News Roundup: Via to Raise $100mn, HCL Launches Android Tablet

Via to Raise $100 Million

Indian travel services company Via plans to raise as much as $100 million from venture capital and private equity investors to fund its global expansion. The Bangalore-based company, formerly known as Flight Raja Travels Pvt. Ltd, also plans to sell shares to the public in India and the U.S. to raise as much as $1 billion in the next 18 months to 24 months [source].

Bharatstudent.com eyes Nasdaq listing by early 2012

Student and youth community focused online portal Bharatstudent.com, run by Social Media India, is set to be listed on the Nasdaq by early next year. Bharatstudent.com will be carved out as a separate company before the listing. [source]

Govt suggests telcos employ only Indians in sensitive posts

With the telecom sector becoming a potential security threat due to use of imported equipment, the government has proposed that service providers employ only Indian nationals in sensitive positions like Chief Technical Officer and Chief Information Security Officer.[source]

HCL Launches Android Tablet in India

HCL has launched three Android tablets in India with prices starting from Rs. 14,990. The three models are HCL Me AE7-A1 : The HCL Me AE7-A1 is priced at 14,990 and is powered by an 800 MHz ARM processor. The tablet runs Froyo (Android v.2.2) and weighs 400 grams.