World Wide Trends: 02/05/09

ICFAI MCA Program 2009 Admissions Opens

>> Thursday, February 5, 2009

ICFAI School of Information Technology offers MCA Program (2009-12)

Admission Modalities are with reference to ISIT MCA Test (IMCAT) 2009 for the MCA Program offered by the ICFAI University, Dehradun.

The MCA program of the University is a three-year, full-time program. It is designed to develop IT Professionals.

The program also designed to train students in the state-of-art technology such as object-oriented analysis/design techniques and programming, client server application development, distributed database development, telecommunications and local area network design and artificial intelligence/expert systems.

Eligibility

Graduation (10+2+3 or 10+2+4) from any discipline (English medium) with 50% and above aggregate. All applicants should have completed a minimum of 15 years of formal schooling (on 10+2+3or 10+2+4 basis) by July 06, 2009. Applicants who have completed their graduation on a one-time sitting basis or on a 2-year basis are not eligible for admission into the MCA Program. Students in their final year bachelor’s degree course are also eligible to apply, provided they complete their graduation requirements including practical examinations /viva/assignments by July 06, 2009.

Admission Criteria

The selection of applicants to the MCA program is made through ISIT MCA Test (IMCAT).

IMCAT 2009: All applicants desirous of admission into the MCA Program of ISIT are required to appear for the ISIT MCA Test (IMCAT) 2009, which will be of 3 hours duration. IMCAT format comprises multiple choice questions and test an applicant’s analytical ability. Mathematical ability, vocabulary, business and computer terminology, functional grammar and reading comprehension.

Application Forms are available at

# 1D ,1st Floor, Eldorado Building, #112 Nungambakkam High Road, Chennai -600 034, Ph: 044- 28279988, www.isitindia.org

www.isitindia.org

Admission Calendar:

Last date for receipt of application forms at, ISIT-HQ, Hyderabad
April 20, 2009

Online Admit Cards (No hard copies will be sent)
April 13, 2009 onwards

IMCAT 2009 Test Date
May 3 ,2009

IMCAT 2009 Test Centers
48 Centers All Over India.

IMCAT 2009 Results
May, 16, 2009. Available on website: www.isitindia.org. 8.00pm IST Onwards.

For more info-:

Icfai School of Information Technology
# 65, Nagarjuna Hills, Punjagutta,
Hyderabad - 500 082. Fax: 040-23430241.
http://www.isitindia.org/

Naan Kadavul Review

After three years of tough schedules of shooting and changes in the casting, Bala’s Naan Kadavul will be releasing this month. As usual, completely removed from the commercial potboilers, Naan Kadavul is here to deliver another strong message to the audiences. It comes with the tag-line ‘Aham Brahmaasmi’. Arya plays the role of a ‘Sadhu’ and Pooja is a poor girl in the film. Major part of the shooting has been carried out in Kasi. Naan Kadavul is an Ilayaraja musical.

‘Amma Un Pillai’ is the highlight of the album. The song’s tune and tempo are remade from one of Ilayaraja’s earlier hits ‘Amma Un Kovilil’. S. Janaki’s classic, all-time favourite rendition is replicated by Sadhana Sargam and the singer does her best. The silky timbre in her voice itself delivers the exact feel. Shreya Goshal’s ‘Kannil Paarvai’ too creates a sombre mood. Shreya’s slow yet emotion-filled singing makes us lie back, close our eyes and drink in the deep feeling in the tune as well as the lyrics. ‘Maatha Un Kovilil’ by Madhumitha is a rehash of the same old tune along with the lyrics. The difference between the original and the new version is the change in the assortment of instruments Ilayaraja has chosen for the BGM.

