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Washington, DC, May. 26 (UPI) -- U.S. technology companies are seeing major new business opportunities in India, which already is viewed as the outsourcing capital of the world.
Earlier this month, Neoware Systems of King of Prussia, Pa., reached an agreement with Parrus IT Solutions of Bangalore to work together to tap into the potential of India's computer industry. Specifically, the two companies will provide server-based computing, also known as "thin-client" networks, which allow desktop users to cut back on hardware and software duplication in the office. It works by making software available to all those using a specific system, instead of requiring downloads to individual desktops.
Neoware, however, is far from alone in seeing huge potential in the Indian market. Wyse Technology of Silicon Valley likewise is stepping up efforts to do more business in the thin-client computing industry.
The single-biggest benefit of a server-based computer system is "definitely to cut costs," said Michael Kantrowitz, chief executive of Neoware. He told United Press International that by shifting from the traditional computer user form into the so-called thin-client system, companies could cut information-technology costs by about 75 percent.
Certainly, there is potential for the information-sharing system, particularly in a country such as India, where demand for computers continues to surge. IDC, a private research group, found that the subcontinent's market for thin-client solutions will grow by 17.3 percent this year and increase by nearly 31 percent by 2007.
Kantrowitz noted that cost was not the only factor for the attractiveness of server-based computing. In addition, it also is more secure than regular desktops.
The system is "immune from viruses which is a huge problem for businesses worldwide," he said, adding that by adopting the network, companies can "solve the problem of (computer) security."
Low-cost and low-maintenance needs of thin-client computing systems is attractive to the Indian market because there is less need for a huge support system, said Tarkan Maner, chief management officer of Wyse.
They are "easy to maintain, and don't break with a simple platform," Maner told UPI. He added that although conventional desktop computers need to be downloaded with numerous security-software applications -- which need to be updated continuously -- thin-client computing only needed one such program to be put in just once.
Meanwhile, software developer Al Canton, president of Adams-Blake Co. in Fair Oaks, Calif., told UPI thin-client computing is very cost-effective on a large scale.
"While no one contests the fact that developing server-side applications is more expensive and takes longer," Canton said, "the payoff is in deployment and maintenance. When you have to make a change or fix a bug, you do it in one place. You don't have to roll-out 10,000 copies to 10,000 desktop ... and suffer the usual installation crashes on a percentage of the computers in the enterprise."
He added that the logical outgrowth of this is to use vendor-supplied web-based services. "There is nothing to download, nothing to install. Just pay a small monthly fee and everything is done for you," Canton said. |
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