Chennai, Dec 30 (ANI/Business Wire India): Maveric Systems, one of India's leading software testing company enters 2009 on a high note after having been chosen as one of Asia's 100 most promising companies at the Red Herring 100 Asia Awards for the year 2008.

The 100 winning companies were announced at the Red Herring Asia event at Hong Kong earlier this month.

he 200 finalists for this award were chosen from 16 countries in Asia including China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, South Korea, Australia and Vietnam.

"The 200 finalists whom we selected from across 16 countries and regions are all excellent contenders," said Joel Dreyfuss, Editor-in-Chief of Red Herring.

"They are exceptional companies who thrive on innovation and strongly define the important role of technology in Asia's economy and throughout the world," added Dreyfuss.

Maveric Systems has also been selected as a finalist for the Red Herring 100 Global Awards.

The Red Herring Editorial team deploys a detailed process to whittle down a pool of 600 eligible, promising, companies to the 200 finalists of this global award.

The evaluation was made on both quantitative and qualitative criteria, such as financial performance, innovation, management, global strategy and ecosystem integration.

An ecstatic Ranga Reddy, Chief Executive officer of Maveric Systems said, "In 2006 we set ourselves a goal of getting 30 per cent of our revenues from IP-led services, by 2012. Breakthrough innovation by our R and D teams is accelerating our progress towards this goal".

"IP-led services have helped us redefine our competition and also significantly increase the average size of deals that we have won in the last 12 months," Ranga Reddy added.

He said, "We take great pride in winning this award as it underscores our achievements and innovations over the years. We expect a healthy growth in the coming year because of our niche focus and IP-led offering". (ANI)

London, Dec 30 (ANI): A new generation of 'sociable' games, which are played through the Internet, may be the antidote to fears that computer games are turning young people antisocial.

The rise of social networking websites such as Facebook could represent a major challenge to the makers of hugely popular video consoles such as the Nintendo Wii or the Xbox.

These sites have helped attract millions of people to games, which they can play with their friends.

In recent months, Internet games developers have received a string of multi-million dollar investments allowing them to plan expansion at a time when other businesses are making cuts.

Playfish, a British company that provides mini-golf and bowling games among others on Facebook, has attracted 25 million registered users since it was set up a year ago.

Another game on the site, a social networking device called Kidnap!, attracted 2.5 million new players in the month of October alone.

The Internet version of Texas Hold'em Poker has also attracted several million players.

Although interactive games such as online chess are well established on the Internet, the use of social networking sites in which people have ready-made networks of friends enables them to play games socially.

"People prefer to play with people they know rather than strangers," the Telegraph quoted Gareth Davis, Facebook's platform programme manager, as saying.

It has also spawned a new type of non-traditional game, such as Playfish's "Pet Society" which has attracted three million registered users.

In this game, players create their own customised virtual pets and decorate their houses. (ANI)

New Delhi, Dec 30 (ANI): National Conference chief Omar Abdullah will be the next Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir heading a coalition government with Congress.

This was decided after Omar met Congress President Sonia Gandhi here today.

Emerging from a meeting, he said, "It has been decided that I will lead the coalition government in the state of which Congress will be a part of."

"Other nitty-gritty of the alliance will be worked out in due course of time," he added.

The meeting took place against the backdrop of both the National Conference and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) initially showing inclination to form the government in the State and Congress having a rethink on whether it should support NC or PDP.

Abdullah's National Conference party won 28 of the assembly's 87 seats, the Congress 17, the People's Democratic Party 21, Bharatiya Janata Party 11 and other parties and independents won 10 seats.

The large voter turnout has encouraged New Delhi, which now hopes to blunt separatist sentiments and bring peace by investing heavily in development projects and job creation.

Kashmir came under New Delhi's direct rule in July after the incumbent Congress-PDP coalition government fell over Amarnath land dispute. (ANI)

Kannur, Jan 8 (ANI): Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the Naval Academy at Ezhimala in Kannur (Cannanore) district of Kerala today.

This Academy will be the premier officer-training establishment of the Indian Navy and will be the largest Naval Academy in Asia.

Commencing June 2009, all officers inducted into the Indian Navy, under various schemes, will undergo basic training at this Academy.

The Academy covers an area of 2452 acres along the North Malabar coastline. It includes part of the Kavvayi backwaters, where watermanship training would be conducted.

The Academy would have state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories and workshops, a well-stocked library and a modern auditorium.

Physical-fitness training-facilities include indoor swimming and diving pools, an athletics track and stadium, a variety of playfields and courts, a firing range and a watermanship-training centre with several types of boats.

A comprehensive IT network, interconnecting various facilities is also being set-up.

While Naval Orientation Courses are being conducted at Ezhimala since 2005, full-fledged training will commence from June 2009.

The Academy will conduct a four year 'B Tech' programme for all newly inducted trainees. Courses would be offered in 'Electronics and Communications' and 'Mechanical Engineering'.

The syllabus and the curriculum has been drafted keeping in mind the current technical advancements and the skill sets that will be required in handling the future acquisitions of the Indian Navy.

Naval Orientation Courses of 20 weeks duration for other direct entry schemes (after graduation) in various Branches of the navy, will also be conducted here.

The total envisaged strength of the Academy, in June 2009, would be approximately 450 trainees, which would progressively increase to about 1100 trainees by 2013. This would include officer-trainees from the Indian Coast Guard, friendly foreign countries.

The Naval Academy will be manned by a mix of uniformed and civilian personnel for the conduct of training and other administrative support functions.

There would be 161 officers, 47 professors/ lecturers, 502 sailors and 557 civilians. Along with the families of staff, the campus would have a population of about 4000.

A well-designed township would provide living spaces for these personnel.

The Academy would be supported by a Base Depot Ship (INS Zamorin), Base Hospital (INHS Navjeevani) and a Station Health Organisation. (ANI)