On Monday Indian commnication minister Kapil Sibal said to the press that the Indias cheapest tablet Aakash was primarily supplied to the students with the price of 2,450 and also said that there wont be price hike.
He admits that the Tablet manufacture company Datawind has crossed the dead-line of handing over the tablet. And the government was not happy on This tablet as it gives lot of technical issues and not completely good to use. So Kapil said Government may not extend the relation with Datawind , But he also said that he welcomes the Tablet manufacture companies to produce the Cheapest yet effeminacy tablet for India. He welcomed the competition from private companies for producing the ultra low-cost tablets.
The Govt provided the specs for Aakash. The device has been certified by the Govt of India.http://www.ubislate.com/quality.html
The upgraded version, Ubislate 7+ has features that no other tablet anywhere provides at Rs. 3000. We need to consider that-
1. India does not have the technology to deliver a low cost tablet. Aakash priced below $50 has been possible because of Datawind’s patented technologies. Such a device at the same price will not be possible without Datawind’s cooperation.
2. With the kind of blunders committed by the chief of IIT-Rajasthan and the bureaucratic hurdles that the company has had to face in India, foreign companies are going to get very cautious about bringing in new technologies.
3. Datawind already has more than 2 million pre-orders for Ubislate7+. So it does not need Indian Govt as a buyer but the Govt definitely needs it to deliver the device which is a crucial component of NME-ICT.
We can understand what is better for us. Any ego issues will cost the nation dearly.
Ithink the minister has been misquoted. What he intends to convey is that there should be more competition. Without datawind, the govt will not be able to fulfil the need of a low cost tablet which is an integral part of the national mission on education through IT.
Good for datawind! it will be free from this bureaucratic apathy that we indians daily face……..and we thought indian govt is promoting NRIs in the Parvasi Bhartiya Divas! datawind hace nothing to lose. their product is already creating records by receiving such large no. of orders in such less time. govt is going to be in a fix. the device is a part of national mission on education through IT ….wonder what will happen f we dont have the device. this is for sure, india cannot do it without datawind’s collaboration
The govt seems to be bent on frustrating the project. From where else are they going to get the technology which makes it possible for the device to be offered at such a low price. It has been possible only because of Datawind’s patented technology. Seeing the govt attitude which company will want to collaborate with them?
God save us from these ministers. Dont know when they will grow over fake ego tussles. They are clouding the aakash and sending millions of our children into darkness.
The govt has denied any such reports.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/tech/news/hardware/Aakash-maker-to-IIT-Rajasthan-Pay-up-for-more-supplies/articleshow/11987627.cms