Wipro Technologies Partners with Rational Software to set up Center of Excellence for Software Testing

Business Wire, Jan 31, 2002

Business Editors

BANGALORE, India--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 31, 2002

Wipro Technologies, the global IT services division of Wipro Limited (NYSE:WIT), today announced its partnership with Rational Software Corporation India Limited to set up a Center of Excellence (COE) for developing Proof of Concepts and demonstrations for software testing for new and existing clients using the Rational Suite Test Studio.

This alliance will add to the host of services provided by Wipro in the field of software testing, giving fillip to its leadership position in this area.

The Wipro-Rational COE will host software-testing tools provided by Rational Software, ranging from automated functional testing to performance testing. This COE will also act as a platform for training and building skills on the Rational Suite family of products.

Wipro Technologies, with their vast expertise and experience in the different areas of software and Rational Software, with the excellence and leadership in the development of software tools have formed this alliance under the aegis of Wipro's Software Performance Engineering Lab, "SPEL".

SPEL is the center set up by Wipro Technologies for software performance engineering testing activities, which spans the major application software markets like e-commerce, telecom, finance, healthcare, personal productivity, manufacturing, embedded and middleware and development tools for customers. This initiative is driven by Interop Solutions, the business unit of Wipro Technologies, which is focused on Testing, Verification & Validation.

"Verification and Validation is the growth area in today's environment," said Dr. A L Rao, Chief Executive, Telecom and Inter-networking solutions, Wipro Technologies. "This partnership with Rational allows us to bring a seasoned perspective for evaluating our client's need while implementing software projects," he added.

"The key to business success is to introduce defect free, reliable products and to enable this under any circumstance," said C P Gangadharaiah, General Manager, Interop Solutions.

"The increase in web commerce and the rush for businesses to operate in an online environment has created a huge need for load, scalability and performance testing," said M K Bharatee, Country Manager, Rational Software. Speaking on the alliance, he said, "We are excited about this alliance and look forward to building a focus for testing in the market with Wipro Technologies' SPEL."

About Wipro Limited

Wipro Limited is the first P CMM Level 5 and SEI CMM Level 5 certified IT Services Company globally. Wipro provides comprehensive IT solutions and services, including systems integration, Information Systems outsourcing, package implementation, software application development and maintenance, and research and development services to corporations globally.

In the Indian market, Wipro is a leader in providing IT solutions and services for the corporate segment in India offering system integration, network integration, software solutions and IT services. Wipro also has profitable presence in niche market segments of consumer products and lighting. In the Asia Pacific and Middle East markets, Wipro provides IT solutions and services for global corporations.

Wipro's ADSs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and its equity shares are listed in India on the Stock Exchange - Mumbai, and the National Stock Exchange, among others.

For more information, please visit our websites at www.wipro.com and www.wiproindia.com.

Forward-looking and cautionary statements

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Wipro has made strategic investments, withdrawal of fiscal governmental incentives, political instability, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Wipro may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. Wipro does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the company.