2500 R ( $ 41 USA ) for Aakash Ubislate 7 with 7 inch (18 cm) tablet computer by Datawind: Yeshi Choedon: Rich Murray 2012.01.04

[Rich Murray-2]

2500 R ( $ 41 USA ) for Aakash Ubislate 7 with 7 inch (18 cm) tablet
computer by Datawind: Yeshi Choedon: Rich Murray 2012.01.04

http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-01-million-world-cheapest-tablet-india.html

1.4 million orders for world's cheapest tablet in India
January 3, 2012

Indian students use "Aakash" in New Delhi in October.

The world's cheapest tablet computer has clocked 1.4 million bookings
since it was put up for sale online two weeks ago in India, a
spokeswoman told AFP on Tuesday.

The world's cheapest tablet computer has clocked 1.4 million bookings
since it was put up for sale online two weeks ago in India, a
spokeswoman told AFP on Tuesday.

Bookings for the long-awaited Aakash, pegged at 2,500 rupees ($41),
began on December 14, two months after it was unveiled as the
"computer for the masses" in India where millions struggle to fund
their education.

Datawind, the British company contracted by the Indian government to
manufacture Aakash, said it had been taken by surprise by the response
in India, where Apple's iPad computers costs a minimum of $600.

"The current response is overwhelming," a spokeswoman at the company's
New Delhi PR agency told AFP in an email that detailed the number of
bookings made so far.

Datawind is now taking orders for an upgraded version, called Ubislate
7 for March, and it will establish three new factories in 2012 to cope
with the rush of orders.

"We plan to produce 75,000 units per factory per month from around
April," the spokeswoman said.

The Economic Times in its online edition said the makers had run out
of stock of Aakash, which has a seven-inch (18-centimetre)
touchscreen, Wi-Fi Internet function, a multimedia player and 180
minutes of battery power.

The business daily said with around 400,000 pre-sales bookings for the
Aakash, sales of the device were more than sales for the entire Indian
tablet market last year which numbered about 250,000-300,000 units.

The stylish, locally-made Aakash uses an Android 2.2 operating system
and has an external 2GB storage card and two USB ports.

Critics had warned the device might struggle to live up to
expectations with its limited 256-megabyte random access memory (RAM).

The price of what has been dubbed "the world's cheapest computer"
should fall to $35 and could even be hammered down as low as $10,
DataWind has said.

The Aakash is part of a push to increase the number of students in
higher education and to give them the technological skills needed to
further boost the country's recent rapid economic growth.

(c) 2012 AFP

http://www.ubislate.com/



Specifications Aakash (UbiSlate7) UbiSlate 7+ (Upgraded Aakash)
Availability
Month Inventory Status
January
February
March
Pricing     Rs.2,499/-   Rs.2,999/-
Microprocessor Arm11 – 366Mhz Cortex A8 – 700 Mhz
Battery 2100 mAh 3200 mAh
OS Android 2.2   Android 2.3
Network WiFi         WiFi & GPRS (SIM & Phone functionality)
 
The UbiSlate7+ is an Android 2.3 touch screen tablet that has a HD
video co-processor for a high-quality multimedia experience and core
graphics accelerator for faster application support.
This tablet is the only Android device in the market to offer
DataWind’s UbiSurfer browser, based on 18 international patents.
The UbiSurfer browser accelerates web pages by factors of 10x to 30x,
allowing for a web experience who’s speed is unrivalled.

The device includes WiFi connectivity and support for optional 3G modems.
Two full-sized USB ports are integrated into the unit allowing
pen-drives, external keyboards, web-cams, dongles and other
inexpensive peripherals to be attached.  Pen drives are a common
medium for storing and sharing content in India.
They are even used by people that are not computer savvy, for access
to music and videos.
A full sized USB ports allowing regular pen-drives to be plugged-in is
also available as an added advantage over other Tablets.


http://www.thisgivesmehope.com/2011/10/25/161-tablet-computers-for-indias-rural-children/

#161 Tablet computers for India’s rural children
October 25, 2011

Photo from krebsmaus07 via Flickr Creative Commons

While North Americans ponder whether to spend $199 for a Kindle Fire
or $499 for the least expensive iPad, the children in this photo will
soon have access to a tiny computer that promises to change their
world.
The world’s cheapest tablet computer is about to hit the market.

Indians will no doubt be lining up to buy the Aakash (“sky” in Hindi).
At $ 45 for government users and $ 35 for students, the tablet is low
cost, high power.

India’s Ministry of Human Resource and Development funded development
of the tablet and is subsidizing it for institutions.
 It comes with WiFi and Bluetooth, has 2 USB ports and uses Google’s
Android system.

UK-based Datawind won the bid to develop the 7-inch tablet. Components
were sourced globally and assembled in India. Commercial users will
pay just over $60. Unlimited Internet access will be available for $2
per month.

The Aakash is intended to enable rural India to benefit from the
country’s technological boom.
Since the tablet will be subjected to conditions that are challenging
for electronics, the Aakash will come with a warranty covering
replacement rather than repair.

In an interview with The Economic Times, Datawind CEO Suneet Singh
Tuli said the company is partnering with Spring to bring the tablet to
U.S. customers. Vodafone is also working with the company to supply
its global customers, and Thailand will be meeting with the company
soon.
Tuli added, “A child today needs an affordable computer.
Plugging a 300 keyboard in this device makes it work like a computer.”

To see the tablet in action, check out this video from NDTV.

Originally published on Care2.com

A number of people have written to ask where they can buy these tablet
computers.
They are available via the Aakash Web site, but the demand is so great
there may be a wait.

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