Title : Naan Kadavul
Movie Type : Tamil
Director : Bala
Cast : Arya, Pooja, Umashankar
Dialogues : Jayamohan
Music : Ilayaraja
Production : Vasan Visual Venture K S Srinivasan
Movie Rating : 1 star
Lyrics : Valee

Movie Story

For spiritual and astrological change, a far drive his son home. Tamilnadu boy go and take refuge in Kasi. At the same time, realizing his folly, far goes looking for her son to Varanasi. Arya growing up in the middle of Saadhu and Sanyasins and become one with long hair and bloody appearance. Shocked to see his son in such a condition that he decides to end his return to his hometown. Read More Information
Ilayaraja’s music will be a great adornment to Naan Kadavul. The exquisite music and the meaningful lyrics prepare us well to absorb the intense theme of the film.

via : http://filmistan.mywebdunia.com

Pacer Edwards most expensive Windies player for IPL auction

GOA, India (CMC) - Fast bowler Fidel Edwards will be the highest valued West Indies players when the lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) auction is staged today.

The 26-year-old Barbadian was one of eight West Indies players that will be involved in the media frenzy along with Sylvester Joseph, Darren Sammy, Kieron Pollard, Andre Fletcher, Kieron Powell, Dwayne Smith and Kemar Roach.

Edwards, who recently crested 100 wickets in Tests on the recent tour of New Zealand, has been valued at US$150,000.

The West Indians will be among 112 other players, including 27 Australians, 21 Englishmen, 15 Sri Lankans and 13 South Africans, who will go under the hammer in the multi-million dollar event.

Pollard, the big-hitting Trinidadian all-rounder, has been pre-valued at US$60,000 while rookie pacer Roach has been pencilled in at US$50,000.

IPL commissioner Lalit Modi said he was pleased with the interest shown in the tournament.

"Clearly the Indian Premier League has set new standards in helping uncover and hone some exciting new talents, that have gone on to gain international recognition," said Modi.

"All of which augurs well for development of world cricket. We are extremely happy with the interest the league has garnered globally."

England star Kevin Pietersen is set to fetch the highest price at the auction, with franchises expected to pay around US$1.35 million. Teammate Andrew Flintoff is tipped to get around US$950,000.

New South African batting sensation JP Duminy is also one of the highest valued players at $300,000.
The IPL runs from April 10 to May 29.
>

IPL Auction - Season 2

The IPL auction — live!
Scheduled to start @ 10 am, today, 50 players will be auctioned in Goa for the 8 teams-playing in the IPL.

The 50 players have been divided into two sets of 5 players each, and then subsequent sets of 10 each, with the first set containing the players with the highest reserve price.

KP is the man with the highest reserve price, pegged at $1.3 million, and Vijay Mallya, the owner of BRC has made it clear that he is ready to spend his entire quota on this player, so as to instill some pinch hitting in his seemingly test squad! Clarke and Freddie have been reserved at $1 mil and $.95 mil each. J P Duminy, the star and the find of the SA's tour Down Under has got himself a reserve price of $300,000.

Some good money with some good talent out there!

However, even with the suspension of a few players, withdrawal of a few other, there are only 17 places up for grabs.

And then with a cap of $2 million on every team, what with some already haven spent some of it on Australian, South African and Indian domestic talent, even 17 players may not really be bought.

So, what finally happens today is yet to be seen. With All Padded Up having covered IPL, so extensively, in its inaugural season, stay rest assured that our coverage of IPL, this second season is going to get better!

UPTU B.Tech Results 2009

UPTU publishes Even and 1st Sem BTech Results
Uttar Pradesh Technical University (UPTU) publishes first & even semester B.Tech results 2008. Click the below link for results.

1st Sem B.Tech Results

Even Sem BTech Results

HOMEMADE 12-CELL Eee BATTERY

little project seeing the fire risks and hazzards it posses. But it is pretty neat if not ugly by any standard. Anyways TenaciousDre decided to put Asus Eee PC 10-cell battery to shame by making his own 12-cell unit.
He completed the feat by shrink-wrapping a four cell laptop battery with another eight batteries from other laptops to produce the 12-cell version you see above.
While not a design masterpiece (in terms of looks) it still gets the job done and doesn't look much better than the "hammerhead edition" currently on the Eee 901.

Source..

