Essar Telecom plans to sell Kenya business

Essar Telecom is planning to sell its Kenya business to Indian telecom service provider Airtel and Kenya's operator Safaricom.

Walmart to spread its web in India

 Months after it put its brick-and mortar expansion plans in India in deep freeze, Walmart Stores is quietly readying a major e-retailing push in India with an electronic marketplace business model akin to that used by US-based Amazon and eBay Inc.

Forbes list has 6 Indian technology billionaires

The Forbes global rich list boasts 123 billionaires, including six Indians, who derived their fortunes from tech ventures. Because of the tech boom and a strong stock market, the USonce again led the world with 492 billionaires, followed byChina (152) and Russia (111).

India’s manufacturing activity rises to a year high

Manufacturing activity continued to remain buoyant in February on a jump in domestic and export orders suggesting that the worst may be over for India Inc.

‘Brand India is gaining prominence overseas with steady success’

India’s rise as a global investment destination has also been aided by a strong marketing and brand promotion push. India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), a trust established by the department of commerce, ministry of commerce and industry, has been leading this promotion of the ‘India Brand’ overseas.

40 African nations at business conclave

At least 40 African countries are expected to take part in an India-Africa business conclave March 9-11 that will focus on two-way trade and investment.

eBay leads $134 million fund infusion in Snapdeal

One of the world's largest digital marketplaces eBay Inc is leading a $134 million (Rs 830 crore) investment in Snapdeal in a deal that suggests investor appetite for the potential winners in Indian e-commerce remains intact.

The domestic online retailers such as Flipkart, Myntra, Jabong and Snapdeal have raised more than $600 million in the past nine months. The leaders are getting a bump up while laggards are falling out of the race even as domestic online shopping is expanding at over 80% annually.

India's e-commerce market, excluding online travel, is estimated at $3 billion. The country's internet users have swelled to 200 million with over 20 million of them transacting online. eBay is investing $100 million and the rest $34 million coming from smaller existing investors like Nexus Venture Partners, Kalaari Capital, Bessemer Venture Partners and Intel Capital.

TOI was the first to report about eBay leading an large investment round for the Delhi-based Snapdeal on October 17 last year.

Start-ups tap campus, social media for talent

“If you have had enough of your 9-5 corporate job and are looking for something refreshing and challenging, we will gladly welcome you,” says a tweet by Nayi Disha, a start-up founded by BITS students.

India is a huge market for WhatsApp, says 'Disco Dancer'-loving co-founder Jan Koum

Growing up in the former Soviet Union, Jan Koum watched a lot of Bollywood. The Communist leadership deemed it to be healthy entertainment unlike the decadent trash churned out by the West. That’s how the cofounder of WhatsApp had the surprising privilege of seeing Disco Dancer — and not just once or twice. “I grew up watching Indian movies as a kid in Russia. I am quite familiar with Bollywood,” said the man who’s just sold his company for $19 billion to Facebook. “I grew up watching Disco Dancer. I watched it some 20 times as a kid.” For those who don’t remember, this was a worldwide smash hit starring Mithun Chakraborty that was released in 1982, featuring music by Bappi Lahiri and a guitar electrified with 5,000 volts that’s used as a murder weapon.

Mahindra Comviva partners Bharti Airtel in 16 African nations

Mobile solutions provider Mahindra Comviva has partnered with Bharti Airtel for deploying its enterprise communications platform in 16 countries across Africa, a company statement said here Monday.