There are more than 800 million mobile phone users in India who are too poor to afford a laptop. This tablet is for them. It’s price level makes it affordable to even a rickshaw puller, most of whom today own mobile handsets. The benefits of this product to the disadvantaged section of the society are many. This is that section which is and will remain backward unless provided with such affordable technologies that have become a necessity today. The device has an inbuilt educational ecosystem developed according to the school and college curricula. The company has launched a contest by the name “aapkiapp” to encourage students to send in their ideas regarding the apps they would want to be included in the device for which they shall be rewarded. So the aim is to develop our population as a resorce. We all agree that in today’s world, education is the key to unlock one’s potential for growth and this tablet is a step towards that.

Another remarkable aspect of Datawind’s venture is that they are going to manufacture the tablet in India. Infact their CEO Mr. Suneet Tuli has requested the Government of India to include the “made in India” clause in the next tender that it floats. The advantage to India is that it will help develop India’s manufacturing sector. If we look at China, their growth is driven by the manufacturing sector. Instead of importing cheap Chinese technology, we should focus on developing indigenous potential to develop low cost socially relevant technologies. The benefit arising out of it can be well appreciated by all.

Regarding the nature of the first version of the product, Datawind’s CEO has made it clear that the Government had given specifications for the product in the tender; according to it, and above those specifications, they created a product and delivered on it. They had government-recognized national labs, and international labs test the product and confirm its quality. They also recognized that the product would not meet everybody’s needs and may not be the optimal product; for that reason, they created a product road map. Any technology grows in phases and the Ubislate 7 ( popularly known as Aakash) is the first step in the evolution of the Indian low cost tablet. IIT Rajashthan’s demans that Aakash to be water proof and shock proof and yet remain at the $35 price point is a clear indication of the bureaucratic hurdles any novel technology has to face in India. These specifications are not even met by my laptop worth Rs 50,000 so how do we expect such features in this Rs 3,000 tablet!

Let us have realistic expectations and supprt the cause of developing low cost technologies for the masses.

I am a Pediatrician and am wondering how I can utilize the technology for my patients.
My site has a portal for consultation dedicated only for the pediatric age group. Is it possible to get it on the phone?

Regards.

This dispute arises from the fact that, Operator A wants to give a 3G service to its 2G subscriber in Gujarat over the Operator B network. They have come out with an innovative method where the 2G Gujarat subscriber will be given the 3G Mumbai SIM and will be shown as roaming in Gujarat and therefore avail the services.

So in a nutshell Operator A has launched 3G services in Gujarat without having to buy the 3G license for that circle. That’s what the dispute is all about.

As far as common man is concerned, it wont be a loss for him since “legal” roaming is allowed.