Waterproof laptop bag

It is about time a truly waterproofed laptop bag reached the market, and this one from Overboard can even be used as a backpack too. It is made from a PVC tarpaulin and had plenty room for all your gadgets as well.
Features
Manufactured from tough and hard wearing PVC tarpaulin
Weatherproof main compartment with zipper flaps (Class 1)
3 stage telescopic handle fully extends to 55cm / 26″
Padded tuck-away shoulder straps with quick release buckles
Wheel covers to prevent dirtying clothes when using as a backpack
MP3 / Media pocket with hole to pass through headphones
Internal laptop holder for up to 16” widescreens
Main compartment expansion zip
Front zip document pocket
Padded top carry handle
Note: Headphones NOT supplied.
Size Guide
Height: 50cm / 19.5″
Width: 33cm / 13″
Depth: 24cm / 9.5″
Weight: 2.68kgs
Priced at $110
Source..

Dev D Movie Review

Movie : Dev D
Director : Anurag Kashyap
Cast : Abhay Deol, Kalki Koechlin, Mahi Gill, Parakh Madan, Dibyendu Bhattacharya

There's a major difference between KL Saigal, Dilip Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan and Abhay Deol's Devdas. The first three films were faithful to Sarat Chandra's legendary novella, while Anurag Kashyap's deviant take on Devdas is contemporary and in the process, differs from the original work.

In Kashyap's Dev D, Dev is into drugs and vodka. Paro sends her nude photograph to Dev via email and later, wants Dev to have sex with her in the fields. Chanda, a hooker, indulges in phone sex mainly. Clearly, Kashyap's Dev, Paro and Chanda are audacious and rebellious. Check out Dev D special

There's no harm if you pick up an enticing story and tell it your way, but Kashyap goes a bit too far, crosses all limits and tends to get abstract once again. And that's the reason for Dev D's downfall.

To Kashyap's credit, a number of individualistic scenes are interestingly handled. Unfortunately, the proceedings gyrate from absorbing to boring to yawn-inducing. The writing (screenplay: Anurag Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane) lacks consistency.

So what's the final word? Does Kashyap redeem himself after the boring and listless No Smoking? Unfortunately, he doesn't. Watching Dev D is akin to doing atyachaar on oneself! Check out Dev D special

Son of a rich industrialist, who is sent away to London when he was 12, Dev (Abhay Deol) returns to his hometown and to Paro (Mahi Gill), his childhood sweetheart. Inseparable as they seem, a misunderstanding puts their lives in a tizzy; Paro is married off to someone else and Dev goes into severe depression.

Not one to take on responsibilities for his acts, Dev digs deep into drugs and alcohol for salvation. He stays away from home, but his finances still come from a doting father.

Lenny (Kalki) likes to live her life on the edge -- a rich student with a penchant for adventure. After a devastating MMS scandal, she's abandoned by her family and is forced into isolation. As a runaway, she finds shelter with Chunni, a pimp. With great determination and inner strength she adopts an alter ego - Chanda.

As Chanda, she gets to be a high profile escort by night, while Lenny remains a college student by day. At this juncture, Dev enters her life.

Despite the fact that you know the basic plotline of Dev D even before the reels begin to unfold, what you're keen to know is, how has Kashyap executed the subject? The sequences between Dev and Paro at the start are captivating and the volatile relationship they share makes you realize that Kashyap is on the right track. Note the altercation between Dev and Paro, which prompts Paro to marry Bhuvan, who's much older to her, besides being a father of two.

After Paro's marriage, Dev D starts going downhill. Lenny/Chanda's MMS scandal is straight out of life and the reasons that make her turn into a hooker are well explained. But the sequences between Dev and Chanda lack fizz. Equally sad are the scenes between Dev and Chunni. Besides, there's not much movement in the story after a point and the goings-on get boring. The journey to the climax is prolonged and tedious.

Amit Trivedi's music sounds good to the ears. Emosanal Attyachaar is already popular, besides a couple of other songs (Nayan Tarse and Pardesi]. But there're too many songs in the narrative. Rajeev Ravi's cinematography captures the rustic look of North India well. Check out Dev D special

Abhay Deol is natural. Mahi is decent, while Kalki shows sparks in a few scenes only. The balance cast, including the actor playing Chunni, are strictly okay.

