Call Center News

Movie Explores Call Center Culture in India

The Indian business daily Business Standard, in a story called "The Call Centre Chronicles", reported on a proliferation of movies and books about call centers in India lately, notably Chetan Bhagat's popular novel One Night at the Call Center, which is being turned into a feature film. Bhagat, the author of an Indian best-seller called Five Point Someone decided to tackle call centers as a setting for a novel after hearing stories from a number of family members who work in call centers. With the help of family and friends, Bhagat sneaked into call centers to watch, listen, and study training manuals to research his novel.

more of this story

Ayala Plans to Expand Philippines Call Centers

Manila, Philippines -- The billionaire Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala II said he planned to open more call centers in the Philippines, where revenue from business outsourcing services is forecast to surge more than sixfold by 2012. Ayala Corp. bought an 11 percent stake in the call center operator eTelecare Global Solutions in June, and is looking for more investments, Zobel, Ayala's chief executive officer, said in an interview. The 7,000 employees of eTelecare make sales calls and answer customer queries for companies in the financial, telecommunications, electronics and travel industries.

more of this story

Philippine President Arroyo Inaugurates Opening of Pampanga Call Center

Pampanga, Philippines -- Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo joined Vikas Kapoor, President and CEO of IRMC, today at the inauguration of its new state-of-the art Center of Excellence at the Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga. More than 600 new jobs will be created with the opening of the new facility by New York-based IRMC, a premier provider of customer management solutions specializing in collections, accounts receivable management, and customer retention services.

Call Centers on Alert for Possible Pandemic

CINCINNATI, OH - Towelettes in packets about half the size of a business card have become a huge commodity for Convergys Corporation. The company is buying the disinfecting wipes by the millions for use by employees of its 72 call centers across the world. The world's largest call center outsourcing company, which also provides human resources and billing services, considers the towelettes a first line of defense against the threat of a global pandemic from bird flu or other highly contagious disease.

more of this story