Familiar known as world’s cheapest tablet, Aakash, will be completely indigenous shortly and the government is planning to launch it’s upgraded version at the same price.
Kapil Sibal, Telecom and HRD minister said Datawind, the manufacturer of Aakash will not be linked with it anymore and ITI and C-DAC have been roped by the government for further development of the tablet.
Sibal said, there had been some issue with Datawind, hence IT ministry had got ITI and C-DAC into the act and he ensured that the new tablet would be completely indigenous and genuinely Indian product.
When asked if the upgraded version would be available within the equal price range of previous tablet, he said, “Yes that is what we hope. Tablet is to be upgraded”.
On the likely timeline for Aakash II launch, he said 2012 should see the launch of the upgraded version. There had been some problems in the way earlier. He added that while doing this kind of projects and if the dream is as large as this, things wouldn’t be very smooth.
Welcoming competition from industry for production of the tablet PC, he said that the final aim is to offer a quality tablet to the students.
“I think it is a good if competition exists. Ultimately my aim is to provide a quality product in children’s hands. I have set the standard, it has altered the mindset of everyone globally, I can say that,” the Minister said.
Everyone today wants to develop a tablet that is of good quality and at the same time reasonably priced, he noted.
He underlined, “so if the entire world wants to offer good quality tablet at an affordable price, I don’t mind whoever develops it, if ultimately it is offered by somebody for children”.