Bangalore IT.in to highlight IP development

Bangalore, Oct 19: The ninth edition of Bangalore IT.in, the biggest annual IT event of the country held in the Silicon Valley of India, will showcase a representative set of companies developing Intellectual Property (IP), from October 28 to 31.

The highlight of this year's event would be the 'IP Zone' to propagate that India was not only involved in delivering IT services, but also in creating IP that enabled the country to compete with developed countries in creating high-end technology products for the global market.

Briefing newspersons about the initiative, Karnataka IT, BT and Science and Technology Secretary M N Vidyashankar said a number of companies were engaged in development of IP in the city and 14 such companies had confirmed participation. The IT Zone, with the theme 'Innovative India', would have products developed by these firms and 12 more companies were expected to participate in the show.

He said about 175 companies had confirmed their entries and the total number could exceed 300, which included both Indian and multinational companies. An SME forum was being set up to focus on the issues being faced by small and medium enterprises in the sector.

Mr Vidyashankar said eight foreign delegations, including those from the UK, Spain, Bavaria, Indo-German and Australian Chamber of Commerce, would take part in the event.

He said Bangalore would become the first city in the country and only the second in the world to offer wireless broadband services (WiMax) in an year's time. A trial run would be conducted from October 23 for which mobile phone provider Aircel had come forward to provide the services. Two more service providers, including Airtel, would be roped in for the purpose. An area of 679 sqkm would be covered once the service was commissioned, he added.

UNI