NComputing ties up with Haier Computers

NEW DELHI, INDIA:NComputing, a provider in ultra low-cost computing, announced on Thursday a strategic partnership with Haier Computer Group, a China based PC company and is a division of the Haier Group, to jointly pursue large educational and government computing opportunities.

The two companies are pursuing opportunities to provide large-scale computing access to governments in Africa, Latin America, Europe, and Asia.

NComputing and Haier have already won the world’s first nationwide “one-computer-per-child” program in the Republic of Macedonia, said a press release.

The two companies helped the Macedonian government install over 180,000 computing seats throughout its school system for under $150 per seat including all hardware, software, and network infrastructure.

The NComputing solution supports Linux and Windows platforms. The Macedonian government chose Ubuntu Linux for its “one-computer-per-child” program. By combining NComputing virtual desktops with Haier’s scale and price advantage on monitor and host PCs, the joint solution can be offered for 60-75 percent less than traditional desktop PCs or thin clients.

“NComputing’s mission is to bring computing to the next billion people around the world who are ready, but simply cannot afford it with traditional computers,” said Stephen Dukker, chairman and CEO of NComputing.

He added that company's virtual desktops have broken the cost barrier and by partnering with Haier, they would bring the technology to millions of students and citizens around the world.

The two companies would initially target 18 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia, and Latin America that have large-scale computerization projects in schools and government offices and address over 1.5 million workstations. Over time, the companies expect to broaden the partnership to other countries.

“Government leaders in emerging market nations recognize that computer skills are critical if they want their citizens and workers to prosper in the 21st century economy,” said Gao Yi-cheng, general manager, Haier Computers.

He added that by combining their cost advantage in  PCs and monitors with NComputing award-winning virtual desktops, they would be able to offer governments an extremely cost-effective and sustainable solution that is unmatchable.