During the past several months, there has been a news circulating on India’s plan to introduce a $35 laptop in an effort to bring Internet technology to more people. Meanwhile, such ambitious plan is slowly becoming a reality.
According to a recent media report, the Indian government has awarded local computer maker HC LTechnologies with a manufacturing contract which states that the company should produce 100,000 units of a low-cost laptop.
Sakshat, which is the official name of the low-cost mobile computer, will be introduced in January 2011 despite stiff competition from tablet computers particularly the Apple iPad which has sold more than 3 million units worldwide just after three months of being introduced in the US market.
The report added that Sakshat will be tested by the Indian Institute of Technology in Rajasthan in order to determine its durability especially in terms of weather condition. And after this laptop has passed the “intensive laboratory examinations”, the government, stated under the contract, will purchase 1 million units which will be then distributed to college students in the second half of 2011.
The Indian government has been reported to spend about $6.5 million for this project that is expected to bring Internet technology to more university students.
Meanwhile, the government has not yet disclosed its plan on how to distribute the 1 million tablet computers.
Currently, there are more than 12 million university students in India.
In a report released by LiveMint, the tablet will measure 9-inch diagonally and will support Open Office, web and video conferencing, 2GB RAM memory, unzip utilities, PDF reader, Wi-Fi signal, one USB port, and camera.
While most technology analysts expect that the price of this tablet computer will remain $35, some said that it might even drop due to the government’s plan to subsidize the gadget.
Last year, the Ministry of Human Resource Development has announced a $10 laptop which was not delivered to the Indian market after a lackluster response from the private sector.
Leave a trackback
Be The First To Comment
Leave Your Comments Below