MS tool to rival Google Analytics

The software giant Microsoft is upping the ante in its war against the search giant Google. The company is readying a tool which is aimed at taking on Google Analytics product.

The software maker is gearing up to release a beta version of its Web analytics tool called Gatineau says Ian Thomas, who works for Microsoft's Digital Advertising Solutions Group in his blog. The service promises to offer features beyond Google and is expected to go live later this year.

According to the posting, the tool will allow users to segment Web traffic by both age as well as by gender. However, Thomas stresses that Microsoft will extract the demographic data anonymously from users' Live ID profiles.

The Gatineau project is based on the technology Microsoft acquired from DeepMetrix in 2006.

Thomas said that the target audience is similar to that of Google Analytics, though he says it won't just replicate its functionality.

Thomas added that Microsoft has been ramping up the project slowly to avoid the teething problems Google had when it launched its free Web Analytics service in November 2005. Google was forced to suspend new subscriptions for the service a week after its launch due to an unforeseen demand which affected its performance. The service was later reopened to new users in January 2006.

Microsoft is yet to announce an official release date for the software.

Sony unveils new Vaio range

Aiming at the burgeoning population of youngsters in India, Sony has unveiled a range of its 'Vaio' laptops to lure youth of the nation and double its market share in notebooks' production.

Currently Sony enjoyed around 5.6 per cent share of the retail notepad sales, but the two-month long campaign would help the company double its market share.

The new CR range of 'Vaio' notepads featuring different colors and designs is priced between Rs 54,990 to Rs 64,990.

The company is also offering zero per cent financing scheme to make them affordable.

Sony would run a 90-day long promotional programme in print media, electronic media and even in night clubs and shopping malls.

For establishing a connection with people in 18-35 age group, Sony India has launched a Rs 10 crore promotional campaign for shopping malls and night clubs besides print and electronic advertisements.

Earlier Sony India had announced a sales target of two billion dollar for this year, of which 11 per cent is expected to come from the sales of 'Vaio' range.

Intel, HCL launches classmate PCs

The world’s largest chip maker Intel and leading computer manufacturer HCL Infosystems on Saturday announced the launch of classmate PCs.

The mobile PC is priced in the sub-Rs 18,000 range and will be available in the market for schools starting August, HCL infosystems executive vice-president Rajendra Kumar as informed.

“Rs 18,000 includes the cost of installing supporting connectivity infrastructure, teachers’ training and customised learning solutions through our tie-up with content developers and education service providers.

The cost will further go down,” he said. A classmate PC is an educational tool developed by Intel to aid students in their classroom learning. It is powered by Intel processor 900 MHZ and comes with WIFI and ethernet connectivity.

Classmate PCs will be retailed through schools and HCL Infosystems expects to deploy 3,000-5,000 such PCs over the next nine months to an year.