Press Releases

THE HINDU
Thursday, February 24, 2000

Lastech launches Tamil e-mail
CHENNAI : Lastech Systems has introduced a web facility that will enable Internet users to send e-mails in Tamil. It has developed a Java-based software for using 12 Indian languages on the net without the need to download the fonts or software. Using this technology, the company has launced a website www.tamilanjal.com that will enable a surfer to send e-mail in Tamil.
- Our Corporate Reporter.

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The New Indian Express
Tuesday, February 15,2000

Lastech enables e-mail in Tamil
ENS Economic Bureau
Chennai, Feb 14: Chennai based Lastech Systems has launched a web facility that will enable Internet users to send e-mail in Tamil. Launching a site at www.tamilanjal.com, Lastech has developed a Java based software for using 12 Indian Languages on the Net without the need to download the fonts or software. This facility can be operated across platforms such as Windows, Unix, Linux, Mac etc.

Inaugurating the website today, M.Anandakrishnan, Chairman of the IT Task Force, said this facility provided a chance to read, write and think in Tamil on the Internet in a user friendly manner.

The website has easy to use keyboard layouts - DOE phonetic, typewriter and Romanised. The Tamil message can be composed by using the onscreen keyboard layout and layout sensitive character set window. Any e-mail client software such as Netscape Mail, Microsoft, Outlook, Eudora can be used to read Tamil mail.

Anandakrishnan said unless all Indian languages were promoted on the Net, 95 per cent of the population would be deprived of the fruits of modern technology and development. Referring to the virtual Tamil University that would be established few months hence, he said such new facility would help the Government in constructing a digital Tamil Library.

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THE ECONOMIC TIMES
CHENNAI TUESDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2000

Tamil e-mail www.tamilanjal.com launched
Chennai: You can now send and receive e-mails in Tamil without downloading any font or software. Chennai-based Lastech Systems has come out with a pioneering web facility www.tamilanjal.com, that will enable Internet users to send e-mails in Tamil without having to download a font or software onto a user's computer system. This facility can be operated across several platforms - Windows, Unix, Linux and Mac. The company has developed a Java-based software for using 12 Indian Languages on the net. The website has various easy-to-use keyboard layouts like DOE, Phonetic, Typewriter and Romanised. The Tamil messages can be composed easily by using the `onscreen keyboard layout and layout-sensitive character set window'. Any e-mail client software such as Netscape Mail, Microsoft, Outlook, Eudora can be used to read this Tamil mail. Lastech is planning to launch another website www.email2india.com next week which will enable users to send emails in any of the 12 Indian Languages such as Assamesse, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil and Telugu.

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The Financial Express
CHENNAI, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2000.

Web-based Tamil e-mail
Lastech Systems has launched the world's first web-based Tamil e-mail. The web facility, enabling internet users to send e-mail in Tamil was launched in Chennai on Monday by M.Anandakrishnan, Vice Chairman of the state council for Higher Education.

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Business Line
14, Wednesday, February 16, 2000.

Lastech tool for vernacular e-mail
Our Bureau
CHENNAI, Feb. 15
LASTECH Systems (P) Ltd was launched its web facility by which surfers may send and receive e-mail in Tamil without having to download separate fonts. According to Mr.M.Thulukkanam, Director, Lastech: "Users will need to log on to www.tamilanjal.com, and use the instruction panel to key in e-mails in Tamil."

The Company also has plans to provide similar tools that will allow sending and receipt of e-mail - without downloading fonts - in 12 Indian Languages - Gujarati, Bengali, Hindi, Assamese, Kannada, Malayalam, Punjabi, Oriya, Sanskrit, Tamil and Telugu. Dr. M.Anandakrishnan, Chairman, Tamil Nadu IT task force, who launched the site here, said that companies have begun to take advantage of the fund announced during Tamil Net 99. The amount of about Rs.1 Crore is to encourage development of software that will give an impetus to the Tamil Language in the world of computers and the Internet.

According to him, about Rs.25 Lakhs has been given to companies that are working on a Tamil search engine; a Tamil shell that will display front ends of systems such as Windows in Tamil; and a Tamil optical character recognition device.

He said that the committee responsible for the fund is looking for entrepreneurs wishing to develop software tools that enable English to Tamil translation; Tamil sorting which will come in useful in the public distribution system (PDS); voice recognition for Tamil phonetics, and use of a Tamil dictionary.

The nature of funding may be on the lines of venture capital or loans, depending on whether entrepreneurs wish to return the sum given out initially, he said.

He also said that work on the Tamil Virtual University (TVU), is in progress and the Government would be looking to collaborate which universities in other countries such as South Africa, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia and Mauritius to administer the curriculam decided by the TVU.

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NEWS TODAY
TUESDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2000

Tamil e-mail launched
Chennai, Feb 15:
Chennai-based Lastech Systems Pvt. Ltd, has introduced a pioneering web facility that will enable internet users to send e-mails in Tamil to benefit millions of Tamils across the globe.

The company had developed a Java-based software for using 12 Indian Languages on the net without the need to download the fonts or software, company directors told a press conference here this evening.

The new technology would enable a surfer to send e-mail in Tamil, without downloading a font or software onto a user's computer system. It could be operated in various platforms like Windows, Unix, Linux and Mac, Shivakumar and Thulukkanam, directors of the company said.

Launching the new website - www.tamilanjal.com - chairman of IT task force, Tamilnadu, Dr. M.Anandakrishnan, said the new facility was a `breakthrough and a boon' to several millions of Tamilians living across the globe.

The website has various easy-to-use keyboard layouts and Tamil messages could be composed easily.

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TRINITY MIRROR
TUESDAY 15 FEBRUARY 2000

Web-based Tamil e-mail launched
Chennai, Feb 15: Chennai-based Lastech Systems Pvt. Ltd., has introduced a pioneering web facility that will enable Internet users to send e-mails in Tamil to benefit millions of Tamils across the globe.

The company had developed a Java-based software for using 12 Indian Languages on the net without the need to download the fonts or software, company directors told a news conference here.

The new technology would enable a surfer to send e-mail in Tamil, without downloading a font or software onto a user's computer system. It could be operated in various platforms like windows, Unix, Linux and Mac, Shivakumar and Thulukkanam, directors of the company said. Launching the new Website - www.tamilanjal.com-chairman of IT task force, Tamilnadu, Dr.M.Anandakrishnan, said the new facility was a `breakthrough and a boon' to serveral millions of tamilians living across the globe.

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