What's wrong with India's software product eco-system?

India has been ahead in software services, but it has failed to see the same traction in the software products segment, despite having the right minds. Recently, it seems like we've been heading in the right direction-with the formation of bodies like iSPIRT and NASSCOM's Product Council that are working for a better eco-system for this industry.

In an exclusive interview with Dataquest, Sharad Sharma, a founding member of iSPIRT (who previously chaired the NASSCOM Product forum) speaks about the pressing issues our software products industry faces and discusses how iSPIRT intends to create an open community that will guide entrepreneurs.

Do you feel that the Indian government provides MNCs with better support?

Why does India need to change its ways for the software product industry?

Indian entrepreneurs spend significant time on product development and are building IP/patentable products, but investors advise entrepreneurs to move it outside India. What can be done to retain this talent within the country?

India is known for its talent in software and products but there aren't many software products coming out of India. Why?

Why do you feel a domestic software product industry will be stronger than services?

How does iSPIRT plan to implement the growth of software products in India?

What is the ideology behind iSPIRT?

It's been a few months since iSPIRT was formed. What difference do you believe you have made so far within the industry?

Recently, everyone was talking about members breaking away from NASSCOM to form iSPIRT. Was there a conflict of interest?

Read the full interview

6 Things to Know Before Applying to the Nasscom 10,000 Startups Program

The Nasscom 10,000 Startups program is inviting applications from entrepreneurs to pitch their startups to stand a chance to get funded, get access to mentors, park yourselves in a nice plug and play office and get some useful products from Microsoft and Google for free. Here are six things you need to know before you apply.

1. Process
2. Timelines
3. Eligibility for Nasscom 10,000Startups program
4. Partners
5. Benefits
6. Important Links: Website- www.10000startups.com & Learning center- http://www.youtube.com/10000startups

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The SIIA CODiEM Awards

During the past 27 years, the SIIA CODiE Awards have recognized more than 1,000 software and information companies for achieving excellence. The CODiE Awards remain the only peer-recognized program in the content, education, and software industries so each CODiE Award win serves as incredible market validation for a product’s innovation, vision, and overall industry impact.

The SIIA CODiE Awards were established in 1986 so that pioneers of the then-nascent software industry could evaluate and honor each other's work. During the years that followed, the program evolved into three tracks—organized by industry focus in content, education, and software—but our core mission has always remained the same: recognizing excellence by honoring the software and information industry's leading products and services. Award winners are able to leverage their CODiE Award as a prestigious representation of outstanding achievement and vision in the software and information industries.

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The Emotional Computer

Can computers understand emotions? Can computers express emotions? Can they feel emotions? The latest video from the University of Cambridge shows how emotions can be used to improve interaction between humans and computers.

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R&D 100 Awards

At R&D Magazine, the editors are fond of saying that all 100 winners of our annual R&D 100 Awards are equal. That is, there is no ratings system for our final 100.

This is important because the products that the editors and industry experts judge every year are so different.

Technology is never constant; to help readers navigate this sea of technology, the winning products are organized into categories.

View these general categories (which includes Communication Technologies, Consumer Products, Imaging Technologies, Information Technologies, Software etc., ) and recent winners. Read the full article

13 Most Important Microsoft Product Lines

Microsoft is an unusual company for the sheer number of product lines that bring in more than a billion dollars. While the company doesn't break out revenues for all of its product lines, Communications Director Frank Shaw famously revealed Microsoft's billion-dollar businesses to the TechFlash news blog last year. Under those businesses, of course, are Microsoft's most important product lines. Microsoft has its hands in many areas -- here's the 13 most important products to keep an eye on in 2012.

1. Windows
2. Office
3. Exchange
4. SharePoint
5. SQL Server
6. Windows Server
7. Visual Studio
8. Xbox
9. Bing
10. Dynamics
11. System Center
12. Skype
13. Windows Azure

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