Tech Top Up

Going Pre-paid with PCs



Think pre-paid, and you automatically think mobile. But if the International

Finance Corp and Microsoft's efforts prove fruitful, it will soon be a term we

will associate with computers. The reason cell-phones have proved so successful

is because, the option to go pre-paid exists. The private sector arm of the

World Bank, and Microsoft have figured that if the model can work with computers

in developing countries, maybe, PC penetration will become better. The model is

similar to the concept of buying a computer in installments, except that in this

case, the computer won't work if you haven't paid up. A user buys a PC for

$200-250, while a local bank takes care of the rest of the money. The user also

gets a card that activates his computer usage time, and uses it till the balance

amount and interest is paid off. The International Finance Corp covers the local

bank's risk in this model. This model is being tested out in Brazil with 1,000

PCs costing $600 each.

We hope that this model succeeds. Because what India needs desperately is

much higher PC penetration.

Masters in BPO



The BPO boom is creeping into the formal education system. Various

initiatives from BPO companies to train students while they are still in

college, have been attempted. Some companies even go so far as to hire students

who have just completed their XII standard. They permit them to pursue college

studies parallelly. Now there is a next step to all this-why train the

students? Why not train the teachers to create a more BPO aligned work force? A

new attempt by 24x7 can hold some answers. The company has launched the 24x7

Varsity, in association with the DIT, AP Government. This aims to train the

teachers of various colleges of the state. When they train the students it is

hoped that they will get a bigger picture of pursuing a BPO career, and develop

a professional attitude towards the industry.

But even as the catch-them-younger wave gains momentum there are those who

fear the time when it will have the inevitable backlash. The age for studying is

losing out to the pursuit of glamorous, but heavily demanding jobs, they say.

And what about the changes the 'BPO culture' is bringing in, they ask? Where

a job is just a place you wait at till the next one comes along. Surely that is

not a good sign for an industry, which needs to provide consistent and reliable

work all the time.

The eBay Way



Buy low, auction high. Last month saw many people attending eBay's annual

user conference at Las Vegas. Yes, with 200 mn registered users, it is large

enough to have an international conference of its own. The message was

simple-set up your small business with eBay. The business concept is equally

straight-buy something cheap, advertise it on eBay, and let the bids begin. If

someone finds them worthwhile you make a profit. But before you chuck up your

job and switch on your computer do remember that you need to have the knack for

picking the goods that buyers will be willing to bid for. As a cynical friend

put it-the 'kabadiwala' has been doing this for ages. You cannot win them

all!

The author is editor-in-chief of CyberMedia, the publisher of Dataquest. He

can be reached at shyamm@cybermedia.co.in