In a new twist to an overly familiar IT staffing model, Indian outsourcer Wipro has announced plans to open a software development center in the U.S, according to a report yesterday on NPR’s Morning Edition.Wipro’s proposed Atlanta-based programming depot will hire 500 U.S. developers over the course of three years, Wipro officials said. The announcement comes on the heels of Wipro’s acquisition of U.S. services provider Infocrossing last month, as the company seeks to diversify its offerings and attain the market privileges of a greater global footprint. In addition to providing the local presence that many potential outsourcing customers are demanding these days, Wipro believes that having American software developers on staff will improve the company’s ability to deliver top-notch products to U.S. companies.The announcement not only provides further evidence that Indian outsourcing firms are no longer content with the back-office status of years past but also indicates a potential shift in the mind-set of outsourcers seeking to expand their customer bases.“Are you competing on a cost point of view?” asks Raja Viraswami, head of international HR at Wipro. “Or are you competing on an all-over perspective completely?” Viraswami, who says American developers receive on average 10 times more pay than their Indian counterparts, believes States-based coders will provide Wipro with the cultural insights and intangibles necessary to satisfy U.S. companies’ needs.Moreover, the company, which employs developers in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Eastern Europe, and India, will be better positioned to take on U.S. government projects, as many — mainly defense-related initiatives — require the work not leave the country. Technology Industry