We are still strong in the call center business

With the recent BSNL tie-up, you have entered the Indian market. How do

you see your growth from here?



India is a very exciting market for us, especially in the telephony sector.

Today, there are lot more opportunities with the upswing in allotment of

spectrum here. 3G will also open up a host of opportunities for providing more

content-based data.

What are the other sectors that Convergys is looking to explore?



There is a boom in cable and satellite (direct-to-home) services. We see a

strong market opportunity, and we will pursue upgrading, billing, and so on,

since this sector is also poised to mature with complex service offerings

similar to that of telecom. Convergys will look to offer a cohesive set of

services to those who have disparate systems of data handling.

The largest chunk of your business comes from the outsourcing segment. Has

it been hit by the falling dollar? Does India make cost sense with global

economies slowing down?



We still see a lot of potential, as before, in the call center business, and

we are still strong on it. Most of our contracts are in the local currency, so

we are hedged against dropping dollar rates. India is not only driven by cost

but also by the English knowledge capabilities, so that would continue.

In terms of headcount, what are your growth plans in India?



Convergys will look to improve margins and add revenue in our outsourcing
business. In the information management line of business, we are looking to grow

with opportunities in India and the Apac region.

Could you provide some information on the testing center?



Convergys testing center in India is mainly for its in-house products. This has
been largely successful. We have done a number of small deals on an experimental

basis to test the software of our customers, names which we cannot reveal right

now. Most of this is in the domain we already operate in. We are looking

actively to generate revenue from testing center services.

Sushma Naik/CyberMedia News



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