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Aakash Tablet To Be Discontinued?
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The project of providing tablets to students may be altogether shelved after a series of faults were detected in the device.
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Friday, January 13, 2012:
There are all possibilities that the Union human resource development (HRD) ministry may not extend the letter of credit (LC) to the makers of world's cheapest tablet Aakash as a lot of faults have been detected in the device, since its launch in October.
The tablet manufactured by Montreal-based Datawind is priced at Rs 2,250 but still has been almost ridiculed by buyers and users alike, owing to the poor tech specs and performance of the device. The tablet was manufactured specifically for students with the aim of bridging the 'digital divide' between the rich and the poor, states an India Today report. However, now the government is planning to dump the faulty device in rural villages.
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It is even possible that the entire project to provide cheapest tablets to students launched by HRD minister Kapil Sibal may have to be shelved. According to sources, the idea which was conceptualised by Sibal has now been hijacked by Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL). The corporate is now working on its fourth generation (4G) latest tablet, which will be priced around Rs 3500. The 4G long term evolution (LTE) network has much higher speed than the 3G network and many companies will be launching the 4G network worldwide this year.
According to industry people, there are also possibilities that RIL may get into an agreement with Datawind or some other firm to launch the 4G network. So far, RIL is the only firm that has a pan-India spectrum to offer wireless broadband services on the 4G technology platform. It had paid Rs 13,000 crore for these airwaves.
Initially, the HRD ministry had placed an order of one lakh Aakash tablets and received 30,000 tablets as part of the pilot. The feedback on the devices as part of the pilot project was not good at all and below par.
Aakash tablet that was initially given to students runs a basic Android 2.2 Froyo version. It has a 366 MHz processor and a 17.8-cm (7-inch) resistive touchscreen. It is said to have a battery back up of three hours. The next version of Aakash is said to have an improved 766 MHz processor with an improved battery life.
DataWind had reportedly refused to upgrade the remaining 70,000 tablets of the second lot as it required more funds for that. However, now, the company will complete the remaining order with an upgraded version of Aakash, which will be available at the original price tag of Rs 2,250. There are also reports that the HRD ministry is looking for other vendors for selling the 70,000 upgraded units of Aakash. Even IIT-Rajasthan, the tendering authority of the project, has not come out with new testing standards of the tablet.
According to authorities, these are clear indications that the LC, which lapses this month end, will not be extended by the ministry. Despite the fact, Datawind has got over 20 lakh retail bookings for the tablet so far.
DataWind had said that the LC would be extended beyond 30 January. According to an official from DataWind, the firm has not yet been paid for the 30,000 units of Aakash that they have delivered so far.
Within 15 to 20 days, the fate of the much touted Aakash would be sealed, may be for the good of the students atleast.
Upasana Rajpal, EFYTIMES News Network
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