RIM to go slow on casting its WebWorld wide

Reliance Infocomm has decided to go slow on setting up Reliance WebWorld, a chain of retail stores for digital entertainment and communication and a one-stop-shop for its products and services.

Sarup Chowdhary, chief executive officer, Reliance Webstore Pvt Ltd, said, "We are not going to add new WebWorld stores this year. We have enough brick and mortar capacity and our reach is adequate. We will give ourselves some time now and concentrate on service and applications."

Reliance Infocomm showcases its products and services through these stores which have three key modules - a customer convenience centre, Javagreen, the gourmet coffee bar, and a broadband centre.

The company has about 1,400 WebWorld and WebWorld Express stores across the country. Chowdhary added that the company will do the usual addition of 10-12 WebWorld stores annually, "but I do not call it an expansion this year compared to 240 stores created last year."

He also pointed out that the company's franchisee store model "were less as they have to undergo retail leadership programme".

Meanwhile, Reliance Infocomm launched the country's first e-learning platform via virtual classrooms.

The company and Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneshwar, introduced the first ever post-graduate programme through virtual classrooms in over 100 cities via 240 Reliance WebWorld outlets. Blueshift will co-ordinate and manage the programme.

The virtual classroom will enable the students to see, hear the professor live, view slides, audio-visuals, participate in interactive sessions with the professor and other students.

Those who miss the class can catch up with the video recording on-demand at the WebWorlds.

The course will begin with an online registration and examination process initially across 12 cities through which student will be short-listed.

"We will soon offer courses on science, technology, IT, computer education and literacy. We are also in the process of tying up with foreign universities for e-learning," Chowdhary said.

It is expected that at least 150 -180 students will register for this e-learning post-graduate programme.

While broadband connectivity is priced at Rs 2,000 an hour, WebWorld is offering these services at concessions.

"This will be at least 30 per cent cheaper than the normal rate," Chowdhary added. He also claimed that the reduction in bandwidth prices will not affect the company "as this is based on internal application".