Coming soon: New tender for Aakash tablets

BANGALORE, INDIA: The road to Aakash is perhaps bumpy. As the government has decided to go for a fresh bid, manufacturer DataWind wants the government to go for a made-in-India device.

As the $35 Aakash tablet, manufactured by Canada-based company DataWind, is reported to have inadequate specifications and technical glitches, the latter said that it has provided an adequate device for ultra-low cost. The company even dares other vendors to participate in an open bid for the same price points.

Also read: Aakash tablet booking crosses 20 lakh

DataWind said that they have not received any fresh orders from the government. The company as per the contract supplied only 100, 000 tablets, though the government aimed at 220 million.

In an interaction with CIOL, DataWind vice president, Vijendra K Gupta  said that since the government hasn’t renewed the contract, they would be coming up with the commercial launch of UbiSlate 7 aka Aakash 2.

Also read: Feature and functionality of Aakash tablet

“We adhered to the due processes and procedures of the government and already met their expectations,” said Gupta. Earlier, the entire ecosystem was skeptical on whether such a device could be produced, he said.

The government will float fresh tenders that would allow other vendors to enter into low-cost tablet fray besides DataWind. A senior HRD official informed that the government is working on specifications that would include processor performance.

However, Indian Cellular Association (ICA) wants global players with a minimum turnover of Rs 500 crore to be given a chance to make the device.