Touchways to set up e-kiosks

HYDERABAD: Touchways, an US-based firm with its wholly owned subsidiary based
in Hyderabad, will set up e-kiosks all over the country. The company will also
offer e-solutions including software applications, equipment, networking and
configuration. "Initially we are looking at tourism, medical, banking and
e-governance segments for boosting the sale of our product," said business
development manager of Touchways, G Sunil Kumar.

The e-kiosks will be compact, mobile and offer smart card applications for
secure and customized transactions. "We are looking at a price range of
around Rs 2 lakh for the product, which is far less than what is being offered
by other players in the field. We are also in the process of identifying channel
partners to market this product. Initially we will look at Bangalore, Chennai,
Delhi, Mumbai and Chandigarh," he added.

The portable kiosk has a fully integrated counter top kiosk solution and is
ideally suited to display Internet applications, motion picture quality video,
text and graphics in almost any acceptable environment. To create an
instantaneous internet access station, customer service center or interactive
exhibit, one just needs to remove the kiosk from its box load the website or
application and then plug the kiosk into a standard electrical outlet.

The product could be used includes retail sales, customer services, protected
public internet access, visitor information, ticketing systems etc. "We
believe that a product like this would help in bringing down the digital divide
among the IT have’s and have-nots in a big way," he added. The same
product could also be used to support services like bar code readers,
telephones, cameras, integrated wireless connectivity and zip drives.

Touchways started its operations in Hyderabad about two months ago and is an
arm of Object Technology Solutions Inc, a US based IT services and e-solutions
organization, with offices and representatives in the US, Europe, Middle East,
North Africa and India.