Reliance WebWorld, the technology services retail chain of Reliance Infocomm, Tuesday announced a tie-up with Intel to launch a computer gaming championship in India.

The contest, Gamebox National Championship 2005, will be held in more than 230 Reliance WebWorld stores across 104 cities in India between May 28 and June 12, said a statement issued by Reliance Infocomm.

Some 15,000 gaming enthusiasts are expected to participate in the championship, said the statement, adding the national winner of the gaming championship will win a TVS Victor motorbike.

"Multiplayer online gaming is one of the key broadband applications at Reliance WebWorld stores," said Sarup Chowdhary, chief executive officer of Reliance WebWorld.

"Creating an environment of competitiveness among participants in the interactive entertainment space is a business imperative today," he added.

Dedicated servers have been set up at the Reliance data centre to allow a large number of players to participate in the gaming championship.

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Ranbaxy launches new formulation in US

Ranbaxy Laboratories, India's largest drug maker by sales, said Tuesday the company has launched its approved generic formulation of tablets for treating infections in the US.

The New Delhi-based company's Clarithromycin tablets will be manufactured and marketed under the Ranbaxy label in the US, said a statement issued to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

The US Food and Drug Administration has determined that Ranbaxy's formulation can be expected to have the same therapeutic effect as an equivalent dose of Abbott's Biaxin Filmtab tablets, added the statement.

Total annual market sales for 250 mg and 500 mg of Biaxin Filmtab were $204.3 million in the fiscal year ended March 31, 2005.

Clarithromycin tablets are prescribed for the treatment of mild to moderate infections caused by susceptible strains of designated microorganisms.

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Satyam joins Microsoft insurance initiative

Satyam Computer Services, India's third-largest software exporter, said Tuesday it has partnered with Microsoft "Experience Insurance" initiative that helps in addressing market pressures facing the insurance enterprise.

The initiative is focused on significantly improving three key areas - the insurance customer, employee and operations experience, said a Satyam Computer statement issued to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

"Microsoft's technology solutions coupled with the depth of Satyam's insurance domain expertise makes this an ideal match," said Ravi Bommakanti, director and senior vice president of Satyam Computer Services.

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Shakti Pumps gets $3 mn order from US firm

Shakti Pumps (India) Ltd., one of Asia's largest manufacturers of stainless steel submersible pumps, said Tuesday the company has received a $3 million order from US-based Vervent Inc.

Shakti Pumps hopes to double its sales to Vervent, one of the largest traders of pump sets in the US, over the next couple of years, said a statement issued to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

The entire order will be executed by the end of September 2005, said the statement, adding during April this year the company had received export orders from South Africa and Australia.

"The company has achieved this quantum jump in its sales due to its virtual domination in the segment and availability of the complete range of pumps and motors," said the statement.

Shakti Pumps exports its products to over 40 countries.