HCL Technologies has bagged the contract for $35 Tablet for 100,000 devices (Watch the review of $35 Tablet).
The device will be tested by IIT Rajasthan and the government has allocated Rs. 30 crore for the project (plans to procure the $35 computers before 10 January).
Ministry officials said IIT-Rajasthan will conduct field trials in different parts of the country, at different times and under different weather conditions, to gauge the efficiency of the computers. If the computers pass the field tests, the government will procure 1 million units in the first phase, making them available to undergraduate and postgraduate students across the country. There are 12.4 million higher education students in India. [source]
What’s important here is that government is also building an open source software for elearning content (specifically for the tablet) and expect this to open up a new business channel for elearning/content companies.
Aside, it’s important to note that the $35 tablet from Indian government comes at a discounted price (just like PDS) for Indian Colleges/Universities and the retail cost (if at all the tablet is made available) will be much more – so maybe, we should stop calling it a $35 tablet!
Video : $35 Tablet from Indian Government
Recommended Read: OLPC Founder’s Advice to Indian Government – “Make an inexpensive tablet, not a cheap one.
i still cant believe all this , we are going to make some crap product ..
If they are spending Rs.30 Cr, and if they are ordering 1 lac tablets with each $35 that is Rs.1633.45 then its costing some 16 Cr. Wat for the rest of the amount is used? Even if you say its subsidy and assume if its $70 thast double the amount still a decent hardware cannot be made at Rs.3200
I think all they can make is a crap 5 inch device.
ANd if the initial order is just for 1 lac students then what about the rest? they say there are 12 million of them thats 1.2 crores or 120 lakh. If 1 lakh students are served then 119lakh students are still left. far cry.
HCL?
..
Taking into account their awesome reliability of their revolutionary products and an awesome customer support
Prepare for the Epic Fail!
Awesome stuff.. But I think it is HCL Infosystems and not HCL technologies..Check out the link
http://epaper.livemint.com/artMailDisp.aspx?article=03_09_2010_002_004&typ=1&pub=422
“The so called “$35 Android tablet of Indian government” is actually Chinese manufacturer Hivision’s Speedpad or PWS700HA, whatever you call it”
The Truth about $35 Android Tablet from Indian Government
http://androidos.in/2010/09/the-truth-about-35-android-tablet-from-indian-government/