T-Mobile officially acknowledges the Samsung Memoir

We know just about all there is to know about the 8-megapixel Samsung Memoir at this point, but that doesnt keep us from gettin’ that funny feeling we get whenever a carrier makes a handset official. It’s like an angel getting their wings - except instead of an angel it’s a phone and instead of wings it’s a press release. Still, yay!

There’s still no official word of when it’ll drop or pricing, but the leaked spec sheet (which points at a release in late February) has been pretty spot on so far.

What we know about the Memoir:

* Rumored launch date of February 25th
* Rumored launch price of $299 (with contract)
* 8 megapixel camera with Xenon flash, 16x digital zoom, CMOS autofocus
* 3G
* Widgets for one click uploading to flickr, Kodak Gallery, Photobucket and Snapfish.
* aGPS
* Stereo Bluetooth
* TouchWiz UI

SAMSUNG MOBILE AND T-MOBILE USA INTRODUCE BEST-IN-CLASS
8-MEGAPIXEL CAMERA PHONE

Samsung Memoir™ Captures and Shares High-Quality Images
With Advanced Features and Touch Screen

DALLAS, and BELLEVUE, WASH. — Feb. 5, 2009 — Samsung Telecommunications America (Samsung Mobile) and T-Mobile USA, Inc., today announced the upcoming availability of the Samsung Memoir™, a full touch-screen mobile phone equipped with an 8-megapixel camera and premium multimedia features, placing it among the highest quality imaging phones available in the U.S.

The Memoir, available exclusively from T-Mobile, is designed to look and feel like a customer’s current point-and-shoot digital camera. The built-in 8-megapixel camera with Xenon flash, 16x digital zoom and five shooting modes empower customers to capture exceptional photos and videos from their phone — whether they’re on the go, on a vacation or just hanging out around the house.

The touch-screen phone, enabled by Samsung’s TouchWiz™ user interface and powered by T-Mobile’s high-speed 3G network, makes sharing photos easy. Samsung’s new photo widget allows customers to post images taken with the Memoir directly to their favorite online photo sharing source, such as flickr®, Kodak® Gallery, Photobucket and Snapfish.

“With the 8-megapixel Samsung Memoir, T-Mobile customers can capture and share little slices of life in all their vibrant brilliance,” said Denny Marie Post, chief marketing officer, T-Mobile USA. “With the ability to share photos at your fingertips, the Memoir helps make those connections more meaningful by their immediacy.”

The Memoir’s full-touch virtual QWERTY keypad and multiple messaging capabilities, including text, multimedia messaging, instant messaging and e-mail, make staying connected quick and easy while on the go. The Memoir is complete with a music and video player and built-in Assisted GPS navigation, which allows customers to utilize location-based services including turn-by-turn directions. For hands-free use, the Memoir features stereo Bluetooth® technology, speakerphone and voice-activated dialing.

“This is the camera phone that will make people want to leave their digital camera at home,” said Bill Ogle, Chief Marketing Officer for Samsung Mobile. “When you combine the Memoir’s imaging capabilities, customizable menus and music player, not only is it a great phone, but the entertainment possibilities are unlimited.”

T-Mobile’s 3G coverage available in select markets. Samsung Memoir also works on T-Mobile’s 2G network. See coverage maps at T-Mobile.com

Model number: SGH-t929

S1Digital Intros the New P500 Media Center PC

We just got word from S1Digital that the company has designed a new Media Center HTPC system from the ground up, featuring a custom designed, living room friendly chassis with silent heatpipe cooling technology. Overall the P500 the exterior looks pretty decent, but what’s under the hood is probably more impressive. According to the product page, the P500 can be equipped with up to 4 CableCARD HDTV or 2 ATSC/QAM and NTSC tuners. Standard you’ll get 3TB of RAID-5 storage, a Blu-ray drive (profile 2.0), Gigabit Ethernet, 4GB of memory, a Intel E8500 Core 2 Duo 3.0Ghz processor, ATI All-In-Wonder 3650 (with HDMI / DVI / Component / VGA video outputs), and a slick Logitech DiNovo Mini bluetooth keyboard / media center remote. With all that power under the hood, S1Digital says the P500 is capable of supporting “up to three zones of audio and video streaming (via Extenders or other Media Centers).” Starting Price: $5,999 (with no tuners).

