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AskLaila introduces local search engine for Mumbai
Local search engine AskLaila.com, currently present in Bangalore, has introduced its services in Mumbai. AskLaila, a service from Bangalore-based start-up Four Interactive, provides users an online platform to search, review, rate and recommend local businesses and services.

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Fashion TV launches India centric fashion portal Ftv.co.in
Fashion TV has launched an India centric fashion portal Ftv.co.in as a one stop destination for fashion enthusiasts who could get their complete dose of information on everything related to fashion, entertainment and lifestyle in India and abroad.

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Indiatimes, Mobio launch mobile web-based platform iMobizo
Times Internet (Indiatimes.com) and US-based mobile VAS provider Mobio have jointly launched a mobile web-based platform iMobizo that will enable mobile subscribers in India to access cricket or stock news, contests, astrology, jokes, songs, ringtones, or latest political and business news by downloading the platform from the web.

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Microsoft launches networking site for law professionals, LegalAdda.com
Microsoft India has launched LegalAdda.com, an online community portal for law professionals. The site will also update people on topics like intellectual property rights.

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Web18 launches e-commerce portal Storeguru.com
Web18 Software Services, a part of the Network18 group, has launched an e-commerce portal Storeguru.com. Interestingly, the Network18 group has already another e-commerce portal HomeShop18.com.

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My FM radio launches interactive website MyFMIndia.com
Synergy Media Entertainment’s radio station My FM has launched its online portal MyFMIndia.com which will have podcasts of its radio shows. The website also allows listeners to send their song requests and listen to their favorite shows from MY FM.

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MeriNews.com launches Print version of Glimpses 2007
Citizen journalist news portal MeriNews.com has brought out a print magazine Glimpses 2007, which is a collection of select articles, comments and news items that were published on the site over the year 2007. MeriNews has also made Glimpses 2007 available in an online format.

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Nexus-Link.Un.Link

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Publicitas Digital to mange online sales for Reuters India website
Reuters India has appointed Publicitas Digital to provide online sales management for its recently launched website Reuters.co.in. Publicitas Digital will facilitate online media buys, provide digital marketing and creative online media solutions as well as develop long term monetization strategies for the news site.

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Dinesh Nair joins MindShare Interaction as Business Director
MindShare Interaction, the digital agency of Group M, has appointed Dinesh Nair as business director. Nair will handle the agency’s businesses in the New Delhi and Kolkata regions and will report to MindShare Interaction’s national director Madan Sanglikar.

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MakeMyTrip ties-up with IRCTC to sell customized rail-holiday packages
Online travel company MakeMyTrip.com has entered into a strategic partnership with Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to sell customised rail-holiday packages.

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Maya Hari joins MSN India as Consumer Marketing Head
MSN India has appointed Maya Hari as head of consumer marketing. She will report to Jaspreet Bindra, country manager, MSN India. Prior to joining MSN India, Hari was senior marketing manager at Google India.

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Microsoft acquires 35% stake in e-service firm Oxigen
Microsoft has acquired 35 per cent stake in Oxigen Services India, an e-distribution company that enables services like recharges, bill payments and subscriptions for telecom operators, internet service providers, direct-to-home broadcasters and railway and airline ticket booking.

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SaraiBooking.com launched to help Sikh pilgrims find accommodation
Amritpal Singh, an NRI based in Singapore, has launched SaraiBooking.com to help Sikh pilgrims find and book accommodation at Sarais (inns) while they are visiting Gurudwaras in India.

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WOW-Worth ‘O’ Watch!

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That’s all for now folks!

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Makkad-postcarding-G

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