Sun Lines Up Expansion Of Local Operations
Sun Microsystems Inc, the $9.87 billion global software major, has marked India as one of its major growth areas and emerging markets after China and Brazil.
"With the launch of the Indian subsidiary, Sun has planned a number of initiatives," said managing director, Bhaskar Pramanik. Network computing would provide India with an opportunity to create and patent software which would fuel the country's dream of becoming an IT superpower, he said.
Sun launched its wholly-owned Indian subsidiary, Sun Microsystems India Pte Ltd (SMIPL), early last month at Bangalore.
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The company's revenues from Indian operations grew 26 per cent in the year ended June 30, 1998. Sun had clocked a turnover of close to Rs 216 crore in the previous year.
In comparison, the company's Chinese operations clocked a turnover of $200 million for the year ended June 30, 1998.
Nearly 70 per cent of the company's revenues generated in India came from hardware. This, however, would soon be reversed in favour of software and services, Pramanik said. Sun currently markets its products through business partners in the country.
Sun plans to invest in expanding its reach and geographical spread in the country through business partners and also by opening up new sectors.
The company will provide solutions, applications and integration through alliances and partners and offer business solutions. It will also enhance its service and support infrastructure through partners by providing all backline support.
Sun plans to address the software development market by preparing programmes for sharing technology with software companies. The company plans to open Java training centres and solution centres in major cities in the next six months.
One of key areas being targeted by the company is the embedded products market (including white goods, phones, aircons, consumer electronic goods and a range of appliances) which would form the crux of the new generation gadgetry. This is an area where India can emerge as a major export centre, Pramanik said.
Sun will licence its Java applications to software companies in the country. Currently, the company has entered into licensing agreements with more than 110 firms worldwide.
Sun has a 30 per cent market share in the Unix workstation segment. It is also the leading vendor in the mid range server segment.