<p> 'Aakash', the world's cheapest tablet, will be fully indigenous soon and its improved version will be launched by the government at the same price.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Telecom and HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said Datawind -- the manufacturer of the product -- will not be associated with it anymore and the Government has roped in C-DAC and ITI in further development of the tablet computer.<br /><br />"There have been some problem with Datawind I must confess. Therefore, I have got into the act. IT Ministry has got C-DAC and ITI into the act and I am going to ensure that this product is fully indigenous and truly an Indian product," he said.<br />On whether the new tablet will be available within the same price range as that of the earlier product, he said, "Yes that's what we hope. It is to be upgraded."<br /><br />On the possible timeline for launching it, he said, "Well, 2012 should seen the sun... Aakash-II should be launched. There have been some hiccups in the way.Remember when you do a project of this nature and when your dream is as big as this, things are never that smooth."<br /><br />Welcoming competition from market for development of the tablet, he said the ultimate objective is to give a quality product to the children.<br /><br />"I think its a great thing if there is competition. Ultimately my objective is to get a quality product in the hands of the children. I have set the benchmark, it has changed the mindset of the world, I can tell you that," the Minister said.<br />Everybody now wants to produce a tablet which is of quality and which is reasonably affordable, he noted.<br /><br />"So if the whole world wants to produce, I don't care who produces, if ultimately it is produced by somebody for children," he underlined.<br /><br />The Aakash tablet is priced at approximately USD 49 (Rs 2414).</p>
<p> 'Aakash', the world's cheapest tablet, will be fully indigenous soon and its improved version will be launched by the government at the same price.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Telecom and HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said Datawind -- the manufacturer of the product -- will not be associated with it anymore and the Government has roped in C-DAC and ITI in further development of the tablet computer.<br /><br />"There have been some problem with Datawind I must confess. Therefore, I have got into the act. IT Ministry has got C-DAC and ITI into the act and I am going to ensure that this product is fully indigenous and truly an Indian product," he said.<br />On whether the new tablet will be available within the same price range as that of the earlier product, he said, "Yes that's what we hope. It is to be upgraded."<br /><br />On the possible timeline for launching it, he said, "Well, 2012 should seen the sun... Aakash-II should be launched. There have been some hiccups in the way.Remember when you do a project of this nature and when your dream is as big as this, things are never that smooth."<br /><br />Welcoming competition from market for development of the tablet, he said the ultimate objective is to give a quality product to the children.<br /><br />"I think its a great thing if there is competition. Ultimately my objective is to get a quality product in the hands of the children. I have set the benchmark, it has changed the mindset of the world, I can tell you that," the Minister said.<br />Everybody now wants to produce a tablet which is of quality and which is reasonably affordable, he noted.<br /><br />"So if the whole world wants to produce, I don't care who produces, if ultimately it is produced by somebody for children," he underlined.<br /><br />The Aakash tablet is priced at approximately USD 49 (Rs 2414).</p>
