Add Asus to the list of consumer electronic companies set to make plays in the e-reader market. By the end of the year, Asus plans to unveil as many as two e-readers, the company tells the Times of London. Features may include two side-by-side full color screens (so that users can look at two pages at once or browse the web while reading a book), speakers, a mic, and a webcam. A budget version will sell for around 100 pounds ($164). No word on how much the premium version will cost.

Asus will face steep competition, but at least based on the price of its lower-end device it should be able to gain ground. At roughly $164, the device would likely be the cheapest e-reader on the market (Amazon (NSDQ: AMZN) sells its Kindle 2 for $299). And a survey released last week by Forrester indicated that the potential market for e-readers would increase significantly if the average price of the devices was cut to below $150.

Asus also has experience disrupting established markets with cheaper products. It launched its low-price Eee PC netbook in 2007, which has since stolen market share from traditional laptop makers and led to a wave of other netbooks coming to market.

Other big consumer electronics companies are also likely to soon introduce e-readers. In early June, Forrester pegged a number of device manufacturers—including Panasonic, Palm (NSDQ: PALM), Lenovo, and LG—as possible future entrants. Samsung announced plans for its own e-reader in late July.

Related

• Samsung Enters E-Reader Market; Hopes To Best Amazon, Sony
• No Way To Go Mass Market With $199 E-Readers
• Research Firm Sees Openings For Kindle’s Competitors

MocoNews Contributor Jeremy Laws was formerly SVP of Universal Pictures Digital Platforms, where he headed up the film studio’s mobile initiatives. These days he is more likely found blogging at Cabana Mobile.

One of the most highly anticipated films of the year is James Cameron’s “Avatar,” and today Fox Mobile Entertainment said Gameloft (EPA: GFT) will be developing, publishing and distributing mobile games based on the title. Release.

Buzz about the action-adventure movie is off the meter on every meaningful market indicator in anticipation of the film’s U.S. release Dec. 18…particularly as more imagery is revealed (in the form of theatrical trailers), teasing the film’s revolutionary, immersive 3D experience. There’s also a lot of speculation about whether Cameron, who hasn’t directed a non-documentary feature film since the ultimate blockbuster “Titanic” in 1997, can pull another box office rabbit out of his hat. Considering that the film’s budget is said to be well over $200 million, Fox is betting on it.

Given Gameloft’s extensive experience creating high-quality film-based games (e.g. King Kong), unparalleled worldwide distribution capability, and considering sister company, Ubisoft, has been involved with title on the console side since mid-2007, I think this is a wise and natural choice for this crown jewel title.

The mobile games will release in conjunction with the film at the end of the year…so my guess (hope) is that Gameloft is already pretty far along in the development process. The release doesn’t go into any detail about the style of gameplay, storyline or if Gameloft is giving any special consideration to 3D in light of its importance to the film. It’s also not specific about whether they have rights for all mobile platforms… specifically iPhone. In the meantime, any thoughts on what this license may have cost Gameloft? Will “Avatar” have to be the “Titanic” of mobile games for them to recoup?

PRESS RELEASE

BP Awards Large Deal to Infosys Technologies

Oil and Gas Company Leverages Infosys Industry Expertise and Technology Leadership

Mumbai, India – August 26, 2009: Infosys Technologies will manage and operate a large portion of business systems for BP, one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, under the terms of a five-year applications outsourcing and support agreement.

Over the last 12 months, BP has undertaken a programme to consolidate its information technology (IT) vendors for application development and application maintenance (ADAM). BP had a rigorous procurement selection process which assessed Infosys on capability, oil and gas sector knowledge and cost. Infosys met these criteria and has demonstrated ability to support BP’s agenda of IT simplification and standardization to facilitate corporate efficiency.

Dana Deasy, BP Group CIO, said, "I’m pleased to have selected Infosys as one of our strategic ADAM vendors. In awarding Infosys ADAM work for our Integrated Supply and Trading and Exploration and Production businesses, we look to leverage its capability and knowledge of the Oil and Gas sector. This agreement will enable BP to reduce complexity, standardize work processes, and lower our overall cost base.”

Kris Gopalakrishnan, CEO and Managing Director, Infosys Technologies, said, “Infosys has a long standing relationship with BP, delivering consulting and technology services. We are well positioned to use our global sourcing expertise and transformational capabilities in the oil and gas domain to deliver significant improvement in operational efficiencies to BP as a part of this new agreement.”

BP NOTES TO EDITORS

BP is one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, serving millions of customers every day in more than 100 countries across six continents. BP’s business segments are Exploration and Production; Refining and Marketing; and Alternative Energy, its low-carbon energy business. Through these activities, BP provides fuel for transportation; energy for heat and light; retail services; and petrochemicals products for textiles and packaging.

About Infosys Technologies Limited

Infosys Technologies Limited (NASDAQ: INFY) defines, designs and delivers IT-enabled business solutions that help Global 2000 companies win in a Flat World. These solutions focus on providing strategic differentiation and operational superiority to clients. With Infosys, clients are assured of a transparent business partner, world-class processes, speed of execution and the power to stretch their IT budget by leveraging the Global Delivery Model that Infosys pioneered. Infosys has over 103,000 employees in over 50 offices worldwide. Infosys is part of the NASDAQ-100 Index and The Global Dow. For more information, visit www.infosys.com.

Infosys Safe Harbor

Statements in connection with this release may include forward-looking statements within the meaning of US Securities laws intended to qualify for the "safe harbor" under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties including those described in our SEC filings available at www.sec.gov Opens in new window including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended March 31, 2009, and our other recent filings, and actual results may differ materially from those projected by forward-looking statements. We may make additional written and oral forward-looking statements but do not undertake, and disclaim any obligation, to update them.

For further information please contact:

Tamanna – The Practice

Email: tamannak@the-practice.net

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