On Wednesday, Kapil Sibal unveiled the low-cost tablet - Aakash — at $45 (Rs2,250), slightly higher than earlier projected price of $35 (Rs1,750).
It was a tough task but Kapil Sibal, minister of human resource & development, communications & IT, finally achieved it. On Wednesday, he unveiled the low-cost tablet - Aakash — at $45 (Rs2,250), slightly higher than earlier projected price of $35 (Rs1,750).
The minister wants to eventually bring down the price to $10 as volumes build up. To begin with, the government has ordered one lakh pieces but is looking at an order of 10 million tablets over years.
“(Today) the order is for one lakh pieces. If we get to one million pieces then the cost would be $35 (Rs 1,750). Our ultimate goal is that in the coming years, this tablet should cost less than $10,” Sibal said on the sidelines of the launch.
But if you look at its specifications, the 7-inch Android 2.2 touch screen tablet is worth more than its value. It has high definition video co-processor, Wi-fi connectivity, support for 3G modems, two full-sized USB ports for pendrives, external keyboards, web-cams, dongles and other peripherals.
The device, designed, developed and manufactured by DataWind Ltd along with IIT Rajasthan, will be supplied to post-secondary school students across India under the government’s National Mission on Education through Information & Communication Technology.
The government has subsidised its price by 50% and is looking for partners from the private sector to subsidise the remaining 50%. “We are in discussion with some private companies with the vision of empowering children through education for funding the remaining 50% subsidy,” the minister said.
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