Read More ...

Fujitsu adds AT&T 3G to slew of LifeBooks, promises EV-DO in Q2

Evidently Fujitsu's decision to offer its LifeBook U820 convertible mini laptop with integrated 3G has been a raging success; otherwise, we're a bit uncertain as to why it would share the love with four other siblings. Starting right about now, WWAN lovers can order up a LifeBook T5010, T1010, P1630 and / or T2020 with built-in support for AT&T's BroadbandConnect HSUPA network. For those who like to live on the CDMA side of life, the outfit is planning to add EV-DO support in Q2 of this year, though we're not told which carrier will be selected to carry that torch.

NEW Samsung NC10 PINK

The new NC10 PINK is available to preorder now!

Features and specifications:
Intel Atom Processor N270 (1.6GHz)

10.2" Widescreen display
Microsoft Windows XP Home Operating System

1GB Memory

160GB Hard drive

Bluetooth

Integrated 1.3 Mega Pixel camera

3-in-1 card reader

6 Cell Battery, up to 8hrs (Actual battery life will depend on operations and settings.)

NEW Samsung NC10 with built-in HSDPA

The new NC10 with HSDPA for 3G broadband on the move is available to preorder now!

Features and specifications:
Intel Atom Processor N270 (1.6GHz)

10.2" Widescreen display
Microsoft Windows XP Home Operating System

1GB Memory

160GB Hard drive

Bluetooth

Integrated 1.3 Mega Pixel camera

3-in-1 card reader

6 Cell Battery, up to 8hrs (Actual battery life will depend on operations and settings.)

HSDPA Preinstalled

NEW Samsung NC20 - 12" netbook

The new NC20 with a portable and stylish 12" screen is available to preorder now!

Features and specifications:
Via Nano(TM) Processor U2250 (1.3GHz)

12.1" Widescreen display
Microsoft Windows XP Home Operating System

1GB Memory

160GB Hard drive

Bluetooth 2.0 +EDR

Integrated 1.3 Mega pixel camera

3-in-1 card reader

6 Cell Battery

The NC20 is available to preorder now! Simply add to your basket. Available in White from late February, and Black from Early March depending on stock delivery.

Via Nano(TM) Processor
Building on the market-leading energy efficiency of the VIA C7® processor incorporating 65 nanometer process technology, the VIA Nano processor offers up to four times the performance over previous generations within the same power range for the ideal blend of powerful performance and energy efficiency for a longer battery life

Sharper Display
The NC20's 12.1" wide display provide up to 30% more viewing area than traditional screens and allow you to enjoy photo-like image quality, greater viewing angles and better text legibility, reducing eye strain and, therefore, increasing productivity.

Complete Keyboard
The NC20 Incorporates a normal-size, notebook PC style keyboard, for easy typing. Its ergonomic design and optimized key spacing make working and communicating a much more pleasurable and productive experience, with fewer errors and faster typing speeds.

The NC20's class leading design and high performance features let you do even more on the move. The superb look and feel of its slim and elegant chassis is accentuated with unique styling, and mirrored by the high quality of its components and materials, which include the enhanced energy efficiency and performance of the latest VIA Nano™ U2250 processor and normal sized keyboard.

Shush! Samsung Acme i8910 is Leaked

Be the first to hear it here, as we have exclusive leaked photos sent to Gaj-It showing Samsungs latest addition to their eclectic portfolio of mobile phones. This new, but very ‘hush hush’ arrival is the Samsung Acme i8910, however before your eyes start playing deceptive tricks with words, this phone does not resemble a bad case of acne…I mean acme! Far from it!

Leaked pictures below show that the Samsung Acme has a sleek and stylish exterior which has been taken from it bigger brother, the Samsung Omnia.

