■Cisco systems
Indian firms to get orders
Cisco Systems Inc, the world's largest maker of equipment that link computers and direct Internet traffic, plans to farm out more work to Indian software companies to cut costs, the Financial Express reported, citing a Cisco official. Despite a freeze on global hiring, Cisco has indirectly added about 700 people in India at partner companies, the paper cited S. Devarajan, vice president at Cisco's local unit, as saying. Cisco plans to sign up new partners to expand work, the paper said. Cisco employs about 2,300 people in India, out of which about 1,600 work at its partner companies such as Wipro Ltd and HCL Technologies Ltd and the rest work at its own local research and development centers. Cisco is paring costs as it awaits a rebound in revenue growth, which averaged 88 percent in the 1990s before buyers slowed purchases.
■ Hewlett-Packard
Investigation being blocked
Hewlett-Packard Co and its lawyers have been accused by the California attorney general of misleading investors and frustrating an investigation, the Wall Street Journal reported on its Web site. State and federal investigators are looking into potential defects in the company's computers, the newspaper said, citing court documents. Whistle-blower Phillip Adams switched sides and got US$27.5 million in consulting fees from the company, the newspaper said. California Attorney General Bill Lockyer is looking into Hewlett-Packard's and Adams's conduct and wants to prevent whistle-blowers from colluding with defendants for financial gain and undermining state investigations, the newspaper said, citing an unidentified spokesman. Hewlett-Packard believes it acted ethically and in the best interest of consumers, the Journal said, citing an unidentified spokeswoman.
■ Online music
Companies to sue Kazaa
A US federal judge has given record companies and movie studios the go-ahead to sue the parent company of Kazaa, a popular online file-swapping service. US District Judge Stephen V. Wilson refused to dismiss a copyright infringement lawsuit against Sharman Networks Ltd, which had argued that it could not be sued in the US because it is based in Australia and incorporated in the South Pacific nation of Vanuatu. In a 46-page ruling issued Friday, the judge said Sharman is subject to US copyright laws because it has substantial business dealings in California and its actions are alleged to contribute to commercial piracy within the US. Kelly Larabee, a Sharman spokeswoman, said that while the company was "disappointed" with the ruling, "we fully expect to prevail on the merits."
■ Wire services
Reuters to cut 1,000 jobs
Reuters Group Plc will cut 1,000 jobs as the world's biggest publicly traded provider of financial information seeks to reduce costs, the Sunday Times of London reported, citing unidentified people in the industry. Chief Executive Officer Tom Glocer may announce the job losses when the company releases full-year earnings next month. Jobs will be cut in finance, administration and software development over the next year. Reuters declined to comment. The London-based company is being hurt by a slump in stock sales that led banks to cut jobs and budgets.
Agencies
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