Govt issues tender for Rs 1500 laptop

NEW DELHI, INDIA: In an effort to popularize the low-cost laptop costing around Rs 1500, designed specifically for students, the Ministry of Human Resource Development has floated a tender for expression of interest (EoI) to develop the same on mass basis.

The ministry expects that after the successful field trial of 100,000 pieces, to be done by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Rajasthan, the requirement may further grow to 10 million pieces within a short span of one year, a Business Standard report said quoting the bid document.

After unveiling the device in July, Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal had said that if more companies decide to manufacture a similar device, prices will come down automatically. When the ministry floated the concept of a low cost laptop some years ago, it was aimed that the device should cost Rs.500.

As per the bid document, the minimum functionalities of the device are support for video web conferencing facility, multimedia content viewer, unzip tool for unzipping zip files, possibility of installing suitable firmware upgradation, computing capabilities such as Open Office and media player capable of playing streamed as well as stored media files.

It should also support Internet browsing, wireless communication along with a cloud computing option and remote device management capability. It should also render YouTube and other online video services (open source flash players), says the tender.

The device, no bigger than a conventional laptop, is a single unit system with a touch screen and a built in key board along with a 2 GB RAM, wi-fi connectivity, USB port and powered by a 2-watt system to suit poor power supply areas.