City firm authorised to conduct IT exams
Microsoft hikes exam fees

SYLVAN PROMETRIC has authorised Softspec to conduct all IT- related examinations for IBM, Cisco, Microsoft and Sun Microsystems. With this authorisation, Softspec has become the first company in this region where candidates can now locally buy the test vouchers and appear for internationally recognised certification exams of IBM, CISCO, Microsoft and Sun Microsystems.

Prometric is a leading worldwide provider of comprehensive technology-based testing and assessment services. It provides a complete technology-based testing services solution to sponsors and administrators of large-volume tests. Services include test preparation, test results processing, consulting and marketing. Prometric provides these testing services primarily to the technology certification, professional licensing and certification, and academic markets.

In 2001, Prometric had contracts to deliver over 2,400 different tests, through a network consisting of over 4,200 computer-based testing services centers, was present in 141 countries, operated ten call centers in nine countries that handled over eight million calls, operated in 25 different languages, and handled over 33 different currencies.

Prometric is based in Baltimore, Maryland, USA and has offices worldwide.

In year 2001, Softspec has already conducted over 200 examinations and it is this smooth conduct of examinations which led to it's being authorised for other leading international IT certifications.

In a related announcement, Microsoft has announced that it is changing the prices of certification exams worldwide, effective January 4, 2002. The price adjustments ensure that Microsoft will continue offering industry-leading credentials. The price of exams in India region (Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka) now will increase from $ 25 to $ 50 per exam. However as long as candidates register for an exam before the said date in Prometric database, they will not have to appear for that exams prior to January 4 and will still receive the current Microsoft exam price.

— TNS

EUROPEAN blue-chip companies are getting round the costly Christmas chore of sending greetings cards this year by e-mailing greetings to clients and contacts.

Long considered bad taste and a mark of stinginess, e-cards have found favour with many big corporations during the current economic downturn.

Consumer electronics giant Philips, facing heavy losses, has encouraged its units to send e-mails with pictures and text, rather than paper cards. The e-cards usually contain an animated picture with background music.

"It's a company-wide initiative to cut costs," a spokesman for the Dutch company told Reuters.

Merchant bank Morgan Stanley's e-cards feature stylised Christmas trees made from its logo spinning through the air. Channel Tunnel wishes everyone a merry Christmas and adds that the "Medway Viaduct has been completed on time and to budget". A picture of the construction is included.

Charities stand to gain from e-commerce greetings.

Some 40 British-based companies, including Marks & Spencer, Barclays, UBS Warburg, Ernst & Young, JP Morgan, Bank of America, ABN AMRO and Fidelity, have stopped sending cards and will donate the savings to a charity for the homeless. Many are sending e-cards instead.

Barclays sent around its own digital version of a snowy landscape, including fake flakes, topped up with a never-ending electronic interpretation taken from Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker suite.

Some companies are old hands at the electronic festivities. Finnish mobile phone maker Nokia started sending e-cards three years ago, when it was still considered geeky and unfashionable, and has been donating the savings to UNICEF.