Date:31/10/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/10/31/stories/2006103115790500.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

YSR wants hardware boom

Special Correspondent

Opens Motorola R&D centre

Wants hardware sector to grow on a par with software

Promises all help if the hardware facility comes up in city

NEW VENTURE: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy with Edward J. Zander, Chairman , Motorola Inc, during the launch of a Motorola facility in the city on Monday. -PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has asked Motorola Inc., a Fortune 100 global communications leader, to consider locating its hardware manufacturing facilities in the State.

Inaugurating Motorola's Research and Development facility here on Monday, the Chief Minister said that in addition to the talent pool of technocrats and engineers available in the State, the Government was willing to extend full support to improve the infrastructure. Though the State had been witnessing significant growth in the software segment, the growth on the hardware side was not along expected lines.

Dr. Reddy said the Motorola management could consider harnessing human resources from Jawahar Knowledge Centres, set up as a "last mile" requirement for training students coming out of colleges to suit the industry needs. Motorola's new facility, involving an investment of over Rs. 60 crores, has been developed on 2.3 acres with a built in space of 1.67 lakh sq. ft and has capacity to house 1,000 members.

Motorola chairman and CEO Edward J. Zander said the new facility would be involved in development of software solutions for the company's mobile phones and also work on developing software for low cost infrastructure solutions including WiMax Technologies.

Motorola Chief Technology Officer Padmashree Warrior said from a humble beginning with handful of employees in 1998, the company had increased its strength to 800. The new facility would be involved in the development of cutting-edge technologies in handset network and connected home products segment. Union Mines Minister T. Subbarami Reddy and others also spoke.