It is rumoured that it will include a 8 megapixel touchscreen cameraphone, which is no surprise for Samsung’s standards. As well as attracting the click happy bunch, it also includes GPS, HDMI, WiFi, 3.5mm socket, is DNLA and DivX compatible and offers HD recording. It will come in 8GB and 16GB versions and is expected to be a bit on the pricey side.

Now the specs sounds all to familiar to its predecessor the Samsung Omnia, except for memory boosting option of 16GB. There is no surprise that the some mobile phone experts have already been comparing it to the Apple iPhone. Apart from the a few differences I can definitely see the similarities, however only time will tell when this is released to see how it stacks up to its rival.

MIT creates a ‘sixth sense’ gadget: Less exciting than it sounds

Those eggheads at MIT are at it again, this time creating a “sixth sense” gadget. It’s basically a combined scanner and 3D projector (with a touchscreen-like surface). Say, for example, you’re at the store looking at different boxes of cereal. You scan the box of Lucky Charms with the gadget, which then scans the Internet for, I don’t know, nutritional information and a history of the product. Handy.

Or maybe you’re shopping for a used car—all you need to buy in this economy is two empty soda cans and a piece of tin foil—and want to know its crash history, if it has one. Scan your device, and bam, the information pops up in front of you like in Minority Report. Want to know what the reviews are like for that game you’re about to buy? Scan away, citizen! And yes, you’re able to manipulate the projection as if it were your iPhone.

The device itself—a Web cam, cellphone and a projector—is a wrist-mounted wonder that was put together for $300.

But don’t get your hopes up, since we’re still a good 10 years away from seeing anything even remotely close to this being manufactured on a large scale.

What, exactly, all of that has to do with the sixth sense—isn’t the sixth sense supposed to be premonition aka the Spider Sense?—I’m not sure.

Koncham Istam Koncham Kastam Moview Reivew

Konchem Ishtam Konchem Kashtam, being called with pet title 'KIKK' has released today. The film has followed a typical muhurath by releasing at 1:01 PM instead of hitting screens at regular 11 AM show. Let us see how far that muhurath worked well with this movie and what the content is.
Story:
Geeta (Tamanna) is the daughter of a big man named Subrahmanyam (Nazar) in a village. She holds great love and affection for her father. And she happens to come to city for studying in a college. She stays with Gachibowli Diwakar and his wife (Brahmanandam and Hema). She develops good rapport with Prof Rajya Lakshmi (Ramya Krishna) in her college. Siddhu (Siddarth) is the son of Prof Rajya Lakshmi who leads the life of a play boy. Siddhu lives only with his mother for many years and his father Prakash Varma (Prakash Raj) lives abroad and earns big fame and money. He returns and the son Siddhu goes close to him. The friendship between son and father stands unique and strong. Siddhu loves Geeta as a routine treat in any film. But Subrahmanyam puts a condition that he would allow his daughter to marry Siddhu only when the parents of Siddhu are united. Then the real game starts for both Siddhu and Geeta to unite the separated couple. Whether they turned successful in that attempt becomes rest of the story.
Performances:
The film grooved in all major artistes and there is nothing less to speak about them.
Siddartha with his unique style of performance enticed again. Tamanna looked with lot of grace and beauty and has really stolen the show with her looks and expressions. She can stand as Madhuri Dixit in Tollywood if polished her performance and dance in a better way. She is gifted with elegance in screen presence.

