More Than 77% of IT Professionals Report Frequent Use of Social Media Sites, According to Syntel

Survey results from 430 Fortune 1000 IT professionals in global companies show that 77 percent are regularly active on social networking sites, with 42 percent visiting more than three times weekly and 35 percent visiting at least once per week. The data further suggests the rapid rate in which professionals of all ages, and not just teenagers, are harnessing these social sites to share information, network and better communicate. According to the new book Groundswell (Charlene Li & Josh Bernoff, Harvard Business Press), social networking sites will have a profound effect on how consumers engage with each other and how corporations will need to leverage Web 2.0 to market their products and services. THE DATA The TrendScan survey by Syntel, a leading U.S.-based IT and Knowledge Process Outsourcing company, was conducted between March 3, 2008 and April 14, 2008. Syntel regularly polls Fortune 1000 companies to track the forces driving global IT trends and issues. The survey asked, "A great deal of media attention is being paid to digital networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, Spoke, and Xing. Are you active on these networking sites?” Responses: -- I am very active on social networking sites, frequenting them more than three times weekly.   42% -- I am fairly active on social networking sites, frequenting them at least once per week. 35% -- I am not active on social networking sites, frequenting them less than once per month. 22% SYNTEL’S VIEW "It’s clear that technology is delivering new methods for IT professionals, and the rest of the world, to communicate, network and entertain themselves,” says Bharat Desai, Syntel Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "It’s not surprising that technology savvy professionals would be early adopters of the latest options.” "The next step is to find ways to apply the social media experience among IT professionals in a meaningful way that shares technical knowledge as well as a sense of community. Forward-thinking organizations will embrace, rather than try to fight, these new social networking sites as a means to better engage their consumers.” About Syntel Syntel (NASDAQ: SYNT) is a leading global provider of integrated information technology and Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) solutions. The Company's mission is to create new opportunities for its clients by harnessing the passion, talent and innovation of Syntel employees worldwide. It leverages dedicated vertical and service Centers of Excellence along with its flexible Global Delivery Model to deliver solutions that drive innovation, improve quality and reduce costs for Global 2000 customers in the Financial Services, Insurance, Healthcare/Life Sciences, Telecom, Retail, Aerospace, Manufacturing, and Automotive industries. In addition to vertical-focused units, the company has established Centers of Excellence for Testing, Migration, and Demand Management. Recognized by customers to be "Small enough to listen, Big enough to deliver.™" for its responsiveness and ability to build collaborative partnerships, the Company is known for solutions that deliver sustainable business advantage. Recently named to The Black Book of Outsourcing's "50 Best Managed Global Outsourcing Vendors" list, Syntel has more than 12,000 employees worldwide, is assessed at Level 5 of the SEI's CMMI, ISO 27001 as well as ISO 9001:2000 certified. To learn more, visit us at www.syntelinc.com.