To strengthen its GSM reach, Reliance Communications (RCom) has rolled out its post paid GSM services in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

While making the announcement, Mr. Salim Haq, RCom Regional Head UP and Uttarakhand, stated that the post paid customers in both the states would be offered three plans.

Under the first plan that costs Rs 129 monthly, subscribers can make all local and STD calls at the rate of Rs 1 per minute.

With the intention to strengthen its presence in the Russian beverages market, Tata Tea declared that the company, through one of its abroad arms, along with EBRD (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) is all set to get hold of 51% equity stake in Russian packaging and distribution company ‘Grand’.

Grand is mainly focused on regions outside the big cities and areas including the Urals, Siberia and Southern Russia.

Tata will have an effective share of 33.2%, whereas EBRD will hold 17.8% in the Grand business respectively.

Swiss drug manufacturer Novartis AG made an open offer to purchase an additional equity stake of 39% in its Indian arm Novartis India Ltd. for a total value of up to Rs 440 crore.

The parent company would buy back the shares from public shareholders at INR351 a share.

After the successful completion of this offer, Novartis will hold 90% stake in the Indian arm from the current 50.9%.

Novartis AG made the offer at a premium of 27% to Novartis India’s closing price of Rs 275.6 on March 24.

Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited (KPTL), a leading EPC player in power transmission and distribution, announced that it has pocketed three orders from Power Grid Corporation of India Limited (PGCIL) for 765 kv and 400 kv transmission line projects.

The fresh orders received by the company are valued at Rs 399 crore.

The scope of the orders includes supply and construction of transmission lines in Bihar, Chhatisgarh and Assam.

The company is required to execute the orders between 18 to 24 months.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), India's No. 1 telecommunications company, and Research In Motion (RIM), a leader in providing wireless solutions for the global mobile communications market, have made announcement about the launching of BlackBerry services in the Indian market.

BSNL clients can now make the most of this new service, which helps them stay connected with their near and dear ones while on the move.

Mr. Kuldeep Goyal, CMD BSNL at Chandigarh, stated that said that the BlackBerry services will augment the company’s existence in the Indian mobile market.

On Thursday, the networking bigwig Cisco Systems announced its intentions of taking over the San-Francisco, California-based Pure Digital Technologies, the manufacturer of the popular Flip Video camcorder.

The San-Jose, California-based Cisco plans to strike a $590-million-in-stock deal with Pure Digital. In exchange, Cisco will gain all the Pure Digital shares, as well as a robust gadget startup that would further its foray into the consumer marketplace. The deal would likely close in Cisco's fiscal fourth quarter, ending July.