Govt to Issue Fresh Tenders For Aakash

by Admin on January 18, 2012

Datawind, the makers of world’s cheapest tablet PC, Aakash have denied the new test criteria from IIT Rajasthan, which includes water and shock proof for Aakash 2 Tablets. Datawind states that these criteria will make the world’s cheapest tablet price to increase that is against to the purpose of its cost advantage.

Suneet Singh Tuli, CEO of Datawind says, “We are hopeful that the IIT will reconsider its new test specifications.” According to online sources, the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD) has arranged a meeting on Tuesday which was headed by Ashok Thakur, a special secretary, to resolve the issues between Datawind and IIT Rajasthan.


The new test specification proposed for Aakash 2 by IIT Rajasthan includes operation at -20 degrees, be water proof including heavy rains, and can with stand steep and sudden drops.

Suneet Singh Tuli added that the Aakash features cannot be compared to rough military tablet PCs that may cost around $1500. He also stated that US military educational tablet specification does not make sense for Indian students. He claims that a tablet that can survive even a rain chamber supplying at a rate of more than 4 inches per hour may cost over Rs 1 lakh.

Govt May Put Aakash Tablet Deal with Datawind on Hold

As per the news reports, the Human Resource Development may put the letter of credit with Datawind on hold as there were series of faults detected due to which consumers were not satisfactory with the product.

Aakash Tablet’s after-sales reports seem to be extremely disappointing and the only reason that makes the consumers happy is that they are the privileged first users of the tablet. According to sources, the ministry is going to issue fresh tenders for Aakash Tablet from vendors other than Datawind.

220 Million Aakash Tablets Required In Future – Govt

MHRD official informed to media that the ministry was particular on making the low-cost tablet PCs reach all the 220 million students. The tablet has already crossed commercial bookings of 21 lakh in retail market.

Additional Secretary, HRD Ministry, N K Sinha said, “Initially, we bought one lakh Aakash tablets but we need 220 million more tablets in the coming years to distribute it to all the students”

 

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