======================================================================

Film: Konchem Ishtam Konchem Kashtam
Rating: 3/5
Banner: Laxmi Narasimha Productions
Cast: Siddartha, Tamanna, Prakash Raj,Ramya Krishna, Venu Madhav, Brahmanandam, Nazar, Hema and others
Music: Shankar Ehasaan Loy
Cinematogrpahy: Vijay K Chander
Art: Chinna
Dialogues: Abburi Ravi
Screenplay: Deepak Raj
Editing: Srikar Prasad
Background score: Mani Sharma
Producer: Nallamalupu Bujji
Story, Direction: Kishore Kumar
=============================================================================
Ramya Krishna is ok but she would have given own dubbing for her character. The voice used for her hasn't suited. Being a senior actress, she should at least try to use her own voice inspiring from young artistes like Mamata Mohandas.
Prakash Raj did his best in fatherly role and it is completely different from what he has shown in Bommarillu.
Music stands on the top of all faculties. All the songs received great applause in theatre. It is true that songs could pull the narration of this flick in interesting way. The screenplay is slow and there are some hiccups in editing. The cinematography is marvelous and the film teaches a lesson how the mood can be elevated while picturing songs. Dialogues by Abburi Ravi are good and interesting.
Direction is good but still needs to be gripping. On a whole seriousness and sentiment dominated. Comedy by Brahmanandam hasn't given the punch that has promised at the introduction of his role.
Analysis:
The film is an out and out family entertainer and the main essence is how a young couple attempts to unite a separated old couple for making their love win and take to the altar of marriage. The theme is in fact interesting. The initial few minutes during titles recall the film 'Sangamam' but later things proved to be unique.
First half sounded average while the later half in second part sounded racy and better. On a whole it has got the class-content and teaches a moral 'keep only love and shun anger from relationships'. That's good attempt which deserves a mention.

CISCO Q2 RESULTS : 15 TO 20 PERCENT DROP IN REVENUE

NEW YORK (AP) -- Technology bellwether Cisco Systems Inc. said Wednesday that incoming orders declined dramatically in January, indicating that the shrinking economy has more pain in store for the industry.

Chief executive John Chambers said the company, the world's largest maker of computer networking gear, saw fewer and fewer orders as its latest quarter progressed. In November, orders were down 9 percent from the year before. In January, the drop was 20 percent.

"That was a bit of a shock," said analyst Erik Suppiger at Signal Hill Capital Group.
Cisco's fiscal second quarter ended Jan. 24, nearly a month after other technology companies that have reported their quarterly results recently. That means Cisco's results provide a window into future reports from the rest of the industry. Cisco is also sensitive to trends in the market because more than 80 percent of its revenue is from sales, rather than recurring service contracts.

Chambers projected a 15 percent to 20 percent drop in revenue in the current quarter. That would put revenue at $7.8 billion to $8.3 billion, below the average estimate of $8.7 billion projected by analysts polled by Thomson Reuters.

Shares in San Jose, Calif.-based Cisco fell 71 cents, or 4.5 percent, to $15.13 in extended trading after Chamber's comments.

The decline in orders was spread across the globe, though Europe and Japan had a better appetite than the U.S. and emerging markets.

Switches and routers, Cisco's core products, saw the biggest declines. Revenue grew from services and some new, still minor businesses like videoconferencing.

As expected, the public sector was a bright spot, with orders up around 5 percent. Telecommunications service providers, meanwhile, cut their orders by about 20 percent.

For the just-ended quarter, sales were $9.1 billion, down 7.5 percent from a year ago. The company announced at the start of the quarter that it would cut back on discretionary expenses and freeze hiring. But it wasn't able to slash expenses as quickly as sales fell and its profit dropped 27 percent to $1.5 billion, or 26 cents per share, from $2.1 billion, or 33 cents per share, a year ago.

Excluding items, earnings were 32 cents per share, beating the average analyst estimate by 2 cents.

Cisco's goal is to save $1 billion in costs during the fiscal year, and executives said it was well on its way to achieving that.

Unlike many other technology companies, it hasn't yet announced big layoffs, and Chambers said it still hoped to avoid any.

But if business continues to deteriorate dramatically and layoffs become necessary, the cuts will likely involve at least 10 percent of Cisco's work force of 67,300, Chambers said.

"It needs to be a critical mass to justify the loss of business momentum, impact on employees and impact on key projects," the CEO said. "If we execute successfully ... we may be able to avoid broad downsizing events."

Cisco itself is well set to weather tough credit markets, ending the quarter with $29.5 billion in cash and equivalents. Executives repeated their intention to grab market share from weaker competitors in the downturn, as the company has done in previous economic troughs.