NEW DELHI, INDIA: For Indian government, sky isn’t the limit. After $35 Aakash (meaning sky) tablet, there is now a possibility of $10 device. It wouldn’t just be a political gimmick, but a need for mobility parlance.

With a focus on mobile services delivery, which might be a reality in mid-2012, the low-cost device is one of the key imperatives for the government.

During the formal launch of Aakash, telecom minister Kapil Sibal hinted at the possibility of a $10 device.

The sources inside the government suggest that $10 device would be a reality, if ecosystem players come together. And the government could offer necessary subsidy too.

Chipset major Intel’s Sandeep Aurora says that $10 device would be good if government addresses the pain points, including connectivity. It could be seen as a device for empowerment, opined Aurora.

The government is banking on ever-surging mobile penetration. Almost every urban inhabitant has a mobile device and there is a 90 per cent penetration in cities, if not more. The rural India is cathing up pretty fast.

Devices for Rs. 1,000 or even at lower price are available today, though in some cases are bundled.

During a recent industry event, Sibal said that social inclusion and disempowerment need to be addressed. “The main challenge is how to empower the disempowered,” he said.

Speaking to CIOL, India’s hardware industry body MAIT’s chief Dr Alok Bharadwaj said that Indian consumers need products that are to be designed keeping in mind their unique needs and purchasing power.

India is full of entrepreneurship, believes Bharadwaj. “It is not only about stripping down devices of features and offering to the customers at a lower price point, but also completely redesigning a product using a frugal approach," he suggested.

Bharadwaj said that +several applications are being developed for the delivery of M-services. These services, when integrated with UID project, would facilitate people with government’s ambitious MNREGA scheme.