DataWind completes production of 100,000 Aakash-2 tabs

By Pranbihanga Borpuzari

DataWind today said it has successfully completed manufacturing of 100,000 Aakash low-cost computing access devices for IIT-Bombay (under the Indian Government’s Ministry of Human Resource Development’s National Mission on Education) and also cleared all backlogs in orders for retail customers.

The project won by DataWind in an international tender for the supply of Aakash-1 devices at $49.98, was subsequently modified to 98,000 Aakash-2 devices and 2,000 devices with DataWind’s recommendations for Aakash-3, all at a price of Rs.2,263 (currently $41.61).

According to a press release the Aakash-2 devices delivered to IIT-Bombay come with a 12 months warranty and accessories at Rs.2,263. The firm says that 74,700 units have been delivered to and accepted by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Noida and IIT-Bombay.  About 25,300 units are waiting to be shipped from Noida which will be done after the processing of Letter of Credit documentation by IIT-Bombay.

The Aakash-2 project saw the specifications being approved by IIT-Bombay on August 29, 2012 and DataWind was given time till June 5, 2013 for final delivery of the products.

Criticized for the long delays in dispatching the device and getting it delivered to customers the company stated that it has also completed deliveries of its pre-paid backlog.  “Less than 1 percent of the pre-paid backlog customers remain pending, due to lack of courier coverage or contact information.  New deliveries for DataWind’s UbiSlate devices are now processed within 72 hours,” says the release.

The devices are powered by a Cortex A8 - 1Ghz processor and contain 512MB of RAM.  Flash memory of 4GB can be supplemented with upto 32GB through its micro-SD card slot.  In addition to embedded WiFi, the Aakash-2 tablet computers support external 3G and EVDO dongles for mobile broadband data connectivity. 

The device runs on Google’s Android 4.0 operating system, has a VGA camera, G-sensor, internal microphone, speakers and headphone jack. Commercially the device is sold as the UbiSlate 7Ci.

Under the changes made to tablet, the Aakash-3 version of the device contains an embedded quad-band Edge modem allowing for both cellular voice and data functionality.  “While external dongles provide limited coverage and can cost as much as 50 percent of the cost of Aakash devices, an internal cellular modem at no additional cost which allows the device to be used both as a mobile smart phone and also for ubiquitous internet connectivity with a basic SIM, will help herald India’s internet revolution,” says the press release.

DataWind has delivered 2,000 units to IIT-Bombay with these specifications, as part of the 100,000 unit project.  Commercially this device is sold as the UbiSlate 7C+.

To enable faster manufacturing, shipping and to keep costs low the company has setup a touch-screen manufacturing facility in Amritsar.  This facility produces multi-touch projective capacitive touch screens utilized in DataWind’s Aakash-2 and UbiSlate tablet computers.

The government is also working towards floating the next tender of Aakash devices (version 4) and DataWind says it is looking forward to participating in the next tender and “breaking further price barriers.”

Related Posts

    Ground Zero: Passionate About Your Business? Don’t Bother
    Game On!
    Five Questions on Business
    Get a SMERA Rating for Your Venture
    Game on: Are you